Key Transfers Out 2018/19
Frankie Kent – The academy graduate moved to Peterborough for an undisclosed fee this summer. He had been an imperious centre back presence during the 2018/19 season, showing ball playing ability and a level of maturity greater than his 23 years. He will be missed by fans, though there is an acknowledgment that after the U’s missed out on promotion that he deserved at shot in League One after 147 appearances for the North Essex outfit.
Sammie Szmodics – Playing for Colchester since the age of 9, Szmodics had grown into a talismanic figure over the last few seasons. In 165 appearances, he has scored 40 and assisted 17. He had been courted by many Championship and League One sides, eventually signing for Bristol City for an undisclosed fee. Already, he looks like proving to be a popular figure at Ashton Gate, scoring a delightful chipped goal in preseason. The funds from both Kent and Szmodics, believed to be in the region of £1.25m have been well invested by Chairman, Robbie Cowling, Director of Football, Tony Humes and Manager, John McGreal.
Mika Mandron – The 6ft 3in, 23 year-old striker was let go at the end of the 2018/19 season after scoring 12 goals in 87 league games. He was on high wages for a third choice striker so although he filled in ably and was a cult favourite for some, his services were no longer required by John McGreal. As it stands, he has been allegedly training with League One Gillingham under Steve Evans.
Brennan Dickenson – The 26-year-old, left-sided player’s Colchester career was hit and miss. After winning the both the Player of the Year Award and Players’ Player of the Year Award for 2016/17 he was side-lined by a serious cruciate ligament injury for most of the 2017/18 season. A full preseason was followed by a successful campaign in 2018/19 as his versatility was key for the U’s playing as left back, left wing back and left winger. He managed 3 goals and 5 assists last season, mostly from the bench, earning himself a move up to League One with MK Dons after choosing not to renew with Colchester.
Colchester United’s 2018/19
The 2018/19 season was one of disappointment for U’s fans. After spending a large part of the season in the automatic and playoff places, Colchester drifted down to eight by the final handful of fixtures. This was due in the most part to an injury crisis in the spring, which unfortunately featured a disproportion number of central midfielders as well as striker, Luke Norris. This led to centre forward, Mika Mandron dropping into a box to box midfield role, as well as inexperienced players featuring regularly. However, despite this they did keep a league clean sheet percentage of 41% (footystats.org). One area that the U’s need to improve in the forthcoming campaign is the number of goals scored, Colchester only managed 65 last time out (footystats.org). The glut of attacking signings made by the recruitment team, as well as the existing players, should remedy this.
Key Transfers In 2019/20
Dean Gerken – Gerken has returned to the club on a free transfer from local rivals Ipswich Town after 10 years away from North Essex. The 34-year-old shot-stopper played for the Tractor Boys 18 times in the Championship last season, conceding 28 and keeping 3 clean sheets for the relegated side. Gerken’s return has been viewed as a coup, with a host of League One sides allegedly showing interest. He had been training with Colchester during the summer and made his stay permanent in mid-July. After the poor goalkeeping display from Rene Gilmartin and Dillon Barnes last season, there is a sense of relief and anticipation connected to Gerken’s return.
Omar Sowunmi – Colchester-born Sowunmi has undoubtedly been signed as a direct replacement for Frankie Kent, according to transfermarkt.co.uk for just £11k. Although injured for a large part of last season for relegated Yeovil Town, the 6ft 6in, 23-year-old centre back looks to be a good partner for either Luke Prosser or Tom Eastman as according to Assistant Manager, Steve Ball, in the preseason 20m sprint test, Sowunmi came second only to Vincent-Young. On the pitch, early signs are positive, two goals in two preseason matches from set pieces, hopefully a sign of things to come.
Jevani Brown – The most exciting of the summer for U’s fans has been that of 24-year-old, Brown. His stats from the last two seasons for Cambridge are nothing short of sensational. In 95 appearances he has scored 14 and created on 24 occasions. The former Jamaican youth international was signed for £315k, a deal only possible because of the Szmodics sale. Cambridge fans on Twitter were vocal in their disappointment at Brown’s sale to a divisional rival; as the vast majority of Cambridge’s goals in the last two seasons have involved Brown. This transfer is a real statement of intent for the forthcoming season and has certainly whetted the fan’s appetite.
Paris Cowan-Hall – Former Wycombe player Cowan-Hall is an experienced right winger, he’s amassed 158 League Two appearances, scoring 26 and assisting 16. A handy free transfer, Cowan-Hal will compete for a starting spot with the mercurial Courtney Senior, who showed flashes of brilliance last season. The competition for places will hopefully bring out the best in both of them. Colchester play a much more possession based style of play compared to Wycombe, it’ll be intriguing to see how he adjusts.
Luke Gambin – The former Crawley and Luton left winger is a current Malta international, playing 19 times. Like Cowan-Hall, the 26-year-old is a proven League Two performer, playing 129 times, scoring 15 times and assisting on 21 occasions. Gambin played well against the U’s earlier in the season for Crawley, scoring twice in a home win. The free transfer could prove to be an able replacement for the departed Dickenson, although he is less versatile as he has not provided cover at left back previously.
Michael Fernandes – The most intriguing signing of the summer has been the 20-year-old, former Farnborough attacker, Fernandes. He had many suitors following a successful season for the non-league side before being brought to the JobServe Community Stadium following his free transfer. He can play on either wing and has shown already that he has quick feet and raw pace. He scored 13 goals in 36 games for Farnborough last season. He is definitely one to watch, pushing more experienced wingers for a place in the starting eleven.
Robbie Cowling has said that there may not be any more incoming transfer business to speak of. However, there are some areas of the squad where incomings would be welcomed. It is commonly acknowledged that if Ryan Jackson or Kane Vincent-Young were to be injured long term, our lack of depth at full back could be problematic. But Ryan Clampin at left back and Cameron James at right back are highly thought of by the backroom staff at the U’s, so they could be the next in the growing line of academy graduates that have become first team regulars.
2019/20
John McGreal has been in situ since 4th May 2016, since then he has shown he likes to experiment in terms of formations, if not in style. He used combinations of 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 last term, however he has preferred the 4-2-3-1. That was most recently built around attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics. I expect McGreal to start the season playing a 4-2-3-1 to control possession, always looking to play out from defence and use our abundance of pacey, direct wingers to unlock opposition defences. I also expect McGreal to utilise Vincent-Young’s right foot from left back. His attacking movement is variable as he can over and underlap the left winger to provide an extra player in the opponent’s half-space to create overloads. Some of the football played last season was electrifying whilst being reliable in defence. Hopefully, more chances can be created and put away from the new arrivals and greater experience of the existing young squad. Promotion has to be the aim this season. The squad is the strongest and deepest (certainly in attacking areas) that Colchester has had whilst in League Two. Although there are plenty of new players who need to gel, if promotion is not achieved McGreal could well be in hot water after being backed so healthily.
Off the pitch, one area that’s being improved for the forthcoming season is the ‘match day experience’ as the JobServe Community Stadium is hamstrung by being a modern, out-of-town stadium. The club are introducing a fan zone that’ll run before and after matches to add some much needed buzz. The fans are also contributing; the Blue and White Army fan group have singlehandedly created a great atmosphere from South Stand 1, using donations from fans. Hopefully this will continue to grow to rekindle the lost atmosphere of Layer Road. Finally, one bone of contention for U’s fans before the start if 2019/20 has been the removal of the stripes from the home kit. There have been instances of all blue kits previously, most notably in 1971, when Colchester famously won 3-2 vs Leeds in the FA Cup. However, if the team is playing well on the pitch the debate, like the stripes, could well disappear.
