Colchester United’s 2023-24 season did not pan out how the club and its supporters would have hoped, with the club involved in a relegation battle right to the last day of the campaign.
Thankfully for the U’s, safety was secured thanks to a 1-1 draw with Crewe Alexandra. As the final whistle went at the Colchester Community Stadium, manager Danny Cowley will have turned his attention to improving the club’s fortunes.
Upon his appointment on January 4th, Danny Cowley inherited a side with just one win in their previous ten League Two outings, conceding 22 times. When Cowley was brought in, Colchester had conceded an average of two goals per game. What he and brother Nicky did was to tighten up defensively, making their new side hard to beat resulting in half of their matches in charge ending in stalemates.
Cowley will not want a repeat of last season’s struggle and has made acquisitions that suggest that won’t be the case. The brothers have a track record of success in this division, taking their newly promoted Lincoln City to the playoffs before being crowned champions the following season.
The signings made by the Essex club suggest the former Braintree Town managerial duo are in line to repeat those achievements with their new side.
Giant goalkeeper Matt Macey was the first through the door to help solidify the back line. The 29-year-old penned a two-year deal following the expiration of his Portsmouth contract.
The stopper had been with Arsenal until January 2021, spending time on loan at Accrington Stanley, Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle before heading to Hibernian. This signing outlines Colchester’s ambition and reinforces the view that Cowley will create a playoff side.
Along with Macey, Ben Goodliffe has joined from Sutton United to further bolster the Colchester defence. Goodliffe performed admirably in a defence that would eventually suffer relegation from the Football League.
The 25-year-old ranked highly amongst League Two defenders for his attacking threat alongside his defensive attributes, winning 176 duels and 124 aerial duels across the season.
More defensive solidity was added in the shape of two-time League Two winner Rob Hunt, who has joined Colchester from Leyton Orient.
Hunt, who can play in either of the full-back positions, has won the division twice with Swindon Town and Leyton Orient. His versatility across the backline will provide great options should the Cowley brothers continue to utilise both 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 systems.
Next, we have the most unsurprising Cowley signing of the summer- Harry Anderson. The winger has worked with the Cowleys at Braintree Town, Lincoln City and last season with the U’s.
He brings League Two know-how, energy and an impressive work rate to the attack and the management has proved they can get the best out of him.
Perhaps the most unexpected signing is another of Cowley’s trusted lieutenants, Alex Woodyard. The 31-year-old has worked with the brothers at three clubs, Concord Rangers, Braintree and Lincoln. Together, they have enjoyed great success.
Cowley, when discussing the Woodyard signing, is excited to work with an ‘Alex with a point to prove’ after a disappointing time at York City. His experience and ability to keep the ball could be vital for the Essex outfit.
Further to Anderson’s capture, the U’s attacking options have been bolstered by the signing of exciting Crystal Palace forward John-Kymani Gordon.
The 21-year-old has League One and League Two experience through loans with Cambridge United, AFC Wimbledon and Carlisle United. Despite not setting the world alight just yet, he possesses pace and a willingness to carry the ball up the pitch.
During their spell with Lincoln City, the Cowleys worked with numerous young wingers, including Anderson, and they will be hopeful of nurturing this raw talent.
Another signing with a link to the Colchester United management team is former Lincoln City and Huddersfield Town man Jack Payne. The 29-year-old was part of the Huddersfield squad that gained promotion to the Premier League in 2017 but has been fairly nomadic since then.
His longest spell at a club was the two-season spell with Swindon Town, a period where Payne showed some impressive form. His performances in the 2021-22 campaign, where he produced 13 goals in 37 League Two outings, saw him transfer to League One side Charlton Athletic.
Payne brings a wealth of experience and an ability to score goals or unlock a defence, he needs to find a settled home to produce his best football.
Having allowed John Akinde to leave the club, Cowley was in the market for a striker and he has brought in the experienced figure of Montserrat international Lyle Taylor.
The London-born attacker has over 150 career goals but has struggled since his time with Charlton Athletic. Taylor netted 32 league goals across two seasons as the Addicks gained promotion from League One.
Combining Taylor’s experience with that of Tom Hopper and allowing the two players to interchange could prove to be vital. The 18-cap international’s know-how may prove vital in helping to develop young strikers Samson Tovide and Bradley Ihionvien.
Colchester United’s trajectory over the past decade has been predominantly a downward one, with their highest finish since relegation to League Two being sixth in the season curtailed due to Covid.
The Cowleys came in and solidified the club in the second part of the season and have worked quickly to add to their squad in preparation for the next campaign.
They have not only brought in players they know and trust but also players who have vast experience of not only playing in League Two but getting out of League Two.
Players who have left such as Tom Dallison and Connor Hall have been replaced by Rob Hunt and Ben Goodliffe in defence while Jack Payne will be hopeful of filling the gap left further up the field by Cameron McGeehan’s departure.
Colchester’s recruitment has been smart and with a plan but with just a hint of the what-ifs. That what if being Lyle Taylor – what if he can recapture the form the last time he was in League Two?
Expect The U’s to be tough to beat and find a way of grinding out results as they push towards the playoffs. A repeat of Cowley’s first season in the Football League with Lincoln City would not be a surprise, making the playoffs before pushing for promotion again the following year.
Whatever happens, Colchester fans can expect a better season than they have had for quite some time.
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