Popular U’s boss Joe Dunne © skysports.com
A lot has changed since I last blogged on The U’s in early 2012. We finished 10th in League One under John Ward after a brief flirtation with the playoffs. Last season saw the end of John Ward, the start of a new Col U dynasty and a nail biting last day victory to ensure the U’s remained in League One, narrowly avoiding the relegation trap door.
John Ward left the club after 8 games without a win © greenun24.co.uk
It is fair to say that John Ward was never the most popular character with the U’s faithful. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and in reflection of his time in charge, it is fair to say that Ward was not the worst manager ever and successive top half finishes show that he did do a decent job. Ward is an old school manager, who did things his own way or the high way and I feel we have a lot to thank him for when it comes to the brilliant youth structure the club has in place. Ward was very frustrating with his moves in the transfer market and with his rather negative tactics, however he did appear to be rather well liked behind the scenes, despite the same feeling not being reciprocated amongst the fan base. I do feel he would have made a perfect director of football, as it is clear he had good ideas. After breaking the U’s club record for the worst start to a season (eight games without a win) and an increasing decline in attendances, Robbie Cowling swung the axe, ending Ward’s tenure at the club.
Three days later, Ward’s assistant and Col U legend Joe Dunne was given the task of managing the side on a full time basis. Dunne had previously held the position as care taker manager after Paul Lambert’s departure, but declined to apply for the role at that time, stressing he was not ready for management.
Dunne’s rapid appointment raised a few eyebrows amongst the hardy U’s supporters, but his standing as a club hero saw the dark clouds disappear over the Weston Homes Community Stadium and the blue (and white) skies return.
Dream team – Mark Kinsella & Joe Dunne © cu-fc.com
More good news followed with another club legend, Mark Kinsella, being appointed as Dunne’s assistant and the loan arrivals of Jabo Ibehre from MK Dons, Sanchez Watt and Craig Eastmond, both from Arsenal, saw a bright new era begin.
Times were tough for Dunne after a fairly decent start to his managerial career. Defeat in the Essex derby to near neighbours Chelmsford in the FA Cup saw the start of an unwanted club record of nine successive defeats, with the popular Irishman offering his resignation after the 2-1 reverse against relegation rivals Scunthorpe in mid January.
Robbie Cowling swiftly rejected the resignation and the rest they say is history, with Dunne guiding the side to safety, but not without a couple of hiccups on the way.
Head in hands as the U’s fall to another defeat © eadt.co.uk
I will openly admit that I was sceptical about Dunne after the nine games without a win. He seemed a beaten man and I was worried this would reflect on the playing staff. The club were in a real rut and looked doomed. One thing that really surprised me was the vast majority of fans and chairman alike believing that good things were on the horizon under the Dubliner’s stewardship, despite the looming likelihood of relegation. Even as the U’s plummeted to a 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Tranmere, the fans sang Joey Dunne’s Blue and White Army at the end, showing Dunne that he had the fans full support. I cannot think of many managers who would have that type of support, despite results going against them.
Dunne has proved himself to be no shrinking violet when it comes to attitude and discipline either. He sanctioned the sale of Anthony Wordsworth to rivals Ipswich and released Michael Rose, Ian Henderson and Ben Coker on transfer deadline day in January 2013. It showed to me that Dunne was not taking egos lightly and definitely raised a few eyebrows at a time when the club were struggling for results, as Wordsworth and Henderson had been key men under John Ward.
One of Dunne’s smartest moves was the hiring of Brian Owen as chief scout. Owen is a man who has a fantastic eye for a player and knows the game and vitally, the club, inside out. A flurry of smart loan signings from the Premier League came into the club, despite some of the first choice targets moving else where. It was a brave move by Dunne to sign the likes of Billy Clifford (Chelsea) and Bradley Garmston (West Brom), bringing them into a struggling side, with neither experiencing first team football at their parent clubs.
Sam Walker played a huge role for the club whilst on loan from Chelsea © – cu-fc.com
The signing of Sam Walker from Chelsea proved to be a great move with the giant ‘keeper shining in the backs to the wall encounters with Bury and Hartlepool. The loan signings, despite their inexperience, flourished under Dunne’s management. It is fair to say all the loanees that finished the season at the club made a huge impact towards the U’s surviving relegation, culminating with a thrilling final day victory over Carlisle at Brunton Park.
The 2013/14 season is to be Dunne’s first full season in management and he has already put his own stamp on things. The U’s were one of the first clubs to return to Pre Season training in late June, with the club spending time at a training camp in Dunne’s native Ireland.
Craig Eastmond – Joined the U’s after a successful loan © – cu-fc.com
It is perhaps in the transfer market where Dunne has impressed me most so far. The U’s have recruited Craig Eastmond and Sanchez Watt on free transfers from Arsenal and have also re-signed Jabo Ibehre and Mark Cousins to new deals. The one blemish for me was the departure of John White. The stalwart full back, rejected the offer of a much reduced contract, ending a long association with the club he started his career with. It was also painful to see White sign a contract with the U’s Essex rivals Southend United. Even though he has moved to the dark side, such is his standing with the U’s faithful, I am sure he will always be warmly applauded. White never once complained to the media about a lack of games and deserves a chance to make a name for himself with the Shrimpers and show Dunne what he is missing.
Despite the loss of White, it is quite incredible to think that a nearly relegated club, with a much reduced budget could sign the likes of Eastmond and Watt. Eastmond is a very talented footballer, who rejected the advances of rival League One sides to pen a two year deal to ply his trade in Essex. The holding midfielder looked a class act whilst on loan at the club last season. He has been schooled in the famed “Arsenal way” of playing football. He looked so comfortable on the ball and immediately looked the part whilst on loan. He has fantastic energy, superb vision and will definitely be a key player for the U’s.
Sanchez Watt – U’s second summer signing from Arsenal © cu-fc.com
Dunne had to wait a while for his next capture, but persistence paid off with Sanchez Watt agreeing to follow his former Arsenal team mate to the U’s last week. I really think this signing is a real coup. The 22 year old winger has pace to burn and bundles of trickery to bamboozle defences. He looked a like he could easily play in the Championship, so it is quite surprising to see him back at the club full time. When he was in form as he showed against Carlisle and Shrewsbury last season, he could be a real gem of a player for Colchester. I am really looking forward to seeing what both Eastmond and Watt will offer to the U’s for the coming season. One really pleasing aspect for me is that both wanted to ply their trade, took obvious wage cuts to sign with the U’s and see the club as a good stepping stone on their career path.
Although League One has changed an awful lot since 2003, Dunne reminds me an awful lot of former U’s boss Phil Parkinson. Parky, the current Bradford City manager, was a relative unknown when Peter Heard appointed him as manager in February 2003. The U’s were languishing in the relegation zone when the former Reading midfielder took over. He immediately implemented his style on the club, bringing in a blend of youth and experience to create a top League One side. Parkinson’s achievements with a minimal budget was quite astonishing looking back, and you can see a lot of similarities with Phil Parkinson’s management style with how Dunne has gone about his work.
Dunne is a brutally honest guy, doesn’t take egos lightly, and seems to be able to sell the club and what it wants to achieve, something Parkinson was fantastic at. Joe is a very open guy who is willing to chat to fans and showed just how much the club meant to him with his jig and embrace with fans after the miraculous Bury victory and also the celebrations after the Carlisle victory. Both are enthusiastic characters and very persistent in their attempts to sign a player they wanted. The training complex at Florence Park is an obvious selling point, but you cannot help but be excited as Colchester United fan at the moment. Both on and off the pitch, things seem to be going really well.
Another aspect which appeals to fans about Joe Dunne is that he refuses to give in to his principle of playing football. The style Dunne has deployed is very similar to that of the German national team in the 4 2 3 1. He loves the fast attacking game, with pacey wingers on the flanks supported by marauding full backs to join in the attack. He also likes to have a midfield with the ability to hold the ball and play from the back. Dunne is an ardent fan of the passing game, but also likes to deploy the outlet of a larger type striker in attack.
Jabo Ibehre signed a 2 year deal to remain at the U’s © – cu-fc.com
Jabo Ibehre was a huge success after joining the club permanently in January on a short term deal. The U’s won 49% of their matches with powerful front man in the side, which shows just how much of an influence the former Orient and MK Dons striker is. Whilst not having the best goal return, his link and hold up play proved to be a vital tool in the U’s armoury.
There has not been as much excitement surrounding the team since the U’s brief foray into the Championship. The number of season tickets sold have risen remarkably. Whilst a left back and a goalkeeper remain high on the required list, the future is looking rather bright under Joe Dunne’s stewardship. The good old days of the Layer Road spirit, where fans, players and everyone behind the scenes were united behind United, seem to have returned.
Whilst I am not expecting promotion or anything like that next season, I am sure we will have an exciting team to watch and I really doubt we will be anywhere near the dreaded relegation spots, despite being the bookies favourites to go down. I remain glued to the official website, message board and twitter in anticipation of Dunne’s next foray in the transfer market, as everything he seems to touch turns to gold. After many seasons of disappointment and disillusionment, the fans finally have their Colchester United back and are heading in an exciting direction led by the new Messiah – Joseph John Dunne.
The Old Oak Tree 