Debate: Do U’s Miss Iwelumo?

Charlton Athletic`s Chris Iwelumo has hit form recently, bagging goals in his last three games. With his former club Colchester at the opposite end of the league, Vital U`s asks: do Colchester miss Big Chris?

Yes, Says Vital`s Matt U_s:

“Chris was a great penalty-taker for the U`s – if memory serves, he never missed one for the U`s in two fantastic seasons` service for the club.

His trademark jig always fooled the opposing goalkeeper and there`s no doubt that the U`s would have still been in the Carling Cup if the big man had been around to fire home where Johnnie Jackson painfully missed against Shrewsbury this season.

Technically he`s probably more gifted than his replacement Clive Platt, although Platt should not be judged until the end of the season. Chris said he wanted to go to the Premiership with Colchester before reiterating that intent recently with Charlton recently.

He probably deserves to get a call to the Scotland squad and will be a dark horse for selection if the Tartan Army get to Euro 2008.

Manager Alan Pardew has been justified in taking the advice of former Colchester man Phil Parkinson and gambling by taking him on a free.”

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No, Says Vital`s Stevie_G_Col U:

“Colchester United don`t miss former striker Chris Iwelumo.

Although the most prolific partnership in Iwelumo & Cureton produced in excess of 40 goals last season, the U`s have replaced the Scot with fellow target-man Clive Platt, who is the same age, height and stature as Iwelumo.

In the close-season the U`s broke their transfer record to sign target man Clive Platt from MK Dons, as a replacement for Iwelumo at £300,000.

They also snapped up Kevin Lisbie on a free transfer from Charlton, with Champions League winner Teddy Sheringham also signing on the dotted-line from Premier League outfit West Ham.

Platt and Lisbie have been the first choice pairing for the majority of the season so far but are only now starting to click as a suspension, picked up in pre-season, forced Platt to miss three games near the beginning of the season.

But both Lisbie, who has six goals to his name this season, and Platt, who has five goals to his name so far, are scoring.

A new era of striking partnerships may well have dawned at Layer Road – let`s hope that this is the case.

The stats show that Platt has a better strike rate than Iwelumo. Platt`s stats are taken from this season, Iwelumo`s are taken from last season when he was a U`s player.”

Apps: 13 (1)

Goals Platt (2007/8): 5

Goals Iwelumo (2006/7): 4