Colchester United`s freefall from promotion pack-chasers to play-off push-aways means the only way for Aidy Boothroyd and his team now is up… right?
According to 63% of voters during the website`s latest poll, faith remains in former Watford manager Boothroyd, despite a quite extraordinary-looking capitulation of results in recent weeks, saying he is the right man to take the club forward long-term.
Boothroyd wants to continue the club`s progress as the U`s seek to establish themselves at Championship level in the future but the current run of scores will probably count against him this time around as his side have recorded just one win in 11 outings and taken a poor six points from the last possible 30.
The manager refused to concede that the season is over while there is still, as slim as it is, a mathematical possibility that Colchester could sneak into the play-offs instead of nearest-placed positional rivals, Huddersfield.
It would require Colchester to record three straight wins in the remaining games – something they have not done in 2010 – for the U`s to even eat into the six-point deficit currently separating the teams.
After that, their positional rivals would also have to suffer a winless run akin to United`s own if the Essex side were to regain that top-six advantage.
During post-match after the weekend defeat to Hartlepool, Boothroyd flatly refused to excuse the downturn while also refusing to surrender all hope for the season.
“It`s one of those situations where you can point fingers but it`s pretty pointless because as long as there`s a mathematical chance [to reach the play-offs], then we`ve got to go after it,” Boothroyd told BBC Radio Essex.
“To get in the play-offs, it was sort of an all-or-nothing game for us today. Had we won today, we would have put even more pressure on Huddersfield, but it isn`t to be. As it`s still mathematically possible, then we crack on,” he added.
Vital Colchester`s next poll asks you to decide who you think will be the club`s Player of the Season – get voting!
So what do you think?
Let us know with a comment below, or chat about this article in the forum. Not yet a member? Don’t panic, click on the banner below to join in.
We want to know YOUR thoughts…
VITAL COLCHESTER; YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE!
VITAL COLCHESTER IS 100% UNOFFICIAL – FOR THE FANS, BY THE FANS!
Think he’ll be here next season, whether he’s the man to take us forward we’ll have to wait and see – I think he can be and hope he is! Up the U’s!
can’t see the point in changing managers again, that said, he’ll have to be pretty good in the market over the summer and outstanding next season to win over a not insubstantial number of doubters