THE morning after the night before is perhaps not the best time to think about putting pen to paper about the U’s and their/our current fortunes, but here we go.

It’s dire straits again, for the second season running, when just as COVID hit two years ago, we were a pretty regular, top half of League Two side dabbling with the play-offs in a desperate attempt to climb a division.

It is now desperation of another kind. The survival kind, because despite the decent number of games left to play, with the potential for points available, the new broom, new voice bounce that was felt when Hayden Mullins departed seems to have come to an end. You can almost see it in the body language from some of the players.

They appear frustrated, angry and miserable. Perhaps even lacking motivation in one or two cases I hate to say.

Hartlepool, much like Carlisle before them, were definitely a beatable side, especially at home.

Gazette:

One point from a possible six is shocking. There has to be a marked improvement over our next three games, all at home of course.

The U’s have to find the formula to win a home game again and also improve on the 39 per cent possession that we endured.

Fair to say that Northampton last Saturday were not an easily beatable side. They were fit, hungry and efficient. To a degree it was damage limitation for the U’s but their late third goal was another gift.

If only Tommy Smith had of sneezed or coughed on the ball as it trickled across his flight path minutes earlier, just a foot or so between him and the goal line?

The U’s were outplayed, and in amongst all of the positive soundbites that followed in the days afterwards, Wayne declared that he had the ability to make changes for Tuesday.

I know that we took the lead against Hartlepool and clipped the woodwork twice, but my gut feel was that some of those changes did not work and sadly over the whole game my fears were realised.

Take John Akinde, a name that U’s fans have conjured with for several seasons. Clearly an attacking threat with his presence and strength, I just look forward to the day when is 100 per cent fit and can last the game.

His return to the starting line-up shifted Freddie Sears out to the left and for me that is a huge and criminal waste of his abilities through the middle from where he has done all of his good work this season.

Gazette:

The “sat nav” brothers, Tom E and Tom D must be included for the crunch game against Oldham this Saturday.

The present incumbents at the back look jaded and I think it is time for their experience to take a break on the bench.

Defending is a team game and it feels that at times we are just making it extra difficult for ourselves on the pitch.

Probably all of the goals we have conceded recently haven’t solely been down to our back line in fairness, but after watching the winner from Tuesday, a change is required.

I also would not mind seeing Shamal George back between the sticks and that’s with great respect to Jake who has pulled off a few terrific saves for us whilst on loan.

My big worry though is Brendan Wiredu. I would argue with anyone over the right to be his number one fan. He is my sort of player without any doubt.

However on Tuesday he looked barely a fraction of the footballer we all know he can be. Off the pace and generally looking quite down with things. He needs an arm around his shoulders and soon.

Gazette:

There are still positives, and if you saw the way that Cole Skuse plied his trade last Saturday and again on Tuesday, then in my view we have a player who is busting all of his guts to get his job done in the middle of the pitch. Just wish he would let fly more from outside of the penalty area.

These are all just my views of course, and I am sure that several U’s fans will feel differently. That’s football after all.

The question on all of our lips though is what will our chairman do regarding our current interim management?

Was he hoping that they would get the club through to the end of the season unscathed and then review and possibly interview?

Second guessing Robbie is a minefield as we all know. From my own point of view, and I do declare to have a lot of respect for Joe Dunne in all this, an experienced manager's voice, much like Tisdale was last season, could well be need to save us again.

For now though I will support whoever is in the dugout and whoever is on the pitch for the U’s tomorrow.

They really must be up for the fight against Oldham, and I wish them all luck and pass on thanks to all of the fans attending these next few crucial home games.