Half Term Report: United Endeavour Surpasses Expectations
Cambridge United’s weekend victory
over Boreham Wood sees the side progress to the last 32 of the FA Trophy, while
the current two week break between league fixtures ensures that The U’s sit
fifth at the midway point of the 2011/12 season.
The fact that there has been some
disgruntlement over the past few weeks concerning performances and results only
goes to further demonstrate quite how outstanding the past four months have
been for the club’s fans.
As pre-season began there were
concerns about how Jez George would be able to construct a side that would be
competitive on a budget far smaller than what has been in place in recent years.
By competitive, fans hoped that there would be no repeat of the near
catastrophe of last season. Never mind sitting in the playoffs at the mid-point
of the campaign, a top half finish would have been deemed a great success.
Even if this campaign
extinguishes itself rather than providing fireworks, comfort can be taken from
the fact that United fans can attend games in the knowledge that their side
will battle for everything even if the level of quality is not as great as it
could be. This young squad, with not a single outfield player over the age of
25, will surely only improve the longer they play together. Next season they
may be in a position to mount a genuine challenge. If the squad can be so
competitive at this stage, there may be reason to be excited about future
campaigns.
The squad has displayed strengths
throughout. Three central defenders have all excelled themselves. The emergence
of Rory McAuley as a top class centre half for this level is very much to his
credit; the fact that he cannot currently force his way into the side ahead of
Josh Coulson and Michael Wylde speaks volumes for their own performances. Beside
them, James Jennings and Kevin Roberts have developed their own games hugely
under Jez George. The previously questioned attitude of Jennings is now a
distant criticism, while the stature of Roberts is a far cry from the liability
he often looked last season. The right back is perhaps the most improved player
of the season.
The midfield trio of Rossi
Jarvis, Tom Shaw and Luke Berry best explains why George’s 4-5-1 system is so
valuable, all providing a wealth of attributes to the body of the team. Jarvis is
woefully under-praised for his unnoticed role in the “water-carrier” position,
while Tom Shaw has fast become a fan’s favourite with his performances, leading
the charge at the front and digging in to the battle at the other end.
If they are the team’s spine,
Berry is the heartbeat. Within minutes of his return to the starting eleven at
Ebbsfleet following injury, it was clear how badly he had been missed. Few who
have seen him play believe he will continue to ply his trade at this level for
long, fewer still can comprehend how he had accumulated only ten minutes of
first team football in his career until just eleven months ago.
The main goal threat has been
provided from either flank, Harrison Dunk and Ashley Carew both stepping up to
full time football to co-lead the scoring charts with seven so far. While
both can be frustrating they can only improve with more matches. Dunk is
rightly tipped to join Berry at a higher echelon in years to come.
Michael Gash up front garners
criticism for his lack of goals. This is perhaps fair: how much further up the
league table would United be if they had a centre forward who had reached
double figures at this point? However it would be harsh to condemn him too much.
If it was not for his work rate, ploughing his often lonely trade with such
endeavour, the scoring exploits of others would surely not have been achieved.
Cambridge United sitting in such
a strong position at the halfway stage of the season is a source of great
pleasure to the club’s fanbase. With the majority of the leading sides in the
division yet to visit The Abbey it would not be a great surprise to see The U’s
slip down away from the top end of the division by the time to season ends. For
many this would come as a disappointment due to the strong showing thus far,
but the manner in which the players have excelled themselves in the opening
half of the campaign must be seen as surpassing the wildest of hopes as much as
the most ambitious of expectations. One only has to think back to last season
to see just how far Cambridge United have come.
Matt Ramsay
posted on 12 December 2011 18:49 byMatt Ramsay - Cambridge United supporter
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