SWINDON TOWN: Colchester are better than us, says PDC

6:00am Tuesday 5th February 2013 in STFC News By Sam Morshead

'QUALITY': Paolo Di Canio 'QUALITY': Paolo Di Canio

COLCHESTER are the “better” side going into tonight’s clash with Swindon Town, according to Robins boss Paolo Di Canio.

The U’s may lie 15 places below Town in the League One table and Joe Dunne’s side may be contemplating the challenge of avoiding relegation rather than the dizzy heights of automatic promotion, but they have won each of their last two games and that - in Di Canio’s eyes - means they go into the match with the advantage.

The Italian, who also told the assembled media at his pre-match press conference that he expects the Weston Homes Community Stadium pitch to have an influence on proceedings, envisages a stern test from the Essex outfit.

“Tomorrow it will be difficult because it will be another pitch where you can’t play football. This is another aspect with all the other problems, it gives you even less chance to get what you want, and we are playing against a side that in this moment are better than us,” he said.

“They have two wins in two against two draws in two. They have five goals scored and two goals conceded against one goal scored and one conceded. At this moment they are better than us.

“It’s not about fifth from the bottom and fourth from the top. At this moment we have to say that we are going to play against a side which is better than us, for a different reason and not for the individuals’ technical quality.

“I hope tomorrow we can get a draw there. They have better confidence now, they have changed the system a bit, they have changed some players and some players who have been out for a few weeks are back in the team and affecting it in a positive way.

“There is quality there. We saw in here when we lost to them. They have one or two players who have played in the Premiership and Championship.

“It will be very difficult, not because I am giving up, but if we draw it would be a fantastic job.”

Di Canio could have as few as 13 players in his matchday squad tonight.

Troy Archibald-Henville, Miles Storey, Joe Devera and Louis Thompson are all injured, while Aaron Oakley has been called up by Wales Under 21s and Chris Martin has returned to Norwich.

However, the Swindon manager has ruled out using Luke Rooney, Lee Cox or any members of the youth team squad.

He said: “They (Rooney and Cox) didn’t train with us for a while because they had a long period away. They had three weeks to try to come back to use, and it’s difficult. I would like to have many options but tomorrow if I recover one player we are 14. That is enough to have the subs to change if something goes wrong during the game.

“For tomorrow’s game they are not selected.

“We have too much problem to think now to bring in some young players, we’re not talking about youth now. There is not a chance to bring something or someone with the rest of the team.

“It’s ridiculous to bring three or four players just to have a travelling 18, it’s more ridiculous than going with 14, which is pathetic and ridiculous. But it’s more ridiculous to bring four of the youngest - all like this, skinny like this, not having the energy to run 100 metres.

“Maybe I can think about using Bedders (Leigh Bedwell) as a striker.”

Comments(20)

sadgit says...
7:39am Tue 5 Feb 13

Sounds to me like Paolo is throwing in the towel.
Let Rooney and Cox earn their wages for a change.

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Rebel_phish says...
7:48am Tue 5 Feb 13

I don't know what to make of Paolo at the moment. Is he playing things down? Using reverse psychology? Or is he admitting defeat before a ball is kicked?

Paolo, you still have that fighting spirit, but I think your hiding it well.

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southside7 says...
7:52am Tue 5 Feb 13

Another dig at Bodin.

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tifosi says...
7:56am Tue 5 Feb 13

- 'skinny like this, not having the energy to run 100 metres.
Maybe I can think about using Bedders (Leigh Bedwell) as a striker'

- you have to laugh

Report this post »

Last step says...
7:56am Tue 5 Feb 13

He's just saying he'd rather take 13 or 14 fit useable players rather than taking others just to make the numbers up, isn't he? Fair enough.

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ChippyBOB. says...
7:59am Tue 5 Feb 13

sadgit wrote:
Sounds to me like Paolo is throwing in the towel. Let Rooney and Cox earn their wages for a change.
Paolo knows exactly what he's doing, and it isn’t throwing any thing, towels or teddies.
He has shown that over the last few days of turmoil that he is being an exceptional professional.
He is trying to use any thing he can to gain what ever edge he can against Colchester.

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London Red says...
8:20am Tue 5 Feb 13

It blatantly kidology and can't believe to anti PdC crew are too stupid to see this
.
Do you really think PdC thinks Colchester are better?
.
Classic siege mentality bonding the players together - they will be fighting tonight like they did on Sat when 4 got off their sick beds to play

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SAPFanSTFC says...
8:24am Tue 5 Feb 13

Rebel_phish wrote:
I don't know what to make of Paolo at the moment. Is he playing things down? Using reverse psychology? Or is he admitting defeat before a ball is kicked?

Paolo, you still have that fighting spirit, but I think your hiding it well.
Playing things down - Yep Probably!
.
Reverse Psychology - More than likely!
.
Admitting defeat....!?...What Paolo!?...
NEVER!! :-)
----
I'll be there watching tonight but glad he is not risking Pack's participation in the last 16 games just to take Rooney for half a game at most.
.
If needs be then I'll be glad with a point tonight.

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EastleazeRed says...
8:26am Tue 5 Feb 13

sadgit wrote:
Sounds to me like Paolo is throwing in the towel.
Let Rooney and Cox earn their wages for a change.
Think Rooney is now training with Cheltenham . Does slightly worry me though how the players are going to react with paolo being so negative about everything , is it going to rub off on the squad.

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London Red says...
9:07am Tue 5 Feb 13

He will be telling them completely different things - we have seen this before when we went through the injury crisis under the embargo
.
He came out saying we will be lucky to be mid table etc - but was telling the players they can still do X Y and Z
.
Can't remember who now - but one of the players said it in an interview
.
I can 100% guarantee you he won't say in his pre match talk - they are better than us and if we can scrape a draw it will be fantastic
.
It will be more like we are better then them -we are unbeaten in 9 - only conceed 3 in that period and now have a great iopportunutiy to really put pressure on the top two

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Steve. Brentford says...
9:09am Tue 5 Feb 13

Ive always known that Colchester were a better team than us,is it even worth playing tonight.



HAHAHAHAHA

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SAPFanSTFC says...
9:21am Tue 5 Feb 13

Steve. Brentford wrote:
Ive always known that Colchester were a better team than us,is it even worth playing tonight.



HAHAHAHAHA
Oh WOE IS US!!!!
.
or is it:
OH WOE ARE WE!!!
:-)
---
Hold those scarfs...scarves high!! Blimey!!...strugglin
g with my grammar today!
.
(should that be scarves or scarfs!? - or is it only scarves when I have more than one or is it scarves when there are more than one?)

Report this post »

Another view says...
9:39am Tue 5 Feb 13

London Red says...
8:20am Tue 5 Feb 13
It blatantly kidology and can't believe to anti PdC crew are too stupid to see this
.
Do you really think PdC thinks Colchester are better?
.
Classic siege mentality bonding the players together - they will be fighting tonight like they did on Sat when 4 got off their sick beds to play."

- Yep.

Report this post »

Steve. Brentford says...
10:10am Tue 5 Feb 13

SAPFanSTFC wrote:
Steve. Brentford wrote:
Ive always known that Colchester were a better team than us,is it even worth playing tonight.



HAHAHAHAHA
Oh WOE IS US!!!!
.
or is it:
OH WOE ARE WE!!!
:-)
---
Hold those scarfs...scarves high!! Blimey!!...strugglin

g with my grammar today!
.
(should that be scarves or scarfs!? - or is it only scarves when I have more than one or is it scarves when there are more than one?)
Now i'm confused :O)

Report this post »

Is that you Lovesey says...
11:57am Tue 5 Feb 13

No They aren't !!

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Steve. Brentford says...
12:06pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Is that you Lovesey wrote:
No They aren't !!
They are Stevie,Paolo said so!!

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Is that you Lovesey says...
12:32pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Steve. Brentford wrote:
Is that you Lovesey wrote: No They aren't !!
They are Stevie,Paolo said so!!
Must be true then Steve, you going tonight, I am in Brum so can't make it... Went to Cawley which was dire...

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Steve. Brentford says...
12:42pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Is that you Lovesey wrote:
Steve. Brentford wrote:
Is that you Lovesey wrote: No They aren't !!
They are Stevie,Paolo said so!!
Must be true then Steve, you going tonight, I am in Brum so can't make it... Went to Cawley which was dire...
No mate,not tonight,i could of at a push but i hate traveling to and from Colchester and even worse i hate there ground,so decided to wait until the Franchise before my next game.
I was at the Creepies game as well mate dire in every sense of the word i agree,second half was a little better but the best bit being the hot air blowing out of dash.

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Old-Stager, Hilperton says...
3:47pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Coarals Bookmakers clearly dont think that Colchester Utd are a better team than Swindon Town, even though Colchester have home advantage.
.
Colchester Utd 13/5 against
Swindon Town - Even Money
.
Meanwhile this current situation at the County Ground is very stressful for me and I am sure every other Town Fan as well.
However, whatever the outcome is, I shall always follow Swindon Town for the rest of my life.

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chrystovski says...
9:52pm Tue 5 Feb 13

Send your messages to Paolo and let him know why we want him to stay

http://www.thisisswi
ndontownfc.co.uk/new
s/headlines/10205113
.Send_your_messages_
to_Paolo/

In Paolo we trust!

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