Voices on the game... Colchester United

We’ve another intriguing test tonight as we travel to League Two side Colchester in the third round of the Carabao Cup (7.45pm). In our new feature here on tottenhamhotspur.com, we bring you some of the key opinions on each fixture ahead of kick-off, featuring a selection of voices from inside both clubs involved and the wider footballing world. Among those speaking about Colchester today are a local journalist, a Spurs legend who used to play for them and a current Spurs starlet who played against the U’s as recently as Saturday...

Jon Waldron

Sports writer for Colchester Gazette, Spurs season ticket holder

“Colchester United obviously go into the game as huge underdogs in the sense that Spurs are a huge club – Premier League status, Champions League finalists last season. Colchester United are a League Two club, looking to win promotion this season under John McGreal, so the odds are stacked against them but, in saying that, they performed particularly well in the last round of this competition against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. They went there, drew 0-0 and won it on penalties – they didn’t look fazed by the whole experience of playing against a Premier League team on their home ground. Having chatted to the manager and the players on Monday and over the last few days, I think they feel that they are going to give it a really good go. There are some players in the squad that perhaps won’t get many opportunities to play against a club like Spurs. They really want to relish this experience and win the game.

“Colchester have really come into some form recently, too. They had a bit of a hiccup the weekend before last at Forest Green Rovers where they lost 1-0 but they’ve only had one defeat in their last nine in all competitions after the Leyton Orient win on Saturday, and they’ve had back-to-back wins in League Two going into this game. They’ve made a lot of changes within the squad over the last few months with a lot of players leaving and many of them going to a higher level and then having to bring in players to replace those that have left, so there was always going to be a slight element of transition in the early part of the season, but it seems as though the last few games and performances have really shown that they have started to gel as a team and the competition for places within the squad is  actually quite fierce at the moment. They are two points off the play-off places, so they are there or thereabouts. And John McGreal, the manager, it’s his fourth season in charge and he’s been very close to getting them into the play-offs in his three years so far.”

Teddy Sheringham

Former Spurs and Colchester United striker

“It’s a great fixture for Colchester. Tottenham have lost a couple of games this season but Colchester had a good result against Leyton Orient at the weekend so they’ll be excited about going into this fixture and looking to make a giant-killing. It’s a big old stadium at Colchester, they say it’s going to be a horrible night weather-wise and it gets cold in that stadium as well, so to be honest the home fans will have to make it very hostile if they’re going to be a factor.

“Any time that the opposition have had a bad result like Tottenham did at Leicester, you’ve got to get them on the back foot. Colchester will go into the game full of optimism and try to take the game to Tottenham but the gulf in class is just immense now and I wouldn’t think it will be too much trouble for Spurs. I would think there’ll be changes in the team but if you’re coming off of a defeat, when you’re a professional footballer you learn to ride the storm at times. Hopefully things turn around – it’d be great for Tottenham to win the League Cup.”

Teddy finished his playing career with a season at Colchester in 2007/08. “It didn’t really go according to plan, even though I loved the club,” he said. “Robbie Cowling was the chairman, he still is now and he’s got a good way of running the club, very family-orientated. The football didn’t really go according to plan when I was there, we had a lot of injuries and you can’t always handle that at smaller clubs. It wasn’t the best season I’ve ever had but I’m glad I went because it was an enjoyable year playing for the football club.”

George Marsh

Spurs midfielder on loan at Leyton Orient, played against Colchester in League Two on Saturday

“Colchester can mix it up, but they are a decent side who look to play football. They started 4-2-3-1 against us on Saturday. They played well in the first half and went 2-0 up but we pulled a goal back before half-time and in the second half, they went more direct.

“They have forwards (Courtney Senior, Kwame Poku, Theo Robinson) who like to run in behind and midfielders who are good on the ball. Most people will have heard of Frank Nouble (began his career at West Ham) and he was sharp. One player who caught the eye was Courtney Senior who played down the right, he’s one to look out for.”

Paulo Gazzaniga

Spurs goalkeeper

“Colchester have nothing to lose and they maybe have extra motivation to play against a team from the Premier League. I think it’s going to be a good game because they’re in League Two – in those divisions it’s very physical and they put the pressure on a lot so we hope to get the win but also we will try to enjoy it.

“Personally I love to play every single game I get the opportunity to play and, of course, we always want to win games. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Carabao Cup, Premier League, Champions League or FA Cup, we are always focused on this.”

John McGreal

Colchester United head coach

“The game is a credit to the club and what we’ve done in the cups this year. For the boys and girls who were at Crystal Palace (who Colchester beat on penalties in the second round), this is a great reward for them. It’s a game for us to go and enjoy – that’s the main thing. It’s a great game for the football club and it puts us on the map again really.

“We’ve drawn Premier League teams in the last two rounds and it’s a game to go and enjoy. Listen, it’s Tottenham Hotspur coming to our ground. They beat Tranmere by six goals in the (FA Cup) last season and they are a formidable team.”