The U’s impressed in the second round of the Football League Cup, beating Crystal Palace on penalties.
They now face Tottenham next week in the third round and many fans are dreaming of further cup success.
The win against Palace seemed to spark the U’s into life with only one loss in five games since and their ambition in the league must take priority over any cup run.
While each round of competition brings with it more revenue into the club, climbing up the football pyramid is essential for Colchester as they bid to move out of the fourth tier of the English Football League.
Colchester last season missed out on a playoff spot on the final day of the season narrowly missing out after other results went against them.
They currently sit 13th in League Two and should look to build on that position in the run up to the busy festive period.
With the current squad they have, promotion to League One currently could see them settle back into the third tier without much threat of going straight back down.
U’s manager McGreal must be careful not to burn out his players by ensuring he continues to rotate them in any cup run should they progress further.
Although early days so many teams in past seasons have thrown everything at the league and cups up until Christmas before realising that they no longer had the energy to see out the rest of the season.
On top of the fear of players running tired, on loan striker Theo Robinson who appears to be settling within the first team returns to Southend United on the 6th January.
Should he start to score more goals for the U’s Southend may opt to not let him go back out on loan, especially while they themselves are struggling in the league.
Every football fan that does not support Tottenham would love to see Colchester beat them next week, and the impact they would feel both financially and via the media will already make this season a huge success.
But the one impact they should desperately try to avoid this season is being caught in a fixture pile up and yet again missing out on promotion into League One.