Post-Match Thread and Ratings Oldham FC 3-2 Southend Utd

[LBBlue]

So my wife came to the game with me. She hates football doesn’t understand the game or what’s happening. My sister and son came too for a family get together - weddings funerals and Southend at Wembley.

Pre match warm up my wife says Oldham look bigger, stronger and fitter than us- wasn’t wrong there. Couldn’t understand why Hayes wears grey - said she couldn’t see him against the background - good point. She was very impressed with Duracell bunny Keenan- who wouldn’t be?

What she wasn’t impressed with were the three lads two rows in front of us who spent 90 of the 120 minutes looking at the Oldham fans pulling faces and making obscene gestures rather than watching the game. We were in block 122. There was also this guy who spent most of the first half aggressively shouting F off in the same direction.

I go to watch the football, about a quarter of the seats in front of us we’re still empty 5 minutes after half time - what’s the point of a pint being more important than the game?

For me - totally understand why Kev picked the starting 11 going for experience.
Don’t understand when Oldham miss we are lucky and when we miss we are crap.

The young ref was out of his depth - the only one on the pitch who let the occasion get to them and wasn’t physically able to last 120 minutes… if only we had had the ref who did the FGR match. Still, let’s try the youngsters out in the National League final where it doesn’t really matter.

Once Oli Coker came on we got control of the match again and I really thought we were in control but a big punt down the middle and the right bounce for Oldham and a fluke third stole it from us in what was a very even game where everyone gave their all.

Today my back still aches, and my thighs are sore from all that sitting down 3 hours on the train and 3 plus in the ground ….

At least we go there though …. Roll on August … Football should not go on into June. Pre season training in four weeks ?

 

[Sleaford Shrimper]

And I have the impression that the COSU are more interested in "bums on seats" (of which we currently have a great many) than they are in a return to the EFL

I remember something similar being said by some supporters about Chairman Bill Rubin after we'd dropped out of the promotion race from Division 4 in the final weeks of the season 1967/1968 : "The club makes more money winning games in Division 4 than losing games in Division 3." The truth or an early conspiracy theory? I don't know.

 

[Oldhams going uo]

Lose with dignity, you’ve nailed it on this thread, the best of luck next season

 

[ThorpeBayShrimper]

4,500. That's how many minutes our 49 game league campaign spanned, not counting those from the postponed game at Boston.

To lose promotion in the last 10 of those is truly gutting. And to a fluke goal. Brutal.

But we'll come back stronger and better equipped. It may seem hard to imagine now but Sunday's defeat will prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Keep the faith. UTB.

 

[thenobster]

Just seen on BBC about the racist abuse an ex player received after the game, and looking likely its come from a Southend supporter.
I hope you’re found. I hope you are made public and you are banned from the club.
There is no place for this, ever.. I thought we’d got past all this and left these racist idiots back in the 70’s where they belong.
Get out of our club and go play with the traffic.

 

[Sammy Shrimper]

Anyone had their Programme delivered from Curtis Sport yet? Ordered mine last Wednesday.

 

[bluesince66]

Anyone had their Programme delivered from Curtis Sport yet? Ordered mine last Wednesday.

No, I'm still waiting.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Although our support was big in numbers too many were more worried about half time drinks and sausage rolls many left 5 minutes before half time and returned 5 minutes after the break and need not understand why the score board said 1.1 while the Oldham support was all back for half time. Also thought our support was quiet when most needed. ------------ still upset

I missed the penalty incident and I wasn’t even drinking at ht. I was meeting up with family members who were a couple of blocks away (cheers the NL for your stupid ticket restrictions meaning we couldn’t sit together) and hadn’t realised the players had come out let alone started.

Bit of an aside but i was surprised there werent any ball boys.

i reckon that stole about 10 minutes of the match and hampered momentum for both teams.

Presumably dispensing with ballboys allowed us an extra 20 tickets.

Micky Mellon has 6 promotions to his name, including twice from this league. Knows how to set up a team to win, also being able to bring on someone of Norwood's calibre was the difference. He has scored over 200 goals in his career.

That was supposed to be Bonne for us. He had the chances but he couldn’t take them. It was almost if the occasion seemed too big for him but then he was missing those chances in the regular season too.

I wonder if, once the dust has settled - if Kev will regret a couple of decisions.

Firstly, the big decision was to start Miley over Coker. He went with Miley's experience and defensive qualities but given he's not started since January, I think it put a lot of pressure on him. He's been really effective as a closer and I would have loved to have him in the latter stages/extra time. His early yellow also nullified what he was able to offer, and he was blowing after 60 mins.

Secondly - Hopper over Bonne. Again, I think we missed Hopper in the second half of the match, when we need to defend at times and someone to take the pressure off the back line. Automatically he dropped back in the first 20 mins and left Kendall a bit isolated, which put us under pressure in the first half. Bonne has more pace and would have worried their defenders a bit more. We brought him on when we weren't exactly chasing the game, but just needed fresh legs up front as Hopper was exhausted.

TBF, I think our bench made a positive impact, which I expected it would have. Just a shame we didn't have the quality and experience of Cav and Hopper to bring off the bench to help us close the game out, in extra time especially

Yeah, I think Miley over Coker is the one Maher would want back. Besides their individual displays it disrupts the balance of the team. We look a lot more dynamic with Coker and KAF in there. I said beforehand that if Miley (who was excellent at Forest Green) was to return it should be for Noor. I thought Noor and Coker were two who enhanced their reputations at Wembley (along with Walker who had maybe his best performance for us and Harry Taylor). The question is whether we are too open with a midfield of Noor/Morton, Coker and KAF - we haven’t shown much defensive solidity of late and that’s not entirely down to Goodliffe’s form - and where do we fit in Parillon, our most talented player. How we answer that will help shape our recruitment this summer.

Anyway congrats Oldham. It hurts but it was a hell of a journey with the Rochdale and Forest Green games providing some of my best memories of following Southend. Indeed the Wembley final produced some amazing moments as well seeing our team twice take the lead but also being able to share it with three generations of my family. There were times I thought we wouldn’t have a club to be able to do that and then some family stuff that meant we might not be able to do that together. So to be able to share that experience with my family was extra special.

When Maher reached a final for the first time as a player he lost but the players and the club got a taste of success and he returned as captain twice the next year and clinched promotion. I’ll take that.

 

[LBBlue]

It was a great display.Thanks KM & SUFCFC but's let's not forget it's time for the "money men" (as I privately call the COSU) to splash the cash and properlly replace the 2 key players who left last August and obviously haven't been properly replaced.No idea what the so-called 5 year plan entails but it must include promotion to the EFL asap .As Barnet & Oldham have shown that takes dosh.

Interesting that fans expect the directors to cough up to improve the team for the 30,000 Southend till I die supporters. If each one of them coughed up just £20 there would be a nice fund of £600,000. £50 would give £1,500,000.

 

[IloveShrimp]

Interesting that fans expect the directors to cough up to improve the team for the 30,000 Southend till I die supporters. If each one of them coughed up just £20 there would be a nice fund of £600,000. £50 would give £1,500,000.

I would contribute!

 

[Chiefy]

Joined this forum last week, hoping to secure some tickets after the initial fiasco. I’m not a day tripper per se, having supported the club since the 70’s, with a season ticket on and off for about 10 years, and away trips to Hereford, Mansfield and Lincoln to name just a few back in the day (admittedly those clubs sound quite grand compared to some now!). These days it’s a handful of games a year but the Blues always have and always will be my team.

The information flow on here pre the match was hugely informative ( so thanks to all) and I’ve enjoyed reading 95% of the comments post the game.

What stands out is the camaraderie and graciousness between both sets of fans from Sunday, and the accurate admission that being honest we overachieved this season, and on the day the best team won.

The stand out difference for me were the forwards - theirs, both starting and off the bench looked dangerous all game. Ours, as has been the problem all season, did not. If KM did anything wrong, it was not taking Gus off for GW in the last 10, but it’s always brave to hook your top scorer and player of the year in such a huge game.

What KM and his management team achieved this year, in the circumstances they found themselves in (again) should never be questioned. COSU have brought stability to the club, and I am sure there will be a realistic ‘playing budget’ available for the summer, hopefully boosted by any revenue from Sunday.

I have every faith that we will recruit well and be consistently challenging near the top of the table next season.

 

[Wingnut]

Anyone had their Programme delivered from Curtis Sport yet? Ordered mine last Wednesday.

No. Still waiting

 

[Holy Joe]

No. Still waiting

I think the website said something like they'd try and get programmes delivered before match day. But that was contradicted by expected dispatch on Monday 2nd June!

 

[Swiss Tony]

Just seen on BBC about the racist abuse an ex player received after the game, and looking likely its come from a Southend supporter.
I hope you’re found. I hope you are made public and you are banned from the club.
There is no place for this, ever.. I thought we’d got past all this and left these racist idiots back in the 70’s where they belong.
Get out of our club and go play with the traffic.

I’ve personally not seen one racist comment in or around the grounds for possibly 20+ years, I’d say the vast majority of fans won’t tolerate that nonsense anymore but you will Always have one idiot mores the pity.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Interesting that fans expect the directors to cough up to improve the team for the 30,000 Southend till I die supporters. If each one of them coughed up just £20 there would be a nice fund of £600,000. £50 would give £1,500,000.

Perhaps we could get Qatar interested instead?

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I would contribute!

Me too.It could come down to a fighting fund for transfers in the end.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I’d strongly recommend watching the first 21 minutes from the CEO Forum held in March which covers specifically what the 5 Year Plan entails and the foundations that underpin it (spoiler: it does include promotion to the EFL).

Saw the first 21 minutes again ,as you recommended.I was struck that in his opening remarks TL seemed to suggest that promotion back to the EFL or deveoping the East Stand was an either or choice.It later became clear that developing the East in order to achieve break even status by the end of 5 years seemed to be the main goal .As an East stand habitue on my irregular trips back (these days) I'm quite prepared to put up with a wooden stand in order to achive promotion .Imagine most fans would agree. ,Any thoughts ?

 

[graingerroad54]

Just seen the Oldham chaireman singing a song hes written about his Owls eating shrimps. Toecurling!

 

[geoffmundo]

Just seen the Oldham chaireman singing a song hes written about his Owls eating shrimps. Toecurling!

Indeed, they eat many creatures but shrimps aren't on their menu!

 

[rigsby]

Saw the first 21 minutes again ,as you recommended.I was struck that in his opening remarks TL seemed to suggest that promotion back to the EFL or deveoping the East Stand was an either or choice.It later became clear that developing the East in order to achieve break even status by the end of 5 years seemed to be the main goal .As an East stand habitue on my irregular trips back (these days) I'm quite prepared to put up with a wooden stand in order to achive promotion .Imagine most fans would agree. ,Any thoughts ?

No. The East stand has to take priority. For safety and financial reasons.......Once a year day trippers wouldn't understand that. A group of decent business men clearly do.

No point in them explaining it further. As they would just be wasting their time. Either support and put up....Or shut the f*ck up.