EastStandBlue
Life President
Until the season ends, and what a season its been. After that day in Cardiff, Anybody offering 20th Place in League One next season to a Shrimper would've had their arm snatched off.. After all, the general consensus was that, earning promotion through The Play-Offs and not automatically, we were the weakest of the sides.
News of The World, under the "Expert" (Used as loosely as possible" opinion of Chris Waddle, predicted us to finish 22nd, stating "Tilson refuses to lose heart with his failure to bring in a striker and insists he will not be rushed into signing the first player to step through the door". ITV didn't think much better, predicting us to finish 20th, barely surviving.
And it initially looked like the pundits would be correct, with us being outplayed in the first 45 minutes of the opening game of the season Vs. Port Vale. Although the second half saw a considerable improvement in a half where me more than matched Vale, a Wonderful Scissor Kick from Wayne Gray could not rescue a point. Maybe the pundits were right? Maybe this league is tough...
The next monday, a trip to ex-Premier$hite club Bradford, saw Southend pick up an unexpected win courtesy of an Own Goal and a Luke Guttridge strike which would prove to be the catalyst for a fantastic season. Although cup runs were not on the cards, and a minor blip which saw us go 8 games without a win, Southend still managed to maintain a decent position within the Play-offs after the Christmas schedule, courtesy of the "8 in a Rush" victories.
Now, 11 Months after Lincoln, We've sealed what we couldn't last season. Automatic Promotion. Something of a miracle considering having the smallest side in the League and spending less than £100k on players throughout the season. in Just over 24 hours time, Southend vs. Bristol City kicks off with a win settling the title in Southends Favour and securing the silverware to parade along the Seafront sunday afternoon.
Next Season, the same as this one, I'll snatch safety and consolidation now, and am not looking forward to a Summer of transfer rumours... At least i'll have Chris Waddles Position prediction to look forward to and laugh at.
News of The World, under the "Expert" (Used as loosely as possible" opinion of Chris Waddle, predicted us to finish 22nd, stating "Tilson refuses to lose heart with his failure to bring in a striker and insists he will not be rushed into signing the first player to step through the door". ITV didn't think much better, predicting us to finish 20th, barely surviving.
And it initially looked like the pundits would be correct, with us being outplayed in the first 45 minutes of the opening game of the season Vs. Port Vale. Although the second half saw a considerable improvement in a half where me more than matched Vale, a Wonderful Scissor Kick from Wayne Gray could not rescue a point. Maybe the pundits were right? Maybe this league is tough...
The next monday, a trip to ex-Premier$hite club Bradford, saw Southend pick up an unexpected win courtesy of an Own Goal and a Luke Guttridge strike which would prove to be the catalyst for a fantastic season. Although cup runs were not on the cards, and a minor blip which saw us go 8 games without a win, Southend still managed to maintain a decent position within the Play-offs after the Christmas schedule, courtesy of the "8 in a Rush" victories.
Now, 11 Months after Lincoln, We've sealed what we couldn't last season. Automatic Promotion. Something of a miracle considering having the smallest side in the League and spending less than £100k on players throughout the season. in Just over 24 hours time, Southend vs. Bristol City kicks off with a win settling the title in Southends Favour and securing the silverware to parade along the Seafront sunday afternoon.
Next Season, the same as this one, I'll snatch safety and consolidation now, and am not looking forward to a Summer of transfer rumours... At least i'll have Chris Waddles Position prediction to look forward to and laugh at.
