A simple problem....

[Bentley's Absurd Gait]

Are the teams in league One this year much stronger than they were in the year that we won the title? Swansea are stronger than they were, same for Forest, and the addition of Leeds means maybe. But not by much. On average, we are playing against much the same quality of opposition as we were when we won the division. So is our team now significantly weaker than it was then?

Look at the key personnel changes:

Hammell for Wilson - overall, slight upgrade
Hunt/Francis for Hunt/Jupp - slight upgrade
Bailey for Guttridge - upgrade
Clarke/Richards for Prior/Sodje - significant downgrade
McCormack for Bentley - par

Other than the centre back position, I would argue that we are better equipped in defence and midfield than we were.

So let's look at the strikers:

McDonald for Gray - big downgrade
Harrold for Goater - big downgrade
Hooper for Eastwood - huge downgrade

There has been a lot of talk about our problems being all over the park, but to me it's simple. Whatever he has done since, however disinterested he may have been at the end of his Southend career, everything we achieved under Tilly could not have happened without Freddy Eastwood. His ability to make goals out of nothing and keep opposing defences honest covered up our other frailties, and now we are being found out. I doubt it will happen, but if there's any way of bringing him back on loan, we must do it.

 

[Pubey]

i don't think it's much different to be honest

 

[Jonny_Stokes]

To be fair you were guaranteed 6 points less than last time :)

 

[EastStandBlue]

Look at the key personnel changes:

Hammell for Wilson - overall, slight upgrade Massive upgrade I'd argue
Hunt/Francis for Hunt/Jupp - slight upgrade
Bailey for Guttridge - upgrade Not particularly, Gutts was awesome for us here
Clarke/Richards for Prior/Sodje - significant downgrade
McCormack for Bentley - par No way. Macca is twice the player Benno was.

Other than the centre back position, I would argue that we are better equipped in defence and midfield than we were.

So let's look at the strikers:

McDonald for Gray - big downgrade
Harrold for Goater - big downgrade
Hooper for Eastwood - huge downgrade

I feel there are 2 key things we're missing, thats a goal scoring centre forward and experience and presence at the back. We had that in Eastwood, who we were downright lucky to have, and Prior, who was in his last season.

As for the other teams at this level, it's definitely a stronger league. Leeds, Forest, Swansea and Doncaster were always going to press on this year... all four having big budgets and high ambitions.

Fact of the matter is, at the moment, we have a few key ingredients for success at this level... we just need to find that other ingredient that seperates the men from the boys and the title challengers from the mid-table mediocrity.

 

[Firestorm]

To me all this season has done is reinforced how much we overacheived with Freddy.....

Freddy gave the club a finacial boost . In both the fee we got and the increased gates , cup revenue etc with the success his goals gave us.
It was a blessing which helped saved us from going out of the league or going bust and set a platform for the future. However it also gave a high level of expectation which we have failed to acheive over the past 18 months.
4 years ago we lost 1-0 away at Mansfield and were 22nd in League 2. Had we been offered 8th in League 1 in 4 years then, we would have taken taken it with glee.
The last 2 seasons were exceptonal, in their emotion and that they are the exception, it wasn't normal and by no means could be maintained.
We have a strong footing now and its back to small steps forward unless we unearth another giant to help us leap.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Dont agree with those upgrades. Wilson and Jupp were far better in the air than Hunt and Hammell, Guttridge was awesome, albeit for one season. The big difference is no Freddy and no Spinner/Sodje.

 

[palexander]

...There has been a lot of talk about our problems being all over the park, but to me it's simple. Whatever he has done since, however disinterested he may have been at the end of his Southend career, everything we achieved under Tilly could not have happened without Freddy Eastwood. His ability to make goals out of nothing and keep opposing defences honest covered up our other frailties, and now we are being found out. I doubt it will happen, but if there's any way of bringing him back on loan, we must do it.

I've been saying this for ages (not particularly on SZ as I have given up with it on the whole!) - but without sounding blatently obvious, without Eastwood, momentum and the confidence that bred, we would have never acheieved what we have done over the recent years - not down to any magnificent managerial masterstrokes.

Goals win games and its a simple as that (unless you score 3 at Hartlepool :hilarious:). Without a forward who we know can dig us out of trouble, the pressure is always on the back 4 to keep a clean sheet.

Anyway, I'm sure Tilly is (and can become better) a 'good' manager for this level, time and again though, we see naivety in tactics and subs, odd selections, annoying press soundbites, lack of transfer movement (lack of contacts?) etc etc.

I dont want to knock Tilly, but the way people go on about how he is a 'god' etc - without Freddy, he probably wouldnt be in a job.

 

[Rousey22]

id have to say that since Eastwood left the grounds atmosphere went with him...

I fully appreciate what everyone is trying to do to get it going again and I think they will succeed with it.

But when we had Eastwood, you always had that feeling he could do something or crop up with a goal or two. I think that spurred the crowd on and always had us believing / cheering etc.. and now we dont have that x factor the crowd goes flat as who do we have to look to

 

[OldBlueLady]

Dont agree with those upgrades. Wilson and Jupp were far better in the air than Hunt and Hammell, Guttridge was awesome, albeit for one season. The big difference is no Freddy and no Spinner/Sodje.

Agreed, and I think it was grossly unfair to mark Hoops against Freddy, hardly comparative and had very few starts. Whilst Spinner and Sodj were pretty awesome, let's not forget that both were prone to some pretty major defensive errors though, and looking back at our successes it's far easier to remember those things missing now and overlook some of the faux pas that occurred. I think Juppy and Che were better defensively than Hunt and Hammell but not hugely, I find Hammell largely inconspicuous during games other than if there's a dead ball kick. Benno, nice guy and all, but for me, wasn't any better than what we have now, in fact, probably a little worse. Gutteridge when he first came was great also, it was only towards the end things went wrong. Goater and Gray both had their share of grief from the crowd, so no difference there then! Although, ability wise, both superior to what we currently have.

 

[Bentley's Absurd Gait]

I was not contending that Hoops was brought in to replace Freddy, I suppose the comparison I was trying to make was that all three strikers we have now are less talented than each of the three we had then. And the arguments about the other positions show there is little to choose between what we had then and what we have now. So I reckon my original point is fair.

 

[CC51DAS]

Lets also not forget that Daryl had an inspired season the year we went up .I lost count of the number of times he pulled off miracle saves .

And King Kev controlled the centre of the park , so the spine of the team was superb

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Dont agree with those upgrades. Wilson and Jupp were far better in the air than Hunt and Hammell

You're not seriously suggesting that Duncan Jupp - known only to have crossed the half-way line once in his entire Blues career (and how famously so), slower than molasses and with a turning circle of a super-tanker - is on a par with Lewis Hunt?

Lordy, lordy - has Lewis Hunt driven over a few-hundred cats in his time, or summat? What don't people like about having a fast full-back who knows how to defend (even if his passing is woeful)...?

:thump:

Hammell / Wilson isn't as much of an upgrade as we thought it might have been though - Che isn't as bad, nor Stevie as good, as many think...

Matt

 

[Dave Smiths Love Child]

And I await flak coat, but with the greatest respect Adam Barrett didnot set the world on fire in the Championship, I feel a good div 1 man, but nothing to ease the defence if we went up again and not too sure about this season either at times

Totally committed 100 % to the cause and bleds blue, but then so does Tilly, doesnot necessary mean they are quality and deserve god status

Personally blame not the management but the chairman same old words last season we had a war chest and promise to spend but somehow it failed to materlise and ended up with shall we say sub standard players, this year same story and unless we pull a rabbit from the hat we are destined for the same quality of player

But as I say its an opinion for one who goes week in and week out and have to be impressed with the chairman words on the pitch, clever PR or really 110 % Southend through and through you decide.

Maybe a cup run will ease the problem we are having in the league and bring the Rose tinted brigade back, I have to agree I thought mid table at the start of the season, but when we got our self in a challenging position for automatics and play offs it was a time for players to be brought in and if necessary shipped out.

If we are in Div 1 next year, I still cannot see any quality signings coming even with the FF in two years down the line, I just hope we donot end up like Darlo nice crowd and small crowds and even worse players that care to wear the shirt this season

 

[EastStandBlue]

Personally blame not the management but the chairman same old words last season we had a war chest and promise to spend but somehow it failed to materlise and ended up with shall we say sub standard players, this year same story and unless we pull a rabbit from the hat we are destined for the same quality of player

Absolute nonsense. £200k agreed for Walker plus another 6-figure deal in excess of £200k for a seperate striker... If that's not providing the funds i don't know what is. Ron puts the funds forward, Tilson and Co go out and find the targets. RM has been as supportive as he can be whilst working so we operate within our means... How anybody could place blame solely on him is beyond me.

 

[Jam_Man]

As pretty much everyone has said the simple difference is Eastwood.

Eastwood won countless games on his own with a bit of magic which mean the team didnt have to create the chances it does now to get a goal.

Thats over simplifying it of course as the team plays a huge part but its not surprising the rest of the team play with more confidence when you have a guy able to score 20+ goals up front.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

You're not seriously suggesting that Duncan Jupp - known only to have crossed the half-way line once in his entire Blues career (and how famously so), slower than molasses and with a turning circle of a super-tanker - is on a par with Lewis Hunt?

Lordy, lordy - has Lewis Hunt driven over a few-hundred cats in his time, or summat? What don't people like about having a fast full-back who knows how to defend (even if his passing is woeful)...?

:thump:

Hammell / Wilson isn't as much of an upgrade as we thought it might have been though - Che isn't as bad, nor Stevie as good, as many think...

Matt

Matt, whilst I'd rather Hunt than Jupp, Jupp was well known as an over-lapping full-back who spent plenty of time in the opposition half.

The question you should be asking if anyone can remember one of his numerous crosses ever resulting in a goal.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Matt, whilst I'd rather Hunt than Jupp, Jupp was well known as an over-lapping full-back who spent plenty of time in the opposition half.

The question you should be asking if anyone can remember one of his numerous crosses ever resulting in a goal.

2 assists according to the club stats for 2004/5 and 1 the previous season.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Matt, whilst I'd rather Hunt than Jupp, Jupp was well known as an over-lapping full-back who spent plenty of time in the opposition half.

The question you should be asking if anyone can remember one of his numerous crosses ever resulting in a goal.

Hmm. You may have a point. As OldBlueLady has pointed out, however, the end-product was so rare that those forays were largely forgettable.

Hunt may not be so strong going forward, but at least he defends well...