Echo News Appiah-Forson determined to keep taking his chance with Blues

[Evening Echo]

KEENAN Appiah-Forson is keen to keep on making his minutes matter at Southend United.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Playing well - Southend United midfielder Keenan Appiah-Forson (Image: Lucy Copsey)


By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.

KEENAN Appiah-Forson is keen to keep on making his minutes matter at Southend United.

The midfielder - who went five months without making a league start - has shone on his returning to the starting line-up against both Woking and Altrincham.

But the 23-year-old always knew he would have fight to work his way into Kevin Maher’s side.

“Coming here I knew there were good midfielders at the club,” said Appiah-Forson.

“There’s healthy competition and every midfielder here is a good player.

“I try to impress every week and it can be frustrating at times but you’ve got to keep pushing.

“You have to stay ready and if you’re on the bench you have to come on and try to affect the game.

"If you start then you have to back up the performances and keep doing well which is what I’m trying to do now.”

Appiah-Forson has now started back to back games for the first time since October.

And he is relishing his return to action.

“I love football in general so to be playing is a good feeling,” said Appiah-Forson.

“Playing games is all you dream of as a footballer. You want to get as many games as you can under your belt and try to impress every week.”

Appiah-Forson certainly impressed on Saturday and helped the Shrimpers secure a 2-1 win against Altrincham with his incredible energy levels.

“I’ve always been an energetic player and I’ve always been someone who brings energy to the team,” said Appiah-Forson.

“I cover a lot of distance where I play and through my academy days at West Ham I would sometimes play at right-back too.

"That’s where I get my challenges from and I enjoy that side too.”

But Appiah-Forson is now turning his attentions toward Saturday’s clash at third placed Forest Green.

We’ll be trying to upset them as we’re trying to get into the play-offs,” said Appiah-Forson.

“We’re in good form so they should be scared of us as well.”

 

[cerbera45]

Originally he (KAF) and Morton were Kev's 2nd choice midfielders

 

[cerbera45]

Was very impressive yesterday

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Rumour I'd heard that he was very miffed a few weeks back before he broke in the team and would be trying to get a summer move. Bet he's loving it now. I know i am watching Appiah

 

[leeblue]

Rumour I'd heard that he was very miffed a few weeks back before he broke in the team and would be trying to get a summer move. Bet he's loving it now. I know i am watching Appiah

Two ways of looking at this kind of statement...work hard and grab your opportunity when it arises or as it unfortunately sounds he was just going to throw his toys out of the pram and demand a move.
He has absolutely grabbed his opportunity and played very well but now I'm a bit disappointed that he was going for the strop option.
Funny how the things turn out I suppose.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Two ways of looking at this kind of statement...work hard and grab your opportunity when it arises or as it unfortunately sounds he was just going to throw his toys out of the pram and demand a move.
He has absolutely grabbed his opportunity and played very well but now I'm a bit disappointed that he was going for the strop option.
Funny how the things turn out I suppose.

I didn't read into any potential strops or throwing toys out the pram from the report above. He aknowledged the difficulty of getting game time with competition for starting places, and a real hunger to play and keep his place.

That was my take, anyway. Hope I'm right.

 

[Amwell Blue]

I think that's better than being willing to sit back and taking the money.

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

Rumour I'd heard that he was very miffed a few weeks back before he broke in the team and would be trying to get a summer move. Bet he's loving it now. I know i am watching Appiah

Not true.

Understandably wanted more game time, but wasn’t any talk of angling for a summer move.

 

[RHB]

Not true.

Understandably wanted more game time, but wasn’t any talk of angling for a summer move.

A rumour is half way round the world before the truth has got its boots on.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Not true.

Understandably wanted more game time, but wasn’t any talk of angling for a summer move.

Good.

I said on here when we got his signature it was an excellent bit of business. How he has progressed with game time, from a brilliant recovering tackle that assisted a goal at Forest Green, to one of the better performers at Boston and now a motm display and winning goal against Oldham.

A right handful, exceptional workrate, decent leap for his size, not afraid to shoot and love how he gets across his man to keep possesion or win it back. Lad's got a winner's mentality it seems and those kind are what we'll need to get out of this league.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Good.

I said on here when we got his signature it was an excellent bit of business. How he has progressed with game time, from a brilliant recovering tackle that assisted a goal at Forest Green, to one of the better performers at Boston and now a motm display and winning goal against Oldham.

A right handful, exceptional workrate, decent leap for his size, not afraid to shoot and love how he gets across his man to keep possesion or win it back. Lad's got a winner's mentality it seems and those kind are what we'll need to get out of this league.

So are you a fan or not? Cut out the ambiguity.

 

[dusterman]

Delighted he’s proved some doubters wrong in recent games. Should have had a run in the team sooner.

Another example that wholesale squad changes are not needed IMO. 4/5 (2 CBs, LB/LWB, CM, Striker) of top quality players sprinkled through the spine of the side and we have a very good squad. Quality not quantity now.

 

[leeblue]

Kind of backs many peoples theory on the maher out debacle. It was/is a player issue. Leon and KAF have been pivotal in our recent good form. Now imagine an uninterrupted summer of transfer dealings and proper pre season....

 

[thenobster]

I always was a fan of a 'little legs' power house.. Ron Pountney for example... In recent times, i liked Callum Powell, sadly, not many others did, but he was a shock to the oppositions defence coming on late in the game.

 

[duncan bulgaria]

Good player , fantastic work rate and one of the players to get the crowd going , generally by tracking back and retrieving possession , as soon as the crowd are on your side things become a lot easier in football

Him and Leon have been the reason behind our recent turn in form ( add Golding to that ) and what a difference 8 months make , back last season i couldn't see Bridge and Miley being replaced as they were pivotal to everything we done well , but i cant see them getting back in the side at present

One huge positive for the remainder of the season is that our bench is ridiculously strong and all of our subs on Saturday would walk into a top 8 side IMO , think back to Barnet away when we had to throw Kabalonga & Vihete up top due to our limited numbers

This means when changes are made we are like for like instead of weakening the side which has been teh case in recent years

 

[Chrisb]

I always was a fan of a 'little legs' power house.. Ron Pountney for example... In recent times, i liked Callum Powell, sadly, not many others did, but he was a shock to the oppositions defence coming on late in the game.

Yes, loved Ronnie, what great memories.