enough is enough

[Rusty Shackleford]

Wasnt this season consolidation anyway and then money would be spent next season to get us up to open the ground in the ccc.

I would be happy with mid-table obscurity, but on current form we are relegation candidates. Hartlepool were on a run of form similar to ours, and yet they have beaten us very comfortably. This division is so tight - we could find ourselves in the bottom four very quickly indeed.

 

[united blues]

dougie freedman....player manager

 

[Nobby Snide]

I think we all knew it was going to be a hard season, so why are we surprised...lets see where we are and how we are playing in january.

I wish I'd had a tenner on Tilly quitting by xmas like I said in august!

 

[DTS]

Tilson is still the right man for the job and should never be allowed or asked to leave.

 

[McNasty]

Tilson is still the right man for the job and should never be allowed or asked to leave.

But he will one day.

 

[turkishm]

I think we all knew it was going to be a hard season, so why are we surprised...lets see where we are and how we are playing in january.

I wish I'd had a tenner on Tilly quitting by xmas like I said in august!

I think you might be right, he will walk rather than be pushed. As i said on another post,i think he is trying to manage a team with one hand tied behind his back,unless RM releases some money i dont know how he is supposed to change the situation. The one area i do blame him for though, is the defence,i cannot believe he cant see the wofull defending,week after week and yet fails to bring anybody in

 

[OldBlueLady]

Comment from RM at the AGM

Ron began by repeating, again, the intention to return to the Championship as soon as possible, and said that things had started slowly this year, as they had last year and reminded us how things had changed last January with the investment in new players. He hopes to be able to make similar investment this January and commented that there is a period of frustration for the Club now until then, with the situation with the loanees. He commented that of course, he would like to keep all of them at the Club if possible. He said he was looking forward to a time we can truly invest in players, a situation unknown to Steve and Paul at present as the Club lives fairly hand to mouth. Ron added that buying out Delanceys was the trigger for the new stadium plans and that he had been unsurprised when the plans were called in by Government. He also said that the plans Sainsburys have for Roots Hall, while agreed in principle, were not expected to be “rubber stamped” until mid-December. He commented on the current financial situation and hoped that he has the financial skill to be able to circumvent obstacle. The new stadium and retail park was expected to cost approximately £80 million but hopefully the revenue generated would begin to fund investment from January 2009 up to and beyond completion of the new stadium.

 

[Skyblue]

Never thought i would hear my self say it but I really feel sorry for Tilly because I do believe he has been ordered to cut the wage bill to the bone and our completely inadequate squad and indeed the quility is not his doing. That then brings into question do we really want this new stadium that will be able to hold 3 or 4 times the average people we will have filling it to the obvious detrement to the team we're seeing now?

 

[Angell Delight]

Never thought i would hear my self say it but I really feel sorry for Tilly because I do believe he has been ordered to cut the wage bill to the bone and our completely inadequate squad and indeed the quility is not his doing. That then brings into question do we really want this new stadium that will be able to hold 3 or 4 times the average people we will have filling it to the obvious detrement to the team we're seeing now?

Yes, the new stadium is imperative if we are to be competitive in the long-term. If we don't move we'll always be in the lower leagues with the occasional brief foray into the Championship. Is that ambition? In the meantime however we have to tighten our belts and therefore endure some level of frustration with mid-table obscurity in League One. I'm happy to accept that with a brighter future on the horizon, more so than if the new stadium had been rejected but we were top of the table. Everyone wants the earth and they want it NOW, there's nothing wrong with that and I don't suppose we're any different from the majority of fans from all clubs but sometimes a reality check is needed.

I don't for one second believe this side will be relegated, it's a frustrating time for the club and the fact the League now operates with the transfer window makes it so much harder. I feel sorry for Tilly as a fit Barney/Dougie partnership could have made such a big difference to our points tally. The defence isn't good enough and I suspect Tilly realises it now, I sincerely hope he'll snap up a couple of defenders in January but what can he do now? We can't loan anyone and we can't sign anyone for another couple of weeks. We also have no decent competition which is a big problem (whether that's Tilly's fault or not I don't know so I wouldn't like to comment, it could well be because of tightening the purse-strings pre-stadium which is no-one's fault). As RM intimated at the AGM we've just gotta ride it out til the window opens. With the new stadium planned for the near future RM knows dropping into League Two would be an absolute disaster for the club and I'm sure he'll go hell-for-leather to make sure we consolidate AT THE VERY LEAST this season by backing Tilson in the January window. The proceeds from a 41,000 sell-out at Stamford Bridge will no doubt help that cause. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that we couldn't hope to get any better than Tilly managing our football club, he genuinely cares about Southend United and more importantly his record suggests he is one of the best young managers in the Football League. No-one really knows what restraints he's working under at this time and this was always going to be a more difficult season.

If we can maybe (hopefully) get Sawyer in for January along with Christophe who has already signed then it would make a massive difference to this side. The acquisition of Christophe is huge and any possible signing of Sawyer would be even bigger. If Barney/Freedman can stay fit then we'd be looking at the same side that went on such a good run of form early-season (with Stanislas for HRK who are pretty similar players). With a little more investment elsewhere i.e. a defender or two we'd easily consolidate in the top half, although we've left it too late for the play-offs IMHO. That would still represent a successful season this year whilst allowing the new players to properly gel for a promotion push next season.

On another note will anyone else be glad when the Chelsea tie is done and dusted? I have my suspicions it may be playing on some of our lads minds with regards to picking up injuries etc.......

:unsure:

 

[GBJ]

consider this the club in recent seasons has been well supported with decent money spinning cup games and nice transfer funds,yet despite all this the pursestrings are held firm.

the new stadium in my view is fanciful thinking and should either be scaled down or binned altogether in order to give tilly money to do his job.

furthermore both tilly and brush have longish deals which if RM decided to unload them would cost the club decent money,who would he get to replace them?whoever came in would have the same problems as the current duo.

 

[Angell Delight]

the new stadium in my view is fanciful thinking and should either be scaled down or binned altogether in order to give tilly money to do his job.

So you'd be happy to permanently remain a small club knocking about in the lower leagues? Your suggestion would sacrifice long-term potential of success for a bit of possible short-term glory. It's not something I'd be happy with.

 

[Skyblue]

How many times has roots Hall been a sell out even when we were in the championship? I'm sure with a little tinkering here and there, new roofs on the stands, utilizing the corners to make it ino more of a bowl shape we could add on another few thousand capacity. I would much rather have a cracking atmosphere in a tight little stadium holding 15,000 than 17,000 rattling around in a large souless morgue holding 25-27,000. You look at grounds on the telly highlights like Midlesbough, Sunderland or Wigan with their banks of empty seats, I tell you I am going more off the idea of this stadium by the minute.

 

[GBJ]

the new stadium in my view is fanciful thinking and should either be scaled down or binned altogether in order to give tilly money to do his job.

So you'd be happy to permanently remain a small club knocking about in the lower leagues? Your suggestion would sacrifice long-term potential of success for a bit of possible short-term glory. It's not something I'd be happy with.

we have been a small selling club since day 1 .

do you actually believe 80 million quid will become available any time soon.

football is a product and if the product is not up to scratch punters stayaway meaning loss of revenue.

my view would be to spend cash on the playing staff and spend a few million on roots hall,imagine if the east was demolished and replaced with a swanky main stand holding 5000 with boxes restaurants bars ect with possible cost being around 5 million and increasing capacity to around 14000 then if the club progress demolish the west and so on.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

dougie freedman....player manager

Dougies doesn't play very much ...

 

[Rayleigh boy]

there is clearly a bigger picture and when woolies has gone to the wall its unlikely that raising money for a football club to build a nerw stadium is easy .... i reckon its all over the place and in the meantime all budgets and evrything is managed on a week by week basis .... hence loans players and no long term strategy ..

its right old mess.... but i don't think the club has yet been put at risk or mismanaged -

still the best supported club in league one ...

by that i mean on all levels not just numbers ...

 

[Angell Delight]

the new stadium in my view is fanciful thinking and should either be scaled down or binned altogether in order to give tilly money to do his job.


we have been a small selling club since day 1 .

do you actually believe 80 million quid will become available any time soon.

football is a product and if the product is not up to scratch punters stayaway meaning loss of revenue.

my view would be to spend cash on the playing staff and spend a few million on roots hall,imagine if the east was demolished and replaced with a swanky main stand holding 5000 with boxes restaurants bars ect with possible cost being around 5 million and increasing capacity to around 14000 then if the club progress demolish the west and so on.

IF the new stadium does go ahead our catchment area is certainly big enough to ensure high enough crowds in the Championship. Bearing in mind we had a 10,000+ average in the CCC at the Hall and that was with a side rooted to the bottom of the division. A new stadium brings a certain amount of new supporters on its own but with Championship football and the fact that the club should be more profitable with the other business add-ons should mean that more money will be available for the playing budget. This means better players which means probable better results and therefore more supporters. It's a cycle, and it's how clubs like Swansea, Hull etc have grown in recent seasons in terms of on-field success and fan-base.

In the current climate it's not going to be an immediate build but I have every faith in RM to see this project through. If he doesn't then the way football is going we'll just end up as a very small club struggling to survive - moving is our only option if we want to prevent being a permanent lower league also-ran.....that prospect doesn't thrill me, if you're happy with that then fair enough.

And with regards to Roots Hall we aren't allowed to redevelop it further even if we wanted to, hence our fight to re-locate for a number of years now.

 

[Welly7]

now, i have sat back dring the last 7 games, careful not to be one of the voices of decent. however, after spending my friday evening listening to that, in my humble opinion it is time for a change.

i do not profess to have the answers but in my defence, i am not paid to make these kind of decisons.

i sit here in dread waiting for a stuttering post match press conferance where bad luck or the quaility of the half time oranges is blamed for a 7th game without a win. oh and 2 3 goal drubbings in the last couple of away games to boot.

these are tilsons players for better or worse. i am well aware of the tremendous feats this manager has bought to our little seaside club. all i read is how he took us from the brink to enjoy some of the finest sucess's in our history and for that of course i doff my cap (or in this case a very fetching trillby, i dressed up for tonights occasion)

perhaps steve is a victim of his own glories. but with the best will in the world, we are hading back down the pyramid and for those who disagree i suggest you smell the nescafe. a lot has been put on the return of the lad from chelsea but ask yourself this. why on earth would he want to come back? im sure he looks out for our results and who could blame him for thinking he could do better?

the back 4 is not good enough for this level (and thats soon to be depleated further) barnard isnt physically strong enough. yeah macca has had an operation and bless him for bringing himself back into contention but lets face it. he has no competition for his place.

as i said above. i dont have the answers. but this situation isnt good enough and i fail to see how we get out of it. yes the window opens in a couple of weeks but as per my point about sawyer, who wants to join a team in freefall?

i love the club and i hope upon hope tilly can turn it around. but maybe he has done all he can.

Bobby Greenberg

Tilly has performed wonders in the 5 years at the club, we all are aware that he has delivered the most successful period in the clubs history. However, I don't think makes him exempt from criticism.

For example, Tilly's recent quote on the possible signings of Harding & Sawyer sent out the wrong message. He stated that if any other club come in for either player then it's out of our hands - surely it's his job to sell the club to potential new signings?! Also, why is Moussa at Wycombe?! He's a much better bet than Milsolm and should not have extended his loan deal.
That said, I still think he's the man for the job and back him all the way. This is not blind faith based upon his achievements as Southend manager, but simply because I think given the right backing he'll turn it around.
I can understand fans questioning whether he should go, but in all honesty Tilly is doing the best he can with both hands tied behind his back.

I'm annoyed with the fact that we had a good team last season, capable of challenging this time around. That squad needed adding to, but it never happened and we have without doubt gone backwards. But, for me, if blame is to be apportioned then it's not towards Tilly, but at Ron Martin. Football doesn't stand still and a good side one year can become a poor one the next if money isn't released to improve the team.
Ron's dream of a new ground would be a catalyst for success both on and off the pitch if the side playing there are in good shape, but a 22,000 all seater stadium will be pointless if all we can look forward to is a local derby against Dagenham & Redbridge.

 

[MK Shrimper]

You know I just heard from Toelland who's at MK Dons and Leeds fans are bemoaning McAllister. Watch them sack him and then nick Tilly from under our noses and then we'll be sorry.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

You know I just heard from Toelland who's at MK Dons and Leeds fans are bemoaning McAllister. Watch them sack him and then nick Tilly from under our noses and then we'll be sorry.

Noooooooooo.
Quite possible unfortunately. And it would serve the moaners right.

 

[GBJ]

tilly must be hacked off if he reads some of the drivel on here,would not shock me that during the window he joins ipswich or southampton.