Echo News 'It's incredible' - Pepple in awe of support for the Shrimpers

[Evening Echo]

BIM Pepple says Southend United have the best supporters in the lower leagues.

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[Che's Left Foot]

massive.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.
Great support - for Southend United at Halifax Town (Image: FOCUS IMAGES)

BIM Pepple says Southend United have the best supporters in the lower leagues.

Pepple has formed a good relationship with Blues fans since signing on loan from Luton Town.

And the forward has been taken aback by the level of support coming Southend’s way.

“I was with Moncs (George Moncur) in the tunnel before the game on Saturday and we heard singing we thought was the home fans but when we came out onto the pitch we realised it was the Southend fans,” said Pepple.

“They’re the best fans in the league and probably better than any fans in the league above as well.

“It’s incredible and it pushes you on.

“When you score you want to make them happy so I’m glad we got three points for them.”

Pepple scored Blues’ first goal in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Halifax Town.

And he was again left in awe of the Shrimpers supporters in attendance.

“When I was in Canada I didn’t know too much but when I was at Bromley I knew of the Southend support so when I heard about maybe coming here on loan I knew it was a big team,” said Pepple.

“I’d seen it on Instagram so I knew the support was big but nights like tonight when it’s a long trip away from home you see them and it’s crazy.

“We all appreciate it so much.”

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Nice to see Chris pictorially recognised for his support.

 

[choggy]

In terms of supporter base we're probably better supported than his parent club Luton - their average crowd was about 7300 when they were in the NL in 2013.

He's been great for us so far...sign him up at the end of the season, offer him the chance of joining a bigger club.

 

[Strykr]

I was very sceptical about this loan, very happy to be proved wrong, whoever scouted him has done well, he's settling in to the Cardwell role and still has more to come.

 

[Tommy2holes]

I honestly believe if we could sign him permanently, and we should be trying, that he will be a 20+ striker at this level

 

[Thundersley Blue]

I was very sceptical about this loan, very happy to be proved wrong, whoever scouted him has done well, he's settling in to the Cardwell role and still has more to come.

Almost certainly John Still.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Almost certainly John Still.

Correct. He obviously still has lots of connections at Luton.

But John Still’s powers are running out, need to replace him blah blah blah.

Nice to see a couple of people who slagged his signing into the ground have now apologised. I won’t hold my breath for some.

It’s almost like the football department know what they are doing.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Correct. He obviously still has lots of connections at Luton.

But John Still’s powers are running out, need to replace him blah blah blah.

Nice to see a couple of people who slagged his signing into the ground have now apologised. I won’t hold my breath for some.

It’s almost like the football department know what they are doing.

As I just stated on the other thread, we seem to have changed tact slightly in regards to recruitment and Stan stated that too. Now of course, that maybe embargo related and just taking what we could get, but maybe Stan is right.

If that is the case, I'm intrigued to see how data analysis works with the old school scouting route and spotting talent with the naked eye John Still/Barry Fry style. Is that how the club want things long term?

Will it drastically change behind the scenes where Kev is given players based on the data rather than his pick? Head coach rather than a manager like a lot of clubs are doing. Time will tell. I'm hoping for a hybrid of the two. The data leading to a pool of players that John Still and Kev then go and watch but ultimately, it being their choice and decision. Let's see.

 

[Callum]

Sign him up in the summer would be a great signing

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Sign him up in the summer would be a great signing

The club would love to sign him, but it's not that simple.

 

[ShrimperLee]

What do we reckon (realistically) it would take to sign Bim? £100k? More? Less?

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

What do we reckon (realistically) it would take to sign Bim? £100k? More? Less?

I don't think that is just a question of money. I'm sure his adoration of our fans is genuine and warmly felt but in the end that doesn't pay the bills nor, maybe, fulfill the potential he has. In the end it could(?) end up a difficult decision for Bim to make. A choice between a club he has an affection for or a club which will further his career. Unfortunately and ironically, the better he gets for us during the rest of the season, will probably make it less likely that we would be able to keep him. Best to just enjoy him whist we have him!

 

[londonblue]

Hopefully he doesn't read SZ.

It's a depressingly familiar routine on here. We sign someone and some people instantly (and simplistically) assume he's **** because of his stats. He then proves them wrong, but they crawl under a rock rather than admit that.

How many times does this happen? As I said, it's depressingly familiar.

 

[blues exile]

His impressive performances in a side having a disappointing season will not have gone unnoticed and surely there will be bids for him further up the pecking order before long.

 

[wiffygriffy]

As soon as I saw Bim play you could tell he was a proper player with bags of potential. He bullies opposition defences, so strong and technical for this level. Unfortunately for us that means a higher level club will probably come in for him but i harbour hope that as he's only 21, Luton might just loan us him for another season. If he continues he's upward trajectory, Luton themselves could even use him or they will get even more decent money for him. He needs to work on his fitness though, be nice to see him effective after 60 minutes.

 

[Strykr]

Hopefully he doesn't read SZ.

It's a depressingly familiar routine on here. We sign someone and some people instantly (and simplistically) assume he's **** because of his stats. He then proves them wrong, but they crawl under a rock rather than admit that.

How many times does this happen? As I said, it's depressingly familiar.

indeed, but theres plenty of times they are **** .

In this instance it was always going to be a tough sell losing our star striker to a rival team in the same league and signing a total random.

Hes coming good and thats all that matters to me.

 

[Tommy2holes]

As soon as I saw Bim play you could tell he was a proper player with bags of potential. He bullies opposition defences, so strong and technical for this level. Unfortunately for us that means a higher level club will probably come in for him but i harbour hope that as he's only 21, Luton might just loan us him for another season. If he continues he's upward trajectory, Luton themselves could even use him or they will get even more decent money for him. He needs to work on his fitness though, be nice to see him effective after 60 minutes.

He is nowhere near the Luton first team. He isn't classed as a first team player on their own website.

They aren't going anywhere this season and Bim has potential but championship/premier league is probably beyond him.

He can however have a decent league career.

A 100k fee and a 20% sell would work well for all involved.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

He is nowhere near the Luton first team. He isn't classed as a first team player on their own website.

They aren't going anywhere this season and Bim has potential but championship/premier league is probably beyond him.

He can however have a decent league career.

A 100k fee and a 20% sell would work well for all involved.

Luton look as though they could end up in a relegation dogfight. Given another 6 months of improvement, he may well handle League 1. Interestingly Nathan Jones was at Luton when Pepple signed and said he was a project. Should he continue to improve we may find it difficult to sign him permanently.