January 2025 - Crunch time?

[Rattus Norvegicus]

January is an interesting month for Southend United - a real mixture of games that may shape the remainder of the season.

Following the win against Braintree, we have a cup game & then games against teams in a range of positions in the table:-

Barnet (at Roots Hall) are 3rd but only 1 point of the leaders
Halifax (at Roots Hall) are 8th & looking to get into the play-offs
Dagenham (away) are alongside us in the league & looking for a new manager
Boston (away) are 2nd from bottom

[Note - games above are not in chronological order]

Us, Daggers & Barnet have a similar points haul from the last 6 games.

Halifax & Boston have 4 points each from the last 6 games.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

You would hope for progress in the cup, and at least 7 points from that run of games. We bossed Halifax away a few weeks ago, and should beat them at home, we should beat at least one of Boston or Daggers away, and the Barnet game could go either way to be honest.

We could by the end of Jan, be top 10 and pushing for the play offs, or still hovering around 13th, or a few points above the drop zone!

Who knows these days! I know that if its option 2 or 3 then Kev is going to be under some serious pressure.

 

[Linda Loan Shark]

We tend to play better away compared to at home as some of our home fans get on the players backs when we play at home. Expectatons go through the roof. I think we will continue this type of form into this month.

Home form we are 2 points above the relegation zone. Away form we are only 2 points off a playoff place

 

[leeblue]

7 points from that list and I think we are good.

 

[shrimpled]

You would hope for progress in the cup, and at least 7 points from that run of games. We bossed Halifax away a few weeks ago, and should beat them at home, we should beat at least one of Boston or Daggers away, and the Barnet game could go either way to be honest.

We could by the end of Jan, be top 10 and pushing for the play offs, or still hovering around 13th, or a few points above the drop zone!

Who knows these days! I know that if its option 2 or 3 then Kev is going to be under some serious pressure.

I agree.

With regards to the bit I’ve bolded - that pressure is only going to be externally.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

7 points from that list and I think we are good.

Yes - perhaps you are right.

We are 6 points off the play-offs now. Another 7 points would possibly mean we are in the top half of the table but still some way off 7th place. And we have played 3 more games than Rochdale & Oldham.

 

[CaptainSmudger]

We tend to play better away compared to at home as some of our home fans get on the players backs when we play at home. Expectatons go through the roof. I think we will continue this type of form into this month.

Home form we are 2 points above the relegation zone. Away form we are only 2 points off a playoff place

If Kev plays Kendall ,Miley back to his best and secures James Golding permanently, we will soar up the table and Home fans will be happy again.

 

[rlb999]

If Kev plays Kendall ,Miley back to his best and secures James Golding permanently, we will soar up the table and Home fans web happy again.

We won’t. Our midfield is static and doesn’t flow. We will drop points left, right, and centre.

 

[CaptainSmudger]

We won’t. Our midfield is static and doesn’t flow. We will drop points left, right, and centre.

Disagree , that’s what makes Shrimperzone interesting. COYB, UTB

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

If Kev plays Kendall ,Miley back to his best and secures James Golding permanently, we will soar up the table and Home fans will be happy again.

doubt it

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

All going swimmingly so far - progress in the cup; no bookings, no injuries & a chance for those players with man flu to recover for next Saturday.

 

[Tommy2holes]

If we beat both Halifax and Boston, I will start to believe that 7th spot is doable

 

[* ORM *]

If we beat both Halifax and Boston, I will start to believe that 7th spot is doable

I think you may have meant Barnet? I suspect we will do the usual win the hard games and slip on the easier ones. 6 points minimum would pretty much cement mid table. 8 wouldn’t be a bad shift, any more than that and we can look upwards more intently, especially if we strengthen in the window.

 

[IloveShrimp]

Personally, I think if we win the next two games and become morealess safe from relegation, then we will sign no-one permantly this January to save on the summer wage bill.

 

[SUFCGoals]

Personally, I think if we win the next two games and become morealess safe from relegation, then we will sign no-one permantly this January to save on the summer wage bill.

What about win the next two games and mathematically be on the cusp of the play offs and then we need to strengthen the depth in January?

 

[Hawkwell Blue]

Personally, I think if we win the next two games and become morealess safe from relegation, then we will sign no-one permantly this January to save on the summer wage bill.

I sincerely hope the club are more positive than that.

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

I'm looking no further than Halifax atm. Beat them and if we did so, even by one goal, we go above them. (Albeit they would have a game in hand against Fylde at home). They have been in and around the play offs all season.

A good way to open 2025 in the league for me if we win.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Halifax last 6 games - lost 1, drawn 4, won 1

That win was a 4-3 game away at Aldershot Taawrn.

That loss was a 2-0 reverse against ............... you know who ..........

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

I'm looking no further than Halifax atm. Beat them and if we did so, even by one goal, we go above them. (Albeit they would have a game in hand against Fylde at home). They have been in and around the play offs all season.

A good way to open 2025 in the league for me if we win.

Interestingly, they have scored less than us. They are normally very low scorers, Aldershot game aside, so could be a very cagey game.

 

[Tommy2holes]

I think you may have meant Barnet? I suspect we will do the usual win the hard games and slip on the easier ones. 6 points minimum would pretty much cement mid table. 8 wouldn’t be a bad shift, any more than that and we can look upwards more intently, especially if we strengthen in the window.

Nope, the next 2 games are both winnable. Win them and we will be just outside the play offs and sets up the coming big games against Barnet and daggers