Post-Match Thread and Ratings Oldham FC 3-2 Southend Utd

[GIBBO]

Morning after the night before.

Very proud of the team. I feel deflated, emotionally drained. Football is cruel sometimes. The 3rd goal pure fluke.

However, the 2nd thought Hayes could of done more. But, hey. The football gods gave lady luck to Oldham.

Looking back, Oldham was the better team. Fair play.

It's the hope that kills you.

I just hope to god we don't have a play off hangover

Up the blues

 

[DundeeShrimper]

I lost count of the times Hopper was thrown to the ground while the ref just looked on

It wasn't just Hopper. Their forwards were literally throwing themselves into our defenders - elbows and everything.

A foul that any decent referee could spot - yet not given.

In the run up to their penalty there was one of these aerial challenges that should have been given as a foul but wasn't.

My biggest gripe about the ref wasn't him not giving those fouls but giving the exact same foul against our players and even softer awards.

He's possibly one of the worst referees I have seen - which takes some doing considering some of the awful referees I've seen when playing the ugly sisters in Scotland.

 

[* ORM *]

The ref maybe missed a few on hopper, but he also missed a stone wall pen by Taylor, and the tackle by Cav escaped a red because it was so early on. Felt it all balanced out really.

I think these are valid points except for the fact that some of the manhandking of Hopper weren't even debatable 50/50s. When all is said and done the ref didn't cost us the game.

I'm going to give it another day or so for proper reflection and connect. Two interim observations.

1, My brother is hereby banned from future Wembley finals. He missed Wycombe been to the others. This is why we lost.

2, I'll take 1 plastic fan over 100 numpties. Dad can we go again just one of the comments heard on the way back to Wembley central yesterday. Takes me back to my first game in 73. Fortunately my dad is a Southend nut so it was a no brainer.

3) The players were on their knees at the final whistle, us fans were on our metaphorical knees. Less than 12 months ago this great club of ours was on its knees. Reflect on that.

 

[tommy tucker]

We must bring in stronger players .This leauge we are stuck in is a really tough one to get out of . Teams like York Forest green and halifax .Will be there at the top .We must match the yorks of this leauge f we are going to go forwards .COSU must some how come up with a big budget .To help the club recrute the right players this summer .

 

[Jay_SUFC]

The ref maybe missed a few on hopper, but he also missed a stone wall pen by Taylor, and the tackle by Cav escaped a red because it was so early on. Felt it all balanced out really.

I'm going to defend the ref a bit here. I was watching Hopper in the second half and he made hardly any attempt to win headers and spent most of the time trying to win fouls - which is probably why he didn't get anything.

Bonne won more headers in 10 minutes, than Hopper did all game (seems to win more headers defending!!)

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Ok so have deliberately left it til this morning to post as was quite tipsy and deflated by the time I arrived home.
That was gutting, but the overwhelming thing I feel is pride in Kev and the lads, we were always underdogs going into the playoffs on account of finishing 7th but performed extremely well to see off Rochdale and FGR.
We took Oldham right to the wire but ultimately they had that touch more big game experience and were ruthless taking those two chances and we weren’t at the very end when frustratingly, we couldn’t bury it to take them to pens. Sums up a lot of games this season.

Spoke to a couple of Oldham fans afterwards who praised our support, they were good natured and I wished them well. They felt they’d struggle in L2, I think they’ll be well clear of bottom 2. They really need to get another promotion place sorted from NL .. aargh can’t believe we’re here another season.

Still, we go again. Have a great summer all and see you in August with renewed hopes & some new faces in the squad (let’s hope!). To our current squad, you’ve been amazing and thanks for your efforts.
Oh was great yesterday seeing so many faces I knew - seemed like all of Southend was there!

 

[Whispering Bob]

Football is a cruel game. Thought they were strong and basic, not much more and, as I feared playing extra-time the third time in a row eventually took its toll - Gus hit six tired/flat crosses in a row, there were several powder puff swipes at the ball in their box (where was Joe Pigot when you needed him?) and I knew it was game over when a couple of our players hit the deck when they equalised.
Again the day-trippers irked me somewhat. They left in their droves as soon as the FT whistle sounded, with no thought of staying to clap off our heroes. We went for a long walk after the game (ended up drowning our sorrows in Little Venice) and passed, and gesticulated, at a car-load of grinning goons, wearing 1906 shirts, but blaring out 'Bubbles' ?! Give me strength. I am wounded (many thousands there on Sunday were not).

 

[fixitkid]

10 minutes away from a fairy tale come true. I can't imagine how players and staff feel this morning.

Immensely proud of them all, but utterly heartbroken.

UTB

 

[Smiffy]

Can't bring myself to talk about the game in depth. Deflated, as we all are.

Thought we were ok, but lacked that killer instinct as we have all season.

Oldham were the better side overall and deserved the win. It's just the fashion which makes it difficult to swallow. Our concentration and bottle went in the end. It wasn't our time.

Better players needed (particularly a top striker) if we are ever going to get out of this league.

 

[DundeeShrimper]

Football is a cruel game. Thought they were strong and basic, not much more and, as I feared playing extra-time the third time in a row eventually took its toll - Gus hit six tired/flat crosses in a row, there were several powder puff swipes at the ball in their box (where was Joe Pigot when you needed him?) and I knew it was game over when a couple of our players hit the deck when they equalised.
Again the day-trippers irked me somewhat. They left in their droves as soon as the FT whistle sounded, with no thought of staying to clap off our heroes. We went for a long walk after the game (ended up drowning our sorrows in Little Venice) and passed, and gesticulated, at a car-load of grinning goons, wearing 1906 shirts, but blaring out 'Bubbles' ?! Give me strength. I am wounded (many thousands there on Sunday were not).

I left quickly not because I'm a daytripper but because I had a flight to catch and wanted to avoid a long queue at Wembley Central.

 

[billy best was god]

Although our support was big in numbers too many were more worried about half time drinks and sausage rolls many left 5 minutes before half time and returned 5 minutes after the break and need not understand why the score board said 1.1 while the Oldham support was all back for half time. Also thought our support was quiet when most needed. ------------ still upset

 

[Mad Cyril]

Although our support was big in numbers too many were more worried about half time drinks and sausage rolls many left 5 minutes before half time and returned 5 minutes after the break and need not understand why the score board said 1.1 while the Oldham support was all back for half time. Also thought our support was quiet when most needed. ------------ still upset

I wanted a beer at half time and missed the penalty because I was in the gents.

 

[dusterman]

Although our support was big in numbers too many were more worried about half time drinks and sausage rolls many left 5 minutes before half time and returned 5 minutes after the break and need not understand why the score board said 1.1 while the Oldham support was all back for half time. Also thought our support was quiet when most needed. ------------ still upset

I do feel we go quiet when most needed often, it does frustrate me a lot throughout the season. Players don’t need us when we’re winning they do when we were under the cosh. The shock though of going 3-2 down in 2 mins was hard to recover from. Mind you we had chances in those dying minutes.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

Now the dust has settled... This game was always going to be decided by a fine margin or bit of luck, and it was

We could have dead and buried at half time in the 90 and then could have also been job done ourselves in ET

It's sickening ... But that's football. Only 1 could have gone up.

But from 3-1 down against Rochdale to this ... I'm a proud Shrimper

My only worry, as things stand, there is no war chest, and there won't be a massive investment in the summer ... And I personally can't be asked for another year of fans calling for Maher to be sacked.

The consortium need to come out and say exactly what our objectives are for next season.

This season was an overachievement and yet I still heard mumblings of "We need a new coaching staff" as I walked down the escalator on the way out of the ground.

PLEASE COSU! SET THE BAR STRAIGHT!

 

[Strykr]

Although our support was big in numbers too many were more worried about half time drinks and sausage rolls many left 5 minutes before half time and returned 5 minutes after the break and need not understand why the score board said 1.1 while the Oldham support was all back for half time. Also thought our support was quiet when most needed. ------------ still upset

Yes that was a shame, was half empty when they scored. Maybe at big finals the half time should be 20 mins. If youve got to go youve got to go...

 

[Avl1983]

Apologies if this has already been covered, I haven’t had a chance to read all the posts on here but has anyone seen our penalty shout on Appiah-Forson? In the second half of normal time. From the angle we was in the crowd it looked a definite penalty! And I make that a penalty we should have been awarded in each of the playoff games.

Immaterial now I know but just wondered other people’s perspectives on it. Was it a penalty?

 

[Napster]

I wanted a beer at half time and missed the penalty because I was in the gents.

Queue for gents was very long. Fortunately my missus got us a pint but drinking that meant I missed their pen anyway

 

[RHB]

Although our support was big in numbers too many were more worried about half time drinks and sausage rolls many left 5 minutes before half time and returned 5 minutes after the break and need not understand why the score board said 1.1 while the Oldham support was all back for half time. Also thought our support was quiet when most needed. ------------ still upset

With the best part of 30k people sitting in the Southend end it was never going to be a United effort, as a significant minority were there for a day out at Wembley without actually being die hard fans. It was exactly the same for the Wycombe final and if we end up at Wembley again, I would imagine we'll have another large following split by fans and hangers on. Sad, but a fact.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

With the best part of 30k people sitting in the Southend end it was never going to be a United effort, as a significant minority were there for a day out at Wembley without actually being die hard fans. It was exactly the same for the Wycombe final and if we end up at Wembley again, I would imagine we'll have another large following split by fans and hangers on. Sad, but a fact.

Atmosphere in block 110 was ok. I’d lost my voice by the end. Oldham fans I spoke to also said we were loud throughout.

 

[* ORM *]

Queue for gents was very long. Fortunately my missus got us a pint but drinking that meant I missed their pen anyway

That's what taking in the empty water bottles are for