Renewed affinity with the team

[dusterman]

When the FA cup was drawn and we were picked alongside Chelsea, I felt a bit gutted. We should have won at the weekend with all the chances we created and it feels like our opportunity is probably gone.

However, it got me thinking that for the first time in a while I feel like the players will actually be hurting as much or more than me. It proved to me that I have an affinity with this group of players, which has been lacking over recent seasons. I now feel that as a team they will be hugely disappointed that they aren't preparing to face Chelsea and will be raring to go.

I go to Brentford with a good feeling and trust in my team that they'll give it their all if not only to make up for not getting the job done the easy way. And either way I'll enjoy the game, even if we get trounced.

Thoughts?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Good point.

With the glamorous cup-tie awaiting us I think it has renewed a lot of fans' affinity with the club.

I think for a lot of fans it will be the first time in a long time that failing to win has hurt as much as it's hurts the players.

 

[leeblue]

Never lost it tbh, bit disappointed with the chelsea draw having played them recently and all that, being super fussy would have liked arsenal or liverpool. I dont buy this theory that when on occasion last season we were involved in a poor game/poor result many would start moaning about the players levels of effort and desire. Too often lack of ability or loss of form is taken as a lack of effort or commitment when in actual fact they have just been poop. Also the change of playing style may have helped some.

 

[Jam_Man]

Never lost it tbh, bit disappointed with the chelsea draw having played them recently and all that, being super fussy would have liked arsenal or liverpool. I dont buy this theory that when on occasion last season we were involved in a poor game/poor result many would start moaning about the players levels of effort and desire. Too often lack of ability or loss of form is taken as a lack of effort or commitment when in actual fact they have just been poop. Also the change of playing style may have helped some.

Indeed. That is said at any time we are in poor form. Its the simplest thing to attribute losing to, we lost so it must simply be because we didnt want to win enough.

Very narrow viewpoint as you lose games for all sorts of reasons, confidence and ability, even luck at times.

What is certainly better this season is we can play well, last year even on our unbeaten run most of us werent exactly impressed with the quality on display.

 

[eastling]

Certainly agree. Let's win tonight in the paint pot. UTB!

 

[Blueshrimper]

Could be worse, Drewe could have missed a chance against Scarborough.

 

[DTS]

Really good post. Have found myself a lot more in love with the Blues than I was a season or two ago. I feel maybe mistakenly that the club could just be on the up.

 

[Silencer]

The celebrations of the players tonight on 2nd/3rd goals and pens was immense. They were passionate and directed closely to the travelling 356 shrimpers.

For the first time in years, as a club we all seem to be in this together.

proud as hell, up the blues

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

The celebrations of the players tonight on 2nd/3rd goals and pens was immense. They were passionate and directed closely to the travelling 356 shrimpers.

For the first time in years, as a club we all seem to be in this together.

proud as hell, up the blues

I thought 356 away fans was a good turnout, but just seen Yeovil took 810 fans to Orient last night, thats an amazing amount.

 

[Steve lansley]

I thought 356 away fans was a good turnout, but just seen Yeovil took 810 fans to Orient last night, thats an amazing amount.

I think yeovil laid on free travel

 

[eastling]

I think yeovil laid on free travel

They did. Paid for by manager and players

 

[Shrimper 62]

A well considered post. Feel that this year the team is together and giving their all - something that has not always been evident in the past - In that spirit, come what may over the next few weeks, UTB

 

[kentblues]

They should not worry. If we beat brentford the the balls would have in a different order and the whole draw different. Not winning is what has given us the opportunity!

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think yeovil laid on free travel

And a fat load of good it did them! For myself, I never lost any affinity, through thick and thin, good times and bad....that's what being a supporter of a lower league team is all about.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Never lost affinity with the team. They pull on the blue shirt and thats good enough for me.

 

[McNasty]

Never lost affinity with the team. They pull on the blue shirt and thats good enough for me.

Just admit you are not too keen on the one in the green shirt though !

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Just admit you are not too keen on the one in the green shirt though !

Bentley? Hes fab :winking:

 

[The General]

Totally agree with the OP. Last night was superb so probably still slightly bouyant from that but the squad are a really good unit and have shown great character, time and time again! I think the likes of twitter really does help, dependant on how the player/s use it. For example, Granty was boring/un-original/yawn-fest whereas the current bunch seem like a good bunch of lads.

 

[shrimpled]

I think I posted this at the time, but after the Crawley game last season when we held on for a deserved draw with 9 men I really felt like I was watching 'my team' again. I hadn't stopped going and I was very impressed with the job that Sturrock had done (and still is doing)but what with the large turnover of players, the loss of our key players & fan favourites and of course the underlying reasons for that, it was difficult to feel too much affinity with the team or indeed the club.

Now we have a settled and IMO strong squad, with players such as Barker, Clohessy, Corr, Philips & Prosser who have now racked up plenty of Blues appearances as well as a couple of 'home-grown' younger players showing some sings of promise such as Woodyard and Bentley. We seem to be a united club again (even the anti-Ron chants and threads have subsided lately) and I'm really enjoying watching 'my' team once more. The few years or so up to the Crawley game had felt like I was going out of habit and blind loyalty really, but not now.

Even off the field we seem to be picking our game up, an updated twitter account and more email advertising although I do wish they'd change the bloody 'back the boys in their next home game against Millwall' answer phone message.

I really hope those people who came to watch during the good times under Tilly and have maybe stayed away for whatever reason start to return to the hall. This team really deserve them to.

 

[dusterman]

I think I posted this at the time, but after the Crawley game last season when we held on for a deserved draw with 9 men I really felt like I was watching 'my team' again. I hadn't stopped going and I was very impressed with the job that Sturrock had done (and still is doing)but what with the large turnover of players, the loss of our key players & fan favourites and of course the underlying reasons for that, it was difficult to feel too much affinity with the team or indeed the club.

Now we have a settled and IMO strong squad, with players such as Barker, Clohessy, Corr, Philips & Prosser who have now racked up plenty of Blues appearances as well as a couple of 'home-grown' younger players showing some sings of promise such as Woodyard and Bentley. We seem to be a united club again (even the anti-Ron chants and threads have subsided lately) and I'm really enjoying watching 'my' team once more. The few years or so up to the Crawley game had felt like I was going out of habit and blind loyalty really, but not now.

Even off the field we seem to be picking our game up, an updated twitter account and more email advertising although I do wish they'd change the bloody 'back the boys in their next home game against Millwall' answer phone message.

I really hope those people who came to watch during the good times under Tilly and have maybe stayed away for whatever reason start to return to the hall. This team really deserve them to.

Absolutely right. I think you had to be truly hard nosed not to fall out of love with Southend for a period over the last few years. I still followed the boys and hated when they lost, but I didn't want to go and follow a team with no heart, spirit or desire. Now they have it bucket loads and it feels like I should have done, but you have to go how you feel at the time otherwise you are living on something other than the moment, which in my opinion is what football is all about.