Southend ......and proud of it!!

[shrimperian]

What a night!!

I just love Col Ewe bashing and tonight was no exception!

However, I thought the support for the lads last night was exceptional. From the first whistle to the last, we outsang the yokels. Not sure what it sounded like from the seated end, but from behind the goal it was superb. Nice variety of Col Ewe insults and Cardiff based banter (Weve got a second home in Wales was a good one!)

I noticed a few of their "fans" leaving at the end of 90 mins...what was all that about? Perhaps they have to get up for milking!

Walk back to the car was equally amusing, with some kid losing it from the safety of his Dad's tractor......perhaps we should actually get some pikeys to set up camp on the Layer Road pitch! seeing as we OWN them!!

 

[exiledessexboy]

So many threads to choose from but I like to use of the word pride in this one, because that sums it up for me.  This was one of the most complete away peformances I've seen in three decades of supporting the club and I don't think I've ever been so proud of the team and supporters as when the winning penalty was slotted home.
Like Suffolk Shrimper, who I think I ran into, I got there at half time after the 18.02 from Liverpool St. became the 18.52, (signal 'blackout', what's wrong with faliure, at romford) and a cab to pick up ticket left with a mates in-laws who live near the ground!  As it was 10 mts. to half time I decided to grab a pint in this awful pub to calm my stress levels down, it worked, but I heard Tes's stunner on the radio.  (The Colchester commentary was truly terrible, every won header was 'supremly' won while, wait for this, "it's just like the last game, Southend going for the ariel route!"  However, even they had to sum up at half time that the Blues had been the better team.  "They look up for it".  And in the second half I saw they were.  Fight, passing abilty, the Eagle uping his game to Barratt's level, and playing more as a sweeper, good tactics, both full backs overlapping, Bramble carrying on his good form as was Gower, Gray gaining more confidence, Maher and Bentley spraying the ball about looking more Championship than League Two, and Darryl, little Darryl, two show-stopping saves in the 2nd half that kept us level.  Heroes every one.
All reports re the ref are accurate, I don't know how experienced he was but, yes, he lost the plot, especially in the lead up to Col U's equaliser.  As for the sending off, I'd certainly like to see it again but it did look as if he was jumping clear of a poor tackle.
The penalties, how did we miss so many last season.  All 5 were classics, their miss was by 2 tractors length.  Sven take note!  Pick our boys in euro quarter finals!
Last train held and back in the smoke for ten past midnight, two happy smiling shrimpers.
Hope it's a home draw now, the fans deserve it.  Great to hear some old songs as well, it was like the Radio 2 of supporters chants for a while in the 2nd half.  Still, could have done with, "you can't read, you can't write, but that don't really matter, while I'm home having my tea, you can ride the tractor.....oh ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!  COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!

 

[Technician]

The decision against Bentley took the shine off of the evening and justice will be done if the referee shows any bottle for admitting he made a mistake!

Proud to be a SHRIMPER! C'MON YOU BLUES!

 

[Its grim up north!]

My throat hurts!

 

[Guest]

im colchester and proud and i still think we are a better team but you won and deserved it.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

I've lost my voice, sums up what a great night it was!

What a superb atmosphere! (in the terrace anyway, no noise form the seating) By far the best atmosphere I've ever experienced at a Southend game. I was right behind the goal in the terrace so I was with all the hardcore and it was brilliant. The bundle when Corbett's penalty sailed into the scum net is something I'll always remember, as is waving to all the Col U fans on the way home. To be fair, their fans to the right of the terrace were quite loud and that made for a great atmosphere. Some great chants, although my personal favourite was "Do you know where Cardiff is?".

As for the game, just as good. Everyone gave 110% (except for Gray, who I was very disappointed with although he did make up for it with a great penalty) and no one had a really bad game. First half we were superb. Second half we let them back into it, but we had the better chances and Barrett and Edwards were immense at the back. My MoTM is Bramble, I thought it was one of his best ever performances in a Southend shirt. Gave his all and terrorised the scum defence all evening, capped off with a superb goal. But everyone was good and it was a real team effort.

ONE TEAM IN ESSEX!

 

[shrimperian]

Quote[/b] (shrimpboy @ Sep. 30 2004,17:54)]except for Gray, who I was very disappointed with although he did make up for it with a great penalty)

I actually though Gray had his best ever SUFC game. Alright he may have tired towards the end but, given the effort he put in over the 120 mins I can forgive him that. He looked sharp and they were scared of his pace. He hit the post when, at the time, I expected the keeper to smoother the shot. He is not going to take Lawrie's place (at present) but looks to be settling in.

For the record, my MOTM would be Bentley...anyone who stamps on the head of a Col Ewe player deserves my vote!

 

[Guest]

i cant believe shrimpboy just slagged off gray, that is an absolute joke and disgrace
he gave 110% for 120 minutes and hassled the col u defence all nite with tes not to mention the amount of corners he blocked as well as scoring a fine penalty and hitting the post. an absolute joke!!!

 

[Guest]

what a tw*t you are, "any player who stamps on a col u player is fine" you pr*ck i wouldnt even wish that against any of your players.
and tes bramble what a dirty tw*t

 

[Its grim up north!]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Sep. 30 2004,18:04)]what a tw*t you are, "any player who stamps on a col u player is fine" you pr*ck i wouldnt even wish that against any of your players.
and tes bramble what a dirty tw*t

Oh get lost you loser!!!

1 TEAM IN ESSEX!

 

[Guest]

Even though im a bit gutted atleast this year the LDV wont cost us going up so atleast now you knocked us out we can concentrate in winning the league/going up.

 

[Barmy Army]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Sep. 30 2004,17:21)]Even though im a bit gutted atleast this year the LDV wont cost us going up so atleast now you knocked us out we can concentrate in winning the league/going up.

Good way to hide your pain

 

[Guest]

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Going up...........ok then

I refer you to the chant "Col Ewe are going no where", thats right on the botton. O and another thing i dont want Col Ewe excusses, such as "our striker was out", because we did not play Lawrie or Prior. The fact that Gray worked his socks off, and Edwars was superb does not matter, we cant help having a squad that oozes strength in depth, its just the way we were made

Seriously though, it was a tremendous occasion, the atmosphere was electric, and personally i thought the Col Ewe fans seemed much more up for it than in the Area-final, they helped the atmosphere.

I had never before seen live penalties, and "oh my God" what a nervous experience that was!!! However my nerves were soon calmed a we scored the lot, well done boys!

The work rate was tremendous, not one SUFC player can be given less than 10/10, maybe even less than 11/10

 

[Guest]

at least 5 of our best players are currently injured and if you are so good why dont you come up?

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

We will, but we have onli assembled this current squad this season, so come May we will be doing just that. I look forward to our two league meeting next year

Im not saying that these "players" were not injured, but you surely cant deny that to have promotion aspirations you need a deep squad

Take us for example:
Nicolau needed to be replaced (for whatever reason) - and Che has come in a worked...and worked....and worked
We dont play Lawrie last night, and Wayne really gives it his all, and causes all kinds of problems
Also no Prior last night, and in came the Eagle to put in a performance that most Centre-backs, can only ever dream about

 

[Barmy Army]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Sep. 30 2004,17:36)]at least 5 of our best players are currently injured and if you are so good why dont you come up?

So it's now 5 eh?

We don't want to come up as that would mean that we would have to beat you twice every year, meaning that the farming people of Essex would be disgruntled and therefore we'd experience low production of dairy products.

 

[Guest]

Thats why you dont wanna come up is it? argghhh i hope you dont come up otherwise we wil loose out on our crop for this year like what you said.

Injured players:
Liam chilvers (defender) this is 1
Sam stockley (defender) this is 2
Kem izzet (midfielder) this is 3
Karl duguid (midfielder) this is 4
Craig fagan (brilliant striker) and finally it makes 5. 5 injured players

 

[Barmy Army]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Sep. 30 2004,17:52)]Thats why you dont wanna come up is it? argghhh i hope you dont come up otherwise we wil loose out on our crop for this year like what you said.

Injured players:
Liam chilvers (defender) this is 1
Sam stockley (defender) this is 2
Kem izzet (midfielder) this is 3
Karl duguid (midfielder) this is 4
Craig fagan (brilliant striker) and finally it makes 5. 5 injured players

I'm not saying that all of the following players were injured, some were merely rested to give your lot a fighting chance.

Bart Griemink. This is 1
Spencer Prior. This is 2
Jay Smith. This is 3
Lawrie Dudfield. This is 4

You're a league higher, and therefore you (should) have a deeper squad.

 

[Javea Shrimper]

Who cares how many players you had out ... if you played as well as your manager and players reckon you would do then you should have beaten a "lower league" team like is ... but ... YOU DIDN'T ...

WS