Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-0 Millwall

[number 8]

Doubt Freedman will start 3 in 7 days...

Yea good call was thinking about Barneys workload to be honest but could see Freedman sitting it out as well.

I just think against a "prem" side you might get a less physical battle that may suit him?

 

[palexander]

I cant really see the logic in having players that clearly will play at a higher level in the squad and not giving them an opportunity. Sawyer has energy and drive that we all know about he can unlock things and with tonight being such a high tempo game in the final 3rd of the game he could have had a real chance of turning the game our way.

Pace and creativity is what we lack. If we dont have the bottle to drop macca or jcf lets tuck Granty in and play a diamond with Moussa and Sawyer advanced and one up front, playing Sawyer in the Gerard role if you like. We dont have any width as it is so we might as well get Sawyer in the 11 and have a go at teams certainly at home.

Play a flat 4 away with Sawyer just behind a striker.

Done

Yea, said this earlier today - if its the only way to accommodate Sawyer in the side, then I'm all for it. Give him a free role behind Barnard/Revell and lt him create the chances.

The 4 behind can stay solid and Moussa/Macca getting involved more advanced when they can. Got to be worth a go...

 

[TBV_Dan]

After being at the game today, I must say, that although im dissapointed with another league draw, I thought that we played brilliantly, and we fought right to the end.

Strongest player for me tonight was Macca, he was buzzing around the field, wasn't afraid to put in a tackle, got generally stuck into Millwall, MOTM definately tonight, was extremely unlucky not to score as well.
Defence was great tonight, the clean sheet shows that, thought that both Heath and White had a brilliant game tonight, and if they played like that every game, they would be a force to be reckoned with.
We had some great chances today, but we didnt really take them, for example, when Revell did a diving header towards the goal, it looked like it was going in, but when it didnt go in, the rebound should have been smashed into that net, couldn't believe it wasnt scored, definately a key moment to take all three points today.
I thought that the team played brilliantly tiday against tough opponents, and if we played like that each and every game, we would be winning more games than we are losing. We need to put away the chances when we get them, otherwise, we are going to end up drawing/losing games that we perhaps dont deserve to lose performance wise.
Millwall's fans were nothing but mugs, they have always been, and will always be complete and utter mugs. Their team were not any better than them, tackles flying in everywhere, some of them were vicious and to me yellow card worthy. There was one incident in the first half where a Millwall player flew in at a tackle on Macca, and Macca got up and retaliated (didnt touch the player, but went face to face with him) and the Millwall player just shoved him with both his hands. Now correct me if im wrong here, but isnt pushing out at a player like that a red card offence? He should have walked then but I reckon the ref bottled it today, should have booked a few of their players imo.
TBV today was unbelieveably loud, out-sung Millwall, although due to our s*** poor acoustics in the ground, we are unable to make full use of our fantastic support. Lets get right behind our teams for the upcoming home games against Leyton Orient, and Leeds! Hopefully by then, we will be able to show them that Southend are a force too be reckoned with this season!
I really reckon we could power up that league table and be in the play-off spots very soon, and be able to either maintain that position, or even build on that and be potential League 1 Title Champion contenders, nothing is impossible in football. I really do think that this season is our time to shine. Lets get right behind our team and show them how to really support a football club! UTB!

 

[jimmyshrimp]

I thought Grant was man of the match tonight. Ran his nuts off, as already said on here. But also won a lot of free kicks cleverly by getting his body between the player and ball, covered back all the time won loads of tackles. I also think he came forward well tonight, more than usual and looked to pass forward rather than sideways. Macca did play very well tonight but Grant was pick of bunch for me.
Just as an add on, I think Barney looked sharp but needs to play off a good target man or alongside someone with pace. But i don't think we have a good enough strike parnter for him at the club.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

tough game tough league .... tough old lags millwall... horrible football as they worked hard at breaking iy up ...

think SUFC HAVE A TALENTED YOUNG TEAM IN THE MAKING ..... but Revell is not quite up to standard ... dougie is old and walker hasn't proved himself ... so hurry back laurent ..

frustrating start but ..... its not easy and i think Tilsons got a good bunch of players together without any financial backing ... stick with it

 

[jimmyshrimp]

Agree Rayleigh boy with all that.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Now correct me if im wrong here, but isnt pushing out at a player like that a red card offence?
TBV today was unbelieveably loud, out-sung Millwall, although due to our s*** poor acoustics in the ground, we are unable to make full use of our fantastic support.

Nope I don't think pushing a player is a red card offence anymore, although it was when Eastwood got sent off against Huddersfield.

I thought our fans were o.k. but not unbelieveably loud, Millwall were louder. It's all down to the number of people that want to sing & not always the acoustics.

 

[TBV_Dan]

Nope I don't think pushing a player is a red card offence anymore, although it was when Eastwood got sent off against Huddersfield.

I thought our fans were o.k. but not unbelieveably loud, Millwall were louder. It's all down to the number of people that want to sing & not always the acoustics.

Im pretty certain that shoving a player is violent conduct, which I know is a straight red card offence. Maybe im wrong, and the rules have changed since then.

In response to the fans, I sit at the back of Block V, right next to TBV, and our fans were really getting behind the team. I spoke to someone I know who sits in the South Stand, and he told me that he could hear some chants by TBV, but not all of them, and he could hear the Millwall fans clearly. Remember that the away fans sit in the north stand, which most Southend Supporters say is the stand with the best acoustics, so of course the Millwall fans will sound louder than TBV, they have the acoustics advantage. TBV were great today, didnt stop chanting, and were louder than it sounded like in the South Stand today.

 

[Brandonandhisdad]

After being at the game today, I must say, that although im dissapointed with another league draw, I thought that we played brilliantly, and we fought right to the end.

ditto.

Well, Hi, 1st post here and all that.

We've only been going to Southend for the last 10 months or so, and haven't missed a home game - actually to be exact - our first game was when they played Stockport.
And in those 10 months, I haven't seen as much work. - tonight they really put in the effort - which was magnificent - the work rate was fantastic, and i really do not think any player was slacking at all.

Downs.
Mildenhall - could have cost us twice at the end. - a keeper needs to be SO much more useful.
Francis - please stop trying to be clever on the ball, and please stop kicking all the dead balls L-O-N-G.

Tilson - please make some subs earlier in the game, and please bring on the big guy - his prescence alone will put the fear into the opposition.

Noise - Blue Voice - great tonight - bring on the drums - i'm in South Upper - and it sounded good from where I was. - Even I was joining in!

oh - and bring back Scannell! - quick...!

1st post....... wow.

 

[Brandonandhisdad]

TBV - tonight most of the noise was directed AT Milwall, so being quieter to the rest of the ground. - but yes, TBV were making a lot of noise.

eg, Milwall were VERY loud to me in South stand, as we were right in front of them.

The atmosphere could have been cut with a knife tonight.

Tim

 

[OldBlueLady]

Will post in the morning when rather more measured and calm (and less ****ed!). Can't help being ever so slightly pleased about certain aspects of the match.

 

[CyrilSneer]

Hit the post, close with a shot, won most aerial battles and chased everything - did far more in 25 mins that Freedman did the previous 65.

Give the bloke a break...

yet to read the rest of the ramblings up to this point, but revell had a massive impact when he came on. Yes, give him a break. he should start imo

 

[CyrilSneer]

OK. Im normally a Revell fan so I'm not picking him out for special treatment. He worked hard I admit, but tonight didn't change the game as you hope a sub can do. Had needlessly strayed offside when he hit the post (the lino certainly flagged as soon as the cross went in so I assume it was against him) so I don't count that as a plus on his performace.

again, just commenting as i go through, but Im sure it was only given offside when Barnard went for the rebound

 

[CyrilSneer]

From what ive read there isnt much i cant really add, but sitting in the West tonight, we completely outsung the Millwall tonight, hats off to smiffy and the rest of the lads.

 

[sadsy]

First of all there were more plusses than minuses in a good team performance against a tough Millwall side.

Ratings :

Mildenhall - 7 . Didn't have loads to do , just wished for someone of his size he would be more decisive commanding his area.

Francis - 8. Seems to have overcome the lapses in concentration which dogged him last season , a fine performance.

Heath - 7. Good battling effort.

Barratt - 7. Also pretty solid tonight , best game for a while.

White - 7. Had a shocking first 15 mins when continually getting caught the wrong side of Price , had a good second half.

Grant - 8.5. Tremendous game , all over the pitch, did tire towards the end.

JFC - 8. Also his best game for a while , battled hard in a tough midfield scrap.

Macca - 8.5. Have been a little critical of Macca of late , back to his marauding best , unlucky not to score in first half.

Moussa - 7. A bit subdued tonight , didn't get a lot of the ball though.

Barnard - 7. Plenty of effort , pretty much on his own till Revs came on.

Freedman - 5. Had a shocker , either one of those nights / over the hill.

Revell - 8. Not a great fan of Revell but he certainly changed things when he came on and got amongst their back four.

As a team it was a good performance , however Tilly seems frightened of losing and frightened of winning if you get my drift. In his defence we don't have players on the books good enough to consistently threaten teams offensively , i.e. a decent wide player or striker. It's unfortunate Laurent is injured but he hasn't convinced me yet that he's the answer. However well the midfield played I feel he should have got Sawyer on at some stage to try and win it , yes we're undefeated but four draws won't get us anywhere.

 

[Cricko]

I think with this team we look like the draw specialists....We play far to much football across the middle 4..Last night by the time the ball was anywhere near to being pushed forward the Millwall defence were all back in position and we had very little way through.Barney was coming far to deep and even trying flick on's, to who I have no idea as there was nobody beyond him.We seem to have no killer instinct and as most have said we need a creative midfielder IE: Sawyer to do something different or even a winger to get out wide early. I think our forwards look powderpuff, yes we will score a few but need a fox in the box at all times to enable to get us more goals.Overall a solid performance last night but we need tactical changes if we are to start winning games.

 

[Swiss Tony]

In large parts of the game last night,the passing was sublime,i just feel we need an injection of pace up top,and we will be up and running,don't want to wait to long though.

 

[fbm]

I think most people are in agreement on here... however, I didn't think Freedman was THAT bad and neither did I think Revell was THAT good when he came on. He chased everything and hit the post with a header but apart from that I can'r think of any aerial challenge he won at all!

Again Macca and JCR were excellent in midfield and it's clear Sawyer will have to be patient. We could have done with Betsy coming on for Moussa, who was largely ineffective, just to provide some extra width.

We kept a clean sheet and looked much more solid than we did against Walsall and Wycombe and let's be honest, Millwall are a far better side than either of them.

It's certainly a more encouraging start than I think any of us thought; but we need a win fairly soon.

 

[Kenny]

Again Macca and JCR were excellent in midfield

do you mean JFC?

 

[BlueJ]

That was the first league game to remain scoreless at Roots Hall (bar Doncaster in the play-offs) since we played Norwich back in the Championship back in 2006!