Tommy2holes
Life President⭐
Well they say a week is a long time in football and for southend f.c and its fans the last few months have seemed an enternity.
All that has gone before has been well documented and tbh having been a fan for 20 years i was personally fearing the worst having witnessed some of the performances this season.
Well what a releif it is to not only see a team playing with confidence at home aswell as away . I had felt as far removed from the club and the team and the management as i possibly could just a few months back and times were grim. Now just a short while later this does feel like southend united again and i do genuinely feel for these players as i had done for previous teams.
Fans are somewhat reluctantly returning and perhaps our recent run has raised interest again. Lets hope to get our first 6k crowd saturday in what is becoming a regular 6 pointer in our quest not just for the play-offs but for automatic promotion.
On to the game itself.
As against barnet just few days earlier southend started poorly, but unlike barnet who in truth didnt posess much threat oxford attacked with more vigour and took the lead following some indaquate defending with constable notching from close range.
Blues could have taken the lead as early as the second minute but corr uncharacteristicly slipped the ball wide.
Oxford not content with just the one goal pushed to try and put the game beyond blues and it but for decent keeping and the woodwork they would have surely doubled there tally.
Southend were not only gettig dominated physically but tachtically and sturrock senior gave the word to revert to a 4-4-2 formation. The referee did award a few yellow cards to the oxford team and this meant that some of the challenges from then on were not so robust.
Southend just weeks ago would have capuitulated at losing the momentun so early on and the crowd would have seen fair course to jeer, but these are thankfully different times and the blues starting to change through the gears and the support was upped .
Its fair to say that a love affair with certain players has been easy whilst others have had to walk the plank . I am ofcourse i am talking bilel and the likes of sturrock junior, but maybe even that tide is turning and i was delighted to see blair get a standing ovation which has been a long tim in the making.
As for bilel is it possible for him to do any wrong? Another goal another comical yet dominant display and we find out that he does speak english after all. Is there no end to his talents and what will the blue voice do now this language revelation has been revealed.
Special mention for Ryan hall who when at his best is almost unplayable . He scored a goal from nothing and ripped the oxford backline to shreds.
On to the ratings
Evans 7 : Was solid and made a great save to prevent a 2-0 scoreline and was unfortunate with the goal he coceded as it look to go through his legs.
Clohessy 6.5 : Not seans best performance and he was not able to get forward as much as normal. Worked hard to contain oxford down his flank , but his crosses were not the best .
Barker 7.5 : Solid solid solid. The ultimate pro. A much better footballer than league 2 and an integral part of what we are trying to achieve. Makes defending look easy , which it isnt!
Bilel 8 : Aside from a few comical moments he was his usual self. Popping up everywhere and win headers he has no right to . He scored the match winner and is becoming a cult figure in the shortest of time.
Gilbert 8 : I have not been the biggest of gilberts fans along with a few others , but i thought he had a great game last night both in defending and attacking. Its clear that confidence levels had been knocked by criticsism , but he answered that in the best possible way by pushing high up the field playing the ball short and whipping in some great deliveries. Hope the injury is not too serious as that performance has been a long time coming.
Hall 8 : Wow . This boy has a lot of tricks in his locker and boy is he pacey. When he runs at players time and again they simply get bypassed or resort in fouling in and around the box . His goal had quality about it . A couple of keepy ups followed by a tame shot that was so accurate that it simply beat the keepers dispairing dive. The frightening thing is there is more to come and with a bit more calmness infront of goal he will score a shed load more for blues.
Easton 7.5 : Does what a captain should . Gets all over the pitch trying to encourage movement in others and offering them support. Had a few dodgy passes last night in amongst some great ones . Would just like to see craig get more assists and shots on goal.
Grant 7.5 : Much the same as the captain , but does make forays foward and has great feet which unfortunately makes him surely our most fouled player. From where i was sitting it did look like a yellow card , but there player saw red and the ref was better placed. He also encouraged gilbert to push up and get involved in attack which is something i hope to see more of. Not sure about keep ball in the final third though granty, especially when players were open infront of goal.
Ferdinand 8.5 MOM : This boy is as promising it gets at this level. Is he really 18? He plays like he has been playing for years and has the body of someone much older. I would love to know what his pass completion ratio is (stattos) because he does all the simple stuff by winning the ball and just simply plays it to feet. Never plays a long ball and never tries the eye of the needle stuff. As a sweeper and protector you will not find a player better in this league. He will not go unnoticed for long and surely he will be the one we are trying to hold onto. As an aside i did see a little bit more of running with the ball last night and i think it could be that kanes confidence is starting to peak. Keep it up Kane , its no coincidence that since you came in we are winning games.
Corr 6.5 : I am a big fan of barry and think he will hit 15 in the league this season and should have gone a step closer to that tally last night. Not only did he miss a sitter but he wasted good position and chances by shooting when pass was the option and passing when shoot was the option. That aside he worked hard and was really roughed up by the oxford back line. Barry is a good striker at this level and it wont be long before he is back amongst the headlines.
Sturrock jnr 8 : I hope people are finally starting to see what blair brings to the table. He wont score more than a handful of goals but he will work hard for this team and he has a brain which is top drawer in the lower leagues. His hold up play and some of his passing range is a joy to watch . Ok not all of it comes off and yes he does miss the odd chance , but if he didnt he would be a championship player. Great all round game last night and shows why he is in the team.
Sturrock senior 8.5 : Now we are starting to see how has won so many promotions. The team are gelling and he isnt afraid to ruffle feathers or try new things. I am a huge tilson fan and always will be , but would steve go 4-3-3 and would steve have changed it if it wasnt working . Would the likes of ferdinand be getting the games he has. Sturrock has the experience and calmness to get us out this league. You are winnig me round sir and im not alone in that sentiment.
TBV 7 : Not as loud as they have been and its nice to see a few more people in there. It does help having an away following to banter and credit for not jumping on players backs at 1-0 down and merely encouraging.
Bring on shrewsbury...
UTB
All that has gone before has been well documented and tbh having been a fan for 20 years i was personally fearing the worst having witnessed some of the performances this season.
Well what a releif it is to not only see a team playing with confidence at home aswell as away . I had felt as far removed from the club and the team and the management as i possibly could just a few months back and times were grim. Now just a short while later this does feel like southend united again and i do genuinely feel for these players as i had done for previous teams.
Fans are somewhat reluctantly returning and perhaps our recent run has raised interest again. Lets hope to get our first 6k crowd saturday in what is becoming a regular 6 pointer in our quest not just for the play-offs but for automatic promotion.
On to the game itself.
As against barnet just few days earlier southend started poorly, but unlike barnet who in truth didnt posess much threat oxford attacked with more vigour and took the lead following some indaquate defending with constable notching from close range.
Blues could have taken the lead as early as the second minute but corr uncharacteristicly slipped the ball wide.
Oxford not content with just the one goal pushed to try and put the game beyond blues and it but for decent keeping and the woodwork they would have surely doubled there tally.
Southend were not only gettig dominated physically but tachtically and sturrock senior gave the word to revert to a 4-4-2 formation. The referee did award a few yellow cards to the oxford team and this meant that some of the challenges from then on were not so robust.
Southend just weeks ago would have capuitulated at losing the momentun so early on and the crowd would have seen fair course to jeer, but these are thankfully different times and the blues starting to change through the gears and the support was upped .
Its fair to say that a love affair with certain players has been easy whilst others have had to walk the plank . I am ofcourse i am talking bilel and the likes of sturrock junior, but maybe even that tide is turning and i was delighted to see blair get a standing ovation which has been a long tim in the making.
As for bilel is it possible for him to do any wrong? Another goal another comical yet dominant display and we find out that he does speak english after all. Is there no end to his talents and what will the blue voice do now this language revelation has been revealed.
Special mention for Ryan hall who when at his best is almost unplayable . He scored a goal from nothing and ripped the oxford backline to shreds.
On to the ratings
Evans 7 : Was solid and made a great save to prevent a 2-0 scoreline and was unfortunate with the goal he coceded as it look to go through his legs.
Clohessy 6.5 : Not seans best performance and he was not able to get forward as much as normal. Worked hard to contain oxford down his flank , but his crosses were not the best .
Barker 7.5 : Solid solid solid. The ultimate pro. A much better footballer than league 2 and an integral part of what we are trying to achieve. Makes defending look easy , which it isnt!
Bilel 8 : Aside from a few comical moments he was his usual self. Popping up everywhere and win headers he has no right to . He scored the match winner and is becoming a cult figure in the shortest of time.
Gilbert 8 : I have not been the biggest of gilberts fans along with a few others , but i thought he had a great game last night both in defending and attacking. Its clear that confidence levels had been knocked by criticsism , but he answered that in the best possible way by pushing high up the field playing the ball short and whipping in some great deliveries. Hope the injury is not too serious as that performance has been a long time coming.
Hall 8 : Wow . This boy has a lot of tricks in his locker and boy is he pacey. When he runs at players time and again they simply get bypassed or resort in fouling in and around the box . His goal had quality about it . A couple of keepy ups followed by a tame shot that was so accurate that it simply beat the keepers dispairing dive. The frightening thing is there is more to come and with a bit more calmness infront of goal he will score a shed load more for blues.
Easton 7.5 : Does what a captain should . Gets all over the pitch trying to encourage movement in others and offering them support. Had a few dodgy passes last night in amongst some great ones . Would just like to see craig get more assists and shots on goal.
Grant 7.5 : Much the same as the captain , but does make forays foward and has great feet which unfortunately makes him surely our most fouled player. From where i was sitting it did look like a yellow card , but there player saw red and the ref was better placed. He also encouraged gilbert to push up and get involved in attack which is something i hope to see more of. Not sure about keep ball in the final third though granty, especially when players were open infront of goal.
Ferdinand 8.5 MOM : This boy is as promising it gets at this level. Is he really 18? He plays like he has been playing for years and has the body of someone much older. I would love to know what his pass completion ratio is (stattos) because he does all the simple stuff by winning the ball and just simply plays it to feet. Never plays a long ball and never tries the eye of the needle stuff. As a sweeper and protector you will not find a player better in this league. He will not go unnoticed for long and surely he will be the one we are trying to hold onto. As an aside i did see a little bit more of running with the ball last night and i think it could be that kanes confidence is starting to peak. Keep it up Kane , its no coincidence that since you came in we are winning games.
Corr 6.5 : I am a big fan of barry and think he will hit 15 in the league this season and should have gone a step closer to that tally last night. Not only did he miss a sitter but he wasted good position and chances by shooting when pass was the option and passing when shoot was the option. That aside he worked hard and was really roughed up by the oxford back line. Barry is a good striker at this level and it wont be long before he is back amongst the headlines.
Sturrock jnr 8 : I hope people are finally starting to see what blair brings to the table. He wont score more than a handful of goals but he will work hard for this team and he has a brain which is top drawer in the lower leagues. His hold up play and some of his passing range is a joy to watch . Ok not all of it comes off and yes he does miss the odd chance , but if he didnt he would be a championship player. Great all round game last night and shows why he is in the team.
Sturrock senior 8.5 : Now we are starting to see how has won so many promotions. The team are gelling and he isnt afraid to ruffle feathers or try new things. I am a huge tilson fan and always will be , but would steve go 4-3-3 and would steve have changed it if it wasnt working . Would the likes of ferdinand be getting the games he has. Sturrock has the experience and calmness to get us out this league. You are winnig me round sir and im not alone in that sentiment.
TBV 7 : Not as loud as they have been and its nice to see a few more people in there. It does help having an away following to banter and credit for not jumping on players backs at 1-0 down and merely encouraging.
Bring on shrewsbury...
UTB
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