Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 2-4 Sheffield United

[Angell Delight]

Sometimes you just have to accept that you were beaten by a better team and that's no disgrace when it comes to Sheffield United. Personally I thought they were the most incisive and clinical side I've seen at Roots Hall in a long, long time - certainly since we were ripped apart by a few in the Championship during 2006/7. No complaints about the defeat whatsoever but it was pleasing to see the character of our lads in responding so well to shipping such an early goal to the leaders and then not giving up at 1-4, getting a goal back and then hitting the bar etc. Yes the defending was poor yesterday but how many times have we said that in the last 14 games? And how much of that was down to the way Sheffield United played? I'd say they had quite a lot to do with it and there's no way we'll face teams of that quality week-in-week-out - it's highly unlikely we'll see a better side down here again this season.

If we can get through this tough run of games and still be in touch with the top 6 post-Scunthorpe then with the run-in we have we'll be in with a shout of the play-offs. Especially once McLaughlin is back fit. Onwards and upwards, I'm very happy with the side Brown has built here and I feel we've made progress this season. Brown has to take a lot of credit, unlike his first 3 years in charge we really are being served up some great stuff this year - the football is a joy to watch and great value for money. The "stay-aways" really are missing out.

Also great to see the vast majority stay to the end and applaud the lads off. No booing that I heard, most appreciated the fact that the Blades would probably have beaten anyone in our league playing like that. Good luck to them in the Championship.

 

[McNasty]

I've been going to the Hall since Nov 1957 and have seen one or two matches since then, in the hundreds that is. We were beaten by the better team on the day and there is no disgrace in that. I did feel though that Sheffield looked the fitter of the two teams. We'll bounce back come Saturday.

Absolutely spot on. They broke very quickly and shut us down instantly. Best side to visit the Hall in ages.

Shame about the niggling fouls and pushes in the back. They don't need to do that.

 

[AndyT]

Sometimes you just have to accept that you were beaten by a better team and that's no disgrace when it comes to Sheffield United. Personally I thought they were the most incisive and clinical side I've seen at Roots Hall in a long, long time - certainly since we were ripped apart by a few in the Championship during 2006/7. No complaints about the defeat whatsoever but it was pleasing to see the character of our lads in responding so well to shipping such an early goal to the leaders and then not giving up at 1-4, getting a goal back and then hitting the bar etc. Yes the defending was poor yesterday but how many times have we said that in the last 14 games? And how much of that was down to the way Sheffield United played? I'd say they had quite a lot to do with it and there's no way we'll face teams of that quality week-in-week-out - it's highly unlikely we'll see a better side down here again this season.

If we can get through this tough run of games and still be in touch with the top 6 post-Scunthorpe then with the run-in we have we'll be in with a shout of the play-offs. Especially once McLaughlin is back fit. Onwards and upwards, I'm very happy with the side Brown has built here and I feel we've made progress this season. Brown has to take a lot of credit, unlike his first 3 years in charge we really are being served up some great stuff this year - the football is a joy to watch and great value for money. The "stay-aways" really are missing out.

Also great to see the vast majority stay to the end and applaud the lads off. No booing that I heard, most appreciated the fact that the Blades would probably have beaten anyone in our league playing like that. Good luck to them in the Championship.

^
Top post, that.

 

[LBBlue]

Just under 700 more there yesterday than the fixture on Sky last March so I don't think the bigger attendance theory for moving the game was justified bearing in mind the form both sides were in the game. According to Brown in his programme notes it was going to be a full house.


Only Atkinson and Thompson started both games for us and three for them.

 

[AndyT]

There's also the knock on factor of the Rochdale attendance possibly being lower, because people chose the Sheffield United match instead.

In terms of income generated, the only advantage was that we have a bit more money in the bank now, than in February.

 

[Floval Flyer]

Looking back over the past 3 months, I can honestly say we can surely be proud of how the team is playing right now. Saturday was, I hope, a 'one-off' and at times we were played off the park, as they say. However, the team spirit shown in recent games and on Saturday is incredible - my concern was that we'd concede early against Sheff U, and we did that exactly, but the way the team came back despite early pressure was superb. For a 20 min spell either side of Coxy's goal we matched and even surpassed them, and who know's if Wordsworth's effort had gone in, or even if the 'foul?' had been given when Ranger laid the ball off to Cox when he was alleged to have been tripped then things may have turned out differently... In the end we were over ran in midfield, they were quicker to the ball, and so on - but we can learn from this - Rochdale better watch out :-)

Considering we had several key players still injured the defeat was nothing to dwell on, tough games coming up, but surely we have nothing to fear from the likes of Rochdale, Scunthorpe etc.

Few pointers regarding Saturday; Thought Adam Thompson, Simon Cox and J-M Fortune we very good, however the performance of Demetriou, Ferdinand and especially Ranger were below expectation. For me Ranger looked very poor, not sure what happened on Saturday, but something was clearly amiss? I just hope his head is in the right place...


The other point was the incredible atmosphere at RH, our supporters, especially 'The Blue Voice'; who I sit adjacent to in WU - they were in full voice, even when we went 4-1 down - totally incredible and must give the team a huge lift!

over the last 10 years I have only been able to make a handful of games due to work and family commitments, however this season I have only missed 2 home games, and have even had a couple of away day outings - cannot wait for the Rochdale game!

UTBs

 

[AndyT]

Mentioned on Saturday about a fella on their forum, who was posting some of our comments that we made on this thread.

Here's his link and below I thought I'd return the favour and post some of their comments, which are thought were very pleasant reading :thumbsup: :-

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/view-from-southend.51463/page-5

"Fair play to them that must be the most positive "view from" I have ever read"

"Cheers Roy. Quite a nice bunch those Southend fans"

"Loving the comments, gracious in defeat those chaps, I doff my virtual cap"

"As already mentioned, respect to the Southend fans who, from their perspective, despite defeat gave a honest view of the game"

"A decent set of fans. It makes a refreshing change after Coventry and Bolton"

"With due respect to fate and the football gods, after reading that, Southend will be very welcome to triumph in the play offs and join us in the Championship next season"

"Fair play to Southend - proper club with top fans. Unlike most of the coastal teams whose fans seem embittered and deluded"

"Well I have to wonder whether Southend is really a town made up of exiled Northerners? I mean, where are all the southern softy shandy drinkers comments about us being dirty, or the ref being biased, or the lino missing an offside and stuff like that?

Instead, we get level headed, common sense comments, no moaning, and a load of nice compliments"

"Fair play to them, and as others have said already, hope they end up in the play offs and give it a good go"

"I agree. You can't help but admire fans from a club that show such admiration in defeat"

 

[RHB]

So after all that nice stuff, all we need to do is 'turn up' against Rochdale, fans and players.

 

[dannypav]

So after all that nice stuff, all we need to do is 'turn up' against Rochdale, fans and players.

Cheers PB !

 

[Floval Flyer]

So after all that nice stuff, all we need to do is 'turn up' against Rochdale, fans and players.

Just give us the 3 points and save dale the trip ;-)

 

[Tampa Blue]

however the performance of Demetriou, Ferdinand and especially Ranger were below expectation.

Pretty much agree with your original post, and especially the bit above.

Ferdinand and Ranger were both poor but have been consistently good so I am hoping this was a one off.

Demetriou is a player who I described to my son at the beginning of the season as the sort of player I love because of his energy, tenacity and commitment. I also love the fact that he is not adverse to having a little dig now and then.

However, I think that his performances have really dipped in recent weeks and his defending has taken second place to his attacking intent. I wonder whether it is time for John White to have earned a recall - especially when we are playing these top sides?

 

[RHB]

However, I think that his performances have really dipped in recent weeks and his defending has taken second place to his attacking intent. I wonder whether it is time for John White to have earned a recall - especially when we are playing these top sides?

You are OBL and I claim my £5

 

[Tampa Blue]

You are OBL and I claim my £5

LoL - I think OBL may well sue for that insult!!

 

[united we stand]

Everyone seems in agreement on most points. When we scored I would have taken 1-1. I would also have taken a stat that said we restricted them to 4 shots on target:sad:. Football is all about confidence, if Wordsworth strike had gone in who knows. If at the end we have scored mtge last couple of minutes would have been electric and roots hall would have been on fire and if by some miracle we scored again it could have been a season defining game for us.-but we didn't take .

From were I was the free kick that resulted in their second goal was never a foul, I would be interested to hear views from those closer. Very impressed with our second goal and the don't give up mentality from Mcglashan. Equally disappointed with Hines unless he was instructed to stay forward and not help which is entirely possible. This may not be popular but I wound like to see I oxley back in goal ( I thought that before Saturday). He may have been that fraction quicker and may have come for the first. The realality is he could not have done any worse.

 

[Napster]

Bloody Northern monkeys. Did they get back to train their whippets in time?

 

[Floval Flyer]

Bloody Northern monkeys. Did they get back to train their whippets in time?

bet their pigeons got back to Sheffield quicker than their train home !

 

[rigsby]

Of course being Essex boy's we are man enough to admit when we were beaten by the better team. So I'm glad those Blades don't think we are stereotypically southern softies. I'm glad their wives could relax all Saturday evening in their aprons by the fireside, in the knowledge that all though the husbands would be home late, tonight they were safe.

By the way if they had really upset me I would take them for a drive down a quiet country lane in my Range Rover.

 

[Phippsy]

One thing that is slightly puzzling me is the fact that historically Phil Browns teams have always been one of the fittest ive ever seen in a Southend shirt, this season in particular some of our players dont seem up to the normal standard. I know Ranger has hardly played in 2 years, but come on he looked dead on his feet after 25-30 mins. Cox looks like he could lose a stone or 2 and Lenny looks lethargic (very unlike him) Ferdinand looks chunky also. Do we still have the same fitness/backroom team? just clutching at straws really as we really did lose to a good team Sat, even with the right formation we would have struggled.

 

[SufcUpAndDown]

Yes agree we were beaten by a better team, things were not good for us from the off.. when Ferdinand miss kicked the ball twice I was thinking..... Ranger has not been right for some time, again he had a poor time.....I do think there is a secret injury, not just missing a full pre season....someone said he was not fully training? It's been going a while.

We need to close down players more too. I noticed a fair bit that attacking players were allowed to run at us, defence would start there, people in the crowd near me shouting, go to him, go to him.......on a lot of occasions.

Formation change was not good!... I would have just slipped mcglashan in....and see how it went.

Timlin The Terrier pulled around quite a lot, but what a great all round footballer he is, he would have a go playing anywhere.



At out pomp a little while back I think we would have won, it was not going to happen.... I hope we win the next, and then Phil Browns beloved Bolton.

 

[jaffa1]

One thing that is slightly puzzling me is the fact that historically Phil Browns teams have always been one of the fittest ive ever seen in a Southend shirt, this season in particular some of our players dont seem up to the normal standard. I know Ranger has hardly played in 2 years, but come on he looked dead on his feet after 25-30 mins. Cox looks like he could lose a stone or 2 and Lenny looks lethargic (very unlike him) Ferdinand looks chunky also. Do we still have the same fitness/backroom team? just clutching at straws really as we really did lose to a good team Sat, even with the right formation we would have struggled.

I understand that they were working on their 'warm down' in the Ivy Rooms Saturday night....