Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 2, Oxford United 1

[londonblue]

Why Puzzled? We played crap and took chances, they pummled us and couldn't deliver the sucker punch.

Simple as.

It's great though. We played badly but still beat the team in fourth.

 

[Cricko]

Harris looked like he was running in mud and his first touch for such an experienced player is shocking.I am so disappointed in him after all the hype.Grant IMO should of come on at half time, they completely overran us in mid-field in the first half with no ball winner out there..

 

[greyerfox]

My first home game, having seen us at Crawley and Macc last week. I had been warned we were slow starters. Wilder always has his team playing a combative, pressing game and I expected a battle royal before the game. True to form Ox were at us from the off and were winning the midfield battles, with Kane a shadow of the the player we saw at Macc, and JPK was sorely missed. Daniels kept us in it with a string of excellent saves. Constable did as always, all arms, elbows and hands in your face. Barker did well against the barrage. Timlin was our most creative influence; must do all we can to keep him come Jan. The Phillips goal was wonderfully timed and the Wilder reaction post-match to being behind at the break was spot on.

Thought PS could be criticised today for the delay in bringing on Grant. We watched as GC and PS got their heads together, clearly waiting to see how Hall was before making the first sub. As others have said, once Anthony was on he was just what we needed at the time, someone to slow it down and keep the ball.

Have been to so many away games when Blues have deserved points only to see them snatched away by a wonderful goal from a special talent in the opposition line-up. Today it was our turn, with Ryan's sublime goal a cause for justified firework exuberance behind the away end at FT. I did not shed a tear for the Ox.

 

[Bielzibubz]

The stats don't particularly show Oxfords dominance of the first half but has been said before it's a game of 90 minutes. Play better and lose, play worse and win. That's football.

 

[Cricko]

 

[OldBlueLady]

Clear penalty against Barker for handball from where I was sitting, amazed it wasn't given and can fully understand Oxford supporters feeling hard done by. Having said that, Daniels was on fire and would probably have had a good chance of saving it anyway!

People really underrate Harris, it's like Freedman all over again. Look at the wider picture, see the space he creates, note the very good crosses he's getting in (he did it yesterday too) and the encouragement he gives others. I think he and Dickinson have a pretty good understanding as it goes.

 

[Cricko]

Out of interest, although the crowd IMO looked bigger than 6100,it was still the 2nd highest in our division. only Bradford got more and was only beaten by 5 teams in League 1.

Huddersfield,Charlton,Francise FC,Notts C and Sheff Wed.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Out of interest, although the crowd IMO looked bigger than 6100,it was still the 2nd highest in our division. only Bradford got more and was only beaten by 5 teams in League 1.

Huddersfield,Charlton,Francise FC,Notts C and Sheff Wed.

I agree that the crowd did look bigger, but there were some largish areas of the West with unoccupied seats, and the South lower, I can't see along the rest of the East to tell, but Blacks & Greens were pretty full.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Was surprised actually that Oxford weren't allowed to take the next block behind the goal as well, they looked really hemmed in.

 

[Homer]

i heard after the game that Oxford where trying to get into the East Side and where successful Police where in there with there video camera but i was told it was left to the stewards to stop them getting further anybody witness this

 

[Halstead Blue]

Oxford fans take on the match -

http://bananaananda.blogspot.com/2011/11/hi-all-first-match-in-difficult-run-for.html

 

[Shakes]

Thought Sturrock did much better in his 10 minutes than Harris' whole game. I really don't get why he receives so much abuse- I think he deserves at least half a game if Harris is as off the boil as yesterday.

 

[Cricko]

"The yellows fans were having fun at the portly Southend drum banger's expense"

That will please Trueblue..:winking:

 

[Bromley Blue]

i heard after the game that Oxford where trying to get into the East Side and where successful Police where in there with there video camera but i was told it was left to the stewards to stop them getting further anybody witness this

This wouldn't surprise me. Who can forget all the trouble against Leicester the day they won promotion. It all kicked off where I was sat in The Blue Voice and the police did nothing but film it whilst the stewards had to pull people off each other.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Clear penalty against Barker for handball from where I was sitting, amazed it wasn't given and can fully understand Oxford supporters feeling hard done by.

I'm with you on that. I went to get my little daughter a drink just before half time (there's always one !!), and I was at the perfect angle to see him nudge the ball away with his arm. It's the sort of decision, that if you're at the bottom of the table, a pen is given.

 

[fbm]

"The yellows fans were having fun at the portly Southend drum banger's expense"

That will please Trueblue..:winking:

And how politely they put it! You can tell it's a university city....

 

[RobM]

Range of ratings so far!

Daniels 8 - 9
Clohessy 6 - 8
Barker 5 - 7
Phillips 7 - 8
Glbert 3 - 6
Hall 5 - 8
Timln 6 - 8
Ferdi' 2 - 5
Leonard 5 - 7
Dickinson 4 - 7.5
Harris 3 - 6

So! Team scores either 52/110 or 79.5 / 110!

Which makes average ratings 4.7 per player or 7.2 ! :dim:

 

[Semi-Spanish Shrimper]

Oxford fans take on the match -

http://bananaananda.blogspot.com/2011/11/hi-all-first-match-in-difficult-run-for.html

Not very complimentary of us!

 

[RobM]

£5 to park? Muggins!
The A127 goes from Basildon to Southend? Odd, I thought it went rather further west than that - unless party-loving aliens have stolen it.

 

[onceknownasrab]

In all fairness there was precious little I could disagree with bananaananda.blogspot. We were poor in the extreme. Our loanee keeper did much to keep us in the game and Phillips was a rock. If Hall had not scored, yes I know he had been ill, he would have been a liability. The team generally wanted an extra touch and an extra second on every ball and were subsequently robbed of possession time and time again. For me this game had Grant stamped all over it and I think it was a tactical faux pas leaving him on the bench until late. Harris has a good work ethic but the positions he tracks back to leave us woefully short of outlet options at the business end of the pitch. What is the point of a flick from Dickinson when he is alone. Sometimes table topping teams have an off day and their quality grinds out a result. For me, we won because of the abysmal finishing from Oxford as opposed to our own endeavour. Of course I am grateful for the result but if they play like that very often then I doubt we will make the play-offs. There needs to be a reality check for the entire team and I think a sharp and marked improvement in tactical decisions. UTB