Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Barnet, Saturday 18th January, 15:00 k.o., NL

[Strykr]

Will be a tough test, but feels like it could be a turning point if we win. As we seem to be unable to bring anyone in, the bottom line for me is kendall + bonne or waldron have to come good and start showing form if we are to have any chance of having a play off run.

I expect kev to set us up to be very defensive and cautious (boring) and nick a 1-0. Id take that.

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United skipper Nathan Ralph feels the Shrimpers’ freshness could prove key against Barnet at Roots Hall tomorrow.

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[Harry Bullocks]

Come on you Shrimpers
Home win (please) and push on up

 

[rigsby]

Underhill great awayday. The ‘hive’. Piece of crap in the middle of a desolate park.

Yes it has good away stand but not in Barnet. Shockingly poor service for beer or food and nothing worth the effort locally.

 

[old leigh shrimper]

Seem to recall a pub called Red Lion at underhill?

 

[dannypav]

Will be a tough test, but feels like it could be a turning point if we win. As we seem to be unable to bring anyone in, the bottom line for me is kendall + bonne or waldron have to come good and start showing form if we are to have any chance of having a play off run.

I expect kev to set us up to be very defensive and cautious (boring) and nick a 1-0. Id take that.

I think key to any of those three hitting scoring form is a better supply from midfield and wing backs.
Bonne is slated by so many on here , but he can only make decent runs and movement so often.
It usually ends with hesitation and a sideways pass from the player in possession and the growth of 'Bonne is useless' myth.

 

[Fitz]

I think key to any of those three hitting scoring form is a better supply from midfield and wing backs.
Bonne is slated by so many on here , but he can only make decent runs and movement so often.
It usually ends with hesitation and a sideways pass from the player in possession and the growth of 'Bonne is useless' myth.

I have seen very little in terms of decent runs or movement from Bonne in all the matches he has played unfortunately.

 

[slapheadsteve]

I have seen very little in terms of decent runs or movement from Bonne in all the matches he has played unfortunately.

I totally disagree that Boone makes very little in terms of decent runs or movement.
If you watch him. I will agree outside the box, he makes a lot of decent runs, passes and pulls opposition players out of position. For others to shoot.
Yes I totally get he has a shocking scoring record but his build up play is very good.
There is a very good player in there but at the moment he is not fulfilling what we signed him for.
It will come but time is more or less up. I would start him on Saturday as Wednesday will Kendall, but even though I was at Boston I could not see in the seven minutes if it could work.

 

[Barling Magna]

Tbf he doesn't watch us every week.

Barnet travel really poorly, as do almost all clubs at this level. I'd be surprised if they brought as many as 200 tbh, despite their lofty position. Only 1400 turned up at FGR for their top of the table clash with Barnet.

A crowd of around 6500+ against a champions elect.

I'd rather see York go up. A proper club with a decent fan base.

As for the game.

It will be a tight one. I'll go for a 2-2 draw.

It will be also be good to get back in the west stand

I'd rather see York go up too, but then I'd lose my favourite away game..... so let's get shot of the vegans.

Barnet will be tough and due to the two last matches we may well have lost the momentum we were building. Nonetheless I fancy us to edge this one and Kendall and Bonne to start a productive partnership.

I can dream....

 

[SUFCGoals]

Harness

GSM Taylor Golding Ralph Brigde

Husin Miley Coker

Bonne Kendall

Subs: Collin, Wind, Gubbins, Morton, KAF, Waldron, Walker

Not in squad: Crowther (injured), Wood

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Harness

GSM Taylor Golding Ralph Brigde

Husin Miley Coker

Bonne Kendall

Subs: Collin, Wind, Gubbins, Morton, KAF, Waldron, Walker

Not in squad: Crowther (injured), Wood

This is what the team will be.

Many won't like it because Husin is in there instead of Morton. However, Morton plays better when we dictate the tempo and have a higher percentage of the ball. Fans don't like it, but Barnet are better than us and we have to respect them. The team above can press better than a team with Morton in it. Kendall presses from the front really well too. Miley was looking back to his best in his previous two games and we really need him against good sides.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Surely we're going to lose this? https://www.sportinglife.com/football/league-tables/english-national-league/7

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Barnet fan in peace. I haven't worked out yet how to actually post a comment so it was easier to reply to any comment as at least it will get me up an running. Always Always loved the Southend v Barnet games since winning 2-0 at Roots Hall in 1993. As I said I'm here in peace looking forward to the game on Saturday but I will say I was at the game in August at The Hive and Southend fans were brilliant. It was embarrassing you guys and gals had more supporters in the ground than Barnet did. I'm not going to hide behind the we need to be back at Underhill brigade but we probably do. I thought you guys would be Play Offs minimum this season, it maybe be next season but when it clicks Southend will win this division and hopefully we will have already gone up by then ..

Thanks! I don't mind The Hive as a venue, but the press set-up is poor.
Not sure how much influence Tony has, but the jobsworths who run it are up there with the best.
Underpants was a good venue to visit, especially the walk down the hill from the Tube, but pal, Lee Harrison, yeah, former Blues coach and your keeper was none to enamoured with it.

 

[GBJ]

I think key to any of those three hitting scoring form is a better supply from midfield and wing backs.
Bonne is slated by so many on here , but he can only make decent runs and movement so often.
It usually ends with hesitation and a sideways pass from the player in possession and the growth of 'Bonne is useless' myth.

Nail on the head.

Supply from the wingbacks has been sub-par this season. 2 assists from Bridge in 25 appearances and 2 from GSM in 23 matches. Compare that to last seasons returns, Bridge 13 and GSM 6.

It’s just not good enough.Their crossing/final ball has been particularly terrible this season.

Central midfield hasn’t been much better on the assist front either:

Miley - 0
Husin - 1
KAF - 1
Coker - 3
Morton - 3

Although last seasons wasn’t much better either:

Husin - 2
Miley - 2
Morton - 2
Coker - 4

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Nail on the head.

Supply from the wingbacks has been sub-par this season. 2 assists from Bridge in 25 appearances and 2 from GSM in 23 matches. Compare that to last seasons returns, Bridge 13 and GSM 6.

It’s just not good enough.Their crossing/final ball has been particularly terrible this season.

Central midfield hasn’t been much better on the assist front either:

Miley - 0
Husin - 1
KAF - 1
Coker - 3
Morton - 3

Although last seasons wasn’t much better either:

Husin - 2
Miley - 2
Morton - 2
Coker - 4

Those numbers and stats factually cement the fact it's not about the setup but about the players playing/not playing for us. Kensdale's runs with the ball allowed midfielders to push up, that led to opposing defenders picking up midfield runs. That freed up space for Gus and Bridge to cross without two men on them. We also had a fantastic target man who'd get 18 goals, who would also occupy 2 defenders because he was that good. We don't have that now.

The midfield has never contributed enough goals in the last 2 seasons, it's why we didn't try harder to keep Wes. But what the midfield and addition of Kensdale did do, was allow the fullbacks time and space and a spare man to interchange with. That simply hasn't happened this season.

 

[leeblue]

 

[Mick]

I totally disagree that Boone makes very little in terms of decent runs or movement.
...

Boone ? I remember Have Gun, Will Travel (yes, I am that old !). Now, he could shoot.

 

[dusterman]

Boone ? I remember Have Gun, Will Travel (yes, I am that old !). Now, he could shoot.

#BoonArmy

 

[Holy Joe]

Is Collin still not fit?

 

[leeblue]

Is Collin still not fit?

been ill