Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Braintree Town, Friday 18th April, 15:00 k.o., NL

[cerbera45]

A Must Win to keep the embers (of our season) glowing

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

I would bring Collin back in, assuming he has had a good week in training. Never rated Hayes to be honest, and only 1 clean sheet in about 20 games compared to the record Collin had cant be coincidence.

Maybe bring back Cav for Morton, as he has looked a little leggy and off his game the past few weeks.

Upfront is the where the real dilemma lies though. Do you go KAF and LCP behind a two of Bonne and Hopper, or just LCP behind Bonne, Hopper and Kendall? Its 4 from those 5 to be honest and I wouldn't like to guess which one will miss out, but I think we need Kendall's energy back.

Personally I would leave out Hopper, and maybe then rotate with Kendall/Bonne/Walker/LCP/Bridge as the game progresses.

 

[CrippsCorner]

Fully expect us to win both games over Easter to get everyone’s hopes up again . Just to lose against Wealdstone next weekend.

Nooo... got tickets to that one, and can't have my son crying at the final home game. Save it for final game misery at Gateshead at least!

 

[Colchester and proud!]

They had one of the Lisbies recalled by Colchester and now Jermaine Francis has been recalled by Barnet.

Although Kyreece Lisbie is a very decent prospect I don’t think Braintree will miss him too much as he has only been there a month and played 5 games for them, but he seems to have done well and enjoyed playing alongside his brother, they are both very quick. Francis will be a big miss but Kyrell Lisbie will take some stopping and big John Akinde will be putting himself about, he is more than capable of netting a goal or two and creating chances for others.

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

Looks like the North stand will have a decent number of both home and away fans so far 1200 tickets sold.This makes a decent change in seeing rows and rows of empty seats

 

[kentblues]

Four at the back was horrible at the on Saturday and it wasn’t until we went three at the back we looked threatening.

Gus at RB is just criminal. Not the best defender (see their goal) and it means our biggest goal threat is restricted in getting forward. Sheer madness when we are Discussing we don’t get enough goals.

352 with Parillon as the attacking CM is the way to go. And the right formation. Yes we don’t have the right players to capitalise fully (the summer will have to fix that) but it’s the formation that best suits what we have now.

Of course with Parillon in there it can almost become 343 very easily dependent on the opposition/ how the game goes.

 

[Ally les Bleus !]

TGIF - even if it is a 3 o'clock kick off !

 

[Barling Magna]

From the Braintree fans forum:

"Braintree’s loss at Tamworth on Saturday saw us drop down to eighteenth place, still seven points ahead of twentieth placed Dagenham & Redbridge who they will face on Monday afternoon. Avoiding defeat here on Friday, or if AFC Fylde don’t win at Halifax Town the same day, would mean they could not be passed by the Lancashire side.

If Braintree win and both Maidenhead United and Dagenham & Redbridge lose, then the Iron will have secured another season in the National League. If Braintree lose, then beat Dagenham, it would mean that the Daggers could not pass them either.

With both sides having lots to play for Steve Pitt will want to ensure survival at the earliest opportunity and also avenge that New Year’s Day defeat. We’ve shown in recent weeks that we have what it takes to compete against the “big” boys in this League, now’s the time to secure our place in the VNL!"

 

[Tommy2holes]

Anything less than a much improved performance from blues would be insulting to the fans.

Looking like this fixture will be pushing 9k and will break top non league attendance of the season, achieved last weekend by us.

When was the last time we had 3 consecutive 8k+ home crowds?

I really hope we soon have a team that matches our support

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

When was the last time we had 3 consecutive 8k+ home crowds?

2017 the last 3 home games were 9k+

 

[dusterman]

Anything less than a much improved performance from blues would be insulting to the fans.

Looking like this fixture will be pushing 9k and will break top non league attendance of the season, achieved last weekend by us.

When was the last time we had 3 consecutive 8k+ home crowds?

I really hope we soon have a team that matches our support

What so only 50% of the players are behind the manager?

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Wow, I've been away for one match and look at the zone back to it's 'best'! Euphoria last week, lose one game and it's sack all the squad and the manager. Got to love this place.

Anyway, onto the game. Braintree have lost very key and dangerous players in Lisbie and Francis and that will greatly impact them as they have been huge components to their great form. They were using them both on the counter to great effect, especially at Gateshead away. With that being ripped from their side, that's huge for us.

I think we all need to just concentrate on the next game and go from there. Every side is capable of losing a game. It could be the turn of any one of the sides in the playoff hunt this weekend. Double header weekend games are always where things take shape. Let's just see what these two games bring.

I don't want to even get involved in formations and tactics because I felt they were irrelevant on Saturday. We just looked nervous, it's as simple as that. They just need to beat the nerves before they can beat the opponent. They do that, and we can get back to the footy that was so impressive prior to Solihull. Utb.

 

[shrimperjon]

We’ve been away since the 4/4 and land back in the uk on Friday at 14:00. Honestly thought that when we go to Ebbsfleet we would have picked up at least 6 points from the Sutton and Solihull games. Friday now is an absolute must win game and hope results go our way. By all accounts Sutton was poor performance or a case of missed chances, the Soliihull game not much better if not worst. Kev simply has to get a reaction from this group otherwise the season could just end flat. Already have Gateshead tickets and transport organised, really don’t want to go there with nothing to play for.

 

[RHB]

We’ve been away since the 4/4 and land back in the uk on Friday at 14:00. Honestly thought that when we go to Ebbsfleet we would have picked up at least 6 points from the Sutton and Solihull games. Friday now is an absolute must win game and hope results go our way. By all accounts Sutton was poor performance or a case of missed chances, the So,ihull game not much better if not worst. Kev simply has to get a reaction from this group otherwise the season could just end flat. Already have Gateshead tickets and transport organised, really don’t want to go there with nothing to play for.

Hope you had a good holiday mate. Hopefully. Braintree and Ebsfleet won't spoil the holiday feeling.

 

[shrimperjon]

Hope you had a good holiday mate. Hopefully. Braintree and Ebsfleet won't spoil the holiday feeling.

TBF the holiday came at the right time to give us all a break from work and in truth SUFC. But we always wear our colours with pride on holiday and people are more than aware of our plight so always good that people take an interest. Whist we still have a chance then we have hope but feel we must take maximum points from the next three and then see where that leaves us. To think we are still in with a chance after what we’ve been through and our complete lack of goals makes it all the more frustrating. But losing to Solihull with inexcusable especially after throwing away the Sutton game. There must be a reaction Friday

 

[Desperado]

Four at the back was horrible at the on Saturday and it wasn’t until we went three at the back we looked threatening.

Gus at RB is just criminal. Not the best defender (see their goal) and it means our biggest goal threat is restricted in getting forward. Sheer madness when we are Discussing we don’t get enough goals.

352 with Parillon as the attacking CM is the way to go. And the right formation. Yes we don’t have the right players to capitalise fully (the summer will have to fix that) but it’s the formation that best suits what we have now.

Of course with Parillon in there it can almost become 343 very easily dependent on the opposition/ how the game goes.

Got to disagree. Notwithstanding last Saturday, there’s been a clear uptick in results and performances since dropping the 352.

Unless we invest in a very strong LWB over the summer I’d expect the starting formation next season to be 433

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

The ticket counter has now ticked over the 8000 mark, with another day of sales, hospitality and walk ups I think we may even surpass the Charlton attendance tomorrow. Would be great to get over 9,000.

Let's hope the team turn up too!

 

[Leeboy]

big home crowd, lower placed opposition, something to play for.......we all know how this is going to end!

#glasshalfempty

 

[SHRIMPERPETER]

How comes the last two home games just one available in the East stand supposedly but there's always empty seats especially in the blue section

 

[Smiffy]

How comes the last two home games just one available in the East stand supposedly but there's always empty seats especially in the blue section

The blue seats (Block A) are not available for purchase online. This section is normally for comps.

Not all seats are sold in the East Stand and West stand either, due to capacity restrictions.