Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Ebbsfleet, Thursday 26th December, 15:00 k.o., NL

[IloveShrimp]

Playing a very poor Ebbsfleet side. Need to go at them from the start and on the front foot.

Collin
Wind Taylor Gubbins Ralph
Coker Keenan Morton
Bonne Kendall BIM

3-0 win.

Would love to see the above but find it hard to believe that Kev will change anything as he is becoming so stubborn but ever there was a game to kick start our season and get some confidence this is the one

That would be my lineup too although I did consider
Collin
Wind Golding Gubbins Ralph
Taylor
Gus Morton KAF
Bonne Pepple

 

[in the know]

Id like to see...
Collin
Gus golding gubbins Ralph
Coker moncur Morton
Bonne Kendal pepple ,

I'll probably see.....
Collin
Gus Taylor crowther Ralph bridge
Miley Morton husin
Pepple. Walker

 

[rararblue]

Collin
Gus Taylor Golding Gubbins Ralph
Coker Morton KAF
Pepple Walker

 

[northlincsshrimper1]

Gubbins left back and Ralph midfield?! Are you crazy

After watching Southend for over 50 years, I am quite entitled to be a little crazy at times

 

[geoffmundo]

Id like to see...
Collin
Gus golding gubbins Ralph
Coker moncur Morton
Bonne Kendal pepple ,

I'll probably see.....
Collin
Gus Taylor crowther Ralph bridge
Miley Morton husin
Pepple. Walker

Given Maher's comments re goals were because players 'not doing their jobs', I would be surprised (although not that surprised) if Crowther starts.

 

[old leigh shrimper]

There has been quite a few times in the past where teams without a win in 'ages' have come to the Hall and won with ease..... Just hope Boxing day isn't another.

 

[AlfaShrimper]

After watching Southend for over 50 years, I am quite entitled to be a little crazy at times

I'll give you that one

 

[AlfaShrimper]

For me 4-3-3. Tell the players to get in ebbsfleets face from minute 1
Collin
Wind Taylor gubbins Ralph
Coker Morton KAF
Bim Bonne Kendall.

High press high energy. Run yourself into the ground and then use the 5 subs to keep it fresh. We was excellent last lesson at starting fast. Let's try that again

 

[WickfordShrimper]

Fantastic to see Southend United Fans back in the North Bank on Boxing day

Honestly , I half I feel I got my Club back now.

Thanks to the New Owners here for all the hard work

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

We need to win this one and win it well.

Collin

Wind Taylor Crowther Golding Ralph

KAF Morton Coker

Bim Kendall

 

[Roger The Alien]

Lose this on Boxing Day, it’s will turn ugly ….

 

[essexshrimper]

Collin
Wind Golding Gubbins Ralph
Coker Moreton Appiah-Forson
Walker Pebble Kendall

Taylor, Miley, Moncur, Husin, Bridge, Waldron, Boone

3-0 Blues

 

[meerkat54]

Ebbsfleets last away win was 10 months ago v Dorking, in February.

Their away record (league) this season reads:

P11, W0, D2, L9, GF8, GA31

In a nutshell, you couldn't get an easier fixture on paper at this level right now. Anything less than 3 points, would be extremely concerning.

These stats are flagging a banana skin for us.

 

[Maidstone Shrimper]

I don’t think 4-3-3 is a long term solution but against our next three opponents I’m all for it. It allows us to drop the under-performing Jack Bridge and could give us more pace where it counts.

The front three for me would be Bonne, Kendall and Walker. I am a fan of Bim P but Kendall needs to start a game. He’s a long term target signed to solve our goalscoring problems so there’s only one way to find out if he’s the answer. Walker looks good providing a bit of width that I think Pepple would not relish so much. Bonne is the only forward we have capable of playing the target man role. Both Bim and Walker play better alongside him and I reckon Kendall would too so I’d start him despite his lack of goals. Bim has looked ineffective trying to outmuscle big centre backs on his own and Cordner is one big unit, even if he’s not got much else to commend him.

Midfield three – Morton, Coker, KAF. Maher seems reluctant to “risk” starting KAF presumably as he's not as defensively solid as he would like but against the likes of Ebbsfleet his willingness to run at opponents would get my vote.

Back four – Gus, Taylor, Crowther, Ralph. I’m keeping Crowther as I don’t think Gubbins is particularly dominant in the air considering his height and I haven’t seen Golding on the pitch. He’s only been signed on a short term loan as cover for Gubbins it seems so is he the answer as some think/hope? The 3 Amigos are the only ones who can have a decent stab at answering that.

Collin in goal. No competition at the moment.

 

[stewart]

Collin, Wind Taylor, Golding Ralph
--------KAF Coker Morton Walker
------------ Kendall Bim -------
Subs Bonne, GSM Miley Moncur, Husin Jeacock/ Brown Gubbins
No room for either Bridge or Crowther , Not sure if the Loanee keeper has returned yet if he has him otherwise young Charlie Brown from the comic strip .

 

[Jay_SUFC]

Lose this on Boxing Day, it’s will turn ugly ….

I would say that would even be the case if we draw. We have to win against this lot at home and win comfortably

 

[blues exile]

I would say that would even be the case if we draw. We have to win against this lot at home and win comfortably

Even if we win comfortably, as we should, it changes nothing, similarly the Braintree game. If we can't beat those two we really are in a mess. We are miles away from a serious play off challenge and these are two of the easiest games, at least on paper, that we face this season. Having said that, the results against Fylde and Maidenhead should be a warining.

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

The team I'd like to see is:

Collin

Wind Taylor Gubbins Ralph

Miley

Appiah-Forson Morton

Pepple Bonne Kendall​

The team I think we will see is:

Collin

GSM Taylor Crowther Ralph Bridge

Coker Husin Morton

Pepple Walker​

 

[Ricey]

The team I'd like to see is:

Collin

Wind Taylor Gubbins Ralph

Miley

Appiah-Forson Morton

Pepple Bonne Kendall​

The team I think we will see is:

Collin

GSM Taylor Crowther Ralph Bridge

Coker Husin Morton

Pepple Walker​

If he picks that second selection that tells me all I need to know about Maher. Although I think he would pick Miley over Morton.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Ebbsfleet's atrocious away record worries me. It would be absolutely like us to hand them an Xmas present of a win.