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

[Clinton Baptiste]

Poleon is a decent striker at this level.

 

[Wingnut]

You can bet they have done their homework on us and with our openly bland tactics you bet they will pick us off ,one nil defeat coming

 

[Sammy Shrimper]

This one is a Banana skin. Last season, Oxford City had just been hit for seven by the Daggers, and we just managed a 0-0.

Anyway Kev will pick an attacking formation and go for it !
PS I haven’t had a drink yet

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

Collin
Taylor Crowther Ralph
Wind walker
Morton Miley
Coker
Bim Kendal

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Interesting to see how former fans' favourites have fallen out of favour in the votes so far:

Bridge - 4 votes
Husin - 3 votes
Miley - 8 votes

From 56 voters.

We all think it's clearly time for change, but will Kev agree?

 

[SUFCGoals]

Collin
Taylor Crowther Ralph
Wind walker
Morton Miley
Coker
Bim Kendal

What’s Walker doing back there

 

[Strykr]

Collin

Wind Taylor Crowther Ralph

forson Morton coker

walker Kendal bim

Set out to batter them.

 

[dusterman]

It’s when we show no intensity off the bat from the first whistle that frustrates the most at home. Sets the tone completely wrong. Flat.

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

Interesting to see how former fans' favourites have fallen out of favour in the votes so far:

Bridge - 4 votes
Husin - 3 votes
Miley - 8 votes

From 56 voters.

We all think it's clearly time for change, but will Kev agree?

The worrying thing is that he watches them week in, week out and sees how badly they play and keeps picking them!? All eyes on his selections for this one? If it`s still Maherball, good riddance!

 

[Strykr]

The worrying thing is that he watches them week in, week out and sees how badly they play and keeps picking them!? All eyes on his selections for this one? If it`s still Maherball, good riddance!

Thats whats gonna cause the unrest. Yes If we lose thats bad.. but if we set up at home on boxing day against a poor side with a defensive 5 3 2, bridge husin and miley people are gonna turn.

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

We could do
Colin
Taylor Golding Ralph
Morton
Walker Coker kaf bridge
Kendall pim


I think

Colin
Gus Taylor Golding Ralph .
Morton
Coker kaf
Walker pebble bridge

 

[duncan bulgaria]

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

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

3-0 Blues

thats a bench we would of dreamed of back in the Molesley league 2 days

 

[stewart]

thats a bench we would of dreamed of back in the Molesley league 2 days

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

<Zach Jeacock is back with Southend United ahead of Boxing Day clash<​

Clearly KM doesn't rate Collin's kicking.

 

[Ricey]

No Justham for Boxing Day then.

 

[Evening Echo]

ALL the updates from the pre-match press conference ahead of Southend United's match with Ebbsfleet United at Roots Hall on Boxing Day.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[Evening Echo]

ZACH Jeacock has resumed his loan spell at Southend United after recovering from a foot injury.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Back - Zach Jeacock has returned to Southend United (Image: Russell Hart)


By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.

ZACH Jeacock has resumed his loan spell at Southend United after recovering from a foot injury.

Jeacock had been ruled out of the Shrimpers' last three matches due to a foot injury.

But he is now back with Blues from his parent club Lincoln City and should be available for the Boxing Day clash with Ebbsfleet United at Roots Hall.

Shrimpers boss Kevin Maher confirmed: “We’re expecting Zach back to train.

“He’s got the all clear from Lincoln so we’ll see how he is in training the next few days.”

Jeacock has made three appearances for Blues.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

ALL the updates from the pre-match press conference ahead of Southend United's match with Ebbsfleet United at Roots Hall on Boxing Day.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

Updates from Southend United's pre-match press conference​

Yesterday'
Southend United FC
Football
Sport

By Chris Phillips.

As usual unfortunately, read from the bottom guys n gals.

4:10pm
On team selection, Maher explains: "It's a balancing act. You look at who you think is in good form and who is not.

"You watch training, you see who is bang at it and who is pushing for a start.

"There's competition for places and it's also about seeing what the opposition do as well and what we feel will hurt them."

4:03pm
Josh Wright, another ex Shrimper, is in charge of Ebbsfleet. That's a tough job he's got there.

Maher: "You can do all your coaching courses etc but once you're thrown in it's the real world of football management and it's a tough place at times.

"We're probably in a sticky period a little but even though we've only lost one in six and I'm sure Josh is enjoying it.

"I wish him the very best because he's a really good guy.

"I'm sure he will grow from it and learn loads."

4:00pm
Wes Fonguck will be back with Ebbsfleet for the game. What exactly happened at the end of his time with Southend?

Maher: "First and foremost, Wes was outstanding for us and he was a really great character around the place too.

"He's someone who is missed in a way around here and he's a very good footballer who suited our system well.

"It will be good to see him.

"We had an option on him at the end of the year (season) but it wasn't taken up in the end as it overlapped with the embargo coming in.

"Wes was looking at other stuff as well and it didn't pan out the way maybe he or we would've liked but he decided to move on."

3:57pm
On his favourite Boxing Day memories, Maher says: "I remember Rushden at home. We were 2-0 down and half the pitch was frozen and we scored four to win it.

"You always remember the ones you win."

3:56pm
Asked about playing on Boxing Day, Maher says: "You always get a big crowd in and I think everyone has been indoors for 24 hours so they want to get out to watch football and their team.

"It's a tradition and it's one I enjoy.

"They're normally local games as well that families all go to and enjoy their day.

"Our job is to make sure they do enjoy it."

3:52pm
On Ebbsfleet, Maher says: "They're having a difficult time but anyone coming to Roots Hall knowing there's 7,000 or 8,000 there will be up for it and a lot of teams to.

"Our job is to deal with that and put on a good performance to get a good result.

"Ebbsfleet will be wanting to improve and it's our job to make sure that doesn't happen.

"We've got to go and win the game."

3:50pm
Maher: "We do have forwards who can score but we want to give them more opportunities, even though we had a few at the weekend. I'm sure they will come good."

3:49pm
Asked about Charley Kendall, Maher says: "When he's come on you can see what he's going to be. You don't want to put pressure on forwards coming in but as a collective we obviously want more goals. Charley will get his opportunities and he's shown something when he's come on, like they all have at certain times.

"I'm pleased with Charley and how he trains. When players are desperate to be here you can see that within him."

3:47pm
Asked about defending, Maher says: "Defensively I think we've been OK and we have Joe (Gubbins) back in that area now too. There's competition for places along with James Golding too. We feel like we're pretty strong in that area and we've got a few options.

"The squad is where it's at and James didn't quite make the bench on Saturday.

"That's nothing to do with how he's trained or anything like that.

"You can only pick a certain amount of players and Joe being back helped and he's a permanent player.

"There's competition there and they will train well in the next few days I'm sure."

3:38pm
On the fitness of Zach Jeacock, Maher says: "We're expecting Zach back to train. He's got the all clear from Lincoln so we'll see how he is in training the next few days."

3:35pm
Maher adds: "We do review of set pieces and tweak things. Individually you look at things and collectively too but they're not goals you want to concede."

3:34pm
Asked what could be taken away from Saturday, Maher replies: "You have to take away the good stuff. The disappointing thing is the goals we conceded and how quickly they came put the game out of sight.

"The positive spin is that for 65 minutes we've gone to a team who full of confidence and been a match in certain areas.

"We've been competitive and had our moments which if they go the way you want then the games changes. But it didn't and we've got to do better."

3:32pm
Maher: "There's obvious disappointment from Saturday in terms of the result. We review it, go through it and look at what we can do better. You've got to get over it quickly because you have to prepare again and train properly like we've done today"

3:29pm
Up next is Kevin Maher

3:16pm
Did you ever fear the move to Southend wasn't going to happen? Talks seemed to be going on for quite a while, then you played against them too.

Kendall: "It was a weird time. I kind of knew it was always going to happen at some point but you know what it's like in football. It's happening, then it isn't but at the back of my mind I did always know it was going to happen."

3:11pm
What are you plans for Christmas?

Kendall: "I'll try and spend as much time as I can with my family in the short time I'll be at home before coming back up for the game.

"I think I've got seven coming to the game as well so it will be good."

3:09pm
You've scored already against Ebbsfleet this season for Woking. Does that help at all?

Kendall: "It will be in the back of my mind and give me a bit of confidence going into the game. I know I've played against them before and scored so I want to replicate that for this club now."

3:07pm
You've already had a taste of playing at Roots Hall. How was it?

"It was amazing and I loved every minute of playing at Roots Hall in front of all those fans. I can't wait to do it again."

2:54pm
What attracted you to Southend?

Kendall: First and foremost the fanbase and the stature of the club was a massive attraction for me to join. I spoke to Gubbo as well who said all the lads are good, the staff are good and that training is too which is everything you need in a football club. The overall environment attracted me to it as well."

2:48pm
Asked about playing Ebbsfleet, Kendall says: "We're not really focused on them. We're focused on us and how we're going to get the job done, how we're going to play and how we're going to break them down. When you come up against teams who are fighting it's never going to be an easy game but as long as we focus on what we do we should be able to get the job done."

2:46pm
Being such good mates with Joe Gubbins must help you settle in too?

Kendall: "Gubbo and me go back so many years and it's good to have one of your good mates on the same team as you."

2:45pm
How have you settled in?

Kendall: "The lads have been class. The staff have been good too so I've really been enjoying it."

2:44pm
Kendall went close to scoring at the weekend. When asked about the chances he replies: "Of course it's disappointing not to score. As a striker you want to score as much as you can. As soon as I get that first one I'm sure I will be flying."

"Being a striker you've got to believe you're going to get a chance and I believe I'll always score goals.

"As long as I keep getting chances and keep putting myself in the right positions then I'll get one soon."

He then adds: "I thought the second one was going in but it curved just outside the far post. I'll keep giving myself the best chance to score and I'll get one eventually."

2:42pm
Kendall adds: "Boxing Day is a massive day for football. It's a massive day for us too and all the fans there at the stadium will help us push through the line."

2:41pm
Up first is Charley Kendall who is asked about getting back in action after Saturday.

He says: "We have to put Saturday to the back of our minds and go into Boxing Day as a fresh start. We'll build on the positives from Saturday and eradicate the errors and negative points."

2:39pm
Blues will be looking to bounce back from Saturday's 3-0 defeat at table-topping York City

2:38pm
WE'RE back at Boots & Laces this afternoon to speak with Southend United striker Charley Kendall and head coach Kevin Maher ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Ebbsfleet United at Roots Hall.

 

[Special Blue]

No Justham for Boxing Day then.

Probably be some turkey left over!


I'll get my coat!