Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Hartlepool United, Saturday 14th December, 15:00k.o., NL

[Massimo Giovanni]

I’ll go

………….Collin
…Taylor Crowther Ralph
GSM….. Morton….. Bridge
…….. Coker … Husin
…….. Pepple… Walker

Subs Jeacock, Wind, Golding, Miley, KAF, Bonne and Waldron

I know nothing to substantiate the feeling but, will Jeacock be returning from Lincoln?
I thiink you have picked the KM line up.
No place for Moncur?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I know nothing to substantiate the feeling but, will Jeacock be returning from Lincoln?
I thiink you have picked the KM line up.
No place for Moncur?

Who would you drop for him?

I’d rather KAF for that attacking midfield role.

I think Maher may opt for Miley over Husin and Bonne over Walker.

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United defender Joe Gubbins is back in full training after recovering from an Achilles injury.

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[Evening Echo]

ECHOSPORT talks to Hartlepool United fan Jack Twydale ahead of Saturday's match at Southend United.

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[Evening Echo]

A STATISTICAL preview of Southend United's match against Hartlepool United at Roots Hall.

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[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United head coach Kevin Maher has heaped praise on Nathan Ralph ahead of the skipper's 150th appearance for the club.

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[Evening Echo]

TWO of football's most experienced figures will be on opposition sides at Roots Hall this weekend.

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[Evening Echo]

NATHAN Ralph will make his 150th appearance for Southend United tomorrow believing the club are finally heading in the right direction.

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[Blues4LifeDan]

I said how class Ralph looked on the post-match Brentwood thread. Seeing him at ground level and up close, you could see how good he was compared to the players around him.

People have always rightly spoken about Demi not complaining and playing wherever, but Ralph is exactly the same. No complaints, just gets on with it.

I feel sorry for him with what happened to Kensdale because it really felt like that back 3 was going to push us on this season. They were imperious last season and were only going to get better as a unit.

Ralph deserves a lot of respect for sticking with us through all the adversity and staying a model professional along with it. All he has known is hardship at the club and he deserves a bit of positivity for once. Happy 150th appearance Ralphy.

 

[BoyWonder2]

I said how class Ralph looked on the post-match Brentwood thread. Seeing him at ground level and up close, you could see how good he was compared to the players around him.

People have always rightly spoken about Demi not complaining and playing wherever, but Ralph is exactly the same. No complaints, just gets on with it.

I feel sorry for him with what happened to Kensdale because it really felt like that back 3 was going to push us on this season. They were imperious last season and were only going to get better as a unit.

Ralph deserves a lot of respect for sticking with us through all the adversity and staying a model professional along with it. All he has known is hardship at the club and he deserves a bit of positivity for once. Happy 150th appearance Ralphy.

He was on non-contract terms, along with Bridge too.

Fantastic professional, and one of very few who have matched the levels they set last season.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Who would you drop for him?

I’d rather KAF for that attacking midfield role.

I think Maher may opt for Miley over Husin and Bonne over Walker.

Quite a conundrum but it is good to have these options.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

SOUTHEND United head coach Kevin Maher has heaped praise on Nathan Ralph ahead of the skipper's 150th appearance for the club.

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Landmark appearance - for Southend United skipper Nathan Ralph (Image: FOCUS IMAGES)


By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.

SOUTHEND United head coach Kevin Maher has heaped praise on Nathan Ralph ahead of the skipper's 150th appearance for the club.

Ralph will reach the landmark should he feature for the Shrimpers against Hartlepool United at Roots Hall this weekend.

And Maher remains incredibly impressed by the consistent defender.

"He's an incredible professional in terms of how he leads the team," said Maher.

"You can have different types of captain and he's someone who leads by example with the way he trains every day, how he performs, how he lives his life and how professional he is.

"He's a credit to himself with the way he carries himself and since I've been here he's been exemplary.

"I'm delighted with him and, if selected, I'll be delighted for him to get 150 games too."

Ralph has been with Blues since 2019.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

NATHAN Ralph will make his 150th appearance for Southend United tomorrow believing the club are finally heading in the right direction.

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Landmark display - for Southend United skipper Nathan Ralph (Image: Daniel Hambury/Focus Images Ltd)

By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.

NATHAN Ralph will make his 150th appearance for Southend United tomorrow believing the club are finally heading in the right direction.

Ralph has endured difficult times since signing for the Shrimpers back in 2019.

But the Blues skipper is now certain things are on the up.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs since I’ve been here but there’s so much more stability now and the mentality around the place is so much better too,” said Ralph.

“I’m just looking forward to where it brings us with the consortium and Justin (Rees) coming in.

“I think the club is going to go in a good direction.”

Ralph has played his part on and off the pitch in guiding the Shrimpers through a difficult period when the club’s future was in serious doubt.

And he will be proud to reach another milestone when Blues take on Hartlepool United at Roots Hall this weekend.

“You don’t really think about things like that (150th game)when you sign for a club,” said Ralph.

“It was years ago I joined now but I’m really happy to have reached this stage and hopefully there are many more games to come because I’m proud to play for this club.”

Ralph has shown good character to bounce back from a problematic start with the Shrimpers which saw him struggling with injury setbacks during two relegations in succession.

But Ralph has enjoyed the past couple of seasons far more.

“I did like the Oldham game at the start of last season,” said Ralph when asked about his highlights with the club.

“It was just the way we started after everything that had been happening off the pitch during the off-season.

“That stands out and Chesterfield at home does too.

“A lot of the highlights would be in the last couple of years not really the first two.”

Ralph will now be hoping for another memorable match against Hartlepool tomorrow.

But the defender is expecting a stern test against the 12th placed visitors.

“We’ve done a bit of work on them,” said Ralph.

“We’re expecting a tough game and know they’ll be at us.

“It will be physical but that’s something we’re up for.

“We were more than up to it at Halifax and the last couple of games so we just need to make sure we’re on our game.

“At home we want to make sure we dictate the play.”

And Ralph hopes to hear Roots Hall rocking once again.

“The atmosphere there you don’t really get at any other ground in this league and when it’s your own fans it’s even better,” said the 31-year-old.

“The boys will be looking forward to it and we want to put on a good show.”

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Back in training - Southend United defender Joe Gubbins (Image: Lucy Copsey)


By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.

SOUTHEND United defender Joe Gubbins is back in full training after recovering from an Achilles injury.

Gubbins has not played for Blues since late October.

But Shrimpers boss Kevin Maher has confirmed the centre-back is edging closer to a return.

"He's had a full week's training,” said Maher.

“That is important and good for him too.”

Gubbins will now look to work his way back into first team contention.

But Maher admitted a lack of reserve team can make it tough for players coming back from injury.

“It’s a good point,” said Maher when asked about the issue.

“Where we've had a smaller squad we haven't really been able to have a reserve type game or friendly.

"You do tailor training accordingly and those who will need to do extra work do just that.

"It never replicates a match of course but we did do an 11 v 11 this week to help with that.”

And Maher stressed players not in the team have an important part to play.

"It comes down to the players as well and how they prepare,” said Maher.

"It's about how they work when they're not in the team.

"That's maybe a sign of how strong you are as a team, it's how well those not in the team are pushing the players.

"If they're setting standards then those in the team know they're in a fight for the shirt.

"That's what should happen."

Maher also confirmed George Moncur was available for this weekend’s match against Hartlepool after being rested for the FA Trophy tie at Brentwood Town due to a slight knee issue.

 

[They Call It Madness!!!]

I've changed it up a little...

Collin

Gus

Taylor
Crowther
Golding

Ralph

Morton
Coker
Bridge

Bonne 3
Bim 1

Kendall to come off the bench and replace hat trick hero Macauley Bonne and add the fifth in stoppage time

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

This is a game we obviously need to win.Let's hope we do.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

I've changed it up a little...

Collin

Gus

Taylor
Crowther
Golding

Ralph

Morton
Coker
Bridge

Bonne 3
Bim 1

Kendall to come off the bench and replace hat trick hero Macauley Bonne and add the fifth in stoppage time

By that, I assume you mean you've switched from taking class B to class A.

 

[tottenham541]

Considering Hartlepool have a average of over 3,500 them bringing maybe no more than 150 is pretty poor for a Saturday isn’t it, hopefully more on the day will turn up.

 

[Maroon Blue]

Considering Hartlepool have an average of over 3,500 them bringing maybe no more than 150 is pretty poor for a Saturday isn’t it, hopefully more on the day will turn up.

Disagree and a bit harsh. We only took 302 with a double of Hartlepool average of 7000+ in mid August in the summer. I think 150 all that way in mid December is creditable.

 

[SUFCGoals]

Disagree and a bit harsh. We only took 302 with a double of Hartlepool average of 7000+ in mid August in the summer. I think 150 all that way in mid December is creditable.

Especially 11 days before Christmas!