Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Millwall FC

[amsemp]

So which of our players is going toe to toe with Steve Morison? He destroyed us last time

Difficult one to be honest.

Obvious choice would be to get Ferdinand to stick to him like glue if he's fit enough. If not then it's anyone's guess. Barrett lacks the pace and height to deal with him and Thompson lacks the technical ability to deal with a striker of that class. Reluctantly it would be Sokolik I suppose, unless Innis plays. Might even be worth doubling up on him.

If Morison skips through and gets an early goal, we'll be in serious trouble as that'll give him the confidence to trample all over us.

Really not looking forward to this one. Worrall will be desperate to prove a point too. Might be worth having a few quid on him notching.

 

[amsemp]

Unfortunately, Phil's been impressed with him at training. He's having talks with him and his agent this morning before training so that a deal could be done before the 12 O'clock deadline, for him to be able to play tomorrow.

Yep, he's exactly what we've been looking for (had one good season about a thousand years ago, has two legs, actually wouldn't mind playing for us, etc.)

 

[manor15]

Looking at all of these line-up predictions just makes you think, we must have the slowest side in the league.

Other than McGlashan I wouldn't describe any as quick, Lenny isn't slow but I wouldn't describe him as quick.

 

[Tampa Blue]

Unfortunately, Phil's been impressed with him at training. He's having talks with him and his agent this morning before training so that a deal could be done before the 12 O'clock deadline, for him to be able to play tomorrow.

Wow - I am surprised but thanks for the update. I wonder what number he was on our list?

Well if he does play then I hope that he makes us all eat our words and has a stormer as I am sure that we'd all love to be proved wrong.

 

[manor15]

Wow - I am surprised but thanks for the update. I wonder what number he was on our list?

Well if he does play then I hope that he makes us all eat our words and has a stormer as I am sure that we'd all love to be proved wrong.

You genuinely think we had a list? More like wonder how many other names were drawn out of the hat first.

 

[Tampa Blue]

You genuinely think we had a list? More like wonder how many other names were drawn out of the hat first.

Nope - being sarcastic

 

[tallboyblue]

Just the thought of Wordsworth being back is enough to get me excited. Well theres not much else that will.

You will be disappointed then when he picks up his next injury.

 

[Ironshrimper]

Unfortunately, Phil's been impressed with him at training. He's having talks with him and his agent this morning before training so that a deal could be done before the 12 O'clock deadline, for him to be able to play tomorrow.

Geeeez final pay off, poor record for years (well forever) and loads of clubs....and he is 35... Brown has lost it and wants us relegated...

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Geeeez final pay off, poor record for years (well forever) and loads of clubs....and he is 35... Brown has lost it and wants us relegated...

Agree with that, but the phrase "beggars can't be choosers" comes to mind and we are in desperate need of a physical presence to hold the ball up until Ranger gets fit. MAF certainly fits the job description and may be about as good as we can hope for in the short term. He certainly has the pedigree (10 goals in the Premiership) and experience, he has just failed to deliver in recent seasons.

If we can persuade him and his agent to accept a short-term, performance-related, contract until January he could be a useful stop gap. He's got to be a better option than Jason Williams anyway!

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Geeeez final pay off, poor record for years (well forever) and loads of clubs....and he is 35... Brown has lost it and wants us relegated...

It smells of a short term fix before Ranger is fit, but still, could and should be getting better than this, looking more for next season and to provide competition up front, I would have hoped. His goalscoring record is poor so it looks like he will be the target man for those long hoofs(normally Thompson), and will try and set cox up.
Edit...Shrimpergarry beat me to it.

 

[dannypav]

It smells of a short term fix before Ranger is fit, but still, could and should be getting better than this, looking more for next season and to provide competition up front, I would have hoped. His goalscoring record is poor so it looks like he will be the target man for those long hoofs(normally Thompson), and will try and set cox up.
Edit...Shrimpergarry beat me to it.

our club is a massive one.

 

[Ironshrimper]

I hope it's short term, and an assist target man, for cox's wild, off target shots (watch him in the warm UPS's before games, they are all terrible... it does worry me Phil is pinning so much hope on Ranger, someone who has not played for years, and may also have fitness/other issues.... recrutement has been really bad.

 

[jaffa1]

Stat ;

Southend last kept a clean sheet at home 12 games ago. :omg:

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Fair play to anyone who is staying postive at the moment, cause I can't see past anything other than about a 4-0 loss

 

[Hawkwell Blue]

Geeeez final pay off, poor record for years (well forever) and loads of clubs....and he is 35... Brown has lost it and wants us relegated...

Why would he want that?

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Difficult one to be honest.

Obvious choice would be to get Ferdinand to stick to him like glue if he's fit enough. If not then it's anyone's guess. Barrett lacks the pace and height to deal with him and Thompson lacks the technical ability to deal with a striker of that class. Reluctantly it would be Sokolik I suppose, unless Innis plays. Might even be worth doubling up on him.

If Morison skips through and gets an early goal, we'll be in serious trouble as that'll give him the confidence to trample all over us.

Really not looking forward to this one. Worrall will be desperate to prove a point too. Might be worth having a few quid on him notching.

Before the Scunthorpe game I said we need to watch Madden who scores against us from being in the box and in the right place .......... and that is just what happened. I fear we will not be able to stick with Morison either. :'(

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

It smells of a short term fix before Ranger is fit, but still, could and should be getting better than this, looking more for next season and to provide competition up front, I would have hoped. His goalscoring record is poor so it looks like he will be the target man for those long hoofs(normally Thompson), and will try and set cox up.
Edit...Shrimpergarry beat me to it.

Trying to be positive here. At the moment I would be happy with another forward who can hold up the ball and keep it at the other end so that Lenny and others can be in support and can have a go at goal ............... that would be an improvement in a hoof from defence that then sees the ball come straight back.

So he (Fortune) doesn't have to be great at putting the ball in the net if his presence allows others to do so (or releases pressure off our defence which is another bonus).

 

[kentblues]

Trying to be positive here. At the moment I would be happy with another forward who can hold up the ball and keep it at the other end so that Lenny and others can be in support and can have a go at goal ............... that would be an improvement in a hoof from defence that then sees the ball come straight back.

So he (Fortune) doesn't have to be great at putting the ball in the net if his presence allows others to do so (or releases pressure off our defence which is another bonus).

The point about Fortune is exactly this. Ranger when he played showed how much we miss a target man who can bring others into play. Is he going to frighten anyone with pace no.. has he the ability to hold it up and bring others into the game, very likely.

Ranger I am sure is first choice for this but won't play 90 mins of every game and so having an experienced forward of this type come on and cover for injuries, and start if merited, makes sense.

In the end we don't see what they show in training.

 

[kentblues]

BTW from the general negativity I was assuming he had a rash of injuries and a dreadful record behind him.
Look him up to find he has played 100 games in the last three years for Coventry and Wigan, and 100 in the three or so before that for Celtic and West Brom.

Not prolific but gets a few- however maybe the type of player we need. I am sure he will be booed within 5 mins of coming on..

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

BTW from the general negativity I was assuming he had a rash of injuries and a dreadful record behind him.
Look him up to find he has played 100 games in the last three years for Coventry and Wigan, and 100 in the three or so before that for Celtic and West Brom.

Not prolific but gets a few- however maybe the type of player we need. I am sure he will be booed within 5 mins of coming on..

Bang on. I would assume we would be signing him to get the best out of Cox and just generally bring others in to play. I don't think anyone has suggested that they are signing him with the expectation of him to be a prolific goalscorer. Age is irrelevant, he didn't have pace ten years ago.