Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Oldham Athletic, Saturday 29th March, 1730 k.o.

[Shrimpergonzo]

After the second disappointing trip to Boston of the season we have the chance to put things right at Roots Hall against 4th place Oldham Athletic at the unusually late kick off time of 5.30pm.

The Latics are on a decent run of form and haven’t lost since they played runaway league leaders Barnet at the beginning of March, and this run included good results against fellow play-off chasers Halifax and Rochdale.

Their overall record over the last 6 games is identical to ours.



Latics manager Micky Mellon had former Blues defender Shaun Hobson at his disposal, Hobbo’s been a bit in and out of the side though - he started the last game but was on the bench for the two games before that.

Kev was riding on a long unbeaten run and a couple of great away results at Eastleigh and Forest Green before it all came crashing down at Boston on Tuesday evening.

With Cav Miley, Nathan Ralph and Jack Bridge likely to be available to start on Saturday, Kev must decide what changes need to be made to turn things around. So who would you choose to start at teatime on Saturday and what do you predict the result will be?

 

[RHB]

Probably a make or break game for Southend, mind you, some other sides in the mix are doing their best to screw it all up for themselves. Also, no time for Discussing and groaning about set up, all that matters now is getting the 3 points. Can we do it? if Ralph and Golding. and maybe Bridgy, are back and fit then it is possible. Big noisy crowd, Oldham still scared by their last visit, yeah maybe it's our chance to play two good halves during the 90 minutes.

 

[Leeboy]

I just hope Kev doesn’t have too much of a knee jerk reaction and start tinkering too much.

IMO Morts, KAF and LCP have been our best midfielders in recent weeks so i’m hoping he doesn’t revert back to Miley / Noor / Bridge and the slow sideways / backwards of old.

We need to come racing out the blocks and get in their faces from the off - big crowd expected so Kev needs to get them on side straight from KO.

 

[Ritchierich]

Looking forward to this one, always a good away day except when it isn’t..like last seasons disaster!
We haven’t lost too many recently but we haven’t exactly won that many either, lots of draws, very patchy form, dull football and not enough goals…basically the same as every club in the playoff race apart from Barnet.
It appear to be not so much a race for the playoffs but a race to see who can mess up the playoff race. We might turn out to be the best of the worst
Sadly the endless run of long haul Southern away games, the boring football and the stupid TV KO time (oh, and Mothers Day apparently) will probably limit our usually excellent away support to a few hundred but, hopefully, we’ll at least give you a game this time!
James Norwood is coming back from his latest injury and owes us a big performance, maybe this will be his stage and then Fondop will come off the bench to do what he does best, again, Ole ole

 

[PIERS]

Looking forward to this one, always a good away day except when it isn’t..like last seasons disaster!
We haven’t lost too many recently but we haven’t exactly won that many either, lots of draws, very patchy form, dull football and not enough goals…basically the same as every club in the playoff race apart from Barnet.
It appear to be not so much a race for the playoffs but a race to see who can mess up the playoff race. We might turn out to be the best of the worst
Sadly the endless run of long haul Southern away games, the boring football and the stupid TV KO time (oh, and Mothers Day apparently) will probably limit our usually excellent away support to a few hundred but, hopefully, we’ll at least give you a game this time!
James Norwood is coming back from his latest injury and owes us a big performance, maybe this will be his stage and then Fondop will come off the bench to do what he does best, again, Ole ole

Weather looks good. Couple of extra hours in the pub. Atmosphere should be excellent

 

[Swiss Tony]

Love to win this one but until we are able to compete in both half’s I fear a defeat 0-1 to the northern monkeys.

 

[RHB]

Ticket sales are showing 6821 with 233 Oldham so far. Adding on the East Stand comps plus walk-ups and we may yet tip the 8k.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

No pressure but this is the ultimate ‘must win’ .
On a positive note, we tend to up the ante against the top teams.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Although we badly need to win can't see us getting more than a point ,TBH.

 

[dusterman]

Win this, lose against Braintree. The Southend way…

 

[annie1954]

Win this, lose against Braintree. The Southend way…

braintree will be no easy game just look at last saturday Braintree 2 york 1

 

[dusterman]

braintree will be no easy game just look at last saturday Braintree 2 york 1

Yeah and they play with fast tricky wingers. Not exactly our favourite thing to defend against!

 

[rshepp]

I have a free seat for this game.
Block C, row L.

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

If Ralph and Golding are fit they must return. They offer much move forward movement than Gubbins and Goodliffe.Leon in midfield to replace Husin and Kendall uptop with Hooper and Bonne

 

[Ally les Bleus !]

This is probably more appropriate on here than on the Gus's goals thread

There's a pretty simple solution if Golding isn't fit. Drop Good-Life, play Hopper at the back, put Gus up front alongside Bonne and bring in Wind

And if Ralph's still unfit maybe slot Miley in there

 

[RHB]

I'd forgotten just how much fun our last game against Oldham at the Hall was. Red card for them, 4 goals for us, including a Weetabix goal (our second) for those old enough to remember. Add to that a great defensive tackle from Gus that set Mooney up for his cracker and the world was good. More of the same on Saturday please Blues. If any Oldham fans are viewing this obviously isn't meant to upset you.

 

[Ally les Bleus !]

Looking forward to this one, always a good away day except when it isn’t..like last seasons disaster!
We haven’t lost too many recently but we haven’t exactly won that many either, lots of draws, very patchy form, dull football and not enough goals…basically the same as every club in the playoff race apart from Barnet.
It appear to be not so much a race for the playoffs but a race to see who can mess up the playoff race. We might turn out to be the best of the worst
Sadly the endless run of long haul Southern away games, the boring football and the stupid TV KO time (oh, and Mothers Day apparently) will probably limit our usually excellent away support to a few hundred but, hopefully, we’ll at least give you a game this time!
James Norwood is coming back from his latest injury and owes us a big performance, maybe this will be his stage and then Fondop will come off the bench to do what he does best, again, Ole ole

After their result last week, you must be looking to pip FGR to third place ? You have to go to theirs as well I think. TBH if we can finish 7th I'd prefer FGR away than yourselves in the first match

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

If Ralph and Golding are fit they must return. They offer much move forward movement than Gubbins and Goodliffe.Leon in midfield to replace Husin and Kendall uptop with Hooper and Bonne

Was almost unequivocally going to emoji thumbs-up, but Kendall for one of the other two? Hmmm...white cool calm in front of goal is not his strongest suit, BUT if one of the two mentioned has to go: Bonne. Hopper is a good defender.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

For me Golding and Ralph must return if at all possible. if we line up with just 2 centre backs then Miley should play just in front of them, with Morton playing further forward. Leon just behind Hopper and Bonne.

 

[Ritchierich]

I'd forgotten just how much fun our last game against Oldham at the Hall was. Red card for them, 4 goals for us, including a Weetabix goal (our second) for those old enough to remember. Add to that a great defensive tackle from Gus that set Mooney up for his cracker and the world was good. More of the same on Saturday please Blues. If any Oldham fans are viewing this obviously isn't meant to upset you.

It’s more a case of generational trauma than upset tbh.

I also forgot quite how bad our (thankfully gone) keeper was at stopping shots from distance!