Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Oldham Athletic, Sunday 1st June, 15:00 ko, National League play-off final @Wembley Stadium

[Tampa Blue]

Just met Freddie Eastwood at Wickford station- what a lovely guy

He’s appearing at the Box Park with Timlin and Gower - he only had it confirmed yesterday lol

He has us down for a win!

 

[Barling Magna]

More from the Oldham fans:

You then look at the management teams and again it’s a gulf apart in terms of experience. Been there, done it, got the t-shirt MM (and many times in the play-offs too) v Maher who has only been a full-time manager since 2021 in the non-league.

There’s a strong upside scenario for this one. The bookies might even be slightly generous on current pricing if you were going solely off a ‘tale of the tape’ approach. Quality usually tells on the big stage and we’ve scored seven without conceding v a team who’ve conceded five across the same time period. The job needs to be done, but we’ve got a great chance.

 

[Barling Magna]

And one final supportive one from an Oldham fan who echoes my thoughts pretty closely:

Both clubs have been to hell and back. Both of us have been owned by clowns, who cared not a jot for our towns, our clubs or our fans. Thankfully we have both survived JUST, and we both look forward to happier times. My totally biased opinion is that we will win, and my reasoning behind that is simply that our team is in the recovery ward, whilst the Shrimpers are fresh out of intensive care.. The difference should see us over the line. However, what do I know? I have only been watching Latics for 66 years so obviously know nowt about football.. Obviously we all want our respective teams to win, but let's hope that both sets of fans enjoy a great day out. And that we all have a safe journey, and that our teams do us proud. And may the best team win.

Thanks chum. May our teams indeed do us proud. And please.... don't let the game be ruined by poor refereering decisions.

 

[RHB]

More from the Oldham fans:

You then look at the management teams and again it’s a gulf apart in terms of experience. Been there, done it, got the t-shirt MM (and many times in the play-offs too) v Maher who has only been a full-time manager since 2021 in the non-league.

There’s a strong upside scenario for this one. The bookies might even be slightly generous on current pricing if you were going solely off a ‘tale of the tape’ approach. Quality usually tells on the big stage and we’ve scored seven without conceding v a team who’ve conceded five across the same time period. The job needs to be done, but we’ve got a great chance.

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

Keep underestimating us Oldham just like you did first game of last season when you thought you'd steamroller us

 

[crangoner]

Already struggling for phone signal around Wembley

 

[BEERMONSTER]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1929115709746847786

 

[Napster]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1929115709746847786

Bizarre

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

Ermmm ok

 

[rowe23]

Just for cover on bench or do we think there is a problem with Hayes?

 

[Tony Allen]

Info for those not in the Southend area and not going to either Wembley or Roots Hall and generally not impressed with DAZN - I have an online Corals account and I noticed it was saying watch live about today's game. It won't be full screen I should think but free if you have an account and I don't think you have to have a bet either

 

[Exiled blue]

A play off game at Wembley is always an occasion but it is hard to imagine how the stakes could be higher than they are today. A win would see us escape from the National League, a competition that does not seem to have the respect it deserves. Many on here have derided it as 'crap' 'rubbish' etc but the fact remains it is fiendishly difficult competition to escape from and that could hardly be the case if it really was awful. After Wrexham became the plaything of millionaires and enjoyed the backing of all the resources that money could buy they still needed more than one attempt to finally find their way back into the EFL. COSU are never going to be able to match that kind of effort, and, should we fail today, who knows how long it will take us to eventually fight our way out of the National League.

I think there is a case to be made that our season really started in earnest in the week ending of the 2nd of February. I say this as three players absolutely integral to our late season success and play off run joined the club during that week. The first was Ben Goodliffe who came to us on loan from Colchester on the 25th of January while on the 28th Tom Hopper joined us also from Colchester. The following day saw the arrival of LCP from Slough Town. Success was not instantaneous as before we secured our play off spot on the final week end of the season we had to endure three results which sent SZ into total meltdowwn. The first was in the 8th of Feburary when we lost away to Maidenhead 1-0; the second was losing 3-0 away to Boston on the 25th of March while the third was as late as the 12th of April which saw us lose 1-0 at home to Solihull.

Folowing the Solihull defeat a play off place was statisically possible but seemed unlikely. However, by now the newcomers had fully intergrated into the squad and it was time to remove the suit and climb out of the telephone kiosk and show off the cape. We then flew off on a seven match unbeaten run winning five in the process. It barely seems creditable that the players who performed so effectively and valiantly in our two play off games were the same who faced Maidenhead, Boston and Solihull. Undeniably the team that will take the field today will be significantly different from the line ups we saw pre Christmas. We are improved and still developing.

I feel that this is the most important game ever in the history of the Club. Hopefully we will never know how important as if we win today we will never long how long it will take us to escape the National League. If we were to still find ourselves in the NL in 2030 it would be clear just how momentous today is.

I cannot even begin to try and predict the result. Previous form counts for little in a match of this nature and what will matter will be the team and indiviidual performances on the day. It will be anyone's game although luck will surely pay a part as it always does in games of this sort. It will seem beyond cruel if we do not win as this would mean the torture we had to endure as fans in both the Rochdale and Forest Green games (where we seemed down and out in both) would have all been for nothing.

Who would could have thought when the final whistle sounded on the 12th of April signifying the end of the Solihull game that just seven weekends later that we would be playing off for an EFL place on the first of June? It is all beyond belief and thinking of the benefits of winning and consequences of losing make my stomach churrn. I am not now even sure I have the courage to watch the game.

My final thought: Am I right in thinking that the late great Sammy McCrory would have been the first ever current Southend player to score at Wembley? (For Northern Ireland in their 3-2 win over England in 1957.) Please correct me if I am wrong but in any event is anyone able to remember at which end he was able to find the net? Here is to more goals at the same end today and hopefully even the winner! How good would it be to both win and remember Sammy!

Up Up The Reds!

So well written, love that.

COYR

 

[crangoner]

20 quid for a special scarf

 

[Harry Bullocks]

 

[Harry Bullocks]

We are here !

 

[Southminster Shrimper]

Nervous beyond belief. Come on blues

 

[rowe23]

We left RH on the coach at 10:30, still around 40 minutes away. Nervous are really starting to build now.

 

[Supershrimper]

We are here !

I'm expecting a full blown end of season extravaganza from @D1versity. Hope he's bought spare camera / battery packs

 

[Sensei Phil]

 

[Moldroadred]

Will be watching from my armchair. Have a feeling you are going to do it!

Hope to be saying at the end ‘Southend ARE back where they belong’.