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

[Boy_C]

Keep thinking... why do I have that crunching feeling in my stomach.

Then realise it's because I'm subconsciously thinking about Sunday and find myself just coming back to look at Shrimperzone one more time as a sort of comfort blanket!

It's excitement mixed with nerves, knowing we're so close, but could be so far from getting back into League Two.

Anyway, starting XI for me is whatever Mr Maher & co think best. Have this strange hunch Bonne is going to do something special for absolutely no reason what so ever, a real moment of magic.

We have also become big KAF fans in our household, and I know my daughter will be squinting down on that giant Wembley pitch, looking for her favourite... number 22.

Any ideas on the ref yet...?

 

[Cricko]

Keep thinking... why do I have that crunching feeling in my stomach.

Then realise it's because I'm subconsciously thinking about Sunday and find myself just coming back to look at Shrimperzone one more time as a sort of comfort blanket!

It's excitement mixed with nerves, knowing we're so close, but could be so far from getting back into League Two.

Anyway, starting XI for me is whatever Mr Maher & co think best. Have this strange hunch Bonne is going to do something special for absolutely no reason what so ever, a real moment of magic.

We have also become big KAF fans in our household, and I know my daughter will be squinting down on that giant Wembley pitch, looking for her favourite... number 22.

Any ideas on the ref yet...?

Yes the ref is in the ref watch thread

 

[Boy_C]

Yes the ref is in the ref watch thread

Thanks, missed that with all the extra threads in recent days!

 

[TSG]

An Oldham article from the nationals, but good stuff, we do have a lot in common; however, hopefully one for Southend to follow!

Oldham Athletic march to playoff final on Royle road back from oblivion

Coffins outside the stadium once symbolised a downward spiral but under new ownership the Latics are off to Wembley and eyeing an EFL return

www.theguardian.com

 

[Scapegoat]

I personally do not think we deserve to go up this season, based upon our performances in the regular season (wretched displays v Fylde, Maidenhead, Braintree, Sutton spring to mind), and it stinks a bit that York were miles ahead of the rest yet failed to make the Garden of Eden. So I keep telling myself that, if we lose, it will be a case of 'hey-ho, great late effort, but it wasn't to be' come Sunday evening.
But rules are rules, and I just know when I wake on the 1st (if I sleep) that sentiment would have gone out of the window. I will be like a rabid dog, snapping at anyone who interferes with my pre-match routine, indulging in far too much nervous pre-match drinking, vociferously contesting every 50/50 decision from 100 metres away, and clutching the arms of my unfortunate sons whenever Oldham cross the half-way line. Bottom line is I will be a mess, and there will be tears, win or lose. That forbidden apple called the Football League is so close, the players deserve to taste it, following their magnificent displays, and fortitude, over the last two weeks, and us fans deserve it for being so brilliant over the last few years.
Good luck everyone, it is going to be pure torture.

I think there is a case to be made that on the basis of pure footballing merit - neither of us deserve to go up this season.

I did some assessment of the points total we managed this season compared to the last 10 years of NL final tables....we were very lucky to have got a home QF based on a total of 73, and it wouldn't have always got us in the POs.

Given you had 5 less points, then the data would say that in most seasons you'd have missed out on the Top 7.

We lost 23 games between us and won 36....only just more than Barnet on their own.

I can create a list of dire fixtures of our own...1-3 home defeat to Aldershot; 0-1 home defeat to Maidenhead; a 2-2 draw at D&R that at HT saw the fans losing it with the manager.


However we all know the rules at the start of the season....we were the first team to ever finish 3rd in the old Second Division and not get promoted back in 86/87.

If you don't win the league, you have a chance to earn a right to take place in a short-form cup competition.

We both did that, we both triumphed in 2 games, and now we both get to go one more time.

 

[OrientO]

Orient fan dropping by, Do the biz at Wembley and get back home, don't choke like we did.
Better still, do it again next season and let's get those Os Vs Shrimpers games back on the menu.

 

[Stuart W]

AI (co-pilot) thoughts on key players.

View attachment 37062

Sums AI up for me.

 

[Pak Power]

Orient fan dropping by, Do the biz at Wembley and get back home, don't choke like we did.
Better still, do it again next season and let's get those Os Vs Shrimpers games back on the menu.

Went to watch your lot with some orient mates v Charlton , one free kick in it

 

[Scapegoat]

Sums AI up for me.

Yep.

2/3 Oldham players won’t be anywhere near the squad.

 

[Barling Magna]

An Oldham article from the nationals, but good stuff, we do have a lot in common; however, hopefully one for Southend to follow!

Oldham Athletic march to playoff final on Royle road back from oblivion

Coffins outside the stadium once symbolised a downward spiral but under new ownership the Latics are off to Wembley and eyeing an EFL return

www.theguardian.com

Yep, Oldham are worthy opponents. There will be a lot of emotion alongside the usual drama for both sets of fans. Come On You Reds!!!

 

[RHB]

Yep.

2/3 Oldham players won’t be anywhere near the squad.

And of those 3 Southend players aren't even with our club any more.

 

[SUFCGoals]

And of those 3 Southend players aren't even with our club any more.

Pretty sure Bridge is still here!!

 

[Scapegoat]

Yep, Oldham are worthy opponents. There will be a lot of emotion alongside the usual drama for both sets of fans. Come On You Reds!!!

I think we will both have our views as to why 'our club' deserves success.


I think its hard to argue that we are not the least successful club in the English professional game over the last 30 years (0 promotions, 0 trophies, 3 failed play-offs at the first round, and the last of those was 18 years ago, 4 relegations, and something like 24 bottom-half finishes in whichever league we found ourselves in)...and have had a series of owners that screwed the club over (admin and reformed in 2004, and then the utter mess of the previous owner).

And having to hear the fact we are the only ex-PL club to get relegated out of the league far too often.


However, Southend is one of the few teams that can claim to have an almost has depressing run. You have gone 10 years since tasting success, owners that also tried to destroy you, and back to back relegations into the non-league.

If it's not us, then I think most Oldham fans would be happy that another group of fans that have suffered as well gets success.

 

[leeblue]

Final prediction.
I think it's gonna be a poop, tight, tense affair that'll either need one moment to decide the game or Extra time.
Pens....GSM to send us all into delirium

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I think we will both have our views as to why 'our club' deserves success.


I think its hard to argue that we are not the least successful club in the English professional game over the last 30 years (0 promotions, 0 trophies, 3 failed play-offs at the first round, and the last of those was 18 years ago, 4 relegations, and something like 24 bottom-half finishes in whichever league we found ourselves in)...and have had a series of owners that screwed the club over (admin and reformed in 2004, and then the utter mess of the previous owner).

And having to hear the fact we are the only ex-PL club to get relegated out of the league far too often.


However, Southend is one of the few teams that can claim to have an almost has depressing run. You have gone 10 years since tasting success, owners that also tried to destroy you, and back to back relegations into the non-league.

If it's not us, then I think most Oldham fans would be happy that another group of fans that have suffered as well gets success.

You’ll always have that few years in the PL.

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

I haven't seen this anywhere but thought I'd bring it up. (Apologies if it has been mentioned elsewhere)

Be aware of the security restrictions on entry. No bags etc larger than an A4 piece of paper will be allowed into the ground.

 

[kentblues]

He had absolutely no idea where that penalty had gone either. Could have easily come back off the post but Lady Luck was on his, and our side. If in doubt, leather it.

Well he decided where to put it and put his laces through it. Yes it turned out a bit heart in mouth….on the other hand he went for it didn’t just side foot it for the keeper to save. The post might of stopped it but the keeper wasn’t…

 

[Richard Hearn]

I haven't seen this anywhere but thought I'd bring it up. (Apologies if it has been mentioned elsewhere)

Be aware of the security restrictions on entry. No bags etc larger than an A4 piece of paper will be allowed into the ground.

That's going to make getting my ventriloquial dummy (Mr Chuckles) in a tad difficult then.

He hasn't got a ticket and I was relying on taking him in in his suitcase.

Bloody Wembley!

 

[Scapegoat]

You’ll always have that few years in the PL.

For the older demographic that is true. I am lucky that I started going sporadically in the mid-80s and got my first season ticket for the 89/90 season...which was the start of 5 years of amazing times to be an Oldham fan.

However there is a large chunk of our fanbase that aren't that lucky. Basically if you stand a chance of remembering the last time we had success (of any description) you need to be pushing 40 years old.

 

[Cricko]