sufcintheprem's views and ratings

[sufcintheprem]

Well, we were all a bit gutted from Cardiff but managed to pick ourselves up to make some decent noise. Not to be outdone, Orient were in decent voice too and it had all the makings of a good derby atmosphere.

The game started fairly slowly with Southend having the better of early exchanges. Barrett somehow missing from inside the six yard box after a beautifully delivered bal from Maher. Orient were far from under pressure and moved the ball around nicely, especially considering they were away from home. They'd clearly done their homework as they were all over Maher as soon as posisble and wit Gower off form to start the match, Southend lacked a bit of craft in midfield whent hey went forward.

Then it happened, the dagger through the heart. Orient seemed to be playing for corners early on and the reason was shown as Lockwood floated a ball in to the far post and Mackie, unchallenged in the air, nodded it across goal in to the net. In fairness, they were unlucky not to score with what would have been one of the goals of the season had the woodwork not intervened.

As the half continued, Southend started to pressure more and more without really carving out clear opportunities. Wayne Gray, though, Pettefer and Wilson were all unlucky, though to be called back either for offside or poor advantage calls.

Second half was all Southend with Orient looking for the aerial ability and pace of Steele to try and counter and played clearances in to difficult areas to keep the Southend players thinking.

However, at times, Southend were carving Orient open almost at will. Gray and Bentley missed clear one-on-ones and when Gower cut inside the box and shot straight at the keeper, it became clear that this may not be our night. Late chances fell and even a last minute fumble by Harrison fell nicely for himto reclaim it.

Not a lot wrong by Southend and I thought they tried hard but nothing would click. One goal, I felt would have put us away but nothing would come off. I felt that (after realising) when Petts went off, it should have been Guttridge coming on to give us a bit more pace, touch and goal threat on the right but there you go. I wouldn't have got us to 3rd at the time of writing in the league.

RATINGS
Flahavan: Didn't have a lot of chance for the goal from what I could see and made one or two tidy saves. Did what was asked really........7
Jupp: Looked very nervy to start with but settled down eventually. Tried to support Pettefer but was wary about getting caught too far ahead of play........6
Wilson: MOTM Made one mistake in the first half but more than atoned for it in the second. Was playing right in front of us and did nothing wrong. Completely dominant at left back and even tackled through Barrett when Adam should have cleared........9
Prior: Looked remarkably assured all evening and was dominant in the air........8
Barrett: Tried hard but struggled to get ot grips with Alexander's aerial ability. Missed a sitter in the first half. Back dow to Earth from Sunday........6
Pettefer: Scampered about but for 60 minutes, that wasn't what we needed. Rightfully subbed, but possibly should have been at half time........6
Gower: Looked tentative early on but one or two uncharacteristically heavy tackles suggested he was up for it. A bit scared of the ball first half but got much better second half and skinned the full back several times. Just need the final ball back now........7
Bentley: Battled manfully in the midfield battle and was always a keen runner going forwards. Missed a very good second half chance........7
Maher: Had no space first half after Orient made sure he was clattered at the first opportunity but still broke up play well even if he couldn't create any. Second half got much more in to it. Never a booking........7
Gray: Ran very hard and managed to earn corners and high balls he should never have. Not looked as good linking up with Eastwood as earlier in the season and missed a glorious chance in the 2nd half........7
Eastwood: Got frustrated very quickly at his lack of space and, sadly, this showed. Looked menacing when he ran with the ball but little end product. Far too nonchalant at times with the ball. Not one of his better nights........6

McCormack: I retract all I suggested about his temperament. Virtually the coolest one out there last night. Almost snatched a goal at the end and generally added impetus to our play. Almost snatched a goal at the end........7
Dudfield: He really needs to get more match practice. I feel he's a player who needs games to gain any real form. Still, put himself about and ran channels well........6

 

[chaco27saf]

Quote[/b] (sufcintheprem @ April 16 2005,07:58)]Almost snatched a goal at the end and generally added impetus to our play.  Almost snatched a goal at the end.....

No need to repeat yourself, we heard you the first time.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Quote[/b] (chaco27saf @ April 16 2005,16:10)]

Quote[/b] (sufcintheprem @ April 16 2005,07:58)]Almost snatched a goal at the end and generally added impetus to our play. Almost snatched a goal at the end.....

No need to repeat yourself, we heard you the first time.

Really was a good chance!!

 

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

Thanks SITP. It is so frustrating sitting listening to Blues World, the commentators do their best but nothing beats a report from someone who was actually there.

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Can't believe Che Bloody Wilson, who didn't exactly do much, gets a 9 whilst Freddy who was at the heart of everything good we did and went close a number of times gets a 6.

I don't dispute Che had a good game by his lows standards but there was no way he was head and shoulders above all his team-mates. Can you honestly say that if that was the first time you had ever seen Southend play you would have said to your mates: "I tell you what that left-back was something a bit special, they've got a real player there". I can only conclude you must be marking Che up for not being anywhere nearly as horrific as normal, whilst Freddy is marked down purely for not getting on the scoresheet. Had one of Freddy's efforts sneaked in you would probably be giving him a 9 and saying he was a constant threat and his goal was a matter of time.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Well, Che eclipsed Barrett, certainly and barely put a foot wrong all night. Che was the only of our back four who was consistently winning headers against Alexander too. On top of that, he also found time to burst through from fullback (to only be denied by a poor advantage call from the ref) and created the best chance of the second half for us. Please tell me what more he needs to do in your books?

I can assure you Eastwood would have needed to do something special to get a 9. He was heavily marked and that's fair enough, a player won't play as well when heavily marked. However, his ball retention when he was clearly running in to a wall of defenders was terrible and at times he was very predictable. The two/three times when he passed thrown in balls straight off the pitch when under little/no pressure summed up his night in my book.

 

[SUFC Employee]

Everyone is biased towards their favourite players. Of corse wee're going to argue because these are just personal opinion. If you want a true, unbiased review of a game ask a neutral!!!

 

[Guest]

They nearly scored after Wilson was beaten down his side. a great save from flahavan saved wilson from getting more blame. weak link. no way a 9

 

[Jonesy tap-in]

I thought che did well as well - one occasion in the first half, he even got into their box and had the ball through to him been slightly better (iirc) i reckon he could slid it past the keeper in to the corner, which would've been absolutely legendary. And his role in the gray chance - intercepting a pass and sliding straight forward down the channel - one of the hardest passes to make as there's no angle to play with - single-handedly created the opportunity.

Was also impressed by some of Prior's touches - top drawer. Clearly using all of his UEFA cup experience.

As for gower, i thought he was as good as anyone of our front six. Although, as SitP said, they were right on top of maher (or marr, as sky call him) and he clearly could've done with some help in moving it about in midfield. As hardworking as bentley and petts are, they don't offer a great deal of composure and personally, as we were at home, i would've liked to have seen someone slightly more attack-minded and better able to retain the football (nicolau, guttridge maybe?) play some part.