Todays Game- A different view

[benny the blue]

Southend desereved the 3 points today in a game that showed that anyone can win this division! for a team at the top of the league Macc were poor and Southend played well. I dont think the performance was as good as the second half at West Ham or the Bristol Rovers game on friday but we did well and kept going.

A few of my thoughts on the players!

Bart- Made an absolute howler for the goal with a poor kick and even worse judgement as the 40 odd yard shot bounced gently back towards goal. Flapped at a couple of crosses but made a fantastic save with his legs to redeem himself.

Barrett- What a difference he makes to the side- adds more pace and hunger than Edwards. Shows passion- tries to carry the ball forward and drive the team on- not to mention actually attacking the ball in the opposition box.

Che- Did ok and certainly did better than any of his performances last season.

Prior- Did ok but im sure Tilson could have signed a much better younger player for the massive wage that he is commanding.

Jupp- Had an off game after two brilliant games against Bristol and West Ham. He kept going though and looking for the ball rather than trying to hide.

Gower- Didnt look fit and seemed almost scared to take the full back on when he got the opportunity- although to his credit he tried to get back more.

Petts- Grit, determination and effort but he is not a wide player and offers little attacking threat or natural width. He would be far better in the centre.

Maher- Steady game as ever but booked for dissent again. Tilly dock his wages and tell him not to kick the ball away or keep mouthing off at the ref. The bookings he is continually picking up are not exceptable!

Bentley- Another very good game full of energy and running. He keeps getting better and his all round play and effort makes up for his lack of skill.

Tes- Did ok in his first start- still a few stupid moments but generally good and looked more of a threat than Drewe. Some nice link up play and should have scored.

Duddfield- Played well showed a little bit of imagination at times, just needs a goal to get him going.

Subs-

Drewe- Didnt really do anything of note apart from a weak shot.

Hunt- Why does this man keep coming on in the centre of the park- hes not a midfielder. His introduction in the centre pushes Bentley wide- Bentley and therefore the whole Southend midfield loose any influence on the game. Hunt isnt a bad defender but dont bother playing him in central midfield Tilly hes a wate of space with no positional sense. After his introduction the midfield was completely bypassed just like at Bristol. This change I believe led to us giving the 3 points away against Bristol and could maybe have led to just a draw today.

Overall a good team performance- Barrett was very good, however he cant keep on doing the strikers work for them. Hopefully this result will get us going again- a decent following to Rushden and some good support to claim another 3 points. Pleased to see Tilly starting to mix the team up by dropping Nicky (a left back who cant defend to save his life) and Gray- looked good against Thurrock but has been missing ever since. Nice to see Corbett on the bench it was a shame he never got a run out instead of Lewis Hunt!

Up the Shrimpers !!!!

 

[Technician]

Quote[/b] (benny the blue @ Aug. 30 2004,22:09)]Southend desereved the 3 points today in a game that showed that anyone can win this division! for a team at the top of the league Macc were poor and Southend played well. I dont think the performance was as good as the second half at West Ham or the Bristol Rovers game on friday but we did well and kept going.

Excluding the opener, all our performances have been worthy of something from the game and you're right... every team in this division is beatable! we've kick-started our season now and need more of the same throughout!

 

[Stoned Shrimper]

More thoughts from today’s Game.

How come we started today’s game 2nd from bottom and Macclesfield 3rd from top when we were better than them in virtually every department and played them off the park for most of the game?

Barrett would have been man of the match even without his two goals.  Ideal candidate for skipper come Maher’s impending absence but of course it will be Spinner.

Sound display from Wilson ... kept it simple, won every challenge.

Tes and Dudfield looked like our most potent front two partnership of the season so far ... goals will come from them.

How can we have Fortress Roots Hall when a section of our own fans help the opposition by mocking our keeper for one mistake .. do they enjoy watching us lose?  Brilliant reactions minutes later from Grimink to save us from going 2-1 down.

Oh and that “back pass” .... from the FA website ...

Decisions of the International FA Board

Decision 3

Subject to the terms of Law 12, a player may pass the ball to his own goalkeeper using his head or chest or knee, etc. If, however, in the opinion of the referee, a player uses a deliberate trick while the ball is in play in order to circumvent the Law, the player is guilty of unsporting behaviour. He is cautioned, shown the yellow card and an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred. * (see page 3)

So the ref (damn him) got it right ... it was played off the thigh.

 

[Benfleet Blue]

Anyone notice that at half time, when Mark Gower was struggling, Jimmy Corbett was spoken to and started to warm up with Gower obviously struggling.
However, when the time came to change Gower, rather than play Jimmy Corbett as a straight swap, a quite obvious choice, Tilson chose to introduce Lewis Hunt and move Pettifer to the left wing and Bentley to the right, and whilst we played really well, this really dd, I feel, upset the balance.
Does anyone really know why Tilson blanks Corbett all the time, since when Nicky returns it is obvious that Jimmy Corbett won't even make the bench again!

 

[Jai]

I'd be thinking of playing him in central midfield alongside Bentley next week in the absence of Maher as, if I'm on the ball, the skipper is suspended?

 

[overseas shrimper]

Does the ban come in that soon?

 

[Jai]

I assume so as Bramble served his suspension straight away, new FL rules I think.

 

[londonblue]

Quote[/b] (Stoned Shrimper @ Aug. 31 2004,00:06)]Oh and that “back pass” .... from the FA website ...

Decisions of the International FA Board

Decision 3

Subject to the terms of Law 12, a player may pass the ball to his own goalkeeper using his head or chest or knee, etc. If, however, in the opinion of the referee, a player uses a deliberate trick while the ball is in play in order to circumvent the Law, the player is guilty of unsporting behaviour. He is cautioned, shown the yellow card and an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred. * (see page 3)

So the ref (damn him) got it right ... it was played off the thigh.

Possibly, but the player played the ball off his knee/thigh. Is that not seen as

"a player useing a deliberate trick while the ball is in play in order to circumvent the Law"?

Rather a grey area IMO

 

[londonblue]

Quote[/b] (Benfleet Blue @ Aug. 31 2004,09:03)]Anyone notice that at half time, when Mark Gower was struggling, Jimmy Corbett was spoken to and started to warm up with Gower obviously struggling.
However, when the time came to change Gower, rather than play Jimmy Corbett as a straight swap, a quite obvious choice, Tilson chose to introduce Lewis Hunt and move Pettifer to the left wing and Bentley to the right, and whilst we played really well, this really dd, I feel, upset the balance.
Does anyone really know why Tilson blanks Corbett all the time, since when Nicky returns it is obvious that Jimmy Corbett won't even make the bench again!

I'm not sure that this was a case of blanking Corbett, rather a case of getting a defensive player on rather than an attacking one in order to tighten things up and hold on to the lead we had.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Quote[/b] (Jai @ Aug. 31 2004,11:38)]I assume so as Bramble served his suspension straight away, new FL rules I think.

Nope, suspensions for red cards kick in immediately, unless you appeal within 48 hours of the game. Suspensions for 5 yellow cards now start 7 days after 5th yellow card, as opposed to 14 days previously, meaning Kev will miss the home game against Wycombe

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (londonblue @ Aug. 31 2004,13:46)]

Quote[/b] (Stoned Shrimper @ Aug. 31 2004,00:06)]Oh and that “back pass” .... from the FA website ...

Decisions of the International FA Board

Decision 3

Subject to the terms of Law 12, a player may pass the ball to his own goalkeeper using his head or chest or knee, etc. If, however, in the opinion of the referee, a player uses a deliberate trick while the ball is in play in order to circumvent the Law, the player is guilty of unsporting behaviour. He is cautioned, shown the yellow card and an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred. * (see page 3)

So the ref (damn him) got it right ... it was played off the thigh.

Possibly, but the player played the ball off his knee/thigh. Is that not seen as

"a player useing a deliberate trick while the ball is in play in order to circumvent the Law"?

Rather a grey area IMO

Don't think so. I think a deliberate trick is like flicking the ball up in the air so it can be headed... or laying on the ground so you can head it back to the keeper.

I think if the ball is 'thighed' back directly as the ball is in play, it clearly doesn't count.

IMHO.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

If you want another "different view" about Friday's game, incidentally, here are some heartening words from a Bristol Rovers fan:

<span style='color:blue'>To be honest the result was very harsh on you. I know possession does not win games but if you&#39;d had a couple of half decent forwards you would surely have won.

We were obviously delighted with the win but if both teams continue to play like that, only two things will happen. We will drop away from the top and you will never be down the bottom.

Good Luck for the rest of the season, and believe me a little bit of luck is all you need because you do have a good side.</span>

I prefer to think that we already do have some gifted forwards at the club at the moment; and that all they need is a little luck in order to turn things round for them.

If Tes &amp; Dudders - surely the up-front pairing of choice at the moment - can start firing on all cylinders, then as soon as Jay Smith returns and Marky Gower recaptures last season&#39;s form, then we will be a team to be feared in this division.

Come on Southend&#33;

Matt

 

[Technician]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Aug. 31 2004,12:03)]If you want another &quot;different view&quot; about Friday&#39;s game, incidentally, here are some heartening words from a Bristol Rovers fan:

<span style='color:blue'>To be honest the result was very harsh on you. I know possession does not win games but if you&#39;d had a couple of half decent forwards you would surely have won.

We were obviously delighted with the win but if both teams continue to play like that, only two things will happen. We will drop away from the top and you will never be down the bottom.

Good Luck for the rest of the season, and believe me a little bit of luck is all you need because you do have a good side.</span>

I prefer to think that we already do have some gifted forwards at the club at the moment; and that all they need is a little luck in order to turn things round for them.

If Tes &amp; Dudders - surely the up-front pairing of choice at the moment - can start firing on all cylinders, then as soon as Jay Smith returns and Marky Gower recaptures last season&#39;s form, then we will be a team to be feared in this division.

Come on Southend&#33;

Matt

I agree with your sentiments there Matt, but surely it will take more than just luck to see us moving in the right direction?

Adam Barratt has taken the bull by the horns, with three goals in two games and I think this brings shame on our centre forwards, that a central defender has to show them the way towards goal [Good on you, Adam&#33; - you can never expect the unexpected&#33;&#33;&#33;].

Further analysis however, points to a different scenario... the opposing teams getting numbers behind the ball and marking our forwards out of the game by denying them the space is the real problem. From what I have seen, only Bramble &amp; Dudfield [seem to] have the skill and intelligence to get behind defences and therefore providing the opportunities on goal and these seem to be all too infrequent.

My answer to that is not too obvious, but I have noticed that on more that the odd occasion, we have been too defence minded going forward with too few players in support and hence the attack breaks down more often than not... furthermore, at set pieces, we need someone wide on the opposite flank to return a deep or cleared ball to maintain pressure on our opponents.

I know we all want to be coaches or managers on here, but it is too easy for us watching from the sidelines&#33; My view is Tilson &amp; Brush need to maintain the current impetus and avoid tactical weakness... if we play as well as we have done so far this season [often without reward I might add&#33;], then I will be more than satisfied come May... whatever the outcome&#33;

We need to be 200% committed on Saturday by the way, as we will have the handicap of playing against two teams... Rushden should be easy of course... but Diamonds are a &quot;rough&quot; lot&#33;

C&#39;MON YOU BLUES&#33;

 

[Guest]

Quote[/b] (Benfleet Blue @ Aug. 31 2004,09:03)]Does anyone really know why Tilson blanks Corbett all the time,

Could it possibly be that Corbett is sh*t ?