Two Questions

[Cliff Pavilion]

1. Which is/was the better standard - League One this season or League One 05/06 when we were Champions?

2. What would the score-line be between the Southend 05/06 champions and Southend now (assuming full strength team - even Barnard may be fit for a imaginary game)?

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I think League One standards were similar but this year's may just have more bad teams in it.

I can see a team with Freddy, Maher and Prior beating the current lot by at least two goals.

 

[the_goat]

The team this season is better - dont delude yourselves, prior made some big **** ups and wilson was a major weak link. Admitedly the formula isnt correct this season, but in in terms of individual quality, this years team is superior - all that has been missing is a super-star up front.

With freddy scoring goals galore, defenders were more assured back then

 

[Blueshrimper]

Prior wasn't brilliant but he is what we are missing at the moment. A no nonsense experienced centre back who knew how to deal with set pieces, the same goes with Sodje.

 

[stevie_G_G_G]

I feel the team back then in general was superior to our current one. Flahavan in goal looked alot more assured with Prior and Sodge at the back. In the centre Maher and Gutteridge were having a cracking season and up front Eastwood and Goater were better IMO than our current crop. To put a score down between the two teams is impossible but i feel the spine of the team was alot stronger.

 

[ShrimplyTheBest]

I agree... this seasons team has more ability we may just lack that bit of experience! I also think there seemed to be a great spirit amongst that team that has been damaged by people like Guttridge, Ricketts, L Clarke etc... we are starting to get it together again but is it too late?!?

I think we can win tomorrow and if we do it could be the kind of result to carry us all the way to a great finish to the end of the season. With everyone fit and firing I think this team could beat our title winning side - but they have to prove that they can be just as consistent.

:)

 

[leeblue]

the championship winning side were better.............they won the league

The standard is about the same havent really noticed any difference even leeds try to hoof it, we on the other hand always try to play football

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

The Championship-winning side was far better - better balanced, better defence, and a better striker. We absolutely cr*pped on a couple of sides when we went up in 05-06 (Yeovil at home, Bristol City away, Brentford at home)... have we cr*pped on anyone this year?

I reckon the Championship winning side would win 2-1, with Freddy (2) and Nicky B scoring, respectively.

Matt

 

[Blueshrimper]

What would the attendance be? Would the 05/06 team bring many supporters?

 

[EastStandBlue]

What would the attendance be? Would the 05/06 team bring many supporters?

Of course, 95% of our fanbase is stuck in the past.

 

[Suomi Shrimper]

Of course, 95% of our fanbase is stuck in the past.

Congratulations, you have won SZ.

Game over!

 

[SUFCEssex]

i think league 1 is tougher now than it was in 05/06. Of the two sides this team is better although the big difference is Eastwood which is why the 05/06team would probably shade the game 1-0.

 

[Sussex Shrimper]

I think that in terms of quality you have to give the championship side the edge, but as a base to build on give me the current squad anyday. Back then we had Prior, Sodje, Goater, Maher - all great servants, but players approaching the tail end of their careers. We also had the likes of Freddy and Gutteridge who were impossible to build a long term future around.

We still have work to do with the current squad, but with talent like Bailey, Macca, Barnard, Walker, Clarke and Flavs, all of whom could realistically be here in five years time, we have so much cause for optimism.

 

[Firestorm]

If you take purely the personnel changes.

Jupp or Francis
Prior/Sodje or Clarke
Wilson or Mulgrew
Gutts or Bailey
Maher or Macca
Bradbury/Bentley/Gray or Black
Freddy or Barnard
Walker or Goater

Subs
Cole or Scannell
Lawson or Moussa

With the exception of the pre injury Sodje for Clarke, Freddie in for one of the strikers And Maher in the middle I prefer the majority of the current team.

I also think the league is stronger. A couple of the relegated teams have returned and are stronger (particularly Wallsall) and a number of the other teams have improved also.

The Championship season was a stroke of luck, with an overachieving team playing in a below par division

 

[stevie_G_G_G]

But remember, its a team game. Our championship title was won as we had players playing together and working hard for eachother. I like the look of this team we have at the moment but still feel we haven't gelled together yet hence the reason i feel the other team were better

 

[Jam_Man]

Its not as simple as Team A is better than team B.

The old team were on the back of a promotion, this one had a relegation to recover from.
The old one was fairly stable throughout the season, whereas this one we have had to add to the side.

I think in general this team is technically better (certainly after the January window) but without the confidence, self belief of the last one.

Eastwood makes a huge difference to the two sides of course and I think with him in the old side it would beat the new one even if the overall team was a bit weaker.

 

[ldnfatso]

Championship winning team for me!

I think the Championship winning team was just that, a TEAM. I sometimes think that todays team is not a solid unit like it was then, perhaps that is a confidence thing or perhaps because there was very little change from the season before when we came up through the playoffs? I think we do have some players in todays team that would get into that team ie: Macca, Bailey, Clarke and Francis. To mix the two teams would make us awesome.

If the two sides were to go head to head i would put my money on the Championship winning team 2-1.

However we should not reminisce and we should look forward. We have a great new stadium coming up and maybe the playoffs this season (who knows?). Also, Col Ewe are going to be relegated this season in their first of three relegations on the trot to non league status!

 

[leeblue]

I think bailey is the only 'new boy' who would make it into the league winning side, front two of freddy and the goat, Maher was brilliant that season and we miss the experience of prior/sodje in the back four

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

I think League One was stronger in 2005/06 than it is now. I can't think of one really bad team that played us that year - MK Dons beat us, other teams at the bottom were difficult to beat such as Walsall, none of the relegated sides played badly at Roots Hall, they were undone by our superior quality and solid defence (if only we had one now!). This year, teams such as Gillingham, Crewe, Luton and Bournemouth have been dreadful, worse than anything seen in 2005/06. Port Vale must be terrible if they only have 22 points in this division.

Also, there were star players performing in League One in 2005/06 - players such as Freddy Eastwood, Lee Trundle and Neil Danns were exceptional. How many star players have we seen this year? I can't think of anyone whose looked a cut above this division at Roots Hall this season. Is there a single player in this current division who'd command a £1m transfer fee?

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Is there a single player in this current division who'd command a £1m transfer fee?

Nicky Bailey :p

 

[ldnfatso]

Is there a single player in this current division who'd command a £1m transfer fee?

In a word no!