Well Done Birmingham!

[Westcliff Blue]

I can't really argue with the scoreline today, I thought Birmingham looked a very decent side and they deserve credit. Although they didn't make that many chances, the chances they did make they put away and at the end of the day that is what counts.

The only thing that annoys me is the lack of effort and passion from Southend to win the game. Why can't we play as well as we did against Tottenham and Man United in every game? Why can't we put in that amount of effort every week? If we want to win games and get out of this mess then that is what we need to do. We need to play every game as if it is a cup game and start going in for every tackle giving 110%.

 

[royfox]

we were totally outclassed today. We simply did not have the players to compete with Birmingham.

 

[fredheim_holm]

I agree with WB, its annoying with some of the players dont put effort in, and when I say this, I'm mainly aiming this at our star striker. He's off in january, either that or he's retiring from the game because he certainly doesn't care about playing for us any more.

 

[sufcintheprem]

Every Birmingham playre was better than his matching Southend player, some by a long way.

Certainly didn't help that our players had played 120 minutes more football than theirs this week.

 

[Jam_Man]

Quote[/b] (royfox @ Dec. 23 2006,18:52)]we were totally outclassed today. We simply did not have the players to compete with Birmingham.

Dont think we were outclassed at all, Birmingham were hardly all over us and certainly didnt dominate the match.

There was a difference in quality though, when they did get in the last third they created good chances and took most of them.

 

[royfox]

'Dont think we were outclassed at all, Birmingham were hardly all over us and certainly didnt dominate the match.'

Further in denial than the Bishop of Southwark!

 

[Jam_Man]

How were we outclassed ? Did Birmingham dominate the match ?

Personally thought it was pretty tight first half, they scored their first effort then didnt have another for about 20 minutes.

Couldnt believe we were 2-0 down at Half time.

We didnt create much but we were hardly overrun, they just showed their quality by taking the chances they had.

Man Utd dominated the league cup game more than Birmingham did and lost.

 

[A loyal supporter]

We were bad as opposed to Birmingham being breathtakingly good.

We were more Billericay Town to their Brazil '70...........

Simple really!

 

[shrimper_sam]

There was only one player i think had a good game and again its McCormack - Maher tried to run but was out-classed some what.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Just because they didn't dominate the match doesn't mean we weren't outclassed. As sufcintheprem says they were better than us man for man. Jaidi and Upson were just class in centre of defence meaning that we got very few chances. They attacked at a higher speed and with more conviction rather than trying to pass it into the goal like us and they took the chances they got. I was particularly impressed with Johnson on the right midfield.

They don't play the most attractive football ever but they're effective - they do the simple things right, they're very solid at the back and they're physical, which you need to be in this division. Last season we were 2 divisions apart and they're a club who can afford to sign players from Arsenal and Bolton. I'll be astounded if they don't get promoted and we just need to move on and look to Norwich.

 

[dloman]

Quote[/b] (shrimper_sam @ Dec. 23 2006,21:55)]There was only one player i think had a good game and again its McCormack - Maher tried to run but was out-classed some what.

I think that is harsh, personally as well as McCormack, Clarke full of effort and to a slightly lesser extent JCR. Though how bad have certain players got to play to subbed.. I.E Gower and Maher were awful.

Now i know McCormack was injured but Gower staying on?

 

[overseas shrimper]

I didn't get to hear much of the game (first 15 mins of the first half and last 35 mins on the second half), but I cannot help wondering how much of yesterday's result was down to the cup game on Wednesday. Is it just coincidence that a very in form Spurs seemed very off colour (letting in 2 goals in the opening 7 mins)?

What with our small squad and that mid-week encounter of 120 mins, the last thing we wanted was a game against the league leaders.

Thoughts?

 

[dloman]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ Dec. 24 2006,08:33)]I didn't get to hear much of the game (first 15 mins of the first half and last 35 mins on the second half), but I cannot help wondering how much of yesterday's result was down to the cup game on Wednesday. Is it just coincidence that a very in form Spurs seemed very off colour (letting in 2 goals in the opening 7 mins)?

What with our small squad and that mid-week encounter of 120 mins, the last thing we wanted was a game against the league leaders.

Thoughts?

God help us Boxing Day if that is the case.

 

[Southendsleeper]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ Dec. 24 2006,08:33)]I didn't get to hear much of the game (first 15 mins of the first half and last 35 mins on the second half), but I cannot help wondering how much of yesterday's result was down to the cup game on Wednesday. Is it just coincidence that a very in form Spurs seemed very off colour (letting in 2 goals in the opening 7 mins)?

What with our small squad and that mid-week encounter of 120 mins, the last thing we wanted was a game against the league leaders.

Thoughts?

Definitely

Noticed the difference when the subs (who hadnt played much on Wednesday came on).

Spurs have been described as woeful in yesterdays match

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Quote[/b] (Southendsleeper @ Dec. 24 2006,09:51)]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ Dec. 24 2006,08:33)]I didn't get to hear much of the game (first 15 mins of the first half and last 35 mins on the second half), but I cannot help wondering how much of yesterday's result was down to the cup game on Wednesday. Is it just coincidence that a very in form Spurs seemed very off colour (letting in 2 goals in the opening 7 mins)?

What with our small squad and that mid-week encounter of 120 mins, the last thing we wanted was a game against the league leaders.

Thoughts?

Definitely

Noticed the difference when the subs (who hadnt played much on Wednesday came on).

Spurs have been described as woeful in yesterdays match

Agree 100 %. Birmingham were probably the worst side we could have played after Wednesday, and the writing was on the wall as soon as the 1st goal went in.

 

[Beefy]

Quote[/b] (shrimpboy @ Dec. 23 2006,21:55)]Just because they didn't dominate the match doesn't mean we weren't outclassed. As sufcintheprem says they were better than us man for man. Jaidi and Upson were just class in centre of defence meaning that we got very few chances. They attacked at a higher speed and with more conviction rather than trying to pass it into the goal like us and they took the chances they got. I was particularly impressed with Johnson on the right midfield.

They don't play the most attractive football ever but they're effective - they do the simple things right, they're very solid at the back and they're physical, which you need to be in this division. Last season we were 2 divisions apart and they're a club who can afford to sign players from Arsenal and Bolton. I'll be astounded if they don't get promoted and we just need to move on and look to Norwich.

Yesterday showed exactly why we were bottom. We started with eight players who played in League Two just two seasons ago and expected them to compete with a Birmingham side which, IMO, are stronger this year than they were in the Prem last season. It looked more like an FA Cup 3rd round tie than it did a league match between two clubs at the same level.

Birmingham showed the combination of speed, talent and raw physicallity needed to succeed at this level. Once again we passed the ball around nicely and created some pretty triangles, but you don't get points for good aesthetics.

 

[mattytheshrimper]

birmingham proved to be a very good team and deserved the win. i do think that if bentner (or however you spell it) had a better day the scoreline would have been a lot higher!

didnt really help that the ref was complete rubbish who is by far the worst ref this season!

and also that our boys played a shocker!