Pre-Match Thread York City v Southend United, Saturday 21st December, 15:00 k.o., NL

[overseas shrimper]

York are red
Southend are blue
Most think we'll lose
As I do too

 

[RHB]

York are red
Southend are blue
Most think we'll lose
As I do too

AI has a lot to answer for.

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

I can see Kev bringing in Golding for this game, with Ralph moved out to left wing back at the expense of Bridge. Kev will be wary of the threat posed by York in wide areas. Gus to replace Wind proving he's fit.

I can also see Cav, Morton and Coker occupying the 3 central midfield positions.

Bonne and Bim up front for me.

Would you put Golding or Crowther as the left sided centre back? I agree with your team but undecided on the back three starting positions.

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

I really can't see why Kev would change the back three after getting a fantastic clean sheet away to Halifax and then another one against Hartlepool. At the most, he may put Ralph at LWB and one of Gubbins or Goulding 'may' come in. I think it's a big risk to bring either of those in when they haven't played, against such a good opponent.

People will say that they have good wingers so Bridge can't play. However, that can also mean there is space in behind them. Space that wasn't there against Hartlepool because they sat in.

People won't want to accept this, but a battling point against a really good side away would be welcome. We then have two very favourable games after that.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

Desperate to get Bridge out of the side, but unfortunately Ralph isn't a wing-back either so I've gone a bit different

Colin
Wind Taylor Crowther Ralph
Morton Appiah-Forson
Coker
Bonne Bim Walker

It's a 4-3-3 that can also shift to a 5-3-2 by dropping walker in to LWB if needed. We know he likes to take people on and has a bit of pace

Thoughts?

 

[Gremlin]

Thoughts?

It's Collin !

 

[overseas shrimper]

AI has a lot to answer for.

No AI involved. Give me some credit.

 

[RHB]

No AI involved. Give me some credit.

Not a chance, this is ShrimperZone. Leniency is for wimps

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

York have scored 18 goals in their last 4 home games! Just let that sink in.

Anyone who honestly thinks we will go there and start playing about with the formation or defense maybe needs a rethink. It's not the type of game to be gambling. As I said, if we can get a point there, it will be a huge point.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Surely we're bound to lose this? Aren't we? or could we get a point & stretch our unbeaten run?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Desperate to get Bridge out of the side, but unfortunately Ralph isn't a wing-back either so I've gone a bit different

Colin
Wind Taylor Crowther Ralph
Morton Appiah-Forson
Coker
Bonne Bim Walker

It's a 4-3-3 that can also shift to a 5-3-2 by dropping walker in to LWB if needed. We know he likes to take people on and has a bit of pace

Thoughts?

You really want to go away to the best team in the division with a lightweight midfield, a formation the players aren’t used to and players out of position (Crowther LCB, Morton RCM, Walker filling in at LWB etc)?

That sounds like a recipe for a 5-0 defeat if ever I’ve heard one.

Personally I think regardless of formation one of Miley or Husin needs to play to balance the midfield and add some bite and experience to it. Morton, Coker and KAF would get destroyed by York IMO.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

I am with @shrimperjon on team selection except I would start with Bonne then bring on Kendall.
Bonne knows how we set up ( who doesn't?) And is usefull at set pieces, especially defending.
Could be his goal run is about to start?
This will be a game York will come at us so counter attacking fast must be the mantra.

 

[* ORM *]

The road that leads to the West Stand turnstiles is about as close as I ever get to the bard!

Avenue got anything better to do?

 

[Ian Benjamin]

Gubbins is the natural LCB, move Ralph to LWB and drop Bridge.
Collin
Ralph Gubbins Crowther Taylor Wind
Morton Noor Coker
Bim Kendall

Much more a natural overlap between Ralph and Gubbins and both put in decent crosses from the left.

GSM - not really being mentioned - will we see him in the shirt again?

 

[kentblues]

Having watched us Sat start with no aerial threat up top, either to get on the end of crosses or competing for high balls forward so they don’t just come back at us (meat and drink for CBs), I would be very surprised if we go for two of Kendall/Bim/Walker up top…

The consensus is the best pairing is Bonne and Bim. Bim plays very well down the channels off Bonne. It seems we sometimes want to pick who we think are the best two individuals but sadly that’s not necessarily going to give the optimum outcome.

Collin
Taylor Crowther Golding
GSM Coker Morton Ralph
Moncur
Bim Bonne

This seems to me pretty solid and leaves Moncur to concentrate on feeding and creating. He’s the only true creative midfielder we have currently, and with this front two working the CBs there should also be plenty of second balls to pick up on the front foot. Also Bonne is clever enough to read Moncur and work off him- others aren’t. Although Kendall was promising in that regard.

Then what do I know…we could just give the CBs heading practice…

 

[WestyReturns]

Kev will go to keep it tight and hope we nick a goal and hang on. To be fair it's been ok doing that mostly away this season. Still expect us to lose though...which seems sadly totally acceptable now.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Kev will go to keep it tight and hope we nick a goal and hang on. To be fair it's been ok doing that mostly away this season. Still expect us to lose though...which seems sadly totally acceptable now.

You're happy with our position in the table then?

 

[Maroon Blue]

You're happy with our position in the table then?

Our league position is mainly due to our dismal home form. Our away form is acceptable, as the poster says “mostly ok”

 

[WestyReturns]

You're happy with our position in the table then?

Not at all. It's our home form which is woeful.

 

[Barling Magna]

I'll be at the match on Saturday. Looking forward to it, and also remembering the recent past too. We should never forget the generous support of the York City chairman and some of their fans. In our time of greatest need he sent £10,000 if I remember correctly and York fans joined us in "Martin Out" chants as well as making their own contributions to our desperate fund raising effort.

Thanks York City FC, and thanks also for the 3 points we'll gain on Saturday.