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

[Shrimpergonzo]

Saw the lads at Peterborough services this afternoon all seemed happy and ready! Quick chat with Kev and asked up for tommorow? To which he replied always up for it! Stupid question really!

C'mon Special Blue - think of a better question for next time - like who was the better 'keeper Bart or Flavs?!!!

 

[Special Blue]

C'mon Special Blue - think of a better question for next time - like who was the better 'keeper Bart or Flavs?!!!

Sorry will do better next time promise!
Col was behind me in the queue should have asked him that! (Bit before his time)

 

[RobB11]

Take anything better than a 2-0 defeat. fear it will be more though.

 

[Evening Echo]

ECHOSPORT talks to the Y Front fanzine ahead of York City's clash with Southend United.

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[Jack_23]

Where are he Southend boys drinking tomorrow!?

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher is fully aware of the problems York City striker Ollie Pearce will pose this weekend – having tried to sign him himself.

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[bluethroughandthrough]

First of all, thank you! It’s nice to have a discussion with you!

I’ll try to elaborate my thoughts…

York have had more possession in every single match this season. They’ve played versus back-fours, back-fives, man-to-man presses and zonal presses. Therefore, it’s realistic to expect them to control the possession tomorrow and pin us back for long spells.

They can destroy you through sustained pressure or in large spaces if you go toe-to-toe with them. They’re very, very good tactically and have the quality to match it. I’ve analysed a lot of matches this season and, for me, they’re the best side in the division.

After we played them on the opening day, I was disappointed they had as much of the ball as they did, as the away side. However, as I’ve seen them play more and more this season, I believe our approach that day gave us the best possible chance of beating them.

York can use a variety of shapes, making it almost impossible to predict how they’ll line up and how to press them. Then, they have a lot of movement which can be difficult to track. Maidenhead pressed them in man-to-man fashion and got torn apart, for instance:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1863719823332565152

Why do I believe our set-up at home was the correct one? Because we accepted they were going to have the ball, sat in a compact shape rather than chasing them around the pitch, and went with five ‘proper’ defenders to make us more solid in the last line, which made it easier to track forward runs from deep.

You can still track these forward runs with a back-four, but it’s more difficult to do so and requires the midfielders to work hard and track all the way back.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1869026338352537826

If we went with a 4-3-3, we wouldn’t be able to do this because we’d play strikers as wingers, who (understandably) lack the ability to do this reliably. And that’s before we consider that we’ve only used a back-four a handful of times since Kev took over, so its subtleties are fairly unfamiliar to the players.

Think back to the opening day. We took our chance when it came (from a set-piece); didn’t allow York to cut us open; and were minutes away from winning, only conceding to a set-piece ourselves.

It’s not how I like to see us play, but if it’s going to give us the best chance of winning in a one-off match, I’m all for it!

York have weaknesses as well which we can exploit (even if we play a ‘proper’ back-five). But setting up to be solid away to a top, top side who are dangerous and are very likely to sustain attacks isn’t necessarily ‘playing for a draw’, for instance.

Of course, York may score early on and the whole game-plan would be redundant but, sometimes, having the best possible chance of winning means trying to nullify the main threats to make sure we’re competitive, rather than going toe-to-toe.

Respect!
The outcome therefore is we aren't a top.side ?
Every game is like chess. You have a plan to win in certain circumstances bases on the moves if the other which is your point.
However it's still how were stopping them rather than how we win. Scoring from set pieces is not a plan to win
How do we hurt them not how can they hurt us? It's a mentality.

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

He absolutely would have failed in our setup

 

[GBJ]

C'mon Special Blue - think of a better question for next time - like who was the better 'keeper Bart or Flavs?!!!

It’s not even a difficult one tbh

 

[Evening Echo]

A STATISTICAL preview of Southend United's National League clash at York City.

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[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Fully aware - Southend United boss Kevin Maher (Image: Russell Hart)


By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher is fully aware of the problems York City striker Ollie Pearce will pose this weekend – having tried to sign him himself.

Pearce scored 46 goals in 51 appearances for Worthing last season.

But Maher was unable to complete any possible deal for the forward as the Shrimpers were under a transfer embargo.

"It was impossible not to look at his record last year,” said Maher.

“He's someone that we looked at and had on our radar.

The timing wasn't great in terms of when we were looking but credit to him for what he's done in the league and it's no surprise he's done that."

Pearce is currently the top scorer in the National League having scored 15 goals already this season.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Early doors
Come on you Shrimpers.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Saw the lads at Peterborough services this afternoon all seemed happy and ready! Quick chat with Kev and asked up for tommorow? To which he replied always up for it! Stupid question really!

All seemed happy until the stalker showed up!

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Where are he Southend boys drinking tomorrow!?

Anywhere you’re not!

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Shocking weather forecast, very windy and moist

 

[Jack_23]

Anywhere you’re not!

Cute

 

[ShrimperStats]

Respect!
The outcome therefore is we aren't a top.side ?
Every game is like chess. You have a plan to win in certain circumstances bases on the moves if the other which is your point.
However it's still how were stopping them rather than how we win. Scoring from set pieces is not a plan to win
How do we hurt them not how can they hurt us? It's a mentality.

Both must, and will, be considered by the management team. It’ll be the same for every match we play.

For instance, I think York are vulnerable when opposing midfielders make runs from deep as they only defend with a back-four, and when their full-backs have to shift out wide, space opens up. I’m certain there are others weaknesses the team have identified.

We’ll have a plan which aims to give us the best possible chance of dealing with their threats as well as allowing us to cause them problems, too. Using a back-five doesn’t negate that.

 

[Barling Magna]

Shocking weather forecast, very windy and moist

Windy certainly but now forecast to be dry from noon onwards.

 

[Tinks]

Gonna be a hard game today but safe travels to everyone going

 

[Whispering Bob]

York are strong favourites today. 4/7
The Draw. 5/2
Blues to win 19/5.

Not too much on offer for this match, but the eye-catching odds are Southend to come from behind and win - 22/1 (as if that’s going to happen!).