Evening Echo
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SOUTHEND United striker Simeon Akinola has tested positive for coronavirus.
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So sadly Covid for Sim who as stated must have still been in recovery mode from operation and now news of complicated knee surgery for ANG. Presumably possible significant impact on pre-season training for both?
Heres hoping for a full and speedy recovery for both and no lingering after effects for Sim , like Kyle Taylor who took a while to get going again
Hmmmm, strange that these were the two players that PB dropped at the end of the season and looked on their way out.
You have to wonder if he'll be the same player. I remember years ago watching him play for Braintree in the NL (Vanarama as it was) and he was dynamite, I was therefore quite excited when we signed him. He's had a funny old start to his life at SUFC, so to get firing again .. hmmm .. well I'm hoping it happens as there's definitely a player in there somewhere who can excel at this level.I worry for Sim, He didn't really look at his best at the end of last season, probably due to injury. Now his pre-season this season is being impacted. I just hope we have a big enough squad to allow him the time he needs to get properly fit before he comes back.
I agree - Brown almost seems to ignore that Akinola exists when he speaks. If he was part of the plans then we could expect:I dont think we'll see either play for the club again.
I don't think we'll see either play for the club again.
Opinion, or inside knowledge, Naps?
Opinion, based on inside knowledge.
I hope we keep both and think we'd have a tough job replacing them with better players at this level.
Akinola in particular could be a big player for us. He wasn't given a fair crack of the whip last season, being asked to lead the line for a team that couldn't build or sustain attacks for toffee. I think he'd shine either playing from the left in a 4-3-3 or as part of a strike partnership in a 4-4-2.
ANG for his flaws (mainly decision making) possesses trickery and a turn of pace that is sorely lacking in the rest of the squad and those are attributes that would be more than handy coming up against the cloggers with the turning radius of a battleship in this league.
I hope we keep both and think we'd have a tough job replacing them with better players at this level.
Akinola in particular could be a big player for us. He wasn't given a fair crack of the whip last season, being asked to lead the line for a team that couldn't build or sustain attacks for toffee. I think he'd shine either playing from the left in a 4-3-3 or as part of a strike partnership in a 4-4-2.
ANG for his flaws (mainly decision making) possesses trickery and a turn of pace that is sorely lacking in the rest of the squad and those are attributes that would be more than handy coming up against the cloggers with the turning radius of a battleship in this league.
Playing devils advocate (as I really hope it works out for Sim), maybe the reason we "couldn't build or sustain attacks for toffee" was because he was leading the line? When you're the only one up front, if you're not used to playing that role, it must be very difficult.
Both exactly right. Was signed as a "9" or centre forward to us old people and it's quite obvious that's not his game. Needs to be running onto the ball rather than receiving with his back to goal.
Whether PB sees him in his team, I'm not sure (I think Murphy will be the channel runner alongside a big centre forward in a 442).