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Post-Match Thread and Ratings Kings Lynn Town 0-1 Southend United

This was my first game in ages, a couple of nagging health issues meaning I haven't been to a game since 2017 (other than an u23 friendly at Lowestoft) so it was a very different Shrimpers team to the last one I saw live. There was a lot to really like about the performance today, and a few things to worry about. It's far too early to read anything into the result tthough, if KL win their next 5 games it will look great, if they lose their next 5 then not so much!

I was really impressed with the work ethic and team spirit, they really, really wanted that win and all 13 players used put in a hell of a shift, really worked to earn the right to play. Quality not always there, but the grass was too long and decent football wasn't easy to play.

Won't do ratings as they are meaningless particularly as I've no recent games to compare players against, but a few comments

Arnold - Looks exactly what we need from first glance, solid, mobile fantastic kick out to put Murphy through, though a few iffy kicks afterwards
White - no problems there good solid performance
Coulson - really solid, constantly first to balls on ground as well as in air, despite their no.9 looking a really good player
Ralph - Impressive, hopefully more to come as he gets back into things
Demetriou - good solid performance going forward and back
Bridge - Bit disappointing for me, worked really hard defensively but not much came off for him attacking-wise, reminded me a bit of Bridge before he left - hopefully he can improve though
Ogogo - probably my MOTM. I was honestly expecting another JP Kalala, but as well as doing the dirty work he has a great touch too, just did the simple things but did them really well.
Ferguson - Impressed with him, stayed in the game and use the ball well. he was part of a really high tempo midfield that prevented KL getting a foothold in the main
Phillips - Impressive as well, drifted in and out a little more than the other midfielders but looked composed on the ball and won a lot of second balls and broke attacks up.
Murphy - worked hard, got nothing from the referee, finishing was a wee bit off today but his all round game, off the ball movement etc was excellent, I think he'll lead the line well.
Dalby - good all round game, hold up play got better as the game went on and retained a lot of 50/50 balls chucked at him. Really looking forward to seeing him develope more as the season goes on

My early concerns are that the squad looks set up the be solid and stop teams playing without a huge amount of creativity, concerned we may struggle if teams come and park the bus or pack the midfield against us, but as mentioned earlier too early to judge really.

So good to see the team winning and enjoying their football!

Finally can I suggest a Charity Swear Box type thing for whenever posters use the phrase "at this level"
Great Post, Thanks. Nice to get your views of the game. Glad your back, Keep Well COYB, UTB :LoyalSupporter::LoyalSupporter::LoyalSupporter:
 
A thoroughly enjoyable day and win. So nice to have a potent threat up front again. It makes such a difference to the enjoyment of watching the team when you know you actually have goalscorers in your side. If Dalby and Murphy stay fit then I predict a top 7 finish.
I was so pleased that Steve Arnold came in and performed so well. He looked dominant and made a couple of really good saves.
I didn't think Harry Phillips was as influential as some others, although I had a terrible view of the game standing behind the goal!
My 6 year old daughter loved her first Blues game though, particularly some of the amusing chants from our vocal following. Her favourite was "Ron Martin's got no money but we're going to win the league"!

Question....who was the passionate Blues supporter who came into the ground at about 2.45pm and then stood on the wall near the side of the pitch trying to get everyone singing? I've seen him at so many away games over the years and wondered whether he is on Shrimperzone.
That's Tony Jones being going for years.Passionate fan.No idea if be is on Shrimperzone
 
I saw lots that I liked, but plenty to work on - namely care whilst in possession. But the main thing was that we got off to a good start and can hopefully now build some confidence and momentum from there. WE WON A GAME OF FOOTBALL, AND FANS WERE BACK AND AWESOME! Great work by the away fans, we really did take over the place.

I thought we created a lot of chances today. Good to see a little bit more creativity coming out of midfield and some really intelligent movement off the ball from our strikers. Stark contrast to the past few seasons. Thought we were a little careless at times when in possession though which kept gifting KL oppprtunities, and took a foot off the gas a bit too much mid-way through both halves. We missed the drive and steel of Jimmy Dunne there perhaps. Would also like to have seen us be a bit more threatening down the right hand side - Bridge had a good game getting forward on the left but didn't feel JD was as effective. Made us a little predictable. Definitely thought we were worthy of the win though, yes KL had a few chances but we had more. Several sitters/clear cut chances and we hit the bar too. On another day we would have won that 5-3. I think we'll need to find another gear to beat the likes of Stockport and Wrexham, but I didn't come away from yesterday's game feeling that we hit top gear, so that bodes well.

Arnold 7 - decent performance, commanded his area well, made some great saves (his height really helped with some of them) but kicking could do with some work. Seemed the brilliant quick kick through to Murphy in the 2nd half might not be a regular thing unfortunately!

JD 6 - solid enough defensively, although beaten for pace a couple of times around his outside. I think he's better suited to RB now than RWB with his drop-off in pace. Didn't think he was too effective going forward.
White 7 - good performance from El Capitain. Swept up loose balls, got stuck in and didn't really put a foot wrong.
Coulson 7 - still lacking match fitness a bit and was carried through a bit by White and Ralph in that respect. But he marshalled the defence well and was big, strong and commanding. A real leader.
Ralph 7 - good game in a bit of an unfamiliar role. Works well with Bridge and comes across to the left a bit to cover him when Bridge has gone forward. Made some great blocks and tackles too.
Bridge 8 - absolute work horse. Never thought LWB would suit him, but one minute he's on the ball in KL's defensive third trying to jink his way into the box and next minute he's making a sliding tackle in the LB position. Hoping to see his end product come on a little bit more.

Ferguson 6 - frustrating to watch. Can get stuck in and play a good pass when he wants to, but also can be careless in possession and a bit lazy positionally. Good low shot in the 2nd half to bring a good save out of the KL keeper.
Ogogo 7 - watched him quite closely. Just goes about his business really quietly and effectively. Seems to be everywhere. Very JP Kalala-esque but perhaps without the quality on the ball.
Phillips 7 - this boy has a good range of passing on him. I was worried he might get bullied a bit, but he really stood his ground and got stuck in. Could be a surprise package this season. Threaded a brilliant through ball into the path of Murphy at one point in the 2nd half, only a brilliant tackle from the KL CB prevented a goal there. More of that please.

Murphy 7 - such an intelligent player. Off the ball movement is insanely good, just need to pick him put a bit more. Had enough good chances today for a hat trick, some of them gilt-edged (one in the second half was his bread and butter, seemed easier to hit the target than to slice it like he did). Give him a chance to settle and he'll start putting them away. Niggly and in the ref's ear constantly, definitely getting Lee Barnard 1st spell vibes. Would like to see him play a bit closer to Dalby as their understanding develops.
Dalby 8 MOM - put a real shift in and didn't stop running. Not as dominant in the air as he was in pre-season but still won his fair share of flick-ons. Good holding the ball up at his feet too. Really think a permanent move and some faith will do him the world of good rather than being moved from pillar to post on loan. If he performs like that consistently, he'll prove to be a great addition.

Subs: Hobson and Dennis 6 - not enough time to make an impression. Dennis unsettles with his pace but decision-making in possession will need to improve.

I was frustrated at Brown leaving it so late to make changes, but I do wonder whether it was a bit of a message to say "I'm not happy yet with the depth of my squad". A couple of injuries and I would be concerned, so hopefully work is continuing in the background to add to the squad.
 
Just back, knackered, but in a good way. Three points, away win and superb support. Couldn't ask for more on the face of it, but truthfully we should have scored at least another two maybe three. A combination of wasteful finishing and good goal keeping from the KL custodian kept the score down. A bit harsh? probably, but Murphy had two guilt edged chances that he should have buried, however the great thing was that he was in the right positions to take the chances in the first place.

Our only goal came after a melee in their 12 yard box which was finished by Dalby pushing the ball home. Truthfully, there was only one team in it for the first 45, and that was the boys in white. Second half we sat back more than a bit and let them have possession, we also survived some squeaky bum moments which saw Arnold make two top drawer saves. One he tipped round the post low to his left and the other he pushed a goal bound shot up on to the bar and out. There was another melee where Demi cleared off the line. That makes it sound as if it was all Kings Lynn second half, it wasn't and we really should have had at least one more. Brown subbed Murphy out and bought on Matt Dennis. That seemed to scare the pants off of the Lynn defenders as his pace was fierce and so was his strength. Properly developed he is going to be some player.

Nobody had a bad game but special mentions go to Harry Phillips, who looked like the player we hoped he would become a few seasons back, Nathan Ferguson, who has obviously listened to Phil Brown's advice because he worked his nuts off the whole 90 minutes and Nathan Ralph, as he looked a class defender who is too good for this league.

The team will take time to gel, but the signs are there that we have the makings of a half decent team. As for Kings Lynn, they kept going the whole game but had no real cutting edge and after their number 10 decided to kick demi right under the ref's nose they went down to 10 men and that was it really. I have no idea about the quality of this league but I suspect we will face tougher opposition than Kings Lynn as the season progresses, starting next Saturday against Stockport.

Finally, the ref was a total donkey and the away support was brilliant, not only in the away terraces, but also in their main stand which was also bristling with Southend boys making all the noise.
Interesting you didn't rate the ref.
The job has demanded it following the NL, or at least four of its teams, over the last six seasons.
The amount of negative comments about the officials is legion!
At the fifth tier, you get fifth tier officialdom.
Players like Demi are going to have to rein in their natural exuberance when the whistle blowers screw up, because screw up they most certainly will!
 
What an introduction to the league that was. Would have liked us to score a few more and make more chances count but that grass! We moaned about our pitch 3/4 years ago when it was cutting up. My God that was nothing compared to the green weeds on offer by Kings Lynn. I think the only reason Egbri didn't get on was because he wouldn't have been able to see over the blades of grass.

As for the toilets I think I would sooner take the toilets at Roots Hall any day than what was provided to us.

Some of their fans were literally throwing their weekly wages at us in the first half (I'm sure 50p goes a long way up in the northern reaches of Norfolk)

Programme at £3.50 and a pin badge £5.00!!! They are here to make up the numbers this season with the aim to try and earn as much cash from any fan, including their own.
 
Interesting you didn't rate the ref.
The job has demanded it following the NL, or at least four of its teams, over the last six seasons.
The amount of negative comments about the officials is legion!
At the fifth tier, you get fifth tier officialdom.
Players like Demi are going to have to rein in their natural exuberance when the whistle blowers screw up, because screw up they most certainly will!
I may have been harsh but I don't think so, there were some blatant fouls on Southend players that had the crowd screaming at him and he seemed oblivious. There was also a penalty shout for Kings Lynn that I wouldn't have had any complaints about if it had been given. However, I need to remember that if there is no ref there is no game. The number of times I fell foul of that situation as an amateur, sometimes ending up with a well meaning helper-out in stead.
 
What a fantastic day!

Went up on the train, 10:42 from Kings Cross. Was amazing and surreal to have the pleasure to see so many shrimpers on the train too. Sinking a few cold ones and talking football is such a simple pleasure but one I'd missed so much!

Eagle pub was good. Really friendly and really good prices.

Getting into the ground was easy but getting a good view wasn't. However, it didn't really matter. Just being part of that collective atmosphere was amazing. To be one of the many shrimpers who did themselves and their club proud was a privilege. 10/10 to the fans.

One thing is for sure, the team wore the shirt with pride. May not have been pretty but we got the job done. Dalby and Murphy will form a good partnership. We should feel so lucky to have kept hold of Ralph. Arnold was so much better and looked much more solid, very pleasing. We will get better overall and step it up a couple of gears for the better teams.

Back to the Eagle for a couple and then the train home. All in all, it was a fantastic day out and one I hope none of us take for granted. The last 18 months have been awful for all. Let's hope we can appreciate and cherish days like this.

UTB!
 
good start to the new campaign, had to dig in at times but that will be good for the players to get used to grinding out results, a few missed chances that I'm sure in a few weeks time and with games under their belts will be hitting the back of the net.
As expected a great away following from the blues, I wonder if we will take that many to Halifax in a couple of weeks time...…..I doubt it, but you never know

sad to see some not so friendly actions from certain supporters of both sides, but then again If a coin hit me on the side of the head I wouldn't be too amused either, or drink or maybe worse being thrown around, I think they may have to get better security involved soon, as there maybe certain supporters heading in to that stand who will be over that barrier at a drop of a hat, and all hell will be let lose

overall a good day out, three points...….sadly can't make Wealdstone due to a wedding weekend, so Halifax is the next away day
 

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