CaptainSmudger
The Official Southend United Pilot⭐⭐🦐
Great Post, thanks enjoyed all your remarks, nice to here your views. UTB COYBNothing wrong with JP Kalala, he was ace!
Great Post, thanks enjoyed all your remarks, nice to here your views. UTB COYBNothing wrong with JP Kalala, he was ace!
Great Post, Thanks. Nice to get your views of the game. Glad your back, Keep Well COYB, UTBThis 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"
That's Tony Jones being going for years.Passionate fan.No idea if be is on ShrimperzoneA 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.
The highlight of his Southend career .. tearing off most of his finger at Dagenham trying to retrieve a loose ball.That's Tony Jones being going for years.Passionate fan.No idea if be is on Shrimperzone
Interesting you didn't rate the ref.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.
Yes, a good balanced view.Good little review of the game by this guy, thought was worth sharing
Blimey!Good little review of the game by this guy, thought was worth sharing
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.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!
Ah that's his real name, I have only ever known people to call him by another name.That's Tony Jones being going for years.Passionate fan.No idea if be is on Shrimperzone
Good balanced view,interesting that he thought around 2000 Southend fans in attendance if true what a turn up from the blues.Guess we will never know only officially 989 oddGood little review of the game by this guy, thought was worth sharing
I believe Tony is also a steward in the East Stand Black. Top top manAh that's his real name, I have only ever known people to call him by another name.
Very impressive review thanks for sharing ?.Good little review of the game by this guy, thought was worth sharing
The highlight of his Southend career .. tearing off most of his finger at Dagenham trying to retrieve a loose ball.
Ouch I bet that hurt, I thought someone said it was his finger.and got his ring stuck on the fence.