We're off to Borehamwood again this Saturday to play Boreham Wood FC (If you come from a place called Borehamwood, why would you call your team Boreham Wood? It would be like the Shrimpers being South End United....) - I say "again" because this is the team's second visit to Meadow Park in less than 12 months. Who can forget last season's cup exit where we actually came back from 2-0, and then 3-2 down to take it to penalties (if you've forgotten you can watch the "highlights" here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/54847366 ). Even though it's less than 12 months ago, only 4 of the starting XI from that day are still at the club (Hobson, Demetriou, Nathaniel-George and Clifford), and possibly only one of them likely to start this Saturday.
The Wood are unexpectedly flying high in the National League - they lost at high-flying Chesterfield last Saturday but while we were losing to that team the previous week, they were beating Daggers 2-0 at home and currently sit in 3rd place after a 1-0 win at King's Lynn on Tuesday evening. Last season's top scorer Kabongo Tshimanga has now been sold to Chesterfield, but they do have a midfielder who I wish we'd have signed in Josh Rees, not only because he's a fellow Old Southendian, but because he's looked a great player whenever I've seen him.
So by the time Kev and Co. pick the team for Saturday, they will have had another week to assess the squad since the Dagenham game. The club have been tight-lipped about some of the injuries and so we're in the dark as to how close Arnold, Ralph, Demetriou, Clifford and Akinola are to being fit but it's hard to see how their inclusion in the squad would not strengthen the team.
What was clear from last Saturday is that there is no quick fix for Kev and the boys, so he'll just have to get on with the job, try to build confidence and take it from there. It'll be another tough Saturday this week and next (3 difficult away games in a row), so who do you think will make the starting XI this week and what is your predicted result?
The Wood are unexpectedly flying high in the National League - they lost at high-flying Chesterfield last Saturday but while we were losing to that team the previous week, they were beating Daggers 2-0 at home and currently sit in 3rd place after a 1-0 win at King's Lynn on Tuesday evening. Last season's top scorer Kabongo Tshimanga has now been sold to Chesterfield, but they do have a midfielder who I wish we'd have signed in Josh Rees, not only because he's a fellow Old Southendian, but because he's looked a great player whenever I've seen him.
So by the time Kev and Co. pick the team for Saturday, they will have had another week to assess the squad since the Dagenham game. The club have been tight-lipped about some of the injuries and so we're in the dark as to how close Arnold, Ralph, Demetriou, Clifford and Akinola are to being fit but it's hard to see how their inclusion in the squad would not strengthen the team.
What was clear from last Saturday is that there is no quick fix for Kev and the boys, so he'll just have to get on with the job, try to build confidence and take it from there. It'll be another tough Saturday this week and next (3 difficult away games in a row), so who do you think will make the starting XI this week and what is your predicted result?
Last edited:
