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Pubey

Guest
(interesting stuff)


Firm Foundations
Firm Foundations

Southend United may have faced a rare drama-free conclusion to the campaign last weekend, but according to assistant manager Paul Brush, this could yet prove a definitive season in the club’s modern era.

Victory over relegated Cheltenham wrapped up an eighth-place finish for the Essex outfit; a final berth that seemed a distant prospect in the harsh winter months.

And it seems that torrid time proved the impetus for the Blues’ bosses to fine tune a long-held philosophy.

Renowned for a passion for pass and move, the management team were forced to abandon their favoured flair to grind a way out of the mid-season slump.

Though the flowing football soon returned with bolstered confidence, Brush revealed his determination to build next season’s challenge from those firmer foundations.

“You already have things in mind for next season, little things we’d like to adapt,” explained the second in command, as he applied the finishing touches to ‘08/09.

“We’ve managed to play with a tucked in midfield player a lot of the time away from home, to be harder to play against.

“We’re very conscious that over the years everyone has always said how good our passing football has been, but we’re a much harder side to play against now than we’ve ever been in the time Steve and I have been at the club.

“We’re aggressive and competitive, but now we’ve got to improve our level of consistency and passing in the opponent’s half.

“That’s the major area we want to work on collectively for next season.”

Still there was great satisfaction to be taken from the final three months of a turbulent year, as the Blues re-established their status as a League One contender.

“It’s been a very hard season, but it’s been a fantastic performance from everyone involved that we’ve ended up with a top ten place.

“I think the base we’ve worked from has probably been different from in the past, where a solid back line has been the springboard for us, along with the extra pace up front that stretches teams.

“Teams were finding us too easy to play against and they haven’t found that in the last three months.

“There’s always a time of regret at the end of the season when you look back at games that you could or should have won,” added Brush. “And refereeing decisions – and some of the penalties we’ve had given against us, including the last two, have been horrendous.

“The home games that we’ve not won in the last few months included games against Leicester, Milton Keynes and Millwall, all of whom are in the top six, and we felt we were the better side in those matches.

“That’s an area for consolation because if they’re the best teams, we’re not that far off, but slight regret because obviously one or two wins there could have put us into the play-off position.”

Forced to witness Leicester’s promotion party at Roots Hall, Brush remains convinced the home support can repeat their own joyous scenes a year down the line.

Because having identified the Foxes as the third tier benchmark, the former defender felt his men had more than matched the mightiest contender.

“The major thing was that we could have won that game.

“We realised deep down that we didn’t compete very well up at their place in November, we were too easy to play against then, but we knew that we were that much better three or four months later.

“That’s where the belief comes from, knowing that there is something in the locker that we can draw on.

“We believe that most of the players in our squad are young enough to improve and if they do that and we can get a level of consistency, then we can be a force in this division.”

The deflation at missing out on the post-season is difficult to temper however, both within the squad and beyond, and continues to reflect the growing expectation surrounding Southend United.

“It’s probably higher than it’s ever been,” admitted Brush. “There’s a good atmosphere, a collective spirit about the place and the support – especially away from home – has been fantastic.

“Everyone has had a taste of the Championship, play-off positions and being at the top and everyone wants more of it.

“But it’s not achieved easily and some of the teams we’re up against now and next season have far greater resources both financially, player-wise, historically and in crowds.

“It remains a challenge to get in towards the top six of this division.”

Yet despite the added pressure, Brush is keen to build anticipation amongst the Blues faithful.

“We want to win football matches and that’s never changed from day one of the season and to finish eighth is terrific for us.

“Last pre-season we were still trying to deal with players leaving, players getting injured and it’d be nice not to do that this time around,” he concluded on the off-season in store.

“We’ve known for a while roughly the areas that we need to get players in, we’ve got the players that are on loan and their situations, but we’ve got a little longer because we’re prepared for the summer.

“We’ve just got to keep hold of some players and get the dialogue going with the targets that we’ve gone for.

“We want a settled side, so that loan players would be a bonus rather than a necessity.”
 
Can't argue with a single word of that I don't think.
Eloquently sums up what the vast majority of us know!
 
Last edited:
Sounds promising anyway.

Fingers crossed loanees are kept to an absolute minimum.
 
Sounds promising anyway.

Fingers crossed loanees are kept to an absolute minimum.

why?

Loanees were a necessity this season, even with the amount of players we signed... and whilst the continuity was a problem at christmas three of our best players (Sawyer, Federici and Dervite) were all loanees.

I know we don't want to rely on them, or rely on them signing permanently... but I think we played the market well and got some gems, I wouldn't mind one or two loanees being signed as they bring some extra quality, I'd rather that than have a bench full of lower league signings who will work hard but not have that skill we need.
 
why?

Loanees were a necessity this season, even with the amount of players we signed... and whilst the continuity was a problem at christmas three of our best players (Sawyer, Federici and Dervite) were all loanees.

I know we don't want to rely on them, or rely on them signing permanently... but I think we played the market well and got some gems, I wouldn't mind one or two loanees being signed as they bring some extra quality, I'd rather that than have a bench full of lower league signings who will work hard but not have that skill we need.

Dont get me wrong, loanees are needed.

But they should be used in the right way.

Loanees should give us a little bit of extra quality for a couple of months, which otherwise we could not afford on a permanent basis.

But, loanees should not make up the nucleus of our side, which they have this season.
 
Dont get me wrong, loanees are needed.

But they should be used in the right way.

Loanees should give us a little bit of extra quality for a couple of months, which otherwise we could not afford on a permanent basis.

But, loanees should not make up the nucleus of our side, which they have this season.

100% agreed
 
(interesting stuff)


Firm Foundations
Firm Foundations

Southend United may have faced a rare drama-free conclusion to the campaign last weekend, but according to assistant manager Paul Brush, this could yet prove a definitive season in the club’s modern era.

Victory over relegated Cheltenham wrapped up an eighth-place finish for the Essex outfit; a final berth that seemed a distant prospect in the harsh winter months.

And it seems that torrid time proved the impetus for the Blues’ bosses to fine tune a long-held philosophy.

Renowned for a passion for pass and move, the management team were forced to abandon their favoured flair to grind a way out of the mid-season slump.

Though the flowing football soon returned with bolstered confidence, Brush revealed his determination to build next season’s challenge from those firmer foundations.

“You already have things in mind for next season, little things we’d like to adapt,” explained the second in command, as he applied the finishing touches to ‘08/09.

“We’ve managed to play with a tucked in midfield player a lot of the time away from home, to be harder to play against.

“We’re very conscious that over the years everyone has always said how good our passing football has been, but we’re a much harder side to play against now than we’ve ever been in the time Steve and I have been at the club.

“We’re aggressive and competitive, but now we’ve got to improve our level of consistency and passing in the opponent’s half.

“That’s the major area we want to work on collectively for next season.”

Still there was great satisfaction to be taken from the final three months of a turbulent year, as the Blues re-established their status as a League One contender.

“It’s been a very hard season, but it’s been a fantastic performance from everyone involved that we’ve ended up with a top ten place.

“I think the base we’ve worked from has probably been different from in the past, where a solid back line has been the springboard for us, along with the extra pace up front that stretches teams.

“Teams were finding us too easy to play against and they haven’t found that in the last three months.

“There’s always a time of regret at the end of the season when you look back at games that you could or should have won,” added Brush. “And refereeing decisions – and some of the penalties we’ve had given against us, including the last two, have been horrendous.

“The home games that we’ve not won in the last few months included games against Leicester, Milton Keynes and Millwall, all of whom are in the top six, and we felt we were the better side in those matches.

“That’s an area for consolation because if they’re the best teams, we’re not that far off, but slight regret because obviously one or two wins there could have put us into the play-off position.”

Forced to witness Leicester’s promotion party at Roots Hall, Brush remains convinced the home support can repeat their own joyous scenes a year down the line.

Because having identified the Foxes as the third tier benchmark, the former defender felt his men had more than matched the mightiest contender.

“The major thing was that we could have won that game.

“We realised deep down that we didn’t compete very well up at their place in November, we were too easy to play against then, but we knew that we were that much better three or four months later.

“That’s where the belief comes from, knowing that there is something in the locker that we can draw on.

“We believe that most of the players in our squad are young enough to improve and if they do that and we can get a level of consistency, then we can be a force in this division.”

The deflation at missing out on the post-season is difficult to temper however, both within the squad and beyond, and continues to reflect the growing expectation surrounding Southend United.

“It’s probably higher than it’s ever been,” admitted Brush. “There’s a good atmosphere, a collective spirit about the place and the support – especially away from home – has been fantastic.

“Everyone has had a taste of the Championship, play-off positions and being at the top and everyone wants more of it.

“But it’s not achieved easily and some of the teams we’re up against now and next season have far greater resources both financially, player-wise, historically and in crowds.

“It remains a challenge to get in towards the top six of this division.”

Yet despite the added pressure, Brush is keen to build anticipation amongst the Blues faithful.

“We want to win football matches and that’s never changed from day one of the season and to finish eighth is terrific for us.

“Last pre-season we were still trying to deal with players leaving, players getting injured and it’d be nice not to do that this time around,” he concluded on the off-season in store.

“We’ve known for a while roughly the areas that we need to get players in, we’ve got the players that are on loan and their situations, but we’ve got a little longer because we’re prepared for the summer.

“We’ve just got to keep hold of some players and get the dialogue going with the targets that we’ve gone for.

“We want a settled side, so that loan players would be a bonus rather than a necessity"

In truth, I am sure that was the intention last year but as the transfer targets disappeared, one after the other........loanees ended up being a necessity rather than a bonus. I hope that, next season, it will not be the case but we would surely be deluding ourselves if we discounted the possibility of the same thing happening again. If it did, unfortunately happen, what would be the odds on us signing a couple of players on a
one year loan?
 
Same article that was in the programme on Saturday.

The loanee system is brilliant if used correctly. I hope it isn't needed as much for the new season as it was this season.
 
Bumped into brushy at the Casino on Saturday and the guy is pure class... extremley open and friendly.

Said that Forrest, Charlton and another club which i forget now were at the game on Saturday and most likley looking at Theo and Clarke, he seemed resigned to losing clarke!

I joked that it would be amazing if we could get Dorian and he said it would be great to get him on loan til christmas but if he went somewhere else then he wishses him all the best as he is such a great talent and that they are proud to have helped him develop.

Apparantly they have been trying to identify left wingers for weeks but questioned if it was needed seeing that Moussa has played well over the last few weeks and he agreed that he is going to have a lot of scouts looking at him next season... I mentioned about Gower not playing at Swansea and he said there are a couple of players ahead of him at the moment and that he was amazed he hasnt scored for them yet!

Centreback and front man are main targets over the summer and said they didnt even know if there was money available and that it may end up being just Hooper, etc sell on fees that they will have to spend!

I joked that i hope Charlton, Norwich etc dont come in for him and Tilly as it must be tempting and he had a bit of a dig about managers like Ince who get linked to the desireable jobs when they havent achieved anything like what they have.
 
I joked that i hope Charlton, Norwich etc dont come in for him and Tilly as it must be tempting and he had a bit of a dig about managers like Ince who get linked to the desireable jobs when they havent achieved anything like what they have.

And long may that remain the case...
 
I joked that i hope Charlton, Norwich etc dont come in for him and Tilly as it must be tempting and he had a bit of a dig about managers like Ince who get linked to the desireable jobs when they havent achieved anything like what they have.

When was Ince linked to the Southend job? ;)
 
I would like to see a free Paul Brush miniature toy given away with every pie or burger 'happy meal' bought at the new stadium.

Just an idea, dont have a go at me for it.
 
I would like to see a free Paul Brush miniature toy given away with every pie or burger 'happy meal' bought at the new stadium.

Just an idea, dont have a go at me for it.

You'd find more people chewing on that than the inedible swill that comes from the catering section most weeks. The burgers smell horrid and the pies look 8 years old.
 
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