Former journeyman players who added some 'bite'

[Sleaford Shrimper]

We have some decent footballing players in our current squad but seem to be short of the kind of players that put themselves about a bit, skilfully practise the darker arts of the game and generally rattle the opposition in the way that many of the teams in this awful league do to us. I'm not talking here about the great players of the past that moved on to play in higher leagues but journeymen who spent most or all of their careers in the lower divisions. Nor am I suggesting that we need a whole team of cloggers; just one or two who might add a bit more bite and let the opposition know that they're around. Going back over my 57 years supporting Southend I can think of many: Roy McDonough, Dave Martin, John Kurila for starters. They might well get enough cards in a season to play a game of poker with these days but were worth that risk in their heyday for what they brought to the team when they played.

Any memories of other former journeyman players who did that kind of job for us?

 

[fbm]

Dave Cunningham. Not quite sure he skilfully practised the dark arts, I seem to remember him being a bit more blatant than that!

 

[Piledriver]

I get what you're saying however the standard of refereeing in this division, where the perpetrators of mauling any flair players is constantly ignored but the slightest kick back is immediately punished , what happened to Mooney was because the ref had allowed constant rugby style challenges to go unchecked.
I wonder how these poor refs control similar clogger teams when they play or should i say fight each other.
I thought Neal was pretty good at controlled aggressive ball winning midfielder taking no prisoners .

 

[Medway Blue]

We have some decent footballing players in our current squad but seem to be short of the kind of players that put themselves about a bit, skilfully practise the darker arts of the game and generally rattle the opposition in the way that many of the teams in this awful league do to us. I'm not talking here about the great players of the past that moved on to play in higher leagues but journeymen who spent most or all of their careers in the lower divisions. Nor am I suggesting that we need a whole team of cloggers; just one or two who might add a bit more bite and let the opposition know that they're around. Going back over my 57 years supporting Southend I can think of many: Roy McDonough, Dave Martin, John Kurila for starters. They might well get enough cards in a season to play a game of poker with these days but were worth that risk in their heyday for what they brought to the team when they played.

Any memories of other former journeyman players who did that kind of job for us?

My support doesn't go back anywhere near as far as some of those names but I reckon we would benefit from having Gary Deegan and Michael Timlin right now, plus perhaps Anthony Grant as he might actually win most of the fouls that seem to get missed in this division!

 

[Sleaford Shrimper]

Dave Cunningham. Not quite sure he skilfully practised the dark arts, I seem to remember him being a bit more blatant than that!

Ah, yes: Wee Davie - just over 5 foot of aggressive tackling who could start a fight in an empty room.

 

[Lincoln Shrimp]

I would add Peter Butler to the list. He loved a tackle alongside Dave Martin.

 

[Sleaford Shrimper]

My support doesn't go back anywhere near as far as some of those names but I reckon we would benefit from having Gary Deegan and Michael Timlin right now, plus perhaps Anthony Grant as he might actually win most of the fouls that seem to get missed in this division!

Good shout!

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

Ah, yes: Wee Davie - just over 5 foot of aggressive tackling who could start a fight in an empty room.

I used to stand in the West just south of the centre circle. Davie came on as sub, I think it was one sub at that time. He raced across the pitch and dived 2 footed into an opponent's thigh and took him out. Happened right in front of me. My dad said it was disgraceful. I thought it quite funny as I was young and stupid. Davie was of course sent off. Got to be the least time on the pitch ever.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Macca, obviously.

 

[OldBlueLady]

My support doesn't go back anywhere near as far as some of those names but I reckon we would benefit from having Gary Deegan and Michael Timlin right now, plus perhaps Anthony Grant as he might actually win most of the fouls that seem to get missed in this division!

I never thought Deegan matched up to his physique but refs pre-judged him because of it!

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

My support doesn't go back anywhere near as far as some of those names but I reckon we would benefit from having Gary Deegan and Michael Timlin right now, plus perhaps Anthony Grant as he might actually win most of the fouls that seem to get missed in this division!

It's interesting you name those players as before losing to Barnet there were many fans that claimed Miley was the player that had Timlinesque type qualities. We lose a game and now we lack bite.

We still boast a great defensive record and that's helped by our midfield. I really don't think that the perceived lack of bite is of huge concern. We simply don't score enough goals, that's the overwhelming problem. No enhancement of bite is going to rectify that. We need to score more goals, period.

I'm not overly optimistic about us addressing that but one can hope.

 

[OldBlueLady]

For me, Miley can certainly do the tackles but not in the way Timlin, McCormack or others did that let opponents know their card was marked! With both Tims and Macca you knew they'd get booked more often than not, but Miley's not the same.

It's interesting you name those players as before losing to Barnet there were many fans that claimed Miley was the player that had Timlinesque type qualities. We lose a game and now we lack bite.

 

[LCBB72]

Ah, yes: Wee Davie - just over 5 foot of aggressive tackling who could start a fight in an empty room.

Strange , I dont think he was at the Dave Smith night a couple of weeks ago .

 

[Ricey]

My support doesn't go back anywhere near as far as some of those names but I reckon we would benefit from having Gary Deegan and Michael Timlin right now, plus perhaps Anthony Grant as he might actually win most of the fouls that seem to get missed in this division!

No thanks, he was dreadful!

The other two were top notch.

 

[GrumpyBlue]

Ah, yes: Wee Davie - just over 5 foot of aggressive tackling who could start a fight in an empty room.

Although I agree - I will have to stand up for the Cunningham family honour and say that despite Dave`s faults he was not a journeyman.

 

[blake2]

Phil Gridlet

 

[Piledriver]

It's interesting you name those players as before losing to Barnet there were many fans that claimed Miley was the player that had Timlinesque type qualities. We lose a game and now we lack bite.

We still boast a great defensive record and that's helped by our midfield. I really don't think that the perceived lack of bite is of huge concern. We simply don't score enough goals, that's the overwhelming problem. No enhancement of bite is going to rectify that. We need to score more goals, period.

I'm not overly optimistic about us addressing that but one can hope.

All very true unfortunately and the embargo doesn't help Kev & co re lack of goals.
However thinking back on the start of the clubs demise was that not replacing Timlin ? And the arrest of the decline was that the Loan player in that Timlin mould young Neal and now Miley is the engine .

 

[Napster]

Phil Gridlet

And ruin his haircut? Derek Payne was much more effective

 

[Fairport]

Paul Roberts, a real hatchet man!

 

[blake2]

Bilel Mohsni, Leo Roget