1. Steve Tilson is in his 7th season as manager of Southend. What are your opinions of him and what is his general style of play?
Tilly is a Southend legend. He was essentially a "one-club" man as a player, having been plucked out of non-league obscurity by Dave Webb and becoming one of our most solid and consistent performers on the left of midfield during his career. He is 18th in the club's all-time appearances list, with over 220 appearances for the Blues.
Scandalously let go too early in one of the final acts of Ronnie Whelan's disastrous tenure, Tilly spent the rest of his playing career at Canvey Island, when he could easily have played in the league. Having given his all for SUFC as a player, Tilly then came back to the club - first as youth team coach and then as manager in 2004.
Since then, Tilson has overseen one of the most enduring periods of success at the club - back-to-back promotions, the League One title, two LDV Cup finals, knocking out Man U from the League Cup, taking Spurs to extra-time at WHL in the League Cup, drawing with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup. All this has been done on a shoestring budget, while the club has continued to grapple with debts accrued during the disastrous years under Whelan and Alvin Martin. Tilly is now the
5th-longest serving manager in the football league.
2. Have you made any signings to your squad this season so far? If so, how have they been so far?
Although our club chairman and deputy-chairman talked a good game in the pre-season, we didn't actually make
any permanent signings. Instead, we lost our player of the season - centre-half, Peter Clarke; we lost two key long-term loan players from the previous campaign, whom we'd hoped to sign - Theo Robinson and Dorian Dervitte; and appeared to be stuttering into the new campaign with a paper-thin squad and little optimism.
As usual, Tilly has conjured some silk purses not so much out of sows' ears, but frankly out of thin air. We have re-signed Lee Sawyer on a six-month loan from Chelsea, having had him on loan last season. Big things are expected of him. We have signed Jean-Yves Mvoto from Sunderland on a six-month loan - he's a beast of a defender, and early signs look encouraging. Another loanee from Wearside is Roy O'Donovan - an Irish striker Tilson has long coveted, and who has joined us for a month, initially. Roy scored one and set one up on his debut, and is a player whetting our appetites for more exploits to come. We've also signed left-back George Friend from Wolves.
3. Last season, you finished 8th in League One. How do you think you will do in League One this season?
My gut instinct is that we'll just miss out on the playoffs again. We'll finish 7th, this time round.
4. Are there any teams in particular you are looking forward to playing?
Colchester United - it's always a joy to get one over our bumpkin cousins from the north of the county, especially on their patch.
5. What tactics are you likely to employ and have played with this season?
4-4-2, pass and move. We can be a bit narrow sometimes, but we like to play on the deck and are invariably pleasing on the eye.
6. Southend currently have 11 points and go into Saturday’s fixture in 8th place. What are Southend’s strengths and weakness both on and off the pitch?
Off the pitch, our main weakness is our debt, and a large VAT bill hanging over the club's head. Clear that, and we can start thinking of maybe developing a new stadium. We'll see. Our main strength is the personnel we have at the club - especially Tilly & Brush (his assistant), and Ricky Duncan, one of the finest youth-team coaches in football today. We're already beginning to see the fruits of his labours - three former youth teamers in or around the first team (Moussa, Herd, O'Keefe), one may break through this season or next (Calver), two have made big money moves to Liverpool (Ngoo) and Everton (Orengua) and one to Derby (Abalimba).
On the pitch, our chief strength is our midfield - Tilly has a constant selection headache trying to fit in Moussa, McCormack, Grant, JFC, Sawyer, Laurent and Scannell into the midfield. Our chief weakness is our defence - we have six players competing for four berths, and two of those are loanees.
7. Who is Southend’s key player who we should look out for ahead of Saturday’s fixture and for the rest of the season?
Lee Barnard, my lord. He has started the campaign in brilliant form - having scored six in the league and 8 in all comps this season. Not only is he a really good forward, he works bloomin' hard as well. He's superb - and I hope the club are already discussing a contract extension with him.
The other key man is Franck Moussa. A former youth-team product and a Belgian U19 international, Franck is already becoming our key playmaker in midfield. He spots passes and runs that most other players at this level simply don't see. Absolute class.
8. Who do you think will win League One this season? Any outsiders or surprises?
Leeds United. Not a very original pick, but they look fantastic this year - and in "Larry" Grayson, have a manager who has got a side out of this division before. If they hang onto Beckford, they'll be out of sight by early March.
I don't think there will be any major surprises in the top 6 this season - although if there's one unsung club who may make an impact this year, it might be Bristol Rovers. Their demolition of Brentford at Griffin Park was a real statement of intent.
I think the top six will be Leeds, Charlton, Huddersfield, MK Dons, Noriwch City and one of Bristol Rovers, Colchester United or Southend United.
9. How do you think Oldham will do this season?
Mid-table. You look a bit thin at the back at the moment - although if you can get a front pairing of Pawel Abbot and Keigan Parker firing on all cylinders, you'll have plenty of goals in you. I reckon the Latics should target the cups this season - especially the LDV - and look to get in some more defenders for next year.
10 And finally, what score do you think the game will be on Saturday?
The head-to-head history between the clubs is somewhat unexpected, with away wins (at both Roots Hall and Boundary Park) far more common than you might expect. That said, you didn't look that impressive against Carlisle, while we're buoyed by two wins in our last three - with the last one being an extremely gratifying win away at Brighton.
So, for this Saturday, I'm going to 2-1 to Southend - with Barnard and O'Donovan getting the Southend goals.
Cheers,
Matt
www.shrimperzone.com