Suomi Shrimper
First XI
To my girlfriend's house in Liverpool. First brief impressions: crap game, unimaginative attempts at playing football with intermittent quick forays forward with no real end result (from both sides).
The major news has to be Bailey's headbutt on Macca. Exactly what happened and what blows connected will have to be established from any video evidence that shows up, but it certainly looked like a volatile confrontation from the Cowshed. Following the goal they seemed to have a heated "blame game" argument which led to them squaring up and it certainly looked like Nicky landed a headbutt on Macca. Then AB stepped in and kept the two apart as they continued to yell at each other. The two seemed to have apologised to each other briefly, but they avoided each other for the rest of the game and Macca headed straight down the tunnel at the end.
This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated, particularly at such a crucial time of the season when team morale is essential. If Bailey did assault Alan, he needs to make a public apology and should face discplinary action from the club (2 weeks docked wages perhaps). The FA may well call him up for violent conduct, in which case Nicky's short temper will likely see him banned for the remainder of the season.
This is a turning point for him. He could apologise, move on from this and control his temper. Alternatively, he may have caused too much acrimony within the squad, in which case it will be in the best interests of him and the Club to move on in the summer. I hope things work out, but whilst he may be our best player he may just have ended his career at Southend.
The major news has to be Bailey's headbutt on Macca. Exactly what happened and what blows connected will have to be established from any video evidence that shows up, but it certainly looked like a volatile confrontation from the Cowshed. Following the goal they seemed to have a heated "blame game" argument which led to them squaring up and it certainly looked like Nicky landed a headbutt on Macca. Then AB stepped in and kept the two apart as they continued to yell at each other. The two seemed to have apologised to each other briefly, but they avoided each other for the rest of the game and Macca headed straight down the tunnel at the end.
This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated, particularly at such a crucial time of the season when team morale is essential. If Bailey did assault Alan, he needs to make a public apology and should face discplinary action from the club (2 weeks docked wages perhaps). The FA may well call him up for violent conduct, in which case Nicky's short temper will likely see him banned for the remainder of the season.
This is a turning point for him. He could apologise, move on from this and control his temper. Alternatively, he may have caused too much acrimony within the squad, in which case it will be in the best interests of him and the Club to move on in the summer. I hope things work out, but whilst he may be our best player he may just have ended his career at Southend.