Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend 1-0 Barrow

[Shrimp and two veg]

What a time to play Grimsby. Can't wait. Payback time up there will be magical. None of their "fans" allowed at the game, beautiful, let the football decide.
Fantastic strike on the edge of the box from birthday new boy Reeco, perfect way to start a career with the Shrimpers. Big shout out to our defence today, nothing got through, no one half asleep, Elvis had a good game.
Made Oxley look good.
Very defensive game, but broke well and supported well when we could.
Barrow taking nothing back home, but then throwing your players down on the halfway line to put us down to 10 men warrants zilch, they got what they deserved from us, a load of time wasting.
Hats off to manager Mark, a long time we have waited to put a run of wins together and it feels fantastic.

 

[40yearsafan]

That could prove to be the critical game of the season. Every single player put in a real shift and played for the shirt, fantastic debut strike from Fairchild followed by some real experience to see it out. What a shame nobody was there, some of the game management would have infuriated any away fans. As a completely biased Shrimper, I loved some of Oxley's antics this afternoon Like some of the earlier posters, I did expect Halford to be replaced at halftime, we had an opportunity to move Hart to left back bring on ANG in the wide midfield and go to 442.

 

[gatecrasher]

That was a massive win, more so than most will recognise. We had been in great form but our last game we didn't turn up and could easily swing back towards where we had been previously. We didn't, we stood up to be counted and in even trickier circumstances given the red card.

Now ready to hold my hands up and say I was wrong about El P.E teachero, you were big enough to learn your tippy tappy wasn't working and im big enough to eat humble pie and say you do look like you know what you're doing and could be into the beginnings of a very successful managerial career.

 

[kentblues]

Another win for the Blues. Five wins, two draws and just the 3 losses from the last ten games means we’re in playoff form.

One or two additions before the end of January and we have every chance of securing our league status.

Amazing what can happen when a P.E. Teacher is given some time & backing.

UTFB

This and the fact that he is quick learner and has adapted how we play to what is needed. Had we played this way from the get go we would be 3-4 places higher in the table. This isn't a criticism - he has leant and adapted, and in the end its learnings that turn a promising young manager into a very good one.

 

[SUBBlue]

REACTION: MOLESLEY ON VITAL BARROW WIN

Mark Molesley was full of praise for his Southend United side who played 38 minutes plus a large amount of stoppage time with 10 men to dig out a vital 1-0 win against Barrow at Roots Hall this afternoon.

www.southendunited.co.uk

 

[kentblues]

Also, special mention to Sim Akinola. Might not have scored today but my goodness does that lad put a shift in, and he can actually hold the ball up. Can see him being an important player for us over the next few years.

Incredible after the Peterborough thing fell through he spent all that time in the National League. Good in the air, competes for everything. Quick, skilful and probably wasted out wide. MM spotted this and was definitely brought in to play down the middle (which he did last year for Barnet really for the first time). Surprised a L1 club weren't in for him tbh. Their loss is our gain.

 

[southendkid]

Three points and a clean sheet. Whatever we say about the game, or indeed what Barrow fans may be screaming (we woz robbed probably),

Nope, I had a look at their forum and most of them felt they deserved to lose.

 

[duncan bulgaria]

This and the fact that he is quick learner and has adapted how we play to what is needed. Had we played this way from the get go we would be 3-4 places higher in the table. This isn't a criticism - he has leant and adapted, and in the end its learnings that turn a promising young manager into a very good one.

This is a fair assessment of the season IMO , adapted superbly and is building a physical , experienced and solid team with some flair and technical players .
Survival is in our hands now as long as we pick up more points then then grimsby and barrow

Well done to all involved today , ground out a true league two win

 

[bazzashrimper]

Nope, I had a look at their forum and most of them felt they deserved to lose.

Why wouldn’t they. They had one good chance and a few crosses with no one in the middle. We scored and had 4 good chances afterwards.
We let them have the ball and played on the counter.

 

[SUBBlue]

This is a fair assessment of the season IMO , adapted superbly and is building a physical , experienced and solid team with some flair and technical players .
Survival is in our hands now as long as we pick up more points then then grimsby and barrow

Well done to all involved today , ground out a true league two win

We’re not half way through the season yet & things seem to be slowly but surely going our way thanks to recruitment & hard work led by the manager & team
(I didn’t think I’d be saying that 6 weeks ago)

If there were 10 games left I’d be panicking a little but as things stand I honestly think we’ll be well up the table at season end.

 

[Tinks]

Got home in time to watch after being out since 8 vaccinating
Oh my - I think we have come on leaps and bounds since the first couple of games and only a few months ago we certainly would not of held on like we did today.
We looked organised and finally looked as we had some discipline in the team

 

[kentblues]

We are set up to be solid (a defensive focus first). Given our position that's completely understandable- I have no doubt if we were mid table we would set up to play a bit more expansively. But rightly at this moment its about getting to relative safety.

Is it just me today- but on a couple of occasions I swear I saw Macca scampering around a yard or so quicker than previously. Its the Macca's and White's that make a club.

 

[SimonRav]

Despite that being a tense watch, we actually managed that game excellently. For all their possession, we looked (mostly) comfortable in defence, and actually had by far the best chances to extend our lead during the second half. It's nice to see us looking resolute and hard to break down after so many years not displaying those qualities.

So true, hard to beat. Love Paul Clark's analysis, he's spot on.

 

[Shrimpet steve]

Another win for the Blues. Five wins, two draws and just the 3 losses from the last ten games means we’re in playoff form.

One or two additions before the end of January and we have every chance of securing our league status.

Amazing what can happen when a P.E. Teacher is given some time & backing.

UTFB

Still think the playoffs are on with our home form and signing Ricky holmes! Although I still think ANG is our best player.And after our slow start I'd take top half.

 

[Bromley Blue]

Heart is still racing, can do without 10 added minutes at my age. A vital vital win against a neat, but toothless, team (and if I was a Barrow fan I’d be asking why so many of their players seemed to be smiling after the final whistle). Formation did not suit us, I said Halford should have gone off at HT because of that (and he was on a yellow) but I will still take an ugly win all day long.

Oxley – only had one save to make, and it was a good’un.

Elvis – best performance for a while.

White – Another good display – first to the ball nigh on every time.

Hobson – Won a couple of crucial headers but struggled out wide a bit.

Halford – Sent-off and looked vulnerable couple of occasions.

Hart – Ok, was screaming at him when he dived in at the death (did get a faint touch of the ball, despite their appeals) one minute later redeemed himself with a great block.

Olayinka – better than of late (maybe fit again?) perhaps should have gone down when players put his arm round him when clean through, and slipped when put through again minutes later.

Demi – ok – but too easy to go past.

Dieng – Good, played 2/3 quality through balls.

Hackett-Fairchild – Lethal left foot, liked his work rate too, shame he hobbled off.

Akinola – Worked tirelessly on his own, but a finisher he is not.

Agree with every word of that. Saved me posting my opinion.

 

[RHB]

We are set up to be solid (a defensive focus first). Given our position that's completely understandable- I have no doubt if we were mid table we would set up to play a bit more expansively. But rightly at this moment its about getting to relative safety.

Is it just me today- but on a couple of occasions I swear I saw Macca scampering around a yard or so quicker than previously. Its the Macca's and White's that make a club.

I think we may have seen Macca's best role now, baring injuries come on for 30/40 minutes to boost the team either in defence or going forward. Great though it was to see him doing 90+ mins, I don't think he has many of those in the tank any more.

 

[SUBBlue]

Isn’t it nice to be able to sit back on a Saturday evening & relax with 3 points under our belt?
I’ve got a Lamb Bhuna delivered, a beer & the fire on & feeling quite contented

 

[RHB]

Still think the playoffs are on with our home form and signing Ricky holmes! Although I still think ANG is our best player.And after our slow start I'd take top half.

 

[Shrimpet steve]

Agree with every word of that. Saved me posting my opinion.

Hold on akinola got 15 goals for barnet so he must be a finisher? I'm still yet to see him have a good good chance? Against orient I think he had our only shot on target! Dont write him off yet.

 

[Shrimpet steve]

View attachment 13951

Hows that negative??