Memory Lane Southend United All-Time Draft QF4

[Yorkshire Blue]

Team A:

Manager: Chris Powell

................................... Paul Sansome
Duncan Jupp... Leon Cort.... Adam Barrett.... Keith Dublin
Andy Ansah..... Michael Timlin..... Scott Forbes
.......... Freddy Eastwood.... Les Stubbs... Barry Corr

Team B:

Manager: Dave Smith

............................................. Darryl Flahavan
Arthur Williamson... Peter Watson... Tony Hadley... Sandy Anderson
Martin Ling............ Ron Pountney... Kevin Maher......... Mark Gower
..................................Sam McCrory.... Roy McDonough

Team A v Team B
Number of starts: 1981 v 3355
Number of goals: 300 v 310
Stats taken from SUFC Database (or Soccerbase for more recent players).

Poll will be added in later after both managers have made their case. Feel free to chip in: if you don't know about a player ask; if there's someone you want to reminisce about go for it.

Where do you see this match being won and lost?

 

[Napster]

Think I’ll attack down the right

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Think I’ll attack down the right

Ha!

I see Team B taking an early lead when Martin Ling catches Keith Dublin out of position.

Team B's midfield will then take control with Maher's control and Pountney's work-rate against an outnumbered midfield with more wingers than centre-mids.

Ling and Gower will provide plenty of service for Donut and McCrory. Donut wasn't a prolific scorer (his clash with Cort in the air would be interesting) but McCrory knew where the back of the net was. Gower picks him out and McCrory beats Barrett in the air for 2-0.

Team A have some quality though and Ansah was always such a livewire so would give Sandy Anderson a tough time, particularly with Gower's tendency to drift off from defensive duties. Timlin's throughballs were an underrated part of his game and he manages to squeeze a ball through to Ansah to make it 2-1 early in the second half.

I actually like the partnership of Barrett and Cort a lot, but I think Barrett would struggle in the air in this match-up (despite Cort's usual dominance there). McCrory wins a knockdown and Dublin is missing again to let Ling make it 3-1.

Big Bad Barry Corr doesn't take this lying down and although he's generally been well marshalled when Duncan Jupp bombs down the right and crosses it in Corr beats Tony Hadley to the ball at the far post to nod in from 2 yards to make it 3-2, leaving Peter Watson to berate his keeper for staying on the goalline.

Then with the game seemingly petering out to what seems like a comfortable Team B victory, Freddy Eastwood, who starved of service has been quiet, picks up the ball from a poor goal-kick that barely reached the half-way line, he runs at the defence, turns Williamson and with Flahavan failing to narrow the angle slots past him with ease. 3-3. Where did that come from?

Straight from kick-off Team B respond. Maher picks out Gower who, along with Ling, has been reveling in the space afforded them, Gower runs at Jupp, turning him one way then the other, then crosses where Martin Ling at the far post gets fouled by the hapless/hopeless Keith Dublin. McCrory wrestles the ball off of Donut and scores from the spot.

Team A 3 (Ansah, Corr, Eastwood)
Team B 4 (Ling 2, McCrory 2)
Slightly surprising for it to be such a high-scoring encounter given the managers but there was enough attacking quality to take advantage of the defensive frailties.

 

[Napster]

Just to bump this up a bit. I love Corr and Eastwood, but they'll be hampered by the lack of midfield service.

My wide men will swap at will, Lingy the traditional winger to pump crosses in and Gower to add some creativity from out wide.

 

[Ricey]

Now on paper I might not have the strongest team but it’s got character, heart and Keith Dublin! I went with people who I loved watching and had meaning to me.

My team is playing a super attacking style with the intention of if you score 4 we will score 5. Eastwood, Corr and Stubbs will rip it up with Timlin commanding the midfield, Scott Forbes scoring the screamers on individual runs and Andy Ansah pushing forward.

My defence has known goalscorers in it all across the back with Leon Cort having scored a hat trick of headers in one game. Juppy scoring one of the greatest goals of all time and Barrett our specialist when it comes to corners flying in with the bullet headers!

And in goal we have Sammy who will be under a lot of pressure but he is more than confident enough to command his line and box and stop the weak strike force of my opposition. The only threat is the bullying from Roy! But Timlin will no doubt wind him up and take a punch to the face for the team and Roy will be off.

Chris Powell will be the manager he was when he first arrived leading the team onto victory and celebrating that win like a real boss!

Here’s a reminder of what some of the players in my team can do:

https://youtu.be/UqMUDsoyAzs

https://youtu.be/tUs9lToxsw4

https://youtu.be/T0jRnfSL5W8

 

[Napster]

A rare video of Sammy McCrory here (2nd goal)

and one of Donut winning the ball in the air v Spurs (and later getting sent off)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK9AQBP0O4I

I'll keep my powder dry for the remaining fixtures- but I think with an aggressive attack, a traditional 4-4-2 built around some absolute Southend legends, I think we'll win this at a canter.

 

[Napster]

My team is playing a super attacking style with the intention of if you score 4 we will score 5.

because that's what Chris Powell is known for.

 

[Ricey]

because that's what Chris Powell is known for.

That’s because he doesn’t have the players now that he has in my team.

 

[MK Shrimper]

I can't vote on this, both teams have some of my favourite players in them.

Call it a draw!

 

[fbm]

This is a tough one.

McDonough has a cracking chance of getting sent off but Poutney's work rate will make up for that. Gower has plenty of goals and will always want the ball.

Freddy doesn't need crosses but Stubbs and Corr will... Ling would have a field day against Dublin but Scott Forbes? Seriously? He was the most surprising draft pick of the lot for me. Don't get me wrong, he was ok, but not in the same league as the others.

Two of my favourite keepers - Sammy and Flavs. Flavs had the safest hands ever but you could chip him. Sammy was all round superb.

The mix-match in formations could give Freddy that extra space to create something... I'm therefore leaning towards a Team A narrow win but will not vote yet.

Managers - what else needs to be considered?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

what else needs to be considered?

From the opening thread

When voting and determining which side was best we can take into account things like the number of appearances they made for us, the goals they scored in a Southend shirt, the honours they won, the level they played at and the transfer fees they went for.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Gone for Team A. there's not much in it but I think Cort and Barrett would cope better with McDonough than Hadley and Watson would with Fred in his prime.

 

[Napster]

Gone for Team A. there's not much in it but I think Cort and Barrett would cope better with McDonough than Hadley and Watson would with Fred in his prime.

Bear in mind Hadley did well against Liverpool and his side had the best defensive record in the 80/81 season

 

[OldBlueLady]

Bear in mind Hadley did well against Liverpool and his side had the best defensive record in the 80/81 season

I know, I was there, just before my 15th birthday for the Liverpool game, I remember it well. Hadley wasn't as good as Townsend in my book.

 

[Firestorm]

Keith Dublin with Scott Forbes in front of him.....
I liked Scott but jeez, Ling or Gower are going to think it’s Christmas !,Donut will get so many crosses to play with , there is bound to be goals

 

[fbm]

From the opening thread

Yeah, my comment was an invite to the two managers to come back with more info about their team, the attributes etc

 

[Napster]

Yeah, my comment was an invite to the two managers to come back with more info about their team, the attributes etc

I will tomorrow. But my full backs have appearance records, my CB is recognised as one of the classiest players ever at CB. Ron won 3 POTY at a time when we had such a great squad. Gower and Ling both played in the Prem. mcCrory played and scored for his country and was only the second player ever for us to hit 30+ in. Season. Plus the first to score at RH...

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I will tomorrow. But my full backs have appearance records, my CB is recognised as one of the classiest players ever at CB. Ron won 3 POTY at a time when we had such a great squad. Gower and Ling both played in the Prem. mcCrory played and scored for his country and was only the second player ever for us to hit 30+ in. Season. Plus the first to score at RH...

No defence of Flavs or Donut I note.

 

[Napster]

No defence of Flavs or Donut I note.

give me a chance. Flavs was a world class shot stopper and was MOM v Man Utd. Donut was instrumental in pit promotion seasons and provides height at set pieces in defence and attack. Plus Ling partnered well with him.

 

[Napster]

There are lots of partnerships in the team, Anderson and Williamson both played as full-backs in the same side in the 50s, and for a short time played alongside Watson. Dave Smith the manager, knew how to get the best out of Hadley and Pountney. Maher and Gower worked well together, as did Ling and Donut. Macca could work well alongside anyone. He even outscored Hollis one season.

Did I mention McCrory was the oldest post-war debutant at the age of 33, for his one cap against England?

For freekicks I've got Gower and Maher. For corners, Maher. For penalties, Donut (who scored against Shilton, natch)

Ricey claimed his side has character. My side has three time as many Southend appearances, 12 promotions between them, two future Premiership footballers, and one player who played for his country whilst at Southend. I've got local lads (Hadley), players of the year who won it more than once (Pountney (3), Maher (2)), cult players (Donut), players who oozed class (Watson), players who were loyal (Anderson/Williamson) and players who given testimonials (Pountney, Watson, Anderson...)

This is a true team of Southend legends, led by a manager who still holds several records.