fbm
Blue tinted optimist⭐
As I usually try and write my view for people who weren't there, I'm going to change it a bit tonight as I guess most will have seen it. Anyway, we have the rare option of picking it to pieces and dissecting it via video or SKY plus or whatever, so I figured I would just relay my view of the key incidents firstly as I saw it at the game, and secondly as I see it having watched it on video from 4 different angles, in slo-mo and having listened to the pundits comments.
1st goal My initial view was that it was a bad error by Bart in dropping the ball into the net.
Having seen the replays, I think that he was actually unlucky with that particular bit but made a bigger error in deciding to drop back onto the goal-line and not attacking the aerial ball to try and punch it clear.
2nd goal My initial view was that it was bad defending by Jupp and Prior which let Vine in and we failed to pick up Howard. You cannot let the ball bounce when you are defending!
Having seen the replays, I haven't changed my view on the defensive side of things but I think more credit should be given to Vine who did bloody well in a) keeping the ball in play, and b) beating Jupp before laying a perfect pass to Howard who stroked it in rather easily. Darryl may have saved that one as he is more agile and gets down quicker. There was a suggestion of handball by Vine but no-one except Prior appealed (not even the fans) so how is a ref meant to spot it?
3rd goal My initial view was that the bloke was probably onside, mainly because the players didn't appeal. They generally have an inkling. Well taken and a good finish.
Having seen the replays it seems he was played onside by Jupp (ignore what Tony the Kray says on another thread - he clearly doesn't know the rules) but Bart went to ground far too early, which made it much easier for Brkovic to go around him.
The penalty appeal From my unusual view from the East Blacks (I fancied a change) I couldn't really see at the time. I would have been surprised if the ref gave it.
Having seen the replays, I am surprised the ref didn't give it. I don’t know if it would have gone in but it was certainly on target! What are the defenders hands doing up there?
The game generally
During the match I thought Luton showed why they are top of league 1. The higher you go the more costly the mistakes, and to be honest Northampton should have buried us in the first half a few weeks ago. The fact that they didn't shows why they are still league 2.
However, in the 1st five minutes and the second half, I thought we gave a reasonable account of ourselves. We played the more fluent football and got around the back on several occasions, but couldn’t find that killer touch and we had no luck. The atmosphere in the ground seemed great and would have thought it was quite a good game for the neutral to watch. When I got home, I asked my wife what she thought of the game. She was watching ‘cos one of my lads was a ballboy and she thought she might see him. She said she struggled to stay awake and found it REALLY boring. So I decided to re-watch it.
Having watched it I can see what she means. We never really looked like scoring and the crowd atmosphere didn’t come over at all! Luton contained us really well, got their foot in faster than we did, chased and harried us all over the pitch and kept every cross out. They attacked us with pace in the first half and defended resolutely in the second. A fine performance, and full credit to them. Still, they are not the average League 1 side and in footballing terms we were not a million miles away.
Finally, notes of optimism and caution. Caution first… on January 8th 1977, a Southend team going through a similar transitional period were sitting just 3rd place of Division 4, one point off the top, having been beaten only twice all season and not at all at home. We had just demolished Aldershot 5-0 at the Hall and had won 5 out of 6. Our FA Cup 3rd round tie that day was at home against Chester, who were mid table in Division 3 and whose team contained a certain Mr Rush if I recall correctly. We certainly harboured ambitions of promotion that year and here was an ideal opportunity to see how we fared “punching above our weight.”
Chester took us to pieces and won 4-0. From there on in the season dropped off alarmingly as the players seemed to realise how far off Division 3 they were. We lost our next 2 home games and ended up finishing 10th.
The optimistic bit? That was seen as a “character building” event and the following season we, together with Watford, ran away with the division. We ended up runners up but that was a really good season.
Personally I hope the players confidence is not too badly affected and we can continue to strive for promotion this season. At least now we can concentrate on the LDV… which, after all, is the only cup we can possibly win!
Ratings:
Griemink – 4. Woeful. I have always publicly stated that I prefer Griemink to Flahavan in goal and to be honest, that hasn’t changed. Yet. But Darryl IMHO would certainly have made better attempts to save at least 2 of the 3 goals. I hope this was a one-off game by Bart and that he doesn’t cost us next week at Yeovil. This just highlights the fact that Bart will save the ones Darryl won’t, and vice versa. If you could take the best of each keeper, you would have an International. Take the worst, and you have Emberson.
Jupp – 6. Weak first half, and I would say partly at fault for the 2nd goal and played their guy onside for the 3rd. In the second half I thought he was one of the better players and did very well.
Wilson – 6.5. Gave the ball away needlessly for their third goal. Plenty of effort.
Barrett – 8. The only defender I thought to come out with any real credit. Some great tackles and blocks.
Prior - 5. Not the usual commanding performance from Spinner, at fault (with Jupp) for the second, and generally below par I felt.
Gower – 6. Skilful, promised much, delivered little. Powderpuff attempts to win some challenges in the second half and subbed after 80 mins. Perhaps one day he’ll be fit enough to last a whole game…
Maher – 7.5. Good, battling performance from Kev against a very strong visiting midfield.
Hunt – 8. MOM. Looked even better on the TV than live. I thought this was an excellent performance from him.
Pettefer – 7. One of our better performers, keeps going and going and unlucky to be subbed IMHO.
Gray – 6. Loads of effort but found it much harder against better opposition.
Eastwood – 5. Sorry Fredy, this was a poor game and as they said on the TV, perhaps a challenge too far so soon in your fantastic start to a football league career.
Subs –
Bentley – 7. Made a difference and looked hungry. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t start against Yeovil.
Bramble – 7. Again, looked hungry and tried to make things happen.
Edwards – 6. Can’t remember him touching the ball. But it wouldn’t surprise me either if he wasn’t given a run in place of Spinner. There is something not right in defence at the moment.
A word on Tilly. At 3-0 down in a cup tie, surely the substitutions should have been made earlier?
1st goal My initial view was that it was a bad error by Bart in dropping the ball into the net.
Having seen the replays, I think that he was actually unlucky with that particular bit but made a bigger error in deciding to drop back onto the goal-line and not attacking the aerial ball to try and punch it clear.
2nd goal My initial view was that it was bad defending by Jupp and Prior which let Vine in and we failed to pick up Howard. You cannot let the ball bounce when you are defending!
Having seen the replays, I haven't changed my view on the defensive side of things but I think more credit should be given to Vine who did bloody well in a) keeping the ball in play, and b) beating Jupp before laying a perfect pass to Howard who stroked it in rather easily. Darryl may have saved that one as he is more agile and gets down quicker. There was a suggestion of handball by Vine but no-one except Prior appealed (not even the fans) so how is a ref meant to spot it?
3rd goal My initial view was that the bloke was probably onside, mainly because the players didn't appeal. They generally have an inkling. Well taken and a good finish.
Having seen the replays it seems he was played onside by Jupp (ignore what Tony the Kray says on another thread - he clearly doesn't know the rules) but Bart went to ground far too early, which made it much easier for Brkovic to go around him.
The penalty appeal From my unusual view from the East Blacks (I fancied a change) I couldn't really see at the time. I would have been surprised if the ref gave it.
Having seen the replays, I am surprised the ref didn't give it. I don’t know if it would have gone in but it was certainly on target! What are the defenders hands doing up there?
The game generally
During the match I thought Luton showed why they are top of league 1. The higher you go the more costly the mistakes, and to be honest Northampton should have buried us in the first half a few weeks ago. The fact that they didn't shows why they are still league 2.
However, in the 1st five minutes and the second half, I thought we gave a reasonable account of ourselves. We played the more fluent football and got around the back on several occasions, but couldn’t find that killer touch and we had no luck. The atmosphere in the ground seemed great and would have thought it was quite a good game for the neutral to watch. When I got home, I asked my wife what she thought of the game. She was watching ‘cos one of my lads was a ballboy and she thought she might see him. She said she struggled to stay awake and found it REALLY boring. So I decided to re-watch it.
Having watched it I can see what she means. We never really looked like scoring and the crowd atmosphere didn’t come over at all! Luton contained us really well, got their foot in faster than we did, chased and harried us all over the pitch and kept every cross out. They attacked us with pace in the first half and defended resolutely in the second. A fine performance, and full credit to them. Still, they are not the average League 1 side and in footballing terms we were not a million miles away.
Finally, notes of optimism and caution. Caution first… on January 8th 1977, a Southend team going through a similar transitional period were sitting just 3rd place of Division 4, one point off the top, having been beaten only twice all season and not at all at home. We had just demolished Aldershot 5-0 at the Hall and had won 5 out of 6. Our FA Cup 3rd round tie that day was at home against Chester, who were mid table in Division 3 and whose team contained a certain Mr Rush if I recall correctly. We certainly harboured ambitions of promotion that year and here was an ideal opportunity to see how we fared “punching above our weight.”
Chester took us to pieces and won 4-0. From there on in the season dropped off alarmingly as the players seemed to realise how far off Division 3 they were. We lost our next 2 home games and ended up finishing 10th.
The optimistic bit? That was seen as a “character building” event and the following season we, together with Watford, ran away with the division. We ended up runners up but that was a really good season.
Personally I hope the players confidence is not too badly affected and we can continue to strive for promotion this season. At least now we can concentrate on the LDV… which, after all, is the only cup we can possibly win!
Ratings:
Griemink – 4. Woeful. I have always publicly stated that I prefer Griemink to Flahavan in goal and to be honest, that hasn’t changed. Yet. But Darryl IMHO would certainly have made better attempts to save at least 2 of the 3 goals. I hope this was a one-off game by Bart and that he doesn’t cost us next week at Yeovil. This just highlights the fact that Bart will save the ones Darryl won’t, and vice versa. If you could take the best of each keeper, you would have an International. Take the worst, and you have Emberson.
Jupp – 6. Weak first half, and I would say partly at fault for the 2nd goal and played their guy onside for the 3rd. In the second half I thought he was one of the better players and did very well.
Wilson – 6.5. Gave the ball away needlessly for their third goal. Plenty of effort.
Barrett – 8. The only defender I thought to come out with any real credit. Some great tackles and blocks.
Prior - 5. Not the usual commanding performance from Spinner, at fault (with Jupp) for the second, and generally below par I felt.
Gower – 6. Skilful, promised much, delivered little. Powderpuff attempts to win some challenges in the second half and subbed after 80 mins. Perhaps one day he’ll be fit enough to last a whole game…
Maher – 7.5. Good, battling performance from Kev against a very strong visiting midfield.
Hunt – 8. MOM. Looked even better on the TV than live. I thought this was an excellent performance from him.
Pettefer – 7. One of our better performers, keeps going and going and unlucky to be subbed IMHO.
Gray – 6. Loads of effort but found it much harder against better opposition.
Eastwood – 5. Sorry Fredy, this was a poor game and as they said on the TV, perhaps a challenge too far so soon in your fantastic start to a football league career.
Subs –
Bentley – 7. Made a difference and looked hungry. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t start against Yeovil.
Bramble – 7. Again, looked hungry and tried to make things happen.
Edwards – 6. Can’t remember him touching the ball. But it wouldn’t surprise me either if he wasn’t given a run in place of Spinner. There is something not right in defence at the moment.
A word on Tilly. At 3-0 down in a cup tie, surely the substitutions should have been made earlier?
