The "P" word

[BrettieAngell]

Gillingham next week is a must-win game, fail to win that and we'll probably miss out. I reckon we'll get the last play-off spot and to get to Old Trafford would be amazing.

I really dont think the Gillingham is that important, a win would be nice yes whatever the result we have too many games between now and the end of the season for it to decide our fate.

 

[Beefy]

Just for once I thought we might have a dull mid-table season. Just for once.

I suppose it's never dull at Southend.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Tiredness is a worry, but I think we need to remember that it won't just be us who will be tired. The weather meant that everyone in the division is playing catch-up and having played our games in hand, we don't have a particularly more onerous run-in than our rivals. Moreoever, you feel less tired when you are winning. The teams above us wobbling will be feeling even more tired than we are.




Glad you realise that Blair is undroppable. Saturday again demonstrated what he offers to the team as we looked more threatening with a half fit Blair first half than we did with a fresh and lively Harry Crawford. For all that running we lacked the guile that Blair has provided most of this season.

That's because Crawford is even less of a goal threat than Blair. He's one of those that will put himself about a bit with nothing happening. Unless he gets it on a plate, I can't see how he's going to score.

 

[southendkid]

If only we could buy/loan a pacy goalscorer to replace the undroppable Blair, and a good Right winger, I think we would have a great chance of going up.

He's undroppable because we are rubbish without him, yes he can't shoot, but he actually passes intelligently. Think there is a thread that says we haven't won any of the 7 games he hasn't started in, if we replaced him with Crawford or do you think he would offer any extra goals to the side? Seems unlikely from his sub appearances at home this season, and I can't see Crawford holding the ball as well as Blair. (I'm not bashing Crawford, I think in a couple of years he could become a decent footballer, but right now he isn't ready)

 

[Tommy2holes]

Gillingham next week is a must-win game, fail to win that and we'll probably miss out. I reckon we'll get the last play-off spot and to get to Old Trafford would be amazing.

The gills game is the biggest of the season so far, but a win saturday and them losing will see us go into the game two points ahead of them with a game in hand.

In that scenario we could afford defeat.

Lose saturday and they win and they also win tuesday they will be 7 points ahead having played a game more . In that instance it will be very hard to gain on them with games running out.

Lets not forget Oxford who are lurking in and around aswell

Lets take one game at a time and concentrate on 3 points at morcambe saturday .

Should be a very good gate next tuesday though. Maybe an 8k + hopefully

 

[dean25710]

Think with the way it is going so far with our away form brilliant and our home form finally getting there, we can push for the play offs and may be a checky promotion :P

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

At the start of the season I'd have seen staying in the Football League as an achievement. Sturrock and the players deserve an enormous amount of credit for having us even thinking about the play offs this season.

It's always going to take time for a bunch of new players to gel, the players know what to expect from each other now.

I know for a fact Easton was told not to join Southend by his agent due to last seasons off the field problems and I'm sure a few others would have been as well, the players have trust in the manager and his track record at this level speaks volumes.

 

[* ORM *]

I really dont think the Gillingham is that important, a win would be nice yes whatever the result we have too many games between now and the end of the season for it to decide our fate.

I beg to differ. Win an the P word is on. Draw and the PO words are on. Lose and PFATHFAWWHTT2MB is on. That's push for a top half finish and who would have thought that two months back.

Either way we have surpassed my expectations. I also have Blair Sturrock down to shoot in this game.

 

[Cricko]

At the start of the season I'd have seen staying in the Football League as an achievement. Sturrock and the players deserve an enormous amount of credit for having us even thinking about the play offs this season.

It's always going to take time for a bunch of new players to gel, the players know what to expect from each other now.

I know for a fact Easton was told not to join Southend by his agent due to last seasons off the field problems and I'm sure a few others would have been as well, the players have trust in the manager and his track record at this level speaks volumes.

Not bias towards the Scots then?...:whistling:

 

[OldBlueLady]

I know for a fact Easton was told not to join Southend by his agent due to last seasons off the field problems and I'm sure a few others would have been as well, the players have trust in the manager and his track record at this level speaks volumes.

He said as much himself at the Q&A he did at the Trust AGM, quite open about it, but said he liked a challenge.

If we manage to reach the play offs at the end of the season, then I will be very satisfied at a job well done this season.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Still think we need a couple more bodies in, and need to keep the likes of Barker, Easton and Corr fit, and of course pray that Hall doesnt get sent to prison!

 

[Strykr]

Still think we need a couple more bodies in, and need to keep the likes of Barker, Easton and Corr fit, and of course pray that Hall doesnt get sent to prison!

quite agree with that, you only have to look at the calibre of substitutions we made on saturday!
and as you say, if barker, corr or easton pick up an injury or a ban, thats curtains, promotion still seems a bizzarre thought as there were many moments on saturday that i just could not see where the goals were going to come from!
That said i'm vaguely optomistic about the play offs, would be a great achievement, but either way Paul Sturrock(-widdrington!!!!!) has done a great job , survival was what i hoped for and it seems we've got it, so why not look onwards and upwards! bit of luck here and there and we might just get out of this ******** of a league.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

He's undroppable because we are rubbish without him, yes he can't shoot, but he actually passes intelligently. Think there is a thread that says we haven't won any of the 7 games he hasn't started in, if we replaced him with Crawford or do you think he would offer any extra goals to the side? Seems unlikely from his sub appearances at home this season, and I can't see Crawford holding the ball as well as Blair. (I'm not bashing Crawford, I think in a couple of years he could become a decent footballer, but right now he isn't ready)

If you go back to page 1 you will see that this is what I said.
If only we could buy/loan a pacy goalscorer to replace the undroppable Blair, and a good Right winger, I think we would have a great chance of going up

I certainly don't class Crawford as a pacy goalscorer, in fact I think he's worse than Blair.
I was clearly talking about bringing a couple of new players to the club, more likely on loan I know.

 

[Tommy2holes]

quite agree with that, you only have to look at the calibre of substitutions we made on saturday!
and as you say, if barker, corr or easton pick up an injury or a ban, thats curtains, promotion still seems a bizzarre thought as there were many moments on saturday that i just could not see where the goals were going to come from!
That said i'm vaguely optomistic about the play offs, would be a great achievement, but either way Paul Sturrock(-widdrington!!!!!) has done a great job , survival was what i hoped for and it seems we've got it, so why not look onwards and upwards! bit of luck here and there and we might just get out of this ******** of a league.

Thats true but we were also were saying that if we lost bilel and didnt replace sturrock jnr then we wouldnt have a chance. Yet here we are!

 

[southendkid]

If you go back to page 1 you will see that this is what I said.
If only we could buy/loan a pacy goalscorer to replace the undroppable Blair, and a good Right winger, I think we would have a great chance of going up

I certainly don't class Crawford as a pacy goalscorer, in fact I think he's worse than Blair.
I was clearly talking about bringing a couple of new players to the club, more likely on loan I know.

Ok sorry I misread, still I think pace still needs someone to supply the chances to, and I can't see corr setting up much for a second forward, hall will produce a few chances but I think if a new goalscorer came in he would replace corr rather than Blair

 

[jtsouthend]

Sad as it sounds I think the inability to keep clean sheets will be the undoing of us. No clean sheet in 8 now and we can't expect to keep out scoring teams week in week out...especially the way we rely on Corr and Hall primarily for goals at the moment and injuries to Moshi and Kane ( two key defensive players ).

Obviously i hope we keep pushing on...but some massive 6 pointers coming up where only wins will realistically be enough. Still looking at the big picture the season already has turned out better than I expected.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Sad as it sounds I think the inability to keep clean sheets will be the undoing of us. No clean sheet in 8 now and we can't expect to keep out scoring teams week in week out...
. Still looking at the big picture the season already has turned out better than I expected.

I believe in recent weeks due to some good results, many of us have got slightly carried away with enthusiasm regarding a quick return to the 3rd division (now called league 1). Go back to last August and survival was the priority for 95% of posters on here. Subject to a disaster bigger than the Titanics demise, and remembering in november we were hovering just above the bottom 3, then this season will not be deemed a failure. Without an injection of fresh blood (which looks highly unlikely at present) then unfortunately i do not see the current available squad being strong enough to secure a top 7 finish.