A southern seaside club that was once a proud member of the Football League but has fallen into non-league football, managed by a big personality who once had aspirations of great things but now in their 60s finds themselves plying their old fashioned management values in the fifth tier of English football. A description that could be applied equally to both the protagonists in our next league game.
Torquay United made it all the way to the National League play-off final last season, their defeat to Hartlepool on penalties means that our longest trip in the league this season sees us heading south-west rather than to the north-east.
Given how well Torquay did last year under Gary Johnson's stewardship, it is somewhat surprising to see them languishing a point behind us after the first six games this season. They lost their last home game 4-0 to Woking which seems even worse than our last result. The mood in Devon is therefore much the same as in Essex with Johnson talking of shipping players out who are not up to it, so Saturday should be an interesting match up.
Where exactly Southend turn after Tuesday's depressing defeat against previously winless Aldershot, does Phil return to 3-5-2? Will he recall one or more of the dropped players? Will the injured players be fit? Could he recall the exiled Akinola or ANG? Will he sign anyone else to liven up our insipid squad? Has Josh Coulson finished yesterday's 10K run yet?
Who knows the answer to these questions, except Phil Brown himself. Put yourself in his shoes and pick the starting XI for Saturday and try to predict the result.
Torquay United made it all the way to the National League play-off final last season, their defeat to Hartlepool on penalties means that our longest trip in the league this season sees us heading south-west rather than to the north-east.
Given how well Torquay did last year under Gary Johnson's stewardship, it is somewhat surprising to see them languishing a point behind us after the first six games this season. They lost their last home game 4-0 to Woking which seems even worse than our last result. The mood in Devon is therefore much the same as in Essex with Johnson talking of shipping players out who are not up to it, so Saturday should be an interesting match up.
Where exactly Southend turn after Tuesday's depressing defeat against previously winless Aldershot, does Phil return to 3-5-2? Will he recall one or more of the dropped players? Will the injured players be fit? Could he recall the exiled Akinola or ANG? Will he sign anyone else to liven up our insipid squad? Has Josh Coulson finished yesterday's 10K run yet?
Who knows the answer to these questions, except Phil Brown himself. Put yourself in his shoes and pick the starting XI for Saturday and try to predict the result.
