Southend are a team in something of a crisis. At the bottom of the Table and having apparently been unsuccessful in getting even their third choice of permanent manager, they face Rovers today and then Ipswich on Saturday. They badly need points and will be encouraged by their performance last weekend in their 1-1 away draw.
Their problems were evident when Chris Powell, their second-last manager was running the team. He inherited quite a lot of players that Phil Brown, his predecessor, had assembled on contracts which seemed longer than you would expect from a club which faces Winding-up Orders quite regularly. Kevin Bond, who was a temporary appointment at the end of last season probably got the manager’s job on the strength of them beating Sunderland in match 46 to keep them up in League 1 but he too seemed hampered in making radical personnel changes. No real strengthening was evident in the close season and a struggling team became even weaker. I have not seen them this season, but reports are not good.
They have had quite a tough fixture list, but have had a win at MK Dons who are on an awful run themselves, and were perhaps unlucky not to win at Tranmere last Friday evening losing in injury-time to a penalty. They can score goals but conceding 20 in 7 games at home is worrying, so a clean sheet in regular play at the weekend is progress.
So, things are looking up a bit away from home at least. They have also had Tom Hopper, a very useful striker, back in the side after a season-long injury absence; and he scored at Tranmere.
Rovers would seem to be favourites even though we too have had our setbacks recently, but Southend’s spirits will be raised somewhat and they surely must pick up a bit at home sooner or later.
Our away form is not entirely reliable and it never seems easy for us at Roots Hall.
I shall of course be there and I’ll hope for 1-3 to us (Anderson).
DPL vs Southend United
posted on 22/10/19
Forgot to press send on Saturday, again, usual 3.1 victory to the mighty Ziggers, Sadlier first goal, Ennis if he doesn't start.
posted on 22/10/19
1-7
posted on 22/10/19
!!!
posted on 22/10/19
It is hard to be critical after a 7-1 win, but I look forward to Donaldo's comments, and others after they have seen the highlights.
It could have been, and should have been, more against a demoralized 9 men. We need to be able to create more clear-cut chances than so many shots from distance. Southend did basically pack their penalty area with most of the players left on the pitch, and at times their defence did play well.
Some may think the ref spoilt the game. I thought the yellow for Daniels was harsh as was the second red until I watch them again. The first red was a bad foul that could have badly injured Taylor. Later in the game a Southend player got a yellow for a foul I thought worse than the second red.
Southend did start well, and it was a superb free kick that gave Dieng no chance, However I thought the Southend player should have got a yellow for a dive!
For once, Alfie's finish was superb!
I see Tranmere lost 5-0 and so we may have another chance to improve our goal difference.
Also Marquis scored his second league goal, but the BBC did not think much of it:
" Marquis's scruffy 28th-minute strike was enough to settle a scrappy match, the former Doncaster Rovers striker bundling home from a yard out after Imps goalkeeper Josh Vickers could only parry a Christian Burgess header."
posted on 22/10/19
How can a 7-1 win be disappointing? We were not effective for the first 15 minutes; Southend were quicker to the ball and although there was only one goal conceded it was after the sending off.
Although it was on the opposite side of the pitch, the foul on Taylor did look brutal and the ref took a long time to think about it before dismissing Hamilton. Not so the second red, when from some distance he had his card out before arriving at the site of what looked like a high-speed collision from where I was; but he would have had a good angle of view. Southend do have a bit of a reputation for this, so does this colour the official decision-making?
He showed he would be strict by booking Daniels in the first minute for a challenge which was neither reckless or serious and he just continued in the same vein.
Once the opposition numbers were reduced, their goal did not seem to phase Rovers and we passed the ball well with a lot of decent attacking until half-time; Southend retreated.
Kwami Thomas took his goals like a seasoned striker and this was probably his best game.
For the rest of the match we possessed the ball fairly exclusively mainly in their half, but generally staying short of the penalty area. Whereas they parked the bus for fairly lengthy periods in the first half they had little choice in the second, yet did try to keep a man up the field for some of the time and did not give up trying to attack when their limited opportunities arose.
Copps was brilliant until he got into the box where he could not resist dinking around over-elaborately and thereby missed opportunities to shoot. James was quite impressive, but Halliday less so. The midfield seemed intent on keeping the ball confined to their operational zone by exchanging meaningless passes. Taylor’s crosses are very good, sometimes at a superb height for headers and alternately hard and low, but there never seemed any takers. DIeng seems most assured; good decisions on positioning and excellent fast distribution. Wright and Anderson sealed the back-line assuredly but without much threat to deal with.
Sol Campbell will have a real job on his hands, but to be fair to Southend, they did keep trying and accepted the discipline which the referee dispensed, which he continued rather harshly when it came to yellow cards, but that’s the way it is at the bottom. Only the ref got boo-ed off at the end - Shrimpers fans are an optimistic lot!
(I have just read Micky’s report and I think we more or less agree!)
posted on 23/10/19
I've just watched the extended highlights with critical parts in slow motion and it has not really changed my mind. I still think the "foul" that produced their goal was a dive - their player felt a player behind him and flopped over. The first red was more vicious than I thought, but the second, although a very hard tackle was not dangerous and I'm not sure should have been a red.
Again, I say, Alfie's dink over their GK was wonderful - much better than some of his poor shooting in other games.
On Saturday I'd start Wright over Daniels as the latter worries me with his many niggling fouls.
If Ennis is fit, what does DM do - very difficult to drop Thomas who maybe the "poacher" to replace Marquis. If we learn to feed him more, he could be a good asset although I'm a little doubtful about all his skills.
posted on 23/10/19
If alfie scored they must be pants
posted on 23/10/19
The margin of victory shouldn’t be dismissed just because Southend finished the match with nine players.
Earlier this season Portsmouth only drew with a Coventry team that had had two players sent off, even managing to do so despite being 3-1 up at one time.
We totally demolished Southend last night and no praise should be high enough.
Even Man City and Liverpool don’t score every time they attack.
posted on 24/10/19
Im thinking the board should think of offering DM an extended contract for Christmas? Its early days yet, but His signing of Thomas looks to be an astute one.
posted on 27/10/19
The score predictions failed understandably and everyone underestimated Thomas despite his role leading the line which he very ably filled. Stanton posted 1-7, but the exclamation marks suggest a comment rather than a forecast. This is borne out by the time of posting.
Southend U 1 : Rovers (Thomas) 7
>>>>>>> Scorer > Score > Result Bonus > Total > Pts B/F > O/all
Donaldo>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 23 >>>> 26
PDXMickey> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 24 >>>> 27
Yorks Lad>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 36 >>>> 39
BVZ>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 6 >>>>>> 9
Crazy>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 30 >>>> 30
Uthred>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 20 >>>> 20
Mooligan>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>> 3 >>>>> 28 >>>> 31
King Chmprr 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Small Azza> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 12 >>>> 15
Azza>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 8 >>>>> 8
Cheltenham 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>>> 0
Nookie>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 40 >>>> 43
Selby>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0 >>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 0
Lanza>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>> 0 >>>>> 3 >>>>> 19 >>>> 22
>>>>>>>>>> 0 >>>>> 0 >>>> 24 >>>> 0 >>>> 24 >>>> 246 >>> 270