Let's talk about the Southend game

[selby]

That's it then it is confirmed, Coppinger 5 the only player on both sides, that to me, his skill overcame the conditions
  McCollough 5  rightfully touted by many as M.O.M.
  Marquis 5 another game where he gave a hard working front runner and link up display.
 Houghton and Rowe 5 who to me put in some great interceptions and gave us some depth in midfield, and put a foot in and stopped them dominating midfield.
 Ferdinand 7 take away his arms and he would not know what to do.
  All scores for the game in the F.L. paper, confirms I know F. all about football.

[Avsuptem]

I was watching the match in the home crowd section on the half way line on the opposite side from the dug outs. Seemed to me that Copps was by far the most skilful player on the pitch, as is usually the case. He has amazing speed of thought and reactions for one of his age and his ball control skills created space and opened the defence through out the game. It was interesting that DF kept him on the pitch for the full 90 minutes and I felt that without him it would have been a different game. Any one contemplating not retaining him for next season must be barmy.

[Avsuptem]

Oh. And a word of praise for the ref on Saturday, all they ever get is criticism in most posts but for me the guy got just about everything dead right and handled the game perfectly.

[The Red Baron]

Oh. And a word of praise for the ref on Saturday, all they ever get is criticism in most posts but for me the guy got just about everything dead right and handled the game perfectly.

A chap called Kevin Johnson. Whenever I've seen him I've always thought he was a decent referee.

[CantleyRed]

Not a classic, it is fair to say.

 

The pitch was as bad as I have seen for many a long year and so that clearly affected our usual slick passing game (ahem). Marosi, who had a good game in goal, was clearly under instructions not to play out from the back like we usually do, but he sliced 3 clearances straight out of play in the first half – annoying but hardly justifying the chorus of boos from some of the away fans.

 

Southend started brightly and I thought we might struggle, but we worked our way into the game and it was pretty even thereafter – in fact I thought we shaded the second half, without creating many clear chances. In fact I thought our attacking threat reduced noticeably when May came on - he is just not up to it in my book and has had his chance.

 

The defence looked solid (Wright and Frenchie might turn out to be the best combination in the middle) and McCullough did well in the defensive midfield role. It was a day for getting stuck in – which meant that Rowe and Kiwomya hardly touched the ball.

Copps was the best player on the pitch by a mile and showed amazing energy, still going strong at the end on what must have been an exhausting pitch to play on.

So a hard-won point. We are still too close to comfort to the bottom 4 - but a couple of home wins should virtually see us to safety.

[Avsuptem]

I concur with your assessment of the game Cantley. The pitch did not help the quality. At one point Marquis received a brilliant pass [I think from Copps] and was through on goal a yard ahead of his markers when the ball stuck in what looked like a cow pat and the advantage was gone.

[Donnywolf]

Oh. And a word of praise for the ref on Saturday, all they ever get is criticism in most posts but for me the guy got just about everything dead right and handled the game perfectly.

A chap called Kevin Johnson. Whenever I've seen him I've always thought he was a decent referee.

Confirmed by this when he Reffed us and I gave him 4 !!!!!

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