Southend (H) Match Thread

Quoted from Croxton

My daughter lives in Sheffield on an icy ungritted road high above Hillsborough. Got across to work near Worksop for last two days having scraped ice and snow off her old car. Shame on the jurors if true.

Still think this is a wind up.

Edit.
Hurst confirms both Morais and Rose unfit with tight hamstrings.

Quoted from DB

Crawley would have been a long drive for the home games on a Saturday. In this day and age weather is not an excuse, he could leave early, doesn't have to drive fast, just take you time and get to do your job. M161, M62, M18, M180 would all be cleared and salted.

How many people working in other occupations could use snow as an excuse. Emergency workers, hospital staff, lorry drivers delivering food. Come on ginny get real

APPOLGIES to all Hursty just said on RH he was injured, so where did the snow story come from??????

I live in Knaresborough, about 4 or 5 miles out of Harrogate and I could have got to Grimsby this morning. We've not had snow since Thursday. If he lives out of Harrogate it gets high pretty quickly to the North and West and we had rain this morning that could have been snow up there. If he lives in Harrogate I'd be very disappointed if his absence was due to him not being able to get to Grimsby.

And from Hurst's interview obviously that wasn't the reason.

Made me laugh when he said he felt sorry for the ball.

Whilst not decrying the need for pace at the back and a decent striker I think our priority is two decent central midfield players, control midfield control the game. Out wide if they now stay fit we have Morais, Wright & Scannell who are all decent at this level.

I would like to see Hanson and Gibson up top to see if there is something that could lead to some chemistry and goals and they might be our Toshack & Keegan, but that’s probably being too optimistic.

Bit surprised by a few of Hursts early selections I.e. leaving Bennett out today, persisting with Green but without a reserve’s game he’s probably trying to judge different players whilst trying to get wins, not easy.

Although we could do with six players in if our mostly missing players, Hanson, Wright and Scannell can stay fit we might get away with four but I would reiterate two of these to be first choice midfield players, new striker and an additional pacey centre back.

We live in hope 😀😀

Hewitt battles and brings some physicality but we looked so limited in there with him and Spokes together. On the basis of that a centre mid is every bit as important as a striker.

Was certainly surprised we didnt bring Bennett on

Not a lot being made of Maccas save which i thought was excellent

Quoted from Hagrid

Was certainly surprised we didnt bring Bennett on

Not a lot being made of Maccas save which i thought was excellent

Agree with both points.

I think the problem with Bennett and Scannell is they give us quality going forwards but make us more vulnerable at the back if they're playing wide in a 4-4-2 because they don't help their full back. With the players we have it is very hard to put a team out that offers a threat going forwards but doesn't look very vulnerable at the back. Guess he could have brought Bennett on for Williams but assume he was hoping we'd get more ball into Hanson and Jackson might poach a goal.

Sounds like Macca was steady
Defence steady

Midfield struggled but no lack of effort
Wingers once fit could be ok

Hanson played....whoopee.

If our players who haven’t been fit can play next Saturday I’m really hopeful we can take all 3 points from Scunny.