Call me mad, but I thought we were bloody good tonight

[Rookie]

I agree in the second half we bossed the game and Southend really didn't deserve to get anything out of the game. Bearing in mind Slade has had 1 or 2 training sessions the improvement was immense. Al-Bangura is quality pretty he sure he would tackle a bus if it had the ball. Play like that against Yeovil and there must only be one winner. + the fact Murray was on the bench I don't think its all doom and gloom

 

[Basil Fawlty]

In fact, I would go as far as saying that was easily the best home performance since Millwall on November 2nd!

After 80 minutes a scoreline of 2-1 or even 3-1 to us wouldn't have been unfair at all. I thought we bossed the midfield (Bangura is CLASS) and Lloyd and Forster were looking dangerous upfront. Certainly in those two departments we were far superior to Southend. In the second half there was only one team in it!

What struck me was just what a massive impact Russell has had in just a couple of days. Tonight there was one thing showing in abundance that has been missing all season: FIGHT. I've criticised the team this season for looking like they could be putting more in (and I stick by that), but tonight I can't praise them enough. Every man on that pitch in blue wanted to win every ball, make every pass, and to come out on top. Tonight is the blueprint for the passion and determination those players should show for the club, and if they do that every week I for one wouldn't have a bad word to say about them.

Unbelievably, I of all people am actually appalled at the criticism on here of tonight's game. That was an encouraging performance if ever I saw one, and once Elphick/Virgo are back the main weakness (ie central defence) will be significantly improved. By all means moan when there is a lack of fight or quality, but tonight I think we showed both and, at times, battered an in-form side.

After the Crewe defeat I resigned myself to relegation, but tonight I will say that if we put in 12 more performances like we did this evening we will NOT go down. That's the challenge, but with Russell at the helm tonight has given me a glimmer of hope that it's possible. Anyone else daring to dream?!

Our second half performance was superb. But we're not getting the rub of the green at the moment, such as the ball hitting the inside of the post and going out. I thought Southend were very average and were there for the taking, if we can produce performances of that magnitude for the next twelve games and start winning at home, then we might have a chance of staying up but we must win against Yeovil on Saturday!

 

[Caveman]

Plenty of football still to be played

Blimey, you're not supposed to me cheering us up. I'd be throwing abuse and laughing if it was your team. Fair play.

 

[Storer68]

To all those who have said something along the lines of "results are results, we lost again and it's too late for Russell to save us," it's NOT. .

Oh but it is too late. And its been too late for too long.

last night we created NOTHING. We had no creativity in the midfield and CONCEDED THREE GOALS, all of which were preventable. Which as Russell perceptively pointed out meant that we had to score four to win which was ridiculous.

Six points from safety now - thats two wins more than anyone else in the last ten games which we have to recover - even more unlikely when you consider that we have only won seven games all season

 

[SJ's Love Monkey]

Blimey, you're not supposed to me cheering us up. I'd be throwing abuse and laughing if it was your team. Fair play.

You can only laugh so much can't you? I have been doing that for years at your expense

 

[Caveman]

You can only laugh so much can't you? I have been doing that for years at your expense

Go and eat poo you pala*se pikey!

 

[SJ's Love Monkey]

Go and eat poo you pala*se pikey!

 

[jonesie]

He must drop Jarrett. Any hope of flowing forward play judders to a halt when the ball reaches him. He stops, thinks, turns around and lays off a bad backwards pass. You can almost hear his brain slowly, grinding half way up the stand. Please, please, please.

Nailed On.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

I would suggest the complete lack of movement ahead, or even to the side, of Jarrett was a contributing factor as to why he got caught in possession a lot.

When he did loft a SUPERB ball out to the wing near the end, Carole just stood and watched it.

The guy needs OPTIONS on the ball.

 

[Spiros]

I would suggest the complete lack of movement ahead, or even to the side, of Jarrett was a contributing factor as to why he got caught in possession a lot.

When he did loft a SUPERB ball out to the wing near the end, Carole just stood and watched it.

The guy needs OPTIONS on the ball.

I agree with most of that - Jarrett does at least try and pass to a teammate rather than the hopeless hoof. However the 'superb' ball out to the wing would not have been caught by Carole if he was Usain Bolt, such was the ferocity and inaccuracy of the pass!

 

[murraymint]

I agree some of Jarrett's passing is not the best, but he does retain possession and he breaks up attacking play better than any midfielder we have had for a long time. I though Bangura was excellent last night too. Many positives to be taken from the game, i thought Southend mugged us a bit in the second half, but as Slade said we left the back door open and it was exploited.
Although we are six points away from safety we have Yeovil and Swindon to play at home, win both of those and we should be truly in the mix...pick up something from our game in hand, be it a draw or even a win, we are in with a shout.
There is no way this season is done and dusted yet. If we improve in the next two games at the same level as we have in the last two we will be in with a fighting chance.

 

[Rookie]

Personally thought Jarrett was alright he can pass a ball but needs people to pass to, movement of the ball was lacking. There was a cross field ball in the first half that was quality and a few more of those wouldn't go a miss