Southend ( H )

Surely Hopkins could see (what most of the crowd could see) hoofing a long ball up to opposition 6 ft 4 defenders wasn't the way, why wasn't Coleville brought on sooner give us a little more width, we look quite decent when we play it on the ground, no Plan B. Dreadful game, but unlike a lot of fairweather supporters stayed to the end. As a supporter of many many years, I've seen worse games, but not many I might add. But you have to support in good as well as in bad times

 

I agree but doubt he will do anything of the sort until February at the earliest. After the transfer window closes, and depending on who leaves (if anyone), and who we bring in, he may very well have no choice but to swallow his pride and utilise what we have until the end of the season.

 

With regards the situation of our weak bench yesterday, I hope I'm wrong but on seeing those 5 players training alone on Friday has Hopkin made them aware he will not even promote any of them to the bench to show them he's not happy with their attitude at training or their demeanour generally.
Surely yesterday we'd better options on the bench than O'Connor, Wilson, Anderson, Wood, Devine, Colville, Ellington very few if any attacking options if we lost Doyle or Miller.
I can understand the manager taking a hard stance against players who look like they may just be going through the motions surely Jones or Patrick would have been better options ?.

 

They're certainly a scapegoat if scribers like you say that NKP "not one of his headers or passes went to a player in claret and amber" - which is simply untrue

Even if that was true, what about the NKP form of last month? Or has he always been a L2 player in your eyes?

NKP was terrible for most of 2018 and quite rightly got creamed on here. But his improvement and good play, once Hopkin got into his head and guided him - is a credit to him. He simply doesn't deserve your mean spirited comments

 

It was a classic tale again yesterday they strangled our midfield and creative players. And forced us to play long with nobody to hold it up. We urgently need a forward who can mix it physically and bring others in. Without that our struggle will continue

 

What about a cheeky bid for this lad Stephen Humphrys looks the part .

 

Yep, they are short of cash, need to pay the HMRC

 

Are you free Mr Humphrys? 'I'm free'

 

His record elsewhere is baba, which I found interesting to note.

We made him look like Ibra. Probably more akin to Ellison.

 

I thought that yesterday when we hopefully could change sometging but looked at the bench and there was nothing there.

Especially going forward. The strikers must go into the game knowing they really can’t be subbed

 

Yes I was just having a bit of fun with my old mate @Park bantam, obviously we caught him on a good day, he certainly looked the part on yesterdays showing, one to keep an eye on.

 

Amazingly every time I watch the League 1 and 2 Sky goals (which isn't often as I only watch if we've scored and haven't lost!!) he always seems to score a worldly for Morecambe

I'll never forget his return to us seven years ago (almost to the day in another poor January!!) when he got abused all the match and then equalised with one of the best goals we saw during our L2 stay

I've a lot of respect for this player, who keeps performing (he must be my age, 56, now?? ) but yes, I get your point!!

 

I'd suggest Chicksen may also feel like that, it will be interesting who he plays at left back at Burton, and if Chicksen drops straight back into the side after his 2 game ban.

 

He doesn't score normal goals, our Ellison, does he?

Saw him belting in a beauty myself the other week. He's a creative finisher that's for sure!

 

Keep forgetting to give your mascot a big He (I presume it is a male!) was more than happy to come in with the away supporters and pose for photos etcetera. A welcome "up yours" to those that want to make football a homeland for bigotry and hostility.

 

Quite incredible how a week off has led to the team resuming how they started the season. I think Southend have shown us up in many ways. They had two, sometimes three, players on Payne most of the time and pressed us hard which forced us to go long. That hard work meant that we played right into their hands. We had no outlet at left back and I can't really remember an occasion where Akpan, O'B & Ball found some space to collect the ball from the defenders to start an attack. So its credit to Southend for putting in the work but it showed that we need more.

A target man is key because it will mean that we have the option to go long. Doyle just isn't that kind of striker and we reverted back to presuming that he is. Its good to hear that Hopkin realises the importance of it but they are hard to come by of decent quality - especially in January.

I was also pretty happy to see O'Connor hooked. Hopkin seems to like him as captain but when things get tough, all he seems to do is lay blame elsewhere. He needs to look at his own performance first before pointing the finger.

All in all, still very much in trouble and 20th is the target.

 

lets look at the positives - Chicksen did absolutely nothing wrong on Saturday. best game of the season for him.