National League Fixtures - 19/20th Nov

[OneDecentLester]

That Grimsby mascot *shudder*

Never thought a mascot would live in my head rent free until that game we lost up there which effectively sent us down here… absolute cock

 

[EnglishRed]

Never thought a mascot would live in my head rent free until that game we lost up there which effectively sent us down here… absolute cock

its hands down the worst mascot in the world. A creepy presence stalking Blundell Park and my nightmares.

 

[EnglishRed]

 

[OneDecentLester]

He's been the best player on the pitch since he came on? Also he's coming back from injury.

Lew said we’d see exactly why you’re a different team whilst he’s on the pitch and all I’ve seen is a couple of late tackles and misplaced passes!?

Good 3 points that is for you, not the greatest of performances but all that matters is the win.

 

[Gladders]

Well that was pretty shite especially considering who we were playing and how bad they also seemed.

A win after the last 4 is what was needed though and back to level at the top.

Need to drastically improve though if we want to still be up there come the new year as we are now going to get fixtured out of it. 9 of our next 11 games are against the other 8 teams in the top 9! Jan fixture window could come too late to get a striker in.

 

[Son of Cod]

Lew said we’d see exactly why you’re a different team whilst he’s on the pitch and all I’ve seen is a couple of late tackles and misplaced passes!?

Good 3 points that is for you, not the greatest of performances but all that matters is the win.

Played 3 or 4 nice balls too and just calmed it down with his presence for me. But yeah like you say, good three points that. Just needed to stop the rot. Seen this pattern before with Hurst Town teams, absolutely flying then the wheels fall off for 4/5 matches and then grind out a 1-0 or a 2-1 and go back on a run. I reckon we'll do Solihull on Tuesday with one more night's rest than them.

 

[jacobncfc]

Tonight yeah, but I suspect tonight is all about getting over the line with the 3 points. As Gladders says we've been a bit more expansive for most of the season than your typical Hurst team.

I thought his comments were a bit weird after the game against us, when he was talking loads about how much work you’d put into stopping us from playing and how you’d managed to do that. He wasn’t wrong, you did more than anyone else we’ve played, but you were about ten points ahead of us at the time, on a great run and at home, so it was a bit weird for a guy to have devoted so much attention to stopping the opposition.

Anyway, fairly dreadful game, but just what Grimsby needed to stop the rot. Southend are in big trouble, actually thought they played some fairly neat stuff at times but their confidence is obviously on the floor and there was no real creativity or threat at all.

 

[pontoonlew]

Lew said we’d see exactly why you’re a different team whilst he’s on the pitch and all I’ve seen is a couple of late tackles and misplaced passes!?

Good 3 points that is for you, not the greatest of performances but all that matters is the win.

Okay, I must be completely wrong about him, I’ll bow to your superior knowledge

 

[WhoWasFone]

This game could prob go on till January and we wouldn’t score

I wouldn't have bothered challenging the red card for Brunt, he would have done more sat in the stands.

 

[pontoonlew]

Proper shite second half that, I still worry about us, we’re obviously missing something.

Coke isn’t good enough IMO but you’d imagine Fox will go back to his normal position when the dreadful McAtee is back and those two on full form is what truly makes us tick

 

[Son of Cod]

I thought his comments were a bit weird after the game against us, when he was talking loads about how much work you’d put into stopping us from playing and how you’d managed to do that. He wasn’t wrong, you did more than anyone else we’ve played, but you were about ten points ahead of us at the time, on a great run and at home, so it was a bit weird for a guy to have devoted so much attention to stopping the opposition.

Anyway, fairly dreadful game, but just what Grimsby needed to stop the rot. Southend are in big trouble, actually thought they played some fairly neat stuff at times but their confidence is obviously on the floor and there was no real creativity or threat at all.

Yeah, I thought his comments pre-match too that were about whether or not we'd sit off you or press were a bit odd. I think you might have mentioned that at the time. Was almost like he was giving you too much respect. He's been really good in the media other than that since coming back, though. He definitely puts a lot of value on work rate and effort. Energy and shape are probably his favourite words.

 

[DontBringBertie]

Southend have scored TWO goals in 8 away matches this season. Fucking hell.

 

[EnglishRed]

Sometimes you just need to grind out those sorts of results. With 5 tough games coming up it was probably what Grimsby needed.

 

[WhoWasFone]

Every Grimsby fan on this forum feels like they've just recommended a film to all their mates and all the friends think its shit.

 

[AdamStag]

Blimy, what an extraordinarily bad game of football, i mean ive seen some crap in league 2 but jeez, what the bloody hell was that 2nd half!

Now i remember why both were relegated, that game made perfect sense.

In fairness to grimsby they did enough against what appears to be a very troubled southend, and ultimately the points won is more important than the performance.

I trust grimsby normally play better than that? decent crowd for a friday on tv mind

 

[OneDecentLester]

You his agent or something Lew, it ain’t that deep matey.

He’s obviously a good player, just an observation that you didn’t turn into prime Barca when he came on as you’d made out

 

[John Still]

Southend have scored TWO goals in 8 away matches this season. Fucking hell.

Blimey reminds me of us under Taylor, Southend are dreadful they’re very fortunate that Lynn, Aldershot and Dover are somehow worse.

 

[Stocky]

Good win for Grimsby, takes them to 2 points a game.

Yep, I'm a 2 points a game type of chap. Always the magic figure for me, get to that and you can't be doing too badly.

It was bland but Grimsby had them at arms length and deserved the win. Sometimes the early goal takes the wind out of the side that scored it as they have something in their locker for too long for them to build proper momentum in a game.

 

[Stoney Ground]

Better last 10 from us, been a fairly even half but our chances have perhaps been a bit more clear cut.

Haha, that's a wild punt but definitely worth it.

Need to play him as a wing back, he is defensively weak.

 

[Stoney Ground]

I hope McAtee gets on because you’ll see exactly why we’re a different team with him on the pitch

Gave you control of the ball on a few occasions and calmed the game a bit.

 

[Shotsfan1993]

Grimsby have been very helpful to us over the last week, it is appreciated!

 

[Colinmorriswalksonwater]

All managers will tell you if you don't concede you don't lose. Trouble is we did just that in less than 3 minutes.

Grimsby weren't that impressive and any trouble we were in at the back was mainly of our own making.

It sums it up that Sousa got MoM for and I quote "his performance down the right against John White." Well being given that much space he should have done so much more! All he wanted to do all night was come inside and shoot, so I understand JW standing off having no pace, but take up a body shape that at least shows him to the outside and closes off that option. He didn't do that once!

Arnold didn't have a lot to do. As the game wore on the defence looked better and a little more comfortable with the ball at there feet. From a back 4 that have been hoofing long for most of the season, there was more balls passed out than normal, which is good.

Although for me, we need two new fullbacks, we have one when Ralph is fit, but we need cover for when he is out.

The centre backs looked OK.

The midfield were solid and there was alot of effort defensively and it did reduce the efforts on goal from Grimsby.

Playing this system will shore us up, but will blunt our attacking presence. However at the moment we need this until new personnel can be brought in and players such as Ralph and Bridge are ready to come back.

Walsh did OK for me, Brunt was our best player and Ferguson was just a little too hesitant for my liking going forward.

Up front always a challenge for 1 striker to pull off, I would have preferred to see Dalby as a lone striker as I think he would have fared batter against the centre backs.

Egbri for me is so frustrating. When he made the break into the area it summed him up for me. Great effort to get the ball in that position, but it was a blind strike at the 6 yard box, no look up at the edge of the box or look for other options and he hit the first defender. Not good enough for me sorry.

Overall, we weren't embarrassed by the result, but we never hurt Grimsby. We looked more solid, but we had already shipped a goal.

We have to cut out the headless chicken moments at the back, find a right back and add more quality in at least three midfield positions.

But I feel the improvement was that we have gone away to Grimsby, not been rolled over, and won a helluva lot of possession. Now we have to use it more effectively.

And I am very worried about Sam Barrett up against JW or Demi next weekend. We could see what PB didn't have faith to make more of an effort to hold on to.

 

[Stoney Ground]

Can’t see how Sousa got MOM thought Hunt and Brunt were the only creative players on the park. As for Murphy, hope he gets a whistle and a refs kit for Xmas, needs to concentrate on playing.

 

[Stoney Ground]

All managers will tell you if you don't concede you don't lose. Trouble is we did just that in less than 3 minutes.

Grimsby weren't that impressive and any trouble we were in at the back was mainly of our own making.

It sums it up that Sousa got MoM for and I quote "his performance down the right against John White." Well being given that much space he should have done so much more! All he wanted to do all night was come inside and shoot, so I understand JW standing off having no pace, but take up a body shape that at least shows him to the outside and closes off that option. He didn't do that once!

Arnold didn't have a lot to do. As the game wore on the defence looked better and a little more comfortable with the ball at there feet. From a back 4 that have been hoofing long for most of the season, there was more balls passed out than normal, which is good.

Although for me, we need two new fullbacks, we have one when Ralph is fit, but we need cover for when he is out.

The centre backs looked OK.

The midfield were solid and there was alot of effort defensively and it did reduce the efforts on goal from Grimsby.

Playing this system will shore us up, but will blunt our attacking presence. However at the moment we need this until new personnel can be brought in and players such as Ralph and Bridge are ready to come back.

Walsh did OK for me, Brunt was our best player and Ferguson was just a little too hesitant for my liking going forward.

Up front always a challenge for 1 striker to pull off, I would have preferred to see Dalby as a lone striker as I think he would have fared batter against the centre backs.

Egbri for me is so frustrating. When he made the break into the area it summed him up for me. Great effort to get the ball in that position, but it was a blind strike at the 6 yard box, no look up at the edge of the box or look for other options and he hit the first defender. Not good enough for me sorry.

Overall, we weren't embarrassed by the result, but we never hurt Grimsby. We looked more solid, but we had already shipped a goal.

We have to cut out the headless chicken moments at the back, find a right back and add more quality in at least three midfield positions.

But I feel the improvement was that we have gone away to Grimsby, not been rolled over, and won a helluva lot of possession. Now we have to use it more effectively.

And I am very worried about Sam Barrett up against JW or Demi next weekend. We could see what PB didn't have faith to make more of an effort to hold on to.

Ferguson was only in the game when you had a corner, trying to block the keeper did nothing all game.

 

[Colinmorriswalksonwater]

Can’t see how Sousa got MOM thought Hunt and Brunt were the only creative players on the park. As for Murphy, hope he gets a whistle and a refs kit for Xmas, needs to concentrate on playing.

Cos he was up against a well past it John White, who has no pace or positional sense and Phil Brown didn't think we needed a right back in the summer!

Ferguson was OK as an outlet passing the ball on when in space, but offers too little going forward. Turned down a move when Aldershot came in for him in September to make a career with us and fight for his place. Admirable but is 7th in the queue for me for players we need to show the door to and replace.

 

[Master D]

I hope McAtee gets on because you’ll see exactly why we’re a different team with him on the pitch

Thrilling second half stuff since the guy nobody has ever heard of returned to the fold.

You're still going up via the playoffs so don't worry.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Having just about got over my Covid bout just a quick comment on the next few days.
On Paper the next two, Eastleigh and Boreham Wood, both away would have been looked at slight more favourably than Stockport, Grimsby and Bromley.
I feel these are probably both harder than the others, Eastleigh are the kind of side that we have struggled against since being down here, Wood on the other hand are decent in their own right despite them having more players than fans
4 points from 6 would be lovely.

 

[Shrimper92]

Southend have scored TWO goals in 8 away matches this season. Fucking hell.

Fun, isn't it?

 

[Colinmorriswalksonwater]

Oh yes, haven't had this much fun since the old King died!!

 

[Limerick Mariner]

Lew said we’d see exactly why you’re a different team whilst he’s on the pitch and all I’ve seen is a couple of late tackles and misplaced passes!?

Good 3 points that is for you, not the greatest of performances but all that matters is the win.

Well in terms of his minutes on the pitch we've had a few hundred winning and about 90 losing. When he's not been on it we've scored one goal in 400 minutes...