Rootshallbloke

I really hoped you would hang on for the 3 points, but not to be. That said Halifax only picking up 1 point makes Saturday very exciting for us. Probably see you next season and we can go head to head for the title (provided you've changed all your players after reading this thread).

A hopeful Shrimper here. A hope you stuff Halifax out of sight tonight, even a point will do (for us). If all that happens then Saturday will be squeaky bum for all of us clubs still in with a sniff. Because we Sarfenders are a sad old bunch, be aware that dozens of us will tune in to the game on NL streaming, all being honorary Latics for the night.

Hopefully, with a full pre-season, uninterrupted by off field nonsense and embargoes, we should be a difficult side to play against. Kev Maher and John Still have recruited well this season now the embargo has been lifted, but they need time to bed in and get as fit as the rest of the squad. A couple of extras for midfield and we will be at the races. This, of course, assumes that no club from the EFL decides one or two of ours looks worth a punt. We're still waiting for the takeover deal to finally be signed but it still looks ok. The new consortium are predominantly long term Southend followers with some dosh to spare, so they, together with our Aussie leader will do all they can to help the team. That said, as they are going to redevelop Roots Hall, money will be needed there as well, so it will be a cautious approach.

I truthfully will be bloody glad when this season is done and dusted. You chaps are still very much in the mix for the play-offs whereas we will scratching our arses in mid table wondering why it's ok for Everton to get their points penalty reduced when we were saddled with the full 10 points. That said, our chairman/Owner brought all of that on us and he ends up making a pile developing the land that would of been our new stadium. Now that's off my chest, today was a grind it out game for both teams. We probably had more possession but were pretty wasteful in front of goal, and you chaps scored a scorcher but didn't then follow it up sufficiently to claim the points. When we both look back on the game we will marvel at our keeper's heart stopping save to deny you and you may well think the same about your keeper's save to keep out Scott-Morriss's pile driver, which was bound for the top left corner of your goal. Other than that, we both pretty much cancelled each other out, so 1-1 was probably fair. I wish you well for the remainder of the season and I will be very happy if you do manage to break out of this League as it will make next season a little easier for us to have a proper go at promotion without any of the off field garbage that has been part of this season.

Tango man appears to be having a renaissance at Kiddie at the moment. Good luck to him as long as he stays a very long way from us. I haven't forgiven him for taking us down from FL2 yet.

Go on, force yourself. We don't do 3-0 away from home, 2 is the best we normally manage.

We've done the wind down bit with 3 loses on the trot, so we're on the upward path again now with 3 wins on the trot. You're right, it's building for the future time now. On the pressing front, it's what we do, but I'm still a bit worried about Mr Norwood. He didn't turn up at Roots Hall but I'm thinking he will be keen to prove a point on Saturday. Similarly Hobbo, if he plays. I loved that bloke in a navy shirt, so honest and more than a bit skilful at times but Danny Waldron will want to continue his progress up front so it won't just be Harry Cardwell asking the questions. Has the makings of a great match.

Afternoon Oldham. It's great to read a decent pre match thread for once. On the Crowther front, he will definitely be playing as he is totally fit and looking more than a bit useful since his signing. How the bloke was stuck in NLN is a total mystery to us . It's Ollie Kensdale that's out as he fractured his cheek bone against Aldershot. Harry Taylor, our other regular CB is also out with a knackered hammy. Despite that our defence is still pretty resilient with our old warhorse, Jason Demitriou still doing his stuff at 37. Harry Cardwell is now back at his best recovering from his last injury and he will probably be partnered by either Danny Waldron or Marcus Dackers. Our away record north of the Watford gap is not all that clever, so tomorrow with be very interesting on the 'who wants it most' front. For once you have already won one title against us as you bought more of your tribe to Roots Hall than we will probably be bringing to Boundary Park. At the moment our numbers are around the 350 mark, but it could be more by ko. Looking forward to a really entertaining game tomorrow despite the arseholes that masquerade as referees in this league. Ps - Jack Bridge is on fire at the moment

Truly, I think you were very unlucky to play us at this particular time. After months of unrest and arse ache through the summer, the whole team, coaching staff and the crowd just weren't going to allow anything but a convincing win. You will undoubtedly break your duck soon as you had some very useful looking players there, including Hobbo (can we have him back please). Hopefully both clubs will be scrapping it out for the top at the end of the season, but I still fear for us given the size of our squad. Our 1st choice 11 is as good as anyone's in this division on it's day, but we are desperately short of back up players when the injuries hit (as they will). It was quite enlightening to see that your board can go into melt down just as badly as ours after a footballing disaster, but that's footie fans for you.

The referee had his red card out without a further thought after seeing the tackle. Tells me that he agreed with my view. Mind you, opinions are always subjective.

I'm not going to gloat over that result, but we totally owned that game from start to finish. 4 goals and the world's supply of confidence will do our squad no end of good. It's obvious that you have some class players in you team, but it didn't look like you fancied it today, although the red card did you no favours, an absolutely appalling tackle. Good luck for the rest of the season.

West Road Tap if you're lucky enough to get in. It's a converted public toilet but the beers are legendary and the regulars will jam it out on match day. Away fans are welcome as long as they behave.

Bridgey loves Southend and we love him. He's a Southend lad and came up through the Academy before moving on under Tango man Brown's guidance and then coming back. He, and Nathan Ralph, are both out of contract but it seems we are allowed to play them, and they both want to play. On his day Bridge is one of the best wingers in this division.

No damage done, I have a very thick skin and now I understand the circumstances better I will respond accordingly (nicely).

He played at right centre back supported by a right wing back. We all knew he wanted to return to the North to be nearer his family so it was no big surprise when he made the move, but he was probably our most consistent defender throughout the season and we were gutted to lose him. You have a very honest footballer in Hobbo and I hope you will approve.