bigfatjoe1

2 minutes ago, Londonboy said:

Sod a right back. We're just gonna outscore everyone else this season!!

Royle-ball!  That would be nice, but can't see it. Still, you never know.

15 minutes ago, Guy Branston Pickle said:

I don't actually think that defence was that bad. Well, Pidge and Clark anyway. Look at their careers since. It was the total lad of midfield that did us that season. 

 

Some of the away performances particularly were brilliant though, so fun to watch. Shame he couldn't sort out the home form

 

Anyway, enough nostalgia. We're going up!

I don't disagree about the individual defenders, but we didn't defend well as a team. The midfield was often over run, leaving the defence exposed. One thing's for sure, it was rarely boring.

Now...it feels a bit like Christmas, with the media team doing a brilliant job with the wrapping.

9 minutes ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

Connor Macleney did it in 2020-21

 

A forgotten but quite remarkable achievement given the circumstances of the club at the time.

I really enjoyed the lockdown season. Kewell-Ball was very entertaining at times. Great forward line of Maceleny, Rowe and Dearnley. Also, possibly the worst defence I've ever seen. I mean, they were shocking. We scored more and conceded more than anyone else.

20 minutes ago, BP1960 said:

 

Seem a bit short on the right in comparison. 

Ward played off the right for Gateshead. Ward or Green, with Dickenson or Tollitt on the right. Five strikers will keep them all on their toes, which is great. Hope and Rooney to leave. 

Two more signings (rb and cm) and we'll be flying even higher.

1 hour ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

If we have 5 strikers you are probably going to be leaving atleast 3 of them frustrated every week as they won't be starting. If you've got 4 then that gives you enough options without the problem of having too many players kicking their heels every week. It's a fine balance between  having a decent sized squad which gives options compared to one that is bloated. 

 

Also I'd say we need to make sure that we create enough chances for the forwards we have right now. If I'm honest I think that's a bigger concern (I say bigger concern its a small concern in the grand scheme of things I think we will create chances) If more players are to come in I'd focus it on (apart from the obvious problem of right back) finding players that create enough chances because if we do the 4 strikers currently on the books will score plenty.

We used to have six, back in Joe's golden years. Healthy competition, as well as important cover. Yes, we need more strength out wide, in cm and, of course, rb, but I'd also be happy with another striker.

1 hour ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

Yeah seems strange to offer for another striker I think 4 is the optimum number of strikers you need certainly if you are playing 2 upfront all season would prefer it if money is spent in other areas tbh.

I honestly agree with Joe's old adage - you can't have enough strikers.

8 minutes ago, Fervid said:

Time will tell 

He's got a bit of pedigree, is only 21 and still has no club. Spent 6 years at City and then a season at Port Vale, so he's familiar with the area. Even if it's a guess, it's a good one. I'm off to Twitter...

On 7/24/2023 at 6:20 PM, Magic Mikey said:

Exactly that incident. Right in front of us in the away end at Leeds when we were defending a corner. Cunt! 

You could actually hear the sound of boot leather on the bastard's face. He didn't try anything after that.

1 hour ago, BP1960 said:

Hope our players don't fall into the pitch foxholes.

But wouldn't it be up to the referee to inspect the pitch and in theory if felt there was any danger to players call it off even on the day?

You'd hope they'd also looked at the pitch before making the decision. The ground might be safe, but that pitch is a mess. Maybe they're patching it up in time for Saturday?

2 hours ago, BP1960 said:

 

Yes, his preference will be experienced players not young loanees.

He's also said a couple of season long loans are a possibility. Mixed messages. 

37 minutes ago, daniel said:

Couldn’t post pics as they exceeded the size allowed, but Southend fans went to the ground today to help get it ready, along with their manager. Basically, the pitch isn’t playable, full of sand and fox shit and hasn’t bedded in, and has multiple mole hills etc. Maher has said he wouldn’t want the players playing on it due to increased risk of injuries. Can’t see how that changes in a week, and if I was us i’d be seriously concerned looking at that pitch and having to play on that. Feeling nothing but sorry for their situation, but the game is 6 days away and it’s piss poor that we don’t know what is happening yet, and the NL need to intervene here. 
Mentions of switching the game, or even finding a new venue, such as Braintree. 

The pictures are not great, are they. There's no way of playing on that. It's worse than my back garden. 

What a mess. Braintree is a bit of an extra trek, involving extra money to get there. It holds over 4k, with 500 seats. Would it need to be all-ticket? If we switch, fans who've booked the train will miss out. Local hotels are going to miss out. Poor by the NL.

Still, if we do switch, I can go, which is great...

53 minutes ago, ceskylatic said:

From being to all except the Barrow friendly pre-season, Ward looks like he’s no central midfielder, though likes to cut inside on his right and play more narrow than an out and out winger.

Gateshead compilation shows him playing mainly wide right, cutting in onto his left foot. Slightly reminds me of another Ward (Mark), who was a fantastic player for us.

Still need another quality wide play, quality CM and, of course, a RB. We've got a solid squad, we just need to up the quality in those areas. Three really good signings should push us up another level. Would like to see more of Willoughby. Please use him or Reid playing off one of the two big lumps  - don't play both lumps. 

Rhino's told us 3 will be incoming, so fingers crossed. Don't forget, there is no window closing at the end of August. Also, a lot of clubs loan out their youngsters fairly late on.

1 hour ago, Monty Burns said:

*keeps his inner bigot under control*

Sorry. I admit to having had a drink. It was meant to be tongue in cheek. I remember the old Boy's Brigade. Very wholesome activities for young people.

2 minutes ago, bigfatjoe1 said:

No, definitely no. St. Pats and the Boys Brigade. Nooooo. Perhaps you were joking...or just taking the sectarian piss.

4 hours ago, whittles left foot said:

Is that a Boys Brigade team?

No, definitely no. St. Pats and the Boys Brigade. Nooooo. Perhaps you were joking.

2 hours ago, oafc1955 said:

Just picked ST up, no news on Southend tickets, said at this stage likely to be POTD. If they do send some tickets probably won’t favour ST holders and will be 1st come 1st served.

Marcus took me through the lounge to the players tunnel….the pitch & stadium looks absolutely fantastic!!

3900 ST’s sold to date!

I'd get rid of the uncertainty and just switch it.

That way I can go!

10 hours ago, Magic Mikey said:

You've never seen Ian Baird play then? 

You mean BBBB Bastrad Baird. The dirty shit. Spitting at young Flynn. Still, got his own back. 

Not an ex player, and it's been mentioned on another thread, but it's really sad to hear about the death of Paul Hince. I loved his coverage of the Oldham games. He was entertaining, funny and always very biased. Went on to cover his lifelong favourite team, Shitty, but he can be forgiven. He wasn't afraid to rub people up the wrong way, famously Dalglish and Fergusson.

RIP Paul.

2 hours ago, Worcester Owl said:

I've hung on with BT Sport (sorry, TNT) and every time my sub runs out I agonise over whether to renew. As with Sky, if you threaten for long enough to cancel, they will eventually cut you an 18/24 month deal.

 

Feels a bit hypocritical saying this, as I hate what the "Premier" League has done to the game, but I mainly keep BT Sport for the Champions League (and NL for our occasional appearances - while we're in it!). The CL group stages can be pretty dull but once you get to the KO stages some of the matches are terrific entertainment. Most teams just go for it these days, home or away. Still a shame though that money rules - can't see an Ajax winning the trophy ever again.

I'm pretty much the same. The knock-out stages of the CL were brilliant. Their coverage of the NL is good. I like McLean. The play-offs alone, though, were worth the subscription. They were bat-shit crazy. 

23 minutes ago, LaticsPete said:

I have no recall about this player but he turned out seven times for us in 2021. 
Anyway, Marcus Barnes has signed for Mickleover in the Southern League. 

I'd forgotten about him. He was really crap.

3 hours ago, League one forever said:

I know we were interested in Ogle.
 

Do you know the other? 

There were a few, but, then again, too few to mention.

I just hope we swap Nuttall for Ogle...

3 hours ago, GlossopLatic said:

 

It's abit of fine margin though. We've had a pretty miserable decade as far as football fans are concerned and grievances have been justified. In that time Ive felt it necessary to come on here and get things off my chest but it can quickly go into a rant. 

 

We've won 6-1 and all people want to do is find fault in a player who didn't play in this game, is a 1 in 3 striker (could be a 1 in 2 if he puts his mind to it this season) and 1 who walks into half the teams in this division it begins to smack of entitlement. I just get angry about that.

 

There's nothing wrong with being reminded of sense of percepective sometimes. The term long suffering fans could easily be applied to us. But really we don't suffer do we. People suffered during covid, people in Ukraine are suffering but seeing our football team not always winning is not suffering. Abit frustrating but we are not suffering.

 

I'm looking forward to this season, for the first time in 20 years I'm actually expecting a promotion push. If we go up it will be fantastic if we don't it will be frustrating possibly even gutting if say we lose in play off final (which Luton did twice) but it won't be a tragedy knowone will die directly because of it and we will still all have to go to work and pay the bills. 

 

I know Ive gone off on abit of a tangent but sometimes we need to remind ourselves It's only football at the end of the day let's all just enjoy it shall we.

At least we're now only debating team/footballing issues and not the sort of crap we've endured for years. I think that's a big positive.

He's still crap, based on last season's performances....

1 hour ago, Guy Branston Pickle said:

Fair enough if it's a few weeks/months into the season, but we haven't even kicked off yet and people are whinging about a guy who didn't even play in a 6-1 win. I don't mind disagreements but come on.

I'm basing my argument on last season. Basing anything on pre-season is ridiculous. I just don't get what anyone sees in him, but I am genuinely happy to be proven wrong in the coming season. I hope he does impress. 

32 minutes ago, GlossopLatic said:

Anyonelse really excited by the fact that we have 4 genuinely good strikers.

 

All of whom are proven at this level, all of whom will get into the majority of teams at this level, and all of whom will all find the back of the net. The fact they are all having to fight for 2 or at the most 3 places is something to really look forward too.

If I'm being honest, no. I think Reid and Willoughby are fine. Fondop is a good impact player, but I really believe that we should replace Nuttall with a substantial upgrade. Everyone has their own opinion. I think he's ponderous, has a poor first touch, has no pace, doesn't chase defenders down and doesn't even attempt to track back when he loses the ball. 

Hopefully, he'll prove me wrong. 

Before our golden years under Joe, we weren't exactly knocking on the door of Division One or having great cup runs. It wasn't always a struggle in the old Division Two, but it was often 'challenging.'

That said, we did spend over 20 years in the top two divisions, so, yes, what came next was totally shit. 

I'd love to even remember being under 40...apart from the football. I'll never forget that...