Just got back mate - great day out - it probably isn’t as obvious to those who go every week but it seems to me that we’ve improved no end. The 2 centre backs look secure and the keeper is impressive... when we attack directly and with pace we look bloody good!! FTM
A better balance in mid-field and we will be unstoppable, I am sure Jack will sort it out as he has done with the back four, then we will control games as well as winning them imo.
Wouldn't mind having that ref every game like, he got everything right apart from the times he helped us out like not carding Catts for a blatant yellow.
I couldn't believe it mate, one of those fouls that makes you wince but no card, wasn't his first either. Good old ref. Catts did play well to be fair some nice passing and reading of the game to intercept and tackle.
I disagree I thought he played well. All of our decent attacking play in the first half resulted from his running. In the second half he was moved to cm alongside catts when McGeough, who actually was poor, went off. I do agree his touch was poor yesterday and had it been better we might have smashed them. But his movement opened the game up in the first half I think those who don't see his contribution to the team are only watching the ball.
I wouldn't say he played well because he can use the ball better than that but he's one of those players who works so hard that even when they aren't at their best they're still useful. I rate him, he's not always eye catching but he's involved in almost everything in attack and we always look better when him and Gooch are playing.
That was pretty even though. There were a number of blatant yellows he let go for both sides which is surprising. He wouldn’t have booked the lad for the ott challenge on the touch line if he hadn’t made his mouth go.
Their manager was complaining about some yellows his players got in relation to some not given to ours. He also said they should have got a pen at a key stage. He said the ref disrespected ''little' Southend.
I thought at one point we'd given away a pen until he didn't give it, haven't seen a replay but I had the feeling we'd got away with one. Think it was Flanagan with a clumsy challenge.
Me and my mate were in line with it. He would have give it I wouldnt. Having said that we had a stonewaller at the end and it wasnt given.
Fair enough, it was good to have a ref that let a lot of stuff go anyway and I thought he was fair to both sides. First decent ref I've seen this season in league one.
Hmm well if that's not a penalty then nothing is, totally cleared him out nowhere near the ball. We'd still have stuffed them though, that's if they could keep the pen on target and McLaughlin didn't save it.
Obviously my 1 view in real time now seems a fairly biased view. Having said that we have had some naff decisions off naff refs this season. Nice to get a break.
The standard is third rate as you would expect, but it will even itself out over a season, more important is having a squad that can cope with suspensions, and we are as well equipped as any in this respect, this could be a big advantage second half of the season, onwards and upwards.
