BFC v SUFC - Preview

All,

I write Southend United match previews for http://www.leigh-on-sea.com and was wondering if one, two or however many of you would be kind enough to answer the questions below.

I’ll need them as soon as possible. The preview should hopefully be published on the site on Friday morning but I’ll need to include your answers, so the earlier, the better!

Questions…

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Barnsley?

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?

5. What are your views on Southend United?

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?

7. Links – What do you think of former Barnsley & Southend winger Jamal Campbell Ryce and former Barnsley & Southend defender Chris Barker?

8. Where do you expect both Barnsley and Southend to finish this season?

9. What advise would you give to those Southend fans travelling to the game? (I.e. the area round the ground, pubs, etc)

10. Which Barnsley players should Southend fans look out for?

11. Score Prediction for the game

Cheers

 

I'll do one for you mate.

 

Cheers mate

 

Richard - Supported since 1979

A season of complete extremes. In the early - mid part of the season we went on the worst run in living memory, losing 8 on the spin, sitting bottom of the table at the start of December and knocked out of the FA Cup by Altrincham. There are numerous theories as to why and how Lee Johnson kept his job but whatever the reason, he was a very lucky man. I certainly wanted him gone at that stage and am not particularly unhappy now that he went of his own accord. Then we signed Hammill and Long and the season turned completely. We are now on the best run in living memory and look unbeatable, have a trip to Wembley to look forward to in the JPT and we are all getting pretty excited that it might be the first of two trips to Wembley in the same season. Astonishing really.

Adam Hammill for me was the catalyst that turned around our season. Long, while he was here, was very impressive as well.

The last 2 wins over the last week. Both against top 6 sides and both very impressive performances. At Walsall on Saturday, we came off at half time the poorer side of the two, but the way we just turned it up a gear in the second half and blew them away was a joy to behold.

To be honest, I have not really taken any notice of Southend all season. I have just had to check the league table to see where they are in the league.

I really expected Sheffield United to do it this season with Nigel Adkins in charge, so that is a bit of a surprise but a very good one!

JCR - flatters to deceive.
CB - I remember him as being half decent but not in a stand out way. But my memory may deceive me.

I hope BFC can now keep up the momentum and stay in the play offs now that we have reached them. We have a better than average chance as the momentum is with us at the moment. Southend will just miss out.

It is not a high profile game, so there should be no security worries. The away "pub" is the bar in the sports centre next to the away end, but it is not a pub, it is a bar in a sports centre, so not the best. It you haven't got colours on there should be no problems with somewhere like the Old No 7 in town.

Hammill is back after a 3 game suspension. Winnall should hopefully back after a 1 game absence through a knock. Hourihane is playing out of his skin.

Barnsley 2-0

You're welcome!

 

1. George and I've supported Barnsley since 2002
2. Certainly the craziest season I've ever witnessed. From midtable mediocrity in August & September we went on an absolutely horrendous run of 8 defeats on the bounce that saw us propping up the league going into December. Amazingly since the turn of the year we have looked like league champions with 11 wins out of 13 propelling us into a playoff position. We also secured our place in the final of the JPT which was a nice distraction during the dark times.
3. Josh Brownhill. In my opinion one of the main reasons we have turned our season around. His all round play is magnificent. You should see his goal in our last game at Walsall.
4. Walsall 1-3 Barnsley. To go to 4th in the league without Hammill, White, Winnall and Bree and win comfortably was a great achievement.
5. One game sticks out in my mind when I think of Southend. I remember a cold FA Cup replay at Oakwell where Southend deservedly ran out 2-0 winners with a sensational goal from JCR.
6. Burton Albion have done incredibly well to be top of the league in their first season since promotion. Like many I expected Gillingham and Walsall to be midtable.
7. Jcr was a fantastic player in his 2 years here. I'll never forget his goals against Southend, Sheff Wed and Doncaster.
8. Barnsley to reach the playoffs and Southend to just miss out on them.
9. The metrodome is the usual place away fans congregrate.
10. Hammill is so skillful, Fletcher is bang on form, Chapman looks an exciting prospect and our 2 Centre mids Hourihane & Brownhill are a class above.
11. 2-0 with the Reds dominating the game.

 

1 Dean first went in 1979 with my dad but supported overall 45 years
2 season of 2 halves .. doom & gloom til december then amazing turn around since then
3 since he has come back Adam Hammill feels like he never left us, Sam Winnall since start of season GOAL MACHINE
4 beating Coventry last week 2-0 taking us to the edge of mission impossible to become missionpossible
5 great day out and cosy welcoming ground
6 walsall being up there all season
7 jcr all round hard worker and player, barker from what i remember was a solid defender for us
8 barnsley to consolidate and hopefully win play offs or even automatic, southend to finish above sheffield united
9 avoid town centre if wearing colours unfortunately we have some who find great pleasure in causing trouble, metrodome near the ground is usually the place for away fans
10 the starting 11 especially hammill (if he starts), winnall, brownhill, chapman, last 2 are stars of the future only 18 or 19 years old
11 3-1 to barnsley Sorry southend got to back my team

hope this is ok for ya Southend man

 

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Barnsley? Andy, supporter since 1978 (I was 12)

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far? At this point in time, I think it's going swimmingly. I just wake up every night thinking about that 8 match losing streak and thinking "what if?". We also have Hecky in charge now, which feels right. I'm in the camp that LJ was never a good fit, so I feel indifferent about his departure.

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why? Adam Hammill. Single-handedly woke the crowd up - like the return of a prodigal son. And the others seemed to feed off the energy of his return ..... the rest is history.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why? Last minute equaliser against the Blunts was pleasing, but for entertainment and to see the look on the old gaffers face; Rochdale at home, 6-1.

5. What are your views on Southend United? Fair play in my opinion. Done well on small crowds / budget and always more pleasing to see teams succeeding like that, as opposed to Bristol City last year, who flung zillions at it. Performance wise, Sarfend seem to be like Bradford City this season - there or thereabouts without doing anything special or spectacular.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you? Burton and Wallsall - small budgets but playing the right way. And the Blunts have also surprised me - I mean we were all expecting to see a contract offer for Adam Johnson by now. It's March; what are they laikin' at?

7. Links – What do you think of former Barnsley & Southend winger Jamal Campbell Ryce and former Barnsley & Southend defender Chris Barker? I liked Jamal, you knew what you were getting, but I don't think he was at his consistent best for us. Barker? Meh .....

8. Where do you expect both Barnsley and Southend to finish this season? I get the feeling our run can't last forever so expect us to fall just short (and thus rue that losing streak). If we don't make it, Southend might nick it if they can form a run til the end of the season.

9. What advise would you give to those Southend fans travelling to the game? (I.e. the area round the ground, pubs, etc) The Dove. Decent beer, decent food, decent welcome for away fans. Good bants, as the youth of today might say.

10. Which Barnsley players should Southend fans look out for? At the moment, I could name 11 and 3 subs. But Hammill, Brownhill, Chapman would spring to mind. Mawson at the back has been immense lately too.

11. Score Prediction for the game 3-1 Reds.

 

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Barnsley?

Steven Taylor - since 1975

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?

Bonkers. From being convinced we'd be playing Grimsby soon, to gutted if we don't make the play-offs

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?

Adam Hammill - changed our season.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?

Walsall away - showed Hecky as a ' head coach' in his own right imho

5. What are your views on Southend United?

This season ? doing really well - in general for the crowds they get I reckon all credit to them.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?

Burton

7. Links – What do you think of former Barnsley & Southend winger Jamal Campbell Ryce and former Barnsley & Southend defender Chris Barker?

JCR - superb for us. Barker - decent player, what happened to him ?

8. Where do you expect both Barnsley and Southend to finish this season?

hopefully in play-offs

9. What advise would you give to those Southend fans travelling to the game? (I.e. the area round the ground, pubs, etc)

Metrodome for a drink if you've got kids, otherwise you'll be fine in town minus colours etc

10. Which Barnsley players should Southend fans look out for?

Hammil, Hourihane, Chapman

11. Score Prediction for the game

1-1

 

1. Kevin, 1968.
2. A season of extremes, I've never known one like it.
3. Conor Hourihane. He's added consistency & leadership qualities to his undoubted and blatantly obvious talents.
4. The victory at Walsall when we were missing so many first teamers, but still produced an excellent away win.
5. They've done exceptionally well. At the start of the season, I would've thought consolidation was the aim. Now they have a great chance of the Play Offs.
6. Burton & Gillingham have both improved impressively without splashing the cash.
7. For a period of time during the 2008/09 season, JCR was unplayable. Unfortunately, for me, the rest of the time he flattered to deceive. I thought Barker was always 'meh'.
8. If we continue our form, then the Play Offs (at least) should be attainable. If the likes of Hunt, Mooney & Wordsworth find their scoring boots on a consistent basis for the rest of the season, the Play Offs are achievable for Southend.
9. The Metrodome is usually the best place for visiting fans. There shouldn't be any trouble if anyone fancies popping into a pub in the town, the Old No. 7 is popular with away supporters.
10. On present form, all of them, seriously.
11. Hopefully, we'll get our revenge for the defeat at Roots Hall earlier in the season.

 

James 1974/5 but regularly from 1977/78
As everyone has said a weird one where we have gone from despair to joy. Earlier in the season it was pretty much the worst team if every play for us consistently Hamill ignited our season and we are playing with pace verve and confidence.
Conor Hourihane. Transformed himself from a 'good player' to a great one by determination and hard work.
I enjoyed the win at Wallsall n Saturday and the roller coaster of our game against Blackpool that helped to kick start our season
Southend seem to be a good well run club these days with upwards momentum. I always love a trip to Roots Hall.
Sheffield United again have failed which surprised me given Adkins record at the other extreme both Burton and Gillingham have exceeded expectations.
jCR flattered to deceive. Unplayable on his day unfortunately his day didn't come round very often. Barker was ok can't say he made a lasting impression
I think we will just miss out on the play offs we have had such a good run it has to end sometime. Unfortunately I think you will join us in just missing out.
The Dove and Metrodome are the 2 man places for away fans but generally speaking if you are a normal person you are welcome in most places.
Hammill, Hourihane and Winnall but also loanees Chapman and Fletcher
2-2 good entertaining game.

 

5. How did you lose this game??

http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...league-one/10194065/southend-0-1-chesterfield

 

I'm probably a little late

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Barnsley?

Chris. I've been going to games since I was 3 years old, so for the last 23 years or so.


2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?

It has been the most extraordinary season imaginable up to present, and is far from over as many would have believed come the turn of the year. Whilst I always thought we were playing better football than our league position suggested during that losing run, we were bottom of the league because we consistently made 2 or 3 defensive errors a game, and weren't critical enough in front of goal. Since The end of November however, we've been scoring at will, and conceding gradually less goals in each game, epitomised by our current run of 7 clean sheets in 11 games, and 1 defeat in 12 ish?


3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?

At present I could easily name 7 or 8 who are in with a shout. Aside from the obvious (because our season turned with the arrivals of Hammill, White and Brownhill), I've been extremely impressed with Marley Watkins. Primarily a striker but often deployed out wide, he looks a complete footballer; he's strong and powerful, but at the same time, quick and agile. He has played a large part in the success of Winnall's season, and although hasn't weighed in with bags of goals, seems to be notching more often now. Fantastic player and still quite young.


4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?

The win at home to Bury. Might not sound like a groundbreaking moment, but it came off the back of the JPT semi-final win and Lee Johnson's departure; that could easily have been the game where our season ended. But to come out and win 3-0 in such a professional manner was completely out of the blue.


5. What are your views on Southend United?

I apologise, but a 7/8 year old me had this conception that Southend were the worst team in England. I had video highlights of our premiership promotion season, and vaguely remember going to our 3-0 win over Southend at home. I also recall you getting relegated 2 seasons on the trot at that time and used to use Southend as an example of a really bad team. Had a cracking day out there though in 2007, so it's ranked high in my favourite away days.


6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?

I thought Burton would struggle when Jimmy Floyd left, even more so when non league Nigel took over; but they've been consistent, more so than any other team in the division and are deservedly top of the league.


7. Links – What do you think of former Barnsley & Southend winger Jamal Campbell Ryce and former Barnsley & Southend defender Chris Barker?

Jamal was a cracking player in his first few seasons here. Will always treasure his winning goal at Hillsborough, which is a notoriously difficult away day for us. Simon Davey insisted on playing him anywhere where we were short of bodies, and I swear he played at centre half in a defeat to Ipswich one time.

Don't have too many recollections of Chris Barker; came through right at the end of our glory period if I remember correctly, and moved on during the dark days which most of us try to blank out. I think he splits opinion on here, local lad so I would assume that the opinions would be mostly favourable.


8. Where do you expect both Barnsley and Southend to finish this season?

I think we'll carry on from strength to strength now. I've been expecting this run to end for so long that I'm now convinced we're destined for champions league glory within 3 years. I fancy us to finish 4th as I think the top 2 and Millwall will also continue on their good run.

I believe you'll finish about 8th, which I think would signal a good season for yourselves. I think you may still be in with a chance of the top 6 if you can get a run going as I feel Coventry, Walsall and Gillingham are feeling the heat. Swindon may be your biggest threat to be honest.


9. What advise would you give to those Southend fans travelling to the game? (I.e. the area round the ground, pubs, etc)

Plenty to go at up Market Hill and around the town centre. The Police will advise the metronome which is a marquee in a sports hall, with no TVs, and flat beer in a plastic cup. I don't generally go drinking prior to the game as I drive in from Leeds, but I reckon if you go to one of the chain pubs such as the wetherspoons on market Hill (Joseph Bramah) or Walkabout, or the White Bear, you'll be fine.


10. Which Barnsley players should Southend fans look out for?

Young Harry Chapman on loan from Middlesbrough is the latest flavour of the week. Scored a worldy at Walsall after threatening in 2 sub appearances prior. Adam Hammill is back from suspension. Special mention for George Williams who'll be at left back, who has broke into the team of late and looks class despite only previously playing for Worcester and Loughborough Uni.


11. Score Prediction for the game
I'm optimistic we'll keep our run going. Another 3-1 win.

Safe trip and good luck for the rest of the season.

Sent from my I-Oven using the internets

 

Answers within your quote, in bold.

 

Conor Hourihane and his proven ability with 'dirty hard yards'. There's some kinda subtext there, Whitey

 

Seaside shrimper Are you the master butcher of Leigh-on-sea. When i saw Leigh-on-sea,that was the first thing that pop in my mind.

Sheriff fatman theres a great song from the past.

 

*UPDATE*

First of all, thank you everyone for your answers, but I would like to sincerely apologise.

I was working on the finishing touches (adding "The Opposition View", your answers along with a few other final sections) this morning when Microsoft Word crashed. To save what I've done, I normally go File --> Save & Send as I do it on my work computer before I start. Unfortunately, Word said it wasn't responding. I have since lost everything I was working on this morning and cannot continue as I have to start work.

I'm as annoyed as you will probably be when you read this. I will now miss the deadline to submit the article.

If there's anything I can do to make this up to you, please let me know.

Sorry again

SS

 

3 points would be nice.

 

First Dave Regis and now this? Bloody Southend.

 

For shame, sir!
It's a good job in the past you sold us Alan Little & Derrick Parker!

 

I work in Southend some weeks, so just point me in the direction of all the fanny and I'll let you off.