I suspect I may be the last to say this, but just got back from the weekend (Southend saturday and Twickenham yesterday) and wanted to congratulate both players and fans for a fantastic day, and one that I think shows me that we have enough bottle to stay in this league this season. Before Birmingham I really thought we were down and out, but the players have shown extra fight and a desire to sttack teams that has paid huge dividends. If they carry on this way in the next two home games I can see us getting the four points that I am certain will keep us up (we may require even less). Well taken goals and a dominance that only broke down when players went off to be rested. It looks like Nardiello is playing either for a new contract or a move and it certainly seems to bring out the best in him. For me, Toggers was MOTM on Saturday, with Nyatanga a close 2nd (bad news that he's gone). Also special mention for Nick Colgan, who I have criticised much at times but made some very good saves. Enjoyed a good day out in Southend, nice weather and some good banter with some home fans (though it sounds like I might have found some of the better ones). What was with their fans though - I know we were all in a small enclosed space but we truly embarrassed them in their own ground. Most comedy moment was trying to walk up to Roots Hall and being told by a local at whilst at least a mile away that "You can't miss it"! Christ - even while we were walking round to the away end you couldn't see it over the roofs of the houses on the road! Yooooooooouuuuuuuuuu Redddddddddssssssssssssssssss
'For me, Toggers was MOTM on Saturday, with Nyatanga a close 2nd (bad news that he's gone). Also special mention for Nick Colgan, who I have criticised much at times but made some very good saves. ' Enjoyed a good day out in Southend, nice weather and some good banter with some home fans (though it sounds like I might have found some of the better ones). What was with their fans though - I know we were all in a small enclosed space but we truly embarrassed them in their own ground. ' 1. Totally agree with your MOTMs. Togwell really is the unsung hero and has been so in many games this season. Only player I can remember with such a workrate over 90 mins for Reds was Brendan O Connell. Nyatanga quality and Colgan -well, since he got dropped for Lucas , it seems to have given him a good kick up the backside and he has responded well. 2. Speaking to one of their fans outside the ground before we kicked off - despite him being a nice enough bloke he seemed to have a quiet cockiness about him that they were gonna turn us over. He predicted 3-1 to Southend and was a little critical of us for 'only bringing 1,000 fans'. I did explain it was one of the longest trips of the season- I didntt tell him that I thought they wouldn't have brought more than this if it had been at Oakwell...............never mind, the 1,000 who did go sounded like 5,000. One of the best and noisiest away followings I have had the privelege to be part of in over 30 years watching the Reds. ..........................also well done Davey. I reckon the mind games about Reid, Howard and Devenay not playing definately rocked Southend and their preperations.
Worth every penny and hour spent on the motorway. A truly memorable day. Also spoke to a few Saaarfend fans before the game and they were also decent. Maybe we spoke to the same ones and the rest are idiots.
I think the vast vast majority are good eggs - but I don't get the impression they live and breath the game like we do. I actually went on my own last year - got talking to a SUFC fan - and he gave me a spare ticket he had for free. Top bloke as well. So I have devoloped a little bit of an affinity with them until.....................I read the absolute vitriolic nonsense one of them posted on the Shrimper Zone re BFC (See previous thread from yesterday).