League 2: Southend United vs Torquay United
Posted: 19 Oct 2011, 14:02
We make the long journey to one of this seasons early pacesetters, Southend United, on Saturday. The Shrimpers have had an excellent start to the current campaign, and were top of the pack until they dropped 2 points at home to fellow early surprise-package, Morecambe, last weekend. Crawley picked up to move two points ahead of Southend. Anyway, we're 7 games without a win, Southend have not lost in 7, including winning 6 in a row before last weekend. So the formbook is heavily pointing in a home victory, and I can't say I'd be surprised, to be honest.
GULLS NEWS.
Well we've been told that Mark Ellis will be in on Saturday. What that means to the back four, I don't know. I don't know what the side will be on Saturday, but I believe we are injury-free for the long journey east.
THE OPPOSITION.
Now then, Southend United. The man in charge is Paul Sturrock. The experienced manager, who has achieved numerous promotions with several different clubs throughout his career, is doing a good job at Roots Hall, and deserves a lot of credit, considering the state the club were in 12 months ago.
Sturrock has had to rebuild the squad, and he's done a pretty good job of it too.
Starting in goal, we have resident keeper Glenn Morris. He spent 9 years at Leyton Orient before joining SUFC in 2010. Since then, he's made 45 appearances. The back up for Morris is youngster Daniel Bentley.
At the back, Sean Clohessy is the likely right-back. Previous clubs include Gillingham, Salisbury and Bath, before moving to Roots Hall. On the left, we'll probably see Peter Gilbert. Gilbert is well known down here, in the Green part of Devon, as he was part of their Second Division Championship season, in 2004. Gilbert has worked with Sturrock at both Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, and he obviously enjoys working under the Scottish manager. The Shrimpers boast several options in the middle of defence. Chris Barker, the captain, joined Southend in 2010, and has made over 50 appearances since. He joined from Plymouth, where he made 54 appearances. Another link to Plymouth is another defender, Graham Coughlan, another one who was part of the 2004 Championship winning side at Home Park. He also followed Sturrock to Hillsborough, and was a big hit there aswell. Another option at the back is Bilel Moshni. Moshni can play anywhere, but his preferred position is at the back. Southend is the first British club Moshni has played for, having previously plied his trade in his home country of France. Other options in defence are Mark Phillips, Luke Prosser and Ryan Leonard.
Into the midfield then. In the engine room, Anthony Grant has been a regular for Southend in recent years. The former Chelsea youngster has made over 140 appearances for the Shrimpers. Michael Timlin, on loan from fellow League 2 club Swindon, has been in the middle recently, and he has shown his ability in getting forward to score, especially when he hit two at Rotherham - both special goals, I must say. Other options in the middle include youngster Kane Ferdinand, who looks set to have a bright future, and former- Yeovil midfielder Jean Paul Kalala. On the wings, I expect to see Ryan Hall on the left, and it could be Jemal Johnson on the right, if they play four in the middle. Last weekend, they played a 5-3-2, with wing backs and 3 central midfielders. Gary Sawyer is another option in the middle.
Finally, upfront then. Sturrock made one of the better signings of the summer in League 2 when he took Millwall legend Neil Harris to Roots Hall. Harris has buckets of experience, with nearly 400 appearances for Millwall, over two spells. Barry Corr has done very well since moving to Roots Hall, he hit 15 or so last season, and he's scored one or two this year aswell. Liam Dickinson has also chipped in with a few, and he has seemingly settled well since moving in the summer. Other options include former Gull Blair Sturrock, and youngster Harry Crawford.
HOW THEY LINED UP.
This is how they lined up against Morecambe:
Morris
Clohessy
Phillips
Leonard (Moshni 63)
Barker
Gilbert
Hall
Timlin
Kalala (Grant 62)
Harris
Dickinson
Subs: Moshni, Grant, Bentley, Ferdinand, Sturrock
PREDICTION.
I can't see anything but a home win.
3-0.
GULLS NEWS.
Well we've been told that Mark Ellis will be in on Saturday. What that means to the back four, I don't know. I don't know what the side will be on Saturday, but I believe we are injury-free for the long journey east.
THE OPPOSITION.
Now then, Southend United. The man in charge is Paul Sturrock. The experienced manager, who has achieved numerous promotions with several different clubs throughout his career, is doing a good job at Roots Hall, and deserves a lot of credit, considering the state the club were in 12 months ago.
Sturrock has had to rebuild the squad, and he's done a pretty good job of it too.
Starting in goal, we have resident keeper Glenn Morris. He spent 9 years at Leyton Orient before joining SUFC in 2010. Since then, he's made 45 appearances. The back up for Morris is youngster Daniel Bentley.
At the back, Sean Clohessy is the likely right-back. Previous clubs include Gillingham, Salisbury and Bath, before moving to Roots Hall. On the left, we'll probably see Peter Gilbert. Gilbert is well known down here, in the Green part of Devon, as he was part of their Second Division Championship season, in 2004. Gilbert has worked with Sturrock at both Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, and he obviously enjoys working under the Scottish manager. The Shrimpers boast several options in the middle of defence. Chris Barker, the captain, joined Southend in 2010, and has made over 50 appearances since. He joined from Plymouth, where he made 54 appearances. Another link to Plymouth is another defender, Graham Coughlan, another one who was part of the 2004 Championship winning side at Home Park. He also followed Sturrock to Hillsborough, and was a big hit there aswell. Another option at the back is Bilel Moshni. Moshni can play anywhere, but his preferred position is at the back. Southend is the first British club Moshni has played for, having previously plied his trade in his home country of France. Other options in defence are Mark Phillips, Luke Prosser and Ryan Leonard.
Into the midfield then. In the engine room, Anthony Grant has been a regular for Southend in recent years. The former Chelsea youngster has made over 140 appearances for the Shrimpers. Michael Timlin, on loan from fellow League 2 club Swindon, has been in the middle recently, and he has shown his ability in getting forward to score, especially when he hit two at Rotherham - both special goals, I must say. Other options in the middle include youngster Kane Ferdinand, who looks set to have a bright future, and former- Yeovil midfielder Jean Paul Kalala. On the wings, I expect to see Ryan Hall on the left, and it could be Jemal Johnson on the right, if they play four in the middle. Last weekend, they played a 5-3-2, with wing backs and 3 central midfielders. Gary Sawyer is another option in the middle.
Finally, upfront then. Sturrock made one of the better signings of the summer in League 2 when he took Millwall legend Neil Harris to Roots Hall. Harris has buckets of experience, with nearly 400 appearances for Millwall, over two spells. Barry Corr has done very well since moving to Roots Hall, he hit 15 or so last season, and he's scored one or two this year aswell. Liam Dickinson has also chipped in with a few, and he has seemingly settled well since moving in the summer. Other options include former Gull Blair Sturrock, and youngster Harry Crawford.
HOW THEY LINED UP.
This is how they lined up against Morecambe:
Morris
Clohessy
Phillips
Leonard (Moshni 63)
Barker
Gilbert
Hall
Timlin
Kalala (Grant 62)
Harris
Dickinson
Subs: Moshni, Grant, Bentley, Ferdinand, Sturrock
PREDICTION.
I can't see anything but a home win.
3-0.
