Zak Brunt and Kacper Lopata

[Yogi]

Are they long term injuries, hamstrings and such? Nothing worse than the ones that take an age of physio and careful nursing to avoid another longer time out through 'back too soon'.

We’ve a hell of a lot of fairly serious long term injuries one which looks like it’s seriously threatening the continued career of a centreback who otherwise would have England caps and our Norwegian international has just come back from over a year out after his hamstring disconnected from the bone you can imagine how long it took to rehab that and even longer still for him to have confidence in it again. Our record signing also out for the year with a hamstring issue and recently one of the rightbacks also got an injury to match. When you couple that with the regular amount of contact injuries and strains you can see why we’re up against it.

We apparently train at very high intensity like we did under wilder problem is it’s a switch we’ve made mid season after Jokanovic apparently having a very relaxed approach to sessions and we had a very covid disrupted pre season think that drastic shift in workload without the ground work having been done in the summer is doing for a lot of the players. That and they high number of games in a short time due to previous covid cancelled games.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

We’ve a hell of a lot of fairly serious long term injuries one which looks like it’s seriously threatening the continued career of a centreback who otherwise would have England caps and our Norwegian international has just come back from over a year out after his hamstring disconnected from the bone you can imagine how long it took to rehab that and even longer still for him to have confidence in it again. Our record signing also out for the year with a hamstring issue and recently one of the rightbacks also got an injury to match. When you couple that with the regular amount of contact injuries and strains you can see why we’re up against it.

We apparently train at very high intensity like we did under wilder problem is it’s a switch we’ve made mid season after Jokanovic apparently having a very relaxed approach to sessions and we had a very covid disrupted pre season think that drastic shift in workload without the ground work having been done in the summer is doing for a lot of the players. That and they high number of games in a short time due to previous covid cancelled games.

That sounds pretty dire Yogi, and could well derail your play-off push. Hopefully you hang on in there, snatching points enough to keep you at the table. If not, those players will still be good when they return, even if it's next season.

 

[Yogi]

That sounds pretty dire Yogi, and could well derail your play-off push. Hopefully you hang on in there, snatching points enough to keep you at the table. If not, those players will still be good when they return, even if it's next season.

We should be right for the playoffs as the short term ones come back and then it’s a coin flip.

Long term we have our own financial issues and any big contracts that can be moved will be moved.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Dagenham and Redbridge at Roots Hall tonight, they turned up we didn't and we were ripped a new one by half time and 0-2 down. Everyone hoped that Lopata's absence would be covered, sadly it wasn't and the team just didn't look the same in his absence. It is what it is though, our run had to end some time and hopefully we will come back stronger. Even Captain America Neal had a headless chicken night tonight, trying just a bit too hard and not much came off for him. Feels a total bollock night at the moment but another home game on Saturday to redeem our selves. Lopata better play for you lot on Saturday, that all I can say on that front. It shows just how much he was an integral part of our defence and a natural leader.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Proof, if proof were needed that BBC Sport is now manned/womaned by chimpanzees with the factual accuracy ability of a blind mollusc. Total tossers.

 

[Yogi]

Dagenham and Redbridge at Roots Hall tonight, they turned up we didn't and we were ripped a new one by half time and 0-2 down. Everyone hoped that Lopata's absence would be covered, sadly it wasn't and the team just didn't look the same in his absence. It is what it is though, our run had to end some time and hopefully we will come back stronger. Even Captain America Neal had a headless chicken night tonight, trying just a bit too hard and not much came off for him. Feels a total bollock night at the moment but another home game on Saturday to redeem our selves. Lopata better play for you lot on Saturday, that all I can say on that front. It shows just how much he was an integral part of our defence and a natural leader.

He could very well get his chance. Unless Davies is back fit and his off field circumstances are such that he feels up to playing football then it’ll be a competition between Lopata and his academy teammate Gordon.

 

[Badger Blade]

He could very well get his chance. Unless Davies is back fit and his off field circumstances are such that he feels up to playing football then it’ll be a competition between Lopata and his academy teammate Gordon.

I'd sooner have Lopata in the team if Madine starts for Blackpool. He'll have a field day against Egan, Gordon and JLT.

 

[Yogi]

I'd sooner have Lopata in the team if Madine starts for Blackpool. He'll have a field day against Egan, Gordon and JLT.

Yeah I wouldn’t be against giving him a run out just depends on how Hecky wants to balance the back 3 in terms of righties and lefties especially is osborn is playing rightback again

 

[Rootshallbloke]

A good result for you chaps yesterday, keeps you in the play off mix and you kept a clean sheet without Kacper's help. On to Altringham, who cancelled their supporters coach to us after only selling 7 tickets, but who had won their last three home games 3-0, 5-0 and 4-0 with and draw in between. Outcome? we saw them off after a shaky start but with two hard earned goals and a much better performance than Tuesday night. Not a brilliant game but we did learn that Neal needs an experienced head next to him to get the best from the lad. First half he was crowded out by the Altringham players and it was all a bit frantic for him. Second half, we introduced his 34 year old mid field buddy and Harrison then blossomed again with time on the ball and the chance to improve his shooting.

At the final whistle I did muse that it was good that both SUFCs had won 2-0 at home and we would all go home happy, but I also wondered whether Kacper would have been happier at the heart of our defence rather than getting splinters up his arse on the Blades bench? Yeah, I know, childish, he yours and gone so move on Roots.

 

[Champagneblade]

A good result for you chaps yesterday, keeps you in the play off mix and you kept a clean sheet without Kacper's help. On to Altringham, who cancelled their supporters coach to us after only selling 7 tickets, but who had won their last three home games 3-0, 5-0 and 4-0 with and draw in between. Outcome? we saw them off after a shaky start but with two hard earned goals and a much better performance than Tuesday night. Not a brilliant game but we did learn that Neal needs an experienced head next to him to get the best from the lad. First half he was crowded out by the Altringham players and it was all a bit frantic for him. Second half, we introduced his 34 year old mid field buddy and Harrison then blossomed again with time on the ball and the chance to improve his shooting.

At the final whistle I did muse that it was good that both SUFCs had won 2-0 at home and we would all go home happy, but I also wondered whether Kacper would have been happier at the heart of our defence rather than getting splinters up his arse on the Blades bench? Yeah, I know, childish, he yours and gone so move on Roots.

Can we send him back to you or is that it done?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Can we send him back to you or is that it done?

Not a clue mate. I would be amazed if you would hand him back now given your injury worries but loan criteria between league and non league are a total mystery to me.

 

[FriethBlade]

Lopata is gonna be like Jebbo. Both players development would have been better served by leaving them where they were. However injuries have dictated that they had to come back to provide cover.

It seems Hecky wont blood them unless absolutely necessary and with Gordon looking better the last 2 games and Bash and Davies hopefully back soon I cant see Lopata getting a game at all.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

A good result for you chaps yesterday, keeps you in the play off mix and you kept a clean sheet without Kacper's help. On to Altringham, who cancelled their supporters coach to us after only selling 7 tickets, but who had won their last three home games 3-0, 5-0 and 4-0 with and draw in between. Outcome? we saw them off after a shaky start but with two hard earned goals and a much better performance than Tuesday night. Not a brilliant game but we did learn that Neal needs an experienced head next to him to get the best from the lad. First half he was crowded out by the Altringham players and it was all a bit frantic for him. Second half, we introduced his 34 year old mid field buddy and Harrison then blossomed again with time on the ball and the chance to improve his shooting.

At the final whistle I did muse that it was good that both SUFCs had won 2-0 at home and we would all go home happy, but I also wondered whether Kacper would have been happier at the heart of our defence rather than getting splinters up his arse on the Blades bench? Yeah, I know, childish, he yours and gone so move on Roots.

Thanks to your glowing report on him its got some of ours fans giddy about him (it doesn't take much with our Academy players) and they would chuck him in straight away, despite never actually seeing him play.
Realistically I don't think he was ever going to be anything other than emergency cover big step up from Non League to Championship, but we were down to the bare bones and it would have been foolish not to have recalled him. Otherwise we would probably have been asking if anyone in the ticket office could play centre half that's how bad its got.
Hopefully now with the break we can get at least one centre half back and if we can he might not even be a bench warmer. I don't know for certain but I would be really surprised if we could let him come back to you. Which is a real shame for him, yourselves and us.

Please don't take what I say as criticism of the lad or that I'm writing him off, I haven't seen him play. I take the view if he was close to being ready for the Championship we wouldn't have sent him out on loan or at the very least not to a Non league club ( No disrespect intended).

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Thanks to your glowing report on him its got some of ours fans giddy about him (it doesn't take much with our Academy players) and they would chuck him in straight away, despite never actually seeing him play.
Realistically I don't think he was ever going to be anything other than emergency cover big step up from Non League to Championship, but we were down to the bare bones and it would have been foolish not to have recalled him. Otherwise we would probably have been asking if anyone in the ticket office could play centre half that's how bad its got.
Hopefully now with the break we can get at least one centre half back and if we can he might not even be a bench warmer. I don't know for certain but I would be really surprised if we could let him come back to you. Which is a real shame for him, yourselves and us.

Please don't take what I say as criticism of the lad or that I'm writing him off, I haven't seen him play. I take the view if he was close to being ready for the Championship we wouldn't have sent him out on loan or at the very least not to a Non league club ( No disrespect intended).

And absolutely no criticism or disrespect taken my friend. I totally agree with you that the step up is huge but interestingly you have one of your U23s playing at CB at Solihull Moors who has been getting great reviews and playing regularly for a team in the NL Play-off positions. We found it odd that he wasn't recalled but Cacper was which maybe suggests our loanee was making real progress in the eyes of your scouts. Either way, at some point Lopata will make a first class defender at a decent level (above FL1). I don't pretend to be a definitive judge, but I played as a CB at a tolerably decent level back in the day and have been watching pro players for 6 decades now and that boy has it all if he wants it.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

And absolutely no criticism or disrespect taken my friend. I totally agree with you that the step up is huge but interestingly you have one of your U23s playing at CB at Solihull Moors who has been getting great reviews and playing regularly for a team in the NL Play-off positions. We found it odd that he wasn't recalled but Cacper was which maybe suggests our loanee was making real progress in the eyes of your scouts. Either way, at some point Lopata will make a first class defender at a decent level (above FL1). I don't pretend to be a definitive judge, but I played as a CB at a tolerably decent level back in the day and have been watching pro players for 6 decades now and that boy has it all if he wants it.

I think he’s the cover if Egan gets injured mate. We really don’t have a like for like replacement in my opinion and I would see Lopata as filling that gap if needed.

 

[Champagneblade]

And absolutely no criticism or disrespect taken my friend. I totally agree with you that the step up is huge but interestingly you have one of your U23s playing at CB at Solihull Moors who has been getting great reviews and playing regularly for a team in the NL Play-off positions. We found it odd that he wasn't recalled but Cacper was which maybe suggests our loanee was making real progress in the eyes of your scouts. Either way, at some point Lopata will make a first class defender at a decent level (above FL1). I don't pretend to be a definitive judge, but I played as a CB at a tolerably decent level back in the day and have been watching pro players for 6 decades now and that boy has it all if he wants it.

The one you are talking about is Harry Boyes.

He is a left wing back. I think he's been playing left midfield or left back. He's not a centre back unless he's being asked to lay on the left of a three. He's quite small I recall

Only ever heard good things about him from this loan spell and his previous one.

Different player to Lopata soni doubt his recall was ever a consideration.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

The one you are talking about is Harry Boyes.

He is a left wing back. I think he's been playing left midfield or left back. He's not a centre back unless he's being asked to lay on the left of a three. He's quite small I recall

Only ever heard good things about him from this loan spell and his previous one.

Different player to Lopata soni doubt his recall was ever a consideration.

Which just goes to show I shouldn't listen to ShrimperZone gossip on most subjects and opposition players. I stand corrected. I vaguely remember him now, he had a useful game against us.

 

[Yogi]

A good result for you chaps yesterday, keeps you in the play off mix and you kept a clean sheet without Kacper's help. On to Altringham, who cancelled their supporters coach to us after only selling 7 tickets, but who had won their last three home games 3-0, 5-0 and 4-0 with and draw in between. Outcome? we saw them off after a shaky start but with two hard earned goals and a much better performance than Tuesday night. Not a brilliant game but we did learn that Neal needs an experienced head next to him to get the best from the lad. First half he was crowded out by the Altringham players and it was all a bit frantic for him. Second half, we introduced his 34 year old mid field buddy and Harrison then blossomed again with time on the ball and the chance to improve his shooting.

At the final whistle I did muse that it was good that both SUFCs had won 2-0 at home and we would all go home happy, but I also wondered whether Kacper would have been happier at the heart of our defence rather than getting splinters up his arse on the Blades bench? Yeah, I know, childish, he yours and gone so move on Roots.

unfortunately for Kasper he’s currently 4th choice out of the fit centrebacks not quite guaranteed to start but still vital to have around. It might be worth looking at the nature of the loan deal and whether we can send him back as if we were to get a couple back before the end of the season then it would be in everyone’s interests to see him back playing.

Glad to see you pick up a good result roots. How’s things looking down your way I know you’ve made some incredible progress in the league is there still optimism of a late charge for the playoffs? How’s things off the pitch?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

unfortunately for Kasper he’s currently 4th choice out of the fit centrebacks not quite guaranteed to start but still vital to have around. It might be worth looking at the nature of the loan deal and whether we can send him back as if we were to get a couple back before the end of the season then it would be in everyone’s interests to see him back playing.

Glad to see you pick up a good result roots. How’s things looking down your way I know you’ve made some incredible progress in the league is there still optimism of a late charge for the playoffs? How’s things off the pitch?

Difficult to call now as the loss against Daggers derailed us a bit on the confidence and points front. But one match at a time and see if anyone above blows up I suppose. Off the pitch is calm currently but you know what we fans are like, we're always looking for the next thing to go wrong. Stanley Collymore has gone a bit quiet and it wouldn't surprise me if our marriage with Stan is getting a bit strained now we're on a more even playing keel. Financially is the intriguing part. The Club are asking us to buy are season cards now and pay by cash or bank transfer as the Credit card companies last season hung on to our dosh and released it in instalments in case the Club went broke as if). Do we have a cash flow problem? We shall see. But no winding up orders just yet on the horizon.

 

[mattbianco1]

On to Altringham, who cancelled their supporters coach to us after only selling 7 tickets

7 match tickets, or 7 coach tickets?

 

[Yogi]

Difficult to call now as the loss against Daggers derailed us a bit on the confidence and points front. But one match at a time and see if anyone above blows up I suppose. Off the pitch is calm currently but you know what we fans are like, we're always looking for the next thing to go wrong. Stanley Collymore has gone a bit quiet and it wouldn't surprise me if our marriage with Stan is getting a bit strained now we're on a more even playing keel. Financially is the intriguing part. The Club are asking us to buy are season cards now and pay by cash or bank transfer as the Credit card companies last season hung on to our dosh and released it in instalments in case the Club went broke as if). Do we have a cash flow problem? We shall see. But no winding up orders just yet on the horizon.

Collymore had a hand in recruitment for you guys didn’t he ?

 

[S64 Blade]

Kacper has just posted a pic of him reading a book (a proper one too). Does Ben Osborn have competition?

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Collymore had a hand in recruitment for you guys didn’t he ?

His official title is Senior Football Strategist. He has been pulling in a fair amount of new sponsors to the club and glad handing with Prem and Championship clubs offering them opportunities to blood there youngsters with us. He's also been working with our media team to improve the product they put out. As for actually finding hidden gems, that has been down to the old stager John Still, and he and his network of scouts have been very effective on that front.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

7 match tickets, or 7 coach tickets?

Coach tickets, but I reckon you already knew that. They actually bought down 60 fans in the end.

 

[mattbianco1]

Coach tickets, but I reckon you already knew that. They actually bought down 60 fans in the end.

No, was being serious. Didn't know

 

[Rootshallbloke]

No, was being serious. Didn't know

The away attendances at Roots Hall reflect the overall support of some of the visiting teams and double figures is now becoming a norm especially when it's a mid week evening game.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

A few bits of trivia. We are now on the lookout for a new central defender as we've caught your disease and we are down to 2 fit centre backs, which suggests a return for Lopata is not going to happen. And it turns out that Harrison Neal did not need to suffer two games binned for exceeding the Yellow card limit. Our Afghan mid Noir Husin was due to be suspended and then the NL pointed out that yellows in NL South/North don't count in the NL count. So Noir got to play on Saturday and Harrison had to sit games out. Way to go Southend, good research work. Mind you, it did make Harrison work his nuts off to get back in the team, so another lesson learnt.

Oh , and I nearly forgot. Phil Brown has become Barrow's manager until the end of the season. I wonder if he will achieve another relegation for Barrow as well, that would look good on the CV. Barrow fans are in raptures at the news.

 

[Rootshallbloke]

Went to Maidenhead tonight and ended up losing ours. Took the lead, let them draw level and then get a winner. Top that off with one of ours getting a straight red and any thoughts of that impossible dream have gone I'm afraid.

 

[Yogi]

Went to Maidenhead tonight and ended up losing ours. Took the lead, let them draw level and then get a winner. Top that off with one of ours getting a straight red and any thoughts of that impossible dream have gone I'm afraid.

That’s a shame roots at least you’ve had a renaissance on the pitch and hopefully can start to build on that for next year as long as you don’t have anymore upheaval over the summer

 

[Rootshallbloke]

That’s a shame roots at least you’ve had a renaissance on the pitch and hopefully can start to build on that for next year as long as you don’t have anymore upheaval over the summer

Thanks Yogi, but in a way it's not and I'm glad the bubble has burst. Expectation amongst some our community has been ridiculously high, mostly by the kids who reckon we should wipe everyone out because we're Southend! Also the knives are out for the team and coaches already, but again mostly by those that love to see their avatars in print over and over.

Bottom line, we will know very well what we need to do between now and the start of next season and also player recruitment will be about success for SUFC or don't bother joining us. So I'm hopeful of a flying start for 22/23 season and being up there at the finish. On the upheaval front I genuinely believe that our CEO has a grip on all the baggage that our Chairman left unsorted when he played at being CEO, so provided the funding holds up, all will be well. The fans are also playing their part by turning up in serious numbers home and away which in turn puts more dosh in the pot. So on the SUFC front it's now down to you lot to deliver the promotion goods, Scunthorpe are looking doomed to join us next season and we ain't going anywhere now. So the Acronym success will have to be yours.