2012 Prediction League - Game 1; v Southend (away)

Div3North · 12-08-2012, 14:52

Southend United

V

Accrington Stanley

2012/13 Prediction League – Game 1; v Southend (away)

Trying to be impartial and dispassionate about it, you’d have to say that the Shrimpers made a right dog’s breakfast of the promotion run-in last season

; mid January – top, with 52 points from 25 games (2.08 per game)

; early March, when we went down to their place – 3rd, with 63 points from 35 games (1.80)

; end of the regular season – 4th, with 83 points from 46 (still 1.80)

. That, of course, gave them Crewe – the form team – in the Playoff semis, and out they went – 0-1 and 2-2 seeing the end of the dream

…………… By the way, did you see what Crewe – without Nick Powell but with about £6 million instead - did to fellow League One side Hartlepool in Saturday’s First Round CapOn Cup tie

? 5-0? What’s that all about? PS Any bets on First League One Manager To Be Sacked?

Eleven of last year’s squad were released, including Christian Dailly (38), who signed up in March but only played 3 times before a broken toe ended his season and retirement ended his career; also released were Congolese international midfielder Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala (30), whose previous clubs included Nice, Grimsby, Oldham, Yeovil and Bristol Rovers, plus manager Paul Sturrock’s striker son Blair (30) – who was signed by Dad no less than 4 times over his career (Nepotism Rules OK!

). Centre back Pat Baldwin (29), with a cv including 11 ½ years at Colchester, left in the summer for Exeter, and Liam Dickinson (26) – once of Stockport County (Derby, Brighton, Barnsley and Plymouth) who’s currently technically clubless – also left for pastures new; he landed at Port Vale, where he’s “completing his rehabilitation” or “proving his fitness”, depending which version you believe.

The most interesting ‘Mexican stand-off’ relates to 25 year-old CB/CF “bad boy” Bilel Mohsni – French-Tunisian, signed from ‘Championnat de France amateur 2’ side Sainte Genevieve Sports, and as likely to return from an away game on his own on the train as on the team bus

; suspended, and also disciplined by the club, he apparently believes he’s capable of better than League 2

, and has been on trial with West Ham (who’ve had a £150,000 bid turned down), for whom – in his first game – he scored a goal and an own goal

……Interestingly he hasn’t been allocated a Southend squad number for this season, which tells you much; Sam, you’ve been warned.

Into Roots Hall have come ex Bury and Rotherham CB Ryan Cresswell (24); Grenada international LB Anthony Straker (23), formerly of Crystal Palace, Wycombe and Aldershot ; Dagenham and Redbridge (and ex Gillingham, Brentford, Yeovil and Torquay) striker Gavin Tomlin (29); and Kevan Hurst (26), a wandering MF whose journey – not counting several loan spells – has gone from Sheffield (Utd) to Scunthorpe to Carlisle to Walsall; what a romantic journey round the Beauty Spots of the UK

. Back home, finally, came the £1.5 Million Man (“We have the Technology ………”) Freddy Eastwood; a Welsh international, Eastwood started round the lower Leagues, and played 135 games for Southend up to 2007 (scoring 65); he then went to Wolves for the said sum (well, you would, scoring 65 in 135 games!

), but after one (not-very-successful

) season he moved on to Coventry (£1.2 million), who decided – despite their poor season in 2011/12 – that he was surplus to requirements, allowed him to return to Roots Hall on loan (2 goals in 7), and he’s re-signed on a free.

Southend came down to League Two at the end of 2009/10, in 23rd place, just above Stockport

, with 10 wins out of 46 games, a goal difference of -21, and 43 points. Two seasons back we drew 1-1 at their place (Jimmy Ryan (of Scunthorpe) getting our goal), but won 3-1 at home – our 8th consecutive home win during The Run

– the goals coming from Ian Craney (of Rochdale), Terry Gornell (of Shrewsbury), and Lord Sunbeds (of Rochdale) with a penalty; last season, in our first home game, we conceded a 2nd minute penalty (a push in the back by Kevin McIntyre (of Rochdale)) and lost 2-1 (our goal scored by one Andrew Proctor (of PNE)), our cause not helped by Kevin McIntyre (of Rochdale) being sent off for two yellows (the second for not retiring 10 yards at a free kick

). Away, we shared the spoils; 2-2, with goals from Jamie Devitt and Padraig Amond ………..Overall, P4 W1 D2 L1 F7 A6; not bad, not thrilling …………… Devitt, by the way, played for Hull City, Grimsby (on loan) and Darlington (on loan) in season 2009/10 - all three teams ended the season being relegated ....

The Season 3 PL rules haven't changed; deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3pm on Saturday 18th August. Can Team Cookie get us off to a good start?

The Boss promises us goals and excitement

; Cashy and Wynonie have £10 each on at 100-1 for us to win the League ……..

Do we believe? OF COURSE WE DO

. I was mightily impressed with Wynonie’s self control and moderation in the “CapOn Cup Prediction” thread; 2-0 win? Not 10-3?

Mind you, he was still wrong …….

Mind you, so was I ………

Thumping win? Struggling sneaky win? Any kind of a win? 0-0 draw? Who knows? Maybe you do; get your entries in early – start the season as you mean to go on - by getting it wrong!

Good luck to everyone ……….and thanks for playing once again!