"I'm as fit as those twenty somethings boss, it's just a long way from the changing room to the pitch."
In our arrogant ivory tower here at TLG it does seem everytime we write about the fitness of the forwards, out comes a statement from the Hall that everything is hunky dory. 'Don't worry guys, the fact his leg has turned a strange shade of blue is a new training lotion Brushy's trying out'.
Macca needed more than a rest.
Was Damien brought back a match too early to reasure fans that these ugly rumours were just that?
Is all rosy in the Shrimpers striking household with four short days, that's less than a hundred hours folks, before the big kick off? Let's take a closer look.
In no particular order, oh OK, althabetical, it puts the good Lord first, until we sign Adebayo.
Lee Barnard: I think we are just going to have to accept the man is a walking sicknote. A mere touch and he's out for a couple of weeks. However, without him and his incredible scoring record we can forget promotion. At the last count he was still, "receiving treatment", so that could mean anything. 'Responding to' would be more reasuring, "hasn't trained for a couple of days, so hopefullly he'll be OK" is not!
His goal at Orient summed up the bloke and why we keep trusting T&B when they come up with such good value gems, (no diamond talk please, I come out in a cold sweat), but if we want a 20 goal a season man, he's our best bet. We need 35-40 games out of him somehow and all Blue suppoerters will be praying that his name is read out on Saturday afternoon.
Richie Foran: Well he's fit, but is playing one half for the youths and a second eleven the sign he is going to turn out for the first team in any shape or form? Emergency only or maybe a position on the subs bench. If we want to get rid of him we've got to show him off somehow, might still get a 80th minute equaliser.
Paul Furlong: What do you say about Mr. Furlong? 40 in October but has improved with every pre-season friendly he's played in, glancing a lovely header home against Chelmsford last Saturday. I had him on the subs bench last week but he might have pushed himself to the front of the queue. Maybe only for two thirds of the game, and opening league fixtures are not really the place for a gamble, but why not?
Matt Harrold: Is he alive, has the Prince absconded? The other five in the list have to all be injured for poor Matty to get a look in, so take that he'll start on Saturday and grab a hat-trick. I honestly wish he would but if I was a League Two club aiming for a top seven place I'd give him a go.
Let's hope this picture is not a premination of Alex Revell's future career at Southend
Alex Revell: Red Rum won me a small fortune when he won the third of his grand nationals, 20 notes on at 8-1 if I remember rightly, I hope I get as lucky on Alex Revell sometime. Look, the guy has not been fully fit since he's been here and that must have affected his form, not helped by being asked to play on the right wing at times. The Brighton faithfull loved him, no argument about his work rate. If only he'd scored that free header at the Borient, we might be talking about a different player now.
Picked last night to play in the reserves, to get him match fit for a first team appearance or keep the beanch warm? He still couldn't hit the net agaist Farnborough but Robert gave him top marks for effort, (read his report here, http://www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadsngl.asp?cid=ED91&id=400134), and I so want to believe.
To get the best out of him Tilly has to pick him in the centre, his strength will help Barney, and that height must come in handy eventually. Even so, I'm tempted to start with Paul now with Alex replacing him at some stage. I know if TB was writing this he'll be on his way to Dagenham on loan but I'm certain we'll see more of this player, remember Red Rum was known for his storming late finishes.
Damien Scannell: Well, he reckons he's going to be OK, but also doubted he should have started last weekend, what do you believe?
We do have a quote here from Tilly; "It's the same, (along with Walker), with Damian Scannell. His groin problem has been around a bit longer but we're hoping that he will be able to play too."
Wishing and Hoping is a great Dusty Springfield song but it's on my i-pod where I like to hear those words, not from the team boss. However, that's all we can do too as he's looked very good in the friendlies and without him we'll have no width at all!
James Walker: 'Winning his fight' we are told in tonights Echo. Not definitive at all but lets take any crumbs of comfort we can find.
Anyway they continue: The former Charlton Athletic trainee limped off towards the end of the 2-1 win at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday with a slight thigh problem.
But manager Steve Tilson is not expecting Walker to endure a long spell on the sidelines. "I think James should be back training in a couple of days and will be able to play on Saturday," confirmed the Blues boss.
So there you have it. If everyone turns up on Saturday morning with their kit I'm now going for Scannell and Walker to start wide, James can drift in, with Furlong and Barnard in the centre. Revell certainly on the bench but maybe Foran as well.
This would mean Barny covering back more than I would like as I can't see Paul covering acres off the pitch, more chance of an injury and less time in the box where he does the most damage. However, he scored a few last season by finding spave and running on to fine passes from the midfield, so if Paul can last an hour causing chaos it might work, it would be nice if Alex could then come on to help finish them off.
It's all in the hands of the Gods and the physio John Stannard!
Is Hertfordshire the Tilly destination to take a look at Watford left backs?
As for that 'damn position', again from the Echo.
Tilson is also continuing his search for a new left back and will tonight be watching his latest transfer target.
He said; "We're going to a game and hope that we will be able to bring him in by tomorrow if all goes to plan."
So I'm guessing he'll not be at Bayern Munich v Inter Milan so here's some relatively local fixtures he might be spotted at.
Sudbury v Ipswich, Havant & Waterloo v Portsmouth, Sailsbury v Bristol Rovers, Southampton v Stoke, St. Albans v Watford.
My money's on the last one, we have history with both clubs, though Deano last played for St. Albans 18 years ago, we did pick up the boy Yank from Watford and they have some good young players. Read the following:
Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd believes he will have to let more players go before he can sign others. He wants to sign former Reading fullback Ulises de la Cruz who has impressed on trial.
Boothroyd told the club's website: "We clearly need players, but I think we've got to move players out before we can move players in."
The defeat at Underhill, (2-3), followed a 2-1 loss at the Milton Keynes Dons and whilst Boothroyd has been able to blood some younger players he feels that is not the answer for the coming season.
"We've got some very good young players thanks to the Academy system coming through but they're not ready yet," Boothroyd said.
Only Jon Harley has arrived at Vicarage Road over the summer, whilst there have been several departures from the squad as the Hornets look to reduce their wage bill after failing to get promotion back to the Premier League.
Jon Harley, a left back, and he's after another fullback. Seems that's one position they can allow someone to leave, so check who plays in that position to-night, they are sending down a second eleven.
The money on Shrimperzone is going on Harding at Ipswich but a lone voice of the man known as Loz agrees with TLG and signals out this guy. A Mr. Jordan Parkes.
http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10400~37508,00.html
Certainly ticks the boxes, let battle commence.
Then we'll find out he's gone to Darlington!