Viva la Spain! At least it's wiped the smug look off the German that I've had to endure over the last month. How do the old Krauts do it? One world class player in Ballack, otherwise a team that would struggle to reach mid-table in the Premiership, al la World Cup 2000, and once again they get to the bloody final! Still, well done the Spanish, at last that bi-annual bet on the country I've been placing for the last twenty tournaments has paid off at last!
Anyway, good to be back, away from "where is England then?" comments on every bloody island we visited, even being asked about Chelsea by one Greek seeing my blue shirt. Having been put in his place, "Ahh, Southend, you had Greek player once." Did we? Who? Andy Polycarpu?!!! (Maybe he meant Nicolau, sorry mate he was born in Camden!)
What's up then? The new ground for one it seems, good news on that front. In the latest communication from the relevant sources dated June 30 2008 the following can be revealed, though still expect minor legal issues to arise.
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| An artist's impression of the new stadium |
Formal Decision 16
Accordingly and for the reasons given above and in her letter of the 5th march 2008 the Secretary of state hereby agrees with the Inspector's conclusion and grants planning permission A in respect of your client's application to Southend on Sea BC for demolition of a night club and football training facilities ; erection of a 22,000 seater football stadium including a 114 bedroom hotel, conference floorspace, players hostel, food and drink concessions, bars and other ancillary facilities all contained within the stadium, erection of 67 flats with basement parking spaces, erection of A1 retail units totaling 16,400m2 floorspace of which at least 20 % shall be restricted to the range of comparison goods specifies in condition 7 attached to this consent, erection of a A3 restaurant comprising 279m2 floorspace, erection of a D2 health club totaling 3205ms floorspace lay out parking etc and vehicular access B the training pitches and surface car park for 454 cars.
Great stuff, 2010 here we come. Uncle Ron's reaction here. http://www.southendunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~1336808,00.html
Gower to practice his high notes in the choirs of South Wales for another. Did say that rumour had legs, mainly as he was out of contract so just a small gamble for the Swanny manager. A gamble all the same, he's no Andy Robinson with nothing like that players consistancy, though the Swansea faithfull seem to have got over young Andy, wishing him a fond farewell, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSGJ45_5XFc.
Back to Mark, a vital cog in our incredible five years under T&B with over 200 appearances and 40 goals. I notice he had a couple of goals in this excellent top ten SUFC 07/08 goals video from deano2510, http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PEjOIm_Sb7U&feature=related, but along with a few other Shrimpers it's that goal in the away leg of the LDV semi-final v Bristol Rovers that summed up what he can do when on top of his game. A cut inside at pace, bang, back of the net. Birmingham away in the Championship is another that springs to mind. His final comments on why the Swans. "Playing in the Championship again played a big part in my decision to come to Swansea. It's an important stage of my career and I am looking for some success with Swansea. I know what it's like to play in the Championship. It's a lot more physical while set-pieces play a big part; so it's important to be able to defend well. But Swansea are a footballing side and if they can pass the ball about like they did last season then they will dominate sides. When I spoke to Roberto (Martinez) I was very impressed with what he had to say. He is not prepared to rest on what the club achieved last season; he wants to push on. He has a clear vision for the club; an ambitious vision; and I want to be part of it. I've got fantastic memories of the Liberty Stadium and I hope to have a few more.'' Nos da Mark and good luck.
How about everyone else on the playing side as we enter July, a week from the first friendly and six weeks to the opening league fixture?
Goalkeepers; Collis signed a two-year deal with Crewe this very morning (Tuesday), best of luck Steve who made 26 appearances for the club over two seasons and did well when replacing Flavs midway through last season, while we could have news of Darryl off to a Championship club, (a call to the Palace anyone, on 2k a week?!)
Steve Mildenhall joins from feeder club Yeovil, better luck this time Tilly, after slagging off his former club's ambition. "I've had some long old chats with the gaffer over the last month. I've had some great chats with him to be fair, and he did his upmost to try and persuade me to stay. I sat down and had a good chat with my family. (Likes lots of chats, hopefully with his defense!) For me somewhere along the line there doesn't seem to be the same ambition from people in the way that the gaffer has got. In the long run I had to weigh up whether I felt the club was going to be able to make a push for next season onwards to try and emulate what we did for the play-off final or even do something automatically. But to put my hand on my heart, I don't think that some people are prepared to back the gaffer as much as they could have done. So in that respect I had to weigh it up. Southend have had a few years now of success. They've got into the Championship and they've had two LDV Finals. Unfortunately they got relegated from the Championship but only narrowly and they were pushing straight away last season again and they got to the play-off semi-finals and were disappointed not to get to the final. So for me it's got the sort of mood at their club where they've got stability there with their manager, a Chairman who is as ambitious as the manager is there, and also plans in the pipeline where they are starting a magnificent new 22,000 capacity stadium. So I went down there and it just seemed like a place where everybody was pulling in the same direction and where everybody was showing real ambition." Enjoy standing at the Glovers home end come October Steve.
Though their chief executive believing we were sponsored by 'our owners' seems a bit rich. Martyn, I think we are just less broke than you, (and maybe have some Championship/Freddie money hanging around). Here is Yeovil Town Chief Executive Martyn Starnes speaking to local journalist Chris Spittles in an interview broadcast on BBC Bristol on June 7th 2008, after Mildenhall left the club for the Blues.
MS: It's obviously disappointing to lose a player of Steve's calibre. It's no secret that we regard him highly. We made him a very good offer by goalkeeping standards for this division. If he can get a better offer from elsewhere then we have to say good luck to the player. It is a short career. We felt that we'd made him a very very good offer but sadly there are teams in this division that can afford to go higher. With regards to lacking ambition, we don't lack ambition at all at this football club. We have plans in which to get the success that we desire. We are going to implement those plans over the next few years and we are confident that we can move this club forward and make it more successful than it has already been.
CS: Is it a case of clubs in this division spending large amounts of money? We've seen clubs in the past spending money that they can't afford to spend on players.
MS: That's absolutely right. If we gave in to all of the initial demands that players make to us when we make enquries, then sadly we'd be in the same situation as Bournemouth in all probability. The fans in Bournemouth are wondering if they are going to have a club to support for next season. We're very mindful here of our responsibilities that we have to first and foremost and try and build on our financial prudence and get success from that base. That is what we intend to do.
CS: That means at times that tough decisions will have to be made and that you may miss out on targets because some clubs are willing to pay more money for them?
MS: Absolutely right. We are competing against clubs in this division that have got big revenues from attendances. That is just a fact of life. We are a small town. We are exceptionally well supported for the size of town that we are and we appreciate that and we hope that will continue to prosper over the coming few years. But we are also up against certain clubs and I would count Southend as amongst them, that are heavily subsidised by their owners. We don't have a subsidy coming into this football club and we therefore have to work within the revenues and the income that we are able to generate naturally.
At third choice we have the promising Clark Masters who may find himself promoted if Little Darryl decides to leave but also might find himself playing on loan at a Blue Square Premier club. I think Tilly have got it about right here.
In defence Simon Francis has signed a new three-year deal keeping him at the club until 2011. It's all here folks. http://www.southendunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~1336695,00.html
Not sure Peter Clarke will be joining him but with Captain Adam safely signed up I believe we can afford to lose Clarkey as long as Tilly has a decent replacement lined up. The left back spot is still open, will we cough up the dosh for Charlie or will a richer League One club open their wallets? I would like to think we have a head start and would love to see him stay. One to watch but young Johnny Herd could make his first team debut faster than he thought.
We have signed 23 year old Charlton lad Osei Sankofa who looks a straight replacement for Lews Hunt, good luck on finding another club Lewis, but can't be a mug having been capped for England at the under-16, under-18 and under-19 levels. Also deserves kudos for getting sent off for pulling down Van Persie when he was clear on goal, though not for the appeal! Some predictible adverse comments from Brentford fans who he played for on loan but, as ever, lets see him actually play before we see him off! Players can improve later than others and Charlton did keep resigning him, they must have seen something.
Midfield.......Macca has signed a new three-year deal, hurrah. We couldn't lose both! (Let's play how many games for Macca to get five yellows, my bet, November 1 v Colchester, but please not a red!) As Bailey is in the top ten goals as much as Gower I've probably helped add a naught on his fee but I'm still hopeful we can work something out, another season in League One playing regular first team football will not do him any harm, I'm sure he's aware of that, I just hope his agent is and it's with Southend, though I'm told said agent is an ex-Palace player who are sniffing around. Whatever happens expect more appearances for The Moooose allowing Peggy Lokando to keep the bench warm while gaining the odd start, a real talent to look forward to if he dosen't find a club to go out on loan to. It will be interesting how much Damian Scannell has come on in the close season. Of course we might find out quicker than we expected if a Gower replacement is not found in the next few weeks.
Upfront, best of luck at the Bees with MacDonald if it finally comes off. Charles Ademeno could replace him on the bench but another who might be out on loan. Hereford seem to have moved on re Hoops but I still expect another offer before August. Foran and Harry, who knows? The good Lord Lee Barnard should be wrapped up in whatever will get him 35 appearances and 20 goals next season, whie James Walker needs to earn my forgiveness for that Donny miss. Bugger, that's the first time I've thought about that for a couple of weeks! Alex Revell, discuss.
Now, Paul Furlong, that's got you all clicking away. Even the Goat was younger, I think! Never correctly replacing our ex-Bemudian MBE Leonardo Shaun Goater was to haunt Tilly as Freddie's back gave up, as well as some all-round effort, towards the end of that fateful Championship season. Certainly at the beggining of the next as we were saved by our goal scoring midfield while upfront we struggled until the signing of Leon. Has Tilly repeated the trick, I hope so. If we can get 20 odd games and a few goals and assists out of the him it will be a job well done, he's been a positive presence at most clubs he's spent time with while a QPR mate of mine sees him as a living legend at the Bush in the same league as Les Ferdinand! He only left them a year ago, before Luton, after five seasons.
Previews of clubs and the new season soon enough as well as that new name, I'm up for keeping Gazette now, the Tilly Gazette maybe, changing with every manager, like Film 08 to Film 09, and why not?
The message board will be back now I can police it but shrimperzone remains the daddy on that front, however justice will be swift on any twat who tries his luck with some silly abuse so, please, if you have something realitivly intellegent to add please give it a go.
Lots of other work on the site that will start straight away as well as new writers and reporters joining for the season. We will not say we are the biggest or best but hopefully offer a different angle to the others on the only real club in Essex.