Southend United 2008/09 - 2; A tale of two loanees who paid off

Kevin Betsy - 6; Annoying. At times he looked as if could tear the opposition apart, at others you wondered if he was on the pitch at all! Tilly lost patience and Damien got his chance. However, the odd subs appearance, a start even when Scannel was injured, showed a player who might still be a vital member of the squad next season. Maybe. One Bristol City watcher told me after seeing a particular lack lustre display at Rovers, "he hasn't changed."

Damien Scannell - 7; Damien was a player that had been pushing for a first team long before Tilly actually gave him the chance. The Laurent and Scannell substitute show at Bristol Rovers last October where they took them apart, too late sadly at four down, showed what they both had, but it was Francis who started against Leeds in the very next match.

Rumours spread that there was a problem with the management. He did start against Carlisle where some around me were calling for him to be subbed when he scored a cracker in the 69th minute but then got injured. Will Tilly give him the call if fully fit August 8? I'm not dure the manager is fully convinced but must stay.

Franck Moussa - 8; The Moose started in the middle with Grant after Macca's injury and looked a little lost. Mr. Singh saw he had a small break which became longer when Christophe was brought in and off the Belgium went on loan to Wycombe and us SUFC Exiles who had spent £25 on his sponsorship started to wonder if we could get a refund.

What Spud did in downtown Buckinghamshire was a miracle indeed, he came back, placed on the left wing and proceeded to do the business. Looked to drift in the middle as much as possible he can't be seen as a long term fixture in that position, certainly getting the ball on his right foot as soon as he can.

Theo's selfless runs to the wing helped him, ending in his cracker against Hartlepool and a near miss against Cheltenham, all runs right through the centre! Must want to return there one day, what will Tilly do to keep him happy?

Hal Robson-Kanu - 8; Fantastic talent from Reading, his curling shot in the monsoon at Yeovil was one of the goals of the season. A real class act blessed with loads of technical ability. A loss when he went to Swindon and he repaid us by opening the scoring for them with a brilliant finish.

Has now signed until 2011 with the Berks club but might be shipped out again and we should keep in touch but if that means Moose fighting out for a game in the middle there could be up to five players fighting for two central positions, will Tilly want that sort of aggro? Tough one but HRK is very, very good. Diamonds could be back in fashion!
Strikers:

Dougie Freedman - 7; When he grabbed his 9 star performance at Crewe and we went off on to four succesive wins I felt it didn't matter how many we let in, we'd score more. At that stage we didn't need Dorian and a perfect season ten was his.

The sight of him limping off against Borient after another well taken goal summed up the rest of his season when it was thigh after another. 35 on May 25 still scored 5 goals in 18 games, (12 starts, 6 as sub), and as long as he's fully fit, the sight of him struggling through a half of football before being taken off was a sad sight, he'd still be in my team.

Lee Barnard - 7; The good Lord ended up as the top scorer with 11 scored in an injury ravaged season, well make that career, and I know of some weststanders who are losing patience. Don't. If we have width on both sides I believe we could start with at least one of Dougie or Lee, both together could be a gamble, though they would have to be fit at the same time!

Always ready to struggle back to get the ball, has plenty of skill when he gets it. Wins pass of the year with that lobbed effort against Leicester that Theo decided to break the bar with rather than the net! Wrap him up in cotton wool and start praying.

Theo Robinson - 8; Always full of running and a player of great pace, I warmed to Theo by the end of his spell from Watford. Certainly he could be a greedy sod, though as noted above his runs wide taking opponents with him helped both the Moose, see goal against Farmers as well as Pool, and Barnard later on, showed he could be a team guy when he wanted. Anyway, don't we like our strikers to be a touch single minded?

His finishing needs to improve but if he never wears the Blue shirt of Southend again his record of 7 goals, (in 20 games + 1 sub), turning into 7 wins may never be beaten!

Francis Laurent - 7; He might have started as the League One Henry against Leeds but he finished a cut price Kanu and certainly not a right winger. "One trick pony", a guy in front of me said. Ahh, but what a trick, when it works. The Frenchman could be the surprise of next season but might have to get used to some late cameos than having the starring role, certainly at first.

James Walker - 6; James, James, James. That equaliser at the Borient alone deserves we give him every chance, as well as that opener against Oldham at home, but let's be honest, a huge let down overall. The injuries don't help and I can see him going on loan at least when he gets fit. A more skilful Betsy, you know it's there, but wonder if your ever going to see it.

Tilly & Brush - 9; In T&B we continue to trust for another season and what they should do in TLG's humble opinion will be discussed on another day next week.

Time to think back on another entertaining season overall, there's always highlights with those two in charge, and, yes, mistakes were made, again that can wait, let's end on a positive note with a smile on our faces as we remember an 8th position that could have seen us in the play-offs but without two loanees; one a classy centre half from Spurs, the other a goal scoring running machine from Watford, it might have ended a lot, lot worse.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!