v 
SHRIMPERS
Wow, what a week, and it hasn't finished yet according to Luggy!
Will he play them all with left winger Dave Martin making his debut, why not? This could be a good time to play the Vale.
With players like Rigg, Pope and Richards still available for the away side the Shrimpers must remain aware of the danger they can cause but Hall and Martin both out wide and Dickinson and Benyon in the middle, it's an exciting thought.
Grant and Timlin to do the legwork in the middle, it's an attractive thought, and probably too adventurous for Luggy, but i'd love to see it, though dropping JP Kalal completely is probably a touch unfair, but not Ryan Leonard, he has a ligament problem and joins Lee Sawyer and Barry Corr on the sidelines.
Bilel........what can you say about Bilel, read the hundred articles written this week alone, he's recovered from his toe injury and I'm placing him on the bench.
Whatever, this is a great opportunity for Southend to put in a good performance at Roots Hall and allow the home faithful to see their first win in five Roots Hall matches; 2-0 United!
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Phillips, Barker, Gilbert, Grant, Timlin, Hall, Dickinson, Benyon, Martin
Subs: Bentley, Prosser, Mohsni, Ferdinand, Harris.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!
Discuss the game: http://boards.footymad.net
Still need even more signings?: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
50k hits & more, join us at S24: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
OPPOSITION
Not good news for Port Vale boss Mickey Adams.
A selection headache is an understatement; out are keeper Stuart Tomlinson (groin), left winger Rob Taylor (calf), defender Phil Roe (dead leg), another wideboy in Lewis Haldane (broken leg) and midfielder Ryan Burge (knee) while major doubts are; fellow midfielder Sam Morsy (shin) and striker Ben Williamson (knee).
While, amazingly, all this lot have returned to their parent clubs after their loan deals expired.
Liam Chilvers (Notts County), Shane O'Connor (Ipswich Town), Andrew Little (Rangers), Jennison Myrie-Williams and Guy Magjo (Stevenage).
Defender Gareth Owen will travel but played 78 minutes of the Cheltenham defeat Monday with stitches in his foot!
Oh dear; no wonder Adams said: "We've got to work with what we've got, if that means supplementing the squad with youth players, then that's what we've got to do."
Could be a very young bench, though there's still a lot of talent available.
Valiants Squad: Martin, Johnson (both goalkeepers); Yates, McDonald, McCombe, Owen, Raglan, Collins, Davis; Griffith, Loft, Rigg, Morsy, James, lloyd; Pope, Richards, Dodds.
Mickey must look on Luggy with envy: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Last Time Out
Port Vale 1 Cheltemham Town 2; (played on Monday, January 2nd): Report: http://www.port-vale.co.uk
Beeb highlights: http://news.bbc.co.uk
Player to watch
Marc Richards
Any side that has the Valiants skipper Marc Richards in it cannot be dismissed.
Sadly missed at the start of the season he's already got 8 goals in just 15 games, on top of the 20 he got last season and more than 100 in over 350 appearances in league football.
Dangerous.
(Full player info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Richards)
Unlucky 13th?
| 8 | Oxford United | 24 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 33 | 24 | 38 | +9 |
| 9 | Torquay United | 24 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 36 | 30 | 38 | +6 |
| 10 | Rotherham United | 24 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 41 | 36 | 37 | +5 |
| 11 | Accrington Stanley | 24 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 32 | 26 | 36 | +6 |
| 12 | Morecambe | 24 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 39 | 28 | 35 | +11 |
| 13 | Port Vale | 24 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 23 | 19 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 42 | 34 | 35 | +8 |
PREVIOUSLY
| At Southend Utd. (36) | At Port Vale (37) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Southend Utd. | 13 | 36.11 | Port Vale | 19 | 51.35 | |
| Port Vale | 5 | 13.89 | Southend Utd. | 7 | 18.92 | |
| Draws | 18 | 50.00 | Draws | 11 | 29.73 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Southend Utd. | 56 | 1.56 | Port Vale | 73 | 1.97 | |
| Port Vale | 38 | 1.06 | Southend Utd. | 36 | 0.97 | |
| On Neutral Ground (0) | Overall (73 matches) | |||||
| Results | Total | % | Results | Total | % | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 20 | 27.40 | |
| Port Vale | 0 | 0.00 | Port Vale | 24 | 32.88 | |
| Draws | 0 | 0.00 | Draws | 29 | 39.73 | |
| Goals | Total | Av.pg | Goals | Total | Av.pg | |
| Southend Utd. | 0 | 0.00 | Southend Utd. | 92 | 1.26 | |
| Port Vale | 0 | 0.00 | Port Vale | 111 | 1.52 | |
| Records | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Aggregate | 6 | Southend Utd. | 3 - 3 | Port Vale | 1987/1988 |
| Highest Southend Utd. score: | 5 | Southend Utd. | 5 - 0 | Port Vale | 1972/1973 |
| Highest Port Vale score: | 5 | Port Vale | 5 - 0 | Southend Utd. | 1994/1995 |
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011/2012 | Sat 27 Aug | Port Vale | 2 - 3 | Southend Utd. | League Two |
| 2010/2011 | Sat 09 Apr | Port Vale | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League Two |
| Sat 21 Aug | Southend Utd. | 1 - 3 | Port Vale | League Two | |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 03 May | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | League One |
| Sat 29 Sep | Port Vale | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | League One | |
| 2005/2006 | Sat 26 Nov | Port Vale | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League One |
| Sat 06 Aug | Southend Utd. | 1 - 2 | Port Vale | League One | |
| 1996/1997 | Sat 25 Jan | Port Vale | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League Division One |
| Sat 21 Sep | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Port Vale | League Division One | |
| 1995/1996 | Sat 09 Mar | Port Vale | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | League Division One |
| Wed 20 Dec | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Port Vale | League Division One | |
| 1994/1995 | Sat 28 Jan | Southend Utd. | 1 - 2 | Port Vale | League Division One |
| Sat 05 Nov | Port Vale | 5 - 0 | Southend Utd. | League Division One | |
| 1991/1992 | Wed 15 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Port Vale | Second Division |
| Sat 21 Sep | Port Vale | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Second Division | |
| 1988/1989 | Sat 06 May | Port Vale | 2 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Fri 02 Dec | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division | |
| 1987/1988 | Fri 22 Jan | Southend Utd. | 3 - 3 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Mon 14 Sep | Port Vale | 4 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1985/1986 | Mon 05 May | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Port Vale | Fourth Division |
| Sat 19 Oct | Port Vale | 4 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division | |
| 1984/1985 | Fri 29 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Fourth Division |
| Mon 05 Nov | Port Vale | 4 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division | |
| 1983/1984 | Mon 19 Mar | Southend Utd. | 1 - 2 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Mon 30 Jan | Port Vale | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1980/1981 | Mon 10 Nov | Port Vale | 1 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division |
| Mon 18 Aug | Southend Utd. | 5 - 1 | Port Vale | Fourth Division | |
| 1975/1976 | Mon 09 Feb | Port Vale | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Sat 13 Sep | Southend Utd. | 3 - 3 | Port Vale | Third Division | |
| 1974/1975 | Tue 01 Apr | Port Vale | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Sat 28 Dec | Southend Utd. | 1 - 3 | Port Vale | Third Division | |
| 1973/1974 | Sat 09 Feb | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Sat 22 Sep | Port Vale | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1972/1973 | Fri 20 Apr | Southend Utd. | 5 - 0 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Sat 30 Sep | Port Vale | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1969/1970 | Mon 23 Feb | Port Vale | 3 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division |
| Mon 29 Sep | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Fourth Division | |
| 1968/1969 | Mon 24 Feb | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Fourth Division |
| Mon 04 Nov | Port Vale | 1 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division | |
| 1967/1968 | Fri 15 Dec | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Fourth Division |
| Sat 19 Aug | Port Vale | 1 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division | |
| 1966/1967 | Sat 04 Mar | Port Vale | 1 - 3 | Southend Utd. | Fourth Division |
| Fri 14 Oct | Southend Utd. | 4 - 1 | Port Vale | Fourth Division | |
| 1964/1965 | Fri 26 Mar | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Fri 08 Jan | Port Vale | 2 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1963/1964 | Sat 22 Feb | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Sat 12 Oct | Port Vale | 4 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| Wed 25 Sep | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Port Vale | League Cup | |
| 1962/1963 | Mon 24 Sep | Port Vale | 5 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Mon 17 Sep | Southend Utd. | 2 - 0 | Port Vale | Third Division | |
| 1961/1962 | Mon 16 Oct | Southend Utd. | 4 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Mon 04 Sep | Port Vale | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1960/1961 | Sat 21 Jan | Port Vale | 4 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division |
| Sat 10 Sep | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division | |
| 1959/1960 | Mon 22 Feb | Southend Utd. | 2 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division |
| Sat 03 Oct | Port Vale | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1957/1958 | Sat 15 Feb | Port Vale | 1 - 3 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 05 Oct | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) | |
| 1951/1952 | Mon 27 Aug | Port Vale | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Tue 21 Aug | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) | |
| 1950/1951 | Sat 21 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 02 Dec | Port Vale | 3 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1949/1950 | Mon 29 Aug | Port Vale | 0 - 0 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Tue 23 Aug | Southend Utd. | 1 - 0 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) | |
| 1948/1949 | Sat 22 Jan | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 11 Sep | Port Vale | 0 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1947/1948 | Sat 21 Feb | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 04 Oct | Port Vale | 2 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| 1946/1947 | Sat 31 May | Port Vale | 5 - 1 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 19 Apr | Southend Utd. | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) | |
| 1938/1939 | Sat 22 Apr | Southend Utd. | 0 - 0 | Port Vale | Third Division (South) |
| Sat 17 Dec | Port Vale | 2 - 2 | Southend Utd. | Third Division (South) | |
| Sat 10 Dec | Port Vale | 0 - 1 | Southend Utd. | F.A. Cup |
REF
The man in the middle is Brendan Malone from Wiltshire.
16 games; 64 Yellows, 3 Reds: www.soccerbase.com
His assistants are Christopher O'Donnell and Stephen Rubery; the fourth official is Nigel Lugg.
FIXTURES
League Two
The name Port Vale exists on maps pre-dating the 1876 formation of the club, and is a reference to a valley of ports on the Trent and Merse Canal, associated with the city's pottery industry.
The two symbols on the clubs badge are a bottle kiln and the Stafford knot. The club's mascot is Boomer the Dog, the Baha Men hit 'Who Let the Dogs Out?' is played as Boomer takes to the field before kick-off at home games, his squad number is 'K9'.
The current shirt sponsorship comes from Harlequin Property.
They have played more seasons in the second tier of English football (41) than any other club who have never reached the top tier.
Possibly the club's most successful times have been in the 1950s, where they were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1954 and won numerous league titles.
John Rudge was manager from 1983 to 1999 and steered the club through some of its best years, certainly in recent times. Under his leadership the club reached 8th in the second tier in the 1996-97 season and enjoyed cup glory and numerous promotion campaigns.
Since his reign the club have declined, Bill Bratt's Valiant 2001 supporters group took the club out of administration in 2003.
But despite providing relative financial security for the club, as of 2009 the group has failed to prevent the club slipping to its lowest league standing in 30 years.
And they went for Jim Gannon on a one-and-a-half-year contract, a disappointment probably then to Stockport County fans who hoped he would replace their recently sacked boss Paul Simpson.
42-year-old Gannon led Stockport to promotion from the League basement in 2007-08, and remains a legendary figure at Edgley Park.
He was made redundant by the Hatters due to their earlier financial problems and joined Motherwell in the SPL in 2009, leaving them after only 25 games.
Gannon then helped out for a couple of months at Peterborough in early 2010 after Darren Ferguson was given his P45, but was not employed on a full-time basis, Gary Johnson getting that position.
Vale chairman Bill Bratt told www.port-vale.co.uk: "We are delighted that Jim has agreed to join Port Vale at what is undoubtedly a very exciting period for the club. We are an ambitious club and we believe Jim is the right appointment to deliver the success we are striving for."
However............
The Valiants fell out of the top seven following Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Accrington Stanley, prompting chants of "we want Gannon out" from angry Vale supporters.
The former Stockport and Peterborough manager led the team to four wins, four draws and seven defeats during his short time at the club despite Adams taking Vale into a play-off position for the majority of the season.
After less than three months and only 15 games in charge at Vale Park, Gannon was sacked!
Mark Grew was appointed as caretaker manager and took charge of first-team affairs for the third time!
This all followed assistant boss Geoff Horsfield returning to work following a two-week investigation into his well-documented bus row with Gannon, which occurred on the way to the club's bottom tier match at Aldershot, which alienating fans and players alike in the process!
However, Grew failed to lift the club back into the play-offs, though at the end of the season supporters were delighted to learn that Micky Adams would be returning as manager.
Adams also took up a position as director, whilst chairman Bill Bratt resigned to be replaced by Mike Lloyd.
This, combined with promised investment into the club, quelled growing fan unrest. In September 2011, the investors were revealed to be sports construction firm Blue Sky International, who planned to plough £5 million into the club in twelve months, as well as a further £2.5 million by 2016 – this sum would secure the long-term future of the club.
However it quickly emerged that the deal was in jeopardy due to unforeseen 'contractual issues', and new chairman Peter Miller and CEO Perry Deakin came in for criticism from the fans after it was revealed that they had not purchased shares in the club as previously stated.
In December, Blue Sky CEO Hank Julicher confirmed that neither his company or his family had invested any money into the club, and claimed that the £8 million deal the club had announced was pure fantasy.
Supporters showed their disapproval against the board by displaying red cards in the home fixture against Aldershot Town, a game in which loanee Guy Madjo scored a hat-trick.
By the end the year, Deakin had resigned from his post and the board decided to end Miller's reign as chairman.
Never a dull moment in the Potteries, and we haven't even mentioned Robbie Williams.........
Valiants signings U-turn: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
(There's an even more comprehensive history of the club available here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Vale_F.C.)