Odhiambo

[Flynny]

He's not trained with them. They don't know exactly the kind of player he is and how best to utilise him, or whether he's better than what they have. I assume they SUSPECT that he is, given that they've loaned him out, but give them a bit of time with the lad.

[Asha]

Are you saying he's not fit? It's nearly September now and all Odhiambo is getting is bits and pieces like spells on the wing for the reserves.

huh?

[Lord Nibblington]

Are you saying he's not fit? It's nearly September now and all Odhiambo is getting is bits and pieces like spells on the wing for the reserves.

Sod me it is September!

No. I was saying it might take him more than a day to acclimatise and develop some kind of understanding with his team mates that could lead to a starting role, where he could make a significent and telling contribution.

[Thracian]

He's not trained with them. They don't know exactly the kind of player he is and how best to utilise him, or whether he's better than what they have. I assume they SUSPECT that he is, given that they've loaned him out, but give them a bit of time with the lad.

Are you seriously telling me that Southend have signed a young footballer who they don't know, haven't watched, haven't studied on video and have told Rudkin that they'll pay his wages for as long as it takes while they evaluate exactly what sort of player he is and whether he might just be suitable for their first team - sometime?

Football would drive anyone mad these days. It is so fragmented. What with big squads, people wanting to be "guaranteed a game", agents whinging on behalf of their clients if they're out of favour and who knows what else there really is no continuity. Odhiambo is a young player who should be properly involved every week - and not for a condescending four minutes.

He doesn't want to be standing around like Chris O'Grady anbd Louis Dodds last season.

[Father Ted]

Are you seriously telling me that Southend have signed a young footballer who they don't know, haven't watched, haven't studied on video and have told Rudkin that they'll pay his wages for as long as it takes while they evaluate exactly what sort of player he is and whether he might just be suitable for their first team - sometime?

Football would drive anyone mad these days. It is so fragmented. What with big squads, people wanting to be "guaranteed a game", agents whinging on behalf of their clients if they're out of favour and who knows what else there really is no continuity. Odhiambo is a young player who should be properly involved every week - and not for a condescending four minutes.

He doesn't want to be standing around like Chris O'Grady anbd Louis Dodds last season.

Totally agree

[Lord Nibblington]

Are you seriously telling me that Southend have signed a young footballer who they don't know, haven't watched, haven't studied on video and have told Rudkin that they'll pay his wages for as long as it takes while they evaluate exactly what sort of player he is and whether he might just be suitable for their first team - sometime?

Football would drive anyone mad these days. It is so fragmented. What with big squads, people wanting to be "guaranteed a game", agents whinging on behalf of their clients if they're out of favour and who knows what else there really is no continuity. Odhiambo is a young player who should be properly involved every week - and not for a condescending four minutes.

He doesn't want to be standing around like Chris O'Grady anbd Louis Dodds last season.

Southend know who they've signed. I'm sure I read a quote saying they've been tracking him most of the summer.

But to write the whole loan off because he was only given a brief sub appearance today is laughable. He's been there a day. A whole whopping day. They might know him, but does he know them? Does he know what system they play? Does he know what runs which players make? Does he know if a certain player prefers a ball to his left foot, his right, or his head?

Maybe, just maybe, they put him on the bench as an impact player if they needed him, and wanted to actually bed him into their team and their system over the next weeks wroth of training, so that he's an asset to them. Rather than lob him in at the start, and if things didn't go well, maybe dent his confidence.

Now, Southend have 2 games this week. If he is given a token 4 minutes in both of those games, then maybe we should start to question the wisdom of the loan.

Or maybe, just maybe, they're waiting for him to be able to offer a proper meaningful contribution to the team and his team mates before starting him.

[hebangsthedrums]

Are you seriously telling me that Southend have signed a young footballer who they don't know, haven't watched, haven't studied on video and have told Rudkin that they'll pay his wages for as long as it takes while they evaluate exactly what sort of player he is and whether he might just be suitable for their first team - sometime?

Football would drive anyone mad these days. It is so fragmented. What with big squads, people wanting to be "guaranteed a game", agents whinging on behalf of their clients if they're out of favour and who knows what else there really is no continuity. Odhiambo is a young player who should be properly involved every week - and not for a condescending four minutes.

He doesn't want to be standing around like Chris O'Grady anbd Louis Dodds last season.

I may be wrong but I don't think he's saying any of that, just that he might need more than a day to acclimatise. Plus none of us know the scenario - he might not have played for tactical reasons, injuries during the game etc.

Football drives me mad sometimes but if I didn't still like it I would wean myself off it.

[Thracian]

Southend know who they've signed. I'm sure I read a quote saying they've been tracking him most of the summer.

But to write the whole loan off because he was only given a brief sub appearance today is laughable. He's been there a day. A whole whopping day. They might know him, but does he know them? Does he know what system they play? Does he know what runs which players make? Does he know if a certain player prefers a ball to his left foot, his right, or his head?

Maybe, just maybe, they put him on the bench as an impact player if they needed him, and wanted to actually bed him into their team and their system over the next weeks wroth of training, so that he's an asset to them. Rather than lob him in at the start, and if things didn't go well, maybe dent his confidence.

Now, Southend have 2 games this week. If he is given a token 4 minutes in both of those games, then maybe we should start to question the wisdom of the loan.

Or maybe, just maybe, they're waiting for him to be able to offer a proper meaningful contribution to the team and his team mates before starting him.

I'll be watching.

[Nationwider]

The slightly unfortunate thing for Odhiambo (and also Logan, Gradel, Dodds) is that they will be on loan when the new Head Coach arrives.

Lower league clubs don't sign young loanees unless they intend to play them (with the exception of keepers, who go out on cover). I'm sure the Big O will get a start ASAP.

[Geo V]

I thought Leicester were only going to send their emerging players to clubs who were going to play them and assist their development.

Southend were in the Championship last season and there squad hasn't changed that much apart from Freddy Eastwoods departure. I think its a bit rich asking them to sign a player on loan and expect him to play for the first team in 24 hours without probably much if any training or knowing the tactical part of the game. I'm sure he`ll feature more for Southend in the coming weeks than he would have done for City thats for sure.

[Andy_S]

Hello all, Southend fan here.

Believe you wanted to know how Eric was doing?

He started tonight against Dagenham and played 70 minutes. I was pretty impressed. Dagenham are a physical, direct side and he stood up to them well. He showed good pace, awareness and as I said on our forum, he got in the right place at the right time more than once. In all honesty he should've got at least 2 goals, but we've got to remember this was his first ever senior start. The signs there are good. His efforts were certainly appreciated by our crowd and he got a decent standing applause when he left the field. The players seem to have taken to him as well, although they're calling him Odi!

Good luck for the season and no doubt I'll be back here after future games of ours to keep you updated if you wish.

[Geo V]

Hello all, Southend fan here.

Believe you wanted to know how Eric was doing?

He started tonight against Dagenham and played 70 minutes. I was pretty impressed. Dagenham are a physical, direct side and he stood up to them well. He showed good pace, awareness and as I said on our forum, he got in the right place at the right time more than once. In all honesty he should've got at least 2 goals, but we've got to remember this was his first ever senior start. The signs there are good. His efforts were certainly appreciated by our crowd and he got a decent standing applause when he left the field. The players seem to have taken to him as well, although they're calling him Odi!

Good luck for the season and no doubt I'll be back here after future games of ours to keep you updated if you wish.

Thanks for the update mate. Appreciated. He is highly regarded by some on here who have seen him so we think you have one of our better youngsters. Look after him and send him back as good as Eastwood for us wont you?!!

[lildave3]

Hello all, Southend fan here.

Believe you wanted to know how Eric was doing?

He started tonight against Dagenham and played 70 minutes. I was pretty impressed. Dagenham are a physical, direct side and he stood up to them well. He showed good pace, awareness and as I said on our forum, he got in the right place at the right time more than once. In all honesty he should've got at least 2 goals, but we've got to remember this was his first ever senior start. The signs there are good. His efforts were certainly appreciated by our crowd and he got a decent standing applause when he left the field. The players seem to have taken to him as well, although they're calling him Odi!

Good luck for the season and no doubt I'll be back here after future games of ours to keep you updated if you wish.

Cheers for that and any future updates would be very much appreciated

[Lord Nibblington]

Good to see him getting some playing time.

[Bryn]

Keep us updated mate

[filbertway]

Cheers for the update, as others have said, future reports and updates would be muchly appreciated

[Steven]

Hello all, Southend fan here.

Believe you wanted to know how Eric was doing?

He started tonight against Dagenham and played 70 minutes. I was pretty impressed. Dagenham are a physical, direct side and he stood up to them well. He showed good pace, awareness and as I said on our forum, he got in the right place at the right time more than once. In all honesty he should've got at least 2 goals, but we've got to remember this was his first ever senior start. The signs there are good. His efforts were certainly appreciated by our crowd and he got a decent standing applause when he left the field. The players seem to have taken to him as well, although they're calling him Odi!

Good luck for the season and no doubt I'll be back here after future games of ours to keep you updated if you wish.

Cheers.

[Andy_S]

Eric got just under 10 minutes today in our 3-0 home win over Gillingham.

With the score being as it was and with it being late on he didn't really have a chance to show much, although he did link up in a couple of decent moves.

[Thracian]

Sounds to me like Odhiambo would be better off playing 90 minutes regularly for our reserves or joining a club that wants to use him. Fourteen minutes or so in two games? What the hell is he going to learn from that? By the time he gets a proper game he'll have lost all the match fitness he built up in the summer.

[hebangsthedrums]

Seems to me that hes doing just fine at Southend. He got 70 mins 5 days ago and has played a (yes, small) part in the other two games they've had whilst hes been there. He's only 18 and League One is a lot better standard than reserve football. As long as hes involved on matchdays can't see a problem myself.

[Thracian]

Seems to me that hes doing just fine at Southend. He got 70 mins 5 days ago and has played a (yes, small) part in the other two games they've had whilst hes been there. He's only 18 and League One is a lot better standard than reserve football. As long as hes involved on matchdays can't see a problem myself.

I didn't realise he'd played 70 minutes against Dagenham and Redbridge. Was he playing striker or on the wing?.

[Sods]

I didn't realise he'd played 70 minutes against Dagenham and Redbridge. Was he playing striker or on the wing?.

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[Ric Flair]

Sounds to me like Odhiambo would be better off playing 90 minutes regularly for our reserves or joining a club that wants to use him. Fourteen minutes or so in two games? What the hell is he going to learn from that? By the time he gets a proper game he'll have lost all the match fitness he built up in the summer.

Thrac, it's a little early to be thinking or saying things like that. Often when teams sign players, they don't automatically get straight in to the team.

[Andy_S]

He played the full 90 today at Port Vale in our 2-1 win, setting up our 2nd goal with a nice, unselfish assist as well.

We're trying to extend his deal but it seems Megson wants to see him so its up in the air as to whether he's going to stay with us. We want to keep him, he wants to stay, but its all down to your end.

[Wezleylowski]

He played the full 90 today at Port Vale in our 2-1 win, setting up our 2nd goal with a nice, unselfish assist as well.

We're trying to extend his deal but it seems Megson wants to see him so its up in the air as to whether he's going to stay with us. We want to keep him, he wants to stay, but its all down to your end.

Lovely stuff, you can keep aiding his development down south. Megson will be gone in a week if he keeps this shite up in the league, so perhaps our new manager will let Odhiambo stay with you lot.