Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-4 Chesterfield

[Andy_S]

Forgetting everything else, as this thread is supposed to be about what went on in the game…. I thought we were the better team if anything until the goal went in and then heads dropped. Let’s be honest though, Brown’s idiotic team selection messed things up for us before the whistle even went.

Arnold - I thought he could’ve done better with the third and he seemed to be caught by surprise with the second, but he’s the least I’d our issues and won’t be bettered as our number one for the season.

Demetriou - He did ok for me and although he’s not the player he was, he’s still doing alright at right back.

Hobson - He seems to have suffered this season and doesn’t look the player he did last year. Brown surprisingly ditching him at the start of the season probably didn’t help. We know he’s more than good enough though.

Ralph - Probably the pick of the back four, although it was poor defending to not only allow the player to get by him but to then foul him for the penalty. Too good for this league.

Sayers - I thought he looked a bit out of his depth to be fair, but he’s 17 and he’s come into this carnage and it can’t be easy for him. He didn’t seem like he was adjusted to the pace of the game.

Atkinson - I feel for Will, he’s really not even a shadow of what he was before. It’ll hurt him too and he looked pretty devastated whilst left as the only one in the dugout when the protests were going on. He really struggled yesterday and everything seemed too quick for him. I can’t see him staying on now that Brown has gone.

Dunne - He spent the first half complaining to the manager about the front two. He’d be fine in front of the back four in a midfield three, but yesterday showed again that he struggles when there’s only one other next to him. He’s got the heart but not the legs.

Ferguson - I think there is actually a player in there, it’s just whether he wants to be a player. There were bursts yesterday when he put his foot in or went forward with a bit of menace, but that’s the problem, it’s generally only in bursts.

Bridge - It was a little bit painful how we relied on him to be our only attacking threat, giving him the ball every single time we went forward. He reminds a little of Mark Gower in the type of player that he’s turned into, so let’s just hope he can have a similar impact when things “settle”.

Kargbo - I don’t think he’s as bad as some would like to suggest, but he’s just very easy to notice with the fact he’s 6ft 7. He won a few headers, but yes, he looks a little lost to be fair. The thing is he’s probably never had to put too much effort against youngsters his age, so he’s probably suffering with a right culture shock now that experienced lumps are dragging him all over the shop.

Kimpioka - He barely saw the ball, but every so often it looked as if he might be someone to provide a spark and a bit of space, so it’ll be interesting to see how things go with him as time goes on.

 

[Tommy2holes]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1446987437289484293

you can clearly see, no steward (security help) was punched and that he pushed the guy over the wall!

What you don't see before that.

Fans were the correct side of the wall and simply holding up the banner.

The stewards were intent on pulling at the banner and constantly pushing.

They were simply trying to hold it up.

The stewards were doing their job, but absolutely did not help. They caused the rise in anger and then the push over the wall was a catalyst.

That is a nasty fall.

Nobody wants to be protesting in the way we are. We would all rather see a well run club and players that are good enough, with the desire to win and represent our club on the pitch.

But we are where we are. We have nothing left but to highlight our anger and fears, other than to take action.

Some will agree and some won't.

 

[OldBlueLady]

That video doesn't look good.

Just to check, are you allowed onto the cinder track to unfurl a banner at Roots Hall?

You're not allowed onto the "cinder track" during a match - it's why we always have to march round double quick once we've done the flags to be back in our stand before kick off.

You're not allowed to have a banner that obscures advertising hoardings - different category to the above, as this is a club thing.

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Fans who invaded the pitch (had to be be done unfortunately) - 10

Chesterfield fans - 10

Ron Martin for sacking Brown and Fagan - 8

Jack Bridge - 6

Everyone else - 1

 

[AndyT]

You're not allowed onto the "cinder track" during a match - it's why we always have to march round double quick once we've done the flags to be back in our stand before kick off.

You're not allowed to have a banner that obscures advertising hoardings - different category to the above, as this is a club thing.

Thanks for clarifying, OBL.

I wasn't sure whether permission had been granted, but I guessed not.

T2H has shed more light on what happened prior to the incident. Not good.

 

[RobM]

You're not allowed onto the "cinder track" during a match - it's why we always have to march round double quick once we've done the flags to be back in our stand before kick off.

You're not allowed to have a banner that obscures advertising hoardings - different category to the above, as this is a club thing.

Yes, advertisers pay for their space and don't want it covered up!

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

I think by then the stewards were giving up with it- saw one steward being punched as he tried restrain one of the idiot- oblivious that the police were filming

These poor stewards aren’t paid to be on the receiving end of this sort of behaviour. Would be surprised if the police advised them not to step in as it was being filmed and would be dealt with later.

Bearing in mind the protest was hardly out of the blue, why so little evidence of pro-active stewarding?

It wouldn't have taken much to remind fans entering the West Stand about restrictions, and even some form of agreement about where the banner could and couldn't go.

Everything seemed unnecessarily reactive.

At the heart of this, fans appeared to care. You takes your choice whether that be wrongly or rightly.

The man at the centre of the protest doesn't care a fig about the club, and I find it all a bit too convenient he had an excuse for not being at the game.

A funeral? A wedding? Sure, understandable, but don't think it was either of these.

 

[sammy666]

Probably made up like many of these things are- at least somehow there is never any video evidence to support these things even with a million and one smart phones about. Unfortunately you can’t afford to believe anything these days unless you see it for yourself

God you are an opinionated ........
It was observed and reported on by the BBC commentators as it happened and as it was dealt with. No judgement was passed. Of course your opinion is soooo much more valid as always. How many other supporters are you claiming to speak for this time ?

 

[Leicester Shrimper]

The only players good enough to start are…..

Arnold.
Ralph (left back)
Bridge
Murphy
Dalby

Sayers is not ready.

We could always enter a 5 a side team instead.

 

[AndyT]

Bearing in mind the protest was hardly out of the blue, why so little evidence of pro-active stewarding?

It wouldn't have taken much to remind fans entering the West Stand about restrictions, and even some form of agreement about where the banner could and couldn't go.

Everything seemed unnecessarily reactive.

I think that's a fair point.

I remember being involved in the Jobson Out protests back in the early nineties, on the back of the proposed move to Basildon, and in particular the match at Upton Park against Charlton.

From memory, it was made common knowledge that there would be a sit down protest on the terraces after the game and the stewards and police allowed this to take place with good humour and it passed without incident. The point was made by the fans. The key was, we knew the limits, because they had been imposed in the first place.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

It is NOT a good thing.
A fine costs money the club need.
Points are in short supply too.
The policing and stewarding bill will be again, another big hit to the finances.
The unpleasant nature of the protests, threatening, with violence ( mostly mild and mostly mouthy) is not conducive to attracting supporters to watch poor football. NOR, may it have appeal to players, management or investors?

The protest at heart was necessary, and good insofar as it sent out a message.
But agreed the unpleasant nature was a shame, and of course, a fine is equally a problem.

So, here's the question, what would those who think the same as you, dear Mass, have done differently that's not been tried before?

What do you think would get to Ron?
Something that over the last five years would make him do things fundamentally different? It needed a seismic shift to get a CEO, but that was only replacing what we had in the first place.

This is a man with a rhinoceros hide who thought it a good thing to jeopardise stewards at Solihull last week, and who will forget that when condemning the actions of our own fans yesterday.

 

[sammy666]

So you come on here to tell everyone you saw exactly what happened, and when I simply ask if you can share this is your response?

No. You didn't just ask. Your whole tone was disbelieving. You suggested it was made up in your usual pompous and opinionated way. You post more than Grapevine used to and in similar fashion. Give it a rest. You speak for nobody but yourself

 

[Strykr]

My God, people turning on other posters and calling them hypocrites and worse because they dare to disagree? Last time I looked, this was a forum for debate and discussion, and that doesn't go all one way or it wouldn't actually be a debate or discussion!

While I wasn't taking part in the red card protest, that was, at least a sensible, visual way of getting a point over. The disgraceful pitch invasion was not. I saw a few people (old enough to know better but clearly not giving a toss that the man they despise will now be having to fork out a fine because of their behaviour) and a load of 13/14 year old lads just there for the craic.

I saw a steward assaulted by a supporter, when he had hold of one of them, to make him let go. I saw someone squaring up to one of our players (Why?!) Why was one of our support (a man I thought had said he was part of the #notapennymore lot) escorted over to reclaim the Martin Out banner from the Chesterfield supporters, and then helped to carry it back? Not enough stewards, and not enough out there with any actual experience. Frighteningly inept. I didn't see the guy who apparently got pushed and fell, nor did I see any medical assistance come round which you'd expect for that kind of injury? *Edit - Have now seen the video, don't think you can blame the steward.

As to the match, well, I also think Brown was kind of setting himself up to fail. Why else would you start Kargbo again? Bloke is not good enough to be a professional footballer, didn't think so when we saw him at Dartford, he's done nothing to change my mind since. Thought the other lad, the loanee was ok, but just not with the right player alongside, so I thought it was a bit tough to sub him at the same time too. Why start Atkinson again as well? Eastleigh was always going to be more of a saunter in the park than Chesterfield, so we should have started with our best side - Walsh for Atkinson would have been the obvious choice.

Arnold - 6, not his best game, not seen highlights yet but seemed culpable for a couple, distribution was also poor. Please don't let him go down the Oxley route after a promising start!
Demi - 6.5, didn't think he was that bad, he worked hard and didn't do too badly defending his side
Hobson - 6, not one of his better performances
Ralph - 8, MOTM, class act, far too good for where we are
Sayers - 7, I thought he was loads better than the other night, but he was targeted by them
Atkinson - 5, no longer good enough
Dunne - 7, solid game, decent shot in the 1st half
Ferguson - 6.5, not as good as Tuesday but still put in some effort
Bridge - 7.5, never stopped all match, almost every attack came through him. Bit bemused that some thought he wasn't that good
Kargbo - 4, send him back to QPR now please
Kimpioka - 6, not really given much opportunity

Subs:
Murphy for Kargbo - 6.5, nothing seemed to come off for him, match was lost by then anyway
Egbri for Kimpioka - 6.5, loads of energy and tried to run at them, but always seemed to run into trouble
Dalby for Atkinson - 7, won more headers in his time on than Kargbo has in the whole time he's been with us.

Officials - do they really come to us with a bias because of Brown? How is it that every match you see the opposition getting away with stuff that we get penalised for? As he's gone then maybe that might change now!

8, 7's 6's and 6.5s?

Surely nowone was above a 5?

 

[AndyT]

From memory, it was made common knowledge that there would be a sit down protest on the terraces after the game and the stewards and police allowed this to take place with good humour and it passed without incident. The point was made by the fans. The key was, we knew the limits, because they had been imposed in the first place.

As a postscript to the above, ironically a month later we signed Stan Collymore!

 

[bluesfansince1952]

How many times have you seen this happen at Roots Hall? I can’t recall it in the. 30+ years I’ve been coming, so I would say it probably is the biggest talking point of the game unless you really want us all to focus on our weakness at the back and lack of creativity up front and lack of bite in midfield. Suggest to read back through previous match reports because it’s the same old story at the moment.

Fair enough but we can then grade the individual protestors with a mark out of ten?

 

[loz]

I really hope this doesn't become a regular feature of games this season. I totally get the urge to protest but the way it's being done atm is off putting and exclusionary for some fans, and has to be at least a distraction for the players. Whatever you think of the current team they're the players representing the club atm and they shouldn't need to be having to plead to our own fans to get off the the pitch so they can finish the game. Got to be an awful atmosphere to try and perform in.

In the same vein, the people chanting 'we're ****ing ****' and 'how **** must you be, you've only scored four' towards the end of the game should take a look at themselves. Confidence is clearly low already - that's not the fan's fault, but negative rubbish like that can only make it worse. Real shame as actually thought the support for the team for most of the game was decent.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

The protest at heart was necessary, and good insofar as it sent out a message.
But agreed the unpleasant nature was a shame, and of course, a fine is equally a problem.

So, here's the question, what would those who think the same as you, dear Mass, have done differently that's not been tried before?

What do you think would get to Ron?
Something that over the last five years would make him do things fundamentally different? It needed a seismic shift to get a CEO, but that was only replacing what we had in the first place.

This is a man with a rhinoceros hide who thought it a good thing to jeopardise stewards at Solihull last week, and who will forget that when condemning the actions of our own fans yesterday.

Thank you for the condescending "dear Mass" Chrissie Pooh.

This situation WE, as a club, and as SUPPORTERS are in is one that requires unity and not disharmony, which was a big impact result of some of the poor behaviour yesterday.

As to the answer(s)?

It is cliche but "chicken and egg" fashion as to what comes (or goes?) first.

The club own nothing but the name and now a NFL status which could, possibly be sold to a franchise as was W/Don to MK. I am sure no SUFC fan wants that.

The rest IS owned, lock, stock barrel AND contestable debt by RM; and commercially he can do as he wants with his assets subject to planning permission and covenants: not great news, not an easy swallow but the way it is.

Also the state of Roots Hall is decrepit, creaking and not far short of beyond not fit for continued use.

What is stopping the FF? firstly the financial collapse, then other plugs being pulled, then council "wish" lists, some NIMBY factors and lots of barely hidden financial exploitation by SBC.

20plus years the council have put up hurdles, yes Ron is far from blameless BUT the bottom line for me is get the FF started. Then MONEY will start moving, feel good starts, progress starts, belief starts.

Get FF finished and Ron goes, steps back etc.

SO, target the council, target the planners, target the press, put pressure on them, vote at elections, e mail your Councillors, check their views, their votes.

Don't fudge with scripts and lore of "can't we keep The Hall".

I have spoke with Ron a few times over his tenure and I doubt anything will get him to walk away. And he isn't ideal, he has faults, he make repeated mistakes, he is ego walking etc, he is, now, a football supporter of SUFC, he is better than many and worse than many BUT aren't we all?

I have tried to keep my answer direct but it is a 30 year problem in the making which we all can guess would not have happened if, IF, FF had been built 25,20,15.10 or 5 years ago AND SBC are largely to blame for that not happening.

 

[GBJ]

For balance, it didn’t seem to bother anyone in the South Upper. Nobody seemed annoyed or upset and there were plenty of “Martin out” chants and expletives aimed at Ron and PB. I think what we saw there was a fan base who’ve simply had enough. I was firmly in the “don’t protest during the game” camp, still am .. but the way the game went I’m not surprised it happened. Fair play to you for rating the players as I couldn’t bring myself to rate that shambles yesterday.

Last word on Ron, he does care .. he does listen .. and act. He won’t be going anywhere yet so my criticism (if it’s even that) is the “Martin out” part of it all. But I guess “Let’s have a root & branch overhaul of this rotten club” doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Same story in The East Stand (black/green seats) When the fans came on, a very loud chant of “we want Martin out”, went up. Probably one of, if not the loudest and unified chants I’ve ever heard from that part of the ground in 25-years of going.

The only boos I heard, was when the tannoy lady was asking fans to get off. I’ve no doubt some people didn’t take too kindly to the demonstration, but I didn’t see or hear too many around me who felt that way.

 

[OldBlueLady]

8, 7's 6's and 6.5s?

Surely nowone was above a 5?

There's a 4 and a 5 in there too. It's an average of just under 6.5, which I don't think is wrong.

 

[GBJ]

From my view in the East Blacks there was plenty of support for the protestors going on the pitch. Only boos I heard were for the safety announcements telling them to get off.

I posted before seeing this, but that’s exactly how I saw it Mr. Scotsman. We can’t both be wrong, can we?