Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 1-2 Torquay United

[Yer Blues]

We’re not continually losing to rubbish sides and no I’m not happy when we lose. But at least one of their goals today was incredibly fortunate. If we had our injured strikers back, we’d have absolutely destroyed them today.

Find me another side in this league that could lose 3 first choice strikers and still challenge for promotion. There’s the bigger picture you’re missing.

Respectfully, in the last 3 games we have lost to both Eastleigh and Torquay. Are you saying they are good teams?

If either of those teams are promoted before we are, I'd be astounded.

 

[gatecrasher]

Last season we couldn't score, couldn't create and couldn't defend. Now it's only cannot score. We need to find a solution pronto as by the time team glass come back we might well be too far out of it.

I've no doubt if we had two of the three playing we would be in the playoff mix right now.

 

[JM95]

It is a problem and contributes to our pace of attack....

Every single time our centre backs are taking goal kicks which go 5 yards out the box. Is there a problem with his kicking?
It's a genuine question.

Arnold puts balls into the final third quickly ... with Colin, our play from goal kicks is slowed down. Gives the opposition so much time to mark our front players.

I see.

Again, we played a small front 3 today. Who wins the headers there? Who brings it down when Collin punts it straight to them?

Maybe we win the second ball, I can see that point, but when they had 9 players on the edge of the box, would’ve been tough.

Of the list of issues stemming from today, Collin’s distribution is the absolute bottom of the list.

 

[amsemp]

Respectfully, in the last 3 games we have lost to both Eastleigh and Torquay. Are you saying they are good teams?

If either of those teams are promoted before we are, I'd be astounded.

The Eastleigh game was a valuable lesson learnt the hard way by our three centre backs with an average age of 22. Today’s game was one of those days where we’d have comfortably beaten them on another day.

Again, find me another team in this league who could challenge for promotion with 3 first choice strikers injured and an inexperienced 19 year old keeper in goal due to an injury to their number 1?

 

[Target man]

Respectfully, in the last 3 games we have lost to both Eastleigh and Torquay. Are you saying they are good teams?

If either of those teams are promoted before we are, I'd be astounded.

We do have a good young squad which is in a much better shape than previous. Yes we have a few out that would start, ie Arnold, Ralph, Lopata, Cardwell .... but sometimes I feel Kev needs to change the formation if we are 2-0 down to sides that are expected with all due respect to finish mid table. If we are going to better that, we have to mix things up.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Why not!!!!!

Because he has not played in a competitive game since June, and, as we value his services we do want him to join the list of Blues players who did their hammies on debut (Both Kiernan and Ferdinand or is my memory playing tricks?)
Disappointing result but there are still another thirty nine league games to play.
I still think we will be a force to be reckoned with by Christmas.

 

[Target man]

I see.

Again, we played a small front 3 today. Who wins the headers there? Who brings it down when Collin punts it straight to them?

Maybe we win the second ball, I can see that point, but when they had 9 players on the edge of the box, would’ve been tough.

Of the list of issues stemming from today, Collin’s distribution is the absolute bottom of the list.

Again agreed, but it can't be ignored. The goalkeeper isn't just about saving shots, distribution is important in today's game. He's not even throwing it wide to our wing backs, so whats the point of them if we can't get the ball to them?

 

[Yer Blues]

The Eastleigh game was a valuable lesson learnt the hard way by our three centre backs with an average age of 22. Today’s game was one of those days where we’d have comfortably beaten them on another day.

Again, find me another team in this league who could challenge for promotion with 3 first choice strikers injured and an inexperienced 19 year old keeper in goal due to an injury to their number 1?

You don't gave to lose games to these teams, you can draw too.

Perhaps the question is depth of squad.

Let's look at riggtback. GSM is now first choice and Crowhurst started well. Would the money spent on say, giving JD anothrt year have been better spent on a genuine backup for Arnold?

We have gone into the loan market and picked up cosgrave who, respectfully doesn't look a threat.

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

As others have said a very dissapointing result,created numerous chances but didn't have the nous to put them away.Will continue to struggle until this improves

 

[Sufc.2008]

I’m a little fed up of Maher referring to the injury room when asked questions after a defeat. Do we accept 25 shots and one goal until one of the sick notes finally come back? Our finishing is not good enough in the slightest, and I feel that the manager should be demanding more. Losing 2-1 to a side who brought the ball into our half only a handful of times today is criminal.

 

[JM95]

Again agreed, but it can't be ignored. The goalkeeper isn't just about saving shots, distribution is important in today's game. He's not even throwing it wide to our wing backs, so whats the point of them if we can't get the ball to them?

I agree, distribution is important.
What difference would it have made if Collin throws the ball to a wing back 10 yards further forward, rather than a CB; when the idea of having wing backs is to overload higher up and wider? Torquay were so deep today, we could leave wing backs high up, so why bring the wing backs back to appease some fans?

 

[40yearsafan]

Maybe the bigger picture is a bang average non league team?

I think this is the reality. This is a likable hard working squad but I think we need to accept its work in progress. Many of our squad are stepping up from part time regional football.
Maybe we all need to recognise this is a difficult league and it just might take years to get out.

 

[Target man]

You don't gave to lose games to these teams, you can draw too.

Perhaps the question is depth of squad.

Let's look at riggtback. GSM is now first choice and Crowhurst started well. Would the money spent on say, giving JD anothrt year have been better spent on a genuine backup for Arnold?

We have gone into the loan market and picked up cosgrave who, respectfully doesn't look a threat.

I can tell today is a weird one .... for once we seem to agree on many levels

Hopefully back to normal next week. Southend win again and we disagree!!

 

[Yer Blues]

I can tell today is a weird one .... for once we seem to agree on many levels

Hopefully back to normal next week. Southend win again and we disagree!!

**** off mate.

Normal service resumed.

 

[Target man]

I think this is the reality. This is a likable hard working squad but I think we need to accept its work in progress. Many of our squad are stepping up from part time regional football.
Maybe we all need to recognise this is a difficult league and it just might take years to get out.

A lot of truth in that...

The recruitment team are bringing in better options but it's a tough league for sure.... not helped by appalling official standards. The likes of Gary Johnson have been round the block and know how it works ... our lads are food footballers but need to.be wiser how to work these shocking referees.

 

[GNH]

I don't understand the critisim of the way we played today or the individual performances of certain players. We were head and shoulders above them on the pitch and created 25 chances.

If you are not happy with that in 90 minutes that seems a bit odd, the only thing we lacked was the composure to put the chances away which is shocking

 

[Reefs]

We’re not continually losing to rubbish sides and no I’m not happy when we lose. But at least one of their goals today was incredibly fortunate. If we had our injured strikers back, we’d have absolutely destroyed them today.

Find me another side in this league that could lose 3 first choice strikers and still challenge for promotion. There’s the bigger picture you’re missing.

Would we have destroyed them?
Murphy is the only out and out striker with any kind of record and we can't keep him fit for more than a handful of games per season. I think many are using our striker crisis as a convenient sheath to cover up our obvious inability to keep a clean sheet.

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Would we have destroyed them?
Murphy is the only out and out striker with any kind of record and we can't keep him fit for more than a handful of games per season. I think many are using our striker crisis as a convenient sheath to cover up our obvious inability to keep a clean sheet.

In fairness I think we had the most clean sheets before today so wouldn’t say that’s the reason

 

[Grayson]

I would love us to be more savvy. We cost ourselves at Eastleigh by not causing a row at every foul we give away, which Borehamwood and Torquay have done down here. We don't even look to time waste on the ball. Instead their lad got to shoot quickly into our goal.

Number 15 made a sliding tackle foul just on half-time whilst on a booking. If our players make more of that, he walks. Instead he gets subbed at half-time.

We then repeated the same error. Number 2 could've got a 2nd yellow card for pulling back Powell, but got away with it. 3 minutes later he lunges in late on Clifford, who just about skips the challenge. If he rolls around, he walks.

I don't condone cheating but we really need to get better at influencing decisions in these games.

 

[hlane17]

I would love us to be more savvy. We cost ourselves at Eastleigh by not causing a row at every foul we give away, which Borehamwood and Torquay have done down here. We don't even look to time waste on the ball. Instead their lad got to shoot quickly into our goal.

Number 15 made a sliding tackle foul just on half-time whilst on a booking. If our players make more of that, he walks. Instead he gets subbed at half-time.

We then repeated the same error. Number 2 could've got a 2nd yellow card for pulling back Powell, but got away with it. 3 minutes later he lunges in late on Clifford, who just about skips the challenge. If he rolls around, he walks.

I don't condone cheating but we really need to get better at influencing decisions in these games.

Agreed. We either participate in these games or just watch them pass us by.

The half time sub today was a tacit admission by Gary Johnson that his man had got away with it big time.

We got lumped many times today but little to no outrage whatsoever from our team. We have to give some back and defend our teammates ffs.