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

[Fairport]

What a frustrating afternoon at Roots Hall where Torquay were so lucky to take the three points. However the game showed up the weakness of the squad currently available to KM. Only Wreah and Mooney are able to finish. The rest possibly apart from Powell would struggle to get more than six goals between the lot of them in a whole season. Corner after corner in game after game produces no threat from us, the three centre backs although defensively are fine rarely win a header from an attacking set piece. The midfield apart from Mooney never look like hitting the target. It's such a shame because the team are playing decent football. Hopefully things may improve when some of the injured players return but personally I just can't see us scoring enough goals to make a serious play off challenge.

 

[Reefs]

Impossible to say.

Would we have conceded the goals we have with them in the side?

You are fixated on the 3rd best defence line when they conceded 2 today and 2 against Eastleigh

...and have won 2 from 7...lies, damn lies and statistics...

 

[annie1954]

My initial thought for the time being is that Wreh MUST start over Cosgrave.

Oh and also, does Tom Clifford even want to be a professional footballer any more? He doesn’t look up for it at all these days.

Agree about Clifford but I thought with pre season with the 3 amigos coaching him he would have been one of our stand out players this season.so very surprised at his form now

 

[Taters123]

Back 3 does not work if Clifford is wingback as not effective going forward so defeats the object. Bridge was brilliant when he came on and if we can get him in the team out there (if ralph is not fit) that would be great. We are a couple of front players away from being a good team. Need a proper finisher at no 9 and think Powell would be better as an impact sub as he needs 10 chances to get one on target let alone score. Have to say Lomas’ decision to drive forward in the first half was class and was exactly what needed to happen as no options. Players need to stop having that extra touch around the box and shoot earlier.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

I'm surprised no one has asked the question why Lopata didn't start!!!! He's head and shoulders above what we've got, had a pre season with one of the top 25 clubs in England, yet he didn't start. Why not!!!!!

Simply, he hadn't played a game of football since June. He did not feature in any of Sheffield United's pre season fixtures because he wouldn't sign a contract extension. Would suggest he is at least a week or two away from being ready to start for us.

 

[Sammy]

Simply, he hadn't played a game of football since June. He did not feature in any of Sheffield United's pre season fixtures because he wouldn't sign a contract extension. Would suggest he is at least a week or two away from being ready to start for us.

Lopata will start next week.it's now a bad start to the season,should have more points on the board than we have.Hope we don't get two far behind.until we get lopata big Steve,and any one of the 3 strikes back.some tough games coming up.

 

[Ricey]

Well as per usual we have a loss and the post match thread goes into a melt down.

Personally I didn’t think we played too badly. We 100% shouldn’t have lost and gave away two easy goals! It’s made the decision to swap around the defence easier and get Lopata in for the next game.

Wreh and Bridge need to start also. Cosgrave doesn’t bring anything to the table in regards of shooting and scoring.

The need to over run when in the box and not hit it first time is getting on my nerves now. Ample opportunities for shots to be taken earlier and then leading to nothing or an easy save or goes wide.

The inability to beat the first man ONCE AGAIN with crosses and corners. This is stuff that should’ve been ironed out from last season.

We need a plan B and hopefully this will be put in place against Barnet. They will be hungry to get back on track after being spanked by ‘the PE teacher’.

On a good note, I enjoyed The Blues Legends Lounge, fantastic food and Rossi’s ice cream, got a photo with Stan and enjoyed listening to Adrian Clarke’s stories as he sat behind me for the whole game.

 

[* ORM *]

So Lopata starting will cure our inability to finish chances. I’m struggling with the logic.

 

[Yer Blues]

So Lopata starting will cure our inability to finish chances. I’m struggling with the logic.

He'll probably help with the goals we've been conceding.

 

[Super Kevin Maher]

First game of the season for me. Despite the result, I was impressed with the work rate and the desire. On another day those chances are converted. Template is there, the players look like they want to be here and the atmosphere in the West was decent. A chap in front of me summed it up nicely when he said that results like this were so much easier to take when we were playing so badly. I don’t think it will be long. Next couple of weeks will be interesting as we play the big two. COYB.

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

So Lopata starting will cure our inability to finish chances. I’m struggling with the logic.

I don’t think we concede either of them goals today with him on the pitch. It was the correct decision for him to be on the bench today, but as long as he looks sharp and on it in training then it will be a really easy decision for the management to start him next week IMO

 

[Andy_S]

Clifford does not fit our system. He's a left back, never a left wing-back IMO. He'll continue to look out of place as a result I think.

For me it’s got nothing to do with being a wing back or not, it’s got to do with the fact he just doesn’t put in the work. He drifts around in a daydream looking like he doesn’t really want to be out there. I’d love to see his running stats compared to GSM.

 

[Lincoln Shrimp]

Agree about Clifford but I thought with pre season with the 3 amigos coaching him he would have been one of our stand out players this season.so very surprised at his form now

His performances were going backwards for the last third of last season. No surprise to me that he is still our weakest link.
He needs to liven up and realise what being a professional footballer is all about. He plays like he's in second gear.

 

[Shrimper]

Need to bounce back next week. Can't see us getting anything against Chesterfield ir Wrexham.

 

[Maroon Blue]

Up and down like a fiddlers elbow at the moment. Classic reason why we will finish mid-table, cannot put lower half teams to bed at home. So frustrating as we were so superior, but it’s points which get you into the play offs not successful passes. I am not going to scapegoat anyone, as a team we do not score enough goals, not just this game but 6 in 7 games. Some of the fancied clubs scored 5 in one game today!

Andeng Ndi 6
Scott-Morriss 7
Hobson 7
Kensdale 7
Lomas 6
Clifford 5
Miley 7
Fonguck 7
Mooney 7
Cosgrave 5
Powell 7

Bridge 7 MOTM
Wreh 7
Demetriou 5

Jack Bridge stand out player today, turned them inside out on the left in his cameo. Also saw him unlike others try to place the ball into the net by curling into top corner, unfortunately could not quite get it over the head of a defender. Powell & Mooney just snatched at every shot and try and hit the ball as hard as they can when composure needed to get a shot on target. 7 games in now and losses to teams not favoured to be in play offs Boreham Wood, Eastleigh & Torquay does not bode well with Wrexham & Chesterfield in the next set of games UTB

 

[kentblues]

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.

If you could turn players who struggle to finish into players that can in a season let alone a week you would be a rich man.

Hyde should be ok for next week and start with Wreh

 

[kentblues]

Didn't we find out last season that bridge isn't a LWB either?

I think he could do the job on the right. Expecting wingbacks to be effective defensive on their “wrong flank” is touch. They do it to create the threat cutting in going forward but in defensive terms it the right footed left back problem.

JD/GSM/Crowhurst don’t get shunted out onto the left so why Bridge if you want him to play wing back ?

 

[nick12]

So so disappointing today after the excellent display last week. I am definitely not singling out a single player to blame as I think the whole team were somewhere other than the Roots Hall pitch for the 1st half but I can't wait for Steeeeeve's return.

Colin frightens me every time we start thinking we are Real Madrid & start playing out from the back, he runs to the very far side of the penalty box every time for some weird reason only he will know. One mistake and the goal is wide open & empty it's just a matter of time. I think Steeeeve would have saved their first goal (not the 2nd) & the very noticeable lack of back passes today told me the rest of the team are nervous too.

Colin is a shot stopper & could have a bright future but his positioning is mostly shocking, he really needs guidance and a lot of coaching and please stay in the middle & in your penalty box.

Kacper in control in midfield, Steeeeve, Cardwell & Murphy back & I really do think we are a force to be reckoned with. UTB.

 

[LBBlue]

After 7 games last year Stockport had won 2 drawn 2 and lost 3. What happened to them?

Wasnt there today but have seen a clip of their first goal - it looks like an action replay of so many goals conceded at the end of last season.

We’ve clearly not got the balance right- mainly because of injuries. Do we really need 3 centre backs though at home especially when losing against a team that is happy to defend their lead. Are any of them that creative? - the opposition are quite happy to let them have the ball. None of them have shown any ability from set pieces in the opposition box.

How many of our 25 shots were from within 10 yards of the goal.? I guess many were from desperation a long way out.

 

[kentblues]

The serious teams in our division piled in the goals today. I am a big fan of Maher and I like the youthful nature of our side but in this league you need a bit of nouse. We are too naive, too lightweight up top and have very little actual goal threat in our side due to a lack of composure and football intelligence. Unless we find a way to score some goals mid table mediocrity beckons. Bridge and Wreh to start next game.

But we do have that goal threat/finishers and they are injured. Hyde will back hopefully next week, Murphy and perhaps Cardwell Oct. We just have to stay in touch. In the meantime Wreh is the natural finisher we have - play him