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

[kentblues]

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.

No not at all- majority were in our just outside the penalty area..

 

[Jai]

Sides who are serious about pushing for promotion:

Dagenham 0-5 Notts County
Dorking 0-5 Wrexham
Solihull 5-1 Altrincham

Meanwhile we lost 2-1 to that mob. Really highlights just how far short we are right now.

There’s a long way to go and a lot of important players to return from injury, but it’s eye opening for those who think we will walk top 7 this season.

Solihull sound like serious opposition. Would take a good side to draw at their place.

 

[Jai]

I read the first page and I can't bring myself to read the rest, bearing in mind I am the ultimate pessimist.

In previous years this start would ring alarm bells with me. Plenty saying the same old story etc. It really isn't. This is an exciting side to watch, we have not clicked into gear in the final 3rd yet and when we do, it will be fantastic.

Dan Mooney is phenomenal. Watch his first touch, I haven't seen a player that can do that at Southend for years. A bit of composure is needed and he will be absolute dynamite.

The issue is up top. Powell makes things happen but I would imagine Rhys Murphy was crying watching today. So many opportunities and no striker's run.

Bridge did brilliant when he came on but he was aiming at hopeful spaces. A real striker would have got 2 or 3 today.

Hard to take but equally hard to have too much of a go at them today. The defence will pay the price for the first goal, expect Łopata to start at Barnet.

 

[Jai]

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!!!!!

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.

Sadly he was a real weak link today. A lot of attacks stopped with him, and we had to play away from him a lot of the time to shield him. All players go through dips in form. Ralph will come in but it is a test for Cliffy as to how he responds.

 

[Jai]

Sadly he was a real weak link today. A lot of attacks stopped with him, and we had to play away from him a lot of the time to shield him. All players go through dips in form. Ralph will come in but it is a test for Cliffy as to how he responds.

Sorry to have quoted the earlier post, clearly it is obvious why Łopata didn't start.

 

[* ORM *]

I would much rather we don’t rush players that are not match fit into a team. Yes we have an injury crisis, no we don’t have a club crisis.

 

[JD]

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

Could of sworn Kacper was a CB…….

 

[* ORM *]

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

Fair point but it’s not as if we have been battered so far this season.

 

[Shrimper Brownie]

Clifford caught out of position (once again) for the first. He is at fault for that one.

The second was a nasty deflection, not really much you can do about it - perhaps a bit more bite from the defenders as their player closes in.

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Fair point but it’s not as if we have been battered so far this season.

No of course not. I think the defence has been pretty solid today aside. After Lopata signing it was a chance for the back 3 to stake their claim of being undroppable. It seemed to have the opposite effect as I thought both Lomas and Kensdale had their worst games for us so far this season. I’d imagine Lomas will be dropped but when you consider he’s only 20 he’s had a very decent restart to his career here

 

[* ORM *]

No of course not. I think the defence has been pretty solid today aside. After Lopata signing it was a chance for the back 3 to stake their claim of being undroppable. It seemed to have the opposite effect as I thought both Lomas and Kensdale had their worst games for us so far this season. I’d imagine Lomas will be dropped but when you consider he’s only 20 he’s had a very decent restart to his career here

Also a great point.

For me this time last year we didn’t know where the next point was coming from. Our squad is young, it needs to toughen up, there is no shortage of creativity, just as there is no shortage of players to come back from injury. I just wish we’d learn lessons from as many seasons as I care to remember about rushing players back.

We, both fans and club, are slowly coming around to the realisation that we are a non-league team and it’s far easier to go south rather than north. I predicted mid table before the season started and I stick by that. If we can get to Christmas with some stability and few injuries anything is possible but I’d hope the management and the fans have the patience to allow Kev and co another season to get us out of this league. As Tilly, Powell, Taylor and others know sentiment counts for nothing so beyond that we would need changes.

I said last week look at Scunthorpe. The place is a ****hole but that’s not their fault. The town wasn’t built to be attractive. I have no truck with their fans. We’ve been there and done that. I haven’t felt as positive about SUFC for maybe six years. When you’ve been watching almost 50 the highs still outweigh the lows.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

What I'd give to see someone on a yellow sent off for time wasting

Even if he was wearing a blue shirt and we were hanging on to a 1-0 lead?

 

[Bratislava Blue]

Awful performance.

Stating the obvious, but we need something different up front. Respect to cosgrave he's a professional footballer and i am not, but I've seen him have one deflected shot in 2 and a bit games doesn't ever look like shooting.

Jack Bridge has to play.

I still don't think we have a plan b.

I'd love to see us try a different formation.

Oh and why is no-one else allowed to take corners?

I have been saying this for some time. Maher's tactics are one dimensional. Once the opposition suss us out we can't adjust.

 

[palexander]

It is a massive concern of mine around Maher - we have to remember he is inexperienced as a number 1 manager though. But the fact he he has especially Currie and to a degree Bentley there and between Maher and the experience those 2 have we can’t find a different way to play is a worry.

We’ve had, on paper, an excellent summer all things considered. Mooney and Lopata are marquee signings and Miley you could add into that too considering how well he’s started.

Yes we are incredibly unlucky with injuries (which BTW I think needs someone to look at as is it bad luck or poor facilities, training etc) - But using it as an excuse it getting tiresome.

As others have said, wreh, bridge, lopata have to start next game as a minimum.

 

[Strykr]

Its not all tactics though is it, its personell.

Tilly played a no frills 442 but we had great players with a good understanding of each others game.

 

[wiggy]

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.

Just watched first goal and convinced Arnie would have caught or clawed that one away.
Colin’s height is sadly letting him down in a man’s game!

 

[Piledriver]

For what it’s worth I think we showed far too much respect to Torquay today.
A back 3 with wingbacks wasn’t the right choice, amplified by a lack of plan B when it became apparent that the formation was an issue. Torquay worked far harder to stop us playing out from the back which forced Kensdale to run out with the ball more than he would of liked.

We needed to be playing more on the front foot from the off.
Easy to say now but a back 4, with miley and fonguck allowing Mooney to pull the strings in the middle. Bridge & Powell giving the width and pace to pull them about may have worked better, and certainly would of had us on the front foot more.

Oh well. Barnet will be doubting themselves after their shock result today.

UTB

PS, I have to say that, despite my reservations, Hobson outshone Lomas big time today and it will be Louis to give way to Kacper next week.

I wonder if the problem of a jittery left CB is the same as last season Clifford is not anywhere near a Ralph in defensive duties or even attacking with positive intent.
The first goal was similar to Brunts assist for BHW knowing our weak spot ! as quite a few goals conceded last season in the same manner shows opponents are doing there homework as we should expect..

 

[RHB]

Seems to me that our newly recruited Physio needs to be in place ASAP. There's lots to do and getting Ralph and Murphy back should be the very top of the pile. Those two fit yesterday and in all probability we wouldn't have lost.

 

[shrimpercats]

Well, this is the usual set of responses after a defeat.
Of course, the finishing was abject and we could dissect that until the cows come home. The only positive I can see is that Mooney is capable of a lot better. Powell, less so!
But what I don’t understand is the carping about playing out from the back and Collin’s distribution. With our squad this is the only way to go. Launch it long and it will come straight back.
Every one of our players is comfortable on the ball. When could we last say that? We are seeing the best football at the Hall for years. There is just no comparison with a year ago.
Just to be devil’s advocate, I am not at all sure that Lopata for all his qualities is very comfortable in possession. It will be interesting to see if our tactics change once he is in the team.

 

[Ricey]

Well, this is the usual set of responses after a defeat.
Of course, the finishing was abject and we could dissect that until the cows come home. The only positive I can see is that Mooney is capable of a lot better. Powell, less so!
But what I don’t understand is the carping about playing out from the back and Collin’s distribution. With our squad this is the only way to go. Launch it long and it will come straight back.
Every one of our players is comfortable on the ball. When could we last say that? We are seeing the best football at the Hall for years. There is just no comparison with a year ago.
Just to be devil’s advocate, I am not at all sure that Lopata for all his qualities is very comfortable in possession. It will be interesting to see if our tactics change once he is in the team.

Pretty sure Collin has an issue with his groin which is why he isn’t launching it out. He massively overstretched to stop a OG against Maidenhead and stopped kicking it out long after that.