Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-1 AFC Wimbledon

[Shrimpers are Magic]

Make them earn their shirts... JD has done nothing since his return to justify Elvis being dropped completely from the match day squad. He was as inept today as he was prior to the injury.

How are they earning their shirts? We’re running out of games fast and don’t play mid week reserve matches. Not a big fan of Demi either but he’s first choice so when fit he plays.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

I did use to play football a bit and I knew the game today was going to be completely dominated
by the conditions - and would be a terrible game.

It was probably blowing a full gale (force 8)for most of the 90mins.

So I was relieved to see that Powell had dropped Bishop .... the young fella getting done on tuesday by a ball floating in the wind

hahaaha -Oxley was terrible ... and cost us the game - he dithers like that all the time ... hopeless!!!

I personally would have kept Elvis but understand why with pressure on the old head on Demetriou is preferred
and then hes offered nothing all game ....

I thought Hopper was a good signing and I thought Humphries was a good signing - neither would have been cheap.
Given the lack of forward power today it did make sense to give Bunn a go but as always
he looks sort of useful and acheives nothing ...

Kelman got on and scuffed a chance !! Hes done that with his last 3 chances...

All the Mister Angries on here with the Powell Out shouting don't seem to have a sensible answer between them

- the way things are going against us is very scary but we have problems -

no decent keeper

no target man striker

experienced centre backs slow

young centre backs making mistakes (moore) - or injured

anyway up the blues not at all sure a new manager will do any better than Powell but he might have more luck .

 

[Fitz]

Watching League 2 on Quest and it is all very depressing...reality is that is where we are heading and our first relegation since 2010!

I fear Martin is not going to make the right decision before it is too late....he has a lot to think about tomorrow.....

 

[united we stand]

Yeah they all done ok today (too many long balls from Lennon to Cox though). Defense wasn't the problem today.

With 5 across the back vs Wimbledon, I hope the defence wasn’t a problem.
If we committed players forward we might have done better . Hart was the only one that looked to get forward quickly. Demi did to an extent , but not enough

 

[amsemp]

I spent all week desperately not looking forward to this game and left the ground completely deflated. I think today shows that we’re going down. Scunthorpe and Wimbledon were both, in truth, poor teams and we were beaten by both. Bottom of the form table for the last 10 games and the gap between us and bottom getting narrower as time goes on.

Got a lot of time for Powell, but we need fresh ideas if we’re going to stay up. I felt like turning round and walking straight back out the ground again when I saw the lineup for today. Turner starting, five defenders and one up front against bottom of the league at home. That’s absolute bull**** whatever way you look at it.

I’m starting to wonder if Turner has a mrsblue style secret photo album of CP like Barnard did of Brown. I can’t believe we’ve got Kiernan, Moore and Lennon all fit, but Turner is still getting starts. Absolutely ridiculous decision to go one up front too, Turner should’ve been sacrificed so Wabo or Kelman could partner Cox.

Apart from Macca’s chance, I don’t really remember us troubling them at all. That’s embarrassing. We’ve had injuries, but there was a lot of quality in that side today and no where near the level of performance to match it.

We desperately need to get back to 4-4-2, the formation Powell had so much success with last season. We were playing good football and Yearwood was unbelievable, but now he doesn’t get a look in. It was good that CP had the bottle to drop Mantom, but he should’ve dropped Dieng too. It should’ve been Hyam and Yearwood as Dieng offers absolutely nothing.

We’ve got no identity, system or style. Constant chopping and changing of tactics, formations and personnel. Yearwood was almost the catalyst for the upturn in our fortunes last season, so bring him back into the team. Any combination of Mantom/Dieng/Hyam will be completely flat, as they’re all too similar.

I can take losing, injuries, bad luck etc. and I actually think I’m more patient than most when it comes to cutting managers and players slack, but CP is making some really poor decisions at the moment and it makes it impossible to back him.

 

[LBBlue]

The quality of the game was what you would expect with a wind that strong.

Did Oxley call for the ball for the goal?

He kept Dieng and Turner in because of their height - the first half we seemed to play for throw ins and corners and chuck all the big guys in. Allardyce and Brown football - keep a clean sheet and score from a set play only it went calamitously wrong.

Cox was not on his own up front - Bunn was up there with him.
What we didn’t have was a 6ft plus centre forward.

What we also don’t have is pace, and not enough players with quick feet we get caught with the ball far too much.

I still don’t get what Lennon is supposed to be bringing to the show - he never looks composed to me. Nor Kiernan today - I thought he was just making up the numbers and Turner was left to do all the work.

At least I was cheered up at Stratford by a spammer bemoaning the fact he walked out when they were 3-1 down.

Any way it’s International week next weekend so I guess Elvis will be back. More changes ".......

 

[rayleigh dan]

Oxley 7 - Did nothing wrong for me. His only mistake was punching an early Wimbledon shot back in to the danger zone, He made some excellent punches out from corners, Bishop TBH would have been rooted to his line.

Demetriou 6 - Did okay, still regaining full fitness, probably still better than Elvis if I'm being honest.
Kiernan 7 - Very impressive. Bar one rash dive in, he looked very composed.
Turner 2 - Abysmal, looked a liability in the first half and ****ed up horrendously for Wimbledon's goal. TBF CP should have known better after his horror show on Tuesday.
Lennon 6 - Made the odd mistake, overall he played well though.
Hart 8 MOM - Excellent, he's got better and better. Put others to shame by making the effort to do a lap and clap the support. Only Dru did likewise

McLaughlin 5 - Beter than he has been recently, yet messed up our best chance. I still would have kept him on above waste of space Kightly.
Dieng 5 - A million miles better than his disappearing act v Scunthope. Still nowhere near his early season form though.
Hyam 5 - Impressive first half, run out if steam in the second. Dru should have come on far earlier. Typical Powell with his 'far too late' subs.

Cox 6 - Not his best game, but worked hard as usual.
Bunn 6 - Flitted in and out if the game but had some good moments. Involved in the build up for Macca's chance.

Subs

Kightly 3 - Rubbsh, what a waste of a wage. Awful corner when it was our last chance.
Kelman 6 - Worked hard, showed some decent ball control and did well to win a corner or two.
Dru - Not enough time - Looked up for it though and played one very good through ball. Has to start the next game for me.

 

[Seasick Steve]

Don't know if this has been mentioned elsewhere but, incredibly, if we had won today we would (just) be in the top half of the league table. Has it ever been so tight before at this time of the season?

While I am as despondent as everybody else about the current form and performances, if we can just snatch a result or two things are going to look a lot rosier.

 

[onceknownasrab]

Woe is me, what a complete shower of gloopy faecal matter, raining down on the hallowed RH pitch.

I cannot and will not believe that this is all our players are capable of. So why can they not put in a worthy performance? Well if I were one of the players I would be looking around the team and wondering what the hell is going on. Ox was no improvement on Bishop. Why the sudden change? Turner. my god, I am tired of having to slate him. A once very good player that is now barely entitled to be called a footballer. Absolutely shot to pieces. What must other squad players feel when they see him selected? I do not believe even his team mates can derive any confidence from his presence on the pitch.

Kightly getting another ludicrous run out and doing the sum total of zilch. Again.

So I have to look at the few positives. Hart has really improved during his time with us. Looks like someone that has a good future in the game. Willing runner, showed tenacity and constantly looking to demonstrate just what our wide mids cannot do.

Hyam was showing for the ball in all areas of the pitch. He found space and tried to link up play. He wasn't outstanding but with more game minutes I think he will be useful.

Cox did what Cox does. He chased, he harried, he got in the opposition faces and for all his effort he was let down by atrocious service and the lack of a suitable foil alongside him. Bunn is not the answer.

I thought Lennon and Kiernan looked interested and they tried. I think the best is yet to come and will coincide with a better level of fitness and match time.

Here endeth the positives.

SCP simply got it wrong, just as he has on so many occasions this season, and he shows no sign of being able to change things. His demeanour is so negative and uninspiring. He looks beaten even before we concede. Even when Wimbledon went in front, Wally Downes was on the edge of his technical area, making it crystal clear to his team, what he wanted. I expect people could hear him as they strolled along the pier.


A special footnote for Dieng. I don't think he went beyond jog, never broke into a sweat and his feet never left the ground to jump for a header. I know he has ability but by christ he has buried it deep in Rons warchest.

 

[stewart]

New manager might get the more senior players out of the lethargic ways and wake them up, most just playing for a wage packet not love or desire for the club and its predicament. Just going through the motions it seems to me reading all the threads.

 

[AndyT]

I spent all week desperately not looking forward to this game and left the ground completely deflated. I think today shows that we’re going down. Scunthorpe and Wimbledon were both, in truth, poor teams and we were beaten by both. Bottom of the form table for the last 10 games and the gap between us and bottom getting narrower as time goes on.

Got a lot of time for Powell, but we need fresh ideas if we’re going to stay up. I felt like turning round and walking straight back out the ground again when I saw the lineup for today. Turner starting, five defenders and one up front against bottom of the league at home. That’s absolute bull**** whatever way you look at it.

I’m starting to wonder if Turner has a mrsblue style secret photo album of CP like Barnard did of Brown. I can’t believe we’ve got Kiernan, Moore and Lennon all fit, but Turner is still getting starts. Absolutely ridiculous decision to go one up front too, Turner should’ve been sacrificed so Wabo or Kelman could partner Cox.

Apart from Macca’s chance, I don’t really remember us troubling them at all. That’s embarrassing. We’ve had injuries, but there was a lot of quality in that side today and no where near the level of performance to match it.

We desperately need to get back to 4-4-2, the formation Powell had so much success with last season. We were playing good football and Yearwood was unbelievable, but now he doesn’t get a look in. It was good that CP had the bottle to drop Mantom, but he should’ve dropped Dieng too. It should’ve been Hyam and Yearwood as Dieng offers absolutely nothing.

We’ve got no identity, system or style. Constant chopping and changing of tactics, formations and personnel. Yearwood was almost the catalyst for the upturn in our fortunes last season, so bring him back into the team. Any combination of Mantom/Dieng/Hyam will be completely flat, as they’re all too similar.

I can take losing, injuries, bad luck etc. and I actually think I’m more patient than most when it comes to cutting managers and players slack, but CP is making some really poor decisions at the moment and it makes it impossible to back him.

Spot on, that, for me.

 

[Barling Magna]

A poor performance in difficult conditions, not helped by a pessimistic team selection and incorrect tactics. If we fail to win our next two home games against Shrews and Wycombe then it really will be Goodnight Vienna because I can't see us gaining anything at Posh, Fleetwood or Walsall.

 

[Stuart W]

I spent all week desperately not looking forward to this game and left the ground completely deflated. I think today shows that we’re going down. Scunthorpe and Wimbledon were both, in truth, poor teams and we were beaten by both. Bottom of the form table for the last 10 games and the gap between us and bottom getting narrower as time goes on.

Got a lot of time for Powell, but we need fresh ideas if we’re going to stay up. I felt like turning round and walking straight back out the ground again when I saw the lineup for today. Turner starting, five defenders and one up front against bottom of the league at home. That’s absolute bull**** whatever way you look at it.

I’m starting to wonder if Turner has a mrsblue style secret photo album of CP like Barnard did of Brown. I can’t believe we’ve got Kiernan, Moore and Lennon all fit, but Turner is still getting starts. Absolutely ridiculous decision to go one up front too, Turner should’ve been sacrificed so Wabo or Kelman could partner Cox.

Apart from Macca’s chance, I don’t really remember us troubling them at all. That’s embarrassing. We’ve had injuries, but there was a lot of quality in that side today and no where near the level of performance to match it.

We desperately need to get back to 4-4-2, the formation Powell had so much success with last season. We were playing good football and Yearwood was unbelievable, but now he doesn’t get a look in. It was good that CP had the bottle to drop Mantom, but he should’ve dropped Dieng too. It should’ve been Hyam and Yearwood as Dieng offers absolutely nothing.

We’ve got no identity, system or style. Constant chopping and changing of tactics, formations and personnel. Yearwood was almost the catalyst for the upturn in our fortunes last season, so bring him back into the team. Any combination of Mantom/Dieng/Hyam will be completely flat, as they’re all too similar.

I can take losing, injuries, bad luck etc. and I actually think I’m more patient than most when it comes to cutting managers and players slack, but CP is making some really poor decisions at the moment and it makes it impossible to back him.

Excellent post.

 

[RHB]

I've just posted the match stats and it states that we had 10 shots, four of which were on target.

 

[AndyT]

I can think of three on target off the top of my head : Turner, Macca, Kelman

Off target there was Bunn, Macca (again) and er, erm .....

 

[LBBlue]

I can think of three on target off the top of my head : Turner, Macca, Kelman

Off target there was Bunn, Macca (again) and er, erm .....

Hart had a shot on target in the first half.

 

[fbm]

I'm probably going to get shot down in flames here, as it's all still a bit raw. But here goes anyway.

Personally, I think we will avoid the drop and finish mid table. I accept that many will think that I really am in cloud cuckoo land. But as a Southend fan of 49 years, I have learnt to keep the faith and the days of knee-jerk reactions are long gone.

There is no current transfer window. Many of Powell's signings have been injured and are here for two years. We still even have some of Brown's! Any new manager is going to have his hands tied with the same players we have now.

This would be an acceptable idea if Powell had taken the team as far as he could. But he hasn't. He hasn't had a chance to even field a complete team of his. Ron has a history of patience with his managers and I can't see him getting trigger happy now.

Further... many outsiders will be sympathetic to the cause due to the extensive injury list. The club could get quite a bad press for getting rid of Powell after he has tried to do a job with his hands tied behind his back. People on here will say "Stop going on about the injuries!" but it's not an excuse; it's the reason. There is a difference and at our level, we cannot afford to have a squad so deep that we can just put in a third replacement when the two first choices are unavailable. This is what has happened to us in a variety of positions this year, mainly in the defence.

Goalkeeper - Oxley and Smith injured - young Nathan has come in and done a job better than most of us would have thought. However, despite some great saves, the fact remains that we only won 3 of the games he started. Oxley looked nervy on his first game back, was lucky when he made a poor save in the first half and was equally responsible with Turner for the **** up that led to their goal. However - remember Graham Stockdale when he came in on loan. His first game was dreadful, second was ok and he played really well in the third and last appearance, showing what a good keeper he was. The Ox will be ok next week.

Right back - Demi and White have both been injured - Elvis has come in and done ok but over the last few games he played he was obviously devoid of confidence and was targeted by the opposition as a weak link.

Left back - Coker and Hendrie both out. There have been a few games where I think we haven't had a regular left back at all. Hart has come in and done well, was MOM for me yesterday. But he's young and took time to settle.

Centre back - where to start... for a huge chunk of the season we have had 35 year old Turner as the only specialist centre back who is fit. Moore has come in and done brilliantly but is only young himself and has not always been at the races. But now we have Lennon and Kiernan coming back and they are looking better every game. Lennon going off yesterday was a concern - I hope it was precautionary or due to the fatigue of 3 games in a week.

I stand by my opening comments in this post - I think we will be ok.

But I really do think getting rid of Powell now would be a mistake. The senior players have to take the rap here; they are the ones who are currently letting us down (Cox aside).

 

[ms brush]

After the game last night I could only see two alternatives, niether of them good. One - CP going, or two, the trap door!

After some wine and a few hours sleep - has this changed? Well, on watching the highlights and seeing that s**tshow again, I am slightly wavering. The conditions were awful, which didn't help, and having both Piggott (who took advantage of the school boy defending calamity between Ox and Turner) and Wordsworth (who showed us exactly what we are missing in midfield) playing for the wombles also didn't help the situation. Why we persist in launching high hopeful balls up front, when there is no one to get to it, and particularly in high wind is a total mystery. On the 2-3 occasions we played the ball on the deck we looked ok, and even slightly threatening.

Oxley 6 made a few decent saves, apart from the horrendous incident with Turner for Piggys goal. Both of them equally responsible for the loss of 3 points.

Demi 6 good to see him back. Obviously lacking match sharpness, but not muscled off the ball as much as young Elvis has been recently. Elvis needed a rest desperately, so I think Jason playing the full 90 was not just the imperative for his own fitnes.

Keirnan 7 first time I have seen him in a Southend shirt in a long time. Considering his long lay off, he looked fit, hungry and will be a valuable asset in the run in.

Turner 3 the old dog is done. I like Turner as a player, and have the utmost respect for his reading of the game, but the time has long passed where the boots need to be handed over. He adds much needed height, but that is no longer enough. Hate to say it, but he is now a liability, and has lost us a lot of points this season.

Lennon 6 did okay, but looked rusty and half fit still.

Hart 8 MOM best game I have seen him play. Looked threatening going forward and made a few decent tackles.

Dieng 6 tried to protect the back line, and made a decent contribution, but he still looks half the player he was in the first half of the season.

Hyam 7 thought he did okay, not match fit. Looks as though he will be useful, as he did find space and was getting the ball out to the wings.

Macca 6 lost a mark for that miss. Although, on second viewing, the defender did a great job of closing him down so it wouldn't have been an issue at all if we had created a few more opportunities.

Coxy 7 ran his butt off again. No service, and spent most of his time back tracking to try and find the ball.

Bunn 6 not the answer up.front.

Subs
Kightly 5 hate to say it, but heading in the same direction as Turner rapidly. Didn't change anything, and looked like it was too much fir him. Time to free up the wage bill and give the kids a decent run.

Kelman 7 looked lively and had one notable moment of threat, but no support so it went begging.

Dru not given long enough to rate.

and Powell 4. Looks a defeated man. I like him, I like his coaching philosophy, and I even like the wing back formation, as on paper that gives us strength and width. Unfortunately execution of the formation is lacking, and whether this is solely down to CP is not clear. What I do know is he has nurtured the youngsters as much as possible, and he is sticking with his philosophy and values. We have some good players back, and more close, but not in the vital front line, which is a huge problem. However, after the last 3 games, I can't see where the next goal is coming from, let alone the next point. The trap door is looming large now, and we look like we are in free fall. Yet, the table is so tight that even one win moves us right out of trouble, and one more loss, suddenly we are bottom.

Does Ron pull the trigger yet? No idea, but glad I am not in charge of that particular decision.

 

[OldBlueLady]

A scrappy game befitting a match with two teams battling against relegation. McLaughlin had a shot cleared off the line; Oxley, seemingly not realising it's windy, booted every ball straight down the middle of the pitch when we have no height up front and flapped at a couple of shots; Sam Hart and Harry Bunn both started really brightly; Harry Lennon seemed to enjoy being reunited with Joe Pigott as he had him fairly much under control most of the first half.

Once half time happened, I guess word got round the Wimbledon dressing room that our central member of the back three is susceptible as Wimbledon kept testing him. At that point, Powell should have reacted but he didn't.

I felt all along bringing Oxley straight back in would be wrong. He looked stiff and immobile. He didn't once look for a throw out (which Nathan has done quite effectively) and every kick was high and into the wind. I make him more at fault than Turner for the goal, being as far out as he was, you have to keep going, not stop and expect the ball to come to you.

You saw the desire in the Wimbledon team, that never give up attitude and they're on the kind of run at the moment, that we can only dream of. Of course Woody and Piggy are going to have caught most people's attention - both of whom had good games - but I thought Scott Wagstaff also had a good game.

The buck has to stop with the manager, yet he seems to have caught the blame bug. "It's the youngsters' fault", seems to be one of his most recurrent themes - not one started yesterday. McLaughlin seems to be who he's blaming (wrongly) for yesterday's defeat because he "missed" scoring. Oxley was never going to use wing backs, he only ever looks down the middle of the pitch, so it was the wrong set up from the beginning.

Kiernan and Lennon are, presumably, our long term centre back pairing so why weren't they started as a pair, why aren't we bedding them in as a pair?

Oxley - 3, poor, looked shaky and immobile (I'm aware that sounds contradictory, but it's not meant to!). Kicking was poor for the conditions, parried and weakly punched when should have caught. Should have taken control of that back pass from Turner much better.
Demi - 5, I like Demi, but he was practically invisible, don't remember a single thing he did, but I do remember Macca making a great track back and tackle where he should have been.
Kiernan - 7, solid, still needs a little more match time, strangely looks shorter on the pitch than off it!
Turner - 4, heard a rumour that a new contract is being discussed with him - that needs to be knocked on the head. He's been a very good player and has had some excellent games for us but, enough is enough.
Lennon - 7, thought Lennon was coping really well with Pigott but spotted the injury well before he was subbed - why did the bench take so long to react?
Hart - 8.5, MOTM by a mile, noticed him shaking his head in disbelief at Oxley's attempt to punch the ball away. Poor lad must wonder what's going on but he kept his head down and battled throughout the game.
Hyam - 6.5, showed a lot more battling tendencies and that he has the ability to be a good player when fit.
Dieng - 5, we seem to have brought a decent player down a few levels. What on earth has gone on with him from the player we had at the start of the season?
McLaughlin - 7, thought Macca had a decent enough game - some good corners, a decent shot and good defensive work - not sure why he was subbed.
Bunn - 6.5, started very brightly but goes missing as games go on.
Cox - 6.5, a quiet game for Cox, Literally feeding off scraps.

Subs:
Kelman for Lennon - 6.5, enforced and necessary change of formation, though Turner should have come off too. The youngster did ok and made the Wimbledon defence work a bit harder.
Kightly for McLaughlin - 5, I like Kightly, I liked him when he was a youngster and people were on his case and I've liked him since he returned, but he's another who is just not cutting it anymore. It was the wrong substitution, both on and off.
Yearwood for Hyam - 6, Dru should have come on when Macca was taken off. I felt he could have got something out of that midfield.

Officials - thought they were definitely one of the better sets we've seen this season. Fair play.

Massively disappointing, and Ron Martin has some deep thinking to do over the course of today, because sure as eggs is eggs, we cannot possibly afford to go down - not with the stadium plans; not with the lack of revenue L2 would bring and not with the wage bill we have.

 

[Jay_SUFC]

I'm probably going to get shot down in flames here, as it's all still a bit raw. But here goes anyway.

Personally, I think we will avoid the drop and finish mid table. I accept that many will think that I really am in cloud cuckoo land. But as a Southend fan of 49 years, I have learnt to keep the faith and the days of knee-jerk reactions are long gone.

There is no current transfer window. Many of Powell's signings have been injured and are here for two years. We still even have some of Brown's! Any new manager is going to have his hands tied with the same players we have now.

This would be an acceptable idea if Powell had taken the team as far as he could. But he hasn't. He hasn't had a chance to even field a complete team of his. Ron has a history of patience with his managers and I can't see him getting trigger happy now.

Further... many outsiders will be sympathetic to the cause due to the extensive injury list. The club could get quite a bad press for getting rid of Powell after he has tried to do a job with his hands tied behind his back. People on here will say "Stop going on about the injuries!" but it's not an excuse; it's the reason. There is a difference and at our level, we cannot afford to have a squad so deep that we can just put in a third replacement when the two first choices are unavailable. This is what has happened to us in a variety of positions this year, mainly in the defence.

Goalkeeper - Oxley and Smith injured - young Nathan has come in and done a job better than most of us would have thought. However, despite some great saves, the fact remains that we only won 3 of the games he started. Oxley looked nervy on his first game back, was lucky when he made a poor save in the first half and was equally responsible with Turner for the **** up that led to their goal. However - remember Graham Stockdale when he came in on loan. His first game was dreadful, second was ok and he played really well in the third and last appearance, showing what a good keeper he was. The Ox will be ok next week.

Right back - Demi and White have both been injured - Elvis has come in and done ok but over the last few games he played he was obviously devoid of confidence and was targeted by the opposition as a weak link.

Left back - Coker and Hendrie both out. There have been a few games where I think we haven't had a regular left back at all. Hart has come in and done well, was MOM for me yesterday. But he's young and took time to settle.

Centre back - where to start... for a huge chunk of the season we have had 35 year old Turner as the only specialist centre back who is fit. Moore has come in and done brilliantly but is only young himself and has not always been at the races. But now we have Lennon and Kiernan coming back and they are looking better every game. Lennon going off yesterday was a concern - I hope it was precautionary or due to the fatigue of 3 games in a week.

I stand by my opening comments in this post - I think we will be ok.

But I really do think getting rid of Powell now would be a mistake. The senior players have to take the rap here; they are the ones who are currently letting us down (Cox aside).

That's a fair point; but are you telling me you were happy with the line up yesterday, at home, to Wimbledon, based on the fact most players are now back?

If that's CPs mindset for a home game we needed to win, what makes you think that will change between now and the end of the season.

Are you also happy with his treatment of the younger players - dropping them for others who are not 100% fit?