Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-2 Maidenhead United

[Barling Magna]

Anyway, I was surprised to see the chairman bowl into the pub at around 8.30.

Great, we will have a chat and get some reasoned debate.

No chance. He was absolutely wrecked and couldn't really speak to be honest.

He's an Aussie, Tommy. That's what they do mate.

 

[Richard Hearn]

He's an Aussie, Tommy. That's what they do mate.

He probably thought that we had the "six o'clock swill" here.

 

[Medway Blue]

That was utterly appalling.

Collin has lost his head. The unsettled defence, exarcerbated by the loss of Kensdale and Dave Martin, has exposed the weaknesses that I think were already in his game.

Crowther is not doing anything to suggest that he can step into Kendale's shoes.

Bridge is being completely crowded out of games.

Moncur looked like a luxury player, unable to get things going when the chips are down and everyone around him is playing ****.

Husin looks lost.

Even KAF has looked scared to do anything forward-thinking.

Bonne was unbelievably poor.

Walker probably the only bright spark.

That togetherness and cohesiveness is gone. It's disjointed, devoid of any leadership on the pitch, confidence is shot to pieces, body language isn't good, and our triangles and patterns of play have disappeared.

Maher wants us to keep possession of the ball, but I don't believe that he wants it to be ponderous sideways and backwards unless an intelligent forward pass genuinely isn't on, and we have to resort to going sideways/backwards to quickly recycle and pull the opposition about a bit.

The problem you then have with that style of play, is that a lack of confidence breeds risk aversion, and rather than risk losing the ball by attempting a forward pass, safe passes are being played instead. Like I said on the match thread, it's a form of hiding.

That's not to say that all the blame is on the ball carrier, though, because there also wasn't really enough good movement off the ball ahead of play for the ball carrier to pick out.

We did well against Solihull and Eastleigh because they gave us time and space. Maidenhead today, despite their league position, had a game plan. They pressed us high up the pitch and disrupted our build-up from the off, and were still sprinting to do so in the 80th minute. The way to mitigate that is to play through the press, and last season we had the personnel, structure and the confidence to do it. Kensdale and Miley were pivotal to us breaking the opposition press. Without them, we just can't seem to do it. Crowther is so far not proving to be a good replacement for Kensdale - he's not as vocal, and he's not as comfortable passing or bringing the ball out of defence.

Chuck in what also appeared to be a lack of effort/work ethic from one or two yesterday, and it's a recipe for disaster.

'Plan B' is a huge buzzword at the moment, but it's a distraction. The professional footballers that we have just need to get the basics right (which they didn't yesterday), and the club needs to recruit the right players to fit the ethos and identity. Changing systems, much like changing manager in October, is the antithesis of the stability that we need.

No manager is immovable, or immune to criticism, and Maher hasn't got every decision bang-on. Make no mistake, that was a worrying performance yesterday, and if it continues and plunges us into a dogfight then he will have very few excuses by that point.

But I think he has done more than enough to deserve the time to try to turn this around, and certainly deserves a proper run at things without a hand tied behind his back. Barely into October, 16th in the division and 5 or 6 points off a playoff challenge isn't the time to panic and wield the axe. If we're in a relegation battle in March, then questions will need to be asked, but even then, it's not going to be the magic wand that some on here seem to have convinced themselves that it will be.

I am also very much pro-what they are trying to do. There is an identity and a culture that they are trying to instil, and I'm glad for it. I don't want us lurching from one style of football, or type of manager, or type of player to another. What we need here is stability and continuity, foundations put in place, and for the club to be afforded the time and trust to get it right, even if it means no promotion challenge this season.

A late takeover, another transfer embargo, a disrupted pre-season are definitely a few contributing reasons (not "excuses") for our current predicament. Perhaps scouting did get a bit complacent and not enough work was done on adequate succession planning, but hopefully that will all get back on track.

Again, though - there will need to be patience. It's all well and good saying the club must support Maher to get signings in, but the right targets need to be available and at the right price. People are already picking up that some of the signings made so far have been a deviation from the type of player we've tried to sign in the past, and perhaps don't look like they are 100% fits - well, that's what happens when there is pressure from all quarters to "get bodies in".

I know there are some targets at the moment, but a slightly longer game is being played. Maher knows exactly what he wants, and maybe he's been given hope that one or two of them might become attainable in the near future. Perhaps conversations have already been had with agents. He's acknowledged time and time again that we're in transition and a degree of rebuilding is needed, and if he knows exactly who he wants and has reason to believe that he can attain them at some point soon, who are any of us to tell him he should sack them off and settle for someone who he sees as a less optimal fit? We've got the less optimal fits in now in Bonne, Moncur, etc. as short-term placeholders so that we had some more bodies, and people aren't happy about that.

 

[Medway Blue]

Completely inaccurate.

The opportunity to manage a club with 6500 average attendance at home and an hour from London is a draw in itself.

Add in the size of the club, the takeover, the plans of and the mythical "process" and it's an attractive proposition.

You have mistakenly presented an ill informed opinion as fact.

The only drawback is if any potential candidates have the required PowerPoint skills.

95th minute equaliser against a literal part time outfit and this guy shows up so desperate not to upset his mates at the club, belittles the fan base week on week.

We should all be delighted shouldn't we?

I don't know what you are the chairman of, but what ever it is, it can't be something that represents the fan base.

 

[Yer Blues]

View attachment 34239

Sigh. I genuinely don't know what point you are trying to make? Quoting 2 posts weeks apart without context.

I've never once said anything is a fact. Do you agree that Southend shouldn't have a problem attracting applicants, if the job was to come up?

I thought it obvious that I'm saying despite our current predicament, we are still an attractive prospect to some! At least I'd hope we were.

What's the point of the other post you have quoted from a couple of weeks back? I can't see me saying anything is a fact there?

Come on Mr chairman, don't be coy. You highlighting bits of my posts and then stuff from weeks ago last looks a little weird.

Entirely possible that the point is obvious and if it is apologies. Incredibly tired today and don't have the cognitive ability to see it this afternoon.

 

[rayleigh dan]

Sigh. I genuinely don't know what point you are trying to make? Quoting 2 posts weeks apart without context.

I've never once said anything is a fact. Do you agree that Southend shouldn't have a problem attracting applicants, if the job was to come up?

I thought it obvious that I'm saying despite our current predicament, we are still an attractive prospect to some! At least I'd hope we were.

What's the point of the other post you have quoted from a couple of weeks back? I can't see me saying anything is a fact there?

Come on Mr chairman, don't be coy. You highlighting bits of my posts and then stuff from weeks ago last looks a little weird.

Entirely possible that the point is obvious and if it is apologies. Incredibly tired today and don't have the cognitive ability to see it this afternoon.

I’m unsure either? If this is supposed to be some sort of ‘gotcha’ it doesn’t work if it needs further explanation!

 

[rayleigh dan]

That was utterly appalling.

Collin has lost his head. The unsettled defence, exarcerbated by the loss of Kensdale and Dave Martin, has exposed the weaknesses that I think were already in his game.

Crowther is not doing anything to suggest that he can step into Kendale's shoes.

Bridge is being completely crowded out of games.

Moncur looked like a luxury player, unable to get things going when the chips are down and everyone around him is playing ****.

Husin looks lost.

Even KAF has looked scared to do anything forward-thinking.

Bonne was unbelievably poor.

Walker probably the only bright spark.

That togetherness and cohesiveness is gone. It's disjointed, devoid of any leadership on the pitch, confidence is shot to pieces, body language isn't good, and our triangles and patterns of play have disappeared.

Maher wants us to keep possession of the ball, but I don't believe that he wants it to be ponderous sideways and backwards unless an intelligent forward pass genuinely isn't on, and we have to resort to going sideways/backwards to quickly recycle and pull the opposition about a bit.

The problem you then have with that style of play, is that a lack of confidence breeds risk aversion, and rather than risk losing the ball by attempting a forward pass, safe passes are being played instead. Like I said on the match thread, it's a form of hiding.

That's not to say that all the blame is on the ball carrier, though, because there also wasn't really enough good movement off the ball ahead of play for the ball carrier to pick out.

We did well against Solihull and Eastleigh because they gave us time and space. Maidenhead today, despite their league position, had a game plan. They pressed us high up the pitch and disrupted our build-up from the off, and were still sprinting to do so in the 80th minute. The way to mitigate that is to play through the press, and last season we had the personnel, structure and the confidence to do it. Kensdale and Miley were pivotal to us breaking the opposition press. Without them, we just can't seem to do it. Crowther is so far not proving to be a good replacement for Kensdale - he's not as vocal, and he's not as comfortable passing or bringing the ball out of defence.

Chuck in what also appeared to be a lack of effort/work ethic from one or two yesterday, and it's a recipe for disaster.

'Plan B' is a huge buzzword at the moment, but it's a distraction. The professional footballers that we have just need to get the basics right (which they didn't yesterday), and the club needs to recruit the right players to fit the ethos and identity. Changing systems, much like changing manager in October, is the antithesis of the stability that we need.

No manager is immovable, or immune to criticism, and Maher hasn't got every decision bang-on. Make no mistake, that was a worrying performance yesterday, and if it continues and plunges us into a dogfight then he will have very few excuses by that point.

But I think he has done more than enough to deserve the time to try to turn this around, and certainly deserves a proper run at things without a hand tied behind his back. Barely into October, 16th in the division and 5 or 6 points off a playoff challenge isn't the time to panic and wield the axe. If we're in a relegation battle in March, then questions will need to be asked, but even then, it's not going to be the magic wand that some on here seem to have convinced themselves that it will be.

I am also very much pro-what they are trying to do. There is an identity and a culture that they are trying to instil, and I'm glad for it. I don't want us lurching from one style of football, or type of manager, or type of player to another. What we need here is stability and continuity, foundations put in place, and for the club to be afforded the time and trust to get it right, even if it means no promotion challenge this season.

A late takeover, another transfer embargo, a disrupted pre-season are definitely a few contributing reasons (not "excuses") for our current predicament. Perhaps scouting did get a bit complacent and not enough work was done on adequate succession planning, but hopefully that will all get back on track.

Again, though - there will need to be patience. It's all well and good saying the club must support Maher to get signings in, but the right targets need to be available and at the right price. People are already picking up that some of the signings made so far have been a deviation from the type of player we've tried to sign in the past, and perhaps don't look like they are 100% fits - well, that's what happens when there is pressure from all quarters to "get bodies in".

I know there are some targets at the moment, but a slightly longer game is being played. Maher knows exactly what he wants, and maybe he's been given hope that one or two of them might become attainable in the near future. Perhaps conversations have already been had with agents. He's acknowledged time and time again that we're in transition and a degree of rebuilding is needed, and if he knows exactly who he wants and has reason to believe that he can attain them at some point soon, who are any of us to tell him he should sack them off and settle for someone who he sees as a less optimal fit? We've got the less optimal fits in now in Bonne, Moncur, etc. as short-term placeholders so that we had some more bodies, and people aren't happy about that.

I agree with most of what you say, and certainly don’t want Maher out at this stage.

However I do strongly disgaree with the highlighted sentence. Flexibility in formations is surely a good thing IMO? The current players don’t seem capable of playing how Maher wants, why not try something different in the short term? I don’t see this as somehow destroying an ‘ethos’, many of the best teams have some flexibility when it comes to formations etc, we’re so predictable right now, press us and our game plan falls apart. Therefore we do need the fabled ‘plan b’ in opinion. I don’t understand why this is such a bad thing?

 

[kentblues]

Btw on having the right players to go 442 seems to me straightforward even if personally I think we will/should stay as we are.

Wind would go RB, Taylor in the middle with Gubbins, Ralph LB
Gus right midfield, Bridge left midfield and 2 up top
Challenge would be we have big overload on CMs and which two would you put in there?

Wood would be pleased however.

Can’t see us going there as I say

 

[Liam AAS]

My brothers and sisters in Christ 4-4-2 is dead.

You wouldn't ask your accountant to calculate your tax liability on pen and paper so please do not pine for formations and tactics from the age of AIDS and Bon Jovi.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Went to the railway after the match.

It seems matchday beers are the highlight of watching Southend.

Anyway, I was surprised to see the chairman bowl into the pub at around 8.30.

Great, we will have a chat and get some reasoned debate.

No chance. He was absolutely wrecked and couldn't really speak to be honest.

It's not a good look to see the chairman in such a state on the matchday following 3 successive defeats.

Apparently his words were. "Kevs here to stay"

I can’t believe you’re judging him Tommy. I’ve got to be honest. So what if he’s ****ed up?
Good luck to him.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Hands off!!

He’ll hardly want to play in the NLS

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

My brothers and sisters in Christ 4-4-2 is dead.

You wouldn't ask your accountant to calculate your tax liability on pen and paper so please do not pine for formations and tactics from the age of AIDS and Bon Jovi.

I feel sorry for AIDS…..it just dorsnt get the recognition it used to.

 

[Piledriver]

Tilly knew how to get the best out of players. Kept things simple, played players in the right position. He signed some incredible players for us which has never been got close to since. The football was the best ever seen too. Attacking and on the floor. Exactly what we need.

Paul Brush

 

[Supershrimper]

My brothers and sisters in Christ 4-4-2 is dead.

You wouldn't ask your accountant to calculate your tax liability on pen and paper so please do not pine for formations and tactics from the age of AIDS and Bon Jovi.

But I loved that publication

I think Kev may have switched to a different formation

 

[Shrimper83]

Reading that people want Tilson and Brush back makes me laugh must be deluded. Tilson for me is as bad if not worse tactically than Maher. He got lucky in my eyes. Freddie Eastwood came at the right time and those goals pushed us up 2 leagues!
Remember the shocking Tilson signings? Paynter etc
If Maher was to go we need a manager that knows how to get out of the division.

 

[overseas shrimper]

I can’t believe you’re judging him Tommy. I’ve got to be honest. So what if he’s ****ed up?
Good luck to him.

Let's be honest, if any of us spent good money buying this club, we'd be hitting the bottle, too.

 

[Liam AAS]

But I loved that publication

I think Kev may have switched to a different formation

View attachment 34240

This is the sort of tactical innovation I can get behind

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

But I loved that publication

I think Kev may have switched to a different formation

View attachment 34240

Even that wouldn’t work!!

 

[Texas Eslan]

So as a self confessed fan of Kevin Maher I have hidden away from here since yesterday to reflect on what I saw.

My opinion? That was simply unacceptable. We were terrible. Second best across the park to a poor side who will struggle to stay up this season. We were undone twice by exactly the same set piece (albeit once was a free kick and the other a corner). Ferguson held his hands up and as soon as he dropped them their number 5 basically ran away from Crowther and into the space where the ball was. Easy as you like.

We have players who are quite simply not good enough, alongside some who are not playing to their potential, alongside others who just look like they don’t care. It’s a heady mix it has to be said!

I think the poor are dragging down the good. Plus our core from last season has been decimated. As of right now we need a genuine number 1 goalkeeper and stop this pretence that Collin is the next great keeper. We need a centre half to replace Kensdale (who I rated highly) as Crowther is nowhere near good enough for that role. We need pace. Out wide and through the middle. And finally we need a cohesive game plan that fits the squad.

We neither play through the middle nor out wide. We do not move the ball or rotate players quickly enough. We look for the easy pass rather than the ambitious. We don’t get the ball into dangerous areas with any speed and when we do then we don’t have the players attacking those areas. There was a moment when we had three strikers on the pitch and a ball was crossed to the near post and NOT ONE of them had made a run there. That’s unacceptable.

Do I still stand by Maher? Yes. He is an excellent manager, dragging performance after performance out of a thread bare squad last season. He deserves the chance to turn the ship around. What has gone wrong? I believe the loss of our core (Kensdale, Miley, Cardwell) has been a huge factor but I also think those he has brought in have let him down so far (Bonne and Moncur being the main culprits).

In conclusion, Maher needs further backing in both the transfer market and the Roots Hall stands if we are to have any chance of turning this around. If not? Well for me it’s the unthinkable and a complete reset again which I can’t help but think would set us back further.

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Maher out shouts - boring

Can't slag anyone off because of last season - boring

Embarrassing and unacceptable performance

Collin shot to pieces

Crowther horrendous

Bonne pathetic

Husin no where near it at the moment

Whoever agreed to this new recruitment policy has killed this season already

Think that probably covers my thoughts