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Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0, Plymouth Argyle 2
Medway Blue
Trust chairman/glutton for punishment ⭐🦐
Southend United 0-2 Plymouth Argyle
What on earth is going on at this football club? I don't know what to think at the moment. Three consecutive home games against relegation fodder, nine points up for grabs, and we come away with one? Man for man, pound for pound, we have got a very good squad at this level. Better than last season's in several areas. So I refuse to accept the "these sides are scrapping for their lives" argument because regardless of that, our squad is just better.
I also refuse to accept the "eyes on Wembley" argument. I didn't see that happen to Southend before the last two JPT Finals. Plus, these guys have been told (and should know anyway) that they are currently playing for their places in the squad at Wembley. So there is no reason at all why their eyes should be off the league games that are immediately in front of them.
The last two home performances were poor, make no mistake about it. But tonight was just on a whole new level for me. Not only was it poor, but it was also gutless, effortless, clueless and directionless. I cannot pick out one player who showed any heart and fight and passion. Perhaps heads dropped after the last two home games but at the same time, we had a chance being only six points off with 24 left to play for. You'd think they'd keep battling. But they didn't. They were lethargic, second to every ball, NOBODY was on the same page on that pitch. Passes were misplaced or sent straight to the opposition. Players were pulling up and not chasing balls over the top. Players were shirking challenges. How many times in the second half did Plymouth players ghost past almost our entire team between the halfway line and our penalty box? I lost count. Their second goal was the best one. Straker swung his weak foot at a clearance, sent it straight to a Plymouth player, and just jogged back and watched their bloke ghost past him and run into our penalty box to put it in the net. He was within touching distance and had just given him the ball, why didn't he ****ing go after him and put a tackle in? He just stood there and watched him!
I don't know.....I really think there's more to it than Wembley and playing sides which are fighting. Are the wages on time? Have the players run out of patience with Sturrock's style of football? Is there a collective fear and mental block when playing at Roots Hall?
Dare I say it, do we have another 1991/92 on our hands? Dave Webb quit halfway through the season, the players knew about it, and the season collapsed. Has Sturrock decided he's offski at the end of the season and, although it's not public, have the squad caught wind? Or has Sturrock given up and stopped being able to motivate his troops? We could go round in circles. But I really do think that there is more to this than meets the eye. Because that was just abysmal. No effort, not passion, no cohesion, no nothing. At all.
Bentley 6 - kicking good bar one in the second half, could have done better for the second goal perhaps.
Clohessy 5.5 - tried to get things going down the right, but not on the same page as Hurst.
Mohsni 4.5 - casual, effortless. Not as dominant in the air, misplaced passes (one almost leading to a goal) and poor challenge for the penalty.
Cresswell 5 - not as dominant in the air, few hairy moments.
Straker 4 - usually a supporter, but dreadful tonight and can't forgive him for his pedestrianism during their 2nd goal.
Hurst 5.5 - tried to get things going, nice footwork, not on same page as Clohessy, poor delivery.
Laird 6 - pick of the midfield, but that's not saying much. Got some good passes, tackles and blocks in but kept going walkabout and leaving holes.
Mkandawire 5.5 - much like Laird, went walkabout a fair bit and left gaps. Fairly composed but nothing really came off for him.
Reeves 4.5 - not really in the game, didn't try to beat his man and get crosses over as usual. Kept turning sideways or backwards and giving it to someone else.
Eastwood 5.5 - good with ball at feet, but that rarely happens. Not fit enough to put himself about. Tried hard to link midfield with the forwards but to no real avail. Does still look threatening with ball at feet. Unlucky with free kick.
Assombalonga 5 - put himself about, but his movement off the ball is poor and his first touch is of a Sunday park pitch standard. On the odd occasion that he does put a foot on the ball, he just heads for the corner flag. One great piece of dribbling in the first half, from halfway line to Plymouth's box, which should really have resulted in a goal.
Subs:
Tomlin 6 - showed several glimpses which really proved why and how we've missed him. Great shot with pretty much his first touch, great with ball at feet, movement into channels good. Just a real nuisance.
Corr 5 - didn't see much of him to be fair.
I'd say Sturrock will be lucky to still be in the job tomorrow morning. Something is badly awry. If I had it my way, it'd be "thanks for all you're hard work and for steadying the ship, but it's best for both parties if we go in a different direction now."
That for me includes parting company with Coughlan who, having spent half of his playing career and all of his coaching career to date under Sturrock, is likely to provide continuity rather than the new ideas that are so badly needed.
What on earth is going on at this football club? I don't know what to think at the moment. Three consecutive home games against relegation fodder, nine points up for grabs, and we come away with one? Man for man, pound for pound, we have got a very good squad at this level. Better than last season's in several areas. So I refuse to accept the "these sides are scrapping for their lives" argument because regardless of that, our squad is just better.
I also refuse to accept the "eyes on Wembley" argument. I didn't see that happen to Southend before the last two JPT Finals. Plus, these guys have been told (and should know anyway) that they are currently playing for their places in the squad at Wembley. So there is no reason at all why their eyes should be off the league games that are immediately in front of them.
The last two home performances were poor, make no mistake about it. But tonight was just on a whole new level for me. Not only was it poor, but it was also gutless, effortless, clueless and directionless. I cannot pick out one player who showed any heart and fight and passion. Perhaps heads dropped after the last two home games but at the same time, we had a chance being only six points off with 24 left to play for. You'd think they'd keep battling. But they didn't. They were lethargic, second to every ball, NOBODY was on the same page on that pitch. Passes were misplaced or sent straight to the opposition. Players were pulling up and not chasing balls over the top. Players were shirking challenges. How many times in the second half did Plymouth players ghost past almost our entire team between the halfway line and our penalty box? I lost count. Their second goal was the best one. Straker swung his weak foot at a clearance, sent it straight to a Plymouth player, and just jogged back and watched their bloke ghost past him and run into our penalty box to put it in the net. He was within touching distance and had just given him the ball, why didn't he ****ing go after him and put a tackle in? He just stood there and watched him!
I don't know.....I really think there's more to it than Wembley and playing sides which are fighting. Are the wages on time? Have the players run out of patience with Sturrock's style of football? Is there a collective fear and mental block when playing at Roots Hall?
Dare I say it, do we have another 1991/92 on our hands? Dave Webb quit halfway through the season, the players knew about it, and the season collapsed. Has Sturrock decided he's offski at the end of the season and, although it's not public, have the squad caught wind? Or has Sturrock given up and stopped being able to motivate his troops? We could go round in circles. But I really do think that there is more to this than meets the eye. Because that was just abysmal. No effort, not passion, no cohesion, no nothing. At all.
Bentley 6 - kicking good bar one in the second half, could have done better for the second goal perhaps.
Clohessy 5.5 - tried to get things going down the right, but not on the same page as Hurst.
Mohsni 4.5 - casual, effortless. Not as dominant in the air, misplaced passes (one almost leading to a goal) and poor challenge for the penalty.
Cresswell 5 - not as dominant in the air, few hairy moments.
Straker 4 - usually a supporter, but dreadful tonight and can't forgive him for his pedestrianism during their 2nd goal.
Hurst 5.5 - tried to get things going, nice footwork, not on same page as Clohessy, poor delivery.
Laird 6 - pick of the midfield, but that's not saying much. Got some good passes, tackles and blocks in but kept going walkabout and leaving holes.
Mkandawire 5.5 - much like Laird, went walkabout a fair bit and left gaps. Fairly composed but nothing really came off for him.
Reeves 4.5 - not really in the game, didn't try to beat his man and get crosses over as usual. Kept turning sideways or backwards and giving it to someone else.
Eastwood 5.5 - good with ball at feet, but that rarely happens. Not fit enough to put himself about. Tried hard to link midfield with the forwards but to no real avail. Does still look threatening with ball at feet. Unlucky with free kick.
Assombalonga 5 - put himself about, but his movement off the ball is poor and his first touch is of a Sunday park pitch standard. On the odd occasion that he does put a foot on the ball, he just heads for the corner flag. One great piece of dribbling in the first half, from halfway line to Plymouth's box, which should really have resulted in a goal.
Subs:
Tomlin 6 - showed several glimpses which really proved why and how we've missed him. Great shot with pretty much his first touch, great with ball at feet, movement into channels good. Just a real nuisance.
Corr 5 - didn't see much of him to be fair.
I'd say Sturrock will be lucky to still be in the job tomorrow morning. Something is badly awry. If I had it my way, it'd be "thanks for all you're hard work and for steadying the ship, but it's best for both parties if we go in a different direction now."
That for me includes parting company with Coughlan who, having spent half of his playing career and all of his coaching career to date under Sturrock, is likely to provide continuity rather than the new ideas that are so badly needed.
chapperzUK
Guest
Personally I think that Martin and Sturrock had a meeting (that was well documented on here) and he was told that he can manage the team and take them out at Wembley, but will leave after that.
Wouldn't be surprised if that has happened and demotivated Sturrock a bit.
Wouldn't be surprised if that has happened and demotivated Sturrock a bit.
Medway Blue
Trust chairman/glutton for punishment ⭐🦐
I know, I had a re-think about Fredster having sat back and gone back over some of what I saw! He tried hard to link the play but unfortunately with others around him not pulling their weight, I think it was hard to see at times.
james_c
First XI
truly awful and imo eastwood our best player today was subbed the only one with any real skill and only player to score in open play in last 3 games. i thought he was workin harder today to freds only gonna get fitter with games subbing him doesnt help especially when corr did nothing.
eastwood 6
everyone else 4
mohsni 3
eastwood 6
everyone else 4
mohsni 3
Somerset Ex-TTB
Members
Bentley - 6 Nothing much to do, a couple of dodgy kicks and mistake with Mohsni in first half could of lead to a goal
Clohessey 6 - Very off the boil of late, seems to have lost the art of crossing a ball
Creswell - 5 - Obviously injured, a few scary moments
Mohsni - 3 - Should of cost a goal in the 1st half, did in the 2nd half. **** off back to France
Staker - 4 - Started bad, got a bit better, then got worse. Does some really good stuff, but then royally ****'s it up.
Reeves - 4 Never really did much, always played back or square
Laird - 6 Tried hard, but always seemed half a yard off the pace. 2 games in 3 days too much for him after his injury
Tam - 6 Tried to keep it simple, and covered well. Did look a bit lacking in match fitness.
Hurst - 4 Has been poor and looking knackered for the past month. When he plays poorly, so do the team.
Eastwood - 6 Linked up well, held the ball up well when it was played to feet, but never got a sniff of goal
Bonga - 4 - Has the touch of brick wall the past few weeks, and has also lost he shooting boots.
Sturrock - 2 Got the starting XI correct given the available players, but subs totally wrong.
Haven't been this disillusioned for a long long time, and if it wasn't for Wembley I would not be going back this season.
Clohessey 6 - Very off the boil of late, seems to have lost the art of crossing a ball
Creswell - 5 - Obviously injured, a few scary moments
Mohsni - 3 - Should of cost a goal in the 1st half, did in the 2nd half. **** off back to France
Staker - 4 - Started bad, got a bit better, then got worse. Does some really good stuff, but then royally ****'s it up.
Reeves - 4 Never really did much, always played back or square
Laird - 6 Tried hard, but always seemed half a yard off the pace. 2 games in 3 days too much for him after his injury
Tam - 6 Tried to keep it simple, and covered well. Did look a bit lacking in match fitness.
Hurst - 4 Has been poor and looking knackered for the past month. When he plays poorly, so do the team.
Eastwood - 6 Linked up well, held the ball up well when it was played to feet, but never got a sniff of goal
Bonga - 4 - Has the touch of brick wall the past few weeks, and has also lost he shooting boots.
Sturrock - 2 Got the starting XI correct given the available players, but subs totally wrong.
Haven't been this disillusioned for a long long time, and if it wasn't for Wembley I would not be going back this season.
LennySUFC
Director⭐
Agree 100%
Jay_SUFC
Manager⭐
Totally agree with your ratings. Though the starting XI may have been the best possible, Britt should have come off at half time, he is a complete waste of space at the moment.
And don't even get me started on the Eastwood substitution (thought he was out best player out there), and yet Mohsni somehow manages to stay on :angry:
Can someone tell me what has happened to Clohessey; easily beaten for the Torquay goal on Saturday and again today in the move that led to the penalty!!
bazzashrimper
Director
Bentley 5. Little to do, but distribution not great
Clohessy 5. Tried to get it going but didn't always come off
Cresswell 5. A couple of good clearances but doesn't look as assured as he did before Christmas
Moshni 3. For all his ability he will make mistakes. Made 2 key ones tonight. It's the reason we didn't play him at centre half last time he was here. He is just not consistent enough to help win promotion. I hope he doesn't even make the bench for wembley as quite frankly it would be what he deserves
Straker 3. Rubbish throughout and made no effort to track his man for the second goal. Not good enough to play professional football. Can Leonard be given a chance at left back please?
Hurst 4. Off game from hurst tonight, second half in particular nothing came off
Laird 6. Superb in the first half, but tired and became frustrated in the second
Mak 6. Broke up play well and looked composed when switched to centre half
Reeves 3. I'm a big fan, but nothing came off for him tonight
Freddy 4. Tidy enough, but doesn't put himself about enough and doesn't look a threat
Britt 4.5. Worked hard and was our only likely scorer with his running in behind. Didn't play well though
Subs
Tomlin 7. Made things happen
Corr 5. Not as influential as he had been. Should have started ahead of freddy IMO
Clohessy 5. Tried to get it going but didn't always come off
Cresswell 5. A couple of good clearances but doesn't look as assured as he did before Christmas
Moshni 3. For all his ability he will make mistakes. Made 2 key ones tonight. It's the reason we didn't play him at centre half last time he was here. He is just not consistent enough to help win promotion. I hope he doesn't even make the bench for wembley as quite frankly it would be what he deserves
Straker 3. Rubbish throughout and made no effort to track his man for the second goal. Not good enough to play professional football. Can Leonard be given a chance at left back please?
Hurst 4. Off game from hurst tonight, second half in particular nothing came off
Laird 6. Superb in the first half, but tired and became frustrated in the second
Mak 6. Broke up play well and looked composed when switched to centre half
Reeves 3. I'm a big fan, but nothing came off for him tonight
Freddy 4. Tidy enough, but doesn't put himself about enough and doesn't look a threat
Britt 4.5. Worked hard and was our only likely scorer with his running in behind. Didn't play well though
Subs
Tomlin 7. Made things happen
Corr 5. Not as influential as he had been. Should have started ahead of freddy IMO
BluesyShrimper
Schoolboy ⭐🦐
I totally agree with all the above. How some people believe that Eastwood offered 'nothing' is beyond me. He constantly linked the 'midfield' ( even though there wasn't much of one) and all passes he made were positive, attacking and carried a threat. I feel like some fans just get disappointed when he doesn't skip round three players and bury it. He's a different player now and if he was given any time in the side I think people would wake up to that.
Taking Eastwood off while leaving Moshni on and pushing him forward just summed it up for me. We should not have allowed Moshni to come back, he has disrupted team balance and has cost us in my opinion. The sub was a terrible decision.
We've also missed Tomlin. Assombalonga is too young I feel to go the whole season, hence why his form has disappeared.
eastling
Coach
Clohessey took a whack on Saturday. I'm not entirely sure he is fit either.
silentshrimper
Director
Well I couldn't go to the last two games but could go tonight, I am very much glad I didn't after seeing some of these reviews...still not sure about renewing season ticket.
Who was our best player tonight?
Who was our best player tonight?
FarmdogSUFC
The Custard Splat - Southend United Fan Podcast🦐
Eastwood 6 - tried to do the right things, just wasn't happening. Shouldn't have been subbed off IMO.
Laird 6 - tried
Mkandawire 6 - tried
Mohsni 4 - lost it for some reason
Straker 4 - miss passed the ball on numerous occasion
Hurst 1 - this isn't a rating out of frustration, he was just that bad tonight. I can see why Walsall fans dis liked him to be honest.
The rest 5.
No desire, no passion, no commitment, no want. Fed up of watching that shower of **** week in week out now. Something needs to change and I hate to say it but I think it may be PS.
Laird 6 - tried
Mkandawire 6 - tried
Mohsni 4 - lost it for some reason
Straker 4 - miss passed the ball on numerous occasion
Hurst 1 - this isn't a rating out of frustration, he was just that bad tonight. I can see why Walsall fans dis liked him to be honest.
The rest 5.
No desire, no passion, no commitment, no want. Fed up of watching that shower of **** week in week out now. Something needs to change and I hate to say it but I think it may be PS.
Norwichshrimper
Can you hear Talvin Singh
Mark Phillips
Supa Shrimpa
Director⭐
I afraid, I couldn't make the game. Ermmmmm....I get the distinct impression we didn't play particularly well tonight !!!
Onion_Bag_Dave
YEELLLOOOWWWSSS
Thought we combined nicely in patches. Individual errors cost us.
Supa Shrimpa
Director⭐
Did Freddy deserve to go off, on your opinion ?
shrimperjon
President
Yes, don't get all the ,he was our best player bollox, no one was our best player tonight, but Fred has had a chance to stake a claim in the past two games and failed. A good goal on Saturday and a decent free kick tonight but that's all, too many people feeding off his past glory. Tomlin did more in the time he was on than Fred has done this season, and the link play was so much better with Corr and Tomlin on the pitch. I'm desperate for Fred to produce but I'm afraid it in happening.
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