Ok, I’m not going to make a habit of match reports or player ratings but I was there today so I may as well....
However please remember, I am NOT a Southend ‘fan’. Over the last couple of seasons I have a loose affinity to the club that’s seen me move from watching academy matches to occasionally watching the 18/23s and if I can come by a free ticket the first team....I am in no way a lifelong fan but this affords me the luxury of sometimes viewing with a little more objectivity than some one who is a fan.....and I’ve learned slowly that having that undying passion for the club you’ve supported all your life is a privilege that I don’t have and I try to have more acceptance of those that have it and who air their opinion whether I agree with it or not.....
Someone said pre match that whoever adapted to the conditions better would win.....well as obvious as that sounds they were spot on....the game was over before it begun after one team showed the willingness to throw some men forward and chuck some balls into the box to see what might happen.....
There was also some debate over formation and suitability.....the consensus seemed pre match that with no good wingers and three good CBs and full backs who like to get forward that this formation suited us.....I said I didn’t believe it was KBs preferred formation and it hadn’t had anywhere near enough work done with it pre season for it to work......
However, I’m a strong believer that formations don’t win or lose you games but that players do and today, unfortunately, players lost you the game not a formation....although I do concede that it can have an effect, if the players aren’t suited to a style of play.
Today the decision to play 3 CBs made sense. Blackpool are a team of giants and were always going to pose a threat in the air and from set pieces....to have the extra CB in there should’ve helped combat that....what didn’t help was the third one was clearly not ready to play.....and KB let his game plan over ride the players available ability to execute it....
Anyway my thoughts individually may explain more :-
Oxley - The wind and bad luck combined to create an almighty howler on his part. The header clear went up in the air and he misjudged how far it would travel and how long it would stay in the air for.....9/10 he gets a given a foul against him and 9/10 it doesn’t land on Harry Lennon’s foot and bounce in!! That said it was a terrible piece of Goalkeeping that he should have dealt better with.
Elvis - He did ok. Much better second half as first half he was caught on the ball too often. However he along with others got better as the game went on. Defensively he was fine.
Ralph - I’ve been his biggest fan, but he was poor today. His touch was off and he never got to grips with the wind with his crossing. He was more of an outlet second half as Hutchinson moving in off the line allowed him space to get forward more. But his end product was poor.
Shaughnessy - He was poor first half but got better. He’s not a great footballer but he is a battler and he can head it! Distribution wise he needs to simply pass it to the closest midfield player and be done with it.
Lennon - A stand out player and at times he was holding us together defensively. He’s quick strong as an Ox and can play. Seriously if he stays fit he’s a Championship defender minimum!
Ridgewell - Where to start!!! I felt sorry for him. He wasn’t ready he can’t have been fit. I feel KB decided to play a formation and needed him to play for it to work....his distribution was a waste of time and oh my god his defending.....he was carrying his shopping for the second goal. He literally didn’t smell danger or did and just couldn’t change gear to deal with it...but a ball inside you at this level has to be a recovery run to intercept the route to goal....he couldn’t get there.
The third was embarrassing. He had two half hearted attempts at a clearance / tackle that he showed no conviction with before it was put into the net. Schoolboy u11s type desire....
By the time he was subbed I felt sorry for him but the ironic cheering was an embarrassment to the fans and to the club .....he’s a human being after all.
He’s an experienced pro...it’s not about whether he can put this behind him more a case of whether he’s even fussed about it....I fear he’s here to play without a care in the world....
Mantom - Toiled away. It’s never lack of effort with Mantom and more should recognize that and commend him for it. He won’t pass forwards and split defenses and he won’t dribble of if a tight area with great feet.....accept he’s a grafter. My problem is where does he fit in and who does he play along side and in what formation to get the best of him.....?
Milligan - Never got a foothold in the game in the first twenty and that was disastrous for us...he needed to pull people in and give us a period of possession that we never got....after that he was excellent. Moved the ball quickly and efficiently and he covered the ground endlessly.
Hutchinson - I’m sorry but on here (faceless and nameless) he’s taken a coating. On the Facebook and Twitter comments (with real names) he’s been roundly appreciated and mentioned as MoM ?
Coincidence?
The boys 19 and that was his first 90 mins ever and only his 4th competitive start, against adults, in his career.....he then had to fill three different positions during the 90 mins (how many other players do we have that could even do that if asked??). He struggled to be an attacking threat in the first half....agreed...imo largely due to Mantom and Milligan not dominating possession and Blackpool having the upper hand. However he passed the ball consistently and cleverly and one or two combinations with cox around the box give me real hope. Second half he went wide and his movement allowed Ralph to get into the game. He still retained the ball well and worked his nuts off. He then moved into CM in a 442 and out passed and out performed Mantom...he was constantly available, kept the ball well and got a couple of shots away.
As an addition...in that wind, where everyone else took corners and free kicks that went all over the place, his were on the money every time, created the goal and should’ve created another two....I’m telling you now you have a player there. I agree he needs to win more regains and more physical battles but he didn't actually get knocked off the ball while in possession at all...he lost out on aerial battles and if off balance but he was in no way off it physically.
Cox / Humphrys - Cox is clearly not fit. Just not quite at his high standards yet...this is to be expected. It wasn’t a lack of effort and his class still shows but he struggled to get away from people or do the things his brain was telling him to do when it was telling him to do it...
Humphrys isn’t right. I said it pre season and I saw it again today. It’s partly his recovery...he hasn’t fully recovered...he took a knock on his nose early on today and he wasn’t right after that at all. He can’t compete how he’d like to physically and he can’t get involved how he he’d like to. On top of that he’s definitely not feeling the love from his gaffer...and I get the impression he’s someone that needs to feel it....
You lot may not like hearing it about your favourites and it’s debatable whether KB should’ve said it in the press or not but KB wasn’t far wrong....the ball didn't stick to Humphrys and he repeatedly went long when it was played feet or showed feet when we went in behind....BUT....the fact is if they cannot take the criticism due they are in the wrong game. My bet is it’s nothing that wasn’t already said in the dressing room and his interview would not have been a surprise to them at all....get on with it!! Move on...prove him wrong...give him a reaction....don’t sulk!!! This is a hard horrible business with massive rewards and with that comes massive responsibility. Deal with it!!
The subs :-
Kelman - On at left mid 3-0 down.....crowd on your backs....give the kid a break!!! He actually played a decent pass in for Theo and he also snuck in round the back for a header that was well saved and Theo missed a sitter if a rebound!!!
Theo - His touch really was poor.....and he missed what was a real sitter to make it 3-2.....he is what he is...don’t expect any more or any less...
Ndukwu - He looks a threat but don’t tell me Hutchinson needs the gym but not say the same about Layton! I think he has a lot to offer...he’s exciting and pacey but consider two things...1. End product...what and where is it? 2. He’s a year older than Hutchinson and from a premier league club where he’s probably not far off a millionaire on paper....throw your support behind the one that’s your own...at least in equal measure???
) are less straightforward than I would have hoped for. Both sides have made a terrible start to the season, so something has to give. My worry is that Cox may not be risked, Goodship is still likely to be sidelined and will Humphrys start??? What then are the alternatives................starting with Robinson????
