Question What has gone wrong?

[Target man]

It’s not the only tactic.

We pass it along the back and we hit it long to Cardwell. That’s at least two two tactics!

Neither are effective at the moment. That’s more to do with confidence than tactics as we went on a long unbeaten streak with these same players playing in the same style and were occupying a playoff spot.

I can add in a third tactic which is Mooney dropping into space behind the forward or forwards. That led to Cardwell’s offside goal last night, Murphy’s goal against Aldershot.

These same players were capable of winning football earlier in the season so it’s not an issue of ability but of confidence. Usually when you are tailspinning like this you’d add someone in from outside with some confidence to freshen things up but because of the embargo that’s not an option.

TLDR: we have different tactics. Tactics aren’t working as players lack confidence, not ability.

Agree its not ability, but is it confidence or desire?

 

[Tampa Blue]

Agree its not ability, but is it confidence or desire?

My personal opinion is that it actually is about ability as we have very little creative ability in midfield or up front.

Miley, and Bridge have ability as do the whole defence and keepers - certainly enough to do their jobs well.

Elsewhere on the pitch and in the squad the ability level is not up to the standard we need to get us out of this league.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Agree its not ability, but is it confidence or desire?

Definitely confidence. You can see them slump when we concede.

I think there maybe a few who have maybe mentally checked out as they know they’re off. I’m waiting to see if any notices are handed in when pay is invariably late at the end of the month (although that would leave them unemployed for a few months so it may make more sense for them to wait until May).

 

[in the know]

Agree its not ability, but is it confidence or desire?

If it's desire.. At this point in the season, a team of players that can't go down or up would draw motivation and desire on playing for their starting spot in the team next season, or their next contract renewal. Thanks to our circumstances, it's more likely they are playing to attract other clubs which creates selfish tendancies.
I doubt many have the desire for another season at southend.

 

[Target man]

If it's desire.. At this point in the season, a team of players that can't go down or up would draw motivation and desire on playing for their starting spot in the team next season, or their next contract renewal. Thanks to our circumstances, it's more likely they are playing to attract other clubs which creates selfish tendancies.
I doubt many have the desire for another season at southend.

Do we as fans???

 

[Tampa Blue]

Only 5 teams have scored less than us being Maidstone, Yeovil, Halifax, Maidenhead and Boreham Wood.

Says it all really about our lack of attacking/creative ability that has plagued us all season unfortunately.

 

[Pak Power]

We need a no-nonsense central defender who just clears it. Lomas and Kensdale look good when they come forward out of defence with the ball at their feet, but sometimes you just need to defend the box.

It's a bit like Clifford, looked good going forward, but can't defend

 

[Shrimpet steve]

How do you know Ron will find the money? I can't see it..hence he wants out now

He always does doesent he? Don't worry the club will get taken over by proper owners and u watch us go straight back to where we belong

 

[Tampa Blue]

We need a no-nonsense central defender who just clears it. Lomas and Kensdale look good when they come forward out of defence with the ball at their feet, but sometimes you just need to defend the box.

It's a bit like Clifford, looked good going forward, but can't defend

Main problem is creating and scoring goals surely? Defending is generally ok for this level

 

[WhiteNoise]

For most of the season we’ve been comfortably in and around the playoffs. Before the Barnet game at the start of the month, third place actually looked possible for a fleeting moment.

What has gone so wrong in the month of March?

We’ve played 7 games in 3 and a half weeks. That’s a busy schedule and something a lot of these players wouldn’t necessarily be used to. Some were playing part-time last season, don’t forget. This is on the back of several key players having been half-fit, low in confidence or desperately in need of a rest.

Unfortunately, due to being unable to add to a depleted squad, we’ve had to make do, which is a polar opposite of our opponents who have replenished their squads. This has undoubtedly taken it’s toll, and is showing in our lethargy and lack of confidence, IMO. Afterall, these players haven’t become bad players in three and a half weeks. I’d like to see us blood some more of the youngsters now, but I’m also cautious that it might be harsh introducing them into a team on a downward spiral.

The opponents we’ve played in that time have been of a very good standard. 4 of those 7 will all fight for promotion in May. We’re not far off them, and two of those - Boreham & Barnet - weren’t exactly head and shoulders above us. Most fans wouldn’t have expected 12 points against those 4 opponents, but nobody can tell me we deserved nothing. We certainly weren’t outplayed and can feel aggrieved not to have taken 4 points minimum. Fine margins.

Speaking of fine margins, it wasn’t only Barnet and Boreham where we should have earned points. If we’d have had stronger refereeing at Wrexham, better finishing against Altrincham & Chesterfield, more confidence at home to Aldershot, and just a slice of luck here and there, it would not only have improved the optics but kept us in the playoff chase. That’s the difference between a multi-game losing streak and still being in the top 7.

Does our gameplay need to improve? Yes. We need to move the ball quicker for certain. We were doing that earlier in the season, so why aren’t we now? Obviously the state of the RH pitch doesn’t help, maybe that’s why we’ve looked better away from home. Does anyone truly believe the players are being coached to pass the ball backwards and sideways between the CB’s and midfield? I’d suggest they’re too nervous of losing possession atm. Those in front of them are too nervous to make penetrating runs and when they do, the man on the ball is too scared of misplacing the pass, so opts for the easy square or backwards pass. It’s not difficult to see.

We need to be more clinical with our finishing too. Too many times we’ve fluffed shots, taken an extra touch or looked for one more pass. That wasn’t happening earlier in the season, and although scoring goals has been our biggest weakness for most of the campaign, it’s never been more evident than it has been this month. Again, it’s a confidence thing, but an unsettled and ever changing front line won’t have helped either. A lack of reinforcements too. Dallas and Morais might have given us something extra, but… well, we all know what happened there.

It’s unquestionable that the loss of Lopata has hurt our back line. It’s left us very shaky and uncomfortable. We’ve gone from the strongest defence in the league, to looking like we’ll concede under the most average of attacks. We desperately need fresh blood in at the back to steady the ship. Sadly, that won’t be happening this season, so again, we need to make do with what we’ve got.

The silver lining - if there is one - is that we aren’t being battered by teams. We’re still competitive and still creating chances, so I don’t think there’s a fundamental flaw in our approach. Those who say “the formation is wrong”, yeah maybe, but we’re still creating chances to win games with a so-called “wrong” formation. Same argument for those who say “the tactics are wrong”. If that were the case, we’d be getting absolutely nowhere near other teams. But we do.

A lack of confidence, a lack of bravery, a lack of reinforcements & fatigue (both mental and physical) would appear to be the root cause of this miserable month, IMO.

Kev and co will need to dig deep into their bag of tricks to build the confidence back up. They’ve proven they can in the past (let’s not forget, it was only 4(?) weeks ago that we were waxing lyrical about how good this squad is, following a battling win against Torquay, which capped a remarkable run during the unpaid period)

He’s got his work cut out for him. It was probably easier to gee them up when the prospect of the playoffs was live, so now they look out of the question, how do you motivate a squad who are continually losing by narrow margins, running on empty, the instability still surrounding the clubs future, a worry of wages being unpaid again, players out of contract in the summer, the prospect of the embargo continuing etc etc. that isn’t easy to put to one side. That has to take its toll eventually and I’m unsure whether any management team could keep that out of players minds for a prolonged period of time.

There’s a lot of frustration right now, and I don’t think anyone in that dressing room will be under any illusions that what’s been served up is simply unacceptable. Spare me with the “Maher is ****” nonsense though, you can go and argue that one with yourself. Between August and March we earned enough points to be settled in the playoff positions. He hasn’t become a bad manager in the last 3 and a half weeks.

Modern football fans will always look for an easy, simple, quick-fix solution to an issue that has so many variables and moving parts. Formations, line-ups, management etc. In reality, a change of any of those things isn’t likely to ensure Bridge converts a penalty or Powell hits the back of the net from 6 yards, or Hyde managing more than one game before getting back in the treatment room, or our back line nutting up.

It’s been an horrendous month for us, and that’s some feat considering the past 5 years. We desperately need to get through this rocky patch, make it to the end of the season and *hopefully* look forward to a new start. Yes, it’s bitterly disappointing for the season to “end” this way (I say end, but it’s still mathematically possible to get into the playoffs, although admittedly I don’t see it happening) but if we wanted guaranteed success week in, week out, we’d all be Man City fans.

Above all else, these players and this management team have given their all this season. When the deck was stacked against them, they ploughed on regardless and have given us some memorable games and brilliant highs. They might have been below par at times, some might be playing above their level, but collectively they’ve all worked their nuts off. Even when they weren’t paid, they turned up and put on a show for us. They could have given up. They could have gone on strike. They could have all walked away. But they didn’t.

We all wanted a squad which we had a rapport with, unlike some of the mercenaries and con men who have worn our shirt over the past few years. IMO we’ve finally got players and management who are willing to go above and beyond, not only for themselves, but for us too. They didn’t give up on us, so I’m not giving up on them. Despite how **** this month has been.

Don’t disagree, but you’re missing one key thing

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

It’s the same thing that’s plagued us for what, 5 seasons now? Lack of midfielders who are creative and score goals. Not good enough at set pieces. Not able to field the same front players for more than a few games. If we’d been able to put a few more in the net we’d have won more points, it’s that simple.

Yes there’s a confidence issue. Always is on a losing run .. we’ve had a few of those. Teams have figured out our best shot at fashioning chances is giving it to Bridge who, talented though he is, is better at step overs and laying it off inside than beating his man and crossing it. Cut off Bridge, where else are goals coming from? We’ve had so many strikers come and go who’ve been slagged on here but what service have they had?

The embargoes have 100% hindered us and stopped us adding to the squad and freshening things up. I feel for Stan, Still and the scouting team as they can identify the best players in every position but it means **** all if we can’t bring them in. You can’t tell me Kev, Currie and Benno wouldn’t love to add creativity and goal scoring midfielders to the squad. Even someone who can take a corner.

Hopefully we can stop the rot and go into summer with a few wins to boost morale.
Get rid of Kev…nah. Get who in?? We need to stop the chopping and changing.

 

[rootshall rambler]

There may have been other factors, but in truth, no team of players , management or staff could ever really be expected to sustain a prolonged period of motivation and self belief under the toxic regime of Martin. As brilliant they are, our players are not superhuman, and have the same understandable frailties as anyone. To do what they did, was a fantastic effort, but the black cloud of Martin was bound to catch up with them at some point. I’m only surprised that didn’t happen earlier.

This club will NEVER thrive so long as toxic Ron has anything whatsoever to do with it.

that’s the truth. ……….that even his fanboys and mates know.

 

[Shrimper0116]

Truly excellent post

agreed. clear sighted analysis at an emotive time.

 

[Kat_r]

If Martin doesn't sell until 2024 we will go bust in the meantime and he will have nothing to sell! Literally needs to the season ticket money to pay off historic debts, completely unsustainable, we are doomed if we are not sold by the summer!

He won’t let the club go bust. He’d rather no pay for it but he will end up funding if the season ticket income isn’t enough
Don’t believe his lies that he’s got no money.

 

[* ORM *]

We can’t score.

Close thread

 

[Piledriver]

We can’t score.

Close thread

Is that the royal We ORM, but its not a problem for Boring Wood they don't score many either although we've now conceded more than them so fine margins and all that.

 

[rlb999]

We need a no-nonsense central defender who just clears it. Lomas and Kensdale look good when they come forward out of defence with the ball at their feet, but sometimes you just need to defend the box.

It's a bit like Clifford, looked good going forward, but can't defend

What's gone on with Clifford? Whilst Maher clearly doesn't fancy him, the squad has been thin enough at times this season for him to get into it more than he has. There must be more to his absence.

 

[Piledriver]

Fwiw Clifford seemed to lose his way as a player , he seemed unsure and uncommitted going forward and racked with fear getting caught out of position , but as you say about the squad and not resting players now seems illogical now..

 

[kentblues]

What's gone on with Clifford? Whilst Maher clearly doesn't fancy him, the squad has been thin enough at times this season for him to get into it more than he has. There must be more to his absence.

In the same way 352 is hardly promising for out and out wingers it also doesn't suit the likes of Clifford who is a good LB in a back four but not suited to the WB role. Not all wingers and FBs are able to fit the WB position well.

In my opinion with have a good system at the moment with the 352, and we have good players as individuals, but we don't have the optimal mix and types of players for our system.

The system impacts on what you want across the team- what you need in three CB is different to want you would want from CBs in a back four, what you need to give the right balance in a CM 3 is different to if it were a two, WBs verses wingers/full backs. Probably only the attributes of the front two are relatively the same in both systems.

 

[Whispering Bob]

What's gone on with Clifford? Whilst Maher clearly doesn't fancy him, the squad has been thin enough at times this season for him to get into it more than he has. There must be more to his absence.

There was a home game a month or so back, where the fitness coach had Clifford (not in the squad that day) doing shuttle runs before the game.
1) He was blowing
2) I thought that was a tad public, if they were monitoring fitness issues.