Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 1-2 Col U *Spit*

[davewebbsbrain]

I really cannot believe the stick Joyce is getting. If Mildy had let in those two goals today we would not be having this debate, well maybe wiggy would.

I think that is the point...Mildy WOULDN'T have let those goals in today...Douglas Bader probably wouldn't have either!

 

[bazza192]

I think that is the point...Mildy WOULDN'T have let those goals in today...Douglas Bader probably wouldn't have either!

I agree Joyce was terrible. Not only the goals but his kicking was putting us under alot of pressure by not making the halfway line. Also poor communication.

All in all a rubbish keeper.

 

[Col.U. Mad]

Turkey sarnie anyone?:unsure:

 

[Beefy]

I was in the south upper and as Joyce was setting his wall and standing in the middle of the goal, I pointed out to the guy next to me that the ball was going top corner as there was acres of space there. Bang, and the ball was in the net. Joyce is rank!

I doubt that there were many in the ground who could NOT see where the ball was going.

 

[Honest Man]

Thought it was a close and scrappy game, not much good football on show. I'd say we created the better chances but Colchester defended better than us and killed us during 10 bad minutes at the start of the 2nd half. That was the difference. Thought the team selection was wrong, we lacked creativity with no wingers in the midfield and Barnard and Laurent got no service. I think people are being harsh on Joyce, first goal Francis (I think) lost the ball and they punished us. 2nd goal was a good free-kick after we'd given the ball away again. How on earth did Francis get MoTM? I think Malone and Grant were our only two impressive players. Atmoshpere was disappointing.

Spot on!! Francis for the second as well. Barrett went to close down the cross and then backed off for the first after Francis's error. Team that finished should have started, so tilly must stick his hands up as well, instead of the old missed chances. Laurent should have played wide END OF!!

 

[Lord Football]

Dreadful game, two poor teams, atmosphere pretty much non-existent and nothing to write home about.

Only positive from today I think was Morrisson who had his best game in a blue shirt and seems to have a gained a bit of confidence over the weeks. Other than that, simply one to forget.

 

[Honest Man]

My take on things..

Were going to keep struggling until we get some proper width and a decent forward to go with Barney.

Laurent is not a 10th if the player he is out wide and Walker, Dougie, Revell etc are not the answer. We basically had four destructive midfielders playing across the middle four. Totally devoid of any attacking ideas.

At the back I thought Francis was good for the bulk of the game and then he does the stupid switch off that he always does and gives the ball away so easily moments before there second goal. Morrison was amazing - Cant say enough how much I like him. Malone ***** himself everytime the ball comes to him and nothing worth keeping in my book. - Good set peices at times but that is it.

Joyce I cannot really defend. Cant really balem him for the first but I said to my old man look at the gap in the wall seconds before the farmer hit it. Sorry mate but you have been here two years now and never replaced Mildy on ablity. Not good enough and time to go.

Finally Walker - Came on - Didnt touch it for ten mins and then when he did was woeful. So ****ibg febble getting the ball in the box.

Mr Tilson I love you but you have a big old job on your hands. assuming Barney wont be about much I think you need as follows

New Keeper
Left Back
1/2 centre halves
2/3 wingers
2/3 forwards.

Good luck mate.

Second Goal?

If the outfield Players don't do what the keeper asks!! How's that his fault?

Larent was a late arrival in the wall which broke it up. Not the KEEPERS fault!! Buy the way it was a great free kick, top corner. We would have been proud of it if it was at the other end

 

[The Late One]

Mr Tilson I love you but you have a big old job on your hands. assuming Barney wont be about much I think you need as follows

New Keeper
Left Back
1/2 centre halves
2/3 wingers
2/3 forwards.

But how we going to manage to pay for them ?????
Sell some shares ?? Early purchase of season ticket revenue ?? Sell players ?? Sell our ground ??

 

[Skyblue]

I was in the west so couldn't get a proper perspective of the wall for their second but as it was almost central on the D then surely all the keeper does is line the wall up one side and he covers the other. The pre alloted player on the end of the wall should comunicate with the keeper to line up post and ball and tell anybody else who comes in to join it to b*gger off. Its simple training ground stuff that we were taught first year of senior school. Why on earth then did nobody take control in the wall and allow three players to join it doing nothing on the outside the line of the post?

 

[Beefy]

Larent was a late arrival in the wall which broke it up. Not the KEEPERS fault!! Buy the way it was a great free kick, top corner. We would have been proud of it if it was at the other end

I don't know where you sit but I presume it's not the South Upper. Because that ball was far from being in the top corner.

 

[Revd Dr Alan McCormack]

I don't see why Joyce is getting so much stick - okay he didn't cover himself in glory, but if Barrett hadn't run away from the ball and Francis tripped over his own feet then neither goal would have been conceded.

Agree that Morrison was the plus point though, looked very solid more than making up for his lack of pace

 

[Andy_S]

Tilly surrended the game before it had even begun with his team selection. The decision to play Laurent up front when he was finally finding some consistency was utterly stupid. It probably shows the complete lack of faith he now has in Walker I suppose. We set up too negatively and paid for it. We looked a far better shape when Walker and Scannell came on, despite the fact that they didn't have much joy.

The game itself was another one which completely summed us up. We huffed and puffed, passed from side to side, went backwards, then hoofed it forward and lost it. The midfield was yet again - abysmal and totally devoid of attacking ideas. They're alright at running around and passing from side to side, but when it comes to making an incisive pass, things become so forced. This is an area that just has to be addressed in January. On the subject of Colchester, I thought they looked like the poorest Colchester side that has visited Roots Hall in recent years. Did Joyce actually make a save in the first half? But as usual we came up against a team that took their chances and were organised when they needed to be. Both things we seem to struggle to do.

I thought personally that Joyce should've done better with the first goal. It appeared to go through both of his outstretched hands, although I might be corrected on the tv replays. Once that cross goes in though, Malone simply has to be more aware of what's around him. As for the second, I can only agree with the people who blame Joyce for it. Yep it was a good strike, but right from the beginning the lining up of the wall was a farce. He didn't appear to know what he wanted. And then once he lined it up, he seemed to stand in the middle of the goal, giving Wordsworth so much to aim at it was untrue.

Ratings:

Joyce 5.5: Didn't inspire any confidence. In anyone. Having seen him several times before, this is exactly what I expected unfortunately. Kicking from his hands isn't a problem, but soon as he tries to kick it from the ground it's shocking for a professional footballer. Made one good claim late on, but apart from that looked like what he is - a 2nd choice keeper on cheap wages.

Francis 7: His best performance for sometime.

Morrison 7: Another decent enough performance from him.

Barrett 6.5: Appeared to keep the number of stupid fouls down to single digits. A miracle. Is still, in my opinion the main reason why we concede so many silly goals.

Malone 6.5: His first half performance was the best I've seen from him, although he appeared to go downhill as the game went on. He lost Ifil for the first goal and his set pieces were still dreadful. Why does he take all of them?

Grant 6.5: Not great from Granty really, but he still covers so much ground and covers for his teammates mistakes. Looked unhappy on the right. I still think that Grant and Moussa are the way forward in the middle.

McCormack 6: A bit better than in recent weeks, although he still contributed little and still got into little unneccessary scraps. Missed a sitter.

Christophe 5: Unbelievably careless in possession. Add to that the fact he still shows no muscle whatsoever, despite his size, and you get another poor performance from him.

Moussa 6: Still struggling on the left. He needs a rest, or to be given a chance in the middle. Unfortunately it appears that he's going to get neither.

Barnard 6.5: Buzzed around with zilch service and notched his 17th of the season. His all round game still doesn't convince me that a big club will want him.

Laurent 5: Apart from one flash of quality in the first half he was dire. He belongs on the right, end of story.

Subs:

Walker 5.5: Fluffed his big chance. He'll be in League Two within the next 6 weeks methinks. Added some pace and forward running though.

Scannell 5.5: Had a tiny bit more joy than Walker, but not much. As per Walker, added some pace and forward running.

 

[Andy_S]

Larent was a late arrival in the wall which broke it up. Not the KEEPERS fault!!

Tilly was the one who told Laurent to go back. Joyce made a pig's ear of sorting his wall from the very beginning though and then decided to stand in the middle of the goal anyway.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Not felt like posting until now so here is my two penneth worth.

3. I said to the guy in front of me seconds before their second goal hit the back of the net 'Jesus, you could drive a bus through the gap in our wall' and only got half way through my second statement of ' Why the f**k is Mildy standing ther...........' when the ball actually hit the back of the net and my head went into my hands.

By the sound of it, there's a few here who would have liked to have seen Mildy standing there and not Joycey ...;)

 

[sadsy]

Tilly surrended the game before it had even begun with his team selection. The decision to play Laurent up front when he was finally finding some consistency was utterly stupid. It probably shows the complete lack of faith he now has in Walker I suppose. We set up too negatively and paid for it. We looked a far better shape when Walker and Scannell came on, despite the fact that they didn't have much joy.

The game itself was another one which completely summed us up. We huffed and puffed, passed from side to side, went backwards, then hoofed it forward and lost it. The midfield was yet again - abysmal and totally devoid of attacking ideas. They're alright at running around and passing from side to side, but when it comes to making an incisive pass, things become so forced. This is an area that just has to be addressed in January. On the subject of Colchester, I thought they looked like the poorest Colchester side that has visited Roots Hall in recent years. Did Joyce actually make a save in the first half? But as usual we came up against a team that took their chances and were organised when they needed to be. Both things we seem to struggle to do.

I thought personally that Joyce should've done better with the first goal. It appeared to go through both of his outstretched hands, although I might be corrected on the tv replays. Once that cross goes in though, Malone simply has to be more aware of what's around him. As for the second, I can only agree with the people who blame Joyce for it. Yep it was a good strike, but right from the beginning the lining up of the wall was a farce. He didn't appear to know what he wanted. And then once he lined it up, he seemed to stand in the middle of the goal, giving Wordsworth so much to aim at it was untrue.

Ratings:

Joyce 5.5: Didn't inspire any confidence. In anyone. Having seen him several times before, this is exactly what I expected unfortunately. Kicking from his hands isn't a problem, but soon as he tries to kick it from the ground it's shocking for a professional footballer. Made one good claim late on, but apart from that looked like what he is - a 2nd choice keeper on cheap wages.

Francis 7: His best performance for sometime.

Morrison 7: Another decent enough performance from him.

Barrett 6.5: Appeared to keep the number of stupid fouls down to single digits. A miracle. Is still, in my opinion the main reason why we concede so many silly goals.

Malone 6.5: His first half performance was the best I've seen from him, although he appeared to go downhill as the game went on. He lost Ifil for the first goal and his set pieces were still dreadful. Why does he take all of them?

Grant 6.5: Not great from Granty really, but he still covers so much ground and covers for his teammates mistakes. Looked unhappy on the right. I still think that Grant and Moussa are the way forward in the middle.

McCormack 6: A bit better than in recent weeks, although he still contributed little and still got into little unneccessary scraps. Missed a sitter.

Christophe 5: Unbelievably careless in possession. Add to that the fact he still shows no muscle whatsoever, despite his size, and you get another poor performance from him.

Moussa 6: Still struggling on the left. He needs a rest, or to be given a chance in the middle. Unfortunately it appears that he's going to get neither.

Barnard 6.5: Buzzed around with zilch service and notched his 17th of the season. His all round game still doesn't convince me that a big club will want him.

Laurent 5: Apart from one flash of quality in the first half he was dire. He belongs on the right, end of story.

Subs:

Walker 5.5: Fluffed his big chance. He'll be in League Two within the next 6 weeks methinks. Added some pace and forward running though.

Scannell 5.5: Had a tiny bit more joy than Walker, but not much. As per Walker, added some pace and forward running.

Post spot on !!

Granty must be totally fed up with being moved every game. In my opinion he is currently our best midfielder but is continually plugging the gaps , he must be the holding centre midfielder. He was anonymous wide right for 70 mins , terrific in the last 20 mins , playing where he should have been !

The lack of quality in the squad is killing us. Laurent should have started wide right but I guess his selection up front showed Tilly's complete lack of faith in anyone else to play up there (on today's evidence justified !).

 

[Silencer]

Agreed....Tilly needs to grow a pair, pick Grant as first choice and get a creative play next to him.

Sawyer may have worked well in there with Grant but with McCormack seemingley un-dropable in Tilson's eyes, Sawyer became frustrated and ended up walking.

I don't want to turn this into another McCormack thread, but enough is enough. He just is'nt doing it, also with him playing alongside Christophe, this just highlights our faults even further.

We Need a Creative Midfielder. Play Moose and Laurent on the wings to balance it out and sign/loan a creative midfielder to compliment Grant in the middle.

Oh, and a decent forward...two if Barney goes

 

[Rob Noxious]

Post spot on !!

Granty must be totally fed up with being moved every game. In my opinion he is currently our best midfielder but is continually plugging the gaps , he must be the holding centre midfielder. He was anonymous wide right for 70 mins , terrific in the last 20 mins , playing where he should have been !

The lack of quality in the squad is killing us. Laurent should have started wide right but I guess his selection up front showed Tilly's complete lack of faith in anyone else to play up there (on today's evidence justified !).

This is spot on too. Grant should play in the middle and Laurent out wide. Like you say though, there's no useful option up front with Barney currently. Apart from his pace, Walker offers little - if only Freedman had his legs! :)

 

[canveyshrimper]

Agreed....Tilly needs to grow a pair, pick Grant as first choice and get a creative play next to him.

Sawyer may have worked well in there with Grant but with McCormack seemingley un-dropable in Tilson's eyes, Sawyer became frustrated and ended up walking.

I don't want to turn this into another McCormack thread, but enough is enough. He just is'nt doing it, also with him playing alongside Christophe, this just highlights our faults even further.

We Need a Creative Midfielder. Play Moose and Laurent on the wings to balance it out and sign/loan a creative midfielder to compliment Grant in the middle.

Oh, and a decent forward...two if Barney goes

FWIW Sawyer didn't walk his loan was cancelled because of his indiscipline, the fact that Chelsea gave him his P45 soon after rather bears this out.

And anyone who thinks Tilly lacks testicular fortitude is way off beam IMO.

 

[SUFC Forever]

Barrett 6.5: Appeared to keep the number of stupid fouls down to single digits. A miracle. Is still, in my opinion the main reason why we concede so many silly goals. quote]

What? You must have been watching a different game to me today if you truly thought that Sir Adam's performance deserved 6.5 out of 10.

Now he is probably my all time favourite SUFC player but he was totally abysmal today in almost every way. This was one the worst games I have ever seen him play in a Southend shirt although unlike some of the others, I would never question his commitment.

Francis was to me the only player who looked the part today and in my humble opinion was man of the match by a country mile.

I found the atmosphere very subdued today and if we as fans cannot create a real electric atmosphere with a full ground against our fiercest rivals it makes you wonder when we will ever truly be up for it.

 

[sadsy]

First rule of football management , get the spine of the side sorted and build the rest of the team around it. Unfortunately today's wasn't good enough. Reserve keeper (Joyce) , promising young loanee centre half (Middleton), committed but defensively poor second centre back (Barrett), two out of form centre midfielders (JFC & Macca) and a prolific striker (Barnard) who is totally isolated !