Sturrock in denial?

[Jam_Man]

Jam I agree with you. Kent was saying We attracted Sturrock's interest and I said we did so because other teams were a bit weary of taking someone on his condition which left us as his only real option as a result of that. Ron's comments in july 2010.

Ah I see where you are coming from.

Even so there are only 92 clubs so any vacancy will attract managers, whether we could get anyone with PS's experience I dont know.

 

[fbm]

We ended the season 2nd in the form table after we stopped playing that style of football. Prior to that using the direct style of football we were 16th in the form table and falling away from the top of the table, only by changing did we get to within a point of automatic promption.

Do we really need to go back to how we were playing which led us to throw away a 10 point lead?

It was the same style that got us the 10 point lead in the first place.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Indeed we just had better players when we got the 10 point lead. The drop in form coincided with lumping it long to Sampson who didnt do a lot and certainly didnt have any kind of spark with Dickinson. Ditto Benyon and Martin who didnt have much impact. Only when Freddy came back and Harris came back into the team did we play some good footy.

 

[Jam_Man]

It was the same style that got us the 10 point lead in the first place.

Yes it was, but by being flexible and introducing the 442 at home we could possibly have sustained it.

By "sticking to his guns" we ended up missing out.

We turned our form around with half a dozen games to go, what might have happened if we did that sooner?

Indeed we just had better players when we got the 10 point lead. The drop in form coincided with lumping it long to Sampson who didnt do a lot and certainly didnt have any kind of spark with Dickinson. Ditto Benyon and Martin who didnt have much impact. Only when Freddy came back and Harris came back into the team did we play some good footy.

Thats true, so when (if!) Freddy and Harris are back do we want Sturrock to revert to how we were playing with Dickinson in the side, or how we were playing at the end with them ?

 

[onceknownasrab]

If fans are willing to have a pop at Sturrock then don't cry about it when he has a little swipe back.

I have no problem if PS wants to have a pop at his dissenters. Thats his right. I was merely trying to point out that we have barely played hoofball this term, thankfully, and appreciate the better entertainment dished up. PS would have done better making the same comment had we played the whole game with the tactics of early last season, which we did not. In fact we outplayed/outclassed the wombles by playing the very football us 'ignorant' fans have been asking for thus proving our players have the ability to play football as opposed to hoofball. We all know we are not Barcelona. We won't play silky passing, technically brilliant football but we can play it to the level of our ability and succeed. If our team is so 'lg 2' then why did better clubs want Mohsni, Ferdinand and Hall? Have Harris, Eastwood and Martin not played in higher sides? Hurst was once a prospect, Spicer has ability and so on. For me there are more players suited to playing reasonable football than there are players who can only hoof it. On that basis, last season, we were playing 'direct football' to accommodate the minority. PS should run with things and see if the way we go about things now ultimately ends with promotion and extra bums on seats before he gets too defensive with the snipers. I had been very annoyed with him last term but have been very grateful to him for the change I have seen now and am no less confident of moving up the table. To be described by the all knowing ones as 'armchair supporters' is so purile. There is an enormous amount of football knowledge in every stand and you don't need a coaching badge to know the difference between good and cack.

 

[danburyshrimper]

We ended the season 2nd in the form table after we stopped playing that style of football. Prior to that using the direct style of football we were 16th in the form table and falling away from the top of the table, only by changing did we get to within a point of automatic promption.

Do we really need to go back to how we were playing which led us to throw away a 10 point lead?

Blimey ! You massage figures more than George Osbourne ...

 

[Shrimpers are Magic]

I'm more concerned that the manager is paying any attention at all to the "fans". He is the boss and he should not be scared to play whatever style or system he wants. If there is any truth in Ron Martin sticking his nose in then I'd be surprised if Sturrock didn't tell him to bugger off. My advice would be to stay off this forum and stick to what you know best. Not every Southend supporter comes on shrimper zone!

 

[Jam_Man]

Blimey ! You massage figures more than George Osbourne ...

Next time Im presenting medals feel free to boo.

The facts are we were poor after December playing one up front "direct passing" and better when we changed to 442 at home.

Im more than happy to use the 1 up front approach away from home but hope we persevere with 442 at home.

Its funny actually how some call Sturrock a dinosaur when 442 is these days deemed to be out of date and he prefers to play modern formations...

 

[southchurch]

I have no problem if PS wants to have a pop at his dissenters. Thats his right. I was merely trying to point out that we have barely played hoofball this term, thankfully, and appreciate the better entertainment dished up. PS would have done better making the same comment had we played the whole game with the tactics of early last season, which we did not. In fact we outplayed/outclassed the wombles by playing the very football us 'ignorant' fans have been asking for thus proving our players have the ability to play football as opposed to hoofball. We all know we are not Barcelona. We won't play silky passing, technically brilliant football but we can play it to the level of our ability and succeed. If our team is so 'lg 2' then why did better clubs want Mohsni, Ferdinand and Hall? Have Harris, Eastwood and Martin not played in higher sides? Hurst was once a prospect, Spicer has ability and so on. For me there are more players suited to playing reasonable football than there are players who can only hoof it. On that basis, last season, we were playing 'direct football' to accommodate the minority. PS should run with things and see if the way we go about things now ultimately ends with promotion and extra bums on seats before he gets too defensive with the snipers. I had been very annoyed with him last term but have been very grateful to him for the change I have seen now and am no less confident of moving up the table. To be described by the all knowing ones as 'armchair supporters' is so purile. There is an enormous amount of football knowledge in every stand and you don't need a coaching badge to know the difference between good and cack.

This is so right. PS starts playing a 'bit' of football and then tries to make out that's how its always been. Still room for a lot lot more football though.
In the words of Cloughie "If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there."

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

I have no problem if PS wants to have a pop at his dissenters. Thats his right. I was merely trying to point out that we have barely played hoofball this term, thankfully, and appreciate the better entertainment dished up. PS would have done better making the same comment had we played the whole game with the tactics of early last season, which we did not. In fact we outplayed/outclassed the wombles by playing the very football us 'ignorant' fans have been asking for thus proving our players have the ability to play football as opposed to hoofball. We all know we are not Barcelona. We won't play silky passing, technically brilliant football but we can play it to the level of our ability and succeed.

I think you understand the point i was trying to make. I also thought it was strange that he came out with that comment after the football we played.

 

[danburyshrimper]

Next time Im presenting medals feel free to boo.

The facts are we were poor after December playing one up front "direct passing" and better when we changed to 442 at home.

Im more than happy to use the 1 up front approach away from home but hope we persevere with 442 at home.

Its funny actually how some call Sturrock a dinosaur when 442 is these days deemed to be out of date and he prefers to play modern formations...

Haha , yup ....Osborne's face was a picture when he realised how many people were booing him .... but I guess thats why Cluniemore features on here occasionally as it must be very frustrating not to be hurt when thousands who "know better " shout loud + clear in his ear .... part + parcel of the job i guess....

But i do agree with you , 4-5-1 away from home and 4-4-2 seems to suit us , but when your wingers are both full backs as they were last night its difficult to see how we are gonna create much at all ... luckily we are in such a poor league we might just get away with it !

 

[Jam_Man]

Haha , yup ....Osborne's face was a picture when he realised how many people were booing him .... but I guess thats why Cluniemore features on here occasionally as it must be very frustrating not to be hurt when thousands who "know better " shout loud + clear in his ear .... part + parcel of the job i guess....

But i do agree with you , 4-5-1 away from home and 4-4-2 seems to suit us , but when your wingers are both full backs as they were last night its difficult to see how we are gonna create much at all ... luckily we are in such a poor league we might just get away with it !

Well yes we do need to get midfielders back in their right positions. With Hurst and Martin still to come back hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later. Id imagine PS wants to bring in a loan as well.

 

[BB Blue]

All I can say is bring back Mickey Bodley:smile:

 

[Welly7]

Didn't like Sturrock's comments at all and couldn't believe he said them. Yes he's had a little bit of stick for his style of play but not once has that happened during a game to my knowledge, only on here.

As fans, Luggy has forgotten more about football than we'll ever know but it came across a little bit insulting tbh. And, why gloat that his decision to put Cresswell up top came off in a JPT first round game against Wimbledon?! Does that mean he's a football genius all of a sudden because the fact we're still in league two suggests otherwise!

I'd prefer PS to keep his self praise for when he's really achieved something rather than taking an opportunity to show that he knows more than the supporters who have given him unequivocal backing during his time at Roots Hall.

 

[Blueeyedboy]

I'm not really bothered about what he said, it seemed to me to be more a tongue in cheek thing anyway and at the end of the day we won! :smile:

 

[southendkid]

The problem last season wasn't the hoofball, it was a lack of a plan B. I don't care if we're hoofing it and it's working, but it was clear last season at times that direct football wasn't working, yet we persisted with it anyway, when it would have been better to change our style to something else. If the Manchester clubs did the same thing every match I doubt they would have finished at the top. I expect there to be times where passing along the ground won't work, at which point I have no problem with throwing Cresswell up front, but if we only have one tactic we're going to get found out quickly.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

The bit that threw me was "Fans are singing and dancing". In the East Stand ? Hardly !!!

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

The bit that threw me was "Fans are singing and dancing". In the East Stand ? Hardly !!!

Scottish vocab.

Ya bum is oot da windee!
Singan n dancen!
Aye ya little *******!

 

[rhrussell]

As an old supporter of the blues, I really do not understand some of the comments on this site, Sturrock has plenty of experience at this level of football, and the caliber of players we can afford, all I want out of this season is to get out of this league and if it takes the form of direct football so be it. By Sturrock's changes at Northampton and last night we got a point when all seemed lost at Northampton, and we are in the hat for the next round of this cup. So back Sturrock untill the end of the season, then you can have your thoughts or not. Good luck Paul Sturrock, but bolster the team please.

 

[hamiltonblue]

As an old supporter of the blues, I really do not understand some of the comments on this site, Sturrock has plenty of experience at this level of football, and the caliber of players we can afford, all I want out of this season is to get out of this league and if it takes the form of direct football so be it. By Sturrock's changes at Northampton and last night we got a point when all seemed lost at Northampton, and we are in the hat for the next round of this cup. So back Sturrock untill the end of the season, then you can have your thoughts or not. Good luck Paul Sturrock, but bolster the team please.

Well said, I'm with you all the way on that.