Post-Match Thread and Ratings Boston 3-0 Southend United

[PIERS]

i Heard someone say on the terrace last night, we will finish around 7 pts outside the play offs and then look at our results against teams in the bottom and think what might have been. On to next season and repeat. It does seem that way this season. Weve performed pretty well against those above us and i wouldnt be surprised if we win saturday but its the results against some of the lower table that is costing us

Lost H and A to Maidenhead
drew away to Wealdstone
Lost A to Fylde
Lost away to Boston
Drew at H to Daggers
Lost/drew H & A to Yeovil
Lost H to Sutton
Drew A Aldershot

yet
Beat and drew with Rochdale
Beat H Alty
Drew A to Oldham
Drew H & A to FGR
Beat H & A Halifax
Beat H & A Eastleigh
Drew A Tamworth (only lost 3 or 4 at home so a better result than some first thought)

There maybe a few more examples but these are the ones i can remember
Its been an odd season all round as in previous seasons weve struggled against teams at the top and beaten those we think we should struggling down the bottom

Tippy tippy stuff doesn’t work at our level and invites mistakes…. Get it forward at pace. The unit defenders down here can’t handle it .

 

[McShrimper]

It doesn't change much.

Hopper 2 in 839 minutes - A goal every 419 minutes (4.6 games)
Bonne 3 in 1716 minutes - A goal every 572 minutes (6.3 games)
Walker 3 in 1560 minutes - A goal every 520 minutes (5.7 games)
Kendall 2 in 838 minutes - A goal every 419 minutes (4.6 games)

A lot of our fans have got on Bonne’s back. Understandable as he took time to gain fitness and sharpness. He’s also missed many presentable chances but looking at this Walker isn’t faring much better. Being brutal, these are ‘chip in’ strikers. They lead the line, good foil and creating assists / space for a prolific striker. To be competing for promotion we need two of the above 4, and to replace the other two with strikers scoring closer to a goal every 200 minutes

 

[Benfleet Blue]

Tippy tippy stuff doesn’t work at our level and invites mistakes…. Get it forward at pace. The unit defenders down here can’t handle it .

Exactly as Dean Brennan does at Barnet. Pace and width. Unfortunately sideways slow and backwards will never get us promoted.

 

[BEERMONSTER]

They are near the top of the form table. They will be full time next season, regardless of which League they will be playing in. In their recent games, they have drawn with Barnet, beaten York and Rochdale and now us. They have a full time manager and I daresay some of their players are already full time.

The vast majority of Southend United fans have grown up as followers of a Football League Club and carry an inner sense of indignation over our current status.
Our fanbase is beyond the reach and dreams of many of our peers at this level.
Many, because we have a long heritage and a sprinkling of success and achievements as an EFL Club have an ingrained supiorty attitude towards many of our opponents. We can't help it, we all want to be in the world of what should be rather than the less palatable realities of being a National League team.
The vast majority of NL teams each season are consistent in their inconsistency and lends itself very much to anyone being able to beat anyone on the day. A lot of teams, ourselves included, seem to have 'runs' of results, swapping between good and bad. You only have to see the recent form guide to see how the 'bottom' teams have made up points, some even out performing those sitting in or around the play-offs.
In this league most teams are capable of gaining or dropping 10 points within 4 games.
Onwards to Saturday, don't unbuckle the safety belt yet, the rollercoaster hasn't come off the rails yet

 

[Liam AAS]

It doesn't change much.

Hopper 2 in 839 minutes - A goal every 419 minutes (4.6 games)
Bonne 3 in 1716 minutes - A goal every 572 minutes (6.3 games)
Walker 3 in 1560 minutes - A goal every 520 minutes (5.7 games)
Kendall 2 in 838 minutes - A goal every 419 minutes (4.6 games)

That does feel about right. Didn't realise Walker was quite that bad.

Is Bonne the only one out of contract this summer? If we're stuck with the other 3 then deffo need to stick a bit of £ into someone like Pearce.

 

[shrimperjon]

Stats from last night. Does sort of confirm what we all thought there last night. Dominated possession, plenty of crosses and shots but lacked quality in all these areas

 

[Shrimper]

That does feel about right. Didn't realise Walker was quite that bad.

Is Bonne the only one out of contract this summer? If we're stuck with the other 3 then deffo need to stick a bit of £ into someone like Pearce.

Bonne and Waldron out of contract in the summer.

Alfie Rutherford we should be going for. Out of contract in summer I think

 

[rigsby]

That does feel about right. Didn't realise Walker was quite that bad.

Is Bonne the only one out of contract this summer? If we're stuck with the other 3 then deffo need to stick a bit of £ into someone like Pearce.

Looked to me like Walker scored last night but was wrongly ruled offside. Same for Bonne at Narm.

If Leon had fired across the 6yd box instead of a Bridge style soft easily read cut back then Bonne might had another. Same for Hopper when KAF went near post. Good save but that was the greedy option. Its not just the finishing of our strikers. Our final ball needs to be much better, including set pieces.

 

[palexander]

Exactly as Dean Brennan does at Barnet. Pace and width. Unfortunately sideways slow and backwards will never get us promoted.

Which (and I appreciate this isnt the place) I wont waiver on the poll of should Kev stay. He absolutely shouldnt. He isnt the right person to take us forward. I'm not convinced we'll ever get out of this league playing the way he does.

We (well, he) needs to luck out on someone like a Bim (or previously a Freddy type) who will create chances for themselves in a side that has no idea how to attack.

I'd get rid before he overloads us with 6 DMs, no left wing back and another set of "hard working" strikers that dont score in the summer.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

Yes, that is exactly my point. You are very insightful.

So tell me, oh wise one, what is your point? That Boston are a good side? That Coughlan is a world beating manager? I've had enough of the excuses. We are not under an embargo. Kev has been able to sign players. And yet, here we are - struggling to make the top 10 in non-league. It's shameful and an embarrassment. We get bizarre statements from other posters about the poor quality of previous players, names like Barrington Belgrave are mentioned. They played in the football league - they were good enough to at least stay up in Division 4. This lot are a ****ing disgrace.

 

[Colchester and proud!]

Surprised at Goodliffe too be honest. Know he's been in and out, but when we signed him, came with a lot of good wishes from Col U fans and sounded like something we needed.

Wonder how much of it is an attitude problem when players end up in the NL.

I don’t think you are seeing the best of Ben, he is a much better player than what many of you seem to think, sometimes a move doesn't work out for many reasons. He was a standout player for Sutton in 2021 when they won promotion to the EFL, he was in the National league team of the season for the number 5 shirt. In August 2022 he suffered a serious ruptured posterior cruciate ligament injury, which kept him out for 6 months which I think has affected his speed and ability on the deck to some degree. Never the less Posh and Pompey were looking to sign him but for whatever reason that didn’t happen. Sutton wanted to keep him at the end of last season, but he opted to sign for us because he wanted to stay in the EFL, plus he wanted a change of club after being at Sutton 5 years. He did very well for us initially but lost his place after two early season injuries, the man who replaced him, Aaron Donnelly on loan from Forest was only meant to be a stop gap but proved to be very good and kept his place meaning Ben was missing out. Aaron was recalled in January from his season long loan to us and sold to his previous loan spell club Dundee for £300K.

​

 

[dusterman]

So tell me, oh wise one, what is your point? That Boston are a good side? That Coughlan is a world beating manager? I've had enough of the excuses. We are not under an embargo. Kev has been able to sign players. And yet, here we are - struggling to make the top 10 in non-league. It's shameful and an embarrassment. We get bizarre statements from other posters about the poor quality of previous players, names like Barrington Belgrave are mentioned. They played in the football league - they were good enough to at least stay up in Division 4. This lot are a ****ing disgrace.

I mentioned him once jeez, who are you Mark Rawle? I’m sorry I picked Bazza and not you, but leave it out.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

I mentioned him once jeez, who are you Mark Rawle? I’m sorry I picked Bazza and not you, but leave it out.

Nobody is talking about you. Do one.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

I don’t think you are seeing the best of Ben, he is a much better player than what many of you seem to think, sometimes a move doesn't work out for many reasons. He was a standout player for Sutton in 2021 when they won promotion to the EFL, he was in the National league team of the season for the number 5 shirt. In August 2022 he suffered a serious ruptured posterior cruciate ligament injury, which kept him out for 6 months which I think has affected his speed and ability on the deck to some degree. Never the less Posh and Pompey were looking to sign him but for whatever reason that didn’t happen. Sutton wanted to keep him at the end of last season, but he opted to sign for us because he wanted to stay in the EFL, plus he wanted a change of club after being at Sutton 5 years. He did very well for us initially but lost his place after two early season injuries, the man who replaced him, Aaron Donnelly on loan from Forest was only meant to be a stop gap but proved to be very good and kept his place meaning Ben was missing out. Aaron was recalled in January from his season long loan to us and sold to his previous loan spell club Dundee for £300K.

​

Thanks for the update, and have come to appreciate your input.
BUT, I've seen slow and I've seen Ben. He makes the other look quicksilver by comparison.
Maybe, it's that injury limiting him? And I've no issue with his positioning. It's when he's got the ball, or looks as if he might get the ball where the problems start.
It probably doesn't help he's playing alongside Gubbins, equally a liability.

 

[Liam AAS]

So tell me, oh wise one, what is your point? That Boston are a good side? That Coughlan is a world beating manager? I've had enough of the excuses. We are not under an embargo. Kev has been able to sign players. And yet, here we are - struggling to make the top 10 in non-league. It's shameful and an embarrassment. We get bizarre statements from other posters about the poor quality of previous players, names like Barrington Belgrave are mentioned. They played in the football league - they were good enough to at least stay up in Division 4. This lot are a ****ing disgrace.

1. No team can expect to win every game and you are living in a fantasy land that will just inspire anger and disappointment if you maintain an attitude of such entitlement. There are plenty of posters on her that believe that all these teams should merely be swatted aside. They are trying to win games! We are meeting them in the most meritocratic circumstances available: the football pyramid!

2. Boston are on the best run of form they've had in a quarter of century so they are going to be quite hard to beat. Whether or not they're a good side is up for debate, but they are playing well at the moment and we didn't take our chances despite being the better team for half the game.

 

[BEERMONSTER]

. Boston are on the best run of form they've had in a quarter of century so they are going to be quite hard to beat. Whether or not they're a good side is up for debate, but they are playing well at the moment and we didn't take our chances despite being the better team for half the game

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904913734386274704

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

1. No team can expect to win every game and you are living in a fantasy land that will just inspire anger and disappointment if you maintain an attitude of such entitlement. There are plenty of posters on her that believe that all these teams should merely be swatted aside. They are trying to win games! We are meeting them in the most meritocratic circumstances available: the football pyramid!

2. Boston are on the best run of form they've had in a quarter of century so they are going to be quite hard to beat. Whether or not they're a good side is up for debate, but they are playing well at the moment and we didn't take our chances despite being the better team for half the game.

Those are a lot of words to say that you're content with us having the worst side we've ever had. We as fans are entitled to more.

 

[Holy Joe]

I've had enough of the excuses. We are not under an embargo. Kev has been able to sign players.

But we were under an embargo.

Sometimes I pop down our local Aldi to do a top up shop for fresh fruit. If I get there for opening at 8am the shelves are full and I can usually get all I need. If I go there at 5pm often there aren't any raspberries and sometimes no strawberries (theres always blueberries for some reason). That despite the shop being able to have deliveries all day.

Due to the embargo causing us to shop late Kev has only been able to purchase blueberries.

There's my Cantona moment for the season.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

But we were under an embargo.

Sometimes I pop down our local Aldi to do a top up shop for fresh fruit. If I get there for opening at 8am the shelves are full and I can usually get all I need. If I go there at 5pm often there aren't any raspberries and sometimes no strawberries (theres always blueberries for some reason). That despite the shop being able to have deliveries all day.

Due to the embargo Kev has only be able to purchase blueberries.

There's my Cantona moment for the season.

Aldi is a **** supermarket. We should be Sainsbury's.

 

[Liam AAS]

Those are a lot of words to say that you're content with us having the worst side we've ever had. We as fans are entitled to more.

You're putting words in my mouth disingenuously so I'm done here.