Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-1 Solihull Moors

[rshepp]

Terrible, thats about all i can sum up TBH. We tried our best but it wasn't good enough,the players did not seem up for it until the second half but by then it was to late. Very depressing circumstances to be in front of 8668 fans and our biggest crowd of the season. Hayes just watched their goal go in.

Well that could be our play-offs over, just so much we all thought to play for, sadly the team didn't and Solihull were nothing. Our forwards are rubbish and never look like scoring and our crosses are pathetic.

There is no way we deserve to be in the play-offs.

#allverydepressing.com

I wouldn't be to hard on the forwards.
Hopper and Bonne are very experienced.
Almost all of our crosses were to high. Too long and to hard.
They had no chance.
Play to their feet and you will get a good result.
We need to coach better.

 

[wiggy]

Perhaps Maher and co could spend part of pre season up the road at Col U and learn management techniques from the Cowleys

Everyone called for Collin to be replaced yet every keeper we’ve tried to replace him with have been worse. Maybe just maybe he is not as bad as people think he is. Seriously think a bigger clear out than some think is needed . Bridge , miley, Husin , walker , hopper , Bonne , maybe all need to **** off and that’s at the very least . Plus you’ll have Goodliffe and Golding going back as well. Massive summer incoming. 4 points off play offs with 4 to go, season over and need to be planning for next season now . We just aren’t good enough all over the pitch

The biggest problem is the manager and with this COSU mob he's pretty secure unfortunately

 

[leeblue]

While I'm still firmly of the opinion that its a player issue, for example would solihull have swapped any of their team for ours...no way.
The one thing I will heavily criticise is the signing of hopper....brings nothing to the table other than running around.
Missed a header from 4 yards today....and held the ball up twice I believe.
We need double figures in terms of signings in the summer. Move on who we can. Literally any player other Parillon and maybe Taylor...get rid. Not good enough.

 

[Ricey]

Hmm, not sure what constitutes 'smash them' but we've not scored more than 2 goals this year in any game (with the exception of Halifax at Home) in February.

Well it was more the fact we seemed to be their bogey team, we spanked them 5-0 last time we played them at home!

 

[blewbie]

We had 17 shots compared to their 2 according to the stats..
Need to win our remaining four to have any chance of playoffs.

The finishing is shocking. Noor trying to recreate his goal from before was pathetic wasted chances too.

 

[Target man]

To say that was disappointing is an understatement. With Gateshead and Rochdale also winning, it's fair to say the play off hopes are all but over. Kev needs to use the last 4 games to assess where he needs strengthening and who needs to make way. For sure, that should include Bonne, Walker and Hopper, because they do but offer us enough as attacking option, and as much as it pains me to say it, I fear Bridges's best has moved past him also. Not sure on Hayes either who's positioning is very questionable. The clues are in why Barnet, top of the table, let him go mid-season. Not good enough.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

I'd say the opposite. And that's where we are as a fan base currently - plenty of people would agree with you but an increasing number I sense would agree with me. It's a question of whether the balance tips.

As I've said on multiple occasions I don't see us getting promoted (or relegated) with Kev in charge because he doesn't go after 3 points enough - and this is a league where taking 3 points really matters. That's not going to change with him in charge - so next season will be an anti-climax too. We'll end up chasing a play off place, rather than chasing promotion.

I would suggest the squad make-up will decide all.
If we have an accurate crosser who plants it on the head of an able forward - it will end up in the net. And then, 2-2 or 1-1 becomes 3-2 and 2-1.
Have also said on multiple occasions, we were forced into signings.
Have never liked the look of Walker, while Gubbins and Hayes also would never be in the squad under different circumstances.
Parillon and Pepple on the other hand, look(ed) the part. KAF might be a work in progress; but losing Cardwell and Kensdale when we did was a big blow.

 

[Tinks]

I was getting totally fed up with the football being played before Xmas and found myself grudgingly coming along to watch the games so I was pleased to have my winter break away from it all (although I did log onto DAZN twice - in two months). I came back in March and thought mmmmm the break done me good, looking forward to getting back to my football again.
I thought last week the goal against us in IT was bad enough and deflated me but this afternoon took me back to how I felt prior to Xmas.

Awful and woeful game today.
Solihull were bigger and stronger than us all over the pitch and we allowed them to bully us too.
I didn’t think the goal was a shot but more of a cross that happened to find the back of the net.
Why do we spend so much time with the ball in the air - especially against big teams. For heavens sake play it to feet and I really don’t understand short corners either.
I just felt we were just not good enough in all areas of the game. Such a shame given the crowd there today and I can only imagine that other NL clubs look at our fan base in envy

I do feel our Play Off hopes are almost over with us clinging on by our fingertips and I just hope that Kev & Co now start to think where we go from here in regards to next season and start thinking about game plans

 

[Chairman Trigg]

Maher's record game ,and we were again treated to just why we need change at the top. I don't believe we get the best out of this squad due to his negative tactics and pedestrian attacking. The lack of goals is abysmal and rarely do the substitutions have any impact or change our style of play. We have thrown away a golden opportunity to make the play offs ,but do we really believe we could even win them when scoring 2 goals in a game is normally beyond us.

 

[Southminster Shrimper]

No one to blame but Evan.

 

[Supershrimper]

No one to blame but Evan.

Bet he wishes he got the wrong train out of London today

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Maher's record game ,and we were again treated to just why we need change at the top. I don't believe we get the best out of this squad due to his negative tactics and pedestrian attacking. The lack of goals is abysmal and rarely do the substitutions have any impact or change our style of play. We have thrown away a golden opportunity to make the play offs ,but do we really believe we could even win them when scoring 2 goals in a game is normally beyond us.

So, is it the players fault or the manager's?
And are you saying KM's 'negative' tactics is the reason why we can't pass, cross or shoot?

 

[palexander]

So, is it the players fault or the manager's?
And are you saying KM's 'negative' tactics is the reason why we can't pass, cross or shoot?

Ultimately, all footballing decisions stop with the manager. Players in, matchday selections, tactics etc.

If players cant pass, cross or shoot, find tactics to accomodate, or coach them to be better etc.

The buck stops with the manager.

 

[onceknownasrab]

I was going to write a long piece and detail every player and the management but I have gone down with the same lack of desire to bother as the team had this afternoon. We are Essex. We drop our aitches so drop Husin, Hopper and Hayes. Nuff said.

 

[Boreham Blue]

Painful on a day like today that the Vanarama social media highlighting that Ollie Pearce he’s scored more than anyone in the top 5 divisions. What could we have achieved with him up top.

 

[Strykr]

While I'm still firmly of the opinion that its a player issue, for example would solihull have swapped any of their team for ours...no way.
The one thing I will heavily criticise is the signing of hopper....brings nothing to the table other than running around.
Missed a header from 4 yards today....and held the ball up twice I believe.
We need double figures in terms of signings in the summer. Move on who we can. Literally any player other Parillon and maybe Taylor...get rid. Not good enough.

Thats the problem right there. I genuinely think that there is an overinflated definition of just how good our squad is, even our leading scorer of last year is on the bench of a team above us. I doubt any of our starting 11 would play for the top ten.

I cant remember a time when ive been so unexcited every time we sign someone, i almost expect them to be average.

Hopper is a terrible signing, unless you have 4 other strikers that are on it and you want someone on the bench to come on and see out games and add to the defence....

Parillon seems promising but for the life of me i cant understand how a young man can be knackered after one half of national league football in an entire week.....

Take mahers dubious tactics out of the equation and we are still 6 or 7 quality players away from getting promotion.

Cosu have to address the balance, our signings need to be split between promising youngsters that are subs/replacements for good first teamers.

Im dissapointed about the playoffs, but in reality my heart really didnt believe we were good enough to win it.

 

[SUFC/Thurrock]

Terrible, thats about all i can sum up TBH. We tried our best but it wasn't good enough,the players did not seem up for it until the second half but by then it was to late. Very depressing circumstances to be in front of 8668 fans and our biggest crowd of the season. Hayes just watched their goal go in.

Well that could be our play-offs over, just so much we all thought to play for, sadly the team didn't and Solihull were nothing. Our forwards are rubbish and never look like scoring and our crosses are pathetic.

There is no way we deserve to be in the play-offs.

#allverydepressing.com

The goal was a much GSM’s fault, he let the guy run from nearly the half way line cut inside and hit a shot that I agree the keeper could have done better for.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Their goal was a fluke cross that went in about the only place it could beat Hayes. Then they started time wasting from then on, to clearly show that they were going to try and hang on to the 1-0. They showed little attacking intent, and only had 2 more shots the whole game. The ref let everything go, including our obvious fouls. But unfortunately he let their time wasting go. As for us, lots of half chances. Our shooting from outside the penalty area was woeful. Either wide, over the bar, to the goalie, or even worse, to the goalie at a snails pace. Our crosses were woeful. Our corners were terrible. A minute and a half to go in extra time, and Bridge takes a stupid short corner and loses the ball. They were there for the taking. Oh for a goalscoring centre forward.

 

[rigsby]

Not sure why so many are blaming Hayes. That was well executed chip not a miss hit cross. Dipped just under the bar and Hayes positioning wasn't bad. No chance of tipping it over.

Just because none of our players would even attempted it, let alone actually score. Doesn't mean others can't.......If you back off enough.

Bigger crimes out there today than Hayes. Our shooting for a start. How about he two wasted short free kicks in the first half. Even worse the two short corners in injury time. Yet again our delivery was worse than pub level. Over hit or gentle balloons for the keeper to gather under no pressure. The best cross was GSM just after half time. The one that Hopper heads wide. That was the time to score and change the game.

Final ball is not down to tactics, its lack of ability. I get that p****s people off but of what gets me is the seemingly lack of any desire to make it happen. I see to many coasters and a real lack of winners.

 

[Stuart W]

Ultimately, all footballing decisions stop with the manager. Players in, matchday selections, tactics etc.

If players cant pass, cross or shoot, find tactics to accomodate, or coach them to be better etc.

The buck stops with the manager.

Right so players get paid multiple times more than their manager (whatever level of the professional game that might be), but all the risk is with the manager in terms of job security?
How can that possibly be fair?
Players are too mollycoddled and need to take responsibility when they cross the touch line.
It is too easy to constantly have a go at the manager but at the same time put the players on a pedestal.
Personally I think a lot of it today was down to arrogance, namely players thinking they just had to turn up to win. Unless Maher is a trained psychologist there is little he can do about their attitude on the day other than to substitute them. The players are old enough and ugly enough to know the importance of that game and I am sure KM drilled that into them all week. How can the buck stop with him when they turn in a performance like that?