Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-0 Braintree Town

[Tommy2holes]

Finally got round to posting.

If Cosu want a successful club then something needs to change.

9600 yesterday to witness a shocking performance.

The quality of the team is simply not good enough. Either the management needs changing or the team needs a big overhaul. Sadly I can't see either.

Kev is a legend but he isnt up to the challenge

 

[LennySUFC]

I’m not sure how many home games this season I’ve walked away from feeling like I’ve been entertained. Certainly not enough to warrant £400 on a season ticket.

Huge summer ahead with no excuses going into next season.

 

[geoffmundo]

Agreed ! i'm not interested in the match report as such, i saw the game, i'm interested in people's views about it and if they saw what i saw. If people want to rant thats ok too. Game's about passion, its not over reactionary to rant after the game and not everybody expresses things well when they are steaming !!
Most of all, i like reading about how Maher should be playing the squad according to fans, sometimes real eye openers !

Yes, watching from abroad on DAZN I always find it difficult to do match ratings, at least for all 11 + subs, because we only see what the camera shows (sometimes we get the benefit of a replay though!).

There was one passage in play in the 1st half when I thought something and Paul Clark said exactly the same seconds later. It was when Leon was on the left edge of their penalty area looking to twist and turn his way in and Bonne was in space on the touch line. It was clear that Leon was only going towards the goal but Bonne stayed out wide just watching Leon. I don’t know why he didn’t make a run in to the box / that would have at least drawn another defender and if I remember Leon shot wide. Paul then ranted that as a Striker why is he standing out wide and not making an effort to get in the box??

 

[leeblue]

I disagree. Mager isn't restricting LCP, he is doing that himself.

Maher knows what he can do and wants him to do it. Next season I think we'll see an even better player and long may that continue.

Especially with a full time pro pre season under his belt.

 

[bazzashrimper]

Yes, watching from abroad on DAZN I always find it difficult to do match ratings, at least for all 11 + subs, because we only see what the camera shows (sometimes we get the benefit of a replay though!).

There was one passage in play in the 1st half when I thought something and Paul Clark said exactly the same seconds later. It was when Leon was on the left edge of their penalty area looking to twist and turn his way in and Bonne was in space on the touch line. It was clear that Leon was only going towards the goal but Bonne stayed out wide just watching Leon. I don’t know why he didn’t make a run in to the box / that would have at least drawn another defender and if I remember Leon shot wide. Paul then ranted that as a Striker why is he standing out wide and not making an effort to get in the box??

I saw probably the same play in the game and said similar to my boys. That’s why he has 3 goals in 40+ games. And that’s why we aren’t in the play offs.

 

[stewart]

Agreed...but it's finding another that's the issue.
Who's going to be available in January that's any cop; wants to come to an NL club, and can hit the ground running?
Remember, these loanees are going to be reserves, or players upgrading from lower divisions.
Can see the logic behind signing who we did. Pepple, Golding, and to some extent Goodliffe has worked out.
But a replacement for Bim? Even he needed a while to bed in. And from January, that time is limited.

We should be looking at players released from the academies of clubs in Premiership and Championship not just for the first team but also for our u19s ,u18s. Many have said that Kevs hands have been tied ,i agree they have to an extent but why sign players on a long contract if they not his first ,2nd or 3rd choice, best of going into the loan market until such time as hes able to get his first or 2nd choice players.We are now stuck with players on contracts who are obviously on this seasons performances not up to it or as in Hoppes case had there day * my opinion *, it i knows comes across that i dont like Maher i know that ,but quite the opposite ,i would love him to succeed but i really cannot see it, He has been a great servant to this club over many years ,but its his stubborness to change when things not working and his inability to have a plan B his boring Maherball that he persisits with ,these are NL players not premiersite or championship ability players , I know he will be here next season i just hope in the off season he can take a good look at himself and realise Maherball isnt working and change to a more attacking style of play,get some players midfielders, wingers with pace some on field generals midfielder who gives no quarter and cn lead from the front and off course a couple of strikers who know where the net is .

 

[in the know]

I hope he does too, but I perceive someone who's very stubborn, and If everyone's hinting at him that we should go 343 or 433 or anything other than 352, hel dig in and stick with 352 in some way or other with favoured players, deliberately to try and prove everyone wrong to show he knows best. Unfortunately, it seems that on too many occasions this backfires ending in bore draws and lack of goals. We've all witnessed what we can do to teams when we go properly 3 up front hunting defenders down and pouncing on errors. We need to defend less which doesn't expose gus, or others defensive limitations.
As is often stated by far more knowledgeable people than i, the best form of defence is attack.
Id still rather lose 4-3 playing this way than a toothless surrender of 0-0 to teams.
My money, unfortunately, would be on seeing out the season with bore draws and rejoicing in how many we've not lost. Sadly.

 

[NZamba Legend]

I hope he does too, but I perceive someone who's very stubborn, and If everyone's hinting at him that we should go 343 or 433 or anything other than 352, hel dig in and stick with 352 in some way or other with favoured players, deliberately to try and prove everyone wrong to show he knows best. Unfortunately, it seems that on too many occasions this backfires ending in bore draws and lack of goals. We've all witnessed what we can do to teams when we go properly 3 up front hunting defenders down and pouncing on errors. We need to defend less which doesn't expose gus, or others defensive limitations.
As is often stated by far more knowledgeable people than i, the best form of defence is attack.
Id still rather lose 4-3 playing this way than a toothless surrender of 0-0 to teams.
My money, unfortunately, would be on seeing out the season with bore draws and rejoicing in how many we've not lost. Sadly.

I am still Maher in but I will concede that he can be stubborn. But then most managers are. Tilson wouldn’t budge from a 442 and over time became reluctant to take a chance on signing up-and-coming players. Brown had a way of playing that relied on role players in a fairly rigid system. Both were keen on building from solid foundations. If we lost a few games on the spin Brown would make sure we drew the next one 0-0 just to get a reset. In short, a bit of stubbornness and a commitment to solid defence can be— I would actually say is usually—necessary for a successful team. But Maher has struggled to get the team working offensively, that much is patently obvious.

 

[Avl1983]

I disagree. Mager isn't restricting LCP, he is doing that himself.

Maher knows what he can do and wants him to do it. Next season I think we'll see an even better player and long may that continue.

I personally would love to see him through the middle and an attacker on the left. Yes we persist with Husin who is one of the main players at fault for going sideways and backwards as is mentioned a lot on here. He would be a great link to the strikers who may score more if provided clear chances. Currently our build up is too slow.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

I love the comments on Kev's mindset. Digging in to spite critics etc.
I suspect he would like goals as well as the next manager, but look at the current troops, or better still, go to Friday's highlights.
There were three or four decent chances better players would have put away.
Bonne x2, Gus, and KAF in that semi-run into the box for starters.
Maherball has become a go-to hasn't it? It sounds cute, because it claims it's a manager with a negative outlook, whatever that is!
Formations? How about a striker with pace; a midfielder as good as Leon, and a winger who can run and cross accurately? That'll sort formations.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I personally would love to see him through the middle and an attacker on the left. Yes we persist with Husin who is one of the main players at fault for going sideways and backwards as is mentioned a lot on here. He would be a great link to the strikers who may score more if provided clear chances. Currently our build up is too slow.

Yes, agreed with the last bit and would also love Leon playing central more. I do get why Maher keeps going back to Husin (and Bridge) but they definitely do seem to slam the brakes on any forward moves.

KAF was starting and doing well. I’d try Walker on the left. Bonne on the right. Anything to get things moving faster on the break and balls into the box quicker. Our strikers and midfielders do need to push up and show lots more movement off the ball also.

 

[Sammy Shrimper]

Our highlights. Good editing by the club as it excludes all of Braintree’s chances!

 

[Swiss Tony]

Our highlights. Good editing by the club as it excludes all of Braintree’s chances!

Once was enough I can’t do it again.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

Not enough movement from Bonne and Walker yesterday. Our midfield gets stick for slowing down or passing sideways. Too often that's the only option other than an aimless punt forward if the strikers aren't making runs. Kendall was better, but Hoppers movement days seem behind him.

@SuperRonnieP In Radio commentary, Paul Clark commented on how static our forwards were on more than one occasion.

 

[Smudger]

@SuperRonnieP In Radio commentary, Paul Clark commented on how static our forwards were on more than one occasion.

Bonne is one goal every nine games since 2023, we'd score more if Clarky was up front!

 

[bazzashrimper]

Bonne is one goal every nine games since 2023, we'd score more if Clarky was up front!

Or less than one goal every 12 this season.

 

[IloveShrimp]

Personally I think the whole management team have a lack of tactical knowledge. It's no fault of theirs 'You don't know what you don't know'.

 

[EastStand81]

Don't worry guys because Maher was loyal throughout the dark times he deserves to be in charge forever even when showing his inability to inspire. It can't be his fault, it must be the players, which he signed, and not his tactics or team talks.

Agreed. How many clubs have asked for permission to talk to him about jobs? It’s a romantic story, but not a realistic one. Nothing against him personally and if he stays, which I’m sure he will, I want to be proven wrong and for him to do well. He’s done ok, but watching him on the touchline week in, week out is fast becoming one of my least favourite things to do. Always someone else’s fault. He appears deluded currently and obsessed with possession stats.

 

[EastStand81]

Our highlights. Good editing by the club as it excludes all of Braintree’s chances!

There were highlights of that game?!! Wow!

 

[Shrimperborn1957]

How about playing players in their natural position apart from square pegs in round holes. Just a thought.