Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[Kris]

Thanks for your concern but I do not feel angry and it is not getting me down. Debate is healthy and other points of view are part and parcel of a forum. The defensive attitude of so many Maher supporters speaks of a basic insecurity as soon as the man is questioned. If COSU choose to close their eyes to the unsustainability of the current regime that is up to them but it doesn't bode well for the future. In my humble opinion of course.

I think this is part of the problem. Accusing people of being insecure just because they don't agree with you doesn't help at all. Similar to a previous post where you describe pro-Maher posters as apologists in a mocking tone. So hardly surprising when those in the pro-Maher camp defend themselves on the counter.

 

[Finney on the wing]

I never said we'd lose.I said we woudn't win Which is not the same at all.FWIW ;i think we'll draw.

fair enough although I think you said we'd draw on Tuesday too. I just feel that negativity can feed through to the team via the press and social media (e.g. SZ) and also via idiots shouting abuse. Performance can be affected, in part, by the teams state of mind. So anything we can do to help that should be encouraged in my view. That's all I'm getting at here.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I assure you, Kev is going nowhere.

We are 8th; 16 points ahead of Aldershot, the highest placed team still in the relegation zone, and our current 5 game league average is 2 points/game.

I think you need to start accepting the status quo at this point. No matter how hard you bang that drum, the chances of KM getting sacked this season are so remote as to be mathematically insignificant.

I hope this hasn't made you (and others) as genuinely angry as you come across in some posts on this thread. There are so many other things in life to direct that energy towards. If Southend Utd are getting you down, I would sincerely recommend taking a break for a bit.

FWIW,I make you quite right on this-for this season at least.However when the herd turns againt KM as I believe it will next season,then things can happen quite quickly.

BTw ,your final advice is I think ,more than valid,Liam.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I think this is part of the problem. Accusing people of being insecure just because they don't agree with you doesn't help at all. Similar to a previous post where you describe pro-Maher posters as apologists in a mocking tone. So hardly surprising when those in the pro-Maher camp defend themselves on the counter.

Do you need to be so defiantly pro Maher or anti Maher? I'd say most of us are in the middle but all the airtime gets given to those trying to prove a point, spouting the same stuff it seems. Intelligent debate doesn't seem to exist sometimes here or on X/Twitter. If you criticise the style of play sometimes it doesn't land you in the 'anti-Maher' camp just as saying Kev played a blinder with his subs doesn't make you 'pro-Maher'. It's also OK to admit sometimes you've called it wrong.

For the record I'd love Kev to orchestrate a play off charge (unlikely as it may be). Likewise I won't go red faced screaming at the players when we lose. OK being in the NL isn't ideal but let's try and enjoy it, let's have a bit of hope and get behind the players a bit .... it's all we've got!

 

[fbm]

FWIW,I make you quite right on this-for this season at least. However when the herd turns againt KM as I believe it will next season, then things can happen quite quickly.

BTw , your final advice is I think ,more than valid, Liam.

Just as a matter of interest, let's just say we make the play offs this season (still possible but a tall order). Would you feel the same?

How about if we won the play offs?

Or what about if we did neither, but after a decent pre-season we have a cracking start and are top after 10 games? Do you still think the herd will turn against KM?

I think the point I'm making is that with a full squad for the first time this season, since Christmas we have played 9 league games, won 6, drawn 1 and losing 2, scoring 15 goals and conceding 7. That's title winning form over a season and hardly something that is going to make the managerial position uncomfortable.

We are all aware that it wasn't great earlier in the season and some people were willing to give Maher the benefit of the doubt due to the fact that we again couldn't get going due to a delayed embargo for a while (me being one of them, despite not being much of a fan of KM as a player).

I do think many people's opinions have been clouded by the embarrassing last minute home defeat to the lowest ranked side we have ever played in a competitive match, followed by a 1-0 defeat at Maidenhead who by all accounts we should have beaten, at least on paper. But when you look at the recent results, whilst we haven't taken teams apart as such, we have still ground out results and have climbed the table.

People say it's all about results, but it clearly isn't... or they are ignoring the last 2 months. If it IS all about results, well, there's nothing to complain about, enjoy it why it lasts.

You've been a fan longer than I have and we all know what we're like as a club, yet still go back for more. If you were going to take a break from it, you'd have done so years ago.

 

[rigsby]

There are all sorts of shrimpers and we all fit into one of the following categories;

'My glass is half full'

'My glass is half empty'

and the very rare 'My glass is half empty and what's in it is poisonous'

Point of order....Not all of us fit into those 3.

Ive only had a couple of sips from my pint. Even that is only because getting to the play-offs will be bumpy ride.......And I don't want to spill any.

 

[blues exile]

No strictly true. Halifax are 6 points ahead with a GD 3 better than ours. In order to catch them, we must win 2 games while they lose 2 games. Even if f we win those two games by a single goal, and Halifax lose by single goal, that will leave them on +6 and us on +7. So, GD isn't actually that big of an issue.

That is just speculation. At present the fact remains our goal difference is worse than Halifax and we are six points behind them.

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

I'll be watching the Tamworth game live on Daz .and also checking out D's.excellent VBlog afterwards. Will you?

No, I won't be watching on DAZ as I'll be at the game ( It helps to have family who are seasos at Tamworth FC.) but I'll certainly see D's vblog when I get home Sunday.

 

[Grayson]

Do you need to be so defiantly pro Maher or anti Maher? I'd say most of us are in the middle but all the airtime gets given to those trying to prove a point, spouting the same stuff it seems. Intelligent debate doesn't seem to exist sometimes here or on X/Twitter. If you criticise the style of play sometimes it doesn't land you in the 'anti-Maher' camp just as saying Kev played a blinder with his subs doesn't make you 'pro-Maher'. It's also OK to admit sometimes you've called it wrong.

For the record I'd love Kev to orchestrate a play off charge (unlikely as it may be). Likewise I won't go red faced screaming at the players when we lose. OK being in the NL isn't ideal but let's try and enjoy it, let's have a bit of hope and get behind the players a bit .... it's all we've got!

Fantastic post. The majority view and the one that does not feel the need to repeat itself on every single thread, unlike others on here. Well said.

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

There is an unpleasant and divisive undertone creeping into some posts implying that watching on TV is somehow less prestigious and worthy than actuaĺly attending matches. Palpable nonsense of course when many supporters are living abroad and can only watch on DAZN. Most of these supporters have seen many more marches at Roots Hall than some of the Johnny Come Latelys who only go back a few years. When you have lived through the Ted Fenton, Ernie Shepherd, Arthur Rowley, Dave Smith eras etc you might have a different perspective on the awful standard of football on display now and want to see change urgently.

I'm sorry, but this is absolute tosh, as seen with your 'rose tinted' spec's on.

The standard today is far superior to what was on display at Roots Hall in the '70's and '80's. Back then the pitches were slow and heavy and there was so much 'kick and rush', I often got neck ache following the ball.

Although we're playing a league below where we have spent most of our historical time(?), the quality all round is so much better.

I presume that you'll be calling L2 an awful league once we're in it and demand the managers head if he hasn't got us promoted at the first attempt?

Just for the record, I've changed my vote from 'On the fence' to 'No'.

 

[blues exile]

I'm sorry, but this is absolute tosh, as seen with your 'rose tinted' spec's on.

The standard today is far superior to what was on display at Roots Hall in the '70's and '80's. Back then the pitches were slow and heavy and there was so much 'kick and rush', I often got neck ache following the ball.

Although we're playing a league below where we have spent most of our historical time(?), the quality all round is so much better.

I presume that you'll be calling L2 an awful league once we're in it and demand the managers head if he hasn't got us promoted at the first attempt?

There was certainly some rubbish football in the early 80s particularly but nothing like some of the dross this season. That;s the overall standard I am referring to by the way not just Southend. This league offers the worst standard of football I have seen with many teams little better than park sides.

 

[Chrisb]

There was certainly some rubbish football in the early 80s particularly but nothing like some of the dross this season. That;s the overall standard I am referring to by the way not just Southend. This league offers the worst standard of football I have seen with many teams little better than park sides.

I have watched SUFC since the late sixties and there have been plenty of worse teams, and players wearing our shirt with no pride or effort, than what I have seen in the last few seasons. As for the "Johnny Come Latelys who only go back a few years" are you saying that younger supporters are not entitled to comment and post just because they haven't watched as many games ?

As for your comment "Being stuck in the NL for all these years is failing" - who do you think is to blame for "all these years" certainly not the current management team.

 

[Pak66]

There was certainly some rubbish football in the early 80s particularly but nothing like some of the dross this season. That;s the overall standard I am referring to by the way not just Southend. This league offers the worst standard of football I have seen with many teams little better than park sides.

Have you been to any park games lately?

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

There was certainly some rubbish football in the early 80s particularly but nothing like some of the dross this season. That;s the overall standard I am referring to by the way not just Southend. This league offers the worst standard of football I have seen with many teams little better than park sides.

Weren’t you around for the Dick Bate era?

 

[Medway Blue]

That is just speculation. At present the fact remains our goal difference is worse than Halifax and we are six points behind them.

Rochdale winning all 5 of their games in hand is speculation, too.....at present, the fact remains that they are behind us. You can't rubbish our playoff chances because Rochdale have 5 games in hand, and then cry "speculation" when someone points out that the swing needed to overtake Halifax isn't unrealistic. More balance needed.

 

[blues exile]

Weren’t you around for the Dick Bate era?

Yes. Richard Young would fit nicely into the present line up

 

[blues exile]

Rochdale winning all 5 of their games in hand is speculation, too.....at present, the fact remains that they are behind us. You can't rubbish our playoff chances because Rochdale have 5 games in hand, and then cry "speculation" when someone points out that the swing needed to overtake Halifax isn't unrealistic. More balance needed.

Never said Rochdale would win all their games in hand. More attention to facts needed.

 

[Jmayhew32]

That is just speculation. At present the fact remains our goal difference is worse than Halifax and we are six points behind them

Not speculation at all - we are one of the form teams in the league. Over the last 10-12 games, we’re on title chasing form (table for proof as you’d no doubt try and say I’m wrong).

If we carry that form to the end of the season, we will most likely make the play offs.

My point was purely saying that just to catch up Halifax, we don’t need to work to overturn goal difference, it would just happen with the 2 win defect required. That’s just simple maths

 

[blues exile]

Not speculation at all - we are one of the form teams in the league. Over the last 10-12 games, we’re on title chasing form (table for proof as you’d no doubt try and say I’m wrong).
View attachment 35791
If we carry that form to the end of the season, we will most likely make the play offs.

My point was purely saying that just to catch up Halifax, we don’t need to work to overturn goal difference, it would just happen with the 2 win defect required. That’s just simple maths

'If' is the essence of speculation. The league table for the season is what counts, not selecting recent results.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

No, I won't be watching on DAZ as I'll be at the game ( It helps to have family who are seasos at Tamworth FC.) but I'll certainly see D's vblog when I get home Sunday.

My younger brother ;Rob Noxious, is also going to the game,his wife has family in Brum.So will my best mate ,mfurok,who watches us home & away.