Post-Match Thread and Ratings Altrincham 2-0 Southend United

[Cricko]

I would suggest that Kevin Maher has been in charge through possibly the worst time in our history, including an embargo before this season started and he has still therefore not been able to fully put together the squad he wants. He is an incredibly loyal servant to the club and earned NL manager of the year last year for his unbelievable efforts. And how do fans repay him? By suggesting we should sack him when the going gets a little tough. Ridiculous and short sighted thinking in my opinion.

It's football, whatever you think of people, they will react to it in a completely different manner to everyday life. Some of the people i have met from on here have no comparison to how they post. The heat of the moment etc is acceptable IMO.

 

[Shrimper]

This place should be renamed Goldfishzone for those with short term memories. Sack Maher indeed…how about we use that money to back him and bring in some better players?

This group were patched together and anyone who thinks otherwise must he watching a different side. We are at least 5 players short of where we need to be. Not one would get in a NL XI and would probably struggle to even make the bench.

Last year we were struggling to fill the bench but they were able to perform much better so I don't buy that excuse. We've been found out. It's as simple as that. Maher's tactics are predictable, they need to change.

 

[stewart]

Well Justin and COSU now is your biggest test to date ,will you continue with Maher and see relegation staring at us or do you have the gonads to do whats needed to save this season. Its apparent to just about every man and his dog that the system and some players need changing ,its apparent to most what is needed in this change .We as a whole truly love and appreciate you all ,but it is time to think seriously about another change which im sure you ( COSU ) and most of us supporters didnt think would come at this point in time. We the supporters and yourselves ( COSU ) have now got to put sentiment aside and do what is right for the club. Kev has shown he is incapable of changing, Falling attendances which will happen is not what is needed, but you cannot expect supporters to keep shelling out their hard earned to watch the dross Kev is serving us up, he playing favourites it seems ,team playing like robots no individual flair afraid to shoot , lacking in ideas. boring to watch .time for change im sorry to say .of NLS is calling .

 

[shrimperjon]

That was a very worryingly display. No fight, we looked disorganised, short on ideas. One shot on target all game to go with none last week. 3 pts off relegation zone with FGR next week.

I’ve backed Kev and will try to do so but that today was woeful. No idea what possessed him to start Miley and Moncur and leave Morton and Coker out. Yet again the out of form Bridge and Husin get starts. Kev clearly has his favourites but today it cost us. The first goal was one of the worst I’ve seen watching Southend. We missed tackle after tackle starting with Cav and the rest followed. The second goal came from Husin bottling a tackle on the edge of their area and 20 secs later they score. Zack will be disappointed with the second goal but in truth he kept us in first half.

Pepple had one shot tipped onto the bar but other than that we created nothing. We are so shot shy it’s embarrassing. Their keeper is third choice and making his debut yet we never laid a glove on them

The substitutions were odd as well and too late. Changes should have been made at Ht as a start. 373 of us up there today and most left numb. It’s simply not good enough

 

[Yer Blues]

I thought it was a heroic defeat.

 

[geoffmundo]

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher slammed his side’s first half showing at Altrincham.


The Shrimpers suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat against the Robins.

And Maher felt the opening 45 minutes was well below par for Blues.

“It’s really disappointing and it was nowhere near good enough in the first half,” said Maher.

“They’re a good side if you give them space and time and we started so poorly.

“The basics of the game we got wrong time after time.

“It could have been more in all honestly and Zach (Jeacock) kept us in it with some good saves.

“In terms of character it was disappointing and not something I’ve seen from many of my teams since I’ve been here. “

Altrincham scored twice in the first half to condemn the Shrimpers to a third successive defeat.

And Maher was frustrated with the on-field management of his players.

“What I didn’t see was enough people to get themselves out the situation on the pitch,” said Maher.

“We didn’t start well but there’s ways to get back into the game but we made the same mistakes and basic errors.

“We had to get to half-time at 1-0 and count ourselves lucky to have done that but we conceded poorly again and we were too easy to play through.

“I didn’t like us at all first half.”

Maher felt there was an improvement in the second half but the Shrimpers were unable to get back into the game.


"I'd have been amazed if there wasn't a reaction second half and sometimes it's easier to play when you're 2-0 down,” said Maher.

“But the body language first half wasn't good enough.

“We're a good team when things are going well but when things aren't going well we've got to better.

“We had enough balls going in but their centre-half headed everything out and we didn't test the young keeper anywhere near enough.

“It's disappointing."

However, Maher did not believe the defeat had anything to do with tactics.

"I don't think the game was won or lost on tactics,” said the Blues boss.

“The first half wasn't anything to do with tactics.

“It was losing battles all over the pitch, not winning one on one battles and not being clever enough when we get near their goal.

“We talk about sustaining attacks and we didn't do anything like that.

“We weren't organised behind the ball and that's something we do all the time. It's not tactics, it's everyone doing their jobs."

And Maher knows improvements must be made.

“We need to have a look at a few things around here because that's nowhere near good enough,” said Maher.

“There's loads around the place and loads around the club that has to change.

“We have to make sure everyone is on the same page right throughout the club but I've got to look at the playing squad and where's that’s at."

Ooh..? Does this mean that we might start playing attacking football and you know, might see if we can score a goal or two..?

 

[PIERS]

Stop,with pep ball. 442 get much more direct .

 

[Shrimper]

9 goals away from home this season, 4 vs Solihull.

0, 0, 1, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1, 0

 

[rayleigh dan]

Slightly weird/cryptic comments from Maher. View attachment 34672

Hmm, I don’t like the sound of this. It reads to me like he’s unhappy with COSU, and trying to shift the blame somewhat (rightly or wrongly). If this is the case maybe it’d be better for all if we have a clean sweep and a new managerial regime who’re 100% on board with how the club’s being run.

 

[kentblues]

Well Justin and COSU now is your biggest test to date ,will you continue with Maher and see relegation staring at us or do you have the gonads to do whats needed to save this season. Its apparent to just about every man and his dog that the system and some players need changing ,its apparent to most what is needed in this change .We as a whole truly love and appreciate you all ,but it is time to think seriously about another change which im sure you ( COSU ) and most of us supporters didnt think would come at this point in time. We the supporters and yourselves ( COSU ) have now got to put sentiment aside and do what is right for the club. Kev has shown he is incapable of changing, Falling attendances which will happen is not what is needed, but you cannot expect supporters to keep shelling out their hard earned to watch the dross Kev is serving us up, he playing favourites it seems ,team playing like robots no individual flair afraid to shoot , lacking in ideas. boring to watch .time for change im sorry to say .of NLS is calling .

Unbelievable. My message to COSU- forget sustainability. With this fickle fan base you need to follow the crowd and throw money at it. We don’t have the patience to wait two months let alone two years…

 

[Target man]

9 goals away from home this season, 4 vs Solihull.

0, 0, 1, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1, 0

Home form even worse

 

[Strykr]

Utterly depressing. Really reminds me of the alvin martin era.

1.Fannying about in our third and absolutely zero pace, flair or attacking intent.

2.Looking at the team sheet and not feeling an ounce of excitement.

3.Going through the motions and dropping points.

4.Very boring football.

5.Not seeing how things are going to improve without drastic personel changes.

Grim.

 

[kentblues]

Hmm, I don’t like the sound of this. It reads to me like he’s unhappy with COSU, and trying to shift the blame somewhat (rightly or wrongly). If this is the case maybe it’d be better for all if we have a clean sweep and a new managerial regime who’re 100% on board with how the club’s being run.

It’s not complicated. It really isn’t. We can’t get “value” in the transfer market. Join the dots..

 

[stewart]

Well as i said in an earlier thread Kev you have no one else to blame on the players we have signed , you at the beginning of your tenure stated that you would have the last say on who we signed , JS and co would advise you on players but you would decide if they fitted into your structure etc . As for COSU i think they have said how they would go about reshaping SUFC and doing up the old girl ( RH ) . They also stated how important it was to keep the supporters happy , your brand of football is not doing that at present mate ,so take a good look at yourself, you have been supported 100% by the supporters home and away ,but football is a fickle thing you dont give the paying customers their moneys worth then you going to lose them its as simple as that .

 

[kentblues]

Utterly depressing. Really reminds me of the alvin martin era.

1.Fannying about in our third and absolutely zero pace, flair or attacking intent.

2.Looking at the team sheet and not feeling an ounce of excitement.

3.Going through the motions and dropping points.

4.Very boring football.

5.Not seeing how things are going to improve without drastic personel changes.

Grim.

Players will available in the window to fix this- but they won’t represent “value” ….

 

[rayleigh dan]

It’s not complicated. It really isn’t. We can’t get “value” in the transfer market. Join the dots..

COSU don’t want to spend beyond our means, but Kev does? Am I joining the dots? If not please elaborate. If I’m right, I do get why Kev’s not happy but sly digs via the media don’t help. My point stands, if he’s not happy with the regime we need someone who is.

We should be doing far better than 3 points of the relegation zone with our current squad anyway, and I’m getting fed up with Maher’s moaning.

 

[kentblues]

Well as i said in an earlier thread Kev you have no one else to blame on the players we have signed , you at the beginning of your tenure stated that you would have the last say on who we signed , JS and co would advise you on players but you would decide if they fitted into your structure etc . As for COSU i think they have said how they would go about reshaping SUFC and doing up the old girl ( RH ) . They also stated how important it was to keep the supporters happy , your brand of football is not doing that at present mate ,so take a good look at yourself, you have been supported 100% by the supporters home and away ,but football is a fickle thing you dont give the paying customers their moneys worth then you going to lose them its as simple as that .

Actually he does.
He wasn’t responsible for the embargo going on and on
He doesn’t identify the targets or is responsible when other clubs sign them when we can’t, or because other clubs offer a fee or terms that don’t represent “value”
The idea that we can blame him for not signing players whilst under an embargo or when we want to get “value” and don’t want to pay “over the odds” seems somewhat unfair. At worst the “blame” needs to be shared and addressed.
For COSU- sustainable and success the NL are incompatible in the short term. In the medium term it is possible but your supporters won’t wait- and this is your problem. I’m glad it’s not my money.

 

[kentblues]

COSU don’t want to spend beyond our means, but Kev does? Am I joining the dots? If not please elaborate. If I’m right, I do get why Kev’s not happy but sly digs via the media don’t help. My point stands, if he’s not happy with the regime we need someone who is.

We should be doing far better than 3 points of the relegation zone with our current squad anyway, and I’m getting fed up with Maher’s moaning.

Welcome to the world of football. Let’s get Moseley back- we can get to the NLS quicker and put us out of our misery. Is there anyone who believes Kev has been able to bring in the quality, and quality in depth, that he (and I have to say from this thread we) want?

PS who on here knows want sustainable actually means in the NL?

 

[Blue Yonder]

Pretty dire stuff, lethargic, static and some terrible defending.

Jeacock is not an upgrade on evidence so far and should have stopped the second goal - 4
Taylor and Ralph are consistent and capable - 6's
Crowther was very poor today -3
Miley was fine but wont make or score goals -5
Husin can make and score goals but is shockingly out of touch and unrecognisable from the player he can be -3
Moncur has the new record time for going from hero to zero. All right on the ball but off it ? -4
Gus barely got a decent cross in and his distribution was sloppy but at least he shows the drive and energy to try and make things happen going forward -5
Bridge was okay today -5
Bim showed the only two bright points of our attacking play with a smart turn and shot just wide in about the first minute and smashing against the crossbar a little later -6
Walker looked lightweight and ineffectual -4

Subs all average - 5's

I have no idea where we go from here. We had Lopata and Kensdale as CB's and lost both in depressing circumstances but if we could get a couple of guys of that standard in it would be a good start.

 

[kentblues]

Pretty dire stuff, lethargic, static and some terrible defending.

Jeacock is not an upgrade on evidence so far and should have stopped the second goal - 4
Taylor and Ralph are consistent and capable - 6's
Crowther was very poor today -3
Miley was fine but wont make or score goals -5
Husin can make and score goals but is shockingly out of touch and unrecognisable from the player he can be -3
Moncur has the new record time for going from hero to zero. All right on the ball but off it ? -4
Gus barely got a decent cross in and his distribution was sloppy but at least he shows the drive and energy to try and make things happen going forward -5
Bridge was okay today -5
Bim showed the only two bright points of our attacking play with a smart turn and shot just wide in about the first minute and smashing against the crossbar a little later -6
Walker looked lightweight and ineffectual -4

Subs all average - 5's

I have no idea where we go from here. We had Lopata and Kensdale as CB's and lost both in depressing circumstances but if we could get a couple of guys of that standard in it would be a good start.

£££