Post-Match Thread and Ratings Braintree Town 0-1 Southend United

[Callum]

Fantastic result yesterday should finish top half finish up the blues

 

[blues exile]

apart from the playoff challenges of the last 2 seasons out of 2?

Plain to see we have regressed this season and run out of fresh ideas. Stale, stereotypical crab ball, rigid thinking and now dependent on one player to score goals whose future is uncertain and must be attracting the attention of FL clubs. The list of excuses is predictable - heavy pitch, weather conditions, poor refereeing, tired legs etc overlaid with old stuff about embargos, no pre season, loss of key players, lucky to have a club etc! Two expected wins against clubs even worse changes nothing.
Maher's post match remarks were predictable and depressing. Those words about. new players coming in have to learn how we play, in other words drum all the creativity, enterprise and imagination out of their game and learn from the undroppable Husin how to pass sideways and back and turn attack into defence.

 

[londonblue]

The entire point being there is no need to change both strikers at that point of the game. We werent in control, we looked off it, and the press from the 2 up top was our strength. Its so unecessary to make those changes at that point of the game.

Isn't that the reason for the double change, i.e. to maintain the press with fresh legs? Pepple and Kendall were beginning to tire and couldn't keep the press going.

It's not KM's fault that went to pot about 2 minutes later when Walker was assaulted and we were left with one up front.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

IMHO, as long as Maher is in charge, we will never get out of this league?

What finishing position this season would give you confidence that he could finish the job next season ?

 

[Liam AAS]

We won so you are happy, look at the bigger picture and see how he operates

I am loathe to go too far off topic but I have no idea what would make you happy. We are averaging 2 points per game (promotion form) with half the season to go and won our last home game 4-0.

I have no idea why anyone would be feeling negative now. We won ugly yesterday but we won. We are not in a position to demand entertaining football, we need to get out of this division by any means necessary and solid defensive displays where opposition chances are limited are key to that, regardless of attacking subs.

Plenty of people were demanding 2 wins from our last 2 matches. We got them and didn't concede. Why moan? Have we not had enough negativity over the last few years? This could be a turning point in our season and you are whinging again. If Southend United winning doesn't make you happy, what would?

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

I am loathe to go too far off topic but I have no idea what would make you happy. We are averaging 2 points per game (promotion form) with half the season to go and won our last home game 4-0.

I have no idea why anyone would be feeling negative now. We won ugly yesterday but we won. We are not in a position to demand entertaining football, we need to get out of this division by any means necessary and solid defensive displays where opposition chances are limited are key to that, regardless of attacking subs.

Plenty of people were demanding 2 wins from our last 2 matches. We got them and didn't concede. Why moan? Have we not had enough negativity over the last few years? This could be a turning point in our season and you are whinging again. If Southend United winning doesn't make you happy, what would?

Exactly ! Sometimes you just need to win ugly if you want to get out of these god awful leagues

 

[londonblue]

The Braintree Manager said they were the better side. Err yeah, O.K. Our goalie hardly had a shot to save, and Bim could have had a hat-trick on his own.

Did he really say that? Deary me.

 

[Snowy]

Can we also discuss Jack and his crossing ability?
Forwards thrive on service, which sadly he is not providing.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Can we also discuss Jack and his crossing ability?
Forwards thrive on service, which sadly he is not providing.

Must we ? He looks the shadow of the player he was last season. Admittedly, the conditions didn't suit his twisting and turning, but he should be able to hook in a decent cross

 

[lreed567]

I wouldn't read to much into what their manager said, that's just a go to response from managers and protecting their players, the bit I heard he said he was pleased we didn't really open them up, which we didn't really, especially second half and the last 20 minutes or so they were the team on the ascendency, which they probably was but never really troubled us.

 

[wiggy]

Did he really say that? Deary me.

Did there keeper have anything to fend off either, other than some stray chips that he reported to the ref?

 

[Snowy]

Must we ? He looks the shadow of the player he was last season. Admittedly, the conditions didn't suit his twisting and turning, but he should be able to hook in a decent cross

Not just yesterday where the pitch was poor, even at home of a quality surface he struggles to beat the first man.

 

[Deluded Optimist]

Did there keeper have anything to fend off either, other than some stray chips that he reported to the ref?

5th in the National League Form Table over the last 6 games and all you can do is moan as ever. Not much point in saying you are a supporter if you never look for positives. I am hoping there are some green shoots and still a chance of a playoff tilt

 

[Swiss Tony]

Did he really say that? Deary me.

That’s why their 20th in the league dumb ****, goes well with the tin pot outfit.

 

[GBJ]

If Southend United winning doesn't make you happy, what would?

Being proven “right”, would be my guess.

If that means SUFC have to suffer, then so be it.

 

[sufc4life21]

A win a win but bloudy hell that last 30 minutes, seriously Maher why you taking off our 2 best attacking options on the night in pepple and kendal with the game only 1-0 with 30 minutes to go...... fair enough if we were 3 or 4 up but 1-0 with 30 minutes to go is crazy. The game itself was typical national league game with not much quality from either side. We probably shaded it overall but it's still very patchy at times.

 

[RHB]

I dread to think what some of you would have said had we lost. As a few have already said, we won and 3 points are added to our total. What do points make?......(Play-offs). I realise that it's not PC to challenge others moaning so I won't. I would like us to play exceptional football every game but that just ain't going to happen, What may happen is that a run of reasonable results with points included could yet take us up the table and the play-offs.

 

[blues exile]

"In the first half I didn't think him (Pepple) and Charley got hold of the ball enough and didn't give us a platform to build on.
"It came back too easily at times which meant we didn't get out and get control of the game'.
Maher's words criticising two strikers feeding off scraps but not a word about the lack of creativity or movement in midfield. Husin and Bridge are obviously beyond reproach in his benighted mindset.

 

[Sherif H]

"In the first half I didn't think him (Pepple) and Charley got hold of the ball enough and didn't give us a platform to build on.
"It came back too easily at times which meant we didn't get out and get control of the game'.
Maher's words criticising two strikers feeding off scraps but not a word about the lack of creativity or movement in midfield. Husin and Bridge are obviously beyond reproach in his benighted mindset.

...and herein lies the problem.
Fails to acknowledge that the undroppable Bridge and Husin have been dog ****e all season, yet is quick to dig at our only two proper strikers for not doing the work of four men.

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

I am loathe to go too far off topic but I have no idea what would make you happy. We are averaging 2 points per game (promotion form) with half the season to go and won our last home game 4-0.

I have no idea why anyone would be feeling negative now. We won ugly yesterday but we won. We are not in a position to demand entertaining football, we need to get out of this division by any means necessary and solid defensive displays where opposition chances are limited are key to that, regardless of attacking subs.

Plenty of people were demanding 2 wins from our last 2 matches. We got them and didn't concede. Why moan? Have we not had enough negativity over the last few years? This could be a turning point in our season and you are whinging again. If Southend United winning doesn't make you happy, what would?

Don't think anyone disputes what I've highlighted Liam -let's just say IMO it's highly unlikely we'll do it this season under KM, even if a newer ,younger striker is signed later this month.

Playing attractive fooball would help in answer to your final point.