Official Match Thread Crewe v Southend United

[jimmyshrimp]

Reasonably 'happy' with that. Just wanted to go into the 2nd leg still with a good chance of winning the tie and I believe we have that. Really fancy us to win 2 nil at home. Tough games these play offs and comments like "**** or bust now!" with 25 mins of the first leg to go is nonsense.

Just had to keep it tight today, take a 0-0 or nick one - or if you are gonna lose, lose by 1.

Nothing in that game suggested to me that we can win second tie 2-0.
Only the fact i know we can play better gives me some confidence.

 

[Teenage-shrimper]

We didnt play well enough tonight. I thought their goal was level with the defender so no complaints there. We nearly got something out of it at the end though as any positive but i felt we didnt get the rub of the green tonight and it showed with that last minute chance. I still have confidence however that we will win the tie despite Crewe's counter-attacking threat. Also i felt that the Crewe fans we're becoming too cocky, lets all hope that we wipe their smiles off there faces on Wednesday night.

UTB

 

[southendkid]

I think he was level onside for the goal.

If I was Dave Martin I'd be quite annoyed that Leonard is ahead of him in the pecking order straight after coming back from a long injury. Don't see what he offers except a long throw. Thought we might have nicked something at the end there but Crewe deserved to win, outplayed us in midfield.

Leonard is better than Martin in my opinion, the last time fans voiced their frustration on him not starting when he did start he was the worst player on the pitch, he needs to sharpen up if he wants to get back in the team.

 

[Rob1920]

Looking at the positives, we got away with only losing 1-0 after a pretty dire performance. Plus if a bit of luck had gone our way the result could have been reversed. We can't play that badly again on Wednesday surely. Crewe are neat & tidy as expected but hardly world beaters. If we play like we have been at home in the 2nd leg we should turn it round. Ref was a homer, gave them a free kick every time we put a tackle in.

 

[Cricko]

We were rubbish, the only positive being, surely we cannot play as bad on Wednesday.

Far to many players having an "off" game..Most players were crap but Timlin was awful.

 

[philtalkin]

Wasn't confident before, even less now. Yes we are capable of scoring but we saw so little of the ball, and when we got it lost it again very quickly. My fear is that the home crowd will get on the teams backs and then it will be all over.

Expect route one on Wednesday. The fact he put Leonard on says it all for me. Unfit, not sharp but has a good long throw to launch in the box.

I hope it works and we smash them but I fear the worst. I am normally quite optimistic but a black cloud is hovering. Hide the razor blades, its going to be a tough 4 days.

 

[Napster]

We were rubbish, the only positive being, surely we cannot play as bad on Wednesday.

Far to many players having an "off" game..Most players were crap but Timlin was awful.

I thought it was nerves really. I also think as soon as Phillips got the knock he should have gone off. Grant was excellent though.

I don't see why we can't beat these mugs next Wednesday

 

[BrettieAngell]

We were never going to do it the easy way, 1 goal and we are back in it!

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

Awful. Couldn't pass water from the first minute to the last.

 

[Medway Blue]

Poor, poor, poor. Two things messed us up. Firstly, the ref. Shocker and a real homer. Secondly, Sturrock has once again shown his absolute worst with that set-up. Far too negative.

Played too deep from the off with one man up top, that man being one of the slowest in the squad, and playing balls over the top of his head all the time.....what is he playing at? The ball would not stick up top and just kept coming straight back, putting us under pressure. That plays into the hands of other sides, even poor sides like Crewe (and lets not beat around the bush, they are a poor team). We needed some positivity in such a huge game, go into the match confident and gunning for a win instead of being scared stiff of losing!

People will say coming to Roots Hall 0-1 means we're still very much in it. To an extent I agree. What I worry about is heads being down now. Negative tactics, a negative result and a lack of trust in his players to get the job done when playing to their STRENGTHS = negativity being bread amongst the squad.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

We were rubbish, the only positive being, surely we cannot play as bad on Wednesday.

Far to many players having an "off" game..Most players were crap but Timlin was awful.

Agreed. If any neutral football fan had just watched that, they must have wondered how the hell we finished 4th. We need 2 consecutive outstanding performances to now go up.

 

[Cricko]

I thought it was nerves really. I also think as soon as Phillips got the knock he should have gone off. Grant was excellent though.

I don't see why we can't beat these mugs next Wednesday

Agreed about Phillips and why in the second half when it was so obvious to us all did he not signal the bench...Also why did Belford not have a cap for the second half when the sun was straight in his face. Grant was ok the rest need a wake up call before Wednesday.

 

[Medway Blue]

Also dunno about the offside for their goal, but Clohessy's shocking marking and letting his man get behind him was criminal and to blame for conceding.

 

[sufc_dave]

To be honest I thought the loss was a bit harsh. Crewe are obviously a half decent side, but I don't think they created too many clear cut chances. Possibly 3 at most, Prosser making a good block in the 2nd half was one. The header was good (but maybe a cm or 2 offside). I definately thought we deserved a goal. We had quite a few good chances. Timlin had a couple and so did Mohsni. I think a draw would have been fair IMO, but maybe I'm being bias.

I said before the game 1-0 wouldn't be that bad of scoreline. 2-0 it would be a big push, but a quick goal at roots hall would even it up nicely.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Far too negative.

Played too deep from the off with one man up top, that man being one of the slowest in the squad, and playing balls over the top of his head all the time.....what is he playing at?

I thought we had got over these ridiculous tactics in the last few games, -like you and no doubt many others, i am at a loss to fathom out why he plays this way.

 

[Jam_Man]

Wasn't confident before, even less now. Yes we are capable of scoring but we saw so little of the ball, and when we got it lost it again very quickly. My fear is that the home crowd will get on the teams backs and then it will be all over.

Expect route one on Wednesday. The fact he put Leonard on says it all for me. Unfit, not sharp but has a good long throw to launch in the box.

I hope it works and we smash them but I fear the worst. I am normally quite optimistic but a black cloud is hovering. Hide the razor blades, its going to be a tough 4 days.

Why ?

We have been playing 1 up front away and getting results, then going 442 at home.

I expect the same and see no reason why we would suddenly got route one when we havent done that the last 4 home games and have won all of them.

 

[Jam_Man]

I thought we had got over these ridiculous tactics in the last few games, -like you and no doubt many others, i am at a loss to fathom out why he plays this way.

But we played the same tactic against Torquay and Oxford and got results.

 

[Cricko]

I thought we had got over these ridiculous tactics in the last few games, -like you and no doubt many others, i am at a loss to fathom out why he plays this way.

Me to, especially in a play-off game..Harris for all the so called wise head and team spirit bollocks, flatters to deceive at times with the odd pass or goal..He prances around like some lost My Little Pony, is as slow as my Mum, chases down sod all and IMO is well past it.

 

[Spartan]

Who's going to high five me then ? Step forward my good chum Cricko :hilarious:

 

[Medway Blue]

I thought we had got over these ridiculous tactics in the last few games, -like you and no doubt many others, i am at a loss to fathom out why he plays this way.

Exactly. It's a fear of losing and thinking he can prevent it with certain tactics, rather than having confidence in his players to win the match. I think the players sense this, and the lack of trust and negativity wears off on them and manifests itself in the overall performance as a result. It's the sort of situation which will make heads drop for a few days which is why I fear for us on Wednesday.

Another example of the manager proving to be his own, his players' and this club's worst enemy.