Day 7: Kevin Maher - Player-a-day

[Pubey]

Discuss away!



(but remember this isnt just to discuss about his ability, or his performance this season but also to post some pics, tell some stories about kev and generally treat each thread as a bit of a homage to the player concerned)

 

[Benji91]

He is Southend's most famous primate.

After the start he had with us and all the abuse he took, im surprised he is still here - but has been consistant over several seasons and one of our better players.

 

[South Bank Hank]

I've posted this before, but I think he'd be a good player if he wasn't always out drinking with Stevie Hammell in Colchester...

 

[Ricky Otto]

The fact that he's our most sucessful captain speaks volumes

 

[Pubey]

 

[SUFC_Al]

True Southend legend.

 

[Mr. Benedict]

He's been a great servant over the years, and seemed to get better as we went up the divisions. Not a particularly tough tackler, although when on form his distribution from the middle of the park is excellent. He's also got quite a good shot on him - as demonstrated last year.

However.... he picks up too many bookings for dissent - I know he's the captain but he should learn when to keep his gob shut. Some people percieve his passing to be a bit negative and on his bad days games pass him by - and central midfield is one of the worst places to have an ineffective player.

 

[NZamba Legend]

Maher is magic. One of the club's greats. In particular I admire his courage in sticking it out through the bad times when he was a boo-boy, when managers came and went and when the team was always **** and going nowhere other than down. Eventually it became obvious that he was in fact the best player in this dire team and he was deservdly made captain. After a couple more false starts, Kev led the team under Tilson to two cup finals, two promotions, the league cup qtr final and a victory against Manchester United. Objectively these achievements speak for themselves but Maher has also helped foster an excellent team spirit, he has remained loyal and most recently he has dealt with being dropped from the team (for the first time in four, five years?) in an exemplary manner. No doubt he will come back even stronger. As a player Kev is very, very good, he has a great passing range is strong on ball and his vision is excellent. Alongside partners such as Gutts, Bentley or Macca we have seen Kev boss many a midfield and ultimately allow us to come out on top. Most people would also agree that Kev was one of our only players who really made the step up from lower leagues to the championship. As the banner at Cardiff read, Kevin Maher is Best Man.

 

[Ricky Otto]

Maher is magic. One of the club's greats. In particular I admire his courage in sticking it out through the bad times when he was a boo-boy, when managers came and went and when the team was always **** and going nowhere other than down. Eventually it became obvious that he was in fact the best player in this dire team and he was deservdly made captain. After a couple more false starts, Kev led the team under Tilson to two cup finals, two promotions, the league cup qtr final and a victory against Manchester United. Objectively these achievements speak for themselves but Maher has also helped foster an excellent team spirit, he has remained loyal and most recently he has dealt with being dropped from the team (for the first time in four, five years?) in an exemplary manner. No doubt he will come back even stronger. As a player Kev is very, very good, he has a great passing range is strong on ball and his vision is excellent. Alongside partners such as Gutts, Bentley or Macca we have seen Kev boss many a midfield and ultimately allow us to come out on top. Most people would also agree that Kev was one of our only players who really made the step up from lower leagues to the championship. As the banner at Cardiff read, Kevin Maher is Best Man.

Spot on!!!

 

[Pubey]

on his day he is excellent, and has been a fantastic servant... however i think Tilly did the right thing by dropping him and fingers crossed Kev will come back more fired up and driven than ever before!

 

[DTS]

Kevin Maher is in my book the best midfielder the Blues have ever had.

I admire they way that he stuck it out through the hard times to become Southends most honoured captain ever.

To me he is a fantastic passer, great vision, hard worker, honest and really everything that I have ever wanted in a midfielder.

Why people slate such a fantastic and loyal player is beyond me.

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

There are a lot of empty seats there!!How times have changed (with Kev), enough said!

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

There are a lot of empty seats there!!How times have changed (with Kev), enough said!

That's the North Bank though in that pic!
We were probably home to Bury or somebody like that who brought 23 fans!

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Maher is magic. One of the club's greats. In particular I admire his courage in sticking it out through the bad times when he was a boo-boy, when managers came and went and when the team was always **** and going nowhere other than down. Eventually it became obvious that he was in fact the best player in this dire team and he was deservdly made captain. After a couple more false starts, Kev led the team under Tilson to two cup finals, two promotions, the league cup qtr final and a victory against Manchester United. Objectively these achievements speak for themselves but Maher has also helped foster an excellent team spirit, he has remained loyal and most recently he has dealt with being dropped from the team (for the first time in four, five years?) in an exemplary manner. No doubt he will come back even stronger. As a player Kev is very, very good, he has a great passing range is strong on ball and his vision is excellent. Alongside partners such as Gutts, Bentley or Macca we have seen Kev boss many a midfield and ultimately allow us to come out on top. Most people would also agree that Kev was one of our only players who really made the step up from lower leagues to the championship. As the banner at Cardiff read, Kevin Maher is Best Man.

100% agree...fantastic post and green rep on it's way!!

 

[South Bank Hank]

Maher is magic. One of the club's greats. In particular I admire his courage in sticking it out through the bad times when he was a boo-boy, when managers came and went and when the team was always **** and going nowhere other than down. Eventually it became obvious that he was in fact the best player in this dire team and he was deservdly made captain. After a couple more false starts, Kev led the team under Tilson to two cup finals, two promotions, the league cup qtr final and a victory against Manchester United. Objectively these achievements speak for themselves but Maher has also helped foster an excellent team spirit, he has remained loyal and most recently he has dealt with being dropped from the team (for the first time in four, five years?) in an exemplary manner. No doubt he will come back even stronger. As a player Kev is very, very good, he has a great passing range is strong on ball and his vision is excellent. Alongside partners such as Gutts, Bentley or Macca we have seen Kev boss many a midfield and ultimately allow us to come out on top. Most people would also agree that Kev was one of our only players who really made the step up from lower leagues to the championship. As the banner at Cardiff read, Kevin Maher is Best Man.

Couldn't agree more.

Any club lurkers on here (Dave Scriven?) might want to print that out and see that it finds its way to the man himself.

Even despite everything that N'Zamba says above, it strikes me that Kev has never really enjoyed the warmth from the terraces that other, far lesser players have received at times.

 

[Kent Shrimper]

Kevin Maher according to google images

 

[Irish_Shrimper]

Excellent captain - great passer of the ball, and not afraid to let rip on anyone not pulling their weight out on the pitch. Very disappointed not to see him starting at the moment - but hopefully come the forest game he'll be back for us travelling folk to see him play in person!

Aside from footie - found kev to be a very nice guy and down to earth when we met him in september at the hall. Definitely one of my favourites at the club.

 

[bigmolt]

Kevin Maher is in my book the best midfielder the Blues have ever had.

I admire they way that he stuck it out through the hard times to become Southends most honoured captain ever.

To me he is a fantastic passer, great vision, hard worker, honest and really everything that I have ever wanted in a midfielder.

Why people slate such a fantastic and loyal player is beyond me.

I agree with all you say 100% . aAso i would like to add , he is a joy to watch play.

 

[bigmolt]

Maher is magic. One of the club's greats. In particular I admire his courage in sticking it out through the bad times when he was a boo-boy, when managers came and went and when the team was always **** and going nowhere other than down. Eventually it became obvious that he was in fact the best player in this dire team and he was deservdly made captain. After a couple more false starts, Kev led the team under Tilson to two cup finals, two promotions, the league cup qtr final and a victory against Manchester United. Objectively these achievements speak for themselves but Maher has also helped foster an excellent team spirit, he has remained loyal and most recently he has dealt with being dropped from the team (for the first time in four, five years?) in an exemplary manner. No doubt he will come back even stronger. As a player Kev is very, very good, he has a great passing range is strong on ball and his vision is excellent. Alongside partners such as Gutts, Bentley or Macca we have seen Kev boss many a midfield and ultimately allow us to come out on top. Most people would also agree that Kev was one of our only players who really made the step up from lower leagues to the championship. As the banner at Cardiff read, Kevin Maher is Best Man.

Here here. bring a tear to a glass eye

 

[Sean 2]

Kevin Maher,absolute Southend legend.

Wears his heart on his sleeve and for me is a great holding central midfielder.

Can't believe he is sub,still rate him as better than any midfielder at the club and in my eyes,while Tommy Black endured a difficult time against Tranmere i thought Kev held his own and covered Black best he could too.Yet Tilly made him the scapegoat vs Crewe and i could not understand that.

Bailey is a good player who should be learning off Kev.Ok against your Crewe and Wallsall's of this world but i fear we'll be in trouble against the better teams of this div.Don't forget that we have played these so-called good teams so far this season and at times not got our true rewards,mainly because of defensive errors.

Hurry up back King Kev,we're right behind you.I guess the old boy gets a nice rest at the weekend at this stage of the season which won't do him no harm.

I will say one thing though,our passing game looks **** without him pinging it around.Bet also Bailey will be off like a shot if a lower placed Chumpionship team comes in for him,Maher could show him a thing or two about loyalty.