Post-Match Thread and Ratings Ebbsfleet 0-4 Southend United

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher stressed Oli Coker’s importance to the Shrimpers after seeing the midfielder get back among the goal at Ebbsfleet.

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[Southend Elvis]

Was great to see a win today, at the leagues whipping boys. They were as bad as the other teams around us at finishing the season. How many weeks have others failed to push on and get into the play offs or stay there.
Hopefully we repeat the result on Saturday, but how the others can say that the recent concerns haven't been justified is beyond me. UTB

 

[OldBlueLady]

As Kev had 4 airport runs yesterday, we watched on DAZN, giving my elderly parents the chance to watch a match for once instead of listening in on the radio.

Was also surprised not to see Cav start as Morton was out, but I thought Coker absolutely bossed the middle of the pitch, and delighted that he and the much maligned Bridge stood out in a good fashion, especially combining for Oli's goal. Good to see such confidence from Goodliffe as to have that strike which cannoned off the upright, and then an overhead attempt!

I know we can only play what's in front of us, and I fancied us to score 4 (went for 4-1 on the Prediction League), delighted to see 3 strikers scoring, and a variety of goals too.

A good, confident performance against a team already relegated. Nice to read a post match thread which is not full of the usual criticism.

Hayes - 7, not a lot to do
Gus - 7, did what he needed to
Taylor - 8, usual sort of performance
Goodliffe - 8, solid and not afraid to shoot
Ralph - 7, did what he usually does
Bridge - 8, allowed the space to play his best
Husin - 7, didn't notice him much to be fair
KAF - 7, didn't think he was at his best
Coker - 8.5, MOTM, absolutely ran the match
Kendall - 8, good to see him back and firing
Hopper - 7, worked hard but unfortunately overshadowed

Subs:
Bonne for Hopper - 7, tap in! But they all count, and, too often we've missed having people in that position
Walker for Kendall - 7, deserved a goal
Miley for Noor - n/a
Wind for Gus - n/a
LCP for Bridge - n/a

Officials seemed pretty decent over all, but ref did seem to favour Ebbsfleet a little.

 

[stewart]

Now lets see if we can replicate todays performance over the next two matches and beyond if so.

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

Such a better place without them.

Why? If they have that opinion then they should be able to post without the Maher lovers giving them abuse, calling certain posters trolls, etc...
We beat a relegated, very poor Ebbsfleet side who had youth players on their bench. So waxing lyrical over one game that we were expected to win is a bit silly really.
Wealdstone have a bit more to play for, they are fighting to stay in the NL and will be harder to beat.
Yes a great result but let`s see how he does against better opposition.

 

[dusterman]

Now lets see if we can replicate todays performance over the next two matches and beyond if so.

This season’s up and down form would suggest we can’t, but we live in hope.

 

[CaptainSmudger]

Did Evan see us score?

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Great Result! Ebbsfleet awful side! Might be the reason certain players looked good out there. Bridge has been pretty poor all season and looks quality today. Is that saying he's basically a National League South player.

To suggest he’s a NLS player would be to ignore the hundred plus NL games he played in previous seasons where he was consistently amongst the better players.

This season he may not have hit quite the same heights but we’ve continually looked a better side with him in it than out of it this season - our recent dip in form has come with him out of the starting XI, as did our defeats earlier this season to Sittingbourne, Maidenhead, Barnet and four out of our five goalless draws.

I think people underestimate Bridge’s football intelligence and the way he creates space and links with team mates but he needs someone to exploit that. Coker did that. I’d really like to see Bridge and Parillon in the same side. If Parillon can get on the same wavelength as him we will destroy teams down our left.

If everyone is being honest it was almost a walk in the park today against a team who have almost conceded 100 goals in the league and are probably the worse team I have ever seen at this level.

FWIW we’ve scored eight of those 94 goals against them. York and Barnet both scored six against them.

I’d say Dover were worse but that’s not saying much for Ebbsfleet. They played like I remember Josh Wright playing as a player.
Maybe time to bump the George Moncur appreciation thread as yesterday might have been his biggest contribution to a Southend win.

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Kev had 4 airport runs yesterday,

Blimey - you’d think on a match day our manager could outsource these to Shrimpet Steve!

 

[CaptainSmudger]

blimey - what a difference it makes when we run at defenders rather than stopping and going back or sideways.
Hats off to Bridge and KAF

Why has it taken so long for them to realise this?
To be fair to KAF ,he does run at the opposition as does Leon.
It is the rest I want to see running and taking on defenders, in every game.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

To suggest he’s a NLS player would be to ignore the hundred plus NL games he played in previous seasons where he was consistently amongst the better players.

This season he may not have hit quite the same heights but we’ve continually looked a better side with him in it than out of it this season - our recent dip in form has come with him out of the starting XI, as did our defeats earlier this season to Sittingbourne, Maidenhead, Barnet and four out of our five goalless draws.

I think people underestimate Bridge’s football intelligence and the way he creates space and links with team mates but he needs someone to exploit that. Coker did that. I’d really like to see Bridge and Parillon in the same side. If Parillon can get on the same wavelength as him we will destroy teams down our left.



FWIW we’ve scored eight of those 94 goals against them. York and Barnet both scored six against them.

I’d say Dover were worse but that’s not saying much for Ebbsfleet. They played like I remember Josh Wright playing as a player.
Maybe time to bump the George Moncur appreciation thread as yesterday might have been his biggest contribution to a Southend win.

I think for me, Goodliffe has made a difference in recent games. A centre half not afraid to get forward, get in the box and not be afraid to have a crack at goal.
I make you right about Leon and Bridge. Both offer different things but if they were able to combine and interchange down that left side it could even sway me on whether we should keep JB!!
One thing is for sure we didn't play sideways & backwards much yesterday. Plenty of intent to get it forward.

 

[danbowen]

To suggest he’s a NLS player would be to ignore the hundred plus NL games he played in previous seasons where he was consistently amongst the better players.

This season he may not have hit quite the same heights but we’ve continually looked a better side with him in it than out of it this season - our recent dip in form has come with him out of the starting XI, as did our defeats earlier this season to Sittingbourne, Maidenhead, Barnet and four out of our five goalless draws.

I think people underestimate Bridge’s football intelligence and the way he creates space and links with team mates but he needs someone to exploit that. Coker did that. I’d really like to see Bridge and Parillon in the same side. If Parillon can get on the same wavelength as him we will destroy teams down our left.



FWIW we’ve scored eight of those 94 goals against them. York and Barnet both scored six against them.

I’d say Dover were worse but that’s not saying much for Ebbsfleet. They played like I remember Josh Wright playing as a player.
Maybe time to bump the George Moncur appreciation thread as yesterday might have been his biggest contribution to a Southend win.

1 in 7 of our goals this season have been against Ebbsfleet. Shows how much ****ter than everyone else they actually are

 

[RHB]

With two games left of the league season before the play-offs, can we park the terms 'Maher hater' and 'Maher lover'. We need to be really united for the team now, on the pitch and on here. Plenty of time for other stuff later.

 

[annie1954]

To suggest he’s a NLS player would be to ignore the hundred plus NL games he played in previous seasons where he was consistently amongst the better players.

This season he may not have hit quite the same heights but we’ve continually looked a better side with him in it than out of it this season - our recent dip in form has come with him out of the starting XI, as did our defeats earlier this season to Sittingbourne, Maidenhead, Barnet and four out of our five goalless draws.

I think people underestimate Bridge’s football intelligence and the way he creates space and links with team mates but he needs someone to exploit that. Coker did that. I’d really like to see Bridge and Parillon in the same side. If Parillon can get on the same wavelength as him we will destroy teams down our left.



FWIW we’ve scored eight of those 94 goals against them. York and Barnet both scored six against them.

I’d say Dover were worse but that’s not saying much for Ebbsfleet. They played like I remember Josh Wright playing as a player.
Maybe time to bump the George Moncur appreciation thread as yesterday might have been his biggest contribution to a Southend win.

I thought they was a very poor side but good luck to them next season

 

[* ORM *]

With two games left of the league season before the play-offs, can we park the terms 'Maher hater' and 'Maher lover'. We need to be really united for the team now, on the pitch and on here. Plenty of time for other stuff later.

You’ve not accounted for those that can’t spell his name!

Or Maher on the fencer for that matter 　

 

[WestyReturns]

Ebbsfleet were dreadful but we can only beat what's Infront of us. Great to see us attack in numbers, create and finish chances. That should do the players confidence the world of good.

Somehow results went our way again elsewhere which means we can still make playoffs. Maybe it's ment to be?

 

[GBJ]

Maybe time to bump the George Moncur appreciation thread as yesterday might have been his biggest contribution to a Southend win.

He looked to me the exact same player we had earlier in the season. Receive the ball to feet - because he certainly wasn’t going to run too far for it - couple of quick touches then pass it to nobody. He offered no real attacking threat as well as zero defensive effort. Unfortunately it looks like time has caught up with him & he’s certainly not a player you’d want in a promotion or relegation team.

And to think, people thought Maher was wrong to show him the door when we did. In fact, some would have preferred to keep him over Maher

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Such a waste of a talented lad.

 

[Maroon Blue]

A comfortable afternoon (in the end). Feared after going one ahead and not scoring a second, by the hour mark despite some good chances, we would sink deep and try to hold on ala Sutton. Thankfully Coker allayed them fears and then the strength from the bench and a desire from our strikers to get a goal made for a resounding win. I think when our strikers saw the space afforded to them in the last 15 minutes they saw an opportunity to get themselves a goal. Credit to all for keeping pushing forward in the downpour as Ebbsfleet completely folded and any fleeting defiance ebbed away (nice play on words). Great for confidence going into the last two games, I know Ebbefleet were poor, but you have to play every team twice, another clean sheet and strikers on target. We bossed the game from minute five approx, with the athleticism of our midfield and Husin playing the deeper role well, A couple of early free kicks and crosses from Ebbsfleet which Hayes punched away and that was the end of their threat, A bit more pace in our team and we can really threaten all teams in this league, especially away from home, on the break.

Hayes 7.5
GSM 6.5
Taylor 7
Goodliffe 7
Ralph 7.5
Bridge 8
KAF 7.5
Husin 7
Coker 8.5 MOTM
Hopper 6.5
Kendall 7.5

Bonne 7
Walker 7
Miley 6
Wind 5.5
LCP 6

Oli Coker was the pick in the midfield, always looking for space to receive the ball, drive forward and not afraid to shoot. Jack Bridge ran him a close second back in his LWB role and always thrives when he has support (Coker yesterday, could be LCP moving forward). Nathan Ralph stood out also, I was sitting on the front row and the leap of the man to get his head onto a ball on more than one occassion. Think he also benefitted from the familiarity ahead of him on the left. So onto another nervy Saturday at the Hall and will knowing the results before we kick off be an aid or not? I suppose the same will apply to Wealdstone and if they have dropped back into the bottom four or not. UTB

 

[GBJ]

I see Bridge is getting a lot of the plaudits from yesterday. I was still frustrated with his final ball at times, but was good to see him taking on defenders once again.

The main difference being that he only had one marker on him yesterday. Not sure why Ebbsfleet didn’t follow suit with so many other teams this season & double/triple him up. But that’s their loss & our gain.

We need movement around Bridge when he gets double/triple teamed out wide. Wes/Ralph/Noor used to link so well, but we seem to have lost that. Obviously Wes is gone and Noor has gone a bit more defensive, but as @Yorkshire Blue says it’ll be interesting to see Leon slip into that role.