How many games does Brown have to end the rut

[AndyT]

My only wish with Brown is that he settles on a side and a system and sticks to it, so players know their roles.

It might take a few games, once we have finally assembled the squad, but once achieved, then a run of games with one system has to be the right move.

Last season, in glimpses, we did this and went on a decent run, but he did over-tinker when things went slightly wrong.

We have the ability and we have the right manager at the moment, but the sooner it settles down, the better.

 

[Medway Blue]

I don't demand promotion to the championship, I demand a manager who wants to be here and isn't whoring himself out to any club who will listen. I also demand a manager who isn't on sky sports in the morning of a game talking about who other teams are playing, I also demand a manager who is at a match miles from Southend the night before a game doing commentary. I demand a manager who doesn't go on the highlights show after a shocking defeat and speak about how much he'd love the Bolton job and dis-respecting SUFC fans. That's before I even bothering going on about our terrible the tactics are and how embarrassing it is to have a defensive coach who hasn't got a clue how to get his team defending.

Couldn't have said this better myself, before even getting onto tactics.

PB has a history of going on 'losing streaks' and can't/doesn't seem to have the ability to halt the slide.

On to our midfielder not passing through the middle, or to wingers who need to beat a full back to cross.
My viewpoint is that it's the static/non movement of forwards not giving the midfield anyone to pass to, that has been the problem for sometime. Mooney, when he does move gets caught off side, I'm afraid I haven't seen anything in Cox to thrill me either (probably a joke there somewhere). This to me point to laziness/fitness levels or confidence.

I don't know whether PB has lost the dressing room or not, but his constant flirting/whoring himself about over the summer has alienated him with some fans (me included) and my thoughts are he probably will not turn it round, and the next 6 games will seal his destiny.

Indeed, he has a history of having trouble halting the slides in the past. To be honest, I don't think the movements of the strikers is a problem - I've seen both Cox and Williams make excellent charges into space and off the shoulders of the defenders, shouting and pointing where they want the ball but failing to receive it. That's not their fault. I do see a real lack of movement from our central midfielders and our wingers and I put that, again, down to the way they're being instructed to play. CMs to sit deep to protect the back four and not venture too far forward, wingers to cross from deep and not venture too far forward and leave FBs unprotected. It's not conducive to good movement in midfield and we've become too static, too slow and too predictable. We don't stretch teams enough with movement but I don't think that fits in with brown's mentality.

What must the players think when they read this “It’s the lack of quality and the depth of the squad which is the problem and it will be for the rest of August until we bring players in,”

The guy has zero motivational skills, constantly using criticism does not encourage sportspeople to try harder, it has the opposite effect in most cases.

Everyone needs a bollocking at times but Brown is just so one dimensional, we lose, he slates the players, never takes any responsibility. Looks to me like he is goading Ron and shifting the blame onto everyone except himself.

He is only out for himself and has to make himself look as good as possible. He's not a motivator but he seems to be a pretty good alienator. This is exactly why I think he's lost elements of the dressing room.

I would refer you to the published minutes from the last Trust Liaison Meeting with SK where the following was stated about Jack, which, I have assumed to mean money has changed hands:

"SK advised that the situation with regard to Jack’s move to Huddersfield Town has been resolved to the Club’s satisfaction."

£500k, there or thereabouts I believe.

We was discussing this on Tuesday ,do you think now that we have a reputation amongst other clubs and agents that it's not a good idea to come here ,it seems to me the only players we seem to get now are ones that have been here before and players that no one wants to touch with a barge pole

I do think we are getting that reputation. Players talk to players, players talk to agents, and agents talk to agents. Word gets around. I think it has played in a role in our failure to get players in. I wouldn't be surprised if either our manager or our style of play (or both) put targets off. If I were a 20-goal striker, I would certainly think twice about coming here if I did my research and watched how we play.

 

[Jam_Man]

Indeed, he has a history of having trouble halting the slides in the past. To be honest, I don't think the movements of the strikers is a problem - I've seen both Cox and Williams make excellent charges into space and off the shoulders of the defenders, shouting and pointing where they want the ball but failing to receive it. That's not their fault. I do see a real lack of movement from our central midfielders and our wingers and I put that, again, down to the way they're being instructed to play. CMs to sit deep to protect the back four and not venture too far forward, wingers to cross from deep and not venture too far forward and leave FBs unprotected. It's not conducive to good movement in midfield and we've become too static, too slow and too predictable. We don't stretch teams enough with movement but I don't think that fits in with brown's mentality.

There is no way wingers are told not to venture far too forward.

They are certainly told to track back and provide defensive cover, and thats exactly what they should do but there are plenty of times they get to the penalty area, same as the full backs do.

What you say about lack of movement and stretching teams is spot on, we have always under Brown looked a poor attacking threat in the last third and after 3 seasons I doubt thats going to change, but you take it too far with some of what you say. He may not be great at putting together a great attacking team, but that doesnt mean he is telling the attacking players not to attack, if so he wouldnt be playing two wide players in the first place.

 

[blue pilot]

Paul Clarke on BBC Essex mentioned player fitness on Tuesday night after the game. He said they looked tired and faded in the 2nd half, something that was evident last Saturday and again on Tuesday. If they haven't put the work in pre-season and the fitness isn't there then the players will spend weeks trying to reach the right level. If so the blame will lie with Brown and the coaching staff. Also, its a bit late saying you 'need 4 or 5 players' half way through August, he's had 3 months to sort that out.