Kevin Maher

[MightyShrimper]

Afew things to say about our captain.

Personaly, I wouldnt lose sleep if Maher left us to go to another club. IMO he isnt our best player and the club wouldnt fall apart if he went. He doesnt score goals, he doesnt set any up and for a captain, he doesnt do alot of shouting and motivating.

If Maher did leave I feel that we would become a stronger team. Mark Bentley looks to me asif he has huge potential and we all know hoe good Jay Smith can be.

A Midfield without Maher? I'd say it would look something like this:

Constantine/Gower Bentley Smith Pettefer/Gower

Thats the possibilty, personaly i'd like to see it like this:

Flahavan

Jupp Edwards Warren Nicolau

Gower Bentley Smith Pettefer

Dudfield Constantine

A team without Maher.....?



Doesnt look bad to me!

 

[Barmy Army]

That team there would definitely make the playoffs. However, I think we would be better keeping Maher. He holds together the team at time, and although doesn't score many goals, is a threat from 20 yards.

 

[The Artful Shrimper]

No Cort? have I missed something?

 

[overseas shrimper]

Please refer to games we played when Maher was suspended. It 'sounded' to me like we missed him.

 

[Napster]

He missed the whole of the 1990-91 season.

 

[Guest]

Quote[/b] (The Artful Shrimper @ May 18 2004,07:20)]No Cort? have I missed something?

Not really - with Edwards joining Cort is third best central defender in the team - or 4th best if Hunt signs.

 

[londonblue]

Quote[/b] (Barmy Army @ May 18 2004,06:56)]That team there would definitely make the playoffs.  However, I think we would be better keeping Maher.  He holds together the team at time, and although doesn't score many goals, is a threat from 20 yards.

Agreed. Not only does he not stop running, he does all the unfasionable stuff, like winning the ball back, and always being available for a pass. There is never a time when one of the other players has the ball when Maher isn't making himself available.

I also find the argument that he can't be a good captain because he doesn't shout laughable. He is constantly talking and directing the rest of the team. Just because he isn't animated doesn't mean he isn't doing anything.

I've also heard people say that he only plays the ball sideways. Well, with our forwards (Dudfield excepted) standing still, not making any runs and being marked out of the game (Bramble especially springs to mind here) it's hardly a surprise that the only outlet is the wings.

 

[Pato the Blue]

Quote[/b] (Barmy Army @ May 18 2004,06:56)]That team there would definitely make the playoffs.  However, I think we would be better keeping Maher.  He holds together the team at time, and although doesn't score many goals, is a threat from 20 yards.

i also feel that maher would be worth keeping.im not sure if he should be captain anymore or be in the first team regulary but i feel a player like him in the squad is only a good thing,tacking, tracking back,passing..

If he was to go then southend could go on without him,im sure bt still nice to keep the long serving players

PaTo

 

[Banksy]

Quote[/b] (Mighty Shrimper @ May 18 2004,00:12)]Mark Bentley looks to me asif he has huge potential

As I have said before, Bentley tackles on his arse ! He's not good enough at this level and would not be inspiring enough to win us anything. Stick with Maher, Smith, Pettifer and Gower.

 

[Napster]

Quote[/b] (Banksy @ May 18 2004,09:05)]

Quote[/b] (Mighty Shrimper @ May 18 2004,00:12)]Mark Bentley looks to me asif he has huge potential

As I have said before, Bentley tackles on his arse ! He's not good enough at this level

I disagree completely. His performances at Carlisle and Huddersfield to name two were immense.

 

[Leeboy]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 18 2004,09:09)]

Quote[/b] (Banksy @ May 18 2004,09:05)]

Quote[/b] (Mighty Shrimper @ May 18 2004,00:12)]Mark Bentley looks to me asif he has huge potential

As I have said before, Bentley tackles on his arse ! He's not good enough at this level

I disagree completely. His performances at Carlisle and Huddersfield to name two were immense.

also the home game with Darlo - he started the fightback with that great goal and ran the midfield - and Rochdale away he was awesome

 

[Banksy]

Yes, I agree. A great goal at home to Darlo but I IMHO he didn't run the midfield. If he were to turn in performances like that, say 75% of the season, then maybe. But think about what I said , "he tacKles on his arse" - that's lower level - stand up and hit 'em !

 

[fbm]

Quote[/b] (Banksy @ May 18 2004,09:18)]Yes, I agree. A great goal at home to Darlo but I IMHO he didn't run the midfield. If he were to turn in performances like that, say 75% of the season, then maybe. But think about what I said , "he tacKles on his arse" - that's lower level - stand up and hit 'em !

Bentley has shown great promise in a few matches but there were two home games (York and Sc**thorpe) where he failed to cut the mustard - in fact in the Scunny game his two very poor attempts at making a challenge for the ball led to their 2 goals.

But he does have potential, definitely. Fitness next season I think will be the biggest issue. With that will hopefully come consistency.

 

[Napster]

Quote[/b] (fbm @ May 18 2004,09:25)]Fitness next season I think will be the biggest issue.  With that will hopefully come consistency.

Don't forget he came from a part-time background...

 

[fbm]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 18 2004,09:31)]

Quote[/b] (fbm @ May 18 2004,09:25)]Fitness next season I think will be the biggest issue.  With that will hopefully come consistency.

Don't forget he came from a part-time background...

My point exactly. We have had a plethora of non-league players over the last few years that have had undoubted talent but find the step up to becoming full time pro's too much to handle.

Players like Scott Forbes, Tes Bramble, even Andy Thomson when he first came here struggled like mad (he came from Scottish part time at Queen of the South)... loads of talent and promise, slow to deliver the goods. Forbes failed, Thomson only really blossomed after about 2 seasons and multiple injuries, and the jury is still out on Bramble. But I think it's fair to say that he is at last chance saloon.

 

[nattrazz]

bit harsh about bentley the jury is out on him and hes only plyed for us for a short while give him a chance the promise is there i say give him about half a season to see what he can do there must be a reason why he was signed by tilly

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 18 2004,09:09)]

Quote[/b] (Banksy @ May 18 2004,09:05)]As I have said before, Bentley tackles on his arse ! He's not good enough at this level

I disagree completely. His performances at Carlisle and Huddersfield to name two were immense.

Yet, at Huddersfield, the midfield struggled.  Why?  No Maher.

I also note that everyone is hugely confident about the on-going fitness and availability of Jay Smith.  After all, he hasn't struggled with injuries at all this season, has he?

And, Naps, whilst Maher wasn't around in 1990-91, Peter Butler isn't around now.  Of course I'd choose Butler over Maher; however, I still believe that Kev is the best we've got in the middle of the park at the moment, and that by being so cavalier as to whether or not he's staying, we're being extremely short-sighted.

After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...

Matt

 

[Napster]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ May 18 2004,10:01)]After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...

I'd hardly call coming 17th in Divvy 3 not broke.

ps the 90/91 comparison was a joke.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The thing is though, Matt, that no-one is saying 'release Maher'....

All anyone is doing on this thread is reacting to the ever-increasing likelihood that he will decide to leave for Division Two - as if either Hull of Sheff Weds are serious about him he will almost certainly go.

Therefore we have to assess the rest to see what we think of them.

However, if Maher does depart I think it might free up some cash as well, as I think he is the highest paid player - and we may be able to use that money to good effect elsewhere.

Of course we'll miss him, but we have and can sign other players that are more than capable...

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 18 2004,10:14)]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ May 18 2004,10:01)]After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...

I'd hardly call coming 17th in Divvy 3 not broke.

ps the 90/91 comparison was a joke.

C'mon Naps, is our league position anything other than a refelction of our horror-start under Wignall... which boasted, at one point, a home streak of P6 W0 D1 L5?

Matt

P.S. I know, but it's always nice to remember Peter Butler...