Echo News Latest chat with Kevin Maher.

[Grayson]

His responses acting like we’ve played well when we really haven’t only make criticism of him more valid sadly

That's my concern too. We have had spells where we dominate sides and cannot score goals plenty of times under Maher. Saturday was not that.

 

[Jack_23]

Coker was on the right, if he was a 10 he would have been central behind a front two which he wasn’t. I’ll go with CP, Glenn Pennyfather and Kev on this I think..

Clearly states in his pre match interview ‘ Coker is in the pocket position’

 

[kentblues]

Clearly states in his pre match interview ‘ Coker is in the pocket position’

Once again just pointing out what CP, Glenn P and Kev have all said during the game a subsequently. But in the end this fetish with formations imagined or otherwise is avoiding the real issues which are to do with confidence and skills. If you can’t cross the ball not sure the formation makes a bundle load of difference…

 

[Shrimper83]

Coker isn't good enough! Why keep playing him over KAF he may be small but he's got a great touch and is decent on the ball! Not had a fair run in the team

 

[lreed567]

Once again just pointing out what CP, Glenn P and Kev have all said during the game a subsequently. But in the end this fetish with formations imagined or otherwise is avoiding the real issues which are to do with confidence and skills. If you can’t cross the ball not sure the formation makes a bundle load of difference…

Then it needs to be changed and stop putting balls into he box, the way we are playing isn't working so it needs to be changed up, we've always looked better with quick passes going at teams, not slow build up play then trying to cross the ball against teams who have massive defenders who will win the ball all day long. So it is a tactical problem we have at the moment.

 

[RHB]

It's pretty obvious that the stress of the lack of results is playing heavily on him as being a manager is all about results. To believe he will react to an interview in any other way than the way he has is naïve. He obviously still feels he can make things come right his way. We may not/don't agree, but what he's saying does not surprise me at all.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

Coker isn't good enough! Why keep playing him over KAF he may be small but he's got a great touch and is decent on the ball! Not had a fair run in the team

Not entirely sure I’ve seen too much from KAF that warrants a starting place!

 

[Tampa Blue]

Maher: "I can show you the stats on everything.

Only stats that count are:

Current League Position 12
Played 29
Won 10
Drawn 9
Lost 10
Scored 33
Conceded 31
Points 39

Mid table mediocracy for a Team that is top of the Average Home Attendance League by a proverbial mile.

 

[The General]

I disagree that we are stronger than we were this time last season. Yes the squad is stronger as we actually have plenty of players but at the moment they aren’t upto the standard required (of us getting out of this league) I actually don’t think we’ve progressed in the past 12 months at all on the pitch, sadly.

 

[Scamps]

Maher: "I can show you the stats on everything.

Only stats that count are:

Current League Position 12
Played 29
Won 10
Drawn 9
Lost 10
Scored 33
Conceded 31
Points 39

Mid table mediocracy for a Team that is top of the Average Home Attendance League by a proverbial mile.

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100% this is the only stat that matters is where you are in the table. Football is a results business at this level

 

[Hadleigh-shrimper]

One Kevin Maher there’s only one Kevin maherrrrr. Always a legend love his passion 8’ that interview. Time to blame the players

 

[Roger The Alien]

I think Kevin Maher need a long chat with G. Hill, as I can remember his interview after Luton Vs Haye & Yeading, “I had to tell my players, that all players playing for the opposition wanted to impress as they want to play for Luton and prove they was better than our players.”

 

[PIERS]

We work the ball into decent shooting positions quite well. especially In the first half. unfortunately it takes us ssooo long that there are 9 defenders in the way and a tackle less than 0,2 seconds away. Hence our lack of 'on target' shots. Our set pieces are poor, we never fashion anything fancy from a throw in.
I dont mind our players keeping the ball and taking their time, but only if we have at least attempted to make a break or thought about a defence splitting pass first.

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

Also there are people who keep saying it’s 532 when it’s clearly 352. It may not be working as well as we want but it’s still 352

"Even when we do play 3-5-2 people think it's a back five but it's not.

"It's a back three because our wing-backs are probably the highest up the pitch.

It's a back 5 because the players playing wing back are defenders however far up the pitch they start or finish. Relying on full backs ie defenders to be your only attacking width is probably the reason why so many (allegedly) crosses go into the box.

bridge is the anatomy where he plays wide as a wing back (the title sort of gives it away ie backwards). He's an attacking mid type player expected to go backwards but plays because he's the only creative force we have. Now he's been found out/miss a left field cm/not playing well the attack has become stale.

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher has vowed to stick to his guns ahead of Tuesday night's clash with Halifax Town at Roots Hall.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[Shrimper4lifeCBS]

Brains of a field mouse!

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

I also believe that a lot of people are missing the point about formation and 3 up front.

However as a slightly different view

1) formation often matters because of who plays ie are they defensive players or more forward players (they are not the same skills and mentality else). Ie you play 532/352 the wings backs (being the operative word) are defenders; we often play with at least 2 defensive cms. That's 8 backwards minded players leaving only 3 forward thinking players - one of which is in cm. This makes a difference in build up, ball carrying, transition, options to pass forward etc it does make a difference because the options are limited moving forward and for actual chance creation (unless you rely on players who can do it themselves without needing the team around them - the latest being pim.

2) 3 upfront is not the answer especially if you have 3 strikers there who have little individual ability or creative potential. What it does do is have 3 attacking minded players further up the pitch which helps to pressure the opposing defence. It's not the answer in itself if they aren't able to create opportunities because the rest of the team (if in a 343) will be defensive players - basically the same issue with a sprinkling of more forward pressure.

Tbh I'm not a fan of 343 as we rely on 2 defensive midfielders, there are too many gaps and you are still reliant on wing backwards.. sorry wing backs.

To me if we play 3 upfront you have to supoort that with 4 at the back to help the defensive and attack transitions ie at least one other attacking player.in cm

The point being both matter and they do but it's out of context in the manner in which it's being argued

 

[Avl1983]

I have no issue with Maher responding to fans like this, I don’t agree with what he’s saying. The comments I’ve made in the past about Maher having a go at fans is more going back to moments like his tantrum when fans were calling for the team to shoot last season and things like that.

When you’re going backwards and sideways all the time it’s understandable to urge the team to shoot. He made a big point of that last season and in my view has been proven wrong as we’re even worse this season for it. Too stubborn for my liking.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I do have an issue with this comment:

Maher: "That tells a story doesn't it but what you've got is people who are giving their all for this club"

Whilst I do not doubt for a minute there are plenty giving their all, I feel there are also a number who have dropped off immensely from last year, in terms of work ethic and positive attitude. It was the work ethic and attitude that saw us through, got us results and brought the fans and players together last season. Where is that this season?.... It's packed up and ****ed off is what it has done and we are where we are now partly because of that.

"Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard" is what is drummed into us at any level of sport. I don't think it is unfair to say this team (as a whole) is miles off it in terms of work ethic, compared to last season? You don't get that same vibe from the current crop, that never say die attitude that was so glorious to see last season. In turn, the fans are the same. It's all very meh.

Some people say "But he works hard" like its a special attribute to have. Not for me, work rate is the absolute minimum I want to see from any player wearing that blue shirt, who is lucky to be here and playing pro football in front of 7,000 fans every week. If this club wants to get back to the EFL, then we have no room for sentiment or passengers any longer. Someone in COSU needs to work their magic with "mutually agreed" contract terminations this Spring, or next season will be a continuation of this...

Name the players who you think aren’t giving their all?

Moncur for sure but he’s thankful been binned. Bonne was criminally unfit for a supposed pro but that’s no longer the case. Maybe Wood and Waldron and maybe that’s why they’re not getting minutes?

What this team is missing is its hardest workers from last season: Miley (currently injured but who everyone moans when he’s picked), Cardwell (sold), Powell (left). If the work ethic seems down it’s because those players aren’t in the side.

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

Baghdad Kev.