Mid-Season Review

[Smiffy]

After 23 games last season we were in 7th* position:

P23, W11, D5, L7. GF 40, GA 25. Pts 38*

So currently 9 places, 11 points and -18 GD (GF -16 & GA +2) worse off, compared to the same stage last season*.

*Not including 10 point deduction.


So, where do you think it has gone wrong?

According to the above, we have only let in 2 more goals compared to this time last year. So is the defence really that bad?

The biggest worry is we have scored 16 goals less than this time last season. Only four teams have scored less than us and three of those are in the relegation zone. That for me is the biggest issue we face. That's 32 less goals over a season if current form remains. That is a gargantuan hole that needs sorting. Until it is, we are nowhere near challenging for anything.

Is it the tactics, is it the players, is it both?...

Hand on heart I would probably keep about 6-8 of the current crop of players, tops. Their efforts in a time of need are hugely appreciated by us all, but for a lot of them, IMO, it is time to move on if we are ever to get out of this division. Perhaps without that siege mentality which is now missing, we are now seeing that some of these players aren't quite as good as we all thought they were?

A pretty big rebuild is needed in January and more importantly the summer. COSU need to find a way to provide a top end competitive budget, which needs to be spent better and also keep the fans engaged and excited. Crowds and revenue will drop sharply next season if current form continues and exciting signings are not made early in the summer. Starting with a proper goalscorer.

But for now, Kev needs to find a way. We must finish the season in better fashion than what has been served up thus far. Or fans will vote with their feet...

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

…So currently 9 places, 11 points and -18 GD (GF -16 & GA +2) worse off, compared to the same stage last season*.
*Not including 10 point deduction.

So, where do you think it has gone wrong?

According to the above, we have only let in 2 more goals compared to this time last year. So is the defence really that bad?

The biggest worry is we have scored 16 goals less than this time last season...

If we look at the favoured starting line-up from 2023/24, the major changes are in an attacking sense, so it’s probably not a surprise that the main difference is in goals scored rather than those conceded. There have been notable matches where we’ve struggled to defend set-pieces (yesterday at York and at home to Maidenhead as two major examples) and the number of individual mistakes appears to have increased in defence, but by-and-large we have much the same defensive unit and it’s pretty strong for this division.

2023/24 team (bold font indicates most appearances in position in 2024/25):
Andeng-Ndi
Taylor, Kensdale, Ralph
Scott-Morriss, Husin, Miley, Fonguck, Bridge
Cardwell, Waldron

Although Miley and Waldron are still at the club, and Coker featured reasonably heavily last season, that’s half the regular starting eleven having changed from 2023/24. Within that, Husin has featured more heavily as a left attacking midfielder rather than on his favoured right to replace Fonguck, Waldron has been injured all season and Cardwell, Kensdale and Fonguck are no longer with the club.

Cardwell’s absence cannot be underestimated. His league tally of 18 goals last season has been bettered by just one forward in the past 20 seasons (Eastwood in 2004/05 and 2005/06). Corr’s best league tally was 18 in 2010/11, Assombalonga and Cox never reached that amount in a league season. Frustrating, then, that a player such as Pearce, who was earmarked as a potential partner/replacement has 15 at the mid-point of the season.

I would point people towards @ShrimperStats excellent article on our struggles so far this season and possible solution in respect of the impact the loss of Kensdale has had on our style of play. I’ve written a few times in post-match threads (Altrincham away being illustrative) about how noticeable it has been that we’ve abandoned our possession-based game and gone direct more often than last season, and that has heavily impacted performances and results.

I do think there are solutions within our squad, whether that’s a tweak to a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation if we are to go direct more often than building from the back and then pressing more aggressively from the front through the likes of Pepple and Kendall, helping us to win the ball higher up the pitch, or seeing if Golding can better replace Kensdale’s qualities than Crowther can in the current 3-5-2. At the moment, we simply don’t know that. Upcoming games against Ebbsfleet, Braintree, Southport and Boston offer better opportunities to trial any tweaks than a trip to the league leaders like yesterday or other recent fixtures against Forest Green Rovers or Halifax Town.

I don’t see Pepple being recalled; as well as he has played and replaced the physicality of Cardwell’s play, he’s scored 4 league goals so far this season and he’s not able to complete 90 minutes regularly. Luton will want him to score more goals and sustain his performance for longer before seeing if he can play at a higher level.

The focus - in addition to that central centre-back position - I believe will be getting a partnership working up front and then recruiting a left-footed attacking midfielder, either to play in that #8 role in place of Husin or instead of Bridge as the left wing-back to increase the speed of our attacking play and the reliability of the supply line.

I believe we’re already seeing some evolution within the squad with Morton and Coker being preferred to Miley and Husin in their preferred roles in midfield and being two of our better performers this season (this doesn’t mean Miley, Husin and Bridge don’t still have roles to play further down the line; we now have 18 in a matchday squad and can use 16 each time), but what we really need is a run of wins, particularly at home, to improve confidence and belief, both on the pitch and in the stands.

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Just seen Bournemouth are 5th in the Premier League....... I would be happy if we were 5th in the National League.

 

[Barling Magna]

The answer is deceptively simple. Neither Cardwell nor Kensdale have been adequately replaced. Apart from Cardwell's goals his defensive work, especially at corners, should not be underestimated.

Forest Green's wealth and Kensdale's stupidity have screwed us.

 

[BriggBlue]

Just seen Bournemouth are 5th in the Premier League....... I would be happy if we were 5th in the National League.

They have a billionaire owner, who replaced another billionaire owner.

Unless that happens to us, there is no way we are comparable clubs anymore

 

[Yer Blues]

The answer is deceptively simple. Neither Cardwell nor Kensdale have been adequately replaced. Apart from Cardwell's goals his defensive work, especially at corners, should not be underestimated.

Forest Green's wealth and Kensdale's stupidity have screwed us.

This is such a naive viewpoint.

Cardwell has achieved some mythical status now he's gone. A player who looked impreious in the air when defending and never looked like winning a header in the box.

In the pantheon of great strikers I've seen (Freddy, Stan) good strikers (Barnard, Constantine) Cardwell doesn't get close. I think if Forrest Green go up, he'll end up at another club at this level.

Kensdale was pretty good. But how good?

The answer to our plight isn't these 2 leaving (though it would be a bit better if they stayed) the concern is the dramatic drop of form across the rest of the squad. Yeah 2 have gone, but why has our midfield fallen off a cliff? Why aren't our strikers getting chances? Where is the improvement in the rest of the squad?

 

[WillMay333]

The answer is deceptively simple. Neither Cardwell nor Kensdale have been adequately replaced. Apart from Cardwell's goals his defensive work, especially at corners, should not be underestimated.

Forest Green's wealth and Kensdale's stupidity have screwed us.

This is not the reason we are where we are. We are poor, with them 2, we would still be poor.

 

[BriggBlue]

This is not the reason we are where we are. We are poor, with them 2, we would still be poor.

We also need to bear in mind that Cardwell had a career best season with us last season, he is likely never to hit the same amount of goals again.

Our biggest misses this season are Powell due to his terrier like battling which inspired others to do the same, and Wes. Wes on the left linking up with Bridge gave teams two players on that side to worry about.

Basically as a team we are worse because despite the squad being technically better, (Moncur is a better footballer than Wes and Bonne is a better footballer than Bonne), the harmony and the backs to the wall mentality has gone

 

[Barling Magna]

This is not the reason we are where we are. We are poor, with them 2, we would still be poor.

But not as poor.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Gash

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Our biggest misses this season are Powell due to his terrier like battling which inspired others to do the same,

He only played in 12 games last season, due to his cartilage ligament injury?.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

Well, difficult to give an answer to the question. Personally, I didn't expect us to be better than mid table, especially with the takeover not happening until mid July. That screwed pre season training and denied Kevin the opportunity to use the Transfer Market at the right time. The players massively over achieved last season and certainly haven't reached the same standard this season. The loss of Cardwell and Kensdale has hurt, because not only were they important to the way we play, but the timing of their departure couldn't have been worse. Some mention has been made of the loss of Callum Powell and Wes. Callum missed half of the season at least and Wes was frustrating at times. Neither have been a success at their new Clubs, which does suggest it was the right decision.

There is a collective need to look at the wider picture. 20 plus years of financial mismanagement by the previous owner, can't be put right overnight. COSU have made tremendous progress in meeting the aims detailed at the Cliffs back in January and they won't stop.

Tom Lawrence said in an interview that back in September that Kevin was under no pressure and Justin more or less reaffirmed that during a BBC Essex phone in.

The Club has a model that it wants to follow that amongst other things incoming players should attract a sell on fee when they move on. Bonne and Moncur obviously don't meet that criteria, with Moncur on loan for instant. I am confident that neither would be with us, had we not had a Transfer Embargo in place until mid July. Most also seem to have forgotten we also had the need to provide a £1 million Bond to the League. Thankfully that was avoided at the last minute.

We have a lot to be thankful for and in the New Year there will be comings and goings. No doubt the squad needs strengthening and it will happen. Kevin probably needs at least 2 possibly 3 transfer windows, before any judgements can be made. We all have views about the players, but I find it disrespectful to start talking about who should go and who should stay.

York on Saturday showed what a good side they have become. Please remember, it has taken them 3 years to get to this position after poor ownership.

Before I get some flak about Transfer Windows, a lot of business involves EFL Clubs so those Windows see most business done.

All I ask is that patience is exercised, we will probably still be in the National League next season, but will be in a much better position come the start to give promotion a real go. You never know we might even have a Cup Final to enjoy in May.

 

[blues exile]

I don't think 'jam tomorrow' still cuts much ice anymore. We are regressing and bold action needs to be taken.

 

[Mick]

We also need to bear in mind that Cardwell had a career best season with us last season, he is likely never to hit the same amount of goals again.

Our biggest misses this season are Powell due to his terrier like battling which inspired others to do the same, and Wes. Wes on the left linking up with Bridge gave teams two players on that side to worry about.

Basically as a team we are worse because despite the squad being technically better, (Moncur is a better footballer than Wes and Bonne is a better footballer than Bonne), the harmony and the backs to the wall mentality has gone

Glad we've got that straight.

 

[jackj13]

We have a lot to be thankful for and in the New Year there will be comings and goings. No doubt the squad needs strengthening and it will happen. Kevin probably needs at least 2 possibly 3 transfer windows, before any judgements can be made. We all have views about the players, but I find it disrespectful to start talking about who should go and who should stay.

I do agree patience is needed. But are you saying we can’t judge the manager until after the January 2026 transfer window?

 

[Thundersley Blue]

I do agree patience is needed. But are you saying we can’t judge the manager until after the January 2026 transfer window?

Yes

 

[Shrimper]

Yes

Even if we were under threat of going down?

 

[bazzashrimper]

Glad we've got that straight.

Funny thing is, I’m not sure Bonne is better than Bonne

 

[BriggBlue]

Funny thing is, I’m not sure Bonne is better than Bonne

As a footballer Bonne is better than Powell, at least on past performances

 

[geoffmundo]

Funny thing is, I’m not sure Bonne is better than Bonne

One of them must score soon!