Molesley In or out. (Poll added)

[OldBlueLady]

Lifting the embargo was key to Molesley being able to get positive results with this squad. Can't imagine what a relief it must be to him and his team to finally be able to play with a depth on the bench and quality of players at his disposal.

 

[londonblue]

I get the impression that Egbri is one of those players that is listening to the management team, and is therefore developing his overall game. On first look, it would be easy to dismiss him - too small, easy to knock off the ball etc - but he is learning, he is developing and is becoming more effective. Not the finished article by any means however he is getting better under MM's management.

Molesley and his team are clearly working hard. Even before the recent upturn in results you could see improvements. The issue was that we were so far behind the rest of the teams that those improvements weren't translating into results. Thankfully that gap has been closed somewhat.

It also helps that we're playing teams in and around us at the moment (although Scunthorpe were on a bit of a roll when we beat them). So, we may have improved to the point where we can now compete with the teams at the lower end of the table, but have we improved enough to compete with the teams at the top end of the table, or even the middle?

Only time will tell, but what is certain is that we are still bottom and there is still a lot of work to be done.

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

Molesley and his team are clearly working hard. Even before the recent upturn in results you could see improvements. The issue was that we were so far behind the rest of the teams that those improvements weren't translating into results. Thankfully that gap has been closed somewhat.

It also helps that we're playing teams in and around us at the moment (although Scunthorpe were on a bit of a roll when we beat them). So, we may have improved to the point where we can now compete with the teams at the lower end of the table, but have we improved enough to compete with the teams at the top end of the table, or even the middle?

Only time will tell, but what is certain is that we are still bottom and there is still a lot of work to be done.

Of course - one swallow doesn't make a summer, and there is much more work to be done. The squad is still thin in certain places, and some of the players (I'm looking at you Sterling) are simply not good enough and it's certainly not balanced enough. Midfield is probably our strongest area, but Elvis needs proper competition at full back and we are still at least one striker short for depth. If MM gets the proper backing from Ron in January (and I do think he will) we could see a proper cull of the squad and 5 or 6 could leave and be replaced.

 

[londonblue]

Of course - one swallow doesn't make a summer, and there is much more work to be done. The squad is still thin in certain places, and some of the players (I'm looking at you Sterling) are simply not good enough and it's certainly not balanced enough. Midfield is probably our strongest area, but Elvis needs proper competition at full back and we are still at least one striker short for depth. If MM gets the proper backing from Ron in January (and I do think he will) we could see a proper cull of the squad and 5 or 6 could leave and be replaced.

He actually has it, Demetriou and White are right backs by trade. However, whilst one is injured and the other is playing in midfield it wouldn't hurt to have another option.

 

[CMRandall92]

I was confdent we should have been in the play offs .... but maybe thought Kelman would stay

How on earth was you expecting this with the squad we had at the beginning of the season!?

I think most optimistic Southend fans were hoping for mid table

 

[kentblues]

I am glad its turning around. I am always amongst the last to want managers sacked, especially after a few games, and whilst I wanted to give MM more time I was nonetheless chewing the fat with others about what the alternatives might have been. I think its a relief for everyone that this is a debate that can be put back in the box..

MM has the right work ethic and I think there is a very good manager in there. There is no point pretending that the league position was all to do with the umbongo and the squad. Yes that was a major hurdle but we did not get the best out of what we had. Primarily due to formation and tactics. On the former it was obvious we needed to go to a 451, tighten up and go from there. We persisted with formations that left us wide open for to long. And we persisted with the play out from the back nonsense for far to long as well (again!!).

That said you want a young manager to learn. And it might have taken a little while but both have been addressed. Last night we flirted with a different formation first half and were being overrun. But 2nd we went to the version of 451 that is perfect given the improvement in quality and experience we can call upon- 4231. This without doubt is a formation that suits us very well. The playing out from the back stays well and truly in its box where it belongs.

Overall I would now give MM a C++
The double plus for resilience, learning, desire, pragmatism. Never lose the ++ !!
From there MM can also build - the future looks bright and now it doesn't have to look orange...

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

He actually has it, Demetriou and White are right backs by trade. However, whilst one is injured and the other is playing in midfield it wouldn't hurt to have another option.

Disagree there mate. Neither quick enough anymore to play full-back IMHO. I would imagine Hobson is second choice right back if Elvis is unavailable.

 

[Ricky Otto]

I'm not going to pretend that it is job done because it isn't by a long chalk. I get the impression that Molesley is the type of manager I'd have liked to play under, he has repeated that he has faith in his methods and the work the team is doing and never seemed too panicked, despite our perilous position. This run of 4 games against fellow strugglers came with massive pressure and 3 games in we have 7 points and are unbeaten, that was essential for our survival chances and it seems like MMs faith in his process is finally bearing fruit. I think MMs calm approach has certainly helped this young team deal with the pressure.

 

[londonblue]

Disagree there mate. Neither quick enough anymore to play full-back IMHO. I would imagine Hobson is second choice right back if Elvis is unavailable.

Don't worry, you're allowed to be wrong!

 

[londonblue]

I'm not going to pretend that it is job done because it isn't by a long chalk. I get the impression that Molesley is the type of manager I'd have liked to play under, he has repeated that he has faith in his methods and the work the team is doing and never seemed too panicked, despite our perilous position. This run of 4 games against fellow strugglers came with massive pressure and 3 games in we have 7 points and are unbeaten, that was essential for our survival chances and it seems like MMs faith in his process is finally bearing fruit. I think MMs calm approach has certainly helped this young team deal with the pressure.

I agree. From the first moment he came in you got the impression that he will back the players, but isn't afraid to make tough decisions. He's hard, but (most importantly) fair. Last night was a a case in point: he took Acquah off at half time. Acquah was struggling, and he took him out of the firing line.

It also has to be said that the difference was that we had options up front that allowed MM to do that, even with Goodship out injured.

 

[OldBlueLady]

It also has to be said that the difference was that we had options up front that allowed MM to do that, even with Goodship out injured.

To be fair, he was probably grateful not having to feel duty bound to include him because of their past relationship at Weymouth!

 

[londonblue]

To be fair, he was probably grateful not having to feel duty bound to include him because of their past relationship at Weymouth!

I don't think that is even a consideration for him.

 

[shrimperjon]

A lot of what you say I agree with, but that bit is simply wrong. Just because you've not been able to hear him up until now doesn't mean he hasn't been screaming and shouting. Keepers never shut up, and Oxley is no different.

Actually my wording was all the wrong way round. I meant that MM deserves credit for making the defensive unit more solid and not necessarily re the Oxley comment

 

[Shrimpet steve]

Fickle fans lol I can admit I'm one of those lol

 

[Jim Levenstein]

Some quality content is this thread

 

[undercovershrimper]

Whilst it's been good to see an improvement in results in the last 3 games, let's not forget we are still bottom of the football league. MM has had to bring in 8/9 new players to get results, and McCormack was actually a Ron signing who MM threw in straight away despite no preseason and shock horror he got injured for two months. Some of his selections and tactics have left a lot to be desired at times, so I am not gonna jump on the love train just yet. Hopefully the improvement will continue, I think he will keep us up but beyond that I still have serious doubts

 

[Rayleigh boy]

I suspect that MMhas learnt an awful lot

Whilst it's been good to see an improvement in results in the last 3 games, let's not forget we are still bottom of the football league. MM has had to bring in 8/9 new players to get results, and McCormack was actually a Ron signing who MM threw in straight away despite no preseason and shock horror he got injured for two months. Some of his selections and tactics have left a lot to be desired at times, so I am not gonna jump on the love train just yet. Hopefully the improvement will continue, I think he will keep us up but beyond that I still have serious doubts

I thInk this is where I am at - perhaps a bit more sceptical and note Yorkshire blues mention of
the additional coats of paint on the posts and that wonderful piece of league 2 goal keeping that finished Grimsby off

 

[Rayleigh boy]

chop chop ??

 

[Medway Blue]

chop chop ??

Do be quiet.

 

[MisterStubbs]

I really want to stick by MM, we all know that he has a really difficult job but I'm finding it hard to defend him when he clearly hasn't learnt from his/our mistakes.