Post-Match Thread and Ratings Morecambe 1-0 Southend United

[Pubey]

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United sunk to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Morecambe this afternoon, with Jack Redshaw bagging a last gasp winner for the Shrimps.

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[Jimmych]

We were very poor today. Completely overrun in midfield, no end product from either wide man left Britt feeding off scraps/nothing. Cresswell MOTM. Draw would probably have been fair but if anyone deserved to win it was them.

 

[Clarky_Blues]

Poor performance. Completely over run in midfield, second to all balls especially in the centre of the park. Complete contrast to last week. Thought we were going to escape with a point as they did not really have any clear cut chances. Was crying out for Eastwood. V disappointed.

 

[RobB11]

Listened on the radio and sounded very poor. Unsure how the team can go from such a great performance/result last week at a place like Rotherham to a bleak 1-0 defeat at Morecambe. That's football I suppose, thankfully we have Alder**** tuesday to put it right :thumbsup:

 

[rlb999]

We weren't poor today like I've seen us poor previously. Last season, we'd have played worse and won this game. We're clearly short of numbers and quality in the middle of the park and with this considered I was surprised we played a straight 4-4-2 for much of the game - I'd have been tempted to stick another man in the middle. We were holding on for pretty much all the second half, and cracked just before the end. Shame.

Morecambe made more effort to pass the ball than any team I think I've seen at this level - fair play to them. Not sure that's the way to pick up points in this league though. Their number 2 was a unit as well who did a proper job on Assombalonga.

 

[Blues 'n twos]

We had NO cohesion, NO link up with the lone striker, no Ideas and no hope.
Morecambe to be truthfull were not much better, very poor game overall.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Perhaps some of those who doubt him might now appreciate the value of Timlin to the midfield as a whole? As I understood, for all but about 5 minutes of the game he was playing handicapped by an injury inflicted early on. Spicer simply isn't good enough for me.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I've been full of praise for Paul Sturrock this season, and feel he's doing a fantastic job under the circumstances. But he did a very poor job yesterday. Timlin could hardly walk, for his own sake and the teams, he should have come off, and yet he was kept on the pitch until half-time. Apparently the ankle has swollen up like a baloon, little wonder.

Second half, it clearly wasn't working up front as we never had a shot on goal, probably due to the useless midfield. Spicer is now looking a poor signing, and the tortoise Leonard was passed by with ease. It allowed a poor team to pour forward and keep us on the back foot. It needed a double substitution, and maybe a change of tactics early into the second half when were being out run, to try and get us back in with a shout of nicking 3 points. Kept as it was, there was only one team going to get 3 points.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

I can't disagree with much of the above. If you stayed at home you missed some fabulous views across Morecambe Bay but otherwise you did well to save a lot of time, effort and money.

After 25 minutes Martin tussled with the Morecambe no 9 - the highlight of the first half in which neither team showed any real capability. Southend, to me (with my rose coloured glasses) were capable of stepping up a gear and doing a lot better.

I was hopeful for the second half - perhaps that extra gear would emerge but the loss of Timlin proved to be pivotal along with Morecambe's extra desire and drive.

Still thought a 0-0 away bore draw was on the cards (despite a marvellous cross from Clohessey giving Britt the perfect chance to score).

Overall, I felt rather let down because that group of players can do better.

Middle of the park was over-run as stated above in the second half ........... and why bring on Clarke Harris when the player with the most talent (Eastwood) is there.

A double substitution with 15 minutes to go could have been the answer - I can only think that there are question marks over the fitness of some players leading to Sturrock holding back.

As for Man of the Match, Cresswell and Clohessey are potential candidates ........... oh, how we could have done with Bilel :omg: Either that or having a man sent off might have been the answer .......

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I've been full of praise for Paul Sturrock this season, and feel he's doing a fantastic job under the circumstances. But he did a very poor job yesterday. Timlin could hardly walk, for his own sake and the teams, he should have come off, and yet he was kept on the pitch until half-time. Apparently the ankle has swollen up like a baloon, little wonder.

Second half, it clearly wasn't working up front as we never had a shot on goal, probably due to the useless midfield. Spicer is now looking a poor signing, and the tortoise Leonard was passed by with ease. It allowed a poor team to pour forward and keep us on the back foot. It needed a double substitution, and maybe a change of tactics early into the second half when were being out run, to try and get us back in with a shout of nicking 3 points. Kept as it was, there was only one team going to get 3 points.

Surely it's the physio who decides whether a player is fit to continue and risks further injury by continuing?

 

[Pubey]

Perhaps some of those who doubt him might now appreciate the value of Timlin to the midfield as a whole? As I understood, for all but about 5 minutes of the game he was playing handicapped by an injury inflicted early on. Spicer simply isn't good enough for me.

Why is it Timlin? If we've only got 2 centre midfielders the we're going to miss any of them if they are injured.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Spicer is good enough for this level, but needs an all action midfielder like Timlin alongside him. Leonard is simply not a central midfielder.

Afraid to say that the poor start to the season is all to do with the lack of centre mids, and PS failure to find any targets amongst the 500 odd out of work footballers/RM induced Embargo (delete as appropriate)

However, if you had said we would get 3 points from 2 away games at Rotherham and Morecombe, I would of been happy, but would of expected them around the other way.

 

[Bolton Shrimper]

Poor tactics cost us yesterday. We played too much hoof ball out of defence and did'nt compete against a team who despite not being very good at it,at least tried to play a passing game. Could only have countered that in an attempt to win by playing an extra striker to hold the hoofed balls in their half. Felt we tried to settle for a point too early and got caught out.........again!!!

 

[OldBlueLady]

Why is it Timlin? If we've only got 2 centre midfielders the we're going to miss any of them if they are injured.

Because we've coped perfectly without Spicer! :facepalm:I would've thought that was obvious!

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

I suppose the one big surprise on Saturday was that, following a decent performance (at least in the first-half) against Rotherham, Woodyard didn't even make the bench. Could it be that Luggy didn't want to risk him up against a big physical side like Morecambe? The Freddy issue is rather mysterious, it will be interesting to see what happens regarding him on Tuesday night. Couldn't really criticise PS for keeping an unchanged side and I'm convinced that the injury to Timlin cost us at least a point.
Luggy admitted that the paucity of central midfielders is a major problem.......doesn't need a tatical genious to work that out..........even I could see it! What was intruiging, in his post-match interview was the statement that he thought of making a couple of changes for Morecambe but in the end didn't do it. Personally, I would have loved to know the changes he was considering.........this is the subs bench and presumably his selection options.
Subs: Bentley, Coughlan, Eastwood, Clarke-Harris, Phillips, Spicer, Benyon.
We'll dispense with the first, second and fourth name on the list. Eastwood he didn't want to use, so I can't imagine that he would have thought about starting with him. Bring in Phillips straight after him coming back from injury?.......NO. So, really the options were starting with Spicer or Benyon?????
The REAL problem is Tuesday night. I have great doubts about Timlin reappearing <"Michael's ankle is up like a balloon">
who the hell is going to play in central midfield.........Spicer and Woodyard?........or are we going to be obliged to bring someone in during the next 36 hours?

 

[Mick]

I suppose the one big surprise on Saturday was that, following a decent performance (at least in the first-half) against Rotherham, Woodyard didn't even make the bench.

I did have a few beers before the game, but I have no recollection whatsoever of Woodyard taking any part in the match at Rotherham.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

I did have a few beers before the game, but I have no recollection whatsoever of Woodyard taking any part in the match at Rotherham.

Whoops! :blush: ..........it was Daggers of course! He was on the bench at Rotherham, at least

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

The REAL problem is Tuesday night. I have great doubts about Timlin reappearing <"Michael's ankle is up like a balloon">
who the hell is going to play in central midfield.........Spicer and Woodyard?........or are we going to be obliged to bring someone in during the next 36 hours?

Well, every cloud has a silver lining ........ so it would be good if we are able to bring in a decent central midfielder.

And I share you doubts/questions/points about the subs.

 

[Pubey]

Because we've coped perfectly without Spicer! :facepalm:I would've thought that was obvious!

Indeed we have, however that's because Spicer is crap. Timlin is a good player, but he's got his flaws.