Question Our future defense? should we worry more?

[Massimo Giovanni]

While of late the results have been almost perfect I must not get carried away and start believing that our team or squad is complete. I am aware that Mr Brown and his team are trying to keep Kearnon and Thompson for the rest of the season and that Bennett makes progress however we will struggle if the results of their maneuvering in the loans/FA system maze does not come to fruition. What then.....will we be TOO thin in the centre/back positions?
Also BBBC has stayed clear of long term injuries and suspensions but a lot rests on him remaining so; Fred is getting back but needs games to get sharp (and we have no reserve fixtures of note).
The UMBONGO thread makes many of the points that are needed. I do hope we don't falter after Christmas as we have done in the past.
Do we need to release fringe players who are "bench warmers" to free squad places?

 

[chapperzUK]

I'm hoping that Brown has a back-up plan for if we can't keep Kiernan and Thompson for the rest of the season, or even has more options up his sleeve that are possibly better than them.

Releasing fringe players, not sure who that would include, would mean paying them off which would not be possible.

 

[Angell Delight]

We have to keep Kiernan, simple as that. He's been superb. With Brown's contacts I'm sure he'd be able to sign a decent replacement should Rosler decide to bring him back in January but it would be far from ideal. Thompson looks pretty good cover for injuries or suspensions but we'd really miss Kiernan if he departed.

 

[Southend Pier]

While of late the results have been almost perfect I must not get carried away and start believing that our team or squad is complete. I am aware that Mr Brown and his team are trying to keep Kearnon and Thompson for the rest of the season and that Bennett makes progress however we will struggle if the results of their maneuvering in the loans/FA system maze does not come to fruition. What then.....will we be TOO thin in the centre/back positions?
Also BBBC has stayed clear of long term injuries and suspensions but a lot rests on him remaining so; Fred is getting back but needs games to get sharp (and we have no reserve fixtures of note).
The UMBONGO thread makes many of the points that are needed. I do hope we don't falter after Christmas as we have done in the past.
Do we need to release fringe players who are "bench warmers" to free squad places?

I hope the defence Is not as bad as your spelling of the word.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

I hope the defence Is not as bad as your spelling of the word.

In his (Massimo's) defence this program does not have an English spell checker. It is Americano and that can confuse. (Not to mention 'manouevre'!)

Still, keeping a strong defensive unit is a key part of a successful team. Pleased to see Phillips slot into the back 4 on Saturday but overall I have been pleased with Kiernan.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

my biggest fear is that if PB continues to be successful then other clubs especially in the north will come sniffing about and make him an offer he cannot refuse.

 

[Jai]

my biggest fear is that if PB continues to be successful then other clubs especially in the north will come sniffing about and make him an offer he cannot refuse.

We all knew we were getting that risk with Brown when he was appointed. We've got to accept if he does well and gets a chance higher up he will jump at that chance. The big fear is if he does it before he's got us promoted.

I still think our squad size will get us in the end. This is the third year running we have had a great run in the autumn. And, on previous occasions, January has come, other clubs have strengthened, we can do jack all, injuries hit and we fade away. I hope I am wrong but I believe this club will never get promoted while Ron is at the helm.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

We all knew we were getting that risk with Brown when he was appointed. We've got to accept if he does well and gets a chance higher up he will jump at that chance. The big fear is if he does it before he's got us promoted.

I still think our squad size will get us in the end. This is the third year running we have had a great run in the autumn. And, on previous occasions, January has come, other clubs have strengthened .......

I think the "fear" of Brown leaving is over done. For me, he has to get Southend United promoted before he can expect people to be contacting himself via Ron Martin.

Yes, it is a good point about strengthening in January. That seems to be quite a weak spot for us but on the plus side we are only (at the moment) playing 1 loanee (Kiernan) and so we have the players here who have managed to guide us to the top part of the table. Long may that continue.

 

[chapperzUK]

I think the "fear" of Brown leaving is over done. For me, he has to get Southend United promoted before he can expect people to be contacting himself via Ron Martin.

Yes, it is a good point about strengthening in January. That seems to be quite a weak spot for us but on the plus side we are only (at the moment) playing 1 loanee (Kiernan) and so we have the players here who have managed to guide us to the top part of the table. Long may that continue.

Agreed, his reputation as a manager was battered and was getting turned down for jobs from non-league and the Irish leagues. He will need time to rebuild that and he is hardly in the spot light down in the 4th tier of English football.

Even Di Canio had to win this league and then be in the league 1 play-offs before being offered a higher job.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

We all knew we were getting that risk with Brown when he was appointed. We've got to accept if he does well and gets a chance higher up he will jump at that chance. The big fear is if he does it before he's got us promoted.

I still think our squad size will get us in the end. This is the third year running we have had a great run in the autumn. And, on previous occasions, January has come, other clubs have strengthened, we can do jack all, injuries hit and we fade away. I hope I am wrong but I believe this club will never get promoted while Ron is at the helm.

Just looking at the last two seasons both which contained good runs before the New Year. Was thinking that our problems came in January but in fact the crunch times arrived in mid-February. It was interesting to note that it was at this time in 2011/2 that we fell out of the automatic positions, never to return and it was about the identical time in 2012/3 that we fell out of the play-off places. Our failure was not a great collapse but rather just a falling away, accompanied by occasional very poor performances and defeats.
Looking more closely at February, there are amazing parallels between the two seasons. In league games both seasons statistics were the same i.e. W 2 D 1 L3 . In 2011/2, February was heralded in by that crushing 1-4 home defeat against Swindon on the 31st January. In 2012/3 our six league games were accompanied by the memorable but ultimately destructive, JPT Area Final legs against Orient. (Eight games in the space of one short month!!!)
What is interesting this season is that, at the moment, only three league games are previewed for the month. This should be far easier to handle with a small squad and it may well be that we have to wait for the outcome of our seven games in March to tell what our promotion prospects are going to be..........counting on the fact that we haven't completely fallen away by the end of January! :winking:

 

[mgh]

the other thing about keeping Kiernan is not just how well he has played but how good a defensive unit Kiernan/Prosser/White/Coker have become - they all play well together, and that's not something you can get in a couple of games...just ask David Moyes about settled defensive units...

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Yes we should worry as we haven't kept a clean sheet in the last four games.

Now part of that is because the excellent Leonard has been injured and therefore not shielding the defence, but we look vulnerable particularly to someone attacking that inside left position. Not only have we conceded goals in each of our last 4 games but the opposition have hit the woodwork a fair few times recently as well.

 

[Southend Pier]

Thanks for the piece of green Massimo

Yes 'am up on my Italian. ciao and salve. Arrivederrci. how did I do:smiles:

 

[Jam_Man]

Yes we should worry as we haven't kept a clean sheet in the last four games.

Now part of that is because the excellent Leonard has been injured and therefore not shielding the defence, but we look vulnerable particularly to someone attacking that inside left position. Not only have we conceded goals in each of our last 4 games but the opposition have hit the woodwork a fair few times recently as well.

Only conceded one though so no disaster.

Think Leonard has been missed and also the reason we are trying to sign the new guy to do the same thing.

Going to be a tough month I think with 3 away games and just the one home match so hopefully get one of them in the side for them.

 

[Bolton Shrimper]

I think the "fear" of Brown leaving is over done. For me, he has to get Southend United promoted before he can expect people to be contacting himself via Ron Martin.

Yes, it is a good point about strengthening in January. That seems to be quite a weak spot for us but on the plus side we are only (at the moment) playing 1 loanee (Kiernan) and so we have the players here who have managed to guide us to the top part of the table. Long may that continue.

Me too. Looking at it from a business perspective he needs to boost his CV with a promotion. Hope this is it !!!