Some perspective

[Tampa Blue]

What I fail to understand is how the huge job of rebuilding the club off the pitch and for which COSU appear to be doing a great job translate to dire tactics, apparent lack of motivation on the pitch, bizarre substitutions etc which are totally the remit of the Management Team.

 

[Roger The Alien]

I don’t mind a midtable finish, long as we are looking forward to the match and watch our players giving everything and put an fight to let the opponent that they are not going to have an easy ride against us.

Under Maher, I don’t see any of that against Maidenhead, the part timer wouldn’t find another easy game than against us.

 

[southchurch]

If any thing we should criticise the team because of COSU. They were absolute heroes getting SUFC out of trouble. They have put money into this club even when there was no certainty of ever seeing it again. They have built up a massive credit with fans and we have to be forever grateful. But they are really being let down right now by management and players. We as fans feel we deserve better but without doubt COSU deserve better than what they are getting right now.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

If any thing we should criticise the team because of COSU. They were absolute heroes getting SUFC out of trouble. They have put money into this club even when there was no certainty of ever seeing it again. They have built up a massive credit with fans and we have to be forever grateful. But they are really being let down right now by management and players. We as fans feel we deserve better but without doubt COSU deserve better than what they are getting right now.

Very much agree. And some of the COSU members do feel somewhat let down by the performances on the pitch.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

That's not the way I see it.

I'm not impressed at the moment, but I understand the underlying reasons and, as much as it goes against my instinct of a knee jerk reaction, I'm staying patient and giving the management team time.

A rebuild is slow and frustrating, but it would be even worse to cut it short and not let it play out.

I can understand the reasons for us not having as strong a squad as we would like. I don't see why they are generally set up to play in such a negative fashion and why they can't defend against set pieces.

 

[Cricko]

Very much agree. And some of the COSU members do feel somewhat let down by the performances on the pitch.

What i think COSU bought into was what they saw last season with the club and the players backs agianst the wall and performing miracles under those circumstances. (Didn't we all?) All that seems to have evaporated this season, so it is no surprise to me some feelings have changed and they are having to pay for it all now.

 

[londonblue]

I can understand the reasons for us not having as strong a squad as we would like. I don't see why they are generally set up to play in such a negative fashion and why they can't defend against set pieces.

But I see that as part of the underlying reasons, i.e. we have to set up based on the players we have. You can see by the acquisition of Chambers-Parillon the type of midfield KM wants, but he hasn't had the chance to get in many of the players he really wants.

For me, the summer is where it really starts. I wrote this season off when the rat family held the club to ransom and ruined our summer recruitment.

 

[Pak66]

I've got bad news for you on the status of Southend United in the National League: they are mediocre.

I do think signing strikers in this league is pot luck though. Harry Cardwell was good last season wasn't he? Scored 3 in 26 this season. And one of them was for us.

I think the signing lottery is also not helped by the fact that, contrary to current ownership, Southend have a well earned reputation as bad payers. I think historically we've paid over the odds for players of lesser value simply because we have to do SOMETHING to convince people to sign because the promise of gainful employment isn't quite there if you go 3 months without getting paid. You can buy loyalty, but you can also earn distrust.

It might look like pot luck to you but someone is making decisions on these obvious duds.

 

[Pak66]

The boys in blue all 14 of them, performed absolutely superbly last season. A tight knit group that met every challenge, not being paid, on occasions only having one substitute, deduction of ten points, transfer embargo and in the face of all this and more, definitely out performing beyond anyone's belief.
At present with players moving on and injuries we only have six of those 14 available now.
None but none of the new players coming in could possibly have any idea what the club, players and fans have been through and for me some of the new players have nowhere near the passion determination or commitment shown by the famous 14 last season.

 

[GBJ]

To put another perspective on it, if we’d taken even 20% of the chances we have created this season, we’d probably be in the playoff mix already.

I get it, it’s easy to blame Kev, but if he gets the boot we will still have the same players who cannot hit the back of the net.

I still don’t know whether it’s a lack of confidence or lack of ability.

 

[Shrimper]

I've got bad news for you on the status of Southend United in the National League: they are mediocre.

I do think signing strikers in this league is pot luck though. Harry Cardwell was good last season wasn't he? Scored 3 in 26 this season. And one of them was for us.

I think the signing lottery is also not helped by the fact that, contrary to current ownership, Southend have a well earned reputation as bad payers. I think historically we've paid over the odds for players of lesser value simply because we have to do SOMETHING to convince people to sign because the promise of gainful employment isn't quite there if you go 3 months without getting paid. You can buy loyalty, but you can also earn distrust.

We seem to struggle more than most though.

11 teams have a forward with 10+ goals

 

[GBJ]

Very much agree. And some of the COSU members do feel somewhat let down by the performances on the pitch.

I’m not surprised. Some of the recruitment this season has been atrocious. Players simply not good enough for this level.

You can count the goals our strikers have scored on one hand. That is criminal.

 

[Tony Allen]

At half time on Saturday I shut the laptop down and went for a siesta - never done that before. It was just so boring and predictable. If we are going to be served up rubbish let us have entertaining rubbish like Aldershot played last season not this boring rubbish. We won't go down and we won't get into the play offs so why don't we just play entertaining football if the intention at the moment is not to try to go up but rather just consolidate and gradually build on the little that was left from the Martin era

 

[Holy Joe]

We seem to struggle more than most though.

11 teams have a forward with 10+ goals

But how many have a right back with 10+ goals?

 

[Roger The Alien]

If any thing we should criticise the team because of COSU. They were absolute heroes getting SUFC out of trouble. They have put money into this club even when there was no certainty of ever seeing it again. They have built up a massive credit with fans and we have to be forever grateful. But they are really being let down right now by management and players. We as fans feel we deserve better but without doubt COSU deserve better than what they are getting right now.

Peoples are ****ed off with dull and uninspiring football under Maher, we never heard from them, or making an statement why they are prepared to watch **** football until the summer at least.

 

[Shrimper]

But how many have a right back with 10+ goals?

We shouldn't be relying on our right back to score. But the original point was about strikers so is still relevant

 

[Holy Joe]

We shouldn't be relying on our right back to score. But the original point was about strikers so is still relevant

It was meant abit tongue in cheek. The return from our forward line so far this season has been poor

 

[Callum]

yes with this style of football and recent results we will romp the National League South title in 26/27

Ha Lee hope not national league title next season

 

[Barling Magna]

I agree with much of what the original poster said. I certainly won't criticise COSU; without them SUFC would not exist anymore. I can even accept defeat by Sittingbourne - it was a cup match and these things happen surprisingly often - but I wasn't happy with the team selection for that game. Why change what had worked well in the previous two matches?

The defeat at Maidenhead is harder to accept because the team selection and tactics were wrong again - our management seemed to have missed the lessons from the Sittingbourne game whilst so many posters on SZ had not. For the first twenty minutes it appeared that the players were going for it with lots of forward passes and pressing forward. But then it reverted to the "patient build up" and momentum was lost. We had a couple of shots on target but about a dozen blazed over the bar or punted wide of the post. We were making chances but none of them were as good as they could have been because of unnecessary extra passes or poor crosses. We are unable to break down massed defences if we take too long in the build up.

Maidenhead scored with a textbook example of how to take a free kick and head powerfully into the net. Abrahams is a past master at this. It should come as no surprise - they beat us 2-0 at the Hall with both goals coming from Abraham's set pieces.

At this point we needed another attacker but the subs were like for like. Why?

Maher needs to take more risks as a manager. He struck upon a team selection and tactics that worked well against Daggers and Fylde - and then changed it. That is difficult to fathom.

Nonetheless I don't support the Maher Out calls yet. As long as we stay clear of relegation I think he is safe in his job this season. Next season though he has to gain a play off place.

But for Pity's Sake Kev - revert to the team and tactics that did so well and was good to watch against Daggers and Fylde. Please.....

Thanks for listening Kev. Great performance tonight.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

True but replacing Bonne with new boy Hopper was a poor decision, just as Bonne had finally scored v Fylde and had that massive boost to his confidence. Why break up that successful trio of strikers?

Also Gubbins for Golding....?

Bonne scored v Dagenham and started next game against Fylde. He was then subbed at halftime as he was unwell.

I suspect Golding was another victim of the illness bug going around. Whilst he was named on the bench he was unused and we didn’t have a full bench.