Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend 1-3 Gillingham

[Floval Flyer]

Finally I get to see Jason Williams play in the flesh... He's a professional footballer? REALLY!

We made a promising start, first 35 mins we bossed the game, but as usual failed to capitalise. Once Gillingham equalised we lost the plot, lost count of how many times we gave the ball away cheaply.

New GK Oxley does not fill me with confidence on that performance? Of the other new additions McGlashan reminds me of JCR, quick,but does the old step over, fall over routine / Demetriou looked good first half, but lost the ball too often / I expect Cox will come good (looked very frustrated today) if we can get the service to him, or someone to play off, a fit Ranger or Simpson needed, but was isolated for much of the game.

Beer time, so not even going to bother with ratings.

It it can only get better, ...can't it?

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

The usual nonsense being spouted defending Brown after another unacceptable display.

Those of you criticising McLaughlin's second half performance seem to have conveniently overlooked the fact that Brown inexplicably swapped him to the right hand side after a great first half down the left.

He brought King on having had zero game time with us pre-season. No surprise he looked out of place.

The man is a clown, please Ron get rid. The warning signs were there for months at the end of last season, act before it's too late.

 

[shrimper-james]

That was the definition of a game of two halves. For the first 35 minutes, I thought we played really well, it looked like we had a plan and we wanted to win. Then Gillingham got their undeserved equaliser and it all went down hill from there. The second half was the worst I'd seen us play for quite a while. We just gave up and allowed Gillingham to walk all over us. We have to improve and fast.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Atkinson best of a poor bunch. Mooney's three missed chances at critical time in the first half didnt help. Oxley looked nervous behind a poor defence. The Cypriot was good for ten minuted, Thompson played his usual game. Coker looks Reading bound. And Captain Fantastic, if he is SUFC through and through should do the honourable thing and retire. The team as a whole looked like they hadnt played together before, the subs did nothing as reflected by Brown's usual lack of plan B. Role on Tuesday!!

You must be joking. Atkinson was just as dreadful as everybody else and has been for a very long time. He is a league two footballer.

 

[Jam_Man]

The usual nonsense being spouted defending Brown after another unacceptable display.

Those of you criticising McLaughlin's second half performance seem to have conveniently overlooked the fact that Brown inexplicably swapped him to the right hand side after a great first half down the left.

He brought King on having had zero game time with us pre-season. No surprise he looked out of place.

The man is a clown, please Ron get rid. The warning signs were there for months at the end of last season, act before it's too late.

Who has defended him exactly ?!

As for McLaughlin how does that explain him giving the ball away in the centre of the pitch to gift them a goal ? Or running at the last man and just jumping on the floor looking for a free kick? Or being unable to cross the ball ?

Just being moved to the opposite side shouldnt have turned him into complete garbage, wingers should be able to switch wings to stop us being so predictable, if he cant play anywhere other than the left thats a big worry.

 

[Fairport]

A decent start to the game but all went wrong after Gills equalised with a set price routine obviously worked on from the training ground, completely caught us out there. From then on it was very disappointing. As usual we conceded from set pieces. We really desperately need at least one, preferably two decent centre backs. If we are serious about a play off challenge then Thompson and probably Barratt are way short of what is needed.

The new signings were disappointing today, demetriou is surely better than what we saw today. Oxley did not look as comfortable as he did against Newcastle and McGlashen looks a complete luxury apart from trying to win free kicks he caused Gillingham no problems at all.

Oxley. 5
Demetriou. 5
Thompson. 5
Barratt. 6
Coker 6
McGlashen 5
Atkinson 7
Leonard 6
McLaughlin 6
Mooney 6
Cox 6

Williams 5
King 5
O'Neill 5

Maybe with a few changes and possibly new signings we can get the season started by winning Tuesday's game.

 

[Fairport]

You must be joking. Atkinson was just as dreadful as everybody else and has been for a very long time. He is a league two footballer.

Although I agree with you that Atkinson is only good enough for League Two, I thought he was just about our best player today which goes to show how disappointing the Ninety minutes were today!

 

[Ted]

To put this in perspective - we've played one game

Today may not have been the best, but it would be foolish to make such large assumptions about the team and coaches abilities after one game. We might look completely different next week. Cheer up, man up, on to the next one!

 

[Sammy Shrimper]

Well that was a game of two halves. Sadly the second half was so similar to many games at the end of last season.
Lost the midfield and Atkinson is not the answer alongside Lenny.
First time I've seen Oxley. No wonder Hibs moved him on! Time for Ted Smith.

As many have said where is the creativity and the urgency to move the ball forwards not backwards or sideways.


At least the beer in the Railway was decent.

 

[TheGoat]

Only the first game of the season. Pretty woeful but let's not start to panic unless we play like that for the first 5 or 6. However, the fact that we were either completely oblivious to the fact that Emmanuel Thomas was available to loan or just didn't think he would fit shows just how slack our scouting department is. How can a team down the road sign a player like that without us even putting in a bid? Brown has been banging on about needing another striker for weeks!

 

[RHB]

What to say to try to look on the bright side? Well, we scored first, that was nice, after that I'm a bit stuffed for something to say that hasn't already been articulated by earlier posters. Once Gillingham equalised there was really only one team going to win the game and it wasn't us.

Mr Brown needs to get his prospective new players over the line pretty quick and amongst them needs to be a v good CB, a midfield player with some steel in his game and, of course, a forward of a better quality than Mooney and especially better than young Williams. I'm sure he's a really nice guy, and I hope he has a footballing career but the sooner he is rescued from trying to be a FL1 player with Southend, the better. He is just not up to the job.

I didn't think I would be saying this but we missed a player with Deegan's skillset today, Dack had it all his own way for the whole 90 minutes. As for Emmanuel-Thomas, what a big old unit he was. Once he got going he reminded me of Jonah Lomu going for the line. Thompson didn't play him badly for most of the first half, but in the second half there was only one winner and it wasn't Thompson or Barrett.


New faces soon please Phil, otherwise it could be a long hard season on the evidence of today.

 

[Farmer Fossett]

Oxley 4
Demetriou 6
Barrett 4
Thompson 4
Coker 5
McGlashen 5.5
Atkinson 6
Leonard 6
McLaughlin 6.5
Cox 4.5
Mooney 4.5

Williams 4
King 4
O'Neil 5

 

[Magnum PI]

Tactics appalling. Long balls to Mooney and Cox. Gills had them both in their pockets. Second half shambles. Jay Emanuel Thomas outstanding without even needing to break out of second gear. Defence is so lightweight. We cannot waste money on more strikers Ron. Brown will isolate even Messi. Must buy defenders.

 

[OrangeyBrown]

Only the first game of the season. Pretty woeful but let's not start to panic unless we play like that for the first 5 or 6. However, the fact that we were either completely oblivious to the fact that Emmanuel Thomas was available to loan or just didn't think he would fit shows just how slack our scouting department is. How can a team down the road sign a player like that without us even putting in a bid? Brown has been banging on about needing another striker for weeks!

Brown actually said after the game that we tried to sign JET.

Promising first 30 minutes followed by a disastrous last 60. Overrun in midfield far too often. But this was the first game of the season against a talented Gillingham team (Dack and JET are far too good for league 1) and think that some people need a bit of a reality check!

The way some of you are reacting to losing one game is ridiculously childish, I just hope that any potential signings aren't reading this thread!

 

[TheGoat]

Fair play, haven't seen the post match yet. Good to know we tried

 

[Tommy2holes]

Brown actually said after the game that we tried to sign JET.

Promising first 30 minutes followed by a disastrous last 60. Overrun in midfield far too often. But this was the first game of the season against a talented Gillingham team (Dack and JET are far too good for league 1) and think that some people need a bit of a reality check!

The way some of you are reacting to losing one game is ridiculously childish, I just hope that any potential signings aren't reading this thread!

I don't think getting beat is the problem. It's the manor of the defeat and the lack of endeavour and clueless tactics.

 

[OrangeyBrown]

Fair play, haven't seen the post match yet. Good to know we tried

Here's the quote for anyone interested: Brown: "We were chasing Jay (Emmanuel-Thomas) for a number of months but it fell on deaf ears."

 

[Bobby dazzler]

First thirty Gillingham poor Southend reasonable.
Dodgy keeper (which one)
Overun after second goal clueless hopeless
no more to say

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

Who has defended him exactly ?!

As for McLaughlin how does that explain him giving the ball away in the centre of the pitch to gift them a goal ? Or running at the last man and just jumping on the floor looking for a free kick? Or being unable to cross the ball ?

Just being moved to the opposite side shouldnt have turned him into complete garbage, wingers should be able to switch wings to stop us being so predictable, if he cant play anywhere other than the left thats a big worry.

Can't you see it's the same crap as last season, playing people out of position ? A left footed player should be able to play on the right ? Do me a favour !!!! The sort of comments you make is indirectly defending Brown by shifting blame to the players.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Too defensive and backwards. even when losing we played the ball back to Thompson from midfield.