Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend 1-3 Gillingham

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Tall chap in retro shirt that brought the ball out: 10

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

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."

More pathetic excuses and manages to demotivate Mooney & Williams by opening his fat mouth again.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Firstly, lovely to see Uncle Leo and family, hope the twins enjoyed it, even though we lost!

How do we go from a team in control for the first half to one that's fallen totally apart in the 2nd, just what is it that happens at half time that brings this about far too frequently? Jay Emanuel-Thomas absolutely walked all over us, and won the game for them.

The pre-season performances of newbies Demetriou and McGlashan were a thing of distant history as today, very little worked for them. I know I've always been a supporter of White at RB, but on today's performance, Demetriou offers no competition. I don't think he did a defensive thing well all game, and that is his primary role. We all know Adam Barrett is "Mr Southend" but he was cruelly exposed today, and I don't think Thompson or Coker either side of him did much to cover.

Will Atkinson was easily our best player today, yes, I know he made mistakes but he also challenged, tackled and ran with the ball which no-one else seemed able to do. I totally saw the player Brown does. Lenny wasn't at his best, but moving our best player to RB hardly seemed to be the best move - why couldn't we go 3 at the back then? We then had the bizarre scene of Lenny playing RB while Luke O'Neill, who actually IS a RB, was playing RW! Why did McGlashan and McLaughlin stay on the same side? McLaughlin was doing ok against the RB in the 1st half, and then we change it in the 2nd.

I thought Cox and Mooney showed a developing understanding and I am not unhappy with them up front. We've got to give them service though and there was so little of that today. Yes, we had a few chances that should have been put away but first game into the season and I'm not going to be overly critical that they weren't.

I know others have agreed with the subs, well, personally. I didn't. Jason Williams has pace, which Cox and Mooney don't but I'd much rather have had Bridge on to actually link the midfield and forwards. Bringing King on was pretty pointless, O'Neill was probably a better move at that time.

Oxley. Well, I'll have to look at the goals again, but seriously, would Dan have done better? It's the defence that is the issue.

Oxley - 4
Demetriou - 4 (and that's basically for that glorious run through the middle early on)
Thompson - 5
Barrett - 5
Coker - 5
McGlashan - 5
Atkinson - 7 MOTM
Leonard - 6
McLaughlin - 6
Cox - 6
Mooney - 5

Subs:
Williams (for Mooney) - 5
King (for Demetriou) - 4
O'Neill (for McLaughlin) - 5

Ref:
Did most things well today, took a while to get the cards out. Oh, and I really liked the coloured tops they were wearing!!!

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

Tall chap in retro shirt that brought the ball out: 10

You should have stayed on the touchline and given orders, can't be any worse than the tangoed **** in the directors box

 

[McNasty]

I was really hopeful prior to today's match.

We are going to struggle if we continue in being unable to defend set pieces --- something we have been crap at for years.

We needed to make more of the early chances we created. Mooney is not the man, I'm afraid.

Please get rid of Atkinson --- I could do what he does in a game, run around and give the ball away.

Please sign a bricklayer to brick up our goal pre-match as the defence seem to vanish today, especially when the big man just ran at them. He won't have an easier game than today ( well he might if he plays Tuesday ).

Very fed-up of Shoeburyness.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Tall chap in retro shirt that brought the ball out: 10

Don't just bring the ball out man, get in the centre of defence on Tuesday. Lack of height and pace with Thompson and Barrett, really showed today. You look about 8ft tall, you'll do.

 

[pbdream]

I was really hopeful prior to today's match.

We are going to struggle if we continue in being unable to defend set pieces --- something we have been crap at for years.

We needed to make more of the early chances we created. Mooney is not the man, I'm afraid.

Please get rid of Atkinson --- I could do what he does in a game, run around and give the ball away.

Please sign a bricklayer to brick up our goal pre-match as the defence seem to vanish today, especially when the big man just ran at them. He won't have an easier game than today ( well he might if he plays Tuesday ).

Very fed-up of Shoeburyness.

No you couldn't...

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

At least Mooney didn't get caught offside 10 times!.
Seriously, until they equalized I thought we were looking comfortable.
Thought their no.2 was a thorn in the side throughout.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

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."

Obviously speaking to the wrong people?.

 

[McNasty]

No you couldn't...

pbdream ---- I can dream also. :smile:

 

[Strutty the Shrimper]

The key issue today was that we didn't kill the game off. David Mooney, who actually looked half decent against Colchester in pre-season, missed a simple tap in to make it 2-0, and then an easy header which could have made it 3-0. If we had scored one or both of those chances, there is no way we would have lost today.

The second half capitulation was there for all to see and what worries me is the lack of leadership. The usual passion from Barrett just wasn't there. Normally when we fall behind we get at least one surging run from him but all we got was sideway passes. He is a legend and I love him to bits but at 36, maybe this level is too high for him. Leonard was another disappointment. Why wasn't he picking the ball up deep and driving on? He is such a talented player but nowhere near his best today.

Signings are clearly needed but only being one game in we shouldn't worry too much. If we are seeing these types of performances in 7 or 8 games time, then we should start to push the panic button!

 

[Voice of Reason]

pbdream ---- I can dream also. :smile:

Sorry ken but have to agree with pbdream��

 

[McNasty]

Sorry ken but have to agree with pbdream��

Is this "Pick on old fat blokes Day " ? :nope:

 

[Amwell Blue]

I thought it was an international standard display ... Trouble is I'm thinking of England vs Iceland

 

[SeaSideDoughnut]

Firstly, lovely to see Uncle Leo and family, hope the twins enjoyed it, even though we lost!

How do we go from a team in control for the first half to one that's fallen totally apart in the 2nd, just what is it that happens at half time that brings this about far too frequently? Jay Emanuel-Thomas absolutely walked all over us, and won the game for them.

The pre-season performances of newbies Demetriou and McGlashan were a thing of distant history as today, very little worked for them. I know I've always been a supporter of White at RB, but on today's performance, Demetriou offers no competition. I don't think he did a defensive thing well all game, and that is his primary role. We all know Adam Barrett is "Mr Southend" but he was cruelly exposed today, and I don't think Thompson or Coker either side of him did much to cover.

Will Atkinson was easily our best player today, yes, I know he made mistakes but he also challenged, tackled and ran with the ball which no-one else seemed able to do. I totally saw the player Brown does. Lenny wasn't at his best, but moving our best player to RB hardly seemed to be the best move - why couldn't we go 3 at the back then? We then had the bizarre scene of Lenny playing RB while Luke O'Neill, who actually IS a RB, was playing RW! Why did McGlashan and McLaughlin stay on the same side? McLaughlin was doing ok against the RB in the 1st half, and then we change it in the 2nd.

I thought Cox and Mooney showed a developing understanding and I am not unhappy with them up front. We've got to give them service though and there was so little of that today. Yes, we had a few chances that should have been put away but first game into the season and I'm not going to be overly critical that they weren't.

I know others have agreed with the subs, well, personally. I didn't. Jason Williams has pace, which Cox and Mooney don't but I'd much rather have had Bridge on to actually link the midfield and forwards. Bringing King on was pretty pointless, O'Neill was probably a better move at that time.

Oxley. Well, I'll have to look at the goals again, but seriously, would Dan have done better? It's the defence that is the issue.

Oxley - 4
Demetriou - 4 (and that's basically for that glorious run through the middle early on)
Thompson - 5
Barrett - 5
Coker - 5
McGlashan - 5
Atkinson - 7 MOTM
Leonard - 6
McLaughlin - 6
Cox - 6
Mooney - 5

Subs:
Williams (for Mooney) - 5
King (for Demetriou) - 4
O'Neill (for McLaughlin) - 5

Ref:
Did most things well today, took a while to get the cards out. Oh, and I really liked the coloured tops they were wearing!!!

Bang on the nose!

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Just because they didnt impact the game didnt mean they werent decent changes to try. You cant just use hindsight to say they werent good substitutes. Mooney needed taking off, Mclaughin needed taking off and the midfield needed some creativity. Leonard was providing nothing and as I said I thought Demetriou was poor so can understand that change too.

Bridge might have been another option but he has less experience than King.

You write hindsight, I am telling you I said it at half time, before and when the subs happened.
Many, many experts said that England's failure is because the players don't know their positions and system AND what is true for them is also true for us.
Have you heard about proof and pudding?

And if you have read my post pre game I stated about the poor impact of what ever happens in the half time dressing room.

 

[RHB]

A 8,141 gate is not bad for a first competitive game this early in August. I wonder how many will turn up for the next league game.

For what it's worth, if Gillingham continue like they did today then in my opinion they could be right up there pushing for promotion. Painful though it is to say, I thought their fans were also bang on the money today. Apart from when we scored they just didn't shut up.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

I couldn't make the game today, so thanks for your reviews. It sounds a bit too familiar to last season, though. Did you all just copy and paste from one of last seasons reports, and change some of the players names ? :blush:

 

[DTS]

Overall thought we were superb for 40 odd mins and dire for 50. The goal seemed to drain all confidence from us and we didn't offer a single thing after that point. To early to say if we are a bad side or it was just a poor game. Hard to pick anyone that shone but here goes

Oxley - 4 - Flapped at a cross and gifted them a corner they scored from. Didnt come for anything. Worrying start in my eyes

Demertiou - 5 - Superb energy and support in the first half but sloppy and lifeless in the second
Barrett - 5 - Tried hard but got bossed by their attackers
Thompson - 5 see Barrett
Coker - 6 Few nices touches and worked hard but didnt really get much joy

McGlashan - 4 - Was fired up for today apparently. No end product, ran into trouble and crosses were poor. Worry.
Leonard - 5 - Few moments of qyality but generally off the pace.
Atkinson - 6 - Pick of midfield for work rate but not really attacking or defensive enough to be a starter.
McLoughlin - 6 Scored so cant moan but felt his output was poor. Ran into trouble too many times

Cox - 6 - Clever and sharp. Went to ground a bit too much for me but a decent start. Should get better.
Mooney - 3 - Sorry but woeful. Not looking to scapegoat but should be able to score a ten yard tap in or a five yard header. No energy. Was like paying with one attacker the bulk of the game.

Overall I am not going to read too much into this defeat but I do think 7 or 8 of the players need a good look at themselves.

 

[rlb999]

I love the first game. Win, and people on here will talk of promotion. Lose, and its a new manager or a relegation battle.
As with every other season, we need to see how the land lies after 10 games or so.