Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-0 Braintree Town

[Nick Prawnby]

Gus Scott Morriss gets a bit of flak on here, but what more can we expect from him?
He plays right back, wing back and winger, fantastic engine and had the best attempt on goal.
Certainly in the first half he would steam forward hoping for Bonne or Walker or someone to run into the channel but had to check back and go sideways.
Top scorer, more goals than the entire forward line....

 

[fbm]

Great post FBM, although I disagree with some of the ratings.

Hayes 6 - did what he had to

Gus 7 - solid enough defensively and a few good efforts at goal
Goodliffe 5 - silly early tackle / follow through, and then too many mistakes. I had him at fault for the goalmouth scramble and the “dive” at the end he just missed the ball
Taylor 6 - some great tackling, but one time it was because he missed a simple header and he had to. Distribution was too safe

Morton - 5. I’m struggling to think of any pass today that was in anyway incisive or with any adventure
Husin - 7. Played quite a few nice balls out wide to set up play and push us forward. Gets his fair share of critics, but I think he’s our best central midfielder
Coker - 6. I thought he started brightly for the first 20 minutes and then drifted out of the game.

Parillon - 7. Made some great runs and created our best chance. Lost the ball a few times, but these were in the right spot when trying to create. Set KAF off twice with some excellent play.
Walker - 7. Seemed able to beat a man today. Tricky and held the ball up well. Created one goal of the season opportunity for himself, but then shot to the keepers near post when going across goal had runners of a miscue of a spill from the keeper.
Bonne - 4. I don’t get it. One time he ran 30 yards backwards, received a 10 yard pass from Goodliffe and first time passed it 10 yards straight back to him. I missed the games where he allegedly played well, so I have no idea how he gets a game. Oh. And he missed our best chance where he received a lay off 10 yards out and hit it within range of their (excellent) keeper

Subs
KAF - 5. Nothing came of the two times he was given the ball to break. Pleasing player on the eye and certainly not our worst, but attacking mids need to make sure an effort on goal comes from that kind of opportunity

Kendall - 6. His movement showed Bonne up for me. For the first time the midfielders had an option of a forward making a run. This enabled him to get a few efforts on goal.

Miley - 5. Not sure he was the right player to come on, but Morton wasn’t the right player to keep on

Hopper - 4. Just doesn’t look like there is anything left in the locker on the attacking front. Good for set pieces at both ends.

Bridge - 6. Got a lot of the ball. Inconsistent as ever, but fizzed one great ball across which a better centre forward than any of ours would have been tapping in.

Ref - 7. I liked him. He didn’t get every decision right, but he was in control of the game.

New segregation system in the car park - 0. When they first did this I couldn’t understand how segregating though the car park and throwing everyone out together on vic avenue with no security there would work. It annoyed me as I have to walk around the whole thing to get in. Anyway - first time we have a proper sized away following and there was trouble at the exit. I hope the security consultancy who recommended that haven’t cashed the cheque yet.

Hurrah! A discussion on the game and players!
#throwback #nostalgia

 

[wiggy]

A really frustrating afternoon as we huffed and puffed but once again failed to break down the opponent, a dogged Braintree. I wonder where we would be now if we had seen out the Sutton game. It seems to have had a massive impact, putting us on the back foot and heaped the pressure on. Last 2 winnable home games we look wracked with fear unable to release the shackles and snatching at goal attempts. A massive attendance and Braintree showed the backs to the wall spirit we had last season. Only four subs and players going down with head injuries and Akinde doing his hammy. Now I know most of them were fake, the gk visibly laughing at the South after he went down trying to collect a cross and did not move for 30 seconds. The referee bought it all and Braintree knew it. Think that although dangerous on the break they will have second season syndrome of going down next year due to lack of resources. Much like Dorking last year and Ebbsfleet and Fylde this season.
Anyway onto us and clearly we do not deserve play offs and would not progress anyway, nobody will stop York. We may have lost the bigger teams in recent seasons but the pack have got stronger. Big big season next campaign, it is clear from this that a good start is essential. Many of the top seven have been there the whole campaign, had long runs of poor results but given themselves a buffer to keep in contention, Ala FGR, Oldham, Rochdale, Halifax & Gateshead.

Hayes 7
GSM 7.5
Taylor 7.5
Goodliffe 6.5
Ralph 7
Coker 5
Morton 6
Husin 5.5
LCP 8 MOTM
Bonne 6
Walker 6.5

Bridge 6.5
KAF 6
Kendall 6
Hopper 5
Miley 5

LCP my MOTM tried to create opportunities all game and understandably tired late on. Will be an asset next season after a full pre season and a tad more pace and strength. The rest, well defence looks okayish, add Golding to improve if possible. The rest needs some major surgery if we are to get promoted next season. UTB

LCP could do so much better for himself than a team coached by Maher

 

[fbm]

Surely COSU have seen enough to know what they should do even if it costs. For the long term and to ensure 'sustainabilty' it needs to happen once the testimonial is over.

And that bit in bold completely contradicts the next sentence and is the start of becoming unsustainable again.

 

[fbm]

LCP could do so much better for himself than a team coached by Maher

I disagree. Mager isn't restricting LCP, he is doing that himself.

Maher knows what he can do and wants him to do it. Next season I think we'll see an even better player and long may that continue.

 

[Shrimperjohn]

It’s such a shame also as he has been a top player for us but how off the pace did Cav Miley look when he came on…

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

Surprised the Braintree player that went over the boarding into the north bank didn't sustain any injury but more of a shock than anything

 

[OldBlueLady]

Gus Scott Morriss gets a bit of flak on here, but what more can we expect from him?
He plays right back, wing back and winger, fantastic engine and had the best attempt on goal.
Certainly in the first half he would steam forward hoping for Bonne or Walker or someone to run into the channel but had to check back and go sideways.
Top scorer, more goals than the entire forward line....

Does he?

 

[bazzashrimper]

I disagree. Mager isn't restricting LCP, he is doing that himself.

Maher knows what he can do and wants him to do it. Next season I think we'll see an even better player and long may that continue.

Agreed. He’s a kid. He went through them a couple of times early on. And then they took the ball from him a couple of times and his head dropped. That’s a young player there.

Late in the game he cut in from the left and shot over. Personally I’d like to see him on the right, but Maher has him left so he can cut in and shoot. That’s not telling a player to be negative

 

[bazzashrimper]

Hurrah! A discussion on the game and players!
#throwback #nostalgia

And we had a difference of opinion on some of the performances without arguing.

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Surprised the Braintree player that went over the boarding into the north bank didn't sustain any injury but more of a shock than anything

The only time i can recall seeing that happen was when my team played Canvey Island in an under 16 cup final at Roots Hall. He took a bit longer to emerge than the Braintree lad. Its got to be near on 5ft drop, sod that !

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

And we had a difference of opinion on some of the performances without arguing.

Agreed ! i'm not interested in the match report as such, i saw the game, i'm interested in people's views about it and if they saw what i saw. If people want to rant thats ok too. Game's about passion, its not over reactionary to rant after the game and not everybody expresses things well when they are steaming !!
Most of all, i like reading about how Maher should be playing the squad according to fans, sometimes real eye openers !

 

[OldBlueLady]

The only time i can recall seeing that happen was when my team played Canvey Island in an under 16 cup final at Roots Hall. He took a bit longer to emerge than the Braintree lad. Its got to be near on 5ft drop, sod that !

Remember Ryan Innis going over that in a season ending fall for us. Was relieved to see Lisbie bounce up after a slight pause with no ill effects.

 

[Shrimper]

It's not about loving Kev (I don't in particular), it's about giving him a fair crack of the whip without having his hands tied behind his back.

Next season will be the first time that will happen. It'll almost be his first season.

If you get rid now, you have to pay off his contract. What about Currie and Bentley? Do they go with him or take charge? What do they and the players think? They all seem like a solid team to me. So, if you get rid of all 3 (which if you're going to do one, do them all) there's three contracts that have to be paid off.

Then, who are you going to bring in? How long will they get to get their team in? At least 3 seasons I would suggest.

Then, if it doesn't work (there's a 50/50 shot of that), do you do it again? Pay off more contracts?

This is what used to happen and what COSU are trying to get away from.

So have some patience and if it's that bad, don't come to watch.

Alternatively, we end up keeping Maher and he makes more poor signings and lumbers us with more contracts that don't expire for the forseeable future. Making the situation difficult for whoever we bring in. It's a risk but one we need to be strongly considering. We cannot have another turgid season like this

 

[SuperRonnieP]

Gus Scott Morriss gets a bit of flak on here, but what more can we expect from him?
He plays right back, wing back and winger, fantastic engine and had the best attempt on goal.
Certainly in the first half he would steam forward hoping for Bonne or Walker or someone to run into the channel but had to check back and go sideways.
Top scorer, more goals than the entire forward line....

Not enough movement from Bonne and Walker yesterday. Our midfield gets stick for slowing down or passing sideways. Too often that's the only option other than an aimless punt forward if the strikers aren't making runs. Kendall was better, but Hoppers movement days seem behind him.

 

[overseas shrimper]

The day started so well for me and the boy, meeting up with old mates, my brother, a nice walk in the famous Essex April sunshine (well, maybe not so famous). Great food, beers etc. shared...

... and then the match.

Well, the North Bank was a great experience and took me back 30 years or more. Atmosphere was rocking. Not good for anyone unable to watch the game standing though.

As for the performance... it was another frustrating watch with more of the same. This time played out in front of us instead of by live stream. I think our general approach play, although all too often predictable, isn't too bad, and Parillon shows moments of class in the way he takes on, and beats, players. Likewise, our defence seems pretty solid, if prone to the odd lapse in concentration / awareness.

The above is all said with an awareness of the level we're at, our financial restraints and what's been available in the market.

Our huge failing, as we all know, is up front. Here, we're embarrassingly poor. And by poor, I mean exceptionally so, in every way possible. Our attack needs a complete overhaul if we're to improve and aim for play-offs next season.

The trip over was worth it, but the game was a frustrating disappointment.

 

[GBJ]

As always, we had no end product yesterday.

The final ball is, and has been, poor all season. When we finally got our first and only 10/10 delivery into the box yesterday via Jack Bridge, nobody was anywhere near it.

Maher wants us to play on the wings. He wants balls into the box from wide positions, not sideways and backwards as some claim. But the quality just isn’t there. It’s disheartening watching cross after cross either end up in the keepers hands, over everyone’s heads or simply out of play.

It was summed up yesterday with the last meaningful kick of the game in which Bridge sailed a cross into the South Stand.

Of course the other issue we have is that when we do eventually get a man on the end of a cross, they can’t finish for ****.

 

[Richard Hearn]

The only time i can recall seeing that happen was when my team played Canvey Island in an under 16 cup final at Roots Hall. He took a bit longer to emerge than the Braintree lad. Its got to be near on 5ft drop, sod that !

I remember Keith Mercer taking a flying header over the South Bank wall, many years ago.

 

[wiggy]

It’s such a shame also as he has been a top player for us but how off the pace did Cav Miley look when he came on…

That makes him a certainty to start Monday then!

 

[Blue Yonder]

As always, we had no end product yesterday.

The final ball is, and has been, poor all season. When we finally got our first and only 10/10 delivery into the box yesterday via Jack Bridge, nobody was anywhere near it.

Maher wants us to play on the wings. He wants balls into the box from wide positions, not sideways and backwards as some claim. But the quality just isn’t there. It’s disheartening watching cross after cross either end up in the keepers hands, over everyone’s heads or simply out of play.

It was summed up yesterday with the last meaningful kick of the game in which Bridge sailed a cross into the South Stand.

Of course the other issue we have is that when we do eventually get a man on the end of a cross, they can’t finish for ****.

Our crossing and dead ball play has been hopeless all season but we do put a lot of crosses in and occasionally one is decent but then when we do, as you say, we have one forward against a penalty box full of defenders. Not sure it's all about lack of quality in the front line or crossing ? we've tried plenty of configurations and additional signings. That (getting more players in the box) seems like a problem that could be fixed through coaching. This regime have signed Walker, Waldron, Hopper, Bonne, Kendall in the last season and a half and nothing much has changed.