Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-1 Accrington Stanley

[Shrimper]

That was Accrington's first away win of 2012 as well.

 

[TrueBlue]

I think the fact that most of the North Bank was sat down for the second half sums it up. Seemed like some of the players as well as fans were still on their summer holiday. Don't have a lot to say about the match that hasn't already been said. Tomlin was lively and looks a good signing but I get the impression he'll get more assists than goals. Him and Hall looked like the only players capable of creating something. Was disappointed with Assombalonga, Cresswell did more in 20 minutes than he did in 73. He also looks like Hall which is confusing. Barker struggled at times in the 2nd half but Timlin had a good game considering he'd just come back from injury. On the positive side, we lost our first game in the 2 seasons when we got consecutive promotions and I doubt if we'll ever play with that exact starting line-up again. Accrington were poor and I think if we'd played them at any other time in the season we would've beaten them. And their number 5 was a tool, posturing and spitting in the direction of our fans.

Another thing - why are there less photos on the new-style official site? They seem to have a limit of 10 for each match, and they're smaller. I like looking at the photos after the game especially if I wasn't there myself.

To be fair mate it was hot VERY hot yesterday but I thought we got behind the boys well given the conditions - we also had quite a number at V festival I would say that took about 500 off our crowd easy I know of at least 30 people who did not go because of it

 

[WESTY_SUFC]

No quality in the final third was the big worry for me and the lack of a match winner.

Although some are inconsistent, without Moshni, Eastwood, Dicko, Grant we only had Hall who i felt could actually pull something out the bag to turn the game round.

Nothing new with the hoofball. Just dont understand why Sturrock would play that way without a target man. Long high balls up to Assambalonga & Tomlin against 2 taller centre backs is an obvious tactical disaster.

 

[Norwichshrimper]

CB is likely to be an issue this season. If we don't sign a decent CB by the time the transfer window ends Barker and/or Prosser are really going to have to up their game. We'll be very lucky if the Sick Bay Rangers Phillips & Cresswell are able to play a decent number of games together, so we are relying on Barker or Prosser to fill in, and when they do they need to do much better than yesterday.

 

[tottenham541]

thought prosser was the pick of our defenders if im honest, phillips looked as if he was in pain in the last 20 odd mins, wonder if he picked up a injury as looked to be struggling when running.

 

[Pak Power]

What was most dissapointing for me was that the never had a shot on goal in open play and get a corner from which they do score. Accrington Stanley look a very very average side at best so not getting 3 points or even a draw was criminal seeing the amount of pocession we had.

Interesting stat from the BBC on possession. I must admit it didn't seem like they had more of the ball than us.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19221257

 

[IloveShrimp]

The good news was that we created a few chances, the bad news was that we wasted the majority of them by not even hitting the target. Ferdinand may well as not bothered to turn up, Barker looked slow and seemed to struggle throughout the 2nd half.

if serious about going up, we should not be dropping points against teams like Accrington.

If we are serious about going up, the manager should be making footballing decisions to win games, not ones of sentiment. Selecting Barker who's legs had obviously gone last season was nothing short of an old pals act! IMO.

Mr. Barker's best days are over. It happens to us all. Sad but true!

 

[Maroon Blue]

Immensely frustrating afternoon, surprised by some of PS team selections, but on any other day would have won that game, so not overly concerned. 1 attempt on goal by Accrington and it flops into the net, no surprise their keeper in team of the day in The Sun, he was superb. So was our finishing lacking, yes a few scuffed shots when snatching at the ball, e.g. Tomlin, when a bit of composure was called for but also an inspired visiting keeper who made at least four great saves, Hall x 2, Phillips & Timlin.

Belford 5 - not a lot to do, but got it wrong on their goal, no footwork and stretched the wrong arm out.
Clohessy 6 - usual performance got forward well.
Phillips 6 - As commited as ever, always gives 100%.
Barker 5 - OK, distribution was awful though.
Prosser 5.5 - defensively OK but struggles when gets over the halfway line.
Leonard 6 - throw ins useful and can whip a ball in, but otherwise a little static
Timlin 7 - MOTM, shows what we had been missing, quick brain and surprised lasted the full course.
Ferdinand 5.5 - not overly effective or influential.
Hall 6 - gave it a go, another who snatched at his shots.
Assombolonga 6 - a quick and willing worker, not too many opportunities.
Tomlin 6.5 - worked hard, tricky on the ball, finishing awry.

Cresswell 6 - won his headers, at the back for Barker next game please.
Harris 5.5 - not too long on the pitch and were chasing the game then.
Spicer 6 - looks neat and tidy on the ball, not one misplaced pass.

Need a decent couple of away performances now to put this behind us, Accrington were poor and will struggle this season.

 

[bigmolt]

thought prosser was the pick of our defenders if im honest, phillips looked as if he was in pain in the last 20 odd mins, wonder if he picked up a injury as looked to be struggling when running.

You are Luke prosser and I claim my five pounds!!

 

[blue sky]

On a hot day then ball retention is so important. Most of our players just gave it away too cheaply then watched as Stanley knocked it about. Prosser, Barker, Ferdinand, Leonard and Assombalonga all gave it away far too often.
Prosser is the only footballer I know who looks happiest when the ball is nowhere near him.
Barker's legs have gone. One bit in the second half summed it up, he ran all the way forward to past halfway line, gave it away then just stood there, hands on hips, puffing for a minute before casually jogging back while Stanley had an attack.
Leonard is not a right winger -if you buy one in Hurst then play him.
Remind Ferdinand he is allowed to make a tackle to win the ball, and that we're wearing blue shirts when he's looking to pass it.
Memo to Ryan Hall... if youre going to take the corners then make them decent, too many just pinged in. Stanley had a couple of good ones in the first hal. learn the art of corner taking Ryan. Oh, and look interested, or is your mind already off to where your next pay day will be?

However, the real blame for Saturday lays at the managers door.
Makes me wonder what they were doing pre-season 'cos there was very little in the way of cohesion on Saturday.
Mr Sturrock...
Why pick a kid from Watford up front who arrived that morning (Panic signing) and looked like he didnt even know the players names. Harris + Benyon sat on the bench must of been well P***ed off. And then when he does bring Harris on he's stuck in midfield. Why?
You just bought a left back, Straker, so why play a CB, Prosser, at LB. If you dont like the LB you bought then a. why buy him or b. get another
Surely you can See Barker is past it, will cost us a lot goals this season due to lack of pace / caught out of position.
Put the CB youre raving about, Cresswell, on at CB from the start next game.
If you insist on playing a big lad up front then go and get one -dont ask a CB to fill in. Or better still, play the strikers we have and cut out all the hoofball.
Cut out the sqaure pegs in round holes, play the players you signed in their correct positions.
Need to see major changes for next game.
I'll stick my neck out... we will not get promoted with this manager in charge.

 

[Jam_Man]

CB is likely to be an issue this season. If we don't sign a decent CB by the time the transfer window ends Barker and/or Prosser are really going to have to up their game. We'll be very lucky if the Sick Bay Rangers Phillips & Cresswell are able to play a decent number of games together, so we are relying on Barker or Prosser to fill in, and when they do they need to do much better than yesterday.

We arent going to sign another centre half after bringing Cresswell here.

 

[Jam_Man]

On a hot day then ball retention is so important. Most of our players just gave it away too cheaply then watched as Stanley knocked it about. Prosser, Barker, Ferdinand, Leonard and Assombalonga all gave it away far too often.
Prosser is the only footballer I know who looks happiest when the ball is nowhere near him.
Barker's legs have gone. One bit in the second half summed it up, he ran all the way forward to past halfway line, gave it away then just stood there, hands on hips, puffing for a minute before casually jogging back while Stanley had an attack.
Leonard is not a right winger -if you buy one in Hurst then play him.
Remind Ferdinand he is allowed to make a tackle to win the ball, and that we're wearing blue shirts when he's looking to pass it.
Memo to Ryan Hall... if youre going to take the corners then make them decent, too many just pinged in. Stanley had a couple of good ones in the first hal. learn the art of corner taking Ryan. Oh, and look interested, or is your mind already off to where your next pay day will be?

However, the real blame for Saturday lays at the managers door.
Makes me wonder what they were doing pre-season 'cos there was very little in the way of cohesion on Saturday.
Mr Sturrock...
Why pick a kid from Watford up front who arrived that morning (Panic signing) and looked like he didnt even know the players names. Harris + Benyon sat on the bench must of been well P***ed off. And then when he does bring Harris on he's stuck in midfield. Why?
You just bought a left back, Straker, so why play a CB, Prosser, at LB. If you dont like the LB you bought then a. why buy him or b. get another
Surely you can See Barker is past it, will cost us a lot goals this season due to lack of pace / caught out of position.
Put the CB youre raving about, Cresswell, on at CB from the start next game.
If you insist on playing a big lad up front then go and get one -dont ask a CB to fill in. Or better still, play the strikers we have and cut out all the hoofball.
Cut out the sqaure pegs in round holes, play the players you signed in their correct positions.
Need to see major changes for next game.
I'll stick my neck out... we will not get promoted with this manager in charge.

We didnt play hoof ball until we brought Cresswell on. It was only then that we went more direct as we were chasing the game..

I thought it was ridiculous when we brought him on and put him up front, but to be fair he did have an impact.

As for Harris, he wasnt fit, I assume Benyon wasnt either but if he was then doesnt look good for him to be so far down the pecking order.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Barker's legs have gone. One bit in the second half summed it up,(a) he ran all the way forward to past halfway line, gave it away then just stood there, hands on hips, puffing for a minute before casually jogging back while Stanley had an attack.

Why pick a kid from Watford up front who arrived that morning (Panic signing) and looked like he didnt even know the players names. (b) Harris + Benyon sat on the bench must of been well P***ed off. And then when he does bring Harris on he's stuck in midfield. Why?

(c) You just bought a left back, Straker, so why play a CB, Prosser, at LB. If you dont like the LB you bought then a. why buy him or b. get another
Surely you can See Barker is past it, will cost us a lot goals this season due to lack of pace / caught out of position.
Put the CB youre raving about, Cresswell, on at CB from the start next game.
(d) If you insist on playing a big lad up front then go and get one -dont ask a CB to fill in. Or better still, play the strikers we have and cut out all the hoofball.

a) That was in the 2nd half, it was a baking hot afternoon, I'd defy anyone not used to that kind of exertion not to be blowing a bit, and Timlin had dropped back to cover his forward surge.
b) Harris was lucky to be passed fit, he was not expected to have made it into the starting squad so the bench was the best place for him, and he can play just behind the strikers, although I do agree he was a lot deeper than I would have thought best.
c) Straker has had a pretty poor pre-season, his defensive qualities haven't impressed me at all and Sturrock probably thought, as I did, that Prosser was the better option on the day.
d) Cresswell had also been carrying an injury so was unlikely to have started. I would imagine that every had been hoping Corr would have been available for the start of the season as a sub, however, Cresswell was brought on to counteract the physical tendencies of the Stanley #5, as he is one of only a few people in our side to be able to play "dirty" effectively.

 

[Napster]

I would have thought Prosser was selected to add height to the back line, what with Inchy Belford in goal.

 

[blue sky]

The heat was the same for both sides, didnt stop others putting in a shift. I'd rather of had Prosser/Phillips at CB and straker at LB. I'm sorry but Barker looked a shadow of the player of 18 months ago, and he looked a bit chunky to me as well.
If Harris wasn't fit, why have him on the bench, and why not bring Benyon on? I fear Benyon is another of Sturrock's January panic signings.
As for being up against a physical opposition, just about every team at this level plays with 2 big CB's -so Sturrock either gets a big lump up front (Corr clearly isnt fit), maybe on loan, or can switch tactics and we play with who we have. Sticking a half-fit CB on up front smacked of desperation.
Why have we got so many players injured already ?

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

The heat was the same for both sides, didnt stop others putting in a shift. I'd rather of had Prosser/Phillips at CB and straker at LB. I'm sorry but Barker looked a shadow of the player of 18 months ago, and he looked a bit chunky to me as well.
If Harris wasn't fit, why have him on the bench, and why not bring Benyon on? I fear Benyon is another of Sturrock's January panic signings.
As for being up against a physical opposition, just about every team at this level plays with 2 big CB's -so Sturrock either gets a big lump up front (Corr clearly isnt fit), maybe on loan, or can switch tactics and we play with who we have. Sticking a half-fit CB on up front smacked of desperation.
Why have we got so many players injured already ?

Another? What a panic signing that has scored goals? Comments on this forum are so strange sometimes!

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

Have you seen Straker in pre season? He has been gash.

I don't even think he has been that good to be honest!

 

[Mick]

As for Harris, he wasnt fit, I assume Benyon wasnt either but if he was then doesnt look good for him to be so far down the pecking order.

No further down the pecking order than you'd expect for a striker who has scored 3 goals in 18 months and 43 appearances.

 

[Jam_Man]

Another? What a panic signing that has scored goals? Comments on this forum are so strange sometimes!

To be fair OBD he hasnt exactly set the world alight.

Certainly dont class him as a panic signing, anyone with his record was worth a chance.

No further down the pecking order than you'd expect for a striker who has scored 3 goals in 18 months and 43 appearances.

Neither of those selected have exactly scored many in that time either.

To be fair I would have chosen Tomlin ahead of Benyon.

All this is great with hindsight though...

 

[Norwichshrimper]

We arent going to sign another centre half after bringing Cresswell here.

No, exactly - that was my point. Many on here are screaming out for us to ditch Barker....but we will almost certainly need him and Prosser for decent chunks of the season even of Phillips and Cresswell are first choice as they are likely to spend a fair amount of time on the treatment table.