Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 0-2 Fleetwood Town

[Pak Power]

Has Brown Phil lost the dressing room ?

No, it's still in the east stand!

 

[Tommy2holes]

For those stat minded people; do you remember the enjoyment of a Saturday afternoon victory, which set you up nicely for watching the Channel 5 goals and then MOTD? No, can't remember it? I am not surprised.

Last Saturday afternoon win anywhere :- March 12th 2-0 at Barnsley
Last Saturday afternoon win at home :- FEBRUARY 6th v COLCHESTER



Hopeful Stat:-

Last Saturday afternoon game with Phil Brown in charge :- August 27th v Fleetwood

That is rediculous.

 

[mattitouk]

Just for the record. I was bang In line with the goal fleetwood score and was flagged offside.

Fella was two yards on and they had a good goal ruled out.

Not sure why their other goal was ruled out. Looked good aswell.

Basically could have ended 4 or 5-0 quite easily.

Cheers Tommy. Well there's one positive we can take away from today's result.
Every cloud has a silver lining and all that.
We could have dropped another 2 places down the league otherwise.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

We had a stonewall penalty turned down today on about, 75 mins for blatant handball. The ref was very close but wasn't interested. Defo not a homer

 

[Thundersley Blue]

I think our illustrious leader really has lost the plot. I witnessed one of the poorest home displays since Steve Wignall's last home game in charge. I was convinced that evening that the players were trying to get rid of the manager and today was not far short of that performance.

Brown picked the team and tactics. Yet within a short space of time a major reshuffle and O'Neill suddenly playing in the centre of midfield. Just wonder how much time he has spent there in training ? No wonder the players looked baffled. Phil the time has come for your P45, stay much longer and our season will be over by October.

 

[Floval Flyer]

Did we not produce a scouting report on Fleetwood prior to the game? How could he have not known that Cox would be up front on his own against two six foot three centre halves if he played him as as a lone forward? Did he not even bother looking into Fleetwood from a tactical perspective? Or did he just decide to chuck Cox up front anyway and hope for the best because he doesn't have any other ideas?

It all sounds pretty dire. Every time he opens his mouth he infuriates me more. Thank you for letting us know we can blame you for the poor results, but we were anyway. More importantly, why are there poor results and what are you going to do to change it? No point stating the bleeding obvious. Give us a bit of honesty.

PB was too busy with his Radio work, Mid Week EFL Cup games involving PL team and analysis on the w/e's PL fixtures on TalkSport, instead of working on his main priority - SUFC... Too busy to get any homework done on Fleetwood, but I bet he could tell you the tactics and danger men at Chelsea, Arsenal or Spurs :angry:

We didn't get the wins that should have come against Bristol Rov or Fleetwood, so time to go now PB - he can concentrate on his Radio work and keep dreaming of the PL... SHould re-name him Walter Mitty.

 

[Benfleet A1]

I don't think I have ever watched a Southend team with so little confidence, ideas or worst of all, passion. Not just passion for the club but for the game its self. It was pitiful. That was my sons second game, sorry lad, sorry.

 

[mattitouk]

Genuine question.

Is it Phil's job to produce scouting reports? or do we have scouts (or girl guides most likely in our case :smile:) that do that, & then report their findings into PB and the rest of the coaches?

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

Genuine question.

Is it Phil's job to produce scouting reports? or do we have scouts (or girl guides most likely in our case :smile:) that do that, & then report their findings into PB and the rest of the coaches?

I have little doubt that we will get scouting reports from a trusted source who had watched the Cod's last few games.
However it was not their excellence/tactics that undid us BUT our ineptitude and dullness.

 

[manor15]

But the Board doesn't play football or indeed pay to watch,crowds are starting to full.

Indeed, it was notable that Phil put his hand to his face when he heard the attendance read out. That's assuming that was in reaction to the attendance and not yet another stray pass from Luke O'Neill.

 

[manor15]

We had a stonewall penalty turned down today on about, 75 mins for blatant handball. The ref was very close but wasn't interested. Defo not a homer

Was as blatant a penalty as I've seen in a long time, no idea how he didn't give it. What's concerning though is that other than two Stuart Nelson clangers, an anomalous 25 minutes at Brammall Lane, and a penalty last week, we haven't produced any chances of note.

 

[5scoops]

Indeed, it was notable that Phil put his hand to his face when he heard the attendance read out. That's assuming that was in reaction to the attendance and not yet another stray pass from Luke O'Neill.

How is O'Neil keeping white out I don't know. Need john back now and take Barrett of captain

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

How is O'Neil keeping white out I don't know. Need john back now and take Barrett of captain

Demetriou is keeping White out. But he'll be back in for the next 2 games as JD is away with Cyprus

 

[fbm]

For the first quarter of an hour it was dreadful from both teams. And then we let Fleetwood have the ball with a ton of space. I thought at the time, as they played about the seventh consecutive unchallenged pass, "This is what happened v Gillingham, we just let them pass the ball around until they scored."

Et voila.

A good bit of play from the left back, a square ball to their best player IMO, Long, who took it and had time to plant a terrific low shot inside the corner.

After that for another 15 minutes or so it was embarrassing. Most people with a football brain know that by playing the ball deep out from the back, you can entice teams that sit back out a bit, so the ball can be played around them. However, this only works at 0-0. When the visitors are 1-0 up, there is no point in doing that because they have no incentive to come out of their half and press.

So why do we keep doing it? It's our job to take the game to them and we did nothing.

Cue an early substitution - McGlashan for King. All of a sudden we're interested and we end the half strongly. We are on top and there are a couple of half chances. However it stays 1-0, yet I am confident for the second half.

So what happened?

Did we manage an effort on goal in the second half?

Huff, puff and no product. Players pointing, passing sideways, backwards, taking that extra touch, passing short... it was all there in it's glory.

We looked unfit, never something I can normally accuse a Brown team of.

Still, at one goal down there is always hope. We press and win a corner or free kick in front of the East Blacks, I can't remember it was that dull. I think it was a corner.

Anyhow, we yet again get outjumped and yet again fail to pick up the second ball. McLaughlin, who has probably taken the corner or free kick, is just walking back like some Sunday League player. He is making no attempt to get back and help. Consequently, Coker is left trying to cover and McLaughlin's player receives the ball 30 or so yards out. McLaughlin is still on the half way line and thinks, "Oh, I'd better get back..." and then starts running.

30 yards too late matey. The Fleetwood player that should have been picked up or at least covered plays the ball in to someone or other and it's a goal, I can't remember the exact details because I am dumbfounded, watching a professional footballer simply not giving a toss enough to help out his teammates.

It was appalling - simple as that - and although the memory plays tricks and makes you forget the really bad performances otherwise you'd never return, it was as bad as I can remember, certainly since pre-Tilson. We played "hot potato" football, no-one taking responsibility, no one pushing forward. Our possession stats probably relate 75% to stuff in our own half.

It was grim.

So what is wrong?

Well, for me it is glaringly obvious.

The squad is too small.

We do not have a strong spine.

There are too many defensive minded players in the team.

We have 3 key players out injured.

We have very little height in the team and none at the back.

We have a new team trying to gel.

It has undoubtedly been a difficult transfer window and with the loan system changing, this has had an effect on all small teams.


Is Brown the answer? Well I don't think we will get anyone higher profile and he is a decent manager with great contacts which has and will help us.

Ron has backed him completely and there is no point now in getting rid because no new manager will be able to do anything now. We have to hope it is not too bad up to Christmas and then see where we are.

Ratings -

Oxley - 6 - No chance with 1st, not sure about 2nd. Kicking decent.

Demetriou - 7.5 - Probably MOM. Can't think he did much wrong.
Coker - 6 - Not the same player he has been but left woefully unsupported by McLaughlin.
Barrett - 6 - Looked his age.
Thompson - 5 - Played I don't know how many 40 yard crossfield balls, none of which came off.

McLaughlin - 2 - Anonymous and complete lack of effort.
O'Neill - 4 - He is not a midfielder.
Leonard - 5 - The only proper midfielder we have... and he started as a right back!
King - 3 - Swansea? Really?
Bridge - 5 - Struggled to do anything.

Cox - 5 - Couldn't cope in a 4-5-1 against 2 giants at the back

Subs -

McGlashan on for King- 6 - Made an impact immediately but then faded
Mooney - on for Bridge - 7 - Almost MOM which tells you everything
Williams - on for Cox - 3 - Didn't touch the ball. Sorry, not good enough for this level.

Ref - 5 - Gave us next to nothing, including the lack of what seemed to be a nailed on penalty.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

We have a new team trying to gel.

I don't think we can really use that excuse. Seven of the players that started today and five of the subs were here last season, there are teams in the league who have had a much higher turnover of players in the summer than us (Port Vale, who are fourth, for example).

 

[IloveShrimp]

Lots of empty seats today! We will be lucky to get an average of 4,000 this season if this cr&p continues!

Seems to me that all enterprising spirit has been knocked out of the players by Brown and his coaching staff. I heard many people around me moaning at the players poor performances or passes that went long or astray, but in many cases this was because the player had no one offering themselves for the ball. A few times Coker and others were totally isolated with no options as everyone was running away from them and then had to boot it long!

I honestly think that the players have had enough of Brown or are completely confused on what they are meant to be doing, either way I think it's time for change re the manager and his staff. Brown needs to think carefully for his future too, for should he get the bullet then I would assume that his management career would be over, perhaps he would be better off quitting?

Oxley 4 Long kicks up the middle straight to their goalkeeper, no urgency, made two easy saves, don't know what the players think but I am not at all confident when the ball goes anywhere near him.
Demetriou 6 Good player all around but so often let down by the lack of other players giving him options
Thompson 5 Some good first half tackles
Barrett 4.5 Worked hard but lost his man at almost every set piece and couldn't keep up, lucky not to get sent off imo for cosistant wrestling
Coker 5 Comments as for Demetriou
O'Neill 4.5 Woeful
King 4 Offered nothing and outclassed, he is not yet ready for this division.
Leonard 5.5 I think he is being stifled by the manager
McLaughlin 5 Lazy, never tracks back doesn't make runs
Bridge 6 as for King
Cox 5.5 Looked frustrated but why punt long ball to a short player up against 6ft plus defenders? Lacked effort in my opinion

Mooney did more in the short time he was on than Cox did all match although created nothing
Williams - as for King and Bridge
Macca - tried briefly but then gave up from lack of decent supply ( I wonder if he could do the Wayne Gray type of role as he has rapid pace)

Brown - Said on BBC Essex to blame him. Oh we do Phil we do, and you don't need to tell us to do so!!

 

[Taters123]

The "gelling" of a team should be in or season not a month in

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Just seen the goals again. First goal was hit from 25 yards on the y floor and I feel although the scorer was given space and time, Oxley should have done better. For the second, Oxley was beaten at the near post from a tight angle. Woeful goal keeping. Time to give Ted a go

 

[Magnum PI]

That was the worst home performance I have seen in years and years.It was desperate and gutless. Fleetwood were not very good at all yet could have won 4 or 5 nil. How can anyone defend Brown after that. If you take out the gutless bits can someone please explain the tactics?

Explain hoofing long balls up to Cox?
Explain one up front at home to Fleetwood?
Explain starting Bridge and King - two players he dismissed as kids a week or two ago
Explain O'Neill in central midfield?
Explain why you would play one up and not have McGlashan starting - with genuine pace and crossing?
Explain what Coughlan, Horton and him were doing to change anything during the second half.


Brown knows. He knows he has Bolton and Scunthorpe next away and then Millwall at home. He knows his managerial career is over if he messes this up - i think the players know that and can see an out coming soon.
Once the East stand turns on Brown properly (and its coming) then Ron will have no option.


We must not go down again! If nothing changes that is where we will be.

 

[Magnum PI]

Just seen the goals again. First goal was hit from 25 yards on the y floor and I feel although the scorer was given space and time, Oxley should have done better. For the second, Oxley was beaten at the near post from a tight angle. Woeful goal keeping. Time to give Ted a go

Oxley is not a very good goalkeeper from what I have seen so far. He doesnt move his feet. Seen it numerous times now. He chucks himself early. He doesnt command his box either. Might improve but if you cant do the basics...