Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 1-0 Lincoln City

[Welly7]

Final mention before the ratings for Mohsni. Was disappointed in him today - not so much his performance, but his niggly off the ball antics. He was digging Broughton every chance he got (sly little elbow or barge etc) and I saw him deliberately stand on Hutchinsons heel totally off the ball - quite vindictive and whilst some fans may be like *rrrrrrrraaaarrrr GO MOSHNI- F**K 'IM UP!* etc... its not good. Its pretty poor when you have to resort to that and sooner or later it will bite you on the arse. Cut it out fella.

There is certainly a petulant and niggly side to his game. It was the same at Gillingham on Tuesday, keen to confront Akinfenwa, McDonald or whoever and today with Broughton, Hutchison and Swaibu in the second half.
However, what's impressed me most about Moshni is his obvious improvements in the last few games. He looks to be cutting down ( I won't use 'cutting out' as I'm sure there could well be more!) on the basic errors that was costing us. It's a learning curve for him and on the evidence of the last two games, he's looked a better defender and so I'm willing to overlook his ptulance as he struggles to get to grips with pro football in this country, get over the language issue and learn his trade as a central defender.
For what it's worth, I thought Barker was very good alongside him today.


Morris - 6
Clohessy - 7
Barker - 7
Mohsni - 7
Gilbert - 6
Simpson - 6
Grant - 6
Timlin - 7 MOM
Hall - 6
Corr - 6
Sturrock - 5
Crawford - 6
Soares - 6
Jarvis - 6

 

[Pubey]

Haven't got much to add, a game of two halves really

Morris - 6 - solid, some wayward kicking
Clohessy - 7 - impressive, especially in the 1st half when pushing forward with Simpson
Barker - 7 - MOTM - dominant in the air and lead from the back with a solid display
Moshni - 6 - reckless, and not as good In the air as he can be. Moved the ball about well.
Gilbert - 6.5 - defensively pretty solid, but poor distribution
Simpson - 5.5 - good in the first half but completely missing in the second. Needs a rocket from Sturrock because he didn't look interested at times
Grant - 6 - covered the pitch, which is both good and bad.
Timlin - 6.5 - a good player and linked play well at times, but didn't offer a strong defense in front of the back two.
Hall - 7 - a great cross for the goal. Looked lively and a threat before going off. Didn't shirk his defensive work either
Sturrock - 6 - good vision but sometimes poor execution. Linked some good play together but offers little else. He is obviously a good foil for Corr but that doesn't mean there aren't better options in our squad
Corr - 7 - another goal, well taken and had other chances. He's an excellent player for us and a shame he got a knock

Subs:
Jarvis - 6 - didn't really impress me much. Pacey but raw
Crawford - 7 - impressive, worked hard and he made a chance for himself. Hope he gets more minutes for us.
Soares - 5 - did nothing.

 

[Pubey]

Also my mate is a Lincoln fan and reckons Tilly is heading there

 

[jamesmut2000]

Also my mate is a Lincoln fan and reckons Tilly is heading there

If he is he's got an awful lot of work to do with that lot. Another poor League 2 side which unfortunately we're only marginally better than at times.

Agreed about Moshni and Grant - they both follow the ball too much at times. But I had a horrible feeling Drewnaldo was gonna give Moshni a tough time today - but fortunately Drewe hasn't got any better over the years!

 

[Magnum PI]

Thoughts - We should have put them out of sight, but rather clueless in final third. Our finishing and final ball is generally as bad as it has been in recent years.. Getting used to League 2 football again now, but I dont like it.
They got back in it second half and we were clinging on

Refs and linesmen were ok by normal standards..

Morris - 7 (Good saves here and there but indecisive on crosses)
Clohessy - 8 (best player at back and going forward)
Barker - 7 (very solid at the back, won lots in the air)
Mohsni - 7 (better on the ground than in the air today)
Gilbert -7 (better than usual)
Simpson - 6 (drifts in and out of games too much)
Grant - 7 (clever player but caught out once too often today)
Timlin - 7 (quiet yet effective)
Hall - 7 (what a cross!)
Corr - 7 (would have scored higher but for injury)
Sturrock - 7 (not his greatest game but still great touches)
Crawford - 7 (looked decent when he came on and won headers !)
Soares - 5 (he must be brilliant in training to keep getting chances)
Jarvis - 5 (lively but erratic)

 

[southendkid]

Morris - 7
Clohessy - 7
Barker - 6
Mohsni - 7
Gilbert - 7
Simpson - 5
Grant - 6
Timlin - 7
Hall - 7 (MoM)
Corr - 7
Sturrock - 5 (Not one of the haters, but once he came off we started to look threatening)
Crawford - 7
Soares - 5
Jarvis -5

 

[Smiffy]

Not much to report really.

Another pretty dire performance at The Hall. Very little in the way of attacking, incisive football on show. Some schoolboy moments at the back again, that would of been punished by better opposition. All in all, a pretty crap 90 minutes and a draw probably would of been the fair result, not that Lincoln were much cop either.

It's games like this that make you realise just how **** this league is. Unfortunately we fit right in at the moment, and we'll need to up our game for the Spireites, or we'll get tonked.

But all told, i'll take a crap performance and three points all day long. Although I won't particularly enjoy doing it that way.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

If he is he's got an awful lot of work to do with that lot. Another poor League 2 side which unfortunately we're only marginally better than at times.

Agreed about Moshni and Grant - they both follow the ball too much at times. But I had a horrible feeling Drewnaldo was gonna give Moshni a tough time today - but fortunately Drewe hasn't got any better over the years!

I agree Lincoln were awful, but I think there is something to work with - the left winger looked tricky and the no.14 was getting himself into some great positions. Above all Tilly knows what to do to turn around a side like that: drop that ****ing awful donkey Broughton and they'll automatically improve.

What will be harder is to get them playing football instead of the hoofball they're still playing.

 

[jamesmut2000]

I agree Lincoln were awful, but I think there is something to work with - the left winger looked tricky and the no.14 was getting himself into some great positions. Above all Tilly knows what to do to turn around a side like that: drop that ****ing awful donkey Broughton and they'll automatically improve.

What will be harder is to get them playing football instead of the hoofball they're still playing.

It'll be a massive culture change for Lincoln - they've been playing hoof ball for as many years as I can remember!

 

[MattLloyd]

Dire, we seem to be gong backwards. Good first three minutes then complete tosh. We actually made one of the worst teams in the football league look like a half decent team. Lack of leadership and energy on the field. Paul Sturrock what has Soares got against you? Well done Mr Corr getting another goal, but our attacking football is simply woeful.

Morris - 7
Clohessy - 7
Barker - 6
Mohsni - 6
Gilbert - 6
Simpson - 5
Grant - 6
Timlin - 7
Hall - 7 (MoM)
Corr - 7
Sturrock - 5
Crawford - 6
Soares - 4
Jarvis -4​

 

[EastStandBlue]

It'll be a massive culture change for Lincoln - they've been playing hoof ball for as many years as I can remember!

They seem to have a good core of actual footballers and the ingredients to do well at this level... Two positive wingers, Josh O'Keefe in midfield, a big man (Facey) to bully defenders and a forward who was getting in the right positions, but fell victim to a lack of service as Jarrett cut inside, rather than taking on Gilbert. Like YB says, if they can shake off Broughton and play some football on the deck, like they did in the last 20 minutes today, then they're not a terrible side.

 

[Bluesmanager]

To be fair, winning when you're playing ***** is always a good sign.

 

[Smiffy]

"It was a horrible win. To be fair, that was our poorest performance of the season.
"We are beginning to have a problem playing here (Roots Hall) mentally. We give opportunities to sides to come and snatch the points from us." .

Luggy's comments say it all.

 

[* ORM *]

A cliché but today was a game of two halves for me related directly to Corr being injured. He must have won 80% plus of his headers but it was his all round positioning and interaction that most impressed me and another great finish for the goal. Sturrock continues to be frustrating. I can see why he has fans as he does undoubtedly have some good qualities but the situation where he was put clear with a keeper rooted to his six yard spot, rather than coming out narrowing the angle, summed up precisely why I have to believe we have better striking options at the club than that.

Other positives to take out of todays game. Hall's first half performance, the understanding that is starting to build with the two down the right flank (starting to become reminiscent of Gower/Jupp) and Grant's 90 minute performance. I'll take the supposed headless chicken approach over a passive midfielder every day of the week. I believe we have the luxury of allowing him the freedom to do that. Far and away my favourite of the current crop. To think when he first joined we could barely get 45 minutes out of the man. Sadly opposition scouts have all done their homework but I love the way Grant sucks the foul in then just dusts himself down and gets on with the game. Sadly I suspect we'll be losing him in January.

Second half was very poor indeed apart from the substitutions, each of which I thought were spot on. After losing Corr you'd have thought our tactics would have been to get the ball out wide and kill them down the flanks but it didn't happen. Fortunately for all their dominance a combination of a weak strikeforce, a crossbar, Morris and some last ditch defending saved the day.

As for Mohsni, I thought he was very lucky to stay on the pitch twice today but I firmly believe we have a rough diamond that will get much, much better with more games under his belt and having the benefit of playing alongside a very experienced pro. Still prone to the wrong decision at times but if he continues to improve at the rate he has done I'll have no complaints.

The referee todays was cack. I don't like throwing cards around like confetti but to me there was a clear case for 2 reds and at least 5 or six yellows in todays game.

I think we've seen enough of the season now to start making some informed predictions on the season. In all honesty this is a shocking division and a noticable gulf between the standard of football and L1. I also think we'll need to get used to the yo-yo of Euphoria of an unexpected result against the likes of Torquay plus the gloom of losing to dross such as Morecambe. I refuse to believe we will finish any lower than mid-table and I'll take that quite happily. However if we are top 10 at Christmas I'd also like to think we could lay our hands on some dosh to splash out on a player or two and then have a genuine push for the play-offs or better.

All in all a less than convincing 90 minutes but a very handy 3 points and a little unbeaten strea

 

[Beefy]

Also my mate is a Lincoln fan and reckons Tilly is heading there

Appears to depend on whether Tilly and Ron can agree on a severance package. I doubt he wants to walk away if it means giving up what he is owed.

 

[TravellingBlue]

Left feeling empty - again.

Morris - 7
Clohessy - 6
Barker - 6
Mohsni - 6 extremely lucky to stay on the pitch
Gilbert - 6
Simpson - 5 anonymous
Grant - 6 where were you second half?
Timlin - 6 anonymous
Hall - 6 gave it
Corr - 6 well done
Sturrock - 5 sorry, not for me
Crawford - 6 a bit of bite
Soares - 4 why oh why oh why
Jarvis - 5 lots of pace, but no end product

Uninspiring, but I suppose like everyone else it's three points in the bag. I just cannot get over the malaise that I feel with all things Southend United at the moment.

 

[canveyshrimper]

I'm happy with 3 points after a pretty nondescript match. After scoring so early Blues should really have won more convincingly given how poor Lincoln are. However the injury to Corr probably cost us dearly. And I for one am happy to hold my hands up and say I may have been wrong about Corr, he IMO had been quite average up to and including the Morecambe match. But the two performances away and the first half yesterday has shown a distinct improvement.

I'm pleased with the way Clohessy and Hall are progressing considering they were both playing non league a year ago and have taken the step up well. Like others I think Moshni may have been lucky not to have seen red yesterday, he's still learning but I think he's sending off or two waiting to happen.

 

[Tommy2holes]

For the second home game in a row i missed the goal/s.

Last time out against against morcombe i missed both as i was in the toilet and and then making my way back from the bar. This week i struggled to park the car and missed the first 3 minutes of the game and was at the turnstyles when i heard the cheer.

As for the game we were great for the first 35 minutes and very average for the rest of the game.

We just look like we have good enough players to get out of this league although i would like to see more in attack although corr is ticking along nicely.

Bilel will be a ledgend and quite a player and today showed why he is not there yet! He was a very very lucky boy to stay on the field. Straight after avoiding a red for a tangle down by the south stand he went in for a sillt tackle infront of the blue voice that he got nowhere near and should have been booked again.

That said he did go on a mazy run which was great and beat about 5 players. If he had scored he would have claimed goal of the season for sure. Im all for doing that when you 3-0 up but at 1-0 with the opposition threatening its a worry.

Lincoln can consider themselves unfortunate as they had countless attempts scrambled away the closests saw granty clear under pressure and they also rattled the woodwork . I also thought granty handled and got away with it.

That said we will play a lot better and lose so happy to get the points.

Pringello

Morris : 7 Nothing to do

Clohessy :7.5 Solid

Barker : 7 Steady

Bilel : 6 Eratic

Gilbert : 6.5 Hardworking

Hall : 6.5 Average

Grant : 7 Standard

Timlin : 8 (mom) Decent

Simpson : 6 Subdued

Corr : 7.5 Good

Sturrock : 6.5 Plain

Jarvis : 6 Trier

Crawford : 7 worker

TBV 6 Great in patches and very quiet at times.

I game we could have lost and didnt so have to be happy with that but we will need to play better than that. LDV in the week and im hoping to see the likes of jarvis and crawford herd paterson and screech all involved.

Rumours of tilly going to lincoln. WTF. Surely he can do better than that. What the **** can he do there? Im sure they have next to no budget and a low fan base. I would have though a decent league 1 team would want him or when taylor gets the bullet at bradford which looks likely then Tilly would be a good choice for them.

 

[Kenny]

my first game since Stockport and I left the Hall feeling empty, in hindsight I probably could have been home and hose after Corr scored and been happy that I'd seen some football in the 5 minutes I had seen. It's great to get a result but this brand of football won't really put bums on seats in the coming months. I thought Corr led the line really well today and we definitely missed his presence 2nd half, a shame we didn't have the slightly more experienced Paterson/Spencer on the bench as backup as I wasn't massively impressed with Jarvis. I liked the way Blair was spraying the ball about and bringing players in but the long ball he ran onto in the first half that he didn't look to control and shoot summed up his game.

My first look at Mohsni today, Bilel looks great and completely pants all at the same time, he had Drewe in his pocket in the first half but generally his game is punctuated with heart in mouth moments. The mazy run woke the crowd up but then left us screwed on the break (I seem to recall Barrett used to be guilty of this from time to time)

Although Lincoln were on top in the 2nd half its a shame we didn't take more advantage when their 41 year old sub keeper shuffled reluctantly onto the pitch, it was a sign of the times that when the 4 minutes went up on the board we were happy to try and keep it in the South-East corner.

 

[Blue_Wes]

Morris - 7
Clohessy - 7
Barker - 6
Mohsni - 7
Gilbert - 7
Simpson - 5
Grant - 6
Timlin - 7
Hall - 7 (MoM)
Corr - 7
Sturrock - 5 (Not one of the haters, but once he came off we started to look threatening)
Crawford - 7
Soares - 5
Jarvis -5

Isn't it sad that a good to honest poster feels he has to justify his own opinion so it doesn't get rubbished by the 'If you don't rate Blair you don't understand football' brigade.