Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 1-1 Bristol Rovers

[shrimperton]

Straker cant defend to save his life, his fault for the Harrold goal, he was no where near the Brizzie guy & had all the time in the world to put the cross in.....even at youth level whats a golden rule they teach you.....STOP THE CROSS, Prosser got completely overshadowed by Harrold who nearly every header against him, if we are relying on Prosser to be our main centre half when others are injured we are in trouble. I don't blame Brown, he is doing the best he can with a bunch of average footballers who are low on confidence & a chairman who aint got a pot to pee in. We are in a relegation battle from what I saw last night, Payne was lively and after a few games he could come good. The pen/no pen, I was in the executive box right above that and the intial contact was outside the box, but lino bottled any decision.

 

[Southend Pier]

Why would Brown want to be unemployed with another sacking on his record ?

He wont resign as he wont get paid as Southendpier says above.

Mad idea indeed:smile:

Only thing I can think of is that is becoming peed off with management and will go into media full time. Back don't really believe that either. As you say in the most part a mad idea.

 

[Semi-Spanish Shrimper]

Thought we worked hard but many players looked devoid of confidence and morale. Very impressed with young Jack Payne who was causing all sorts of problems when he ran at goal. Played a couple of lovely passes to find Eastwood in enough space to get a rare shot away. Also looked a fairly clear penalty from the East Reds. MOTM without a doubt though was Leonard. Absolutely outstanding display. Still think we're desperately missing a no-nonsense, commanding centre-back, especially with Phillips out. Woodrow looked bright when he came on and I would start him alongside Corr next week.

Brown's comments on Phillips are absolutely ridiculous. Looks as though he's lost the plot and he'll lose the dressing room at this rate, that is if he hasn't already. Also got a surprising amount of media attention just before tip-off kick-off... Oh and Tilson was there wasn't he?

 

[Jam_Man]

Thought it was a very close call last night between Hurst and Leonard for MOTM. RL really is maturing into a fine central midfielder.

I thought Freddy was working hard too although he was clearly struggling. I've been critical of Woodrow and not really saw what he brought to the table but he impressed me last night. A goal could do that kids confidence the world of good, just look at Tomlin last season.

There was moment in the second half he destroyed the defender for pace chasing a ball then when getting to the ball used a bit of skill to send him the wrong way. Unfortunately Corr was screaming for the ball and Woodrow's pass didnt come off, but that was partly because of Corrs positioning. Certainly showed glimpses of real quality though.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Straker cant defend to save his life, his fault for the Harrold goal, he was no where near the Brizzie guy & had all the time in the world to put the cross in.....even at youth level whats a golden rule they teach you.....STOP THE CROSS, Prosser got completely overshadowed by Harrold who nearly every header against him, if we are relying on Prosser to be our main centre half when others are injured we are in trouble.

Was it? I didn't notice who let him get away but someone else has said it was Thompson. And I thought Pross did really well against Harrold and won quite a lot in the 1st half, which is why Harrold seemed to switch position in the 2nd, as well as coming deeper.

 

[Firestorm]

There was moment in the second half he destroyed the defender for pace chasing a ball then when getting to the ball used a bit of skill to send him the wrong way. Unfortunately Corr was screaming for the ball and Woodrow's pass didnt come off, but that was partly because of Corrs positioning. Certainly showed glimpses of real quality though.

I thought woodrow should have gone for goal.
The pressure of a senior pro screaming for the ball led to him choosing to pass when Corr was poorly positioned and the only ball was very easy to read and intercept.
Both Woodrow and Payne were let down by other players lack of off the ball movement and nous

 

[Southend Pier]

You make some fair points, but, the whole World and his dog could see that Phillips couldn't carry on. He has a history of injuries, some long term. It's not just about lets see how bad the injury is now, it's about how bad it would have been if he were to carry on like Brown wanted. We have a small squad, that is short of defenders through injury and suspension. So why risk putting our best centre back out for Months.

Mark was signalling for a couple of minutes to come off. even shaking his head with arms stretched out wide lookin towards dug-out in disbelief that he was being ignored. you know hes not right when he is signalling to come off in this way.

 

[Southend Pier]

Hang on a minute, we should not forget that Ben Clarkson is a first class physio and he treated Phillips on the pitch and allowed him to return. If he had any doubt that the injury was serious don't you think he would have had him off?

With the current position of having a smallish squad and with injuries to key players they would no way have risked another serious injury to a player, especially through neglect. Clarkson has his professional reputation to consider as well.

Let's see how bad the injury to Phillips turns out to be before we slag people off.

As said in above post. replied to wrong poster. being i Apologies TSNB. Phillips was signalling for a couple of minutes to come off and shook his head in disbelief his pleas were being ignored. Mark is an honest pro and you know when he is signalling in this way he is not right in terms of the injury.

 

[shrimperton]

Was it? I didn't notice who let him get away but someone else has said it was Thompson. And I thought Pross did really well against Harrold and won quite a lot in the 1st half, which is why Harrold seemed to switch position in the 2nd, as well as coming deeper.

Yeah, Hurst was holding up the player with the ball, Straker did not pick up the overlapping run and the brizzie bloke had no one within 10 yards of him to knock the cross in. Prosser just didn't win a thing in the air, the cross for the goal was poorly defended in the middle, you need a bit of steel to play centre half & Prosser didn't display that last night

 

[Muttley]

Yeah, Hurst was holding up the player with the ball, Straker did not pick up the overlapping run and the brizzie bloke had no one within 10 yards of him to knock the cross in. Prosser just didn't win a thing in the air, the cross for the goal was poorly defended in the middle, you need a bit of steel to play centre half & Prosser didn't display that last night

As always, its surprising how we all see a game differently.
Prosser didn't miss a header,especially in our area, and young Thompson couldn't find a player with a pass, or kept finding touch.
Lets hope next week PB finds a forward player that can score.
Thats whats missing, although i do think young Woodrow is going to be a good player

 

[Bolton Shrimper]

Did'nt go last night but it all seems like what I witnessed at Bury last week. Defensive switch off's,tidy midfield without penetration,no cutting edge in attack and.................. STRAKER!!!

 

[OldBlueLady]

Did'nt go last night but it all seems like what I witnessed at Bury last week. Defensive switch off's,tidy midfield without penetration,no cutting edge in attack and.................. STRAKER!!!

Straker had a good game last night, some people are blinded by their own prejudice. I can't comment on whose fault Harrold scoring was, and seems to be some doubt amongst posters. All I'll say is that I thought he had a good enough game against Harrold, and I feel that is backed up by Harrold moving to Thompson's area in the 2nd half.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Straker had a good game last night, some people are blinded by their own prejudice. I can't comment on whose fault Harrold scoring was, and seems to be some doubt amongst posters. All I'll say is that I thought he had a good enough game against Harrold, and I feel that is backed up by Harrold moving to Thompson's area in the 2nd half.

Straker struggled to find a blue shirt all night. At one point he was last man, the ball came to him and he very nearly lost the ball to the striker, he was very lucky.

 

[dannypav]

I know some have already mentioned it , but for the benefit of some of our supporters who are clearly obsessed with us conceding from a 'set piece' - IT WASN'T A SET PIECE...............

 

[chapperzUK]

I read the quote concerning Phillips, in disbelief. Then, casting my mind back to the 'bunch of children' comment last week, I suddenly had a very strange and completely mad idea. Does Phil Brown want out? Is this a deliberate ploy to alienate, the majority of supporters and players?? Is he hoping to bring about a situation where Ron will ask for his resignation???
.............................................................OK, I'll go and take my pills now. :smile:

Thanks for the idea :winking: Sorry for the lack of Photoshop skill ...

 

[Jam_Man]

Straker had a good game last night, some people are blinded by their own prejudice. I can't comment on whose fault Harrold scoring was, and seems to be some doubt amongst posters. All I'll say is that I thought he had a good enough game against Harrold, and I feel that is backed up by Harrold moving to Thompson's area in the 2nd half.

Im not a massive fan of Straker but I think he can do a job and thought he should play last night in Coker's absence.

That said I thought he had his normal game yesterday, looked ok at times, but at other times was terrible.

When you look at the difference between him and the other 3 midfielders there is a massive difference. Id much rather Timlin or even Payne instead of him and cant see why he is starting.

 

[IloveShrimp]

I thought 1st half we was a shambles, especially when Straker kicked the ball into touch for Philips to be taken off but the sub wasn't ready... made us look as idiotic as PB's comments after the match.

Straker didn't have his best game last night with many passes going astray, but so many times he didn't have any options or support from players who should have been looking for the pass from him.

I thought Prosser had a good game but Thompson is no centre back imo as he cant head the ball well enough, I thought Harrold was in Thompson's position when he scored.

Jack Payne I thought was excellent but wasted in the wide position, and I think he should play CM behind the front two.

Once again Ryan Leonard was my MOM, but our captain - although a good right back is not influential enough on the pitch for this honour.

Must question why one of our bigger (slower) players was on the half way line whilst we was defending set pieces when the smallest and arguably most dangerous was defending?

A note re Matt Harrold... I hope that the idiots who drove him away from here with their constant and sometimes vile abuse of him are really hurting again today. I wish Matt Harrold good fortune, and wish that the abusers of him would clear off.

 

[Sherif H]

Thanks for the idea :winking: Sorry for the lack of Photoshop skill ...

Best thing I have read on this board for some time!

 

[united we stand]

I

Straker didn't have his best game last night with many passes going astray, but so many times he didn't have any options or support from players who should have been looking for the pass from him.

I thought Prosser had a good game but Thompson is no centre back imo as he cant head the ball well enough, I thought Harrold was in Thompson's position when he scored.

Jack Payne I thought was excellent but wasted in the wide position, and I think he should play CM behind the front two.

Once again Ryan Leonard was my MOM, but our captain - although a good right back is not influential enough on the pitch for this honour.

Must question why one of our bigger (slower) players was on the half way line whilst we was defending set pieces when the smallest and arguably most dangerous was defending?

A note re Matt Harrold... I hope that the idiots who drove him away from here with their constant and sometimes vile abuse of him are really hurting again today. I wish Matt Harrold good fortune, and wish that the abusers of him would clear off.

agree with all of this . Personally I dont rate Thompson at all, right back or centre back. When he plays right back as soon as we play the ball to him the move breaks down. I know he is a young lad, but he is not one of our players so we will not get the benefit of his progress. If the rest of the back four were quality maybe, just maybe we could get away with it ---- but they are not.

Its a real shame we could not jeep a clean sheet as I think it would have done the defences confidence a world of good

 

[united we stand]

Those comments from Brown on Phillips are simply laughable. As DTS said, Phillips sacrificed his own prospects of playing at Wembley to help send the rest of his team there, so any suggestion that he isn't "man enough" to be doing a job for us at the moment is insulting. Singling out a man who'd be captaincy candidate for many, and one of our longest serving players, is sheer idiocy.

did you see him on football focus today , speaking about Di Canio loosing the dressing room because he slagged of the players in public! I couldn't believe what I was hearing