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

[davewebbsbrain]

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

Yes I did, I nearly fell off the chair. He has some nerve, he really does

 

[Rayleigh boy]

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.

so totally agree with your note -

I remember Harrold playing on for us with a broken nose - after the clash with Philips he looked out cold but just got back on with it .. good lad.

 

[Rayleigh boy]

anyway under Brown at least Southend United look properly fit and he has some talented young players playing good football.

Makes Blairs Dad look poor .

I was impressed when he dealt with the surface at RH - I reckon he knows his stuff and is putting a lot into it.

I'm quite impressed.

 

[fbm]

I heard Brown's post match interview and it's very easy to take quotes out of context. When I heard it, my thoughts were that his response re Phillips was more in defence of a criticism aimed at him by Nick Alliker for taking too long to make the substitution as opposed to criticizing Phillips for wanting to come off. Browns response was

"The fans could see Phillips had made the hand signal to say he wanted to come off but as far as I’m concerned he’s a man and he should stay out there until he can no longer walk. Why make the change as early as you can? You see if he can run it off but the change was actually a massively positive one in the end."

Ben Clarkson had been out there and Phillips had the chance to go down earlier but got up and carried on.

It's easy to shoot the flak at the manager but you want your players to give their all. When I used to play many years ago, (in the days of 1 sub) it was commonplace for players to play on whilst a bit crocked in the game because there wasn't any option. 10.5 men is better than 10 and the potential damage issue wasn't a consideration; it's what was needed at the time that made it crucial. The Chairman had given the green light for Brown to get someone in but it's a tough call when there's only one place in the squad. I think we should get one and possibly two in this week and Brown said he is talking to Championship and Prem clubs. I reckon we need an experienced head out there so would favour a 30+ solid defender who can shore up the defence.

 

[Muttley]

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

Again i agree with all of the above.
I think what would give the defence the world of confidence would be for the forwards to score more than 1 bloody goal!

 

[OldBlueLady]

Again i agree with all of the above.
I think what would give the defence the world of confidence would be for the forwards to score more than 1 bloody goal!

Apart from Coker, none of the defence have scored a goal, which is a part of the problem as we've always been quite lucky in having defenders who know how to score. Phillips has normally been on the scoresheet by now. We need to re-assess our position for corners attacking the opponents, several times on Friday the ball sailed over the top of everyone, bung one of the tall defenders deep to knock it back.

 

[Bromley Blue]

Apart from Coker, none of the defence have scored a goal, which is a part of the problem as we've always been quite lucky in having defenders who know how to score. Phillips has normally been on the scoresheet by now. We need to re-assess our position for corners attacking the opponents, several times on Friday the ball sailed over the top of everyone, bung one of the tall defenders deep to knock it back.

We need to work on corners, attacking and defending in training as we're really poor at both aspects of the set piece right now. We never look like scoring from corners but look likely to concede every time the opposition get one at the mo. I find this especially frustrating as its such a basic training ground routine which could save us quite a few conceded goals.

 

[OldBlueLady]

We need to work on corners, attacking and defending in training as we're really poor at both aspects of the set piece right now. We never look like scoring from corners but look likely to concede every time the opposition get one at the mo. I find this especially frustrating as its such a basic training ground routine which could save us quite a few conceded goals.

Very true! :thumbsup:

 

[Smiffy]

We need to work on corners, attacking and defending in training as we're really poor at both aspects of the set piece right now. We never look like scoring from corners but look likely to concede every time the opposition get one at the mo. I find this especially frustrating as its such a basic training ground routine which could save us quite a few conceded goals.

That was one part of Luggy's regime we miss massively.

 

[OldBlueLady]

That was one part of Luggy's regime we miss massively.

But why should it be? Graham Coughlan was part of that regime and you would have thought an area of speciality. He's still there now, it shouldn't be the issue that it clearly is!

 

[Jam_Man]

Apart from Coker, none of the defence have scored a goal, which is a part of the problem as we've always been quite lucky in having defenders who know how to score. Phillips has normally been on the scoresheet by now. We need to re-assess our position for corners attacking the opponents, several times on Friday the ball sailed over the top of everyone, bung one of the tall defenders deep to knock it back.

Our corners werent great, with the likes of Corr in there too youd hope for something more, as you say they were generally over hit, which I guess is at least different to the not clearing the first man Maher era!

But why should it be? Graham Coughlan was part of that regime and you would have thought an area of speciality. He's still there now, it shouldn't be the issue that it clearly is!

And by all accounts he was the one doing most of the training so youd hope not a lot had changed.

I think its just the quality of the delivery thats lacking at the moment.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

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

Absolutely brilliant.

I heard Brown's post match interview and it's very easy to take quotes out of context. When I heard it, my thoughts were that his response re Phillips was more in defence of a criticism aimed at him by Nick Alliker for taking too long to make the substitution as opposed to criticizing Phillips for wanting to come off. Browns response was

"The fans could see Phillips had made the hand signal to say he wanted to come off but as far as I’m concerned he’s a man and he should stay out there until he can no longer walk. Why make the change as early as you can? You see if he can run it off but the change was actually a massively positive one in the end."

Ben Clarkson had been out there and Phillips had the chance to go down earlier but got up and carried on.

It's easy to shoot the flak at the manager but you want your players to give their all. When I used to play many years ago, (in the days of 1 sub) it was commonplace for players to play on whilst a bit crocked in the game because there wasn't any option. 10.5 men is better than 10 and the potential damage issue wasn't a consideration; it's what was needed at the time that made it crucial. The Chairman had given the green light for Brown to get someone in but it's a tough call when there's only one place in the squad. I think we should get one and possibly two in this week and Brown said he is talking to Championship and Prem clubs. I reckon we need an experienced head out there so would favour a 30+ solid defender who can shore up the defence.

If we're looking at the context of Brown's comments I think we need to look at his post-match comments for the last few weeks, where he's been blaming the players. As an one-off criticism it wouldn't be so bad*, but it's in the context of a couple of weeks where our manager has been calling out players. Brown's treading on egg-shells here anyway as a manager who publicly humiliated his Hull team in the centre-circle. I'm disappointed he hasn't learnt the lessons from that and his subsequent media appearances. Heavens knows he's made enough of them. My impression of him before he joined was that he was quick to take the plaudits but just as quick to pass the blame. I've seen little to challenge that impression.


*And remember Sturrock said something similar about Phillips as well and his propensity to break an eye-lash.


If he's talking to Championship and Prem clubs it's about getting a kid in. As I said when Ron appointed him, surely we want a manager with contacts in the lower leagues.

We need to work on corners, attacking and defending in training as we're really poor at both aspects of the set piece right now. We never look like scoring from corners but look likely to concede every time the opposition get one at the mo. I find this especially frustrating as its such a basic training ground routine which could save us quite a few conceded goals.

I don't think this is a training thing so much as a selection thing. Who have we got who is good in the air? Once Phillips hobbles off, they only really need Harrold to neutralise Corr.

Was it White or Thompson who had a feeble header from a set piece 5 yards out?

 

[Jam_Man]

anyway under Brown at least Southend United look properly fit and he has some talented young players playing good football.

Makes Blairs Dad look poor .

I was impressed when he dealt with the surface at RH - I reckon he knows his stuff and is putting a lot into it.

I'm quite impressed.

All very true, but the main objective is to win games.