Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 1-1 Bury

[Welly7]

Well no doubt it was the best we have played at home all season​

What about Torquay at home?!?!

 

[Nozzer]

Time to don my tin hat...

I'm astounded with the reaction too be honest, from the fans on the phone in on the radio, to Glenn speller and even sturrock himself.

I've not been to roots hall for a few months, so was really looking forward to it and if that is 'the best half of football possibly of the season' then what on earth have you guys had to put up with recently?




You're absolutely right, the football was pretty dire tonight and has been all season but the reason why most people are so happy with the performance is that every Southend player gave their all tonight and didn't give up until the last minute.
As someone who has been to every home game this season I now accept the players are fairly limited and aren't going to dish up Arsenal style performances every week but as long as I leave the ground knowing the team gave their best I'm a happy man.

 

[palexander]

Time to don my tin hat...

I'm astounded with the reaction too be honest, from the fans on the phone in on the radio, to Glenn speller and even sturrock himself.

I've not been to roots hall for a few months, so was really looking forward to it and if that is 'the best half of football possibly of the season' then what on earth have you guys had to put up with recently?




You're absolutely right, the football was pretty dire tonight and has been all season but the reason why most people are so happy with the performance is that every Southend player gave their all tonight and didn't give up until the last minute.
As someone who has been to every home game this season I now accept the players are fairly limited and aren't going to dish up Arsenal style performances every week but as long as I leave the ground knowing the team gave their best I'm a happy man.

Totally agree, everyone worked hard. Just a bit frustrating as I think we have some really decent players, so to see them turn out performances like that is a hard to take.

 

[fbm]

Totally agree, everyone worked hard. Just a bit frustrating as I think we have some really decent players, so to see them turn out performances like that is a hard to take.

I think you have to factor in the opposition too. I remember Bobby Robson giving an interview and he said a fan had been watching training and seen the Toon play free flowing world class standard football on the training pitch and had asked why they couldn't do that on match days. Robson replied "Because there's 11 men out there trying to stop you". An obvious point but one that is totally overlooked by fans sometimes.

Bury pressed us all over the pitch and worked very hard. I think we matched them pretty much everywhere and showed character to come back and equalise so late. You're very lucky to have missed the performances v Cheltenham, Morecambe and Accrington as they were absolutely dire and this was a huge improvement. We really are not a bad side when we play well and the only thing we're limited in is pace.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

It was a fully committed performance last night. Ferdinand is very good in the tackle and never pulls out of a tackle and times them to perfection, I don't think he gave away any fouls with his tackling.

The stand out moment for me was Hall's tackle on the edge of our area at the South Stand end, tremendous tackle to win the ball, fully committed and he had tracked back a hell of a long way to make it.

 

[TrueBlue]

Benfleet blue I am sorry you feel that way but there can be no doubt whatsoever that W block was rocking last night super support led from the front not the back and it worked and that can only be a good thing. Parts of V block were really getting involved last night it was a pleasure to see the whole west starting to unite!


Lastly this is a football ground not a library!!!!!

 

[* ORM *]

Hall 7 MotM

You are the match-sponsor and I claim my £5. Sorry apart from a reasonable first half with a couple of great balls into the box and a run and shot in the second half he died quickly after that and was surprised that he didn't go off instead of Ferdy.

As to those who complained about the performance and football last night this is the 4th tier of English football for crying out loud. Some of it may not have been overly pretty but what we got last night, and how refreshing it was, was 11 players pumped up, attempting to dominate, closing down at every opportunity and, especially in the first half, not giving Bury enough time on the ball to be dangerous. I'll take that week in week out against the dull, in your shell, hoofball we have seen at home for most of the season.

At this level players are going to make mistakes. I'm not a fan of Gilbert but a better option than Herd. As soon as he'd made the mistake he put his hands up, apologised to all around and they acknowledged that back. So he hoofs the ball from time to time. As a LB at this level I'd prefer that over getting caught in possession. Clohesy has a different skill set so offers other options.

First half was different to anything we've seen this season at home. Second half was different and at times resorted to the long ball, but there was plenty of other passing and pushing that suggests to me if we can do that when all the forwards are on their game we'll get back to winning ways at home. If I had one criticism it would be 11 men at home behind the ball on corners. To me that sends out the wrong kind of message. Ok Corr helping out is useful but leave Hall up there with his pace. A long clearance and a 1 on 2 and you never know. If we win the ball players either have to put it into the stands or try to hold onto it while we break out. A dangerous tactic.

I too couldn't understand why we put Moshni up front but PS was spot on. He is fearless (braindead, call it what you will). That unknown factor turned a solid defensive unit into a panicky clear at all costs outfit and led to two players unmarked for our equaliser.

More of the same on Tuesday please.

 

[tottenham541]

big well done to weststand last night as you gave great support and could hear you clearly in the east stand for once, hopefully will be as good on tuesday.

 

[* ORM *]

Couldnt of summed it up better

Benfleet blue I am sorry you feel that way but there can be no doubt whatsoever that W block was rocking last night super support led from the front not the back and it worked and that can only be a good thing. Parts of V block were really getting involved last night it was a pleasure to see the whole west starting to unite!


Lastly this is a football ground not a library!!!!!

I'm sure it was nothing personal. All we need to know is will this be permanent. That means us old farts, who support what you have done and are doing until the cows come home, can make informed decisions about moving so we can all watch the game with the same enjoyment whether we are singers or miserable old gits.

I agree, it got more of the West rocking and sparked a reaction from the East so I would love it to be a permanent fixture. It also means I can push to the back. Closer to popping out for a crafty one if the game is a shocker !
:thumbsup:

 

[Fairport]

Definately deserved the draw last night and the positives were the 100% effort. However, there is little quality in the team and Sturrock seems to be tinkerng with the system and team selection every game. Last night looked like a 4-2-3-1 formation without a cutting edge. This squad is still as poor as the Newman/Wignall/Martin eras, the league table doesn't lie.

 

[palexander]

Definately deserved the draw last night and the positives were the 100% effort. However, there is little quality in the team and Sturrock seems to be tinkerng with the system and team selection every game. Last night looked like a 4-2-3-1 formation without a cutting edge. This squad is still as poor as the Newman/Wignall/Martin eras, the league table doesn't lie.

Yep and if you are gonna play that system, you need genuine pace out wide and someone with a bit of creativity in behind. Grant is excellent at what he does, but he isnt (for example) a Sawyer, in that he can really pick that killer pass, or have a bit of quality on the ball.

But we arent too many players short (and not even bringing in new ones, just ones getting back to fitness) of being able to give this system a go. Perhaps should try...

Easton Grant

Soares Sawyer Hall

Sturrock/Corr

 

[OldBlueLady]

Yep and if you are gonna play that system, you need genuine pace out wide and someone with a bit of creativity in behind. Grant is excellent at what he does, but he isnt (for example) a Sawyer, in that he can really pick that killer pass, or have a bit of quality on the ball.

But we arent too many players short (and not even bringing in new ones, just ones getting back to fitness) of being able to give this system a go. Perhaps should try...

Easton Grant

Soares Sawyer Hall

Sturrock/Corr

Paul, you said you'd not been for a while, well, then, accept this....Soares has no place in our team, he's just awful!

 

[flame]

Overall team battled hard and had to because Bury made them ....think that when we have the ball need to learn to slow down play football not always direct
and look for better choice of pass Sturruck once he has had Sawyer under his wing and gets his temperament and fitness levels bang on will play him in middle
get defence and other midfielders to feed him the ball he is capable of being playmaker but needs to be protected then the forward will get a better service than they are getting at the moment....the team has got good qualities the fans were loud and proud the goal well deserved and great platform to push on for play offs at Old Trafford

 

[palexander]

Paul, you said you'd not been for a while, well, then, accept this....Soares has no place in our team, he's just awful!

Ha! I'd seen enough of Soares previously to know that - I got carried away :)

Was just trying to say that in that formation, you need 2 genuine wingers - or at least players that can attack at pace (look at Man City, they have Johnson, Tevez, Wright-Phillips, Silva sometimes etc - Chelsea have similar types) all players that can get in the box quickly - where I cannot recall many times Sturrock or Hall were inside the box.

Not saying Soares is the answer, but if we play 3 behind the front man, then they need to be a bit more positive in creating AND getting into goal scoring positions.

 

[MattLloyd]

I too think I will don my tim helmet. We were poor all over the park and dominated by a good Bury side. The first half was particuarly poor and Blair Sturrock had has worst game in a long time - he was simply hopeless! Corr wasn't in it and was dominated by Sodje who was MOTM and head and shoulders better than anyone on the park. This was a great point to get, but we were poor and I just don't get the after match hype and the radio callers saying it was our best performance this season - it was terrible!

Morris 6
Gilbert 3 - hoof
Clohessy 6
Barker 6
Coghlan 6
Ferdinand 7 - my MOTM
Easton 6
Hall 6 - one good cross all night
Grant 7
Corr 5
Sturrock 3

Subs

Sawyer 4
Crawford 4
Mohsni 7

Positives, we again showed our battling qualities and the support was superb.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

I too couldn't understand why we put Moshni up front but PS was spot on. He is fearless (braindead, call it what you will). That unknown factor turned a solid defensive unit into a panicky clear at all costs outfit and led to two players unmarked for our equaliser.

More of the same on Tuesday please.

I think it was the correct decision to bring Moshni on up front and I understood from the minute he came on wht Sturrock did it... He is a big lad that likes to get stuck in. Their CB's were big lads and it needed Moshni in there to counteract that. He did very well, his awareness is good, his movement is good, he is aggressive and seems to know where the goal is. I wouldn't hesitate in playing him there again if we have enough cover at the back.

 

[bootsja]

Absolutely could hear you well in East Stand. Commented on it in the car going home.

 

[dashman]

Thought Blair had a poor game (could be the system we played?), but no escaping it for me, that Herd has been better than Gilbert thus far.............

 

[Welly7]

Yep and if you are gonna play that system, you need genuine pace out wide and someone with a bit of creativity in behind. Grant is excellent at what he does, but he isnt (for example) a Sawyer, in that he can really pick that killer pass, or have a bit of quality on the ball.

But we arent too many players short (and not even bringing in new ones, just ones getting back to fitness) of being able to give this system a go. Perhaps should try...

Easton Grant

Soares Sawyer Hall

Sturrock/Corr

Let's be honest, league two players aren't good enough to play that kind of system. Keep things as simple as possible. I like the 433 with the squad we now have as it gets the best out of Grant IMO, but that change last night showed even that was too much for the players that started. Didn't think it worked as well as Sturrock would have hoped.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I too think I will don my tim helmet. We were poor all over the park and dominated by a good Bury side. The first half was particuarly poor and Blair Sturrock had has worst game in a long time - he was simply hopeless! Corr wasn't in it and was dominated by Sodje who was MOTM and head and shoulders better than anyone on the park. This was a great point to get, but we were poor and I just don't get the after match hype and the radio callers saying it was our best performance this season - it was terrible!

No, really disagree - I thought it was quite an even match, we had the better of the first half, and they did the second. What Bury were very good at was making the quick break which they did throughout the game, I just thought our midfield coped better with it in the first half (no doubt due to Kane, and also Hall making some very good tackles and interceptions). That annoying little ladyboy on their right wing was ripping us apart.