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

[RHB]

Four points off Oldham and Rochdale isn’t a bad week’s work. If we can take all three points Tuesday it becomes an excellent eight days. I do worry how playable the pitch will be then.

Wistful thinking Yorkie mate?

 

[Dutch Branch]

When you are playing a team like Rochdale – high in the league and clearly destined for the playoffs with a skilful, well coached team – you need to show them some respect and Kev’s tactics for me were spot on. What didn’t help was a few of our players’ having an ineffective game. Hopper didn’t win a meaningful header, Bridge was well shackled and Coker struggled too. Kendall falling over his own feet at key moments didn’t help either. When you’re 1-0 down and the opposition are trying to see the game out it’s the right time to go all out attack and that’s what we did and equalised. Walker should have buried that chance right at the death. A win for us may not have been fully deserved but it would have fully justified Maher’s tactics.

I saw absolutely no difference between them and Halifax and the fact as you say Hopper hardly touched the ball and Kendal was weak, Bridge was boxed in and Coker struggling just confirms to me that Kev’s set up was wonky from the start.

I’d say going by the teams last 15 minutes performance a win would have been well deserved.

 

[Hawkwell Blue]

Another team - like Barnet - who showed exactly how far behind we are if we want to get out of this League.

Quick, one touch passing and movement, even their GK was sweeper keeping.

However as others have stated the subs made all the difference- Walker looked lively and LCP, wow what a player.

But my praise and MotM goes to Bonne for showing passion, fight and a nice touch of **** housery especially to their 14.

Deserves a start on Tuesday night.

Why didn’t they beat us then?

 

[Tommy2holes]

A tough game. Rochdale are one of the better footballing sides we have played this season. Knocked it around for fun at times and seem well drilled.

As others have said, we rode our luck at times as did Rochdale and we could have snatched it at the end.

Morton, Bonne and Parillon the better players today.

What has happened to bridge? He seems to be going backwards. We need a player on the left to rival Gus on the right.

Coker just isn't up to the centre mid starting role. I'd love us to find a Timlin like enforcer for that role. We just didn't win enough second balls today.

Today is a point gained.

Bonne and Parillon can't be far away from starting.

Loved Bonne roughing it with their player and then celebrating infront of him when we scored.

Bring on aldershot.

 

[Supershrimper]

I however will say that Coker needs to find a bit of form or he can find himself dropped, we lost too many loose second balls in the midfield and comfortably lost the midfield battle, which with the extra man, was very embarrassing. I’m glad we realised we were never going to beat Rochdale technically and instead stuck it to them with Bonne and Walker. I think Maher was in the right with this one and the subs were spot on.

Was you sitting in the East Reds. There was a guy shouting second ball at the top of his lungs. I'm hoping if he's back Tuesday he learns another footballing phrase to go with his newly acquired but overused repertoires

 

[shrimperjon]

A disappointing game I thought. We got offered a box just before kick off and although I don’t particularly like them we felt it a decent option. However with 8 of us in there we had no idea that Gus had used his hand to score which was odd considering we were higher up. As for the game I thought we started brightly although once again our final ball wasnt good enough. I thought their goal was against the run of play. Thereafter it was a game very much played between both boxes. I’m struggling to think of many saves that Hayes had to make. We huffed and puffed and only once the subs were made did we get a hold of the game. All four made a difference and if Kev is true to his word and wants to use his squad then all four probably deserve a start on Tuesday. LCP in particular offers us something we don’t have. He has excellent skills and ability to take players on. In the end we deserved the equaliser and could have nicked but don’t think either team deserved to win.

Morton was probably the best of an average bunch today although even he was off it a bit but about time he won a MOM award. Otherwise Hayes looked solid and kicking was ok. The defence was solid although at times made things hard for themselves. Husin and Coker disappointed again. Hopper and Kendall battled hard but lacked service

So 4 pts this week and if we can beat Aldershot then that’s not a bad return after a tough run of games. Hoping we go to three up top again Tuesday and worry about ourselves a bit more than the opposition. We look so much better when 9n the front foot

 

[tallboyblue]

I saw absolutely no difference between them and Halifax and the fact as you say Hopper hardly touched the ball and Kendal was weak, Bridge was boxed in and Coker struggling just confirms to me that Kev’s set up was wonky from the start.

I’d say going by the teams last 15 minutes performance a win would have been well deserved.

If we had played the whole of the second half as we did in the last ten minutes we would have won with ease.

 

[smudgster]

Regarding the substitutes changing the game, its nice to finally have a squad where subs can change the game.

 

[WestyReturns]

@rigsby how's that non existent back 5 you keep informing fans are wrong about on the pre match thread.

 

[wiggy]

What a strange manager he is?
Changes a decent winning side to put Coker in….then makes subs that change the game, doesn’t he see them in training.
As we keep saying, he’s got the tools but ain’t got a clue how to use them and also when?
Will never fathom him out with his stubborn little changes, trying to prove that negative works!

 

[Chairman Trigg]

Think today summed up why we are no more than a mid table side at present. Against a well drilled Rochdale we had moments where we clearly competed and were on top ,but we just don't dictate games from the off yet like a top side would and score the goals needed to win games .

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

Was you sitting in the East Reds. There was a guy shouting second ball at the top of his lungs. I'm hoping if he's back Tuesday he learns another footballing phrase to go with his newly acquired but overused repertoires

No but I was his mirror in the West by the sounds of it

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Evening all
Just back, up until 60 mins I thought that there was only one team in it (not us),
and when the subs happened, like for like- didn’t fill me with hope.
Pleasantly surprised, both KAF, Walker and later on Chambers all ran at the opposition totally changing the atmosphere and Bonne, my MoM, for bringing aggression and passion.
In the end either a point gained against a good side or 2 points missed out on in the final 20 mins

 

[Pak Power]

 

[IloveShrimp]

Certainly picked it up notch in the latter stages. By 68 minutes, I think we had managed only 1 shot on target. ( assuming I heard the rather sketchy commentary correctly )

BBC commentator was rubbish, listened to him on the way home on the replays. No passion, can't be a football fan surely.

 

[kentblues]

Agreed. We started far too worried about them. When we committed more bodies forward because we were losing they had to start worrying more about us and in the end they held on.

But we kept the same formation? So nothing to do with our fetish about formations. Not saying you were suggesting otherwise. What changed was what Bonne and LCP brought in particular. LCP would be a 10 in a 352 or 3412 to be clearer.

 

[kentblues]

Was you sitting in the East Reds. There was a guy shouting second ball at the top of his lungs. I'm hoping if he's back Tuesday he learns another footballing phrase to go with his newly acquired but overused repertoires

Ah….that might be the legend in his own underpants… you know the one who once helped Sir paint the white lines at primary school- his volume is inversely proportional to his knowledge.

 

[Simon Templar]

Happy with a point, but feel with a more attacking approach it could have been all three. Gave them too much respect which in the end cost us precious moves up the table. We actually have a decent squad and on the day could potentially beat anyone in this league. So from the get go should be starting all games with the mindset of a win. Let the other teams worry more about us I say. Subs were done with enough time to make an impact, which they did. Bonne is getting better every game. Parillion is seems is a good find so I hope he starts against Aldershot. Coker not showing the form of last season? Anyway on to Tuesday, UTB.

 

[Shrimper0116]

LCP looks like he can make something happen. Completely different to anything we have. Must start on Tuesday instead of Coker or Husin. Even if he can only last 60 minutes, start him.

He looks like he has bags of potential. You heard it here first but I bet we get an offer we can't refuse for him in the Summer. That ball in for Walker from the right was sublime: vision and ability.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

You're right there. One issue being, why change a winning team? It's the constant chopping and changing that Kev does that doesn't allow us to build any consistency.

Had we started 3 - 4 - 3, we would have been overrun very quickly. A good decision to change in my opinion.