Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 1-3 Southampton

[OldBlueLady]

I just want to point out that unlike others, I don't actually have a problem with Osei defensively at full back, but he's not an attacking one. That's why I had a problem with Sawyer's pass to him.

OBL - you like Macca, fair enough, but don't let the bias blinker yourself on Sawyers qualities. Macca is better when we are defending, Sawyer is better when we are attacking.

Don't necessarily dispute that, and I think they could complement each other well in the middle, but Sawyer can be naive at times and I still believe that, excellent pass though it may have been, there were better options in a more forward position. Macca and Grant both had a good game last night, for me, I'd have actually liked to see Sawyer start just ahead of midfield with Barney as the lone striker. Too many high balls played when balls across the surface had far more potential to cause problems - but why did we seem to overhit so much?

As to the points raised about throw ins, there was a lot of movement for the first hour or so, with most aimed at Macca, Southampton worked that out and after that everything was looking towards Barney who was being closely marked anyway.

Asolutely agree on Mildy last night though, some great saves again. hopefully those he made on Tuesday plus last night will have given him a boost.

 

[timeveritt]

What game were people watching tonight. How can players be getting 7's and 8's. We lost 3 - 1 and never looked like scoring from open play. The only player in our team tonight that looked like creating anything, yet again, was Moussa. Laurent had an off 2nd half and should have gone off earlier, i dont think he passed it to a blue shirt in the 2nd half.

And why is everyone saying the 2nd goal was a fluke. Francis passed the ball straight to their player on the edge of the area allowing him the time to have a shot. If a proper clearance would have been made they would never have scored, same with the 3rd goal.

The only time we ever looked like getting in behind was when sawyer came on. 3 or 4 times he made runs from midfield beyond our strikers to push us forward.

Macca yet again can pass sideways, backwards and to the other team, same for Grant (who today was poor, no two ways about it) and where exactly was this running his socks off? he hardly moved out of the centre circle, either of them did. This was typified when Barrett went for a run forward, we got in a great position, but there was no support from midfield because both of them were standing on the half way line.

And why when you are 3 - 1 down at home do you take your striker off and bring a midfielder on? Baffling

All in all, a shocking performance, we would have conceded far more if it weren't for Mildy, that save he made from llalana in the first half, well the double save was sensational, i was directly behind it and i honestly dont know how he saved it.

We need Mvoto back, and quick and Sawyer has to start next game.

All in all a shocking display

it wasnt a shocking performance!! first half we did not deserve to be be 3 one down and the only two people who werent playing well were osei and francis.

second half was disappointing with an inability to pick out our own players.

macca man of the match for me closely followed by moussa and mildy.

 

[palexander]

I just want to point out that unlike others, I don't actually have a problem with Osei defensively at full back, but he's not an attacking one. That's why I had a problem with Sawyer's pass to him.

Don't necessarily dispute that, and I think they could complement each other well in the middle, but Sawyer can be naive at times and I still believe that, excellent pass though it may have been, there were better options in a more forward position. Macca and Grant both had a good game last night, for me, I'd have actually liked to see Sawyer start just ahead of midfield with Barney as the lone striker. Too many high balls played when balls across the surface had far more potential to cause problems - but why did we seem to overhit so much?

As to the points raised about throw ins, there was a lot of movement for the first hour or so, with most aimed at Macca, Southampton worked that out and after that everything was looking towards Barney who was being closely marked anyway.

Asolutely agree on Mildy last night though, some great saves again. hopefully those he made on Tuesday plus last night will have given him a boost.

Been calling for this for ages - seeing if we can do the Gerrard/Torres thing and finally Tilson did it last night - for all of 5-10 mins before panicking and reverting back to 4-4-2.... aaaahhh... phew, 4-4-2, all safe and sound again. As you were lads... sorry dont know what I was thinking!

 

[OldBlueLady]

Been calling for this for ages - seeing if we can do the Gerrard/Torres thing and finally Tilson did it last night - for all of 5-10 mins before panicking and reverting back to 4-4-2.... aaaahhh... phew, 4-4-2, all safe and sound again. As you were lads... sorry dont know what I was thinking!

You telling me I do know what I'm talking about after all Paul? ;)

 

[palexander]

You telling me I do know what I'm talking about after all Paul? ;)

When we can get you off the subject of Macca! ;)

 

[BrettieAngell]

Freedman - Ummm, did he play?

sorry fella but what game were you watching he was one of the few who made the effort and tried to get the team moving

I didn't even realise he was splaying until the second half.

 

[class]

My match ratings...

New Stadium Announcer....1/10 (for turning up)

Discuss...

 

[OldBlueLady]

When we can get you off the subject of Macca! ;)

Thought we were talking about Sawyer actually :whistling:

 

[BrettieAngell]

Been calling for this for ages - seeing if we can do the Gerrard/Torres thing and finally Tilson did it last night - for all of 5-10 mins before panicking and reverting back to 4-4-2.... aaaahhh... phew, 4-4-2, all safe and sound again. As you were lads... sorry dont know what I was thinking!

I didn't understand only having one striker on the pitch when we were 3-1 down, O'Donovan should have come on the same time as Sawyer, stick laurent upfront 4-3-3.

 

[OldBlueLady]

My match matings...

New Stadium Announcer....1/10 (for turning up)

Discuss...

Sounds interesting :stunned:

 

[number11]

Been calling for this for ages - seeing if we can do the Gerrard/Torres thing and finally Tilson did it last night - for all of 5-10 mins before panicking and reverting back to 4-4-2.... aaaahhh... phew, 4-4-2, all safe and sound again. As you were lads... sorry dont know what I was thinking!

Are you going to be calling for Tilson Out again at Christmas if we are not in the play-offs?

 

[class]

Sounds interesting :stunned:

You would love it sweet cheeks. ;)

 

[number11]

My match matings...

New Stadium Announcer....1/10 (for turning up)

Discuss...

Are you referring to him announcer the Southampton 'goalscorer' for their first goal.....if so I did think it was as bit moronic announcing it before the ref had confirmed it. Actually, Im against the stadium announcer announcing the scorer of any opposition goal.....

As for the game, thought Southampton looked like a sharp, well organised team and were better than us. Given our respective budgets there is no surprise, or indeed shock in that. Thought we will play worse than that and win against some of the worse teams in this Division and did think we switched play quite well but you just cant have such a thread bare defence and keep getting away with it.

Finally, I thought Mildenhall had an excellent game tonight. Held a number of pacey crosses plucked from just above the heads of forwards, as well as some absolutely stunning saves. Unfortunately for him the context of the game mean they will be overlooked.

 

[Mick]

Are you referring to him announcer the Southampton 'goalscorer' for their first goal.....if so I did think it was as bit moronic announcing it before the ref had confirmed it. Actually, Im against the stadium announcer announcing the scorer of any opposition goal.....

Absolutely. Because nobody in the ground is remotely interested in the opposition or the fact there are two teams involved. Best also not to announce the opposing line up and leave that part of the programme blank too. In fact, lets not even tell anyone who we are playing.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Finally, I thought Mildenhall had an excellent game tonight. Held a number of pacey crosses plucked from just above the heads of forwards, as well as some absolutely stunning saves. Unfortunately for him the context of the game mean they will be overlooked.

Oh I don't know, there's a fair few have commented - not Wiggy as yet I hasten to add!

 

[number11]

Oh I don't know, there's a fair few have commented - not Wiggy as yet I hasten to add!

I think most appreciated the saves last night (I also thought his handling of crosses in those conditions was exceptional as well), but as individual saves a couple of them were right out the top drawer. People harp on about Flahavan's saves against Man U, which whenever I watch them again all seem like routine saves (just enough to the side to warrant a dive but all well within range and with enough time to see the ball) that if he had let in would have been poor keeping. Mildenhall saved a couple tonight that if he had let in would have attached no blame to him whatsoever, which is the mark of a great save!

 

[number11]

Absolutely. Because nobody in the ground is remotely interested in the opposition or the fact there are two teams involved. Best also not to announce the opposing line up and leave that part of the programme blank too. In fact, lets not even tell anyone who we are playing.

Don't really see the need to be facetious. I just feel annoucing the opposition goalscorer, especially when the goal hasn't even been given yet, is like an extra kick in the teeth.

 

[palexander]

Are you going to be calling for Tilson Out again at Christmas if we are not in the play-offs?

Dont think its worth the hassle - only causes lots of rows and a very small minority agree.

I still think he struggles tactically and when we have little options to change anything, tactics is sometimes all you have. Its not a surprise to me we are struggling a bit.

BUT - this year I will be exceptionally lenient towards Tilson as I think he has both hands and one leg tied behind his back and whatever I personally feel are his weaknesses, I do believe he hasnt got the resources to be doing his job properly and for that, I dont think any of us can (or should) call for his head this term.

It will be no surprise to me either if we are right down the bottom of the division and again - its not particularly Tilsons fault. Like last night, i just couldnt get 'up' for it and just pretty much sat non-plussed throughout the whole game.

Do I think anyone can do a better job? Who knows - probably not. But managers do go stale and a change can sometimes bring a change in fortune, but I dont see anyone wanting it (Peter Taylor now perhaps?) due to the financial restraints. Anyone coming in will not be able to bring anyone in so whats the point?

What was the question?! ;)

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Surprised with the amount of 7s on the marks. I thought, Mildey apart, we were dreadful throughtout the side and summed up our season.
The back 4 were al at sea and Tilly saying we dominated the 2nd half, I cant remember Kelvin Davis havng one save to make. Saints couldve had 3 or 4 in the 2nd half if they tried but were content to keep the ball and sit back.

DOnt know why Moose is getting so many MOM's, for me he cuts inside all the time and loses the ball too quickly. He started off the season really well but still looks like a centre mid. His final ball was poor last night. Ditto Laurent who had a shocker, nice little trick but where is the end product? Also he gave up too easily and very rarely tracked back. Grant had a poor game by his standards, gave it away too much. Macca did ok, but had one shot all game which flew into Prittlewell Chase, needs to do better, was sitting far too deep.

Strikers, well I really think Dougie shouldve retired in the summer, too slow to react, and hardly breaks sweat. Barney worked hard but he needs to e fed or have a real livewire playing alongside him.

Subs didnt do much- O Donovan goodbye back to Sunderland, Sawyer was ok but the game was already lost and Saints put men behind the ball. Once again the lack of options from the bench is worrying, no centre back, no wide player, and one striker.

Honestly I thought we looked relegation material, we cannot keep the ball well enough. But this goes far beyond tonight, the lack of investment is scandalous. Where are the signings Geff King promised. How can we survive with 4 defenders? We have not signed a permanent centre back since Richards in 2007 nor a left back since Hammell in 2006, that is a shocking indictment and no one can blame Tilly, can be no other manager in the whole league who has had to work with such limited resources.

Ah well at least we kept Lambert quiet.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Do I think anyone can do a better job? Who knows - probably not. But managers do go stale and a change can sometimes bring a change in fortune, but I dont see anyone wanting it (Peter Taylor now perhaps?) due to the financial restraints. Anyone coming in will not be able to bring anyone in so whats the point?

I am definitely not advocating Tilson should be sacked or he tenders his resignation. But you are utterly wrong about no manager wanting the job. If the day came RM's desk would be full ov CV's within minutes of the announcement.

Based on your logic Darlington, Bournemouth, Rotherham and any other club you can name that have gone into administration in recent years and don't have a pot to **** in would be manager less.