Post-Match Thread and Ratings Southend United 2-0 AFC Fylde

[Snowy]

Strange report on the BBC. It makes it sound like the game was pretty even:

BBC

BBC are $hit, they do not even watch the game.

 

[londonblue]

BBC are $hit, they do not even watch the game.

Nor do most. They rely on the AP report and summarise. That doesn't make them ****, it makes the one person a bit crap.

 

[Snowy]

Finally nice to see the correct formation and with the majority of players in the right positions.
Sadly feel Bridge is a weak link, his crossing ability is poor at best.
Keep creating chances and we sill destroy someone soon.
Also the old saying, attack is the best form of defence, and another clean sheet.

I previously doubted the formation and tactics. For me things have improved but against lower opposition. We need to prove our worth against the top 5 or 6. I would also like to know if they have a plan B?

 

[Snowy]

Nor do most. They rely on the AP report and summarise. That doesn't make them ****, it makes the one person a bit crap.

So is the AP report to blame?

 

[londonblue]

So is the AP report to blame?

Not necessarily. I can't find the AP report to see what they wrote. It could be that or it could be the person at the BBC who summarised.

But read my original post. I was apportioning blame, merely pointing out how strange the report was.

 

[Roger The Alien]

Definitely much more positive last few games, however some massive ones coming up with Halifax and Rochdale, which I think we will revert back to 5-3-2, I don't necessarily have a problem with that as that's what should be done, we could easily get opened up against better teams, however having different formations and styles is always a plus

Don’t forget, Halifax and Rochdale will try and attack us, so we need to keep the front 3, and try and attack them.

 

[nick12]

The change in the last 2 games is simple, we moved the ball forward instead of sideways and backwards.

Kev's style has always been safety / caution first so what's changed? New blood in the camp? 3 up front? Kev was as bored as us so changed tactics? Whatever it is it's much more exciting to watch than the dross we have been served up (Charlton cup match aside) for the last few months.

I am someone not convinced Kev is the right man to get us out of this awful league and this season is now a huge ask but oh how I would so love to be proved wrong

 

[Bromley Blue]

Could only watch on DAZN due to family commitments but I think you could see the effect the Daggers win has had on the team. The difference a bit of confidence can have on a collection of players is staggering at times.

Yes Fylde are not the strongest opposition we’ll face all season but they still strung a few decent moves together and had a prolific attacker in Haughton to keep quiet. But for most of the game our best form of defence was pinning them back with our own attacking play.

Suddenly after Saturday’s result, we’re pressing and hunting in packs and when in possession the ball carrier has options because teammates are making runs they weren’t a few weeks ago. Noor Husin was like the conductor of the orchestra and strode around the pitch with almost an arrogance that he and his team were better than the opposition. Again that’s confidence and for someone like Husin in particular it’s the difference between it feeling like playing with 10 players at times and having a real game changer in the team who should be too good for the National League. Jack Bridge too looked much more threatening.

I think Kevin Maher’s comments in regards to “it could have been one of those nights” captured exactly how I felt when we missed 3
gilt-edged chances in a matter of minutes. It sounds obvious but the best teams get the best results. Why? More times than not it’s through a never say die attitude and having that inner confidence that a game isn’t over until that final whistle blows. Hopefully our manager can use last night’s game as a reference point as to what can happen if you keep plugging away and creating chances.

We’ve got some kind fixtures coming up so the hope would be that we can kick on now and fight our way into playoff contention. I’m still not convinced we have enough consistency to do it this year but good runs of form have to start somewhere and we’ve put a few results together now so you never know.

 

[Poyntless]

I didn’t think we could find a keeper with worse distribution than Collin until i saw Harness last night

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

I didn’t think we could find a keeper with worse distribution than Collin until i saw Harness last night

I didn’t think he was that bad - one kick in the second half had a low trajectory and picked out Bridge perfectly just in front of our bench. A couple of others weren’t so great but it was a windy and wet night so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and he did couple of good quick throw outs too.

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

Good performance which could have easily been 5-6 if our strikers were on it.

I have never wanted to see anyone do well as much as Maher and am more than happy that he is shoving my doubts down my throat by dropping the previous sideways tedious football which was slowly turning us fans against him.

I thought Walker was again excellent, GSM back to his best and Morton really is turning into a very decent player who puts in a dangerous cross or two.

I was well happy leaving the stadium last night which is a total contrast as to how I felt two Saturdays ago and we now have some winnable games coming up which could turn our season.

Well done all.

 

[bazzashrimper]

I didn’t see the game, even on tv due to some family things. I’m interested in the view on bridge. He has been poor all season, but with the lack of attacking prowess elsewhere it was easy to block him out. Last night did he have a bit more time and space - with Walker out there, and some others across the team too? Maybe that’s the difference between this season and the last 2?

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

BBC are $hit, they do not even watch the game.

Usually done through PA, who do (watch the game).

 

[RHB]

With a few more decent additions to the squad I'm feeling hopeful that we can finish the season on a high note now. Will that be the play-offs? I genuinely don't know, but I live in hope. Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to turn the tide, and 3 up front might just be that. 6 points won, 4 goals scored and none conceded from the last two games makes good reading and I'm sure it won't be lost on opposition managers. Back to the game, I grumbled a bit when I saw Noor was starting, but the bloke was class last night, my MoM. It was also good to see Hopper announce his arrival to their defenders, and lastly I was proud of my fellow Westies as we all stood and and applauded the Fylde 9. On to the East Stand and back ache on Saturday.

 

[Barling Magna]

We could do with AFC Fylde returning to winning ways in their next two games which are against our rivals for the play offs Oldham and Halifax, both of whom have two games in hand over us. Highly unlikely unless Haughton has a return to form.

Although we are only 3 points adrift of the play offs those games in hand (and Rochdale have 4) mean in reality we've got a big hill to climb.

 

[Jai]

Would say Walker was withdrawn for his own good. He had got the point where with that referee, one foul and he could have got a 2nd yellow.

He was very lucky to stay on - he nudged the ball away before a free kick at one point and that is a yellow card in today's game. Luckily the ref missed it.

 

[Jai]

Your little snipe at the end made me chuckle.
After beating a struggling team like Fylde at home, your saying that some of our football hasn’t been negative?
It clearly has and I hope KM sticks to last night type of attacking football. There clearly is a difference.

We always look to attack. What we have seen so far this season is the players failing to execute the plan. It looks pedestrian, turgid and boring when you can't break down a team that puts 10 men behind the ball as the majority of teams have this season.

It's not the intent, that is always to be on the front foot at home and always has been. It's the execution and that is on the players. Last night I thought Fylde played into our hands a little, they looked to come forward and that allowed us a few decent breakaways in the first half, which led to the first goal.

The selection of Husin was clearly to nullify Haughton, despite the bemusement of some before the game, and it paid off handsomely. He's not been on his game this season and I'm sure he knows that, but last night he was superb.

Disappointing to see so many chances go begging and you do sense that confidence among our forward players is still a little fragile. However, it's good to see the chances being created and Walker took his goal very well. Of all of our strikers I still think he is the one most likely to go on a scoring run of form. Tom Hopper's work rate when he came on was immense and he won most headers he went for. He'll be a good addition I think.

Overall a good day at the office and we did need to back Saturday up with a win. Suddenly things look a bit rosier in the garden. I think we've got too much to do to make the playoffs but I think we can make it interesting.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Nor do most. They rely on the AP report and summarise. That doesn't make them ****, it makes the one person a bit crap.

They get it from the rather smaller PA not the AP.

I believe someone on here used to do it. I think they basically get a fan to text in score updates, subs and bookings.

I didn’t see the game, even on tv due to some family things. I’m interested in the view on bridge. He has been poor all season, but with the lack of attacking prowess elsewhere it was easy to block him out. Last night did he have a bit more time and space - with Walker out there, and some others across the team too? Maybe that’s the difference between this season and the last 2?

Instead of going down the line (where he had no support and so could be blocked out), he cut inside so was running towards areas with teammates which made him look more dangerous.

 

[rigsby]

Great value from both teams last night but the force was with us. Helped off course by Obi one OG.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Great value from both teams last night but the force was with us. Helped off course by Obi one OG.

He should be renamed Ogi