Pre-Match Thread Southend United v FC Halifax Town, Tuesday 11th February, 19:45k.o., NL

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Back - Nick Hayes has returned to Southend United (Image: Graeme Wilcockson)


By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.

NICK Hayes cannot stop smiling over his return to Southend United.

Hayes - who made five appearances while on loan with the Shrimpers last season - sealed his permanent return to Roots Hall from Barnet last week.

And the shot-stopper is delighted to be enjoying his football once more.

“I keep smiling whenever I think about it because it’s so good to be back,” said Hayes.

“I didn’t really enjoy my time at my previous club at all to be honest.

“But being back here, there’s positivity around the management staff and the way they are towards training.

“The boys are so good and the support is just massive.

“It’s been really good to be back in the building.”

Hayes impressed on his return to the Shrimpers starting line-up at Maidenhead United on Saturday.

But he cannot wait to line up at Roots Hall against Halifax Town this evening.

“Playing at Roots Hall is the one thing I’ve been looking forward to the most and we have three home games in a row now,” said Hayes.

“I know the fans will be so supportive and I really can’t wait to get back out there.

Blues go into the game sitting 12th in the National League standings following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against the Magpies.

And Hayes is seeking an immediate return to winning ways.

“We need to get straight back on it,” said Hayes.

“They’re a team pushing for the play-offs as well and we want to get in there too.

“It will be a good marker of where we’re at.

“Hopefully we can go and compete against these teams like we all know we can.”

Scoring goals has proved problematic for the Shrimpers.

But Hayes is certain that will soon change.

“As soon as one goal comes for us it will flood, I know that,” said the custodian.

“We went through it on Monday morning and we know with the amount of crosses we’re getting into the box and the number of shots we’re having we will get there.

“It’s frustrating and we understand people’s frustrations but we’re getting opportunities.

“I feel confident about keeping them out at the other end and the centre-halves feel the same.

“But once we get one goal I know it will flood and it will all be positive from there.”

However, Hayes knows sixth placed Halifax will be tough to beat.

“I’ve played them twice already this season actually and they defend really well,” said Hayes.

“They’re a well organised unit and their away records suggests that as well.

"We’ve got to deal with set pieces too but I think we’ll stand up to it and get the result.”

 

[Evening Echo]

BLUES boss Kevin Maher has hit back at criticism of his side’s playing style.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

4nil to Southend. Absolute battering.
Thatll be us all over.
Tbh, with the quality of that defence being knitted, we should be able to build off it.
Its time for fans to get behind the team, despite its failings.
Really looking forward to tonight.

 

[Napster]

Let’s smash the Northern monkeys

 

[Jack_23]

Typical Southend 1-0 loss tonight. All the possession, they score just before half time , sit back 2nd half while we can’t break them down

 

[rlb999]

Hayes.
Wind Goodliffe. Golding Ralph
Taylor
Coker. Moreton
Waldron Bonne. Walker

Id be happy with this. Possibly Kendall for Waldron, but that change could be made mid game (before the 80th minute Kev).

 

[Fairport]

On form, Miley is (probably more was now) one of the best 6s in the league. Breaks up numerous counter attacks and is excellent in a defensive transition. Superb at winning first contact and his recovery rate I'm pretty sure was the highest in the league one season. The players love having him in the side as they feel they can rely on him defensively. As I mentioned, unfortunately it may be a case of "was" rather than "is" at the moment.

I'm not gonna bother going into Husin. Think he offers a lot off the ball but has been pretty awful for the majority of the season. Not sure what's gone on there to be honest.

Morton offers more on the ball as you say. He tries to do all the right things and at the right pace as well. I personally feel he's sometimes guilty of taking too many touches and losing it at key moments though. He also uncharacteristically for someone of his profile is sometimes guilty of panicking and just launching it first time when there's players around him. Think he'd benefit from having an enforcer with him but I've never been convinced we've looked balanced with both him and Miley in the same setup. Ironically I thought the balance looked alright at Woking away with Morton in the 6 and Miley to the left of him before he decided to dive in whilst on a yellow. Clever.

Morton has certainly grown as the season has advanced and is rightly probably first pick in the midfield at the moment. His corner delivery has improved in recent weeks as well, just a shame no one has any desire to get on the end of one. I think him and this new guy will link up well together based on the few clips I've seen. Morton will really benefit from having someone like that next to him in my opinion

I certainly feel that currently Morton is the better of the three but none of them contribute with any goals. It is only worth playing one of them in the side.

 

[LBBlue]

Amazing that when we can’t score goals so many people want to drop our leading goal scorer.

 

[Shr1mperBlue]

It’s cold, it’s rainy, it’s February. A night out under the lights at Roots Hall to cheer things up?? YES PLEASE! Will be there tonight cheering the boys on and supporting best I can. UTB!!

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Who told the steward though? Can’t believe that close to a third don’t attend anymore. I know it’s a small sample size but of all the season ticket holders I know, probably a couple of dozen, they all still go.

No idea, tonight will be a good example for est roughly the no's who aren't there?.
Usually the East stand only has a handful of empty seats, apart from the blue section, and the West is normally well populated in the centre sections.
So just have a browse and see how many empty seats are noticeable, only a handful or bigger amounts?.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

BLUES boss Kevin Maher has hit back at criticism of his side’s playing style.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

Explaining - Southend United boss Kevin Maher (Image: Graeme Wilcockson)


By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.

BLUES boss Kevin Maher has hit back at criticism of his side’s playing style.

Shrimpers supporters have accused the team of playing too many sideways and backwards passes this season.

But Maher stressed that is not the case.

“I can show you the stats on everything,” said the 48-year-old.

“I can show you how many balls we put into the final third and how many passes we play forward.

“There are teams who have a lot more possession than us in the league but I think we’ve got a decent mix of when we play forward and when we don’t.

“I am not going to smash the ball forward. I’m not going to put a big man forward and just smash it forward to him so it just comes back at you.

“We’re not going to do that.”

Instead, Maher is keen to strike the right balance.

“We’re going to play the right balls at the right time,” said the Blues boss.

“If that’s in behind then great but if it’s not then the aim is to keep the ball.

“When you’ve got the ball the other team can’t attack, that’s football.

“We’re not going to smash the ball forward and just hope.

“We don’t want to play fight-ball all the time.

“We want to play the right ball.

“But I can go through all the stats and show you how many balls we have in the final third and how many crosses we get in the box.

“That would tell you something and show it’s not always sideways and backwards.”

The Shrimpers will be aiming to show that against Halifax Town at Roots Hall tonight.

And Maher still feels he can get the best out of his players.

“I’ve been here 10 years as a player and seven years as a coach and I know what I’m doing,” said Maher.

“I know the staff know what they’re doing and we won’t compromise on what we believe in and how hard we work despite some noise around the place.

“My job is to believe in everyone around the club, what the staff are doing and what the consortium are doing.

“We are doing a lot of good things behind the scenes and we absolutely want to go and get out of this league.

“We’ve got to keep building the squad which is now a lot better.

“It’s easy to forget sometimes and there are short memories in football.

“It’s a results business. I get that and I have no problem dealing with that.

“But don’t forget what’s gone on here. “

 

[MC BLUES]

He says he doesn’t want to play what he calls ‘fight ball.’ He prefers to keep possession. But I would suggest most fans want to see a bit of ‘fight ball’ we want some fight, some action, some passion, some excitement, isn’t that also part of the game?

This current style at this level will eventually get the game banned, it is that boring!!

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I love Kev, but he's got it wrong here. We're not talking about smashing it forward to the big man up top. We're not talking about smash the ball forward and just hope. We're not asking for fight ball. We're talking about the midfielders getting the ball and playing sideways, sideways and back, instead of forward to the forwards, on the ground. Eventually the ball ends up wide, and then the mostly over hit or under hit crosses come in. We just want more of a connection going down the middle between the midfield and the forwards. It will be better to do that to mix up our play. Teams have sussed us out, and know the balls eventually going wide, and not through the middle. Apart from Walker, the forwards don't even bother trying to beat the offside trap, as they know the ball's going wide. If you want to play the same way Kev, then work on the crosses. I think 20 crosses was mentioned against Maidenhead. So 20 crosses and their goalie has a nice easy game. Somethings not right there. Also, our current forwards aren't dominant in the air, so why so many crosses? I would understand it if we had a Bill Garner or Gary Moore type of forward. Even the Sittingbourne central defenders, won every header against our forwards.

 

[palexander]

I love Kev, but he's got it wrong here. We're not talking about smashing it forward to the big man up top. We're not talking about smash the ball forward and just hope. We're not asking for fight ball. We're talking about the midfielders getting the ball and playing sideways, sideways and back, instead of forward to the forwards, on the ground. Eventually the ball ends up wide, and then the mostly over hit or under hit crosses come in. We just want more of a connection going down the middle between the midfield and the forwards. It will be better to do that to mix up our play. Teams have sussed us out, and know the balls eventually going wide, and not through the middle. Apart from Walker, the forwards don't even bother trying to beat the offside trap, as they know the ball's going wide. If you want to play the same way Kev, then work on the crosses. I think 20 crosses was mentioned against Maidenhead. So 20 crosses and their goalie has a nice easy game. Somethings not right there. Also, our current forwards aren't dominant in the air, so why so many crosses? I would understand it if we had a Bill Garner or Gary Moore type of forward. Even the Sittingbourne central defenders, won every header against our forwards.

Yea spot on, he's fallen into the trap of spouting "stats" - but dressing them up to suit his narrative.

Its not point saying he can show we have 500 crosses in a game when they are either;

• Cut out
• Overhit
• Cleared
• No where near our forwards

So its irrelevant stat really and he must think fans are stupid by repeating stuff like this.

 

[rshepp]

My post #29.
That says it all.
I can't give away my ticket.
I am more annoyed at the relative who gave me a birthday present of a ticket to a London show without considering the fixture

 

[Kris]

Kev has just brought in an attacking midfielder and said himself that he would give us 'something different'. Hopefully he'll start tonight.

 

[blues exile]

Sadly, Maher is a man convinced he is right and all his critics are wrong. The more he is questioned, the more obstinate and immovable is his stance. He can quote all the data he likes but the fact remains there is zero creativity in midfield, little movement up front and possession is paramount, as he himself states - 'when we've got the ball, the other team can't attack'. Defenders have all the time in the world to organise while we go sideways, backwards, sideways before putting in a hopeful cross which no one has a chance of capitalising on because it's either inaccurate or five minutes too late or usually both! Even if we win tonight it won't resolve the basic problem which is that this style of football will never result in promotion back to where a club of this stature should be. Three points will only paper over the cracks of a structural problem which can only be resolved by a change of coaching staff.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Kev has just brought in an attacking midfielder and said himself that he would give us 'something different'. Hopefully he'll start tonight.

He's our only hope. He's a box to box midfielder, that actually runs forward with the ball. Once he's over the part time to full time thing, he will shine. They're very impressed with him already at club in training.

 

[Dutch Branch]

Kev has just brought in an attacking midfielder and said himself that he would give us 'something different'. Hopefully he'll start tonight.

No bud, he still has two more games on the bench to complete to gain valuable minutes in order to fully grasp Maher Ball. Kev said he thinks the boys should take a extra touch in the box now too which just adds more to the learning process

 

[blues exile]

No bud, he still has two more games on the bench to complete to gain valuable minutes in order to fully grasp Maher Ball. Kev said he thinks the boys should take a extra touch in the box now too which just adds more to the learning process

If our hopes are now pinned on a former part timer from a lower league to be our saviour heaven help us, apart from putting undue pressure on the player himself who should not have such high expectations resting on his shoulders as he tries to make the transition to full time