Transfer News and Gossip Summer/Autumn Transfer Targets/Rumours Thread 2022

[Hadleigh-shrimper]

That would be a Brown-esque move. Bridge is not a LWB. I'd like to think we're past the days of square pegs in round holes when it comes to team selection.

Completely disagree with this Clifford isn’t good enough bridge played well there when came on also played there last season . Can be southends Trent

 

[Thundersley Blue]

That would be a Brown-esque move. Bridge is not a LWB. I'd like to think we're past the days of square pegs in round holes when it comes to team selection.

Absolutely agree with those thoughts. Yes, Bridge did well Saturday, but he wasn't being asked to defend. I am not quite sure where he fits into the side. He doesn't very often score, so not really cover for either Powell or Mooney. Bridge didn't help his cause in the opening game, which he started, was very lack lustre and wasn't over surprised when he was taken off at half time.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

Me simply need our injured players back.

A tale as old as time and one Southend know all too well.

We aren't blessed with much squad depth and unfortunately, this is the difference between us and the top 8 teams.

Once we have Arnold, Ralph and our strikers back, we might start to see a string of results. Luckily our young defence has been much improved and with the addition of Lopata it's probably our strongest area. But we are soooo weak upfront.

What was the latest with Murphy?

Don't want to jinx it, but he will have a field day upfront in this team. If he had half the chances Powell creates he would be on atleast 6 goals by now.

 

[Cricko]

Me simply need our injured players back.

A tale as old as time and one Southend know all too well.

We aren't blessed with much squad depth and unfortunately, this is the difference between us and the top 8 teams.

Once we have Arnold, Ralph and our strikers back, we might start to see a string of results. Luckily our young defence has been much improved and with the addition of Lopata it's probably our strongest area. But we are soooo weak upfront.

What was the latest with Murphy?

Don't want to jinx it, but he will have a field day upfront in this team. If he had half the chances Powell creates he would be on atleast 6 goals by now.

We have i think about 29 players in our squad, every team suffers from injuries and yes we have 3 strikers out. Murphy for 8 months and we have no idea how he will come back and fall over again. Cardwell who it seems has stuggled to make the step up and is made of glass and Hyde who is injury prone. The others apart from Arnold and Ralph are just squad members. We have forwards but the service to them is rubbish most of the time as certain players hang on to the ball to long/go for a glory shot or we are to slow in our build up.

I keep hearing "when we get the injured players back". We have to work with the players we have atm as other teams do and find a system that works with them, not rely on what if's and when's.

We will always have an amount of injured players it is just the nature of the beast, when two come back 2 will probably drop out, then we are back to..We need to get our injured players back.

 

[Moley]

Me simply need our injured players back.

A tale as old as time and one Southend know all too well.

We aren't blessed with much squad depth and unfortunately, this is the difference between us and the top 8 teams.

Once we have Arnold, Ralph and our strikers back, we might start to see a string of results. Luckily our young defence has been much improved and with the addition of Lopata it's probably our strongest area. But we are soooo weak upfront.

What was the latest with Murphy?

Don't want to jinx it, but he will have a field day upfront in this team. If he had half the chances Powell creates he would be on atleast 6 goals by now.

I do agree with you to a certain extent, but Powell has created the majority of his chances by himself with his direct runs. Murphy wouldn’t do that.

I hope I’m wrong but I’m not sure Murph will be the same player after this injury. It’s not been a good one.

 

[kentblues]

I do agree with you to a certain extent, but Powell has created the majority of his chances by himself with his direct runs. Murphy wouldn’t do that.

I hope I’m wrong but I’m not sure Murph will be the same player after this injury. It’s not been a good one.

Tbf Murphy was scoring regularly in the famed Southend 0 formations where the nearest support was a taxi ride away. If he could do that then I suspect he would be scoring a few now. Wreh was only on the pitch for 25 mins Sat and had three chances (inside the box) and scored one replacing someone he didn't have a shot on goal in the previous 65 minutes.

 

[kentblues]

Completely disagree with this Clifford isn’t good enough bridge played well there when came on also played there last season . Can be southends Trent

The only thing I would say is having a right footer on the left of three up front works because they can cut in with goal threat. At LWB as with LB you really need a left footer, both defensively and going forward where crosses not shots are likely the output.. Bridge would be much better RWB (i know that doesn't help).

 

[Moley]

Tbf Murphy was scoring regularly in the famed Southend 0 formations where the nearest support was a taxi ride away. If he could do that then I suspect he would be scoring a few now. Wreh was only on the pitch for 25 mins Sat and had three chances (inside the box) and scored one replacing someone he didn't have a shot on goal in the previous 65 minutes.

Yeah 100% agree. If he comes back looking the same as he was before his injury we are laughing.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Completely disagree with this Clifford isn’t good enough bridge played well there when came on also played there last season . Can be southends Trent

Bridge came on at 2-0 down when Torquay weren't really interested in attacking so he had the freedom to attack at will which he did without any defensive duties. Starting Bridge at wing back either side is a recipe for disaster as he isn't a defender and won't get much chance to attack

 

[hlane17]

Completely disagree with this Clifford isn’t good enough bridge played well there when came on also played there last season . Can be southends Trent

Bridge also had zero defensive responsibility and basically played as a second left winger.

He starts at LWB and all any opposition manager has to do is leave a wide player high up the pitch. We'd be totally neutralised down that side.

People forget just how dreadful we were last season playing wingers in wing-back.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Me simply need our injured players back.

A tale as old as time and one Southend know all too well.

We aren't blessed with much squad depth and unfortunately, this is the difference between us and the top 8 teams.

Once we have Arnold, Ralph and our strikers back, we might start to see a string of results. Luckily our young defence has been much improved and with the addition of Lopata it's probably our strongest area. But we are soooo weak upfront.

What was the latest with Murphy?

Don't want to jinx it, but he will have a field day upfront in this team. If he had half the chances Powell creates he would be on atleast 6 goals by now.

I think we have decent squad depth.

The issue is more that injuries are all in the same positions: centre forward. If you have 3 injuries in the same position that’s always going to be tricky.

I also wouldn’t be pinning my hopes on Murphy. The longer he’s out the side the better he seems to have become in people’s memories. He’s only ever scored 14 or more league goals in a season twice in his career and once was in part-time football. He averaged one in three for us in the league.

He’s on the downward end of his career coming off long term injury. His pace will likely be down. His movement was good but his finishing was very hit and miss. It’ll take him time to get up to speed and time to build up his confidence. He should be able to contribute off the bench but I don’t see any reason to suggest he’d be an upgrade over Wreh.

 

[WestyReturns]

It really can't be that difficult surely to get a loan keeper in. Most EFL teams have 3 in their squads at least.

for most clubs you're right.....but we are Southend.

 

[annie1954]

Me simply need our injured players back.

A tale as old as time and one Southend know all too well.

We aren't blessed with much squad depth and unfortunately, this is the difference between us and the top 8 teams.

Once we have Arnold, Ralph and our strikers back, we might start to see a string of results. Luckily our young defence has been much improved and with the addition of Lopata it's probably our strongest area. But we are soooo weak upfront.

What was the latest with Murphy?

Don't want to jinx it, but he will have a field day upfront in this team. If he had half the chances Powell creates he would be on atleast 6 goals by now.

 

[annie1954]

Good post watching games on tv there’s certainly a difference between us and the top clubs just hope our young players are up to Wrexham next week with some very experienced football league players but as others have said our young defenders have been doing well,

 

[onceknownasrab]

So we don't have our first choice 3 forwards, so why keep playing the ball out wide at every opportunity, when it then has to be delivered into the box to the type of player we do not have on the pitch? Pick Wreh from the start and it makes a little more sense but, our current play sees us in good positions in the centre of the opposition defence, only to play it out wide again. Again. Again and again. We are predictable and the extra passes make us pedestrian.

We have definitely not made the best of the players we have available and our midfielders are either making very poor choices or playing to poor instructions. Mooney is a very creative, capable player but, as against Torquay, when he tries to do so much solo on a radar-off day, he is just wasteful. Powell has improved by crossing and passing more and maybe the words someone had in his ear should be relayed to Mooney. Miley is going to be a very good player for us, of that I'm sure, but he needs to stop watching so many videos of Maher in his playing days. A few more positive passes required. Fonguck has tricks, turns and ample physicality, I rate him, but when things open up in front of him he will push the ball wide instead of taking a pop.

We have the ability to score more goals with the players we have available but not with, seemingly, the current instructions.

As for Clifford, he is sadly the weakest link at the moment. He has not rediscovered or fulfilled his early promise and I completely agree with those that call for Bridge to take his place. Bridge might not be the best defender but, nor is Clifford at the moment, though I suspect JB will offer more when foraying forward. Lomas has done a good job covering the left and I am sure he will take up any slack Bridge has. If Ralph is fit then the situation resolved itself.

 

[palexander]

I think we have decent squad depth.

The issue is more that injuries are all in the same positions: centre forward. If you have 3 injuries in the same position that’s always going to be tricky.

I also wouldn’t be pinning my hopes on Murphy. The longer he’s out the side the better he seems to have become in people’s memories. He’s only ever scored 14 or more league goals in a season twice in his career and once was in part-time football. He averaged one in three for us in the league.

He’s on the downward end of his career coming off long term injury. His pace will likely be down. His movement was good but his finishing was very hit and miss. It’ll take him time to get up to speed and time to build up his confidence. He should be able to contribute off the bench but I don’t see any reason to suggest he’d be an upgrade over Wreh.

Yup, think a lot of people have forgotten how many chances he needed before scoring or hitting the target. Used to spurn a lot.

 

[henry18]

So we don't have our first choice 3 forwards, so why keep playing the ball out wide at every opportunity, when it then has to be delivered into the box to the type of player we do not have on the pitch? Pick Wreh from the start and it makes a little more sense but, our current play sees us in good positions in the centre of the opposition defence, only to play it out wide again. Again. Again and again. We are predictable and the extra passes make us pedestrian.

We have definitely not made the best of the players we have available and our midfielders are either making very poor choices or playing to poor instructions. Mooney is a very creative, capable player but, as against Torquay, when he tries to do so much solo on a radar-off day, he is just wasteful. Powell has improved by crossing and passing more and maybe the words someone had in his ear should be relayed to Mooney. Miley is going to be a very good player for us, of that I'm sure, but he needs to stop watching so many videos of Maher in his playing days. A few more positive passes required. Fonguck has tricks, turns and ample physicality, I rate him, but when things open up in front of him he will push the ball wide instead of taking a pop.

We have the ability to score more goals with the players we have available but not with, seemingly, the current instructions.

As for Clifford, he is sadly the weakest link at the moment. He has not rediscovered or fulfilled his early promise and I completely agree with those that call for Bridge to take his place. Bridge might not be the best defender but, nor is Clifford at the moment, though I suspect JB will offer more when foraying forward. Lomas has done a good job covering the left and I am sure he will take up any slack Bridge has. If Ralph is fit then the situation resolved itself.

You mean probably the most successful captain for a long time ?

Miley isn’t there to be a creative eye of a needle passer his there do to exactly what he is doing winning the ball and giving it to the more creative players

 

[onceknownasrab]

My boy now works on Saturday so this was his first game for a bit. He instantly picked up on our improvement and was mightily impressed. So was I, the main feature for me being our pressing and the fact that we hardly gave any free kicks away in our half. That was probably down to the ref, such a contrast from Saturday. He actually looked like he had played the game, knew a coming together from a genuine foul and, bar missing the off the ball clothes-line on Powell (his assistants could have helped there), he was excellent.
Colin - Like him a lot, positive and constantly made runs off the ball to make himself available for passes (never thought I'd type that about a keeper!).
Gus - very good, not the biggest but has a good spring, combative, organised well and think he will make that right-back berth his own.
Hobson - Good again
Kensdale - knocked the ball about well and snuffed out any danger (just needs to time those headers).
Lomas - ok
Clifford - off the pace I thought, but came good towards the end (including a goal line clearance).
Wes & MIley - Great - both have surely secured the central midfield spots for the foreseeable future.
Mooney - Full of trickery and intent - pleased to see him get so many minutes.
Powell- ran his socks off, a constant thorn in their side, and took his goal well. Thought he was going to sulk again when his number came up but he saw the standing ovation begin and thought better of it!
Cosgrave - What an athlete, bags of pace, but would like to have seen him get on the ball more.

You mean probably the most successful captain for a long time ?

Miley isn’t there to be a creative eye of a needle passer his there do to exactly what he is doing winning the ball and giving it to the more creative players

I was a Maher fan in his playing days but even I believe he could have done more. It's not about 'eye of the needle passes' . There are too many occasions where a five yard pass forwards is overlooked and a sideways move chosen. The vast majority of what Miley does is very good and will get better. A part of that improvement will be identifying when a forward move needs to be continued rather than putting the brakes on the raid. We cannot continue with our chosen tactics, with the personnel available, and expect to score more goals. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I was a Maher fan in his playing days but even I believe he could have done more. It's not about 'eye of the needle passes' . There are too many occasions where a five yard pass forwards is overlooked and a sideways move chosen. The vast majority of what Miley does is very good and will get better. A part of that improvement will be identifying when a forward move needs to be continued rather than putting the brakes on the raid. We cannot continue with our chosen tactics, with the personnel available, and expect to score more goals. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

There are probably as many five yards forward passes made that should be sideways passes as sideways passes that should be five yard forward passes.

The emphasis needs to be more on better passing - first time passes, passes with more pace on and better movement to open up passes - than forward passing.

 

[onceknownasrab]

There are probably as many five yards forward passes made that should be sideways passes as sideways passes that should be five yard forward passes.

The emphasis needs to be more on better passing - first time passes, passes with more pace on and better movement to open up passes - than forward passing.

That's a viewpoint and I would love a stats man to go through the match and show how many times we went from side to side, pushing the ball out wider and wider, spurning opportunities that opened up to us in the middle. It's almost that we are overthinking the play and lack incisiveness.