Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[wiggy]

To play his old out of form/unfit favourites Husin and Miley on Saturday in front of the 3 in form more dynamic KAF/Coker/Morton was unforgivable. Wouldn’t think any supporter/tea lady/maintenance man would have selected them two but that is just Maher. He gave us little chance of winning that game from the first whistle and proved why we have no hope of doing anything under him….got to go before the support does!

 

[BoyWonder2]

Nice ethos and all, but if our culture is going to be this style of football in perpetuity then i cant see people wanting to spend money to watch it.

But when we are full of confidence, and everyone is on song, that football is a delight to watch.

Look at how Man City have played, look at Pep’s Barcelona and Bayern Munich sides. That’s what it can look like. Admittedly, that is with world class players.

Notts County played football like this, and they are still the best side I’ve seen at this level.

Problem we have at the moment is because we aren’t doing well, players are playing “safe”. Easy 5 yard balls sideways and backwards. When people are full of confidence they try the defence splitting pass, they switch the play in one pass as oppposed to us going Bridge, Coker, Miley, Husin and finally to Gus.

Eastleigh at home, Solihull away, Charlton second half. This are examples when it goes well. We need more of it. We need an injection of pace, both in our passing and personnel.

 

[Tampa Blue]

Lots of valid and well considered posts in this thread.

I honestly believe that there is not one person in the SZ group that wants Maher to fail.

However imho there is only one statistic that counts and overrides all of our opinions and that is our position in the league.

Results over an extended period don’t lie and we are where we are because that’s where we deserve to be based on our performances……..and that is just not good enough.

 

[Smiffy]

Feels like yesterday these t shirts were popular, and prolific posters had things like “viva la kevolution” in their profile. I’m not saying anything one way or the other, but how quickly times change?

View attachment 34701

*cough*

 

[Shrimp Barby]

Only way Maher will go is if he resigns

Agree with this but I don’t want him to go unless this run continues into the New Year. He deserves more time, I want to know what things he thinks need to change at the Club???

 

[SeaSideDoughnut]

You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain...

 

[sufc4life21]

Lots of valid and well considered posts in this thread.

I honestly believe that there is not one person in the SZ group that wants Maher to fail.

However imho there is only one statistic that counts and overrides all of our opinions and that is our position in the league.

Results over an extended period don’t lie and we are where we are because that’s where we deserve to be based on our performances……..and that is just not good enough.

Problem with maher throughout his time at Southend he to safe...... his inability to change system which leads to the opponents finding us easy to play against is 1 of the reason we find ourselves where we are. The recruitment hasn't been great and been poor for 12 months now. Crowther, Waldron and walker don't look good enough for level we are trying to achieve, that's on john still who was once bit of maverick for finding hidden gems in non league but now isn't having the same success, probably to old and past it. I feel we need bit of overhaul now unfortunately.

 

[RHB]

I would be very happy for the team to train well this week, kick out whatever affected them all on Saturday and then give FGR a taste of what this team of ours is capable of when really on song. It may well be that the the reaction of some of our supporters may kick start the seige mentality we need again.

 

[ShrimperLee]

None of us on here want to see Kev fail. Nirvana would be him leading us to a couple of promotions, under the brilliantly implemented "sustainability" model of COSU. Success with a true SUFC legend in charge would taste so much sweeter than if he was sacked and someone without any emotional attachment to the club came in to try to get us out of this division. Now time for the sad reality......results this season have been terrible, recruitment has (on the whole) been poor to barely average, the football on display is mind-numbingly boring to watch, and some of the substitutions/team selections have been headscratching at best. There have of course been some mitigating factors, the lateness of finally being rid of the rat which caused us to miss out on other targets being the principle one, Kensdale being (very rightly) dismissed, and Cardwell being poached just as the season was starting. But with the squad that has (rightly or wrongly) been assembled, it hasn't been anywhere near good enough. Now I haven't quite reached the "Kev Out" stage, in fact I am still quite far from it, but I can totally see the viewpoint of those that have. Things need to get better, and sharpish, not to make a push for the play-offs, but to actually make sure we stay in this division. So where do I draw the line? Assuming we don't get relegated, Kev should be afforded an entire summer to rebuild the squad, a pre-season without our usual distractions like embargoes and the like, and then the first 10-15 games of next season to see where we are at. If we are in the playoff positions then, playing some semblance of attacking football, we'll all breathe a sigh of relief, and if we are not, the inevitable must happen.

 

[wiggy]

Problem with maher throughout his time at Southend he to safe...... his inability to change system which leads to the opponents finding us easy to play against is 1 of the reason we find ourselves where we are. The recruitment hasn't been great and been poor for 12 months now. Crowther, Waldron and walker don't look good enough for level we are trying to achieve, that's on john still who was once bit of maverick for finding hidden gems in non league but now isn't having the same success, probably to old and past it. I feel we need bit of overhaul now unfortunately.

Signings have been fine, it’s how he does/doesn’t use them.
If his name was Mark Moisley then he would be gone, pathetic safe, boring, clueless football but if you’ve played for Southend United then you are safe till the bitter end!

 

[BoyWonder2]

Problem with maher throughout his time at Southend he to safe...... his inability to change system which leads to the opponents finding us easy to play against is 1 of the reason we find ourselves where we are. The recruitment hasn't been great and been poor for 12 months now. Crowther, Waldron and walker don't look good enough for level we are trying to achieve, that's on john still who was once bit of maverick for finding hidden gems in non league but now isn't having the same success, probably to old and past it. I feel we need bit of overhaul now unfortunately.

Is he?

The two wing backs he picks spend most of their time in the opposition half, Bridge can hardly be labelled a defender in our system. GSM does most of his work in forward areas too, but is better defensively than Bridge.

He then only plays one pivot in midfield, normally Miley but has been Morton or Husin on occasions. That’s it. He doesn’t often play two holding midfielders.

John Still can still pick a player, don’t worry about that. I think we will see the fruits of his labour come January and then the summer time.

 

[blues exile]

From some it's always jam tomorrow and blind faith when the evidence is piling up that the club is approaching a crisis results wise with some very demanding fixtures in the offing. To deny this is closing one's eyes to the consequences of ploughing on with the same formula and expecting things to change.

 

[palexander]

Is he?

The two wing backs he picks spend most of their time in the opposition half, Bridge can hardly be labelled a defender in our system. GSM does most of his work in forward areas too, but is better defensively than Bridge.

He then only plays one pivot in midfield, normally Miley but has been Morton or Husin on occasions. That’s it. He doesn’t often play two holding midfielders.

John Still can still pick a player, don’t worry about that. I think we will see the fruits of his labour come January and then the summer time.

Such a tired argument isnt it - the "5 at the back" and "being defensive". As you say, you wont find any side in the league with more attacking wingbacks. Not sure Bridge or Gus know how to defend lol.

Where we are defensive is in midfield. Morton/Miley/Husin all prefer sitting deep. Coker kind of being forced to play that way too and Moncur hasnt got the legs to get around. We need pace from midfield to break lines and the only player we have that can do that is KAF and Kev for some reason now wont play him (assume so we can be more defensive). But it means we rarely have any movement or someone making their midfield turn or think about who's behind. We're happy to sit in and play across the pitch - incredibly easy to defend against.

 

[sufc4life21]

Is he?

The two wing backs he picks spend most of their time in the opposition half, Bridge can hardly be labelled a defender in our system. GSM does most of his work in forward areas too, but is better defensively than Bridge.

He then only plays one pivot in midfield, normally Miley but has been Morton or Husin on occasions. That’s it. He doesn’t often play two holding midfielders.

John Still can still pick a player, don’t worry about that. I think we will see the fruits of his labour come January and then the summer time.

Southend losing football matches and the manager isn't prepared to alter his tactics, that's sign of being to stubborn and maybe sign weakness. The opponents finds us to predictable and easy to read, even kevs subs are like for like. It's a manager who afraid to role the dice to try affect different outcome. We are currently very stale boring side to watch who lacks creativity in the final third and that is on the manager tactical set up. Lots of sideways backwards passing which leads to nothing, bit of reminder how kev used to play as player although I thought he was better player when he played at higher level.

 

[Chrisb]

Obviously Kev is in charge and ultimately makes the team decisions but wonder how much input Darren and Mark have - surely they didn't all think it a good idea to drop Coker and Morton or wait so long to make subs ?

 

[Shrimper]

Looking at our next games until the New Year, I don't think it will get any better.

Forest Green (1st)
Woking (17th)
Halifax (7th)
Hartlepool (14th)
York (2nd)
Ebbsfleet (24th)

I can see at best 2 W 1 D 3 L. 7 from 18.

 

[secondalibi]

I've been so reluctant to criticise Kevin, he's obviously a club legend, and the loyalty he showed to us during the incredibly tough times will always be forever appreciated. But, for a long time, I've had issues with the way Kev sets the team up, the style of play, and even team selections. However, it feels like he's untouchable, and we as supporter's can't complain or criticise, because of what he's done for the club, and what he means to the club. But, at some point, we have to be honest when it's not working. Over his time, he's got results, but it's rarely been great to watch. The question now remains, is he unsackable? Absolutely not. We can't say lose 10 games on the bounce and just blindly stick with him, that would be ridiculous. At some point, something has to change. He has got a certain amount of credit in the bank, but for how long? I would hate to see his time here go sour.

 

[bluesfansince1952]

Agree with this but I don’t want him to go unless this run continues into the New Year. He deserves more time, I want to know what things he thinks need to change at the Club???

Regardless what he thinks needs to change I suspect only results will satisfy the baying mob.

Many of those complaining about Kev are also in the 'more money needs to be made available to buy decent players' mode. Sacking Kev requires a hefty pay out for him (and maybe others) which means even less money for player recruitment.

Listening to an interview given by Kev a while ago he mentioned more than once how close he was to John Still. If we lose one do we lose the other? Again replacing like with even remotely like might prove to be expensive.

Kev is not perfect, and, like all of us can make mistakes. This season events have conspired to make life difficult and challenging. Excuses some will howl but how easy will he be to replace? There were those who thought it was only Ron holding us back, and, that once he went, promotion would soon follow. Such expectations were way too optimistic. Never forget that even when unlimited funds started flowing into Wrexham they did not win their way out of the National League at their first attempt.

The smaller in number your squad is in the NL the more luck you need to enjoy a decent season.

I think if Kev was to leave it would be an unmitigated disaster.

 

[Paddypel]

Looking at our next games until the New Year, I don't think it will get any better.

Forest Green (1st)
Woking (17th)
Halifax (7th)
Hartlepool (14th)
York (2nd)
Ebbsfleet (24th)

I can see at best 2 W 1 D 3 L. 7 from 18.

need to be targeting a minimum of 3 wins realistically there, sadly I think it'll be a solidarity win at best.

 

[SOUFC/Thurrock]

All go

Let them all go, how Maher keeps playing Bonne and taking off Pepple alone shows he has no plan B. If you are playing Bonne we need crosses and we just don’t create any as we are too narrow.

Hate to say it but the set up is wrong, Having Jack on the left expecting him to defend doesn’t work. Jack needs to run at people but he is always in his own half.