Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

@Medway Blue playing 5-3-2 don’t help at all, it’s holding the players back, most of NL side play 4-4-2/4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1, with paces and athleticism.

Mahar style of football is boring, slow, bland and no paces at all. He played 4-3-3 twice, against FGR and Halifax, we played better and at paces too. It’s play to our player’s strengths too.

This.

 

[BEERMONSTER]

2 wins, decent games of football and goals from kendall will go a long way for a lot of people. Said it before mid table given the **** show of this season is to be expected, the boredom and crap football, late pointless subs, playing favourites out of form and defensive football has to change tho.

Yep, agree where your coming from, I have said before the silent majority have had a very patience acceptance to on field disappointment, combination of a realistic approach to expectations after another disrupted pre season and I believe, fortunately enough and arguably rightly so for Kev a mindset of loyalty for how he handled himself in the darkest of times and led from the front. For many the Club and still having it and a renewed connection of it's 'ours' has pushed the football to secondary. Yes for COSU and Kev the 'Honeymoon' period continues for now the important thing is they use it and not abuse it.

 

[sufc4life21]

If Maher can't get 6 points from the next 2 his position should be questioned...... any other club our size sitting where we are would have probably sacked maher by now. Surely the owners must be not happy with our current position and questioning whether to trust maher and his pal still to bring in the right signings in January. The recruitment since COSU have been involved with Southend has been dreadful, the tactical approach to games is predictable and boring which will have impact going for on crowds at Roots Hall. Low scoring draws and defeats with 1 shot on goal rubbish with the manager stubbornness to change to more attack minded approach will turn fans away if results don't improve. I was always in the category of giving maher to least the end of the season and review his position then but now I'm not so sure, do you really trust a manager to recruit players in January giving his previous poor signings over last year where we could be in the same position in 12 months time. Could be the perfect opportunity to change manager if the right calibre of manager is out there. Maher did great job under difficult circumstances which should be acknowledged but now we must move forward...... give Maher these 2 games and if it's less than 6 points then we should move in different direction. Would also let Bentley, currie and still go to.

 

[Roger The Alien]

give Maher these 2 games and if it's less than 6 points then we should move in different direction. Would also let Bentley, currie and still go to.

I always wonder if Bentley and Currie had a say in that dreadful 5-3-2 formation!? Especially they are 4-4-2/4-3-3 mens at their past clubs

 

[sufc4life21]

I always wonder if Bentley and Currie had a say in that dreadful 5-3-2 formation!? Especially they are 4-4-2/4-3-3 mens at their past clubs

I think there probably just yes men to be honest. I would of thought currie would of taken manager job somewhere else given his barnet stint but that was while ago, unfortunately in football you are quickly forgotten if you stay out of the manager hot seat for to long.

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

I always wonder if Bentley and Currie had a say in that dreadful 5-3-2 formation!? Especially they are 4-4-2/4-3-3 mens at their past clubs

Maher is one stubborn individual? How many times has he got to watch his dreadful Maherball to concede that it is not working? Supporters having to witness it week in, week out hoping he will revert to a more positive approach seen against a few teams so far?

 

[dusterman]

Maher is one stubborn individual? How many times has he got to watch his dreadful Maherball to concede that it is not working? Supporters having to witness it week in, week out hoping he will revert to a more positive approach seen against a few teams so far?

It became apparent that against York that our balls over the top were hit and hope and they seemed to have a target and better execution. It was quite humbling really and showed how far away we are. Team is really underperforming, low on confidence and with little team morale. All has to improve and fast.

 

[onceknownasrab]

I’m not dismissing opinions. I’m clearing up misinformation. If people want to be Maher Out or Maher In, it’s up to the individual. I’m obviously Maher In, but I can see the flaws he has. It’s a shame most of the Maher Out can’t see any of his pros.

I’m happy to not share the stuff I do, if that stops upsetting people.

The last few days, obviously with the result yesterday has made it a bad place to be. I’ve not even looked at the post match thread. Thankfully my day shifts are done before Christmas now, so I don’t need to use SZ as a way of making the day go quicker.

Of course we can see Maher's pros but they are currently outweighed by the cons. The evidence is smacking us in the face every game. I seriously doubt the most ardent Maher supporters can claim they do not have concerns about his unwillingness to change it up. It's not just this season. Previously we attained high league finishes but lost or drew way too many when clearly outthought.

The writing was on the wall long before this season kicked off. We were already laboured and predictable in our play. It just is not working and not good enough.

I have given up hoping that Maher will adapt and see no other way than to bin him. I would be as happy as the proverbial Larry if he were to get it right and I hate to see anyone lose their job, which probably includes the backup staff too.

There seems to be a disconnect between club aims and the point of a football club. To survive at any cost is not good enough. Entertainment still needs to be given. Waterstones would not offer War and Peace as the only book you can buy and then expect people to keep the store going just because it's been around a long time.

Most Southend fans could get better entertainment watching a game of park football and not shell out a bean. We persist on supporting the Blues because we are fans and that loyalty deserves better than we are given.

Maher's way is not working anymore in getting the right result and it is not entertainment. He may well be a great fellow with the best of intentions but that does not make him what the club or the fans need.

Our team is underperforming playing Maherball. All I want for Christmas is for Maher to be visited by three ghosts and for him to wake up on the 25th seeing a new, brighter way to get the best from our players.

 

[Rooster79]

That wasn’t the case.

The players got to the bottom of what was going on, and went to Kev. Never wanted to carry on as normal or sweep it under the carpet.

Fair enough, I’m only repeating what I heard secondhand, but the person it came from was close enough to the changing room for me to think it was accurate.

 

[Rooster79]

I also think it’s worth adding I’m not Maher out (yet).. unless we really slide down the league he deserves this year and a full pre season imo

 

[Tony Allen]

In quite a few of the matches it has been commented that Maher doesn't have a plan B. If you look at say Spurs and Southampton that has been said as well. My question is do flexible managers exist?

 

[RHB]

That wasn’t the case.

The players got to the bottom of what was going on, and went to Kev. Never wanted to carry on as normal or sweep it under the carpet.

100% agree @BoyWonder2. I despair about some of the misinformation that folk put out about that sorry affair.

 

[Che's Left Foot]

There's talk of

• not having a proper preseason
• missing out on key targets due to the fruity drink
• internal issues and squad morale
• losing key players

All very valid points.

However, a manager's job - in any business - is to motivate and get the best out of their staff, whatever the circumstances.

At present, it doesn't feel like he is. Whether it involves taking a risk tactically or simply having a plan B, something has to change.

Whatever happened to the three amigos using in their collective experience to bring different, fresh ideas to the table? Hopefully the hive mind mentality hasn't kicked in.

 

[Supa Shrimpa]

Out of curiosity...those that have voted "yes", would you still vote that way if Maher kept us up and got us to the FA Trophy final ?

 

[Hadleigh-shrimper]

Where are the KM backers now?

Here

 

[Hampshire Shrimp]

Out of curiosity...those that have voted "yes", would you still vote that way if Maher kept us up and got us to the FA Trophy final ?

That`s not setting the bar very high is it? And Yes it would still be a yes.

 

[JB Shrimper]

Out of curiosity...those that have voted "yes", would you still vote that way if Maher kept us up and got us to the FA Trophy final ?

Yes as I feel this trophy is not of overall importance to us.

 

[SuperRonnieP]

In quite a few of the matches it has been commented that Maher doesn't have a plan B. If you look at say Spurs and Southampton that has been said as well. My question is do flexible managers exist?

That's a good point. Seem to be a lot of inflexible managers about, even at the top end of the game. Its almost as if performance data and stats are more important than what they see. Also seems to be a mistrust of players who don't fit the mould, like Grealish at city.

 

[WillMay333]

Out of curiosity...those that have voted "yes", would you still vote that way if Maher kept us up and got us to the FA Trophy final ?

Thats almost a David Moyes scenario. Would be fantastic to win us a trophy, especially at Wembley, but if the league form is still dire, it cant continue, because ultimately no trophy at this level is worth more than promotion out of NL.

 

[blues exile]

Out of curiosity...those that have voted "yes", would you still vote that way if Maher kept us up and got us to the FA Trophy final ?

Yes. The threat of relegation is probably only slim but for it even to be a remote possibikity is a damning indictment of the way we have regressed this year. He should go now, before the Jan window so that a new broom can sort things out. The FA Trophy is of little consequence compared to our league status, however unlikely winning it might be.