Thanks Kev - but is a new manager needed?

[gatecrasher]

Luggy type manager is what we need. Someone with a lot of knowledge, understands this league and that this pretty Pepesque crap without Haaland crap Maher plays doesn't work. Take wrexham. Chesterfield & Notts County out of the equation as they were bankrolled out of the league and the likes of Sutton, Bromley, Barrow and Harrogate have all got out of this division om a shoe string by being physical, direct and pacey.

We are a much bigger team than all those, surely with the right manager we get in the playoffs in this division at least

 

[Dave Smiths Love Child]

The thought of Non league once filled me with horror, now sadly accepted , till COSU settle in and can put more money into playing side rather than outside debts than we have to accept things x
You may get new manager bounce for a game or two but then what …..

 

[Tinks]

I voted no but only because it was a straight yes or no.
I agree our play is boring and predictable.
Where is the fight
We have no creativity in the team and no one actually taking the ball and doing something with it. How often do we overplay and end up losing the ball?

I had so much hope knowing that hideous little man was gone and really thought we may have pushed forward this season. Granted losing Cards and Ollie was a blow and then Cavs being injured didn’t help the cause. I never expected automatic promotion but I really did think we would be far more comfortable in the table than this and at a minimum play some decent football.
We need a couple more signings - decent ones at that and have now resolved myself to the fact we will have another season stuck in this god dam awful league.

I have to say it was woeful today and Kev will know that more than most but I think it’s a bit harsh calling for him to lose his job. If a plan or scheme doesn’t work then go back to the drawing board and try something new. It may not work but you won’t know until you try.

 

[GBJ]

Unfortunately, Kev seems to like Bonne. I can see him re-signing him. Even if he doesn't score.

It’s a possibility, sure. But I’d like to think come summer time we’ll be in a much better position and the players available will be of a much better calibre.

I don’t want to annihilate Bonne, but we can all see it just isn’t working for him right now, and the worrying part is, it doesn’t look like he’ll improve, either.

Would be amazed if Bonne stays here

 

[Target man]

I think it’s fair and obvious to say we’ve regressed from last season. We look toothless up front & ropey in defence. The losses of Kensdale and & Cardwell has been a major factor of course, but more worryingly the current midfield looks completely unbalanced & almost pointless.

I went to watch ZB today for Barnet against Daggers today and we discussed Southend after the game, and he made a good point. Said it seems when we're in an Embargo, we're the last team anyone wants to play because our team spirit was so unbreakable. At the moment we seem unrecognisable from that team. I haven't seen the goals yet, but he had, and the look on his face suggested they were shockingly bad. Losing Kens, although it had to happen sadly, has been our biggest hit, and we haven't replaced him with quality. We've never really recovered at the back. The squad needs some serious strengthening and I know Kev is trying to sort that.

 

[blues exile]

We have regressed this year because Maher's wholly predictable and inflexible style had reached its peak last season and a retread of the same sterile fare was never going to work as by now every single manager or coach in the league knows exactly how we will play and can nullify any threat quite easily as our approach is so laboured and obvious. Absolutely no hint of creativity or imagination and even worse, basics like putting in a decent cross are few and far between. I don't believe the squad is so bereft of ideas and it's more likely the way they are being coached which is the problem.. We could easily get sucked into a relegation battle and a change is needed sooner rather than later.

 

[Cricko]

Just to say, some great debate on this thread,

 

[Shrimper]

The first thing that Maher needs to do if he wants to have a good chance of turning things around is getting rid of the 5-3-2 we play. It just isn't working. Teams double-mark Bridge and get space behind our WB's meaning they have free reign to get balls in the box.

 

[Target man]

Just to say, some great debate on this thread,

Nothing like a mass debate on a Saturday evening

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

So you are happy with the style of play then? I do agree that changing managers is not necessarily the answer.

The style of play (and formation) wouldn’t be a topic of conversation if we were winning more games. We’ve seen 3 of the top 4 play the way that we want to play football against us this season (D2 L1) and we play the fourth of those teams next weekend.

Sides like Gateshead and Altrincham are exciting to watch (and have exploited our weaknesses in the meetings we’ve had against them this season), but they are susceptible to losing their best players and either having to replace them by recruiting exceptionally well in key positions or completely rethinking things tactically.

What we’ve built over the past three years under Maher gives us the best chance of being able to cope with loss of personnel (through transfers or injury) because possession-based football with a high press is prevalent throughout the game now.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy when you lose multiple key personnel (see Cardwell, Miley, Kensdale, Andeng Ndi) for various reasons at roughly the same time, though.

We just need to do things better. Maher is correct in his post-match reaction in saying more players need to win their individual battles, and we need to be better than today behind the ball.

I’d say we’re 2 or 3 players away from being real play-off contenders, with the formation and tactics we employ, even from the position we’re in; there are always bolters from mid-table/lower mid-table. A left-sided player with pace and an attacking midfielder to complement Coker and Miley or Morton, and probably still a central centre-back to replace Crowther. That will add necessary depth to the squad. I still trust John Still, Maher and co to find those players.

 

[JWShrimper]

I really want it to work, I think most, if not all, do. I’m all for the consortium backing the coaching staff and on that basis, I think it’s fair to want to see some movement/investment over the coming days, to ‘back their man’. I appreciate the work and investment from the consortium so far, but football is a results business and really, you need to speculate to accumulate.

 

[Cricko]

The style of play (and formation) wouldn’t be a topic of conversation if we were winning more games. We’ve seen 3 of the top 4 play the way that we want to play football against us this season (D2 L1) and we play the fourth of those teams next weekend.

Sides like Gateshead and Altrincham are exciting to watch (and have exploited our weaknesses in the meetings we’ve had against them this season), but they are susceptible to losing their best players and either having to replace them by recruiting exceptionally well in key positions or completely rethinking things tactically.

What we’ve built over the past three years under Maher gives us the best chance of being able to cope with loss of personnel (through transfers or injury) because possession-based football with a high press is prevalent throughout the game now.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy when you lose multiple key personnel (see Cardwell, Miley, Kensdale, Andeng Ndi) for various reasons at roughly the same time, though.

We just need to do things better. Maher is correct in his post-match reaction in saying more players need to win their individual battles, and we need to be better than today behind the ball.

I’d say we’re 2 or 3 players away from being real play-off contenders, with the formation and tactics we employ, even from the position we’re in; there are always bolters from mid-table/lower mid-table. A left-sided player with pace and an attacking midfielder to complement Coker and Miley or Morton, and probably still a central centre-back to replace Crowther. That will add necessary depth to the squad. I still trust John Still, Maher and co to find those players.

I still don't see how any of that supplies us with goals, being the one thing we desperately need.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

I still don't see how any of that supplies us with goals, being the one thing we desperately need.

Walker and Bonne have proven goalscoring records in this division (albeit a fairly long time ago in Bonne’s case). Pepple is impressing; Coker is tracking well to chip in with a decent number from midfield. Players are already there.

Adding a left-sided player with pace and an attacking midfield player will make us better at pressing from the front and winning the ball higher up the pitch, thus creating a better standard of opportunities.

Allied to that, it’s a confidence/belief thing that means we’re not shooting as often in the league; it’s not the style of play (although a slower build-up due to a lack of pace does contribute).

We had loads of shots against Charlton because it was a free hit; if we lost that game 5-0 it would be chalked off as a two division gap. We haven’t done that as much in league games because there are higher expectations, and if you’re not meeting those expectations, you’re less likely to try your luck from range. Much easier to pass sideways to a team-mate and let them take responsiblility.

 

[manor15]

Sacking Kev wouldn't just be sacking Kev. If you want to bring in a coach who plays a back four, you almost certainly have to find the money to sign a left-back, unless you're going to stick Ralph there and hope for the best. You need to decide where GSM fits in if at all. You need to sign some wide players to add depth beyond GSM and Bridge. The squad has been built to suit the 5-3-2 shape Kev likes, and while it's easy to sit on here and say "why doesn't he change formation?", it's quite tricky to see how he would actually do that, and if he was sacked and someone else was brought in, they wouldn't be able to do anything different unless you give them the funds to do so.

Now, whether that was the right call or not is a whole other debate. It's something Stan spoke about a lot when he was involved, about a Director of Football recruiting for the good of the squad rather than necessarily to fit a specific system. But this is also what you get when you invest the bare minimum into a squad. It's true that COSU have put some money in for signings, but the likes of Moncur and Bonne are probably costing more and contributing less than other options could have. That is on John Still and his recruitment team, and on COSU for not coughing up the money earlier on.

Add in the fact that the three amigos have long-term contracts, I'd be surprised if COSU could afford to pay them off and sack them anyway. Let alone to be able to pay them off, bring in someone new, and give them a budget to work with for new signings. We've ended up paying for COSU trying to scrimp before. How many people on here knew that we needed another forward even before Cardwell left? Then we're left picking up scraps and paying over the odds for Bonne who is not good enough.

So who is to blame? The players, because there are several not playing at the standard they are capable of. Kev and the amigos, because they are getting things wrong. John Still and his team, because there has been budget wasted on poor signings this season. COSU, because they haven't strengthened the squad as much as it needs to be flexible. Ron, because COSU may well have done a bit more if they'd been in the doors earlier.

Where does that leave us? I genuinely question whether COSU would be able to afford sacking the current coaching team, and I don't see why they would be in any rush to walk. I don't think they should be either. What is clear is that something needs to change, and COSU will have to decide whether they're going to go all in and back Kev with the depth he needs. If they don't, they either can't afford to or they're trying to force him out.

 

[stewart]

You could argue the recruitment has been bang average because we haven’t signed players who fit Maher’s style? I think we’ve signed good players but are they necessarily the right fit?

But right from the beginning of Mahers tenure he stated he would have the last say on who is recruited ,he wanted players to fit his formation etc .

 

[rayleigh dan]

He deserves longer to turn things around IMO. As much as I was annoyed by the unneeded tinkering to the midfield today, it’s too early to panic.

I would like Kev to be less rigid with some of his decision making though. He does seem to have certain ‘favourites’ who are rarely dropped, Husin seems to be untouchable for example. I’d also like to see less overplaying in the final third, more flexibility in terms of formation (were way too predictable and easy to defend against at present), and better (and earlier) use of his subs bench when needed. Kev seems a stubborn sort who’s unwilling to change, maybe now’s the wake up call to show sometimes it’s required.

 

[RHB]

Win a few, lose a few. Until a Southend manager has a chance to upgrade his players without being transfer embargoed we wont be pleasing our faithful fans with quality signings.
At least the previous summer Kev could make some signings before the new season, albeit with a basket case of a club that constantly threatened going out of business, then have the embargo put upon him once the season started.

I think Kev hasn't done that well with certain sub opportunities, playing system, i agree with many that he is playing people that need a rest and a re-focus. There is no doubt that often players benefit from the coaching at SUFC and do improve, but some existing players who have cemented their place in the side need to be checked, Kev must not keep relying on them.

This ethos of looking sideways instead of looking up from midfield is costing us. We wont always be able to control possession and have to come up with other ways to win a game.

Maher out ?, i'm not adverse to it and not scared by the notion. It's not happening yet so let us not get on his back or the team at Roots Hall in the games to follow. Support the boys to the Nth degree, unless you want to see them in NLS.
Reading the match thread today was just toxic, i wished i could be at the game today.

This post is definitely a case of 'Wot he said'. And it's just saved me saying exactly the same. Thank you @Shrimp and two veg.

 

[RHB]

Luckily it's not my job to find a replacement and i am not for one minute advocating binning KM. But truth be known we are on a rapid decline that has to stop one way or another, The thought of NLS fills me wtih horror.

You are Phil Brown and I claim my £5.

 

[PIERS]

352. 532. Or the 541 we end up playing will not get us out of this league. Unless we have players 25 per cent better than the rest of the league . Pep ball is getting dumped everywhere .
Pace , direct footy and physicality are where it’s going for the next few seasons. And I don’t mean long ball, even though that would be better than the tripe we are serving up now

Our ‘system’ does not work.. sure it worked for Brentford or Brighton or whoever with x millions to spend 10 years ago.
We are fighting the last war , as they say in the army

 

[rayleigh dan]

Walker and Bonne have proven goalscoring records in this division (albeit a fairly long time ago in Bonne’s case). Pepple is impressing; Coker is tracking well to chip in with a decent number from midfield. Players are already there.

Adding a left-sided player with pace and an attacking midfield player will make us better at pressing from the front and winning the ball higher up the pitch, thus creating a better standard of opportunities.

Allied to that, it’s a confidence/belief thing that means we’re not shooting as often in the league; it’s not the style of play (although a slower build-up due to a lack of pace does contribute).

We had loads of shots against Charlton because it was a free hit; if we lost that game 5-0 it would be chalked off as a two division gap. We haven’t done that as much in league games because there are higher expectations, and if you’re not meeting those expectations, you’re less likely to try your luck from range. Much easier to pass sideways to a team-mate and let them take responsiblility.

Bonne did have a good goal scoring record at this level donkeys years ago, his recent goal scoring record though is dire. Walker might come good, but I haven’t been overly impressed with him either. Bim I agree looks good, but ultimately he isn’t our player.

Coker agreed, he’s been a breath of fresh air recently, yet inexplicably is dropped today for Moncur, who’s done naff all! That’s poor decision making from Maher and needs to be called out.

Ultimately, our recruitment in the last year or so hasn’t been anywhere near good enough. I can’t think of one standout ‘hit’, if Morton maintains his recent form, he could be, but he too was dropped for some reason today?!