Question The Acceptance of Mediocrity

[The Original Tribal Chief]

What league were we in in 2000 @choggy ?

We are ****ing non-league. Our support deserves better.

Give your whole cretinous body a wobble.

 

[hlane17]

I'm just happy the team I support still exists.

Agreed, but what comes after survival? Mere existence in a **** league, or getting back to where we should be?

 

[Jai]

Agreed, but what comes after survival? Mere existence in a **** league, or getting back to where we should be?

COSU have had the club for less than 6 months. I'm not sure where this idea we are accepting of mediocrity has come from. I tell you what will get you a very long stay in this league - reactionary decisions, chopping and changing managers after a few bad results, throwing good money after bad... it feels like we've been here a long time already but it's worth pointing out we haven't had a season down here yet where we've started from a level playing field.

I don't want to be in this league any more than anybody else does. It feels like we don't really exist here. The Charlton game was great, not least because it was nice to feel we still 'existed' in a footballing sense. Being down here is, in a sense, purgatory.

On the other hand, I've always been able to see the bigger picture. Football for me is the day with friends and family. I would never say the result is secondary... it ruins my weekends when we lose. But on the other hand if we win, I couldn't care less whether it's against Charlton or Carshalton. I understand the people who can't really enjoy wins against the smaller teams in this league, but I'll never be one of them.

It worries me to think we are losing a generation of fans through being down here. The kids at school in the area who are getting ribbed by their plastic Prem mates because we're non league. It scares me that we could still not be back in the Football League when I'm 50, and that my children might grow up with the perception of us as a non-league club, just as I grew up with the perception that we were a Championship club.

On the face of it, we've gone backwards this season on the pitch, but I think that was inevitable after the mental fatigue of previous seasons not to mention the embargo and upheaval at the start of the season. We're still capable of putting a run together and challenging for the playoff spots, this league is very tight from the last couple of playoff places down and I happen to think that our results have not really reflected performances.

I don't think anyone's accepting of mediocrity. Just that some are more patient than others.

 

[sufc4life21]

I think mediocrity is being bit kind. Southend are unfortunately at quite low level now which isn't particularly great football to watch. I can't really get enthused like others with trips to fylde on Tuesday night. I started watching Southend in the championship in the 90s but now I'm having to put up with being in pub league...... I wouldn't mind so much if it was short stay in this league and we would bounce back to efl within couple years but we are looking at 5 years in this league next season, bit of joke tbh. Give me league 2 or league 1 mediocrity any day instead of this graveyard league which only has 1 automatic spot. Sad to say it I'm quite happy to watch premier league, bit of serie a and champions league now days. Used to love going to Roots Hall when in the efl but now I rarely can't be arsed, mainly due to where we are today and no real sight of getting out this **** league.

 

[stewart]

It amuses me when people say back to where we belong, in my mind we are where we belong and its all thanks to the Rat and his off spring, Theres nothing i would like more than for SUFC to mount a challenge the 2nd half of the season get into the playoffs and god willing a visit to Wembley, if possible two visits to Wembley that includes the FA TROPHY, Im hoping Maher and co will take that seriously as well as the players themselves, You supporters deserve nothing less for the way you have turned up in your numbers and got behind the consortium and Maher and co ,now is the time for them to repay you , starting with Hartlepool this Saturday .

 

[blues exile]

It just underlines how low we have sunk when acceptance of a long stay in the NL looks like becoming the norm among many supporters. Of course Martin is largely to blame for where we are but that is history now.. COSU cannot rely on grateful, trusting support indefinitely if action is not seen to be taken to get us back to the EFL. Initiating action to try to restore Roots Hall to something akin to normality is important but not close to the necessity of achieving the primary aim. Buzz words like sustainabilty and other currently fashionable business jargon will count for nothing the longer we are trapped in the NL. I suspect that younger supporters might have more patience than older heads, perhaps a poll might be useful to find out.

 

[Southend Elvis]

If SZ is a cross section of fans, yes some of us are definitely happy with mediocrity, just look at some of the replies certain posts get. Posters say we want win yet they say the players/coaches and doing OK when not winning?
I asked the mediocrity question on the Mcually Bonne thread, and many thought he was doing well....I, like others think a striker should score goals and possibly assist others to score, which he doesn't... so does Kev accept mediocrity?
COSU have some financial clout, and broad shoulders, with home support of 7,000+ and history like ours yet signings and loan deals aren't forthcoming.If you believe in something, you back it to the hilt. I have in my small life, and hopefully soon it will pay off, many on the COSU board have done that which has paid off..they aren't property developers, many are Southend supporters. Are COSU happy with mediocrity?
Surely a boost in player recruitment is needed virtually straight away, I know it's early in their tenure, but they have to show what can be.
Successful businesses are successful because they win, they are better than other firms, we need to win, we have been devoid of that success for far, far too long.
UTB

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

Mediocrity is like beige...absolutely ****ing pointless.

 

[blues exile]

Mediocrity is our past history, mostly spent in the third and fourth divisions. National League is below mediocrity. If we are happy to accept this there really is no hopel.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Thirty or so years ago, we were competing to get into the top tier of English football, and now we are fighting to ensure we don't drop into the sixth tier. Mediocrity would be League 1 - where we are now doesn't really have a name that's fit for a family website.

Love that Patrick Bateman avatar!

 

[* ORM *]

Refurbished part of the ground, north bank returning, youth set up returning, a coaching and scouting structure better than most in this league. I’ll leave a decision on mediocrity until the transfer window closes

 

[Southend Elvis]

COSU have had the club for less than 6 months. I'm not sure where this idea we are accepting of mediocrity has come from. I tell you what will get you a very long stay in this league - reactionary decisions, chopping and changing managers after a few bad results, throwing good money after bad... it feels like we've been here a long time already but it's worth pointing out we haven't had a season down here yet where we've started from a level playing field.

I don't want to be in this league any more than anybody else does. It feels like we don't really exist here. The Charlton game was great, not least because it was nice to feel we still 'existed' in a footballing sense. Being down here is, in a sense, purgatory.

On the other hand, I've always been able to see the bigger picture. Football for me is the day with friends and family. I would never say the result is secondary... it ruins my weekends when we lose. But on the other hand if we win, I couldn't care less whether it's against Charlton or Carshalton. I understand the people who can't really enjoy wins against the smaller teams in this league, but I'll never be one of them.

It worries me to think we are losing a generation of fans through being down here. The kids at school in the area who are getting ribbed by their plastic Prem mates because we're non league. It scares me that we could still not be back in the Football League when I'm 50, and that my children might grow up with the perception of us as a non-league club, just as I grew up with the perception that we were a Championship club.

On the face of it, we've gone backwards this season on the pitch, but I think that was inevitable after the mental fatigue of previous seasons not to mention the embargo and upheaval at the start of the season. We're still capable of putting a run together and challenging for the playoff spots, this league is very tight from the last couple of playoff places down and I happen to think that our results have not really reflected performances.

I don't think anyone's accepting of mediocrity. Just that some are more patient than others.

I partially agree, but it's about the optics for me. Like politics its what it looks like more than the substance, we have been taken over by 10+ successful people many are Southend supporters, yet all we get is sustainability, building the foundations ( wonder who else says that ) I would love the thought of Trump taking us over....

 

[Thundersley Blue]

I feel this is a quite unnecessary and inflammatory thread. There is a much wider picture and so far COSU have delivered all they have said. This was never a quick fix. Get real.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I partially agree, but it's about the optics for me. Like politics its what it looks like more than the substance, we have been taken over by 10+ successful people many are Southend supporters, yet all we get is sustainability, building the foundations ( wonder who else says that ) I would love the thought of Trump taking us over....

If you knew we were guaranteed promotion in the next two years would you be happy with that? Thing is, these guys have had less than a season. Before it was anyone but Ron, now this lot have had not even til Christmas and it’s not good enough. They’ve already done stuff Martin hasn’t done in 20 years and look .. if the ground wasn’t so run down and they didn’t inherit so much debt etc I’m pretty sure they’d have spent more on players.

No one is suggesting Bonne is ****ing Messi by the way but he’s not as bad as all that, we’ve had far worse. He’s improved. If he scores Sat it’d be great, as yes strikers should score..

 

[NZamba Legend]

There is a big difference is between acceptance and patience. Yes, there is a danger in the future of too many people accepting this is where we are and being okay with it, but I don't think anyone associated with the club, from players to staff to supporters is there right now.

 

[Southend Elvis]

If you knew we were guaranteed promotion in the next two years would you be happy with that? Thing is, these guys have had less than a season. Before it was anyone but Ron, now this lot have had not even til Christmas and it’s not good enough. They’ve already done stuff Martin hasn’t done in 20 years and look .. if the ground wasn’t so run down and they didn’t inherit so much debt etc I’m pretty sure they’d have spent more on players.

No one is suggesting Bonne is ****ing Messi by the way but he’s not as bad as all that, we’ve had far worse. He’s improved. If he scores Sat it’d be great, as yes strikers should score..

I would accept a slow methodical build up if it was one guy who own us, and we were struggling to get 1500 fans to watch. We have 7000+ fans, highest in this and nearly the league above, we have 10+ successful owners so I just thought we would have a more go get them approach.
JR told us in the spread that the reason for the multiple owners was to spread the risk, if one month one was having a difficult time the others would step up.
I'm really pleased we have been saved, but we are a great club, huge potential, we must have more of a belief!

 

[Jai]

It just underlines how low we have sunk when acceptance of a long stay in the NL looks like becoming the norm among many supporters. Of course Martin is largely to blame for where we are but that is history now.. COSU cannot rely on grateful, trusting support indefinitely if action is not seen to be taken to get us back to the EFL. Initiating action to try to restore Roots Hall to something akin to normality is important but not close to the necessity of achieving the primary aim. Buzz words like sustainabilty and other currently fashionable business jargon will count for nothing the longer we are trapped in the NL. I suspect that younger supporters might have more patience than older heads, perhaps a poll might be useful to find out.

Sadly the Martin era is not history. The ripples will be felt for several years. The historic debt left behind will have a direct impact on our finances and playing budget for some time, not to mention the costs of repairing and bringing Roots Hall up to scratch for hosting even National League games.

I don't think patience is an age thing, it's probably more about understanding of our very unique situation. A lot of people coped with our precarious existence by burying their head in the sand, to an extent, for their own sanity about just how bad the issues were and exactly what was going on. This is understandable because it took its toll on everyone. Posters on this board who had insider knowledge of our situation seem to be by and large more 'accepting' of our current situation. Accepting doesn't mean happy, by the way. I don't think you'll find too many Southend fans who will ever be happy sitting 14th in the National League.

COSU knew they were going to walk into a badly damaged football club but without going into too much detail, the number of skeletons in the closet that immediately came rushing out was a shock even to them.

 

[Southend Elvis]

Taking over a business ( that's what we are) you need to improve the product you are selling, not be happy with something thats not performing, or the business will fail. Let's hope we have a really productive January transfer window to show the fans and the rest of the league that Southend mean business!

 

[CrippsCorner]

I only really got back into supporting the club a few years back, which obviously wasn't the ideal time to do so! Obviously thrilled the way things went in regards to us even still being a club... but no, I am not happy being in the National League.

It's like above, it was mentioned about the younger generation getting ribbed for supporting a non-league club, where else everyone else round here seems to be a West Ham (or other London club) supporter. League 2 I would be happy (in theory) sitting there forever or at least a long time. It's little things, like you get to be in FIFA! Bigger opponents of course.

Even if we're not a 'professional' team, whatever that means, we lay the foundations now and act like it. The shop is mostly a disgrace, as discussed elsewhere, so I hope that's improved over the next couple of seasons. Our website is great though, and social media exposure not bad.

Hopefully we'll get back to being able to talk about a big day again one day, such as the Man Utd win. I want my son to have those memories and be able to talk about something he actually remembers in person!

 

[Liam AAS]

Agreed, but what comes after survival? Mere existence in a **** league, or getting back to where we should be?

You can't run a marathon the day after open heart surgery.