Echo News The final say: Why isn't this season going to plan for Southend United?

[Evening Echo]

THIS really wasn’t the way this season was expected to go for Southend United.

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[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter

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The final say: Why isn't the season going to plan for Southend United?​

Tough defeat - Southend United lost at Altrincham (Image: FOCUS IMAGES)

THIS really wasn’t the way this season was expected to go for Southend United.

After years of extreme financial mismanagement and genuine fears for the future for the club, having new owners was supposed to a signal a bright new future for the Shrimpers.

Long-term it probably still will.

READ MORE: Blues fans have their say on defeat at Altrincham

But Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Altrincham was a tough watch and leaves Blues 16th in the standings, three points above three points above the relegation zone.

The Shrimpers have picked up just 21 points from 18 games and, in hindsight, there are several reasons why.

First of all, the problems ran so deep at Roots Hall that it was always going to take time for a solid platform to be put in place.

Papering over the cracks can only work for so long and applying short term fixes for long-term issues was never going to end well.

Work is ongoing where that is concerned but it is matters on the pitch which are now more problematic.

Last season, Blues massively over-achieved and continually upset the odds to push themselves into play-off contention.

But it just has not felt the same this time around and every time you think the season is starting to click into gear it doesn’t happen.

Everyone will have their own reasons as to why and mine also stem back to the summer.

At the end of the previous campaign, the Shrimpers had a settled, spirited squad which needed slight tinkering and strengthening to sustain a push for promotion.

However, the ongoing embargo meant several transfer targets were missed and players already at the club were also allowed to leave far too easily.

Those departing may not have been consistent starters but they had the character, spirit and togetherness to play their part in picking up points when called upon.

But, with nine players moving on, a squad needing only slight work suddenly needed rebuilding.

The unexpected departures of Ollie Kensdale and Harry Cardwell added to those issues and their loss continues to be felt.

Put simply and, perhaps rather harshly, the majority of those coming into the club have not done as well as those they have replaced.

And I honestly think the squad has got considerably weaker since the end of last season.

Injuries to key players have not helped and the loss of form to others has also played a part.

But the biggest issue now is moving forward and how to put things right.

Saturday’s first 45 minutes was arguably the worst of the season so far and the Shrimpers were continually cut open by the slick passing of their hosts.

Altrincham are well known for the problems they can pose going forward.

But what was alarming about the weekend was just how easy it was for them to work their way through the Shrimpers and just how open the visitors were through the centre of the park.

Blues looked sluggish and slow through the centre of the park early on and,in hindsight, might have been better to stick with James Morton and most definitely Oli Coker in that position.

However, boss Kevin Maher has an abundance of options in midfield and will be keen to use them.

Cav Miley – who has been a hugely influential figure for Blues – also needs minutes and game time to work his way back to full fitness after a back injury.

But on Saturday it did not really work and the Shrimpers could easily have been further behind at the break.

It was a demoralising watch for anyone connected with the club but Blues have bounced back from much worse in recent seasons and must now show that spirit once again.

It is not time for knee-jerk reactions or anything like that but the Shrimpers must get back to being far harder to beat.

On the pitch, they must show the fighting spirit to be able to recover from setbacks and become far nastier to play against for their opponents.

Personally, I think Southend are crying out for a dominant defender capable of leading those around him as well as finding another striker.

Maher must be backed where that is concerned but he is also facing some tough decisions of his own.

I have been a huge admirer of Noor Husin in the past few seasons and have enjoyed the quality he possesses on the ball.

But Husin has now gone 18 games without a goal or an assist and has been well below his best for a sustained period of time - meaning it could now be time to give someone else a chance.

However, things seem to go deeper than just team selection and tactics at this stage.

And, above all else, the Shrimpers must get on the front foot - on and off the pitch - and rediscover that fighting spirit and unity to ensure the football club can start to move in the right direction once more.

 

[GIBBO]

However, things seem to go deeper than just team selection and tactics at this stage.


What does he mean by this? I mist be living underca rock? Can some please she some light on the matter please?

 

[Southend Elvis]

So many wrong decisions this season, players don't make those decisions. Things should be better this year, compared to last.
Really disappointing...

 

[thenobster]

Dark Dingos Batman…

Maybe the ‘rat cave’ that is also known as Southend United’s ex chairman’s legacy is a lot worse than we knew publicly.
The whole club was left in a toxic condition and may run a lot deeper than we realise.
Of course, it could be the good old fashioned ‘chairman dislikes manager’ scenario?

 

[Barry.C]

Excellent as ever from CP and one of his seasonal classic forensic reports. Also virtually a cut and paste of everything we have been saying for sometime now

 

[Barling Magna]

".....players already at the club were also allowed to leave far too easily.

Those departing may not have been consistent starters but they had the character, spirit and togetherness to play their part in picking up points when called upon."

Powell and Fonguck are both missed and were indeed let go too easily.

 

[Barry.C]

At least Kev is waking up more about the "State of Denmark "

I am sick and tired of watching sides make 3 passes from their box to be shooting free in our box. Altrincham were brilliant at it,. fast and accurate, speedy wingers and at least one giant of a leader in the heart of defence

I agree confidence is a big factor around pressing and passing forward at pace, Im not sure we have the personal or skill to achieve that , certainly not pace wise

Fortune tends to also favour the brave confidence wise. We need to play fast, see it quicker and do it. Daring to shoot more, whats happened to that? Opting to keep a slow possession does not a goal feast bring, otherwise as usual we get stuck in a game where either you go backwards or lob forward big, leaving you exposed and disconnected

We play too long and slow in our own half. We need to get our players to do it going forward more consistently. If this confidence cant be coached or is ignored certain players need moving on.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Part of the picture (IMO) is that a number of other clubs in the league appear, from the outside, to be spending untold sums on constant squad strengthening - FGR, Barnet, York, Oldham to name a few.

Even if we’ve had a very good budget this year, I can’t believe it’s anywhere near those clubs’ spending. It would be a monumental effort to be anywhere near them come the end of the season.

There are plenty of other internal issues, as others have said, but I think this is also an important part of the picture.

 

[Roger The Alien]

Remember Dagenham is much lower than us on budgets, they still play good entertaining football, I would swap our squad and managers for their squad’s and their manager, as they are good value for money to watch exciting football.

 

[Medway Blue]

Remember Dagenham is much lower than us on budgets, they still play good entertaining football, I would swap our squad and managers for their squad’s and their manager, as they are good value for money to watch exciting football.

I don't think they are as much lower on budget, if at all, than you think they are.

Regardless though, be our guest, Murkey!

 

[leeblue]

While I'm in the give kev time camp he's earned it. Is there a scenario where an absolute clean sweep for the football side of things wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

While I'm in the give kev time camp he's earned it. Is there a scenario where an absolute clean sweep for the football side of things wouldn't be a bad thing.

The issue here is that almost all the squad will still under contract through next season as well.

The only contracted players whose deals are up at the end of the season are Ralph (arguably player of the season), Bridge, Waldron, Bonne and I presume Wood.

Any incoming manager would be essentially stuck with the vast majority of Maher’s players and a limited budget to add to it (especially once paying off Maher and his backroom are factored in).

In a year’s time Collin, Gus, Wind, Taylor, Crowther, Gubbins, Miley, Husin, Morton, Coker, KAF and Walker will all be coming to the end of their contract. Around this time next year would be the time for a managerial change, giving any incoming manager a chance to assess the squad to see how they want to build around and who to move on.

Until then we can tinker with the squad but a major rebuild is going to be tricky. That also means we’d need to largely stick with players signed to play Maher’s style of play and for that it makes sense for a business to give the current management time to make their signings work. To do otherwise is a return to short term Rononimics

In any case, as you say, Maher has plenty of credit in the bank and deserves every opportunity to turn things around.

 

[Rob1920]

I said months ago, if we really want to compete in this league COSU are going to have to up the playing budget. I’m all for sustainability but a mid-table budget is going to give you exactly that. So we either accept it and enjoy having a stable club with little hope of promotion, or the new owners will have to delve into those deep pockets of theirs so we can attract and hang on to the likes of Cardwell.

 

[Strykr]

So what is actually going on behind the scenes then?

Kevs cryptic comments and now CP, hint that somethings very wrong.

 

[leeblue]

The issue here is that almost all the squad will still under contract through next season as well.

The only contracted players whose deals are up at the end of the season are Ralph (arguably player of the season), Bridge, Waldron, Bonne and I presume Wood.

Any incoming manager would be essentially stuck with the vast majority of Maher’s players and a limited budget to add to it (especially once paying off Maher and his backroom are factored in).

In a year’s time Collin, Gus, Wind, Taylor, Crowther, Gubbins, Miley, Husin, Morton, Coker, KAF and Walker will all be coming to the end of their contract. Around this time next year would be the time for a managerial change, giving any incoming manager a chance to assess the squad to see how they want to build around and who to move on.

Until then we can tinker with the squad but a major rebuild is going to be tricky. That also means we’d need to largely stick with players signed to play Maher’s style of play and for that it makes sense for a business to give the current management time to make their signings work. To do otherwise is a return to short term Rononimics

In any case, as you say, Maher has plenty of credit in the bank and deserves every opportunity to turn things around.

I get it. Such a tricky scenario. The last hangover of the rat in many ways with the takeover delayed etc. Patience is a big thing to ask the majority of modern football fans but I'm already looking forward to next summers transfer dealings, being kevs 1st fully funded normal transfer window. Quite the thing considering it'll be his 4th season.

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

However, things seem to go deeper than just team selection and tactics at this stage.


What does he mean by this? I mist be living underca rock? Can some please she some light on the matter please?

So what is actually going on behind the scenes then?

Kevs cryptic comments and now CP, hint that somethings very wrong.

I think everything is there in the article. there's lots of factors, no one single thing, Ron left a toxic legacy like a massive **** in every corner of every room. and it sounds like it's going to take time.

on the pitch there are two problems:
1. we can't score in the brothel
2. we let in too many

relatedly, we have 4 centre backs at the club, and one is as much a wing back.
confidence is so low we take too many touches and play backwards and sideways all the time.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I get it. Such a tricky scenario. The last hangover of the rat in many ways with the takeover delayed etc. Patience is a big thing to ask the majority of modern football fans but I'm already looking forward to next summers transfer dealings, being kevs 1st fully funded normal transfer window. Quite the thing considering it'll be his 4th season.

Ironically I think every contract was actually agreed by the Consortium. I remember saying pre-season that we for the first time in a long time had stability and we had the squad all locked up long term. That lasted a month!

But COSU will be more aware than the fans of what Kev has endured - and that’s another reason why they will give him time to turn it around.

I too look forward to Kev’s first normal summer transfer window. It’s not just the transfer window it’s about being able to plan with a degree of confidence and budgets not disappearing, being able to plan a proper pre-season. Remember when Wimbledon cancelled a pre-season game as they didn’t think we’d be able to field a team? Just think what a luxury it will be to plan games months in advance rather than scrambling around last minute.

Obviously things aren’t clicking on the pitch right now but we’re miles away from the disorganised mess we had under Bond, Brown, Campbell etc. The team actually has structure, players are improving (Taylor, Coker, Ralph, Gus, Pepple are all probably playing the best football of their career). Patience is a dirty word amongst many and many use football as a vent for their general frustrations in life. That was previously concentrated on Ron Martin. Now he’s gone and COSU are heroes (for now) so the focus for discontent switches to Maher. A win Saturday quietens it for a bit.