Walker vs Northampton

[mattytheshrimper]

was interested to know peoples thoughts about his game today?

my main point is what everyone made of his disgraceful dive towards the end of the game shortly before we scored.

i have seen this time and time again given against us and dispise the player for cheating in that way. and to see one of our own do that today really got to me. i don't want to be that sort of team and I was very dissappointed for one of our players to go down like he had been shot.

don't know if this has already been mentioned but thought i would mention it.

 

[Andy_S]

The usual from Walker - schoolboy like performance.

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Very poor- no awareness of the players arund him, kept coming in and shooting with his weaker left foot instead of crossing it in. Decent skill on the ball but no footballing brain at all. And falls over far too easy. Wouldve stuck Betsy on instead.

 

[Tilly N Brush]

most frustrating player to watch for me
he seems to have something going for him but never seems to produce a display i believe he is capable of.
is it just me or does he always do the hard work then **** up on the finish.
he always works himself an extra yard or runs into the right positions but cant put the ball in the net. potential is there though, with some confidence i still think he can be good for southend.

 

[SUFC Forever]

Would never have him in a Southend shirt again if it was up to me.

Think the bloke is strictly 2nd rate.

 

[GBJ]

the pre season game against a very average defence at thurrock walker was bad,sadly the lad is not up to this level,seems he is suffering from 2 left feet syndrome.

maybe a loan at lower league might boost his confidence?

 

[OldBlueLady]

Dive apart I thought he did ok, seemed strong on the run with the ball and got some great passes away on the edge of the box. Shots were a bit off but you can't have everything, and his attacking play was far better than what I've seen from Betsy in recent games. Linked well with Sankofa as well before Barney came on.

 

[Lord Football]

It cannot help a lad lacking in confidence to get booed when coming on.

When he first arrived, he looked. Nice touches, linked well with Barnard and it seemed we had a player. However,the miss against Northampton last season (where a win may have seen end up in 2nd) and the miss at Doncaster, really showed him up to be a poor finisher. He has done nothing since then to dispell any of those thoughts.

He seems unable to think his was through a game. He has a bag of talent, but doesn't have the ability to understand when to pass, when to shoot or when to try and run at someone. There was a classic example towards the end yesterday when he burst down the right and it was clear to everyone he was simply going to be tackled but carried on regardless.

That said, given an injection of confidence is what he needs. He really needs all of us to lay off him and he really needs a bit of luck in front of goal. If he doesn't get that in the coming weeks, I'd agree that maybe a loan spell in L2 may be what he needs.

 

[GodblessArthurRowley]

Overestimated his ability I thought he might do well in the conference I'm thinking more like Essex Senior League now.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I thought he added another dimension to our play. Thought Tilly got that sub absolutely spot on, and he used his bench really well. At that stage of the game, we needed someone able to run at them and beat a man. He stretched them and helped create time and space for others. Sadly he's chronically lacking confidence.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

I agree. I thought he did OK and his substition certainly changed the game because before that we had no winger on the right, so credit to Tilson. Grant was supposed to be there but kept moving into the middle and there were a number of times when someone had the ball and was looking for a pass but there was no one on the right. WHen Walker came on we had an outlet and a bit of pace down the right. He made some good runs but then often ends up running into someone or misplacing a pass. Plus he dived near the end.

 

[DTS]

Really want him to do well and try and be positive whenever he comes on but my god he dosent make it easy.

Great chance to come in and do the simple things well. He had the perfect chance to get back in good books. They were at full stretch and someone of Walkers pace could really have done some damage.

I am not asking for Ricky Otto like runs just be an outlet, stretch the defence and give it simple. Instead he looks like a boy lost trying to over play and failing to ever beat that ****ing annoying pygmy Jackman.

Time for a spell in the reserves to get his morale up i feel.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I agree. I thought he did OK and his substition certainly changed the game because before that we had no winger on the right, so credit to Tilson. Grant was supposed to be there but kept moving into the middle and there were a number of times when someone had the ball and was looking for a pass but there was no one on the right. WHen Walker came on we had an outlet and a bit of pace down the right. He made some good runs but then often ends up running into someone or misplacing a pass. Plus he dived near the end.

Grant was supposed to make us more competitive in midfield by drifting in and he did that - he was performing the role he was supposed to be as he wasn't picked to hug the touchline. However when we were pushing for the win later on we needed someone to perform a different role and Walker did that. It allowed us to attack down both flanks. Most of the stuff he attempted didn't come off, but he was attempting it and that kept the defence honest as it only once had to come off once for us to win the game.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I am not asking for Ricky Otto like runs just be an outlet, stretch the defence and give it simple.

I think he was an outlet who stretched the defence, when he came on we were able to attack down both flanks in a way we didn't when Milsom (who did a decent job) was playing. People have a go at Tilly for his subs, but that was an excellent tactical switch and I don't think I've seen Tilly given any credit for a subtle tactical change that changed the game.

 

[David Essex]

sorry but i thought he played well... for sure his final touch lets him down but he does attack and open up defences and with someone like him, create chances you often get a shot on goal.....overall a good performance but just lacking in goal poaching ability...

 

[Sean 2]

sorry but i thought he played well... for sure his final touch lets him down but he does attack and open up defences and with someone like him, create chances you often get a shot on goal.....overall a good performance but just lacking in goal poaching ability...

This i agree with,i mean as soon as Walker came on he created an opening for himself just inside the box whereby a better struck shot would've made him an instant hero.
I did think at the time, oh good - someone that can actually create a chance at last!

 

[mattytheshrimper]

seriously can't believe people have completely over looked the point he tried to cheat. everyone saw the dive, disgraceful.

if a player did that to us and won the penalty thats all we would be talking about.

as far as i'm concerned don't want that sort of player near southend united.

 

[Feathers]

This i agree with,i mean as soon as Walker came on he created an opening for himself just inside the box whereby a better struck shot would've made him an instant hero.
I did think at the time, oh good - someone that can actually create a chance at last!

I agree not only did he create that chance within 5 minutes he also cut in from the right and had another shot. Unfortunately he didn't get hold of either shot and it gave some 'supporters' the chance to have a go at him.

We have been very shot shy of late and at least he has the ability to create chances and was prepared to have a go.

For me it was a very good substitution and his pace offered us a new dimension for the last 20 minutes or so.

 

[Angell Delight]

Very poor man's Wayne Gray - enough said.

 

[SUFC Forever]

seriously can't believe people have completely over looked the point he tried to cheat. everyone saw the dive, disgraceful.

if a player did that to us and won the penalty thats all we would be talking about.

as far as i'm concerned don't want that sort of player near southend united.

That is the way football is unfortunately. Remember Thornton for Orient last season?

It is cheating whatever way you look at it but if we had been awarded the penalty and most people would have been pleased I feel. How many times have you seen a player kick the ball out then stick him hand up shouting "Our ball!!!" then chat the lino or ref fro not giving it their way - no difference there and if you banned players for cheating (or "gamesmanship" as some like to put it) then virtually all clubs would struggle to get a team out each week as far as I am concerned.