What was going on ?

[footymad13]

Well from start to finish it was a total and utter **** up, the defence which i thought would be very strong this year with Prior, Edwards, Barrett but my god we were unfit, rigid and static and it was embrassing at times.

The forwards, I can't help but say i told you so i said im worried where the goals are coming and that was backed up by todays performance, Dudders you all say ? well he wasn't even there today oh and our new signing Mr Gray wasn't much better i mean Chelts must have been quaking when we chucked on Bramble then Husbands!

The midfield, hardly any good balls up to the forwards, gave alot of them back to the Chelts defenders and most of the time they crossed it into the middle of no where. Gower got into good positions on the wing a few times but our players decided it be best to pass to a player with 3-4 players around him. Most of the time we just gave it away.

I really don't wanna be so negative but there were NO postives from todays game apart from the Prior at times. Who had to play the role of a defender/midfielder at times because he was so frustrated with his team mates getting forward

Its only the first game but a good start can be vital i just hope Tilly can shake it up and make sure that sort of performance doesn't happen again because if it continues id say nothing less than bottom of the table for us.

Roll on Lincoln and lets hope we really get to see the team turn up.

P.S Lets not start this crap about Tilly out its a long season ahead which is quite worrying

 

[the dark deshrimper]

To be honest, that summary is very inaccurate.

Firstly you moan at the strikers. It is not their fault that they didn't recieve good delivery and i do believe that if we had put one away we would have got two. Had a few chances, with Gower, and the linesman stopped our other attack.

Defence has done better, but i thought Prior and Edwards were both strong. Nicolau was unlucky he had to take a very good and fast striker.

As for Gower, he made plenty of runs down the wing and people were passing to him, especially in the first half.

Overall, the better side won.

 

[footymad13]

Quote[/b] (the dark deshrimper @ Aug. 07 2004,18:00)]To be honest, that summary is very inaccurate.

Firstly you moan at the strikers. It is not their fault that they didn't recieve good delivery and i do believe that if we had put one away we would have got two. Had a few chances, with Gower, and the linesman stopped our other attack.

Defence has done better, but i thought Prior and Edwards were both strong. Nicolau was unlucky he had to take a very good and fast striker.

As for Gower, he made plenty of runs down the wing and people were passing to him, especially in the first half.

Overall, the better side won.

The second half as we pushed Gray esp had one or two chances which he failed with including a sitter to witch he softly gave to there keeper.

We never looked like scoring though and to be fair Chelts had a pretty good defence but they wern't anything special.

The centre backs struggled at times esp with the pace of Chelts.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Yeah you're being a bit harsh on the strikers FM13, all they got was long, inaccurate hoofs. I thought Gray looked lively (apart from mising a sitter in the second half) although Dudfield was a bit disappointing.

 

[Guest]

I didnt think Maher did all that badly but i definately disagree with whoever thought Edwards was strong, he got totally done for the first goal and both Jupp and Nicky were awful all game. I thought at least Gray tried hard although he did scuff a shot near the end which was prety poor. Hunt was non existant first half but did much better in the second. Dudfield was another non existant player who im not confident about scoring goals this year.
I thought Bart did all he could and didnt really have a chance with the goals but did make a very good save. Prior was ok although lost a few more headers then i thought he would.
Did anyone else noticed that apart from two goalkicks we went short everytime then most of the time it was the player that booted it up the pitch. Surely this just allowed cheltenham time to re-organise.

 

[Einstein]

Quote[/b] (the dark deshrimper @ Aug. 07 2004,18:00)]To be honest, that summary is very inaccurate.

Firstly you moan at the strikers. It is not their fault that they didn't recieve good delivery and i do believe that if we had put one away we would have got two. Had a few chances, with Gower, and the linesman stopped our other attack.

Defence has done better, but i thought Prior and Edwards were both strong. Nicolau was unlucky he had to take a very good and fast striker.

As for Gower, he made plenty of runs down the wing and people were passing to him, especially in the first half.

Overall, the better side won.

Isn't football a funny old game.

Edwards looked strong? Must have been watching a completely different game. Looked weak, ineffective and hardly won anything in the air all game.

Nicolau had very good and fast striker? Didn't think much of the striker being very good or fast. He will certainly be up against better strikers this season on many many occasions.

Gower may have tried to make many runs, but then every time he did get the ball he was scared to take on anyone, turned around and passed it straight back again. Really hope he will not be a one season wonder and was awful performance by the standards of last season.

Einstein

Einstein

 

[South Bank Hank]

For me, a bad, bad day at the office.
Cheltenham came looking to put ten men behind the ball, to hit us on the break through Odiwhatsisname. That's exactly what they did twice.

Sadly, Edwards was a little lacking for both goals. True, Nicolau should've prevented the pass for the second one, but it seemed to me that Eagle let the Chelts forward cut inside him both times.

Both goals were against the run of play, but if I'm honest, we hadn't really put Cheltenham under any real pressure. Gower had a good shot at 1-0 down which the keeper saved well. If that had gone in, it would've been a different game.

Positives?
Semi-positive would be Husbands - injected some pace and urgency. Only semi-positive because his final ball was poor.
Bramble would also be semi-positive. Looked lean, fit, fired-up and ready to make an impression. Couple of impressive runs, looking like he would make a difference.... and then he DID. Dreadful two-footed tackle. Took the ball and the player and had to go.

Sorry to be so negative but not a great deal to be positive about today. For me, only perhaps Carl P. came out of the game with credit. Hopefully the defence will learn more about each other and gel. Bentley's return to the midfield greatly appreciated.

Just my twopenneth...

 

[Guest]

thanks for the analysis!!

if only every Southend match could be like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[South Bank Hank]

Quote[/b] ]If only every Southend match could be like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eh?

 

[footymad13]

Quote[/b] (shrimpboy @ Aug. 07 2004,18:05)]Yeah you're being a bit harsh on the strikers FM13, all they got was long, inaccurate hoofs. I thought Gray looked lively (apart from mising a sitter in the second half) although Dudfield was a bit disappointing.

Yes plenty of players were lively but what about getting in good positions and putting in the right finish.

I agree the service was poor and inaccurate but in the second half the forwards could have done much better.

 

[Guest]

I spent the afternoon in the company of a Monkeyhanger who wondered how we let Tinkerla go. Any more news on today?

?

 

[Guest]

sorry more beers and a fresh lobster meal call, see the 1 o'clock squad on tuesday!!! yamas!!!

Terry

 

[overseas shrimper]

Quote[/b] (footymad13 @ Aug. 07 2004,18:54)]Its only the first game but a good start can be vital i just hope Tilly can shake it up and make sure that sort of performance doesn't happen again because if it continues id say nothing less than bottom of the table for us.

I bet we thought the same last season, when we won 2-0 and headed straight down to the foot of the table.

FFS, it's day 1... game 1. Why can't you reserve judgement?

Yes, it sounded like a poor performance... AND a poor game and I'm feeling down about it, but hold fire, will you?

 

[footymad13]

Quote[/b] (overseas shrimper @ Aug. 07 2004,18:44)]

Quote[/b] (footymad13 @ Aug. 07 2004,18:54)]Its only the first game but a good start can be vital i just hope Tilly can shake it up and make sure that sort of performance doesn't happen again because if it continues id say nothing less than bottom of the table for us.

I bet we thought the same last season, when we won 2-0 and headed straight down to the foot of the table.

FFS, it's day 1... game 1. Why can't you reserve judgement?

Yes, it sounded like a poor performance... AND a poor game and I'm feeling down about it, but hold fire, will you?

Im judging the game not the season, as you say its one game but it was bad and it has to be addressed as long as it is then no reason why we can't make the play offs.

 

[South Bank Hank]

Quote[/b] ]Yes, it sounded like a poor performance... AND a poor game and I'm feeling down about it, but hold fire, will you?

Well said from the Med.
Important thing is that we move forward from this.

 

[bas blue]

where were bently and corbett today ? does anyone else agree with me that hunt is a very good defender, but as a midfielder the games just seem to pass him by without any telling contribution.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

I won't opine at length, so here goes:

1. Hunt is not a midfielder. I really hope that he only plays in defence from now on. How Petts got taken off and he left on totally bemuses me.

2. We were poor at retaining possession in midfield. This invited Chelts to hit us at pace, which they did twice.

3. Eagle had a mediocre game at best. Communication poor throughout the back 4.

4. Jupp was almost as bad as Hunt. Gave away possession sloppily on too many occasions.

5. Nicky & Gower were not very sharp today; Nicky allowed himself to be beaten too many times.

6. Wayne Gray was MotM... sharp, lively, the only likely goal threat. Dudders was poor.

All in all, a bad day in the office for the players. But we will improve - we must.

Matt

 

[blue sky]

Came away from the Hall today very disappointed + with the feeling we may have a long, hard season ahead....

Bart - can't be faulted for the goals and one of the few to come out with any credit. his dead-ball kicking is far superior to Darryl's. 6 out of 10
Jupp - very poor. Way too many aimless balls forward and caught out of position a couple of times. 5/10
Nicolau - Rubbish today. No words to defend a crap performance. Totally at fault for the 2nd goal. Worried that he was beaten for pace on a few occasions. Youre not at Arsenal now son. Cut out the flash stuff and learn to DEFEND. 3/10
Edwards - at fault for the 1st goal and he knows it. Lost too many headers against their target-man and had a poor game. can and will do better. 4/10
Prior - pick of the back 4 for me. Lots of communication and tried to get things moving. Didn't see the incident with the ball-boy though. 6/10
Hunt - looked like a player playing out of position. Anonymous in 1st half and not much better in the 2nd. Was Bentley unfit? what about Pettefer in centre-midfield and Husbands or Corbett wide right? 3/10
Maher - usual Kevin, too many sideways passes and not enough urgency going forward. Also why does he want to spend so much of his time arguing with the ref? Get on with the game kevin! We need bigger performances than this from
our captain. 4/10
Pettefer - another one of the few to come out with some credit. Looked less than 100% fit though and half-a-yard short on pace at times. 6/10
Gower - Decent 1st half where he was our most dangerous player. Seemed a bit more reluctanct to take defenders on in the 2nd half. 7/10
Dudfield - Poor would be kind to Lawrie today. Memo: if you want to win a header make sure your feet leave the ground when you jump! This is the worst I've ever seen him in a blue shirt today. Hardly broke into a sweat and deservedley taken off. I still feel he is our best hope of getting goals this season but needs to improve and I dont think a Gray/Dudfield combo will work as they are too similar. Its Drewe+Dudfield for me. 4/10
Gray - Those who have called him 'striking sensation' pre-season need to take those rose-tinted specs off now! The guy is all pace and no end-product, doesnt pass, gives the ball away too easily and i'm sorry but he is too bambi-esque for me. i hope we haven't bought another Rawle? 4/10
Subs...
Bramble - Why was he brought on to initially play out of position on the right? He did inject some sense of urgency though and the Cheltenham defence were clearly uncomfortable on the occasions when he ran at them. Deserved to go off for that challenge, it really was bad. 5/10, but would of been 7 without that tackle.
Husbands - injected much needed pace into the team. But listening to Tilly on the radio afterwards he seemed to think Husbands had 'no end product' (his words). To be fair, we were already 2-0 down and chasing the game by that time. 6/10
Tilson/Brush - tactically got it wrong. Tilly's excuses on the radio about 'they came to make it hard' were Wignall-esque in their niavety. We were getting over-run in centre-midfield and down the left side and failed to keep possesion. Also far too many aimless long-balls pumped forward when we didnt have a natural ball-winner up front (Drewe?). 2/10 - If we have tactics like that all season we will be in big trouble.
Maybe my comments/ratings are a bit harsh but that was way below the standards we should expect and we need to see a MASSIVE improvement for the next match.