Where's Maher???

[Smiley]

The game appears to be passing Maher by now. I'm honestly happy Tilly has had the balls to go with McCormack and Bailey and drop our captain because of his form, although I'd certainly feel he warrants a place on the bench.

 

[SUFC Forever]

Sad that his career here seems to be winding down now - still has much to offer however as a squad player if not a starter every game. If not injured definately should have been on the subs bench.

 

[ozzy-shrimper]

Id love Maher to be back in the side, but I just couldn't drop McCormack or Bailey!

 

[CC51DAS]

I have felt for a long time now that the decision to drop KK last autumn was not just to do with his form . Why ? , quite simply because of the way it was handled - almost rubbing his nose in it .

Well to KK's credit this board and other media have not been flooded with dirty washing.

I wondered what RM was alluding to in his e-mail about ' cutting out the disease ' - I sincerely hope that this comment was not even in part aimed at KK who has been a magnificent servant to this club in the 10 years he has been here , but his exclusion from the squad yesterday did make me wonder once again what has been going on .

I still can't believe that some presentation or such like wasn't made to KK before the Barnsley game ( or did I miss it ? )

Whatever the reasons behind his demotion , he has conducted himself in public with dignity and deserves respect for both that and everything he has done for this club.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Maher isn't the player he used to be, at least on this seasons form. He's been at best ordinary, although somebody did point out he had a good game against Huddersfield. I must have blinked!! ;)

Having met him twice, his arrogance is unreal, especially towards my friends 11 year old boy! All I know is he's not popular in the dressing room, but maybe thats down to some of his mates leaving?

I hope he has his testimonial at the end of the season & leaves, but only if he's not wanted by Tilly. He deserves at least that, even if he doesn't deserve a place in the team.

 

[Beefy]

If he's not in the team and there are other options available then I understand and agree with the logic of not having him on the bench. Also, judging by the way that he seperated himself from the other subs at half time on tuesday I don't think Maher likes being a substitute anyway.

The Maher issue is going to hang over this Club for quite some time now because so many of our fans think (rightly or wrongly) that he walks on water. In my opinion he is an inferior player to both Alan McCormack & Nicky Bailey and if Tilly can only play two of those three then I'm happy with the two he's currently going for.

 

[sufcintheprem]

I didn't realise he wasn't on the bench. I was amazed that he didn't come on for Black at the time - his ball retention style of play was the exact thing we needed at the time.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

i think maher might be seeing a lot more of brisbane road come monday

I'd be shocked if he went to Orient. He's due a testimonial and going to play for Orient would - rightly or wrongly - lose him a lot of goodwill he's accumulated through sticking with the club through thick and mainly thin.

 

[SUFC Forever]

Maher isn't the player he used to be, at least on this seasons form. He's been at best ordinary, although somebody did point out he had a good game against Huddersfield. I must have blinked!! ;)

Having met him twice, his arrogance is unreal, especially towards my friends 11 year old boy! All I know is he's not popular in the dressing room, but maybe thats down to some of his mates leaving?

I hope he has his testimonial at the end of the season & leaves, but only if he's not wanted by Tilly. He deserves at least that, even if he doesn't deserve a place in the team.

I would agree with you about his arrogance. I have encountered him also and cannot say I was overly impressed with his attitude, nor it has to be said with him as a person. I once heard him trying to take the pee out of a Southend fan (in front of other players) and it was not nice and most uncalled for as the person concerned had done nothing at all to deserve such treatment.

Having said that, he is a Southend great and deserves to be remembered as such. I will support this testimonial when it is played and feel he has been superb for this club. Time does not stand still for anybody and if Tilly thinks his time is past then perhaps it better if he stays till the end of the season as a squad player and is then given a free as a thank you for his services. I cannot (bar injury or massive loss of form by the other mid-fielders) truly see him ever really being 1st choice again and it might be in the best interests of all for him to move on once the present campaign is over.

 

[mattytheshrimper]

did anyone see the picture in the orient programme yesterday, there was a very old picture of him some number of years ago playing against orient.

also i really do hope maher isn't going to go anywhere. as already said i don't think he's quite the player he used to be but still has huge ability. i would hope to think just because he's not playing at the moment he won't sulk off and leave. being the loyal proffessional he is i hope he excepts new players will come and go making competition for players which is good news in my opinion. if he left just because he has been left out in a few matches then it would be a very sour ending to a great career with southend.

its only a matter of time before either bailey or macca banned for a game for bookings so he will get his chance to get into the team. think we missed his experience yesterday in the final ten minutes to slow the game down a bit.

 

[Flinty]

"What are you doing home love"

" Mr Tilly says i'm not good enough to play at the moment"

 

[SUBBlue]

Sounds like we've not got the full story with the Maher situation.

He went from an ever present, virtually the 1st name on the team sheet every week, to a nobody in the matter of a few games.

It all seems to stem from when the rumours were kicking around about the training ground bust-up.

There may be issues with poor attitudes etc behinds the scenes but from an ability & experience viewpoint no-one can say Moussa should be on the bench ahead of Kev.

I can see him moving on at the end of this season.

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

I can see him moving on at the end of this season.

I think a few of the longer serving players we have will be moving on this summer...

 

[Jam_Man]

Was surprised at him not being on the bench but Tilly picked the right two to start.

I like Maher but wouldnt leave McCormack or Bailey out for him.

 

[Beefy]

Sounds like we've not got the full story with the Maher situation.

He went from an ever present, virtually the 1st name on the team sheet every week, to a nobody in the matter of a few games.

It all seems to stem from when the rumours were kicking around about the training ground bust-up.

There may be issues with poor attitudes etc behinds the scenes but from an ability & experience viewpoint no-one can say Moussa should be on the bench ahead of Kev.

I can see him moving on at the end of this season.

I doubt that there's any more to it than the simple fact that we have two better midfielders in the squad than him.

When Maher has played he's had the captaincy, which I doubt would be the case if there was anything more sinister to his absense.

 

[seany t]

Its odd that he wasn't even on the bench yesterday (or indeed the last few games). He wasn't having his best season ever admittedly, but from what I saw of his performances in the earlier part of the season, he did bring a calmer air to proceedings when we were running the clock down and looking for some composure.

I wouldn't swap any of the midfield for him right now, but surely he warrants a bench spot?

I can't wait for the Millwall match. Due to all kinds of stuff, I haven't seen SUFC in the flesh for a month or so now