Pre-Match Thread Woking v Southend United, Tuesday 26th November, 19:45 k.o., NL

[Strykr]

Tbh its nice going into this knowing that theres a possibility of change.

I swear some of our SZ chat gets back to the management, you can tell.in kevs latest post match interview where he said "plan b or whatever".

 

[Shrimp and two veg]

Squad rotation for this one. That old Sat-Tues i think will mean Husin back in for starters. Forsin should be fresh as a daisy. Hopefully building some belief in this team to be able to change personnel with ease.

 

[bluethroughandthrough]

It's funny how one can read form. In their last 3 home league games, they've beaten Boston and drawn with both FGR's and York 1-1 respectively. Doesn't look so bad on them now does it? Much like our form, we believe it's bad, but when you look at the away form, it's been very good recently aside from Altrincham.

This will be by no means an easy game. The formation will be the biggest topic. I air on the side of caution when we automatically say play 4-3-3. Fans don't like to hear it, but it is a totally different team and set of circumstances. We had gaps to exploit against FGR because they kept countering us. That won't happen with a low block team. So I don't know if Kev will start that formation.

I honestly think the formation is irrelevant. It's about commitment to attacking. We just commited players forward second half. It's as simple as that. That's all we need to do again. Even Husin had a shot!!!

Having said that, Bonne, Pepple and Walker looked dangerous. The latter's best position has always been coming in from the flank, it's what he did at Daggers.

I'd go:
Collin
Gus, Taylor, Crowther, Ralph
Coker, Morton, Husin
Bonne, Pepple, Walker

My biggest worry with that, is that lack of tracking back from Bonne. Especially when Gus is so attacking himself.

I think formation does matter because players have specific roles which restricts them.
On the weekend the shackles came off and allowed the players to play. In addition the more "attacking minded" players the more you will press the opposition back and have more options available.

But I also agree on the mentality too.

Id play this.
No more wing backs so no double responsibility of being a full back and defending and being the attacking width.
Depth, strength and the ability to ball carry
Attacking width and numbers

Colin
Gus Taylor crowther Ralph
Coker Miley Morton
Walker pebble bridge

I super hope this shape and these players remain. I think the players enjoyed playing this formation too. They looked visibly happier

 

[RHB]

3 points are the most important thing from this game. If we are to push on up the table then an unbeaten run is now required up to, and beyond, Xmas.

Interesting predictions thread from the Woking board, some of theirs aren't too hopeful.

Match Prediction League - Southend (H) - Cardboard

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

3 points are the most important thing from this game. If we are to push on up the table then an unbeaten run is now required up to, and beyond, Xmas.

Agree. We now need some consistency, which will bring confidence and the squad can live up to it's promise

 

[Blues4LifeDan]

Agree. We now need some consistency, which will bring confidence and the squad can live up to it's promise

This is why the understandable clamour to go to a 4-4-3 may not come into fruition yet, especially away from home. If you look at our away form prior to Altrincham, it was actually really good. We'd stopped shipping goals and became hard to beat. It was the personnel change that undid us at Altrincham, not the formation.

I have no quarrels with being hard to beat and slightly more pragmatic away from home, as long as we get the result. At home, we absolutely need to be on the front foot a lot more and that's probably the time for the 4-3-3.

Coker and Morton were missing from that midfield at Altrincham and that was a huge miss and change from how we play. Doesn't matter if it's 3-5-2 or 4-3-3. If those two play in any of those formations, we have a better chance of winning, it's as simple as that.

 

[MisterStubbs]

All about opinions but how can you have KAF and Miley in but no Morton. He has been excellent this past month or so and along with Coker should be first choice

Purely resting is all. He’s been excellent as you say and I wouldn’t have any problem with him swapping for Miley or KAF.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

It's funny how one can read form. In their last 3 home league games, they've beaten Boston and drawn with both FGR's and York 1-1 respectively. Doesn't look so bad on them now does it? Much like our form, we believe it's bad, but when you look at the away form, it's been very good recently aside from Altrincham.

This will be by no means an easy game. The formation will be the biggest topic. I air on the side of caution when we automatically say play 4-3-3. Fans don't like to hear it, but it is a totally different team and set of circumstances. We had gaps to exploit against FGR because they kept countering us. That won't happen with a low block team. So I don't know if Kev will start that formation.

I honestly think the formation is irrelevant. It's about commitment to attacking. We just commited players forward second half. It's as simple as that. That's all we need to do again. Even Husin had a shot!!!

Having said that, Bonne, Pepple and Walker looked dangerous. The latter's best position has always been coming in from the flank, it's what he did at Daggers.

I'd go:
Collin
Gus, Taylor, Crowther, Ralph
Coker, Morton, Husin
Bonne, Pepple, Walker

My biggest worry with that, is that lack of tracking back from Bonne. Especially when Gus is so attacking himself.

Great post.

One point: are Woking still a low block team? They were under Sarrl but they sacked him presumably as their football was so turgid not long after we played at their place. I can’t remember if their new manager changed their style or not (or if we’ve actually faced him).

 

[Jai]

Tbh its nice going into this knowing that theres a possibility of change.

I swear some of our SZ chat gets back to the management, you can tell.in kevs latest post match interview where he said "plan b or whatever".

I suspect he has his head in his hands on a daily basis based on some of the tripe our fans come up with.

 

[Jai]

Great post.

One point: are Woking still a low block team? They were under Sarrl but they sacked him presumably as their football was so turgid not long after we played at their place. I can’t remember if their new manager changed their style or not (or if we’ve actually faced him).

They'll be at home against a side 16th in the table. I doubt they'll sit back too much.

Encouraging to see a different system work at the weekend, as it did during Kev's first season in charge when he played a similar 3-4-3 style.

But people get too obsessed and worked up about formations. It's really about the players playing in them as to whether they work or not. The 3-5-2 system Kev favours was been a free-flowing attacking style last season and the previous season, when players were in form and had confidence.

Not sure of Woking's strengths and weaknesses this season as they've chopped and changed managers a lot (hence their lowly position), but we obviously need to factor that in before selecting a team and system that will work tomorrow night.

 

[dusterman]

They'll be at home against a side 16th in the table. I doubt they'll sit back too much.

Encouraging to see a different system work at the weekend, as it did during Kev's first season in charge when he played a similar 3-4-3 style.

But people get too obsessed and worked up about formations. It's really about the players playing in them as to whether they work or not. The 3-5-2 system Kev favours was been a free-flowing attacking style last season and the previous season, when players were in form and had confidence.

Not sure of Woking's strengths and weaknesses this season as they've chopped and changed managers a lot (hence their lowly position), but we obviously need to factor that in before selecting a team and system that will work tomorrow night.

I think the 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 is favoured and so sought after by fans as with now a fairly fit squad it seems to work for us in terms of personnel and it tends to bring front foot play which most want.

Options across that front three:

LW: Walker/Bridge ST: Bim/Waldron RW: Bonne/Wood/Gus

Yes it limits Gus but we have DMs to cover him so he can get forward and ghost in the box.

Just feel it works for us now as before we didn’t have the player depth.

Great to have options to do both though.

 

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United skipper Nathan Ralph heads back to Woking tomorrow night wanting greater consistency from the Shrimpers.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[northlincsshrimper1]

The main concern with using 4-3-3 appears to be that the defence is not as solid as some would like
If that is the case, then I would put Wind in as right back. He is better at that role than Gus.
The team then would read:

Collin/Jeacock
Wind Taylor Crowther Ralph

Coker Morton Husin

Bonne Bim Walker

This assumes that all are fit and able to play. The bench would be quite a strong selection to choose from, if required.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

@ShrimperStats how do Woking tend to line-up?

 

[Evening Echo]

ALL the updates from the press conference ahead of Southend United's match at Woking.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[SHRIMPERPETER]

Are there disabled toilets in the West stand behind the disabled spaces?

 

[Barry.C]

They have lined up with 7 Managers, some interim in 7 years

In July 2024, it was reported that Woking could go into administration if a buyer could not be found in the next few weeks. Owner Drew Volpe was willing to sell the club for £1, and only a £600,000 loan from his parents was keeping the club afloat.In November 2024, American businessman Todd Johnson (a former vice-chairman of Dagenham & Redbridge and a co-owner of MLS side Minnesota United FC) agreed to acquire a majority stake in Woking, with Volpe - who had provided £3m to the club - retaining a minority stake.

 

[Tommy2holes]

The main concern with using 4-3-3 appears to be that the defence is not as solid as some would like
If that is the case, then I would put Wind in as right back. He is better at that role than Gus.
The team then would read:

Collin/Jeacock
Wind Taylor Crowther Ralph

Coker Morton Husin

Bonne Bim Walker

This assumes that all are fit and able to play. The bench would be quite a strong selection to choose from, if required.

That's pretty much the team I'd choose tbh

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

I don't believe the Amigos will change the ethos and team set up on the basis of 40 minutes of good play. I suspect they will be looking to see what can be done to set the current squad up to play in a similar pattern with 3 across the back AND 3 central midfielders and BIm as the No9 "spearhead".
The selection for the other 3 outfield slots is Gus or Wind? (right side)
Walker or Bridge or Noor? (left side)
Bonne or Moncur? (no10 role)
Danny W to replace Bim sometime after an hour plus?
KAF and Woody as wildcards subs?

Is it only Joe Gubbins injured, maybe JB too?

 

[Richard Hearn]

Are there disabled toilets in the West stand behind the disabled spaces?

There weren't but I took a crowbar to them after Saturday's game so they are pretty disabled now.