ALL the updates from Southend United's press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Yeovil Town.
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All the updates from Southend United's press conference
Today. Thursday 27th.
Southend United FC
Football
Sport
By Chris Phillips.
4:48pm
On Jason Demetriou settling into his role, Maher says: "He's been brilliant.
"He comes in and he did some coaching today which was good.
"He's out watching games all the time with him and John (Still) adding to the other side of it in terms of the recruitment and the data and what that looks like as well.
"There's a multitude of things which add to his role and to have someone who knows the club around the place is massive as well.
"How he works makes him brilliant to have and he's doing really well.
"He's played his part in the recruitment as well."
4:44pm
Asked about Macauley Bonne and his recent assists, Maher says: "We feel like we've got a decent mix of strikers.
"What I would say is that of course we want them scoring goals.
"Gus has taken on that mantle but we need them up and running too.
"They've all got off the mark which is important and they've had some decent chances but we need them to take off really.
"It's good for Macca to get the assists but we want goals as well.
"He does so much work for the team but we want him to be selfish as well and add goals alongside the assists."
4:41pm
Do you have a certain points target in mind with regards to making the play-offs?
Maher: "There's a number we'd like to get to.
"What it usually takes is above 70 points but it's hard to look too far ahead because there are a lot of games in a short space of time.
"What we've got to do is focus solely on Saturday and see where that takes you."
4:38pm
How's Josh Walker?
Maher: "He's good and he's been back in training this week.
"He trained today so he's fit and available."
4:34pm
On the goalkeeper situation, Maher replies: "It's something we'll monitor.
"Anssi's still fit and he's been training well.
"He knows his body and what he needs to do.
"Hayesy coming in gives us that stability and he's been a breath of fresh air coming in to the club.
"It's something we'll look at and if we need to act I'm sure we will.
"But there's no great panic right now."
4:32pm
How are Cav Miley and Adam Crowther?
Maher: "They're getting better.
"Cav is with Stef now on the grass doing his return to play stuff.
"He will have a good week with them next week which will edge him closer.
"Adam Crowther has had his first day out on the grass with the medical staff.
"He's doing some straight-line stuff and that will push him closer as well.
"There's obviously some work to do before they will be available to play."
4:29pm
Maher: "You've got to find ways to win football matches and we've done that to a decent level.
"We still want to improve and I don't think we're there yet in terms of where we are as a team.
"There's still loads to improve on and we're still work in progress in some aspects but we're pleased with a lot of stuff that's happened."
4:27pm
Maher adds: "In some ways it feels like a long season, in other ways it feels like we haven't really got going what with there being changes and it being stop start.
"We've got new players bedding in and we're getting stronger in terms of numbers and depth.
"Hopefully that stands us in good stead for the run in and there are a lot of points to play for.
"We've got to pick up as many as we can and the squad is going to be tested this month.
"Everyone has to be ready to play."
4:24pm
On this weekend's game, Maher says: "There are different challenges in every game.
"We've had Rochdale who are really good footballing side and have a certain way of playing, Tamworth were different to that but you kind all kinds of challenges in this league.
"Yeovil had a difficult period but they've had a couple of very good results now.
"They've tweaked their system slightly to when we played them before but the still have a lot of the same players and the same threats.
"They're really well coached and really well organised.
"They will be on a high after the last couple of results too."
4:20pm
Maher: "I think we've got seven games this month so it's going to test the squad but that's what it's there for.
"We feel like we've got stronger in terms of bodies and what we've got so people will be used.
"But games coming thick and fast are good when you're winning."
4:19pm
Up next is Kevin Maher
4:07pm
Have you done your initiation song yet?
Goodliffe: "I think that will be tomorrow.
"I can give it away to the boys what it will be though!"
4:06pm
Are you thinking about your long term future at this stage?
Goodliffe: "For me it's about playing games for the time being.
"I've still got another year there (Colchester) next year but for me it's about seeing this season out and how many games I can wrack up."
4:02pm
Your season started with quite a nasty injury didn't it?
Goodliffe: "The first game of the season I got an elbow and smashed two teeth. I had two fractures in my gums and had to play with a mouthguard for a while.
"It's been stop start since then too.
"I came back into the team but then had a groin niggle so I went out the team when there was an unbeaten run.
"I didn't feature because the team was doing well but I have no bad feelings at all.
"This was just about me playing games."
3:36pm
What does it take to get out of this league?
Goodliffe: "Character and the ability to win football matches regardless of whether you're playing well or not.
"Sometimes it's about being able to do that.
"Against Aldershot maybe we didn't play particularly great but we got a win and we could've scored three or four despite knowing we didn't play as well as we have in previous games.
"It's about points now, not performances.
"If you can get points on the board then you never know where you can end up."
3:29pm
Asked about playing at this level before with Sutton, Goodliffe replies: "I was there five years before moving on for a new challenge.
"While I was there it was one of the best times I've had as a footballer.
"I enjoyed my time there and we had good character in the group when I was there.
"Seeing it in this squad, it's similar.
"We've got a great group and as long as we can all stay together like we have been doing then I think we'll be OK."
3:26pm
On heading out on loan, the defender says: "For me it was a case of go and play.
"I'd been a bit stop start at Colchester. I was in the team, out the team, in the team, out the team.
"I never really had a run of games and when it was spoken about to go out and play that was at the forefront of my mind because everyone wants to play.
"Southend showed interest and said yes."
3:15pm
On the team's confidence, Goodliffe says: "You've always got to be confident even when you're on a bad run.
"You have to keep the belief there because if you don't then you can go down with it.
"The confidence is high here though after some good results recently against tough opposition."
3:13pm
Asked about scoring goals, the defender replies: "Scoring would be great but my job in the team is to defend.
"As long as I can do that I'll be happy."
3:12pm
On facing Yeovil, Goodliffe says: "I think they're a ball based team in terms of possession.
"This morning's work we did was about trying to nullify them and the work we've done can only put us in good stead for the weekend."
3:11pm
He adds: "Results have been good so far. We've gone up a couple of places and we're in and around the play-offs at the moment.
"If we can keep a run going and keep the consistency we've been showing while adding a bit more end product we can see where that takes us."
3:08pm
On his role in the team, he adds: "I probably prefer being in the middle but sometimes when you're on the right or the left you have to adapt. Sometimes it helps the way you open your body up to receive the ball and the types of passes you have to make are different from when you're in the middle.
"You adapt but I'm happy to play anywhere."
3:06pm
Asked about his time at the club so far, Goodliffe says: "It's been great. The plan was to come here and play games. So far it's been good and I've been playing. Obviously I had a few games on the bench when I first came in but that's part and parcel of football sometimes.
"As a club the boys have welcomed me in and I have nothing bad to say about it."
3:03pm
First up is Goodliffe who is currently on loan with Blues from Colchester United
3:01pm
Hello and welcome back to Boots & Laces ahead of Southend United's trip to Yeovil Town this weekend.
We're going to be speaking to defender Ben Goodliffe and boss Kevin Maher.
