Southend today
 

Surprised a thread has not been started, however, having just got back, it could be a long hard season if the standard of refereeing is as today. What is also plainly obvious is we need a target man up front to combat the aerial power of the away teams defence.
Otherwise, I don't think Stanley played badly, just the 3 officials against us. The 2 penalties were a joke. every time a Southend player fell over it was a free kick and the penalties were just the same.
My man of the match was hard, in fact I would pick 2, Josh Windass and Luke Simpson both had excellent games. Here's looking forward to Tuesday against the mighty Leeds United!

Re: Southend today
 

Agree with your comments about the refereeing and the need for a target man. Thought Aldred had a good game also.

Actually thought we were a bit unlucky today and certainly looked ok against one of the League favourites!

Re: Southend today
 

The Ref was the knob that gave Burton a penalty that never was, at their place last season, So i expected no less from this dickhead today.:mad: that apart felt we deserved summat from the game against a good Southend team, Agree we were very light up front, Mr Naismith in particular had a bad day at the office.:eek:

Re: Southend today
 

Again I was watching a different game from everyone else, including JB, who says Southend never looked like scoring. They should have won 3-0 with the 2 penalties and a horrible miss from one of their black front men who shot straight at our keeper when it was easier to score. The ref had no option other than to award the penalties which were both down to clumsy, naive defending IMHO. In possession, we didn't look a bit like the team that was showing promotion form at the back end of last season, with crosses and free kicks continually over hit or floated straight down their keeper's throat. As for individual performances, I'm saying nowt, so as not to provoke an early season disagreement with a certain poster on here!

Re: Southend today
 

I didn't see the 1st penalty incident clearly enough to make a judgement; I did see the 2nd penalty incident and it was a penalty.


Simpson - MOM
Liddle - played ok. did get skinned but worked hard. his distribution was not the best. Both his crossing and passing was poor. Should not have been booked despite the refs attempt to make out he had caused numerous fouls.
Winnard - did well, kept their strike force quiet, did hit it direct a few times without any accuracy.
Aldred - did well, only got caught wrong side once and was fortunate the striker didnt take advantage.
Buxton - did ok, it was clear he is still learning the game, needs to work on crossing
Mingoia - did not impress, worked hard but with no end product. Allowed Southend to pressure him out the game.
Joyce - did ok. Decent passing, our most creative midfielder.
Hunt - did ok. Was 2nd to a few balls with slower pace, but did his job fine, as expected he had nothing to offer going forward.
Naismith - very poor. Except for the odd dribble, went missing for long periods, when he did have the ball he lacked vision. The game passed him by.
Gray - started game well, some nice touches, doesnt look like the type of striker who can play up front by himself. He was increasingly isolated in the 2nd half and didnt get any service from the rubbish wingers.
Windass - poor, started game ok, but was soon worked out by Southend, went missing for long periods of the game

McCartan - didnt have long enough to make an impact. Why bring him on at 87 mins? Why not try and win the game instead of waiting to go behind?
Alabi - looks a handful but a bit rusty with his touch. Ironically, he looks the type of striker who can play the lone striker role.

Overall, though Southend where the better team but didnt do a lot to win the game. They had a few chances, certainly more than Stanley.
Stanley gave the ball away to easily, Southend's high pressing game worked well to nullify Stanley from building an attack.
Which resulted in Stanley spending far to much energy, and to much of time chasing the ball trying to regain possession.

The biggest dissapointment was Beattie's inability or refusal to change it when it was clear after 30 minutes Southend had worked us out. It was clear he had settled for a point.
There was no plan B, nothing in the formation, game plan or substitutes suggested he knew how to and/or wanted to change it.

One observation - was it me, or was the home end not as full as normal?
Expected it to be busy with it being the 1st game of the season.
I also expect Southend to bring more fans.

Re: Southend today
 

Havnt seen JB interview yet, I'll upset some people if you don't want to Redraine. We were poor today, Southend much the better side. I thought the ref was a Pratt but I did think they were penalties - very bad decisions to make a challenge in those positions especially the 2nd one.

Individual performances: thought back 4 were solid as usual, epecially Buxton very good in his normal position. Thought Joyce battled away as usual but must be pulling his hair out at having to play in there with Hunt (there's a reason he's played 15 years at the back - that's his position) and Windass (one spectacular effort which was never going in when he should have played Gray in and one closer in which he should have hit the target with, otherwise flatters to deceive by giving the ball away time after time).

Gray battled away but what chance has he got playing against 2 giants when everything was just humped forward but tbf worked his socks off. Mingoia works hard but absolutely no end product

Finally how long is JB going persevere with Naismith, I'd rather see someone with less ability than someone who plays once every 4 games if we're lucky.

We need a keeper!

Mini rant over haha bring on Leeds

Re: Southend today
 

Forgot to add, nice touch by the club to hold the minutes silence for Eric.
It was impeccably observed.

Re: Southend today
 

Well my two pence worth........

I thought the game really was a game of two halves, literally. Yes the ref had a shocker, but Deano gave him the chance to award the pens. The second looked a very tired tackle.

The first 45 minutes I thought we did pretty good. Windass and Hunt looked half decent in the middle of the park and played some decent stuff. Buxton and Aldred where absolute rocks at the back as expected. Thought Deano looked abit off the pace, especially in the second 45.

Second 45 was the polar opposite really. They had worked us out as others have said however I will be amazed if they aren't in or around the top 6 come May.

Gray looked back to his usual tricks of winding up the oppostion and throwing himself on the deck. If only he would quit with the bloody theatrics he could be a good striker in this division. But as others have said, I have no doubt he should have been replaced.

A little disappointed yes, but make no mistake, we are ALOT better than the same period last year, those that travelled to Newport away last August im sure will agree.

Oh a special mention for young Simpson in goal, who I thought at 19 years of age making his League debut was absolutely magnificent throughout.

Roll on Elland Road :)

Re: Southend today
 

Try to keep it real,they were the better team today and we got bullied all over the field ( and on the touch line )
They have had us watched and simply were too big and fast,indeed at one point they were playing four upfront ,and still dominating us in the middle.
They were hitting diagonal balls over our fullbacks time after time,getting crosses in at will and Naismith and Piero just never got in the game.
I mentioned it against Burnley,Windass is not a "in the hole/number10" player,he was lost and again never seen him win a tackle or header.
When was the last time we never had a shot on target at home?.
Their tempo/pressing game worked a treat and for long periods we were chasing shadows.
We struggled to hold a high line in defence,which was a combination of giving the ball away and the keepers starting position being on his line !
Now the positives,we were always in the game,which is a good thing,thought Grey took the fight to them at times,Tom gave his usual committed performance and Buxton did ok against a very good player.
Lots to work on,but we look a far better team than the first game 12 months ago at Newport.
NB - replacing Murphys goals from midfield needs addressing

Re: Southend today
 

Lot of sense talked there F19, lots of positives to be taken from the game & honestly didn't think we deserved to lose it. Young Mr.Simpson did very well under a lot of pressure & was unfortunate not to keep a clean sheet - I'll skim over the ref's performance which was at best average, hope he didn't miss his lift back to Southend as I imagine the trains aren't that often. Still optimistic about the season ahead - come on Stanley, lets show the rest of the league we ain't no pushover!

Re: Southend today
 

F19, whilst I agree, Southend were the better team (the better team at diving if a Stanley player even attempted a tackle, anywhere on the pitch!), they did seem a yard faster than our players. Cannot agree with others who thought that Windass was only average, he played his socks off for me, but then again, I don't expect everyone to agree with me, everyone is entitled to their opinions. Even Dav007 makes some sense in what he says. Certainly I agree with not leaving it too late to change the team around. Do hope Alabi is not going to be a lone striker but at his height, we have a target man albeit for one month at this time. Onwards and upwards, see you at Leeds Tuesday night and hope we can do another championship team though not holding my breath.

Re: Southend today
 

Have to agree about Windass difference today was Southend used their wlde men to full effect so putting pressure into our box we defended very well on the whole but the penalties were just that. We failed down our flanks yet again Naismith was awful.

Re: Southend today
 

Yeh certainly musta been mate.:confused: At 0-0 Gray hit the post wi a good effort, which could have been 1-0 Stanley, Whilst football is all "What Ifs" that could have put a whole different look to the game.:rolleyes: so where yeh dug 3-0 from beats the hell outa me.

Re: Southend today
 

I thought we (Southend) were the better team yesterday but while it was 0-0 it could have gone either way. The goalie Simpson had an excellent game but it seemed that Beattie was more interested in containing us than going for a win especially as Simpson was playing for time at the end of first half. He was telling the photographers to keep the ball rather than throw when he had a goal kick. As both pens were at the far end, it was difficult to see their merit but nevertheless we should have scored both. We usually find it difficult here so we'll gladly take the 3 points. Our defence is the strongest part our team so hopefully you'll get more chances against other teams. Good luck for the season, a long way to go. We were looking forward to coming back to Accy, we always have a good and friendly time in the pubs. It's just a shame the M6 delayed our arrival until 2.30. It was also good to see the minute silence was impeccably observed by all fans. All the best.

Re: Southend today
 

Agree with smudge two penalties a definate, you cannot dive in to a tackle in especially in a non dangerous area, close down quicker or hold or crowd out, very poor defending in my eyes, apart from that we did ok , we will win at leeds on tuesday , with naismith turning on the style but he needs to man up quickly