Match Thread Most liked posts in thread: Away v Barrow 31 October

Well that was truly appalling to watch we're heading for a relegation battle if we're not careful. Sutton wants shooting for that challenge, cousin Dawson was totally anonymous how Pritchard is behind him is beyond me and leaving Watt out who is easily the best if not the only player comfortable on the ball in the middle of the pitch was criminal, Donaldson will be lucky to hit double figures he looks well past his best constantly offside or on his arse, the kid Samuels has shown nothing yet, this might not be popular but Staunton is nothing to write home about either gives away stupid free kicks or misplaces passes would much rather see BRE in there. It was a good job there weren't any fans in the ground I'm sure the players would be able to hear exactly what people think. The amount of times we gift possession from a throw in is an embarrassment! Comes to something when the only player your really interested in watching is the youth loanee right back who to me was the best player on the pitch today absolutely appalling!

 

The difference is, that I welcomed Bowyer here as I thought he would do a job for us, whereas I didnt want McCall back. He blew his best chance of success with us with the negative way he went around the play off final with Millwall, he changed tactics to counter Millwall's threat instead of sticking to his all out attacking mantra he had been utilising prior to that game.

He has come back and is doing the same, tinkering and changing formations to counter the footballing giants of Newport and Harrogate etc.

 

Dropping Watt to the bench for tactical reasons was bizarre. Yes, I know he was at fault for Bolton's goal but he is the only midfield player this season that has demonstrated he is good enough to play for us. McCall said he was dropped because of the weather conditions and didnt think the conditions would suit him. On hearing that, I realised that McCall really has lost the plot.

 

Every time we hit a new low, we find ways to plumb new depths.

Losing to Barrow, Harrogate, Newport. That's our level. We're a terrible side, clearly one of the worst in the league, and a relegation dogfight is not only a possibility, it's looking more likely by the week.

Everyone associated with running this football club, is unfit for purpose.

 

Really good question that the interviewer asked was "did they deal with the conditions better".

"No, didn't think so" said Stuart.

Sorry Stuart but I watched it and they did. They kept the ball on the floor which meant they had more possession and were able to use it to score and prevent us from scoring by making sure we had less of the ball.

In both halves we hoofed it up the pitch or up the sides or some diagonal effort, none of which worked.

That was the problem Stuart, they knew how to pass and we didn't.

 

So to sum up...

Donaldson permanently offside, a clear sign he needs to retire.

Stuart squaring up to players, a clear sign he's losing it.

Sutton sent off straight red, clear sign we're out of ideas.

Long balls into the wind, clear sign we have no strategy.

Playing out from the back and giving the ball away every time, clear sign we don't learn.

18 year old centre backs taking direct free kicks, clear sign the senior players have given up.

This is the worst performance I can remember.

 

Pace is at a premium in Lg 2. Hosannah and Woods are great from the back. But up front? Slowmo. So McCall has to start playing Samuels from the start. He is fast as xxxx - whether or not he can ally that to scoring goals and assists for us, only match time will tell. But he has to be played. The lad will only improve and gain confidence from being given the shirt and the responsibility. Bit parts and subs won't help him or City.

 

Anybody else had there ifollow coverage hijacked by footage of some match between a couple of pub teams....

 

Our fans have done nothing for which to be blamed. Nothing. Our god awful standing as a football club, is squarely at the feet of Rupp, Rhodes and McCall, in that order.

 

Even yesterday he changed the line up despite waxing lyrical about the second half performance on Tuesday. Hardly an encouragement to the players where one minute you're heaping praise on them the next you're dropping them for 'tactical reasons'.

 

McCall is A problem. Hes not THE problem. This is a fundamentally broken football club, root and branch. Our problems can not be solved by sacking the manager.

It's been as plain as day for months where we're headed. The lack of quality in this squad is palpable. The lack of character, abject. But even those problems have a deeper cause. We scout and recruit horribly. And yet, even THOSE problems have a deeper root: We have no plan for how to take this club forward, and we have incapable people at the helm.

The first step in solving any problem, is to recognise that you have one, and understand what it is.

 

I didn't mind him bringing in an extra body in midfield, especially somoen in a central defensive role to help Cooke get further forward. But why bring in a hardly played Sutton and a novice FCD together in two crucial roles? Sutton spent the game chasing the ball like a dog chansing a stick and for FCD it was a tough baptism of fire in terrible conditions. And exactly how does this encourage Watt whos now been dragged down to the level of everyone else? And why drop Clarke and BRE? Theyt weren't brilliant on Tuesday but i thought the idea was for the team to have chance to gel?
I admit this is as bad as anything i've seen in nearly 40 years of following this club, there's no strategy to anything we do on or off the field. And amazingly some still bury their head in the sand and think the fairy godmother will wave her magic wand and make everything alright.
Only a new owner and CEO can make fix the wounds at this club, hopefully the aforementioned Jenkins will be coming in, not to turn the ship around, but to actually refloat the Titanic.

 

Unless you are some sort of psychic you have no idea at all what Parkinson would have done with that team, your comments are pure conjecture. However, the man you continue to deride to a the point of obsession, by the definition of fact actually did get that team to within a game of promotion. As I've reiterated time and again McCall is open to criticism like any manager, this season being as good as any to question his tinkering.

 

You are one boring fart, whoever you are........

 

Why are we playing a young inexperienced centre back in Cousins-Dawson in midfield, when we have Pritchard and Watt on the bench. Another baffling decision by a manager who hasnt got a clue

 

Listen, Southend are fighting for their lives, it won't be an easy game on Tuesday, blah blah blah....

 

Make no mistake he was appointed for the feel good factor and to boost season ticket sales it had absolutely nothing to do with any ability to turn the club around the heirachy have no interest in that
A lazy appointment which Mr Rhodes thought would improve his own popularity knowing Stuart wouldn't refuse

 

None of us want this to be the case. None of us want to see a City so bereft of ideas and footballing intelligence. None of us want McCall to fail. But this is where it is. And the truth is, McCall just isn't a very good football manager. Hate to say it, but the stats throughout his management career don't lie. They're sub mediocre.