We had first 15 minutes of each half - but when Scunny realised we had nothing to offer up front they became more and more confident We also had about last 10 minutes of second half...........rest of the time it was all Scunny .............we are missing Marley to rough things up; big time Toney is not quite ready for this level........I saw him win just one header all match Couldn't we have brought in a more experienced centre forward on a short term loan ??? This decision may cost us dearly !!!
He won a few more headers than one but it was pointless because there was no one running onto the flick ons
Toney has been injured and been playing u21s level a5 Newcastle before coming here. Was always going to be a big gamble to put him straight up top. I'm not convinced harry chapman is ready for this level yet. I have watched him a few times now saw his wonder goal v walsall. The lad shows glimpses of brilliance but all round play isn't at this level yet. He is a good impact sub to run at tired legs. I'd have taken a gamble on tuton starting over chapman if out. But bit harsh on toney to say he isn't ready for this level wasn't the only one to have a bad game and only joined Friday.
Had Winnall been fit for yesterday like I imagine we thought he was going to be when we signed Toney, I reckon he'd have had a far better game alongside someone like Sam. He looked to be improving when we appeared to put Scowen alongside him or when Tutton came on, and then he faded because he hasn't played a competitive match since he was here 3 months ago. It was a big ask to ask a 20 year old to play as a lone striker just after coming back from injury. Ridiculous to write him off after one performance. Sent from my I-Oven using the internets
First choice right back injured First choice left backs first game in months First choice strikers out First choice winger out Young striker makes his first start in months We did not lose against a hard to beat team. But you carry on
I was at the same game as you. Scunny had the first half we had the second. Neither team looked like scoring. The 4_4-1-1 didn't suit us. A draw seemed about right.
Yesterday was always going to be tough when you consider the injuries that we have. It was made even harder with Scunny appointing a new manager in the week. Toney did well I thought. The lad has been injured for a few months and was basically asked to lead the line against a well organised, defensively minded team. When you take all the current issues into consideration I think a point is a decent result.
Apart from the obvious selection issues yesterday it was the inability to pass to a red shirt, instead it was constant long ball forward from defence totally bypassing our midfield which toney up top stood no chance. Even with winnall and watkins i think we'd have struggled. Where has this long ball game come from?
Since Southend, and now Scunny, saw that our momentum has come through a busy, dynamic midfield. Answer? Shut that down, give our midfield no time or space, hunt in packs. Means the ball goes back to Mawson/Roberts. Nothing on for them short, so they hoof it long. Hecky should expect every oppo between now and the season's end to come at us that way & think of a plan B.
Tbh I think we have enough in midfield to cope with that. If we had team from a couple of games back I think we would have easily coped with scunnys tactics and the nous to get beyond their robust defense . Our available or unavailable team selection helped scunnys tactics imo
Difference there was after the 18th minute Southend put at least 10 sometimes all 11 behind the ball to defend the lead.
Missed isgrove and was hammils 1st game back from injury southend got a lead and defended it and then scored a wonder strike
Tbh yes we did , just the finishing wasn't there on that day but we far outplayed and outfought their midfield.
