Team for Southend

Would change things up for Southend - particularly the back-line.

McKeown

Efete
Longe-King
Pearson
Crookes

Hunt
Coke
Clifton

Sousa
Taylor
Bapaga

Drop Macca, it's time for a change, I'll give you the rest, but swap long-king for Towler...

Pearsons not in Hurst plans cant see him starting.

I want to see 2 new signings

Quoted from Hagrid

Pearsons not in Hurst plans cant see him starting.

I want to see 2 new signings

Pearson has been a casualty of Waterfalls resurgence, I think when Hurst signed him he was gonna be the first name on the team sheet.

Crocombe

Efete
Waterfall
Towler
Crookes

Hunt
Coke

Sousa
Bapaga
Clifton

Taylor

Subs

Sears
Long-Kinge
Fox
Grant
John-Lewis/New loan striker

It’s over
Enjoy it while it lasted

Quoted from IlkleyMariner

It’s over
Enjoy it while it lasted

To say it's over is a bit extreme but the honeymoon certainly is. I think it's time for some commitment for the team from 1878, especially in the No9 department. Early on we were not a one-man team but the injury to McAtee says otherwise.

Defeats to 3 London clubs also say we don't do well on visits to the capital where 8 teams are based. Is the preparation work any good? I ask myself. The Southend game really is the decider going into the pre-Christmas run in, a good win and it might restore confidence in the younger players whose form has disappeared through the window.

Only Hurst knows the reason for today's selection and it wasn't right, especially down the left. Did Revan and Khouri do as asked or were they not up to it? You do get the impression that Harry has been a solitary light in the last few games and he is our 3rd highest goalscorer, McAtee leading albeit he's been missing for a few games now! LJL, love him or loathe him, is not a goal scoring forward having scored from the spot once.

What was once a midfield powerhouse led by Hunt has all but gone along with the form of Hunt and Towler has now more off days than on. I notice that some want Macca removed from the team but if the 10 in front of him are not firing anymore then why blame him, pulled off a good save today and some want his blood.

My only consolation is that over the years Town have always played well against good sides and bad against lower teams. So going into the pre-Christmas run I'm still positively optimistic that we will get something out of these games. We are still third in the table and hopefully our lean spell is now behind us.

Without a new signing or McAtee..


                                                    Crocombe

Efete                            Longe-King            Towler                         Crookes


Sousa                                 Hunt                  Fox                           Clifton

                                        
                                                    Bapaga

                                                    Taylor        

Quoted from Bigdog

Without a new signing or McAtee..


                                                    Crocombe

Efete                            Longe-King            Towler                         Crookes


Sousa                                 Hunt                  Fox                           Clifton

                                        
                                                    Bapaga

                                                    Taylor        

Have we actually won a game playing a lone striker up front?

      Crocombe
efete Pearson longe-king crookes
sousa clifton coke bapaga
       taylor  Ljl
Bench
waterfall
hunt
fox
grant
sears

Have to say, on the few occasions I've seen Longe-King play, I've yet to be overly impressed. Very clunky with the ball at his feet. I'd expect the Waterfall/Towler partnership to continue if both are fit.

Play your best defence, try to play your best available players.

Assuming the currently unavailable players don't become available, I'd go for the following:

               McKeown
Efete  Waterfall  Towler  Crookes
           Fox  Hunt  Clifton
            Sousa  Bapaga
                  Taylor

Quoted from arryarryarry

Have we actually won a game playing a lone striker up front?

Errr... yeah every game where mcatee played fir a start, he was the 1 in a 4 4 1 1

Give Pearson a start now he’s had to be patient and after yesterday deserves his start, Mr dependable never let’s have down.

Hopefully come Friday we can get a good crowd right behind the team from the off, Southend are one of the worst teams in the league so we expect a performance, one win can change everything.

Quoted from Humbercod

Give Pearson a start now he’s had to be patient and after yesterday deserves his start, Mr dependable never let’s have down.

Hopefully come Friday we can get a good crowd right behind the team from the off, Southend are one of the worst teams in the league so we expect a performance, one win can change everything.

Didnt we say tah las bit about Aldershot  

Quoted from Maringer

               McKeown Crocombe
Efete  Waterfall  Towler  Crookes
           Fox  Hunt  Clifton
            Sousa  Bapaga
                  Taylor

Spot on! Just one change please but otherwise that's the 10 outfield players he should be picking. When can you take over please?

Quoted from Maringer

Have to say, on the few occasions I've seen Longe-King play, I've yet to be overly impressed. Very clunky with the ball at his feet. I'd expect the Waterfall/Towler partnership to continue if both are fit.

Play your best defence, try to play your best available players.

Assuming the currently unavailable players don't become available, I'd go for the following:

               McKeown
Efete  Waterfall  Towler  Crookes
           Fox  Hunt  Clifton
            Sousa  Bapaga
                  Taylor

I’d go with that except for McKeown , hursty wanted the other keeper so much town outbidded  another local ish club paying him just over a grand a week apparently

Quoted from Humbercod

Give Pearson a start now he’s had to be patient and after yesterday deserves his start, Mr dependable never let’s have down.

Hopefully come Friday we can get a good crowd right behind the team from the off, Southend are one of the worst teams in the league so we expect a performance, one win can change everything.

Who would Pearson replace? It wasn't great yesterday ftom a centre back perspective but our centre back pairing is a miniscule issue.

Quoted from barralad

Who would Pearson replace? It wasn't great yesterday ftom a centre back perspective but our centre back pairing is a miniscule issue.

Agree. We badly miss Crookes and Efete had a big break through suspension and Covid. Waterfall and Towler have been excellent in the main.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Agree. We badly miss Crookes and Efete had a big break through suspension and Covid. Waterfall and Towler have been excellent in the main.

Since Maidenhead away I'd beg to differ.. a bit hit and miss at best..

Maidenhead away, poor marking for equaliser
Bromley away, defence collapsed when down to ten men
Dover home, troubled for 20 mins
Altrincham away, conceded two and lucky not to concede more
Woking away, very good but Woking had plenty of chances
Yeovil home, ok
Wealdstone away, shocking
Notts County home, good but late goalscorer unmarked
Kidderminster away, penalty conceded unnecesaarily
Aldershot, chaotic at times against poor forwards

Sometimes lesser problems slip under the radar while looking at bigger problems elsewhere..

Quoted from Maringer

Have to say, on the few occasions I've seen Longe-King play, I've yet to be overly impressed. Very clunky with the ball at his feet. I'd expect the Waterfall/Towler partnership to continue if both are fit.

Play your best defence, try to play your best available players.

Assuming the currently unavailable players don't become available, I'd go for the following:

               McKeown
Efete  Waterfall  Towler  Crookes
           Fox  Hunt  Clifton
            Sousa  Bapaga
                  Taylor

Must be close to Christmas. You have revived the Christmas tree formation.

Quoted from Bigdog

Since Maidenhead away I'd beg to differ.. a bit hit and miss at best..

Maidenhead away, poor marking for equaliser
Bromley away, defence collapsed when down to ten men
Dover home, troubled for 20 mins
Altrincham away, conceded two and lucky not to concede more
Woking away, very good but Woking had plenty of chances
Yeovil home, ok
Wealdstone away, shocking
Notts County home, good but late goalscorer unmarked
Kidderminster away, penalty conceded unnecesaarily
Aldershot, chaotic at times against poor forwards

Sometimes problems slip under the radar while looking at bigger problems elsewhere..

Altrincham, we were down to 10 men, we were superb up till that point so thats not fair

Notts, Hunt didnt track his runner, not the fault of the 2 CB’s


Our lack of creativity in the middle imo is whats costing us currently

                          Macca.
Pearson.         Waterfall.        Towler.

Efete.       Fox.    Clifton.     Bagpaga.
                               Hunt
            Sousa.        Taylor.
              

Obviously,efete and bagpaga will have to put a shift in .

Quoted from Hagrid

Altrincham, we were down to 10 men, we were superb up till that point so thats not fair

Notts, Hunt didnt track his runner, not the fault of the 2 CB’s


Our lack of creativity in the middle imo is whats costing us currently

Teams don't get a free pass for conceding goals when down to ten, we've collapsed on both occasions ..

We restrict teams to very few chances which is good, but the amount of times teams score unmarked in our box happens far too often. It's a collective problem but centre halves and keepers are there to organise and they should have the best picture. It's concerning how vulnerable we seem to be when "lesser teams" get in and around our box. They're more solid defending our multitude of attacks compared to us defending their sporadic ones..

Thought we were very quiet vocally as a team yesterday..

Quoted from Phil the cod

Obviously,efete and bagpaga will have to put a shift in .

Well therein lies a problem - bapaga doesn't. Has qualities definitely but work rate and defensive ability aren't them, nor is wide play really, never a wing back. Bapaga is best in the oppo box

Quoted from Maringer

Have to say, on the few occasions I've seen Longe-King play, I've yet to be overly impressed. Very clunky with the ball at his feet. I'd expect the Waterfall/Towler partnership to continue if both are fit.

Play your best defence, try to play your best available players.

Assuming the currently unavailable players don't become available, I'd go for the following:

               McKeown
Efete  Waterfall  Towler  Crookes
           Fox  Hunt  Clifton
            Sousa  Bapaga
                  Taylor

We've tried that before, didnt really work, having said that maybe it's the best of a bad job.

Have we tried 4 4 1 1 with bapaga in the mcatee role?

Quoted from toontown

We've tried that before, didnt really work, having said that maybe it's the best of a bad job.

Have we tried 4 4 1 1 with bapaga in the mcatee role?

I think he went there 2nd half against Wealdstone. But could be wrong

With currently available staff;

                 McKeown

Sears   Waterfall   Towler   Crookes

       Sousa   Fox   Hunt   Clifton

              Taylor   Bapaga

Keep it simple

For me, Sears has to come back a real no nonsense defender, something we've probably lacked and he won't get wound up.

Suddenly picking a team has got very difficult.

Team spirit and drive appears to have gone. Normally in a hole in a game you look to your experienced players to dig out. One of our problems is our players in that category Coke , JL , Macca and now possibly Waterfall again aren’t worth a place in the side and frustrate when they are.

Macao balling out Revan is not good but  nor was Mactee shaking his head when the ball kept bouncy off Lenny against Yeovil.

Hurst natural reaction when things get tough appears to be to go into his shell contrast yesterdays interview with hose early in the season. Expect him to shore up the defence and build from them but the problem is it’s in the final third that we have been woeful in last month.

Don’t understand way Grant plays 20 minutes last week but isn’t ready for the bench this week given what we needed yesterday

Short of Mactee coming back and everything magically been cured which is a big ask I have see no answers other then getting the cheque book out and bringing in 3 or 4 new faces

Quoted from barralad

Who would Pearson replace? It wasn't great yesterday ftom a centre back perspective but our centre back pairing is a miniscule issue.

Towler only because waterfall has value from set-piece. I know they have been great but all players should be aware if performance level slip someone will come in there should be no bad game it’s all about consistency. Otherwise players get to comfortable in their positions like McKewen.
Agree minuscule issue but one never the less.

Quoted from Humbercod

Towler only because waterfall has value from set-piece. I know they have been great but all players should be aware if performance level slip someone will come in there should be no bad game it’s all about consistency. Otherwise players get to comfortable in their positions like McKewen.
Agree minuscule issue but one never the less.

Quite bizarre. Why would you replace a left footed centre back with a centre back who only uses his left foot for standing on?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Quite bizarre. Why would you replace a left footed centre back with a centre back who only uses his left foot for standing on?

Now that is bizarre!

I don’t think the CB’s are the issue, surely the FB’s in Revan (inexperienced) and Efete (just coming back) plus the CM’s having an off day, and Macca’s failure to command the box are are more pressing.

Quoted from Bigdog

Since Maidenhead away I'd beg to differ.. a bit hit and miss at best..

Maidenhead away, poor marking for equaliser
The defence included Pearson
Bromley away, defence collapsed when down to ten men
Dover home, troubled for 20 mins Oh come on
Altrincham away, conceded two and lucky not to concede more. The turning point was the sending off. Until that point the defense dealt with Rooney(?) very well
Woking away, very good but Woking had plenty of chances Woking in home team backed by a big crowd have chances shocker
Yeovil home, ok magnanimous of you
Wealdstone away, shocking really? My view is they could have still been playing now and they wouldn't have scored from anything other than a penalty
Notts County home, good but late goalscorer unmarkedDidn't the full back get the blame for that?
Kidderminster away, penalty conceded unnecesaarily
Aldershot, chaotic at times against poor forwards

Sometimes lesser problems slip under the radar while looking at bigger problems elsewhere..

My point was and remains that of all the problems we appear to be having at the moment the performances of Towler and Waterfall are the very least of Hursts worries.

What about the physio ? Anyone had a go at Dave yet😏

Yeah let’s replace the best central defender we’ve seen since Ryan Bennett.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Yeah let’s replace the best central defender we’ve seen since Ryan Bennett.

I rate him highly one of the best players in the team by a long way, but by all accounts speaking to people who were there yesterday he was excrement.

Quoted from Humbercod

I rate him highly one of the best players in the team by a long way, but by all accounts speaking to people who were there yesterday he was excrement.

So, having rated him highly, you would drop him on the say-so of others for someone who plays right centre back? If you drop Towler, you play Longe King.

A partnership of Pearson and Waterfall would be rather lumbering.  

Quoted from MuddyWaters

So, having rated him highly, you would drop him on the say-so of others for someone who plays right centre back? If you drop Towler, you play Longe King.

I also listened to John Tondeur and Martin Gritten!
He will probably keep his place for Southend but another below par performance then yes bring in Longe King why not.

Quoted from Humbercod

I rate him highly one of the best players in the team by a long way, but by all accounts speaking to people who were there yesterday he was excrement.

I was there. He wasn’t excrement.I’d like to watch the goals again to see what went wrong, so he may be due some blame. But no way was he excrement.

            
                      Crocrombe

      Efete  Waterfall  Towler  Crookes

      Sousa    Fox    Hunt     Bapaga

                      Clifton

                      Taylor

Clifton is the only one who can play the Macatee role and bring energy going forward, and is scoring goals!

Quoted from KingstonMariner

I was there. He wasn’t excrement.I’d like to watch the goals again to see what went wrong, so he may be due some blame. But no way was he excrement.

Sounded like the whole team with the exception of Clifton was excrement.

Quoted from Humbercod

Sounded like the whole team with the exception of Clifton was excrement.

That encompasses the whole problem. Unless you are at the match or, like last year was able to watch it on ifollow, then you are reliant on the opinions and sometimes 'biased' commentary of the radio or comments on here and the newspapers.

We are all entitled to our opinions but I've read that Macca was sh!t and another that said he wasn't both on this site by fans at the Aldershot match. That applies to other players too.

It would be nice to see the whole of the match's on catch up and not just highlights, then we could form a better opinion.

Quoted from DB

That encompasses the whole problem. Unless you are at the match or, like last year was able to watch it on ifollow, then you are reliant on the opinions and sometimes 'biased' commentary of the radio or comments on here and the newspapers.

We are all entitled to our opinions but I've read that Macca was sh!t and another that said he wasn't both on this site by fans at the Aldershot match. That applies to other players too.

It would be nice to see the whole of the match's on catch up and not just highlights, then we could form a better opinion.

Fair enough DB but 1.we had expert commentary (pro Town) who said Town was very poor, a polite way for saying excrement let’s be honest.
And 2. We were playing a team that hadn’t even drawn a game at home never mind a win and they had just been dicked 5-0 a few days before. We had a rested team but we still went there and was outplayed by one of the worst teams in the league and could of lost by more according to again expert commentary. Now unless Aldershot played absolutely amazing which I’m sure wasn’t the case, then I think we can make comment that town must of played excrement whether there or not.

Still not sure then watch the Paul Hurst post match interview it’s pretty clear he though that is team we’re shite.

Quoted from ginnywings

Must be close to Christmas. You have revived the Christmas tree formation.

I am El Tel in disguise.

Quoted from Humbercod

Fair enough DB but 1.we had expert commentary (pro Town) who said Town was very poor, a polite way for saying excrement let’s be honest.
And 2. We were playing a team that hadn’t even drawn a game at home never mind a win and they had just been dicked 5-0 a few days before. We had a rested team but we still went there and was outplayed by one of the worst teams in the league and could of lost by more according to again expert commentary. Now unless Aldershot played absolutely amazing which I’m sure wasn’t the case, then I think we can make comment that town must of played excrement whether there or not.

Still not sure then watch the Paul Hurst post match interview it’s pretty clear he though that is team we’re shite.

You seem to have missed my meaning. I was using the Aldershot game as the latest example of opinions. Last season I watched many games on Ifollow where my opinion differed from that of JT and others. The whole point of an opinion is that you are able to physically watch the match live or on tv. Otherwise, your opinion is based on the opinion of someone else, who can mislead you.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

So, having rated him highly, you would drop him on the say-so of others for someone who plays right centre back? If you drop Towler, you play Longe King.

Pearson played almost his entire first spell with us as left centre back. However, I do agree that Towler remains our best centre half and hasn’t done enough wrong to be dropped.

Pearson also played left centre for Wrexham among other positions, one of the best defenders in the league and the Wrexham player of the year. Towler and Waterfall as good as they are need to know if their levels slip Pearson is in.

Quoted from Humbercod

Pearson also played left centre for Wrexham among other positions, one of the best defenders in the league and the Wrexham player of the year. Towler and Waterfall as good as they are need to know if their levels slip Pearson is in.

not last year he wasnt, he barely played

the Centre backs do not- at this moment in time- need replacing

Get our strongest team in there (without Mcatee) and attack them.....

                       McKeown

Efete   Longe-King     Towler   Crookes

                     Hunt        Fox

   Sousa           Bapaga           Clifton

                          Taylor

Get Crookes and Longe-King back in the defence and let Bapaga play the role he did against Bromsgrove

Quoted from Hagrid

not last year he wasnt, he barely played

the Centre backs do not- at this moment in time- need replacing

Stockport v Wrexham 28/12/2020

Agree with your second point although I would not be surprised if Hurst did make changes he was over critical of the defence especially the heading which is mainly done by the centre backs.

Quoted from Bigdog

Since Maidenhead away I'd beg to differ.. a bit hit and miss at best..

Maidenhead away, poor marking for equaliser
Bromley away, defence collapsed when down to ten men
Dover home, troubled for 20 mins
Altrincham away, conceded two and lucky not to concede more
Woking away, very good but Woking had plenty of chances
Yeovil home, ok
Wealdstone away, shocking
Notts County home, good but late goalscorer unmarked
Kidderminster away, penalty conceded unnecesaarily
Aldershot, chaotic at times against poor forwards

Sometimes lesser problems slip under the radar while looking at bigger problems elsewhere..

Were you at Wealdstone? I thought Towler and Waterfall were very good. Not sure who was at fault for not closing down on the goal, but even if it was down to either of them then chalk that off and it's still 0-0 because we created nothing. The defence has been good for the vast majority of the season, people are nitpicking here firstly because we've stopped scoring/creating which highlights any mistakes being made at the back and secondly because CB is the only area of the pitch we have 4 players who are all in with a strong claim to be starting every match so people are calling for a re-shuffle when in reality, Waterfall and Towler have probably been two of our most consistent performers, along with Clifton. Your criticism of the defence against Woking doesn't stack up really either, the midfield and full backs are more at fault for allowing chances to be created against us than the centre backs. Bromley as well, I'd say it was the defence and the midfield that collapsed in the second half we just got completely overran in the middle of the park.

Quoted from Maringer

Have to say, on the few occasions I've seen Longe-King play, I've yet to be overly impressed. Very clunky with the ball at his feet. I'd expect the Waterfall/Towler partnership to continue if both are fit.

Play your best defence, try to play your best available players.

Assuming the currently unavailable players don't become available, I'd go for the following:

               McKeown
Efete  Waterfall  Towler  Crookes
           Fox  Hunt  Clifton
            Sousa  Bapaga
                  Taylor

Please cut and paste this formation and send it direct to PH's inbox - marked with a big red urgent flag!

Macca
Effete
Towler
Waterfall
Crookes
Fox
Hunt
Clifton
Sousa
Morgan
Taylor

Bench: Bapaga, Revan, Longe-King, Coke, John-Lews

Quoted from TinklerMan

Morgan

Do you know something nobody else does?

Quoted from Son of Cod

Do you know something nobody else does?

Well I used to rate Willie Morgan in the 70's.., CSDAJATL? (if he's still with us)  

Quoted from toontown

Errr... yeah every game where mcatee played fir a start, he was the 1 in a 4 4 1 1

I would suggest McAtee is by far and away the best striker we have at the club

Lets have a look at the team selection so far, plenty of switches due to injuries and suspensions

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