|
Blame Everyone!
|
|
Very Predictable
|
By:
Eric Hitchmo
|
27/10/2011
|
|
|
More On Southend United
|
What was particularly worrying for me about the manner of this latest defeat was how startlingly predictable the whole thing was. People will complain and gripe about the officials but it would be merely papering over the large cracks that this team is showing. It had all the hallmarks of a comfortable 0-3 in the lead up to the game, and it didn't disappoint, or did, depending on your perspective.
It's another three goals shipped by a seriously struggling defence. Having recently stated that our squad is good enough, Lawrie Sanchez now appears willing to dip into the loan market for three or four names. Drastic action required then after something of a u-turn in his standpoint. I'm not convinced that there is too much wrong with the team going forward, but at the back we are just not clicking. With the calibre of the players there when we are at full strength, you feel like we should be OK, but it clearly isn't, so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Another worry was the complete non-atmosphere around the ground. No chanting, no shouts of encouragement when we were 1-0 down, 2-0 down, and how readily the ground emptied at 3-0. No-one cares enough. There is only so much that we can take. Apathy has been rife for many, many months, but now it has spread entirely through the home crowd. Even the East Terrace stands there in silence, and have done for a long while. Any hope of an atmosphere comes from the away supporters, whilst we all sit in our seats praying for the latest ordeal to come to an end. How can this be healthy for a football club to operate? This has spiralled out of control. If Sanchez is to be believed, my understanding was that the atmosphere and performance was better under the lights? On the contrary, Lawrie...
How different it may have all been had Izale McLeod not skied an early penalty into the North Terrace fence. Dennehy was felled in the box for the most stonewall of penalties, and the usually reliable Izale smashed it a mile over the bar. Unfortunately I called it spot on just as it was taken, such is my cynicism. Soon we were inevitably punished by a slick and purposeful Southend side who are clearly at the right end of the table for a reason. Ryan Hall, who was on trial with Barnet some time ago, scored an absolute beauty which would have graced leagues above us. He took the ball on the chest on the edge of the box, swivelled and powered a volley into Liam O'Brien's net. You could ask why he was allowed to turn in the box and maybe O'Brien was taken by surprised by the shot, but take nothing away from the strike.
Now here comes another big talking point of the evening. Southend's second goal was shrouded in controversy but I'm not convinced there was too much wrong with it. The ball was played across the box and finished at the far post by Bilel Mohsni. The linesman flagged offside to Mohsni's disgust as he was most certainly onside when the ball was played, he snuck in behind the defender to smash home. Now Mohsni's remonstrations attracted the attention of the referee who then went to speak to the linesman about the incident. Afer some deliberation, the goal was awarded to the anger of much of the crowd and the Barnet bench. However, if you want my view of the incident, I think the referee has done the right thing here. Communication between the referee and his assistants is usually pretty minimal and while we can only speculate on the content of the conversation, my guess is that the linesman has probably admitted he's made a mistake and the referee has corrected it having acknowledged that Mohsni was onside. Justice was done. It was a perfectly legitimate goal. What I'd be more concerned about is why the ball wasn't dealt with, and allowed to travel all the way across the box. 2-0.
We gave it a fair crack in the second half, we were bound to be a bit fired up by what I'm sure was felt as a big injustice. We attacked with purpose but failed to really break through and test the visiting goalkeeper. The sizeable away contingent enjoyed themselves and basked in the comfort of their lead, whilst rarely threatening going forward. Their task was made a little easier when Darren Dennehy was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence amidst a flurry of yellow cards throughout the evening. Indeed, they were soon to seal the deal when Neil Harris tapped home the easiest of third goals cueing a mass exodus from the ground.
If you can take a positive from the evening it would once again be the performance of Ricky Holmes who is oozing confidence despite the downfall of those around him. Those rumours of being monitored by bigger clubs may become a little more fierce should he carry on this way. However, that has got to be all for positives as this situation continues to worsen. We appear to be laying blame on the officials for the defeat rather than acknowledging our continued weakness in defence, and when that starts happening we might be in a bit of trouble. Maybe this announcement of loan signings provides the required acknowledgement, we can only hope so.
|
|
|
All Articles By This Author:
Other Articles By Category
|