Sensei Phil: you You're listening to the Talking Shrimpers podcast sponsored by Surgical Holdings. Welcome to the Talking Shrimpers podcast. I'm your host Sensei Phil. With me as always is Charlie and Chris. He's got up again. What a trooper. And we're also joined again by John, Ben and Sean. It's been a really busy weekend of football. We've also got the ladies and Academy News to catch up with. But I think we'll go straight into the business end after. disappointing bank holiday weekend. Right, we'll start with Friday night, Southend against Kidderminster. ⁓ 9,200 supporters almost, incredible turnout. Absolutely brilliant. Sadly, it didn't go our way. ⁓ There were starts for Taylor, Austin and Kohlkloff. I'll just read the stats. So 70 % possession for Southend, 30 for Kidderminster. There were 10 shots for us, six for them. six on target for us and five for them seven corners for south end against the three for kiddermint star and four yellow cards one for south end three for kiddermint star we'll come to where it all went wrong ⁓ but i'll just break up those stats so the first half we had 68 possession against 32 for them ⁓ seven shots for us with five of those on target just one shot for kiddermint star which was on target and three corners for Southend two for them. Good half some great football being played. We'll start with the early goal. Leon scored it. It was a brilliant build up between Colclough and McAdam. Cardwell also providing a ⁓ great dummy to provide the space for Leon to tuck in. Charlie exactly the football that Dyer has demanded and why you've been so infused with your predictions to date. Yeah, I've think I've cursed it, haven't I? I don't know, it's just like two different teams, isn't it? Each half, the last couple of games. The first half of, I mean, we'll talk about Woking later on, against Kidderminster, in complete control, everything that we sort of expected to see from Southend of recent weeks. It looked like we was going to be heading for four straight wins, know, okay. You know, yeah, again, it's not being clinical enough in front of goal was yet again seem to correct its ugly head into the game for us this season so far, which, you know, we was very critical last season that, you know, we said many times last year that, know, if we don't take our chances that teams in this league will punish you and Kid and Minster did exactly that. ⁓ You know, they didn't have too many opportunities, but the you they took the opportunities that did come their way and that first half was very similar, wasn't it, to scumful where we had a hat full of chances. But as you say, we just didn't put them away and we should have been going in at halftime, sort of three, four, no up. Yeah, no, absolutely. you know, Dyer talks about needing goals to get us out of this league, you know, 100 plus goals. And at the moment you're sort of, you know, the first three games, you know, it was looking really good, but We seem to just run out of ideas at the moment and we're just not that clinical. We're getting some really good opportunities, really, really good areas. you know, I mean, we'll talk about working later, as I said, because there's some absolute criminal misses there that, you know, we should have put to bed. But if we want to get out this league, we've got to these opportunities at the end of the day. You know, you can tactically talk about it. But at the end of the day, when the opportunities come, down the players that have to be putting the ball in the back of the net. Yeah. So, John, we conceded for the first time this season in the second half and where did it all go wrong in your opinion? don't know really, I mean I can't say much more than Charlie has. think, I know we're gonna talk about Woken a bit later as well, but the games were very, very, very similar. And what we were talking about in the car on the way home was that it almost feels like we put so much into the first half with the high press, the quick movement, and some of the football, particularly Friday, that first half, as you say, the goal itself was... was lovely football, one touch, movement, playing around the corner, getting behind. And then the second half, I don't know what gets said at halftime. Because actually, Altrinham away and ⁓ Solihull away, obviously we were winning at halftime. We were drawing away Alton and we went on to win. Yeah and he made the changes. Solihull we were already winning 2-1 but the second half at Solihull wasn't great. Let's be brutally honest we sort of got lucky with that breakaway goal at the end. At the moment I think, mean Dyer talks about the fitness levels and he said we I don't know if you said we will be the fittest team in the league or he's actually said a few times in his opinion we are the fittest league in a team in the league and he actually mentioned some stats and when he was at Chesterfield our team's running five kilometers more as a team than even they were at Chesterfield League too. That's fine if the players have got the fitness. To me at the moment we seem to tire quite badly in the second half and Kidderminster who, let's face it, were completely woeful the first half. They didn't know what to do. Once they got that equalizer, it almost, even in the grounds you could feel it suddenly, the atmosphere drop a little bit. I mean, it was a sloppy goal to give away in the first place, Old Acre backheeling it off the pitch for a corner. Why is he doing that? Something with his experience. Then it hits him and goes in, you know, it was a catalog of errors, but it looked to me that once they equalized, we couldn't, we didn't really know how to react. And actually I felt the same yesterday as well. Had Solihull equalized, which they probably should have done, might we be having the same conversations there. So at the moment, something's not quite clicking for 90 minutes. Yeah. Well, to pick up your point on, on sort of fitness, there's a few points I wanted to pick up. ⁓ and I think if you're going to concede three in a second half, you've got a point to three things. First of all, have we adapted to Paul Wooten's change of tactics because he did, you know, there were immediate changes. ⁓ and I'll look at the tactical changes shortly. think fatigue, I was going to pick up on you mentioned that and also the use of substitutions. Now, starting with fatigue, we started with three players who have not started this season. That was Austin, Colclough and Taylor. The first goal we conceded in 60 minutes from, as you mentioned, a very poorly defended corner. Sub Crompton has hit the shot. He's totally unmarked and yeah, he's got a bit of fortune. It has taken a bit of a deflection, but we've kind of given that opportunity by not closing him down so possibly a bit of lack of concentration there, bit of tiredness someone is clearly not picking their man up but it's a really poor goal to concede now the immediate reaction from Kieran is bringing Twamley and Papoola on so I've got to say fair enough he's kind of looked to change the impetus there so fair play to him he wants to the intensity back on the wings and I think they are correct subs, know, Cole Clough was tiring at this stage and so you got to say really he probably did the right thing. Now looking at Paul Wooten's tactics at the start of the second half, you could see immediately the changes and it was brilliantly executed. The game plan was to prevent crosses from us by doubling up on the wings, being heavy in the tackle. You noticed a lot of crunching tackles in that second half to win that ball back in the middle of the park. Looking at our goals leading up to that point, we'd scored five from eight in the six yard box. So, what a nose if he cuts out those crosses by doubling up, it gives them a better chance to get back into the game. They were a lot more physical in the tackle. So, the plan was to just fight us out in those areas. Now, Oldercut and Koka, they're very good at dictating play when we're on the ball. But I think when we're out of position, we're kind of missing that player that can break up. the opposition. Ben, I don't know what your thoughts are. Heitgen was obviously brought in to do that job, but so far I've not been overly convinced on him and I will come back about my assessment of him during the waking one, but what was your opinion in that area? No, I I completely agree. don't think he's not showing at the moment what he was brought in to show really. don't think he I mean, I think he's showed flashes, he hasn't been consistent enough. He's been careless in possession of points as well. And I think what we're seeming to find out early on is I don't think him and Aldeik can play together. And I think I said, he's not, he's never going to be like a mobile player. or he's never going to be crashing into tackles like I'm used to for example. But then if he's not going to do that, then you're to have to expect something better on the board than what is currently showing I think. Well, players I picked out last week leading up this game were Lewis Walker, Callum Dolan and the sub Callum Stewart. And they were all influential in those changes. They completely shut us out. And suddenly they had the ability to counter us. ⁓ I thought they also marked Cardwell really well at the game. Preventing any knock-ons. So so they adjusted their Second half game plan and we didn't really have a response now Let me just read the stats out between the two. So I mentioned the first half 68 percent possession for us against 32 for them now wouldn't surprise you that the percentage went up from us It was 72 against 28, but here's the difference first half. We had seven shots today one second half We had three to their five So, you know, they were happy to give us possession knowing that we were going in a certain areas and they were going to get the ball back off from us to attack us down the other end. So this increased their percentage of shots. Now, 67 minutes, we're still unable to get any joys down the wing. So, Kieran and I made a really bold decision to change, to counter these decisions. Now, Most of his subs to date have been like for like, I think it was Altrincham. He made a couple of subs tactically and he did the same on 68 minutes. So what he did was he bought on Charlie Kendall and went two up top. Now I was surprised at that, but fair play to him. That's a bold decision. And I think it was the right response at the time. Now, ⁓ unfortunately, Cardwell at this time, he was completely spent in my opinion and in effect. It was no impact because he wanted two up top, but in effect he had one and one that was just absolutely knackered. So I think at this point, Charlie, he's showing that we are short of a striker in the squad and he has alluded to it. We need another front man. Yeah, no, we do. Desperately. I think it's clear to see that, isn't it? We mentioned it back in the last season. that once we knew who was departing, that it left us really, really short in attacking options. if, you know, we're pinging all our hopes at the moment on Cardwell's sort of our out and out striker, isn't it? I don't think Kendal's really finding his kind of space, like his place in the team at the moment. He's had times where he started off out wide for us, and I don't think that suits him at all. And likewise, I think we've seen Kendall sort of play up top on his own at times. And again, I think he, that's not really his position. I think Kendall does need to play in it too, but as you say, when he has had that opportunity, it's been up a long side card where who you say has just been shutting down all game. You know, you can't fault his effort for putting the goalkeeper under pressure and the runs he does off the ball and stuff. You know, he's completely spent. And yet, like you say, when it then... comes to it we look on the bench and we have no other striker to call upon so yeah it's definitely an area of concern and until we can get that rectified you do wonder where these goals are going to come. ⁓ Now we then conceded on 73 minutes went behind it was a good free kick by Evans deep in his own half now he pings it forward to our right now It's obviously something they've picked up on at half time that they've worked this out because normally they'd be playing a short free kick. You don't see many whacked into that area. If anywhere, you're going to hit forward into the, you know, into the middle of the goal mouth. But, but he puts it to the right hand side of our, of our box where he knows that Sam Austin is a complete mismatch against David Davis. Now Sam doesn't even attempt to, to challenge for the header. It's a free header. I don't think he's going to win that anyway but surely you make him a little bit uncomfortable, stick your shoulder in or at least make it difficult for him. So it's obviously something Wooten has picked up on at half time. The ball's gone into the danger area and unfortunately both Ryan and Taylor, neither of them have reacted. They're very slow to react and Lewis Walker, it's a good finish, he's smacked in the back of the net. Chris, it's something yourself well and Well, John, you've both picked up on our defense, you know, defensive struggles. Definitely. This was a classic example, wasn't it? It's becoming now quite predictable, I think. We're now seeing, as we've said at the beginning, know, the first half we were all over them moving the ball around and then the second half tired. The substitutions, think Dyers substitutions are becoming very predictable as well and very similar. He's swapping the two wide guys out. I don't think he's changing the tactic at all. There was no reaction to what Watton had done against us. And it was just, okay, we'll try fresh legs with the same tactic and keep trying to push forward. But the defense just switched off completely. And it's a real worry that we don't have that center back. that can take control and actually keep the guys in the game basically. And again, that Woking, the same thing happened again, I feel. And it's something I've noticed through probably most of our games this season so far that we have had that, they're not jelling at the back. And there's something not quite right there that we need to solve very, very quickly. But you know, we've got Yova at the weekend and I think they're gonna give us an absolute hiding if we play like that. Well, Taylor and Austin at this point, look absolutely spent. Both perhaps played longer than they should have done. Like I said, they've not had a lot of minutes ⁓ and I think they should have been replaced. Both stayed on for the full 90 minutes. Now on 84 minutes, Dyer did make his last change. Now this surprised me because we're chasing the game at 2-1 and so far I think his substitutes have been reasonable. You know, he's done the right thing. This one however, I think he's got wrong. ⁓ So as I said, we're chasing the game with minutes remaining and he's got a problem now because he's got Austin, Taylor and Oldica. They're all looking really tired, but he can only change two of them. Now what's incredible, he only changed one and that's his opportunity to use all the subs because he's had that free opportunities to change them. ⁓ So he's made one more change. Now he's bought on Hartigan for Oldica. And I don't think that's wrong because he was, I thought he had a really good first half, go to the second half. He was run ragged by them. So he was done. He needed to freshen up in the middle. But I'm really surprised that he didn't change Austin as well for Vontae. Now at this point, you've only got a few minutes left. You're two one down. You're going to be throwing men forward. ⁓ But the risk of that is they're going to get a counter in behind you. Now who have you got left at the back? to stop a run from a pacey guy like Stuart. Now you've got Hartigan, you've got Taylor, you've got Austin. None of those are going to be out there to catch a pacey forward. So I didn't understand why he didn't bring Vontey on because at least you've got someone there who's got power and pace who might be out to prevent a counter attack. And as it happened, 90 plus two minutes, we push up, Twombly loses the ball, Evans hit another brilliant first time ball. in behind and Stuart's just got a he's got one horse race against Hartigan it's obvious who's going to win that so is it I don't know is it a lack of is it a lack of options on the bench Sean what do you think? mean with Vontay he's not I was going to say he's not played a lot of minutes in in you know two years and I think Kieran was worried about him playing two games in in the space of sort of four days, if he can't manage one game in 10 minutes, why have him on the bench? Yeah, that's true. Yeah, yeah. Why have him on the bench? I mean, for me, think the central defence area there just looked weak. know, repairing up Ray and Harry Taylor and it's a bit, you know, we haven't got that height for starters and I know Taylor will put it all on the line. But playing with Ryan, who actually to be fair is a good player, but he don't put it on the line as much as say a good life would. Okay. I think, you know, I think you just need to sort of mash him up a bit better. Don't forget you got Austin at right back. It's not a right back. Okay. Yeah. So you weak there. You know, you weak. We know we're weak down our right hand side already. We don't want to be weak next to him. So, but you bring it into the right place, come back from injury and you're pairing up with Ryan. I just think it's a wrong thing to do totally. You need some organisation there because Austin's not going to be in the right place at the right time. Sometimes that makes sense. You're going to need a shout and someone say to him, go here, go there, get tight to him, go to that ball so I can stay here and I haven't got to do it. And good life to your man for that, right? Just a bit of experience there. Obviously Harry Taylor's. you know, possibly not too that confident in a four at the back there maybe. But I mean, personally, I'm pretty sure that Harry can play really well there, but he got a pair of them up right in the first place. It would have helped Harry no doubt a big deal if Vontay was playing. He wasn't, you know, and Austin's there. So I think, you know, obviously in that match, we just let them get their tails up. right now it's all about character. What's this team's character all about? And it's just beginning to come out. Okay. You've got to build that character. You've got scratch team, all sorts of strangers coming in together for a few weeks in the summer trying to work themselves out and get the fix going. And now you go straight in and guess what? We won the first three games. Actually fantastic. And we look brilliant as well. And to take scumful at home like that was really good. So, but it's going to show, it's going to show. If you don't tuck these teams away, You know, if your cocker doesn't get right up to support, Harry Cardwell can run across the box, take a man with him, leave a hole behind him. Leon can say, thanks very much, bang one goal in. But you need more than one goal, two, three goals, because we got that shake at your fence. it's shaky, there's no doubt about it. Now, when we let these teams, you know, get the towels up, you know, you can see, you can see, you can see. Who's going to put it in for you? Who's winning that ball in midfield? Hartigan? He's not ready yet, Hartigan for me. I think he will be flying, but it's going to take a bit of time. ⁓ in the meantime, you've got 9,000 people and they're expecting a bit better. And the players know it as well. The players know it. I think the players look a bit under pressure. They did. thought they looked bit under pressure, know, it gets woken. Woking a big side, it's always difficult over there. We never seem to get much over there. ⁓ I think possibly we play them again. Unfortunately, well, unfortunately, but whatever, but it's gonna be a home when we're playing again. But I think a few months down the line, when the lads kind of built that character in the side, that'll be a different story, you know? But right now, you your Koken needs to support and get up and play in that 10. Leon needs to be pushing out wide to the left-hand side and give him half a match. If he's not going to do it, if he's not going to really put it in for us in a nightly, then we don't play him as a nightly because he's so important. He's such a good player. if he switches on and switches off like light, does unfortunately at the moment, it drives us all mad. ⁓ But yesterday I thought Popola ⁓ defended really well against him, really well. ⁓ And it just left us a bit light. Well, we'll come back to working but ⁓ yeah, you know, I thought you know Ryan has been at fault for two goals now But like I say defensively, you know across the back we are we are vulnerable and if we're not taking that No, yeah, yeah, yeah Absolutely. Yeah, he's still young He's still got a lot to learn and he's building that couch within himself as well as you played men's football. I'm not ⁓ even sure So he wasn't, you know coming on for West Ham so not, you know, he's got a lot of skill, you know, but unfortunately right now, sometimes when you go to get that gold down and the other team get their tails up, you know, that's when your character comes out. And if you haven't got that experience, ⁓ you've got to try and hold it, you know, hold everything together at the back there. But I just felt like, it gets kiddier, kiddier. We'll just let him, just let him in. We'll just let him in, you know. It's so frustrating because I mean the way they, you we played like Real Madrid in the first half. It was fantastic, beautiful watching it. Not seeing that for years. I mean years. It was superb. tell you now. You went out there, you'd never in a million years go there, you know, after I turned around to someone and say, we're going to let you three goals and we're not going to score and we're going to get stuffed. No one would believe you. No one, not a chance, obviously. I just couldn't believe it, just couldn't believe it. But it just goes to show how much there is to do yet. know, Kieran and I, we just have to keep it on the level, support the boys and so do the fans and then to get behind the boys, let's try and get at Yeovil and take it to them. But there's sure... I think it's matches like this where Kieran will learn a lot. ⁓ like you say you learn more in your defeats than you do in your wins so yeah ⁓ i mean you've got to give credit to kidderminster i thought paul wutton changed it tactically and we just didn't respond ⁓ charlie do you think it was a case of tactical naivety or do you just think there's a bit of a lack of squad depth there or a of both? probably little bit of both I think it was clear to see that Kier de Minster probably had an absolute rollicking at half time because they come out within the opening minute or two I think they absolutely, you know, they're hard up, solid and you could see and I think in the first half it was quite easy to defend against them I think with Levi Aman... I'm going to ruin this one. Amanci. Yeah. I thought he was very easy to play against. I he was pretty poor to be up front for Kier de Minster. It was all... You know, couldn't really, nothing really stuck to him, I think. Harry Taddy, you he was very easy to play against. Yeah, Harry had a really good first half. Yeah, and I think then the second half, when they took him off and made the changes, I think that's when you sort of saw the problems. ⁓ And yeah, and they just had, I don't know, they just sort of had an extra stride about them. In the first half, we were like, you know, chest out, everybody wanted the ball, there was movement, there was all of that. And the second half, just went now. whether that's an element of fatigue, whether we're asking a team to try and play like that for a whole 90 minutes and they just haven't got it in them at the moment, which is fine. you can only play at that tempo for say 60, 70 minutes, then that's fine. But you've got to make sure in those 70 minutes, when those chances are coming your way, you're finishing them and you're clinical with them. No one's going to say you're expected to play at that tempo for this whole 90 minutes. If that's how Dyer wants his team to play and sets them up, then we have to be clinical when we're in front of goal. We have to be. Well, coming up, Woking, we'll discuss that shortly. Another one to break down. But news from the other 23s, ⁓ they are featuring in the Wave Championship. Now, there's six fixtures in that competition. Last week, they played MK Don's Academy. 4-1 defeat, Jack Stone on the score sheet. Next up, we've got Bill Rikie at home, that is on the seventh. We'll keep you up to date with that. But Danny commented, entering the next wave championship is another opportunity to raise the level of challenge we can provide. It gives you our under-23s, a structured program of competitive fixtures, including games against EFL opposition. Our mission is to develop homegrown players capable of earning professional contracts and importantly going on to establish themselves as South Indian United first team players. Charlie, they're going to face some tough opposition in this competition but listen it's going to be great experience for them isn't it? Yeah absolutely you know if they want to make the next step up in their careers and know represent in the first team then they've You've to be given that opportunity, this competition or this league that they're in will give them that. It's different, isn't it, playing youth football and stuff like that, but when you're now playing against... opposition of real good quality that's where you know you really start to to benefit from and hopefully as it goes on there you know we'll reap the rewards of that and they then filter in that we start to see them start pushing for their place in the squad you know at least. Well we wish Josh Barrett ⁓ Best wishes he's out with an ankle injury at the moment. I spoke to him the other day. Hopefully he'll be back soon. But our under 23 defeated Football 247. They're a team comprising of ex-pros and scholars from Premier League and NFL clubs. That finished 7-1. Jack Stone registered a hat-trick. And Joe Poxon bagged a brace with Nick Zlatov. Michael Joloshy also on target. Joe Poxon, he's another academy player. I really like the look of him. He's one to watch and Josh Collier scored a hat trick as our under 19 to one of preseason friendly against Renaissance elite. That was seven-nil Garand. Matthew Blake knitted twice with Lucas Johnson and Scott also on target for the Shrimpners. So they're going really well banging the goals in. So there's example lads now switching to ladies. They played chumps for the way yesterday. There were six changes to the team. Molly Lee Amber Denton and Sophie Stack returned to the lineup. and Neve Carpenter, Maisie Kelly and new signing Hannah Warner were all handed their first starts to their club. ⁓ Goalless in the first half, one or two chances for Southend, Maisie Kelly probably with the best chance with a shot from 15 yards but a good defensive display against Chelmsford against their front line led by the tricky Evelina Szpilak. Now I'm gonna test you guys, how do you spell Szpilak? Go on John, I'll let you try this one. Gosh, I can't even pronounce most of the names. mean, Spielak. Do you want to try? We'll try you, Spielak. Spielak. How do you spell that? X-H-P. It's going to be Z or something. Does it start with a T or something like that? No, it's not a T. It is actually PRZY. PRZY BY L.E.K. That's exactly what I was going to say. Yeah, obviously a Polish influence there. My wife is Polish, so I asked her, how the hell would you say his name? She said Spilak. yeah, of it is. I was trying to Google it, but I it wrong. I'd love to catch you out. Now just after half time, Spilak was involved with a challenge with Jodie Murphy, gave away a penalty unfortunately, Ref pointed to the spot. Good finish to Molly's right who just missed it. That put them 1-0 up. And then Chelmsford went 2-0 up right near the end. Molly unable to gather across and Abigail Wolvin, that's an easier one, she slotted home. So it finished 2-0, but a good close encounter and much for Nick and Dan. to be pleased with their. Kieran Dyer was obviously watching the match as well. The ladies got Wormley next, Garen Sunday, that's two o'clock kick off. Now, Southend currently in sixth, Wormley in eighth, no points on the ball yet. They've conceded six in twos and maybe it's a good opportunity to get them. It was one-one last year, Hanna Stone scoring that goal, so we wish the ladies all luck. If you are available, get down, get down and see them. Right. ⁓ Woking next, our first watch along. Charlie was hiding in the stands of Woking in disguise because he didn't get a ticket in the Southend end. But yeah, it was our first watch along and this is how it went. Welcome to the Talking Shrimpers podcast. Watch along, first one of the season, Woking away. Aidan O'Brien, he's a very good player we need to watch out for. Fullman Royal Wall and Sunderland. I just wonder if they'll go for it today. They need the points and maybe were a bit vulnerable from Friday or will they put a low block? I think either way. Twomly starting could be useful in either situations. I'm guaranteed they'll probably watch our game on Friday a couple of times and see how the second half unfolded. So we are going to kick off. We are going to kick off. Come on, we need some goals today. Nice ball. Go on, yep. On the overlap again, Bonte. Go on. ⁓ that's a great play by Bonte. No, he's gone down too easy there. It's not a penalty. He's gonna get booked for a dive, isn't he? Booked for a dive. I think that was a bit harsh. Well, the ref's gotta keep that up if he's gonna be booking on nine minutes for things like that. I mean, it was simulation. Yellow for Vontay already. Right, back with Twamley, who is seeing a lot of the ball. Vontay. Come on, there's no movement up top at all. I don't know what Twamley's supposed to do with it. No, he's got no options, has he? There we go. It's Twamley again. Getting so much of the ball. But again they got three around him. There we go. Yeah that's brilliant play by Twamley. He's having a shot. ⁓ what a shot. Great save for the keeper. That was brilliant from Twamley. First real chance wasn't it? Yeah. Yeah that was good. Took three of them on. Off he went. So many empty seats in the Woking End. Yeah I put the ⁓ soul sign up for Southend a long time ago. They could have eased it even more. Right there we go. Let's get on a break here. Twamley. Good. Well done Josh. Well done, Tragny, go on, he's through. Through. Through Tragny's one on one. He's got to put this away. Yeah, ⁓ off the line. ⁓ he's got to be kidding me. He could have gone down as well. The took a nick at him. He could have gone down. Carried on, which has allowed the defender to get back on the line, clear it off. He should have gone down then, I think. He should have gone down, yeah. We'd have had a pen and a yellow card to the keeper. But unfortunately... That was a great opportunity. Yeah, he's got to be going down there. I mean, fair play to him staying on his feet, but I think by doing that, it's allowed the defender to get back. Kieran had hair, he'd be pulling it out right now. That's true. Right, it's back again with Hartigan. It's a good ball down the left. Good ball coming in. ⁓ Cardwell. ⁓ what's he doing? It didn't get any connection on that at all really did he? No. He tried to side put it in and just... came He scared the corner flag more than the goal. All a bit flat and disappointing at the minute Chris. All we need is a hydration break. Yeah. Bring nose back. And a bit of Shakira. Because at the moment there's nothing to look at in this No that's true. Right, it's downwards firmly again. On the right. Good little ball in. Josh back post! ⁓ we're so close there. ⁓ come on! It's a penalty! Is he giving a pen? It's a penalty! He's giving a penalty, yeah. Put it in the back post. It was a bit soft, wasn't it? It was very We'll take that. We'll take that. Are we gonna get our first watch along goal? Right, Cardwell, up against Jatical Inam. Away he goes! Couple of deep breaths. Yes! Come on! 1-0! Harry Carwell it is to give us the lead. That work in 37 minutes it's taken. Cardwell's away, Cardwell's away, he's away, he's got one man to beat, back to Coker. Come on Cokes. ⁓ he's put it over the bar. ⁓ That was a good, another good chance. We should have scored there, another good chance, it? Story of the season so far though, isn't it? Should have scored. They've really come out at us this half. They are coming at us, aren't We are all over the place. back in a minute. I think it's time for the popcorn, Chris. The popcorn? Wow. as exciting as this game's got. We're not playing a lot of football in this game are we? It's all a bit... Pump it long. We've still got the lead. Next goal's crucial isn't it? For whoever it is. Yeah they're playing lovely little... That's a play. Yeah. That's nice play by Woking. This is what we should be doing. Lovely little ball from them. ⁓ it's a great shot. Great save by Joe and they've Great save! Do I not like that? It was a lovely ball. It was great. Great players. Great or three men running in on goal and we're just standing watching them. You see it coming. This is a little bit like Kidaminster, isn't it? They've come out a lot quicker than us. Caught us flat. Yeah, that was a lovely ball inside. Shot fumbled by Joe Duncan. He's got to do better with that, to be honest. Second save was good, but couldn't keep the third one out. Yeah. I think you were saying before, Chris, wasn't it? Five draws in a row we've had. That's it. Game over. Yeah, pretty poor game, wasn't it? But a very poor one point over the bank already. We won't be happy with that at all. If we want to be competing for this league title, you'll be picking up points here. That was yesterday. I'm sure you read it. The nightmares that we did. We were reduced to popcorn in the end. Yeah. A number of changes for that game in came Vontay, Daniel Cox and Hartigan, Josh Popula, Lewis Tramley. Kolkloff, Kamara and Oldecom moved to the bench and there was no place in the squad for Cole McAdam or Sam Austin. Now checking the stats of that. 38 % for Woking and 62 % for us. Eight shots apiece, five on target for us, three for Woking. ⁓ Corners, six for Woking and eight for us. Charlie, very much the same story against Kidimintstar. A game of two halves. Now we'll just break that down the stats. So the first half we were on top again, 69 % against their 31. Seven shots for us with four of those on target. Just the one for Woking, which was on target and three corners for us against their two. Starting with that first half, as you saw there, again, very wasteful. Chances for Twamley, Goody and Cardwell. But yeah, what were your impressions of that first half? First of all, thanks for letting us relive that. Yeah, I mean, obviously, I think I had one of the better seats in the stand looking at how crowded it was in that way. ⁓ Woking definitely need to look at that when there's been that. That was ridiculous what happened on Monday. really was. But first half, well, it's pretty much wins and repeat, isn't it, from Friday? Again, first half, you know, I felt we were really wasteful with our passing at times. Although we had the better of the opportunities and more of the ball, I still felt that there was a lot of We just weren't able to really string a couple of balls together. was a lot of, as say, passes went amiss. It was quite sloppy in the middle. I felt we didn't really have real control of it. Woken were a very physical team, know, a really strong team. And I think at times we struggled with that. ⁓ But, you know, I just feel like I'm repeating myself, but the four opportunities that we had that you mentioned there, ⁓ good lift first of all. I think he said himself, he backs himself to score that and you look at that, if you watch the highlights back, the goals gave him for him, he's got to get that on target, he really has, he's unmarked, you do fancy him to do better there. Then we get a little bit fortuitous with the Twamley break, ⁓ puts the pressure on, breaks away just the goalkeeper to beat and maybe he was being a little bit too honest, maybe. when you went man the keeper you know you think okay if you're go round him you've got to make sure you you're putting it away if you're not going to go down and that that opportunity goes a begging then we have a is it card well he you look at it back and you know the easier board it's been the side ball strike for Kocher to tap into an empty net but as a striker he wants goals he wants to take that opportunity you can't take that away from him. want your striker to be hungry and take the shot on. But again, should have done better there. And then obviously, Koko with the follow up, again, should have at least maybe got it on target. So there's four real, real fantastic opportunities. you put them to bed. The game's done and dusting. And as I say, Woken are a really, really physical team. They really are. And they have got a bit of quality about them, I think. where they are probably isn't really a true reflection of where they really are. I they're probably a better team than what the table ⁓ says. But saying that, as I say, you're not gonna take your opportunities, then you run that risk of, you know. and the opposition, know, all they need is that one chance and Duncan made two fantastic saves from sort of point blank range there, you know, he really did. He had a couple of saves, know, at the death as well, was it for Cassie, you know, he tipped one over the bar from him and we just got to be quicker to respond, you know, to react to these, you know, Duncan's, you know, he's a great shot stopper. You back him on, you know, on one to ones and stuff, I really do favor him. ⁓ But as a defence, we've got to be so much better at ⁓ reacting to that and giving him some sort of support that when he does make no saves, we're there to put our body on the line and make the block. in the end, you know, they had a simple tap in really for their goal. And then once they got that, you know, their backs were right up and it was one way traffic. Really, we didn't look like we were threatening in that second half at all. Well, I'll come back to their goal. But Ben, I don't know how close you were to the Twamley. opportunity whether you were the other end but obviously we had the hindsight, Christian we have seen it on the TV and you know straight away we said he should have gone down. What was your opinion? think Kieran Dyer in his interview said he wanted a score which I get but it was a bad decision for my brother. You've got to be smarter haven't you? I think it's like you said it's the benefit of hindsight. I mean there's plenty of options I mean. first of all, I mean, he could have shot instead of going around the keeper. And then there's going around the keeper, then there's going down, and then obviously then there's going around the keeper, staying on your feet and sort of unfortunately missed. But if, let's say, he's gone down, and let's say that left hasn't given it, then you probably would say, well, because obviously he could have stayed on his feet, obviously he did stay on his feet. So shows that you could have stolen it. If the ref doesn't give it then we'd all be sitting here having the conversation of why didn't he shoot this and then open gun from them. So I think it's hard and I do completely get both sides of it. But I think going around the keeper, yeah obviously there was contact, not necessarily enough to bring him down and of course you don't have to go down for it to be a foul. But I think you made the right decision personally. think you ran the goalkeeper, then you got back yourself to score. And I think the most frustrating thing is, I didn't notice at the time as well, but if you look back at the highlights, obviously, Caldwell's wide open. So, mean, again, on another day, you might have scored it. you can go back yourself to school if you go past the keeper. Yeah, Now the goal when it came, was a good delivery by Twamley. I thought in the first half he had a really good, really good half. I thought we were fortunate to get the pen. don't know, John, did you see much of it? I thought Zico, what a great name, Zico leaned into him. I didn't think it was a foul, but listen, we'll take the penalties. What did make of it? mean, think Ben was standing directly behind me and Sean was about three people to my left, I think. So we all pretty much saw exactly the same stuff at the same time. Look, I mean, when one of your players gets dragged or held by the shirt, there was quite a lot of appealing from the terrace, if I'm honest. So there was a lot of people saw it, but we'll do that anyway. I wasn't completely surprised that you got given because I think at some times those sort of decisions should be given but I think it might have been Ben or whatever other friends said actually it was a pull but he wasn't ever getting the ball so sometimes obviously referee will look at the the flight of the ball and the height and all this sort of stuff and say well okay you his shirt but he wasn't gonna get it so but in saying that there are plenty of decisions that we don't get through the season which you think absolutely nailed on and I think against, might have been this season against Scunthorpe, I think there was two decisions in the second half alone where players got yanked by their shirts that could have got given and didn't so it swings and roundabouts. So. I can see why it was given. If it hadn't been given, I don't think anyone would have been completely shocked by that either. But having been given, mean, Caldwell took the chance well. I think it would have done him good in terms of his confidence. Obviously scoring the other chance later on would have given him even more confidence. And he wasn't dissimilar to the Kidderminster third goal, if you think about it, in terms of Yeah, muscle defender didn't the yesterday but the angle he was coming in was not dissimilar to the kidamits to lad on Friday. I personally think he probably should have squared at the coca and he would have had a tap in. Yeah. In saying that, coca still should have hit the target with the rebound, know, some of his quality. Yeah, I mean, I don't want have comparisons with Maya because I think we should move on from that. But walking out the ground yesterday, that second half and the second half against Kidderminster are very reminiscent of performances that we've seen under the old regime. Now the thing that confuses me the most about that is new management, new management team, set piece coach, whatever you want to call it, practically a brand new squad. So, I was really hoping we wouldn't see performances like that. But I do accept that it's a new squad, so bedding in this, that and the other. What I would like to say very quickly about the defense, I think Dyrus got the defense wrong, personally. I think having played a decent level and watching Ben playing this and the other, most good teams have a real solid defense. Harry Taylor is not a center back in a four. He's not strong enough. He's strong enough on the floor. And I agree with what Sean said earlier where he puts his body on the line, but he's not strong aerially. He's not strong physically. And Sam Austin is shorter than me, I think, you know, and that's not a sly on Sam Austin. But when you've been used to playing with VDC there, who's six foot plus, Goodliff who's six foot plus and Goodliff. has been excellent actually, I think. I think he has. back four suits him much more, doesn't it? Back four suits him. had him in a back three or back five. It didn't suit him. Yeah. The back three suited Taylor because if you think about it, last season, everything, under Mayer, everything was designed around getting Gus forward and coming in at the back post. So Taylor just had to do that mopping up role. Well, when you're playing a back two, It's a completely different ballgame. when that team was announced on Friday, forget how well we played in the first half defensively because they didn't have much to do. When they come under pressure in the second half and you hit the nail on the head, they kept targeting the right back, right center back position of our, and that's where I think you got, I don't think after four games or three games, do the defense really need to rest? In the same way, did McAdam need to be rested yesterday? McAdam, I think, is a fantastic. Yeah, I think we haven't missed either. I we've missed boys at all. Yeah, fair play. But I really like Cox as well and I can see why Cox was played as his left footed. But again, it's just rejigging the defense again. I thought he did well actually Cox yesterday. he did. He did, I don't think we should be changing the defense. If you want to mess around a little bit, do it further forward because that's where you got most options as well. they need to form an understanding, don't they? Yeah, you know, and certainly Rayan plays better I think with good lift than he did with Taylor. So yeah, it was. think that's one of the frustrations isn't it? Very frustrating watch. Very frustrating watch. Yeah. Defensively like last couple of seasons defensively we've been really sound haven't we? ⁓ very strong. Yeah, yeah. Right up there is one of the top in the league I think this season we're, well I think. But May never made changes though did he? We're going to see gold at both of them next shot. Yeah, yeah, exactly. I guys messed around with it a little bit too much too early. Yeah, need a bit of stability for sure. And I think we need more resources. I don't think I don't think you can have Harry Taylor as one of the four centre backs. I don't think it suits him. So I mean, I was sort of hoping in the really weird way that maybe someone might come in for Taylor today. And if I was the club, I would have let Taylor go, but then replaced him with a no nonsense. You know, no nonsense, centre back type thing. that's not, that's not being disrespectful to Taylor because he's brilliant. I just don't think he suits a back In the same way, I don't think Sam Austin suits being a right back. Yeah. Well, we've struggled with penalties probably the last couple of years, but it looks like Chris, it looks like we found our man to take. Take the spot kicks. Good finish from Kyle. It was good. He took his time, took a couple of deep breaths before he banged that in and sent the keeper the wrong way. It was very controlled and well taken penalty. There's nothing else could be said really about it. was clinical for a penalty. Well, coming to the second half again comparing the stats now I'll just go over the first half again 31 % for Woking, 49 % for us, ⁓ just the one shot for Woking, 7 for us. ⁓ Now switching it around second half 45 % possession for Woking, 55 for us, seven shots Woking, just the one for us. So Ben, where do you think the drop off is occurring? any second off. it fitness like you say? Kieran said we're the fittest or gonna be the fittest but at the moment I don't know is it in training we're doing too many drills because there does seem to be a big drop off doesn't it? It happened I think against scumful it happened a bit it happened certainly against kidamint stuff and it's happened again against Woking. Yeah but I think it's a strange one because I think ⁓ where also Dyer is so tactically fluid. it's hard to then pinpoint something, whereas under Mayo, you knew you would take, we'd very similar football, very similar lineups and sort of whereas with Dyer, where he's a lot more fluid and obviously changes lots during the game over the course of, let's see what five games we have at the same start in 11 months, definitely not the same defense, I don't think, I could be wrong. So it's like he's making changes. So obviously the team's staying fresh, but I think maybe the team's almost staying too fresh. I think fitness is playing a part because we are looking a bit leggy at times and then that's leading to unforced errors as well because I'm not overly, I don't think the performances have been great or good enough over this weekend, but I don't think they're disastrous. mean, in end we were still making the chances, we just didn't take the chances. And if we went into, if we scored a second probably in the first half on that might only happen in like a small flip that happens across this bank holiday weekend. But if you had to sort of like push me for an answer, then I think it probably is fitness because we're looking leggy and then we're making mistakes, like unforced errors, like giving the ball away and then getting hit on the counter attack. Just stuff like that. which isn't down to like players or personnel, I think it is down to just being a bit fatigued at times. Well thank god we haven't got another bank holiday weekend for a few months. think we will all stick at this one. But Woking made three changes at half time. Forster, Caskey we mentioned, O'Brien, player picked out and Akinola all on. These guys won the show. Now was it a case of our players not adapting to that tactical change? I think they got bullied off the ball. Do we need to just be more We need to be bit more physical. I think we got bullied off that. off the ball in the second half. We didn't adapt to those three changes and it was pretty obvious that we kept trying the same pattern but it wasn't going to work. Even with the substitutions it was the same pattern again where we swapped the two wingers. There was nothing really changed on how we were trying to actually attack the ball or even defend. And yeah, and again, it seems like there's a blueprint to beat Southend pretty, becoming pretty obvious here that if you're physical against them, they're not gonna have the ideas of how to get around that. Yeah, see, this is where I would expect that the lights of Hartigan to bring his experience in, you know, because, again, we kind of let them back in the game. Now, analyzing the goal, there are many issues with our defending, I think, as a team unit. I've had a few looks back at it. Now, the goal when it came, it was for me, it was down to a collective of not pressing, not tracking players and the movement in our midfield. Now, Woke can have the ball there, moving it around really, really well with some neat passing. And firstly, I think you have to question the positioning of two individuals and I think that's Leon and Hartigan. Now, when the ball is played centrally, Leon is on the edge of the D. ⁓ He either has to hold that position or he has to go and press the man. He kind of doesn't do either. He moved a bit forward. and he's just left a massive gap behind him. you thought Forstakasky was going to push the ball out wide, which the commentator did, but as soon as he saw that gap, he's been very smart and played it in now. Now the second problem is Vontee. He's kind of let his man Dawson go. Instead of being switched on, Dawson's just made that lovely run inside, which is then got the time to turn and hit the shot. Now he's the second one, I think. should have been switched on. Now Goody who's marking Silah on the edge of the box, he's straight away, he's recognized the danger. Now he's the only one who's gone, hang on a minute, he's got a shot here, he's moved a yard and I'm not putting any blame at Goody because he's the only one that's reacted. But unfortunately by moving that one yard, it's allowed Silah to get in to follow up. Now, The other man I think is at a big fault if you look back at it is Hartigan. Now in the build up to Forstkasky when he's first got the ball he's marking O'Brien. Now he's then just turned his back, switched off completely and he hasn't got a clue then where O'Brien is. O'Brien's gone thank you very much. Now he's a player picked at he was at Sunderland, Millwall. He's a very experienced player and he's smart. He's seen the gap and he's gone thank you very much. I'm just going to hang around here. Now, as soon as that shot's got in, we've already said, Silah's been left by Goody, he's followed up, and then O'Brien's just followed up as well. He's just running the space, unchallenged. So for me, it's a collective from the midfield. The positioning's all wrong. I think that there's a lack of communication there. you know, Joe Duncan for me, he's kind of spilled it. He should have put it out. Fair play to him, think you mentioned it Chris, he got good save from the second one but it's an easy tapping and actually, Ryan I think is the only defender that has switched on to the fact that there's two players coming on coming into that area and he's trying to close it down, obviously it's too much and it's an easy tapping so for me it's a complete mess. John, I don't know what you made of it. Well, when you hit the nail on the head, it's a complete mess from start to finish really. think, I don't know if was Ben, I you mentioned earlier about the fact that we haven't really got an enforcer in the middle of the park and I think Dyer. and don't want this sound critical because we're very early days obviously but Dyer talks about the fact that he wants us to dominate games he wants us to dominate possession so when you've got players like Harskin and Old Acre and Coco and Leon and these sort of players that are making movement and running around and passing this out and the other we look great and that's fine What we're not doing in the second half of games at the moment is we're not coming out second half and dominating the game with the ball. The only time we've really properly done it was probably the second half against Gunthorpe. Ultronum's a slightly different game because of course they had a play sent off which made it little bit easier for us. So though, when you analyze that goal that we conceded yesterday, who in the middle of the park is that man that's gonna go in for a crunch and tackle? He's gonna spot. the runners, this and that, who's going to be going with the runners? And at the moment, I don't think we look a lovely team at times going forward when we've got the ball, we look a bit of a shambles out without the ball. Well, they've just picked us to pieces, haven't they? Exactly that. I mean, my mum bless her, she's 78. She said to me, I don't really ever hear any noise from the players. I don't hear anyone barking instructions, stuff like that. Right, and it's interesting and I said to her, well we sit in the east stand at Roots Hall, so obviously you're quite away from the game anyway and you've got noise and this that and the other and generally speaking at away games we're quite noisy as well but yesterday when it was a lot quieter she was quite right actually. I don't recall hearing, maybe good lift maybe, ⁓ coca doesn't seem to really make a lot of noise, so I'm wondering if there was a slight lack of organization in there now. Hartekin was a captain at Barnet, if I'm right. When they won promotion. So he's definitely got the experience. Old Acre definitely should have the experience. Good lift, et cetera. So I just wonder at the moment is when we come in under pressure like this, who is the one that's actually getting the game by the neck? And actually sort of, look, you need some leadership from the side as well, but. The manager can't do everything from the touchline. So think at the moment we're lacking a bit of that in the middle of the park. And I think a goal like yesterday comes from that and certainly at least one of the commits to goals definitely, as you said, who's marking the guy on the edge of the penalty area completely unmarked. Why is someone not telling someone to go out and mark the person? I think there's a bit of a lack of leadership. again, that's not a sly on Cokers. I think Cokers had a good season so far, but. Is he, do we need someone in there, whether it's a new player, that's gonna effing blind and shout and this that and the other. We Peter Butler type player don't we? Well Gary, Gary Deegan, Michael Tymlin, Ryan Leonard. Even Miley at his best, not the Miley of the last couple of years. Someone just breaks up the play. That's the sort of play you need in there and I don't think we've got it at the moment. Yeah, well let's hear from Kieran Dyer in his post-match interview. Kieran, a 1-1 draw against Woking, how do you reflect on the match? Game of two halves. Game should be dead and buried. It's a mystery. 1 v 1s. think Goody has a three-header. We come in at 1-0. message was, obviously, you know what happened against Gunthorpe and you know what happened against Kinneminster. They're going to put it on us. They're going to go really aggressive. Pitch is dry. Let's have good game management. Let's play in their aft. Let's try to not give them oxygen. And we do the complete opposite. Try to play really short, terrible passes. They win the ball back. The crowd gets on. They get loads of set pieces and they start to put pressure on. Yeah, it just goes to show that they're really naive as a team. and the God be better. Like said, I've owned a lot. I've owned a lot when I talked about body language and certain decisions I made in the first four games, but I just said to them, I need to trust you. ⁓ And at the moment, there's a lot of players who are showing me that I can't trust them because they're making the game up and we don't want that. yeah, fortunate to get a point in the end. Should have been 3 4-0 up to hanging on for dear life for a point at the end just sums up, just sums up how naive we are as a team. How much encouragement do you take from that first half? Well, we did create so many chances. Yeah, I don't buy that. You can talk about missed chances and that, but what I've seen now in the two games is that when the equaliser goes in and we go behind, there's a bit of adversity. That's why I expect us to push out our chest. It just seems at the moment we're going a bit under. And that's something we have to address. We've talked about we've got money to spend. I firmly believe now before Yogle, we're going to have players in the build, simple as that. The first start for Lewis Twonley, what do you make of his taking his opportunity? Fantastic, he was a bright spark. They couldn't get near him in the first half. He was beating himself up for the chance he missed. He probably should have gone down and got a penalty. He was so desperate to score. He was a really bright spark. Yeah, Lewis is going to be big player for this football club. Finally, again, a sold-out away end for the supporters. They've shown their numbers throughout this season. How impressive is that? I feel sorry for them. I do. really feel sorry. It's like a rollercoaster watching us at the moment. You go from the sub line to the ridiculous game. They should have been having three or four goals to celebrate. And then they see that second half and they must just think, what the hell is going on? So yeah, I can only apologise. That being showed a level of consistency yet in the last two games over 90 minutes. So that must be frustrating. I know it's frustrating for the players and for myself and my staff. But yeah, they turned out in good force and they should be expecting us to put that game to bed. And it wasn't the case. Thanks Kieran. Cheers. Kieran, a one-all draw here at Woking. A kind of a frustrated figure. You had lead at half-time. Where did that game get away from you? They just put more, they changed shape, they put more pressure, went man for man, the pitch was sticky. And we gave them oxygen where we were comfortable in possession and working patterns. Again, the pitch was a problem and we should have turned them a lot more. If you look at a couple of the 1v1s we got when we went clean through, that was from a direct ball into Harry and overtaking the press. And again, we warned what was coming and... We didn't take them instructions on boarding. Yeah, that's fair credit to them. They got a lot of momentum, loaded the box and were very good at what they did and on the balance of play they deserved that goal. yeah, a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde side at the moment which... Yeah, one of those where you say having lots of positives in that first half as well. suppose you had a lot of big chances in there, obviously Harry Cardwell taking his penalty and putting it into the back of the net. Yeah, again, ⁓ I said to my staff, if I'm being honest, I told the players that, I said to the staff before we went in to deliver our messages. said you know what's going to happen. I didn't fancy us to hold on. I had a feeling that Wokum was going to score. So being the manager of a team of players having that kind of thought, that is quite worrying in a game. They've got around my trust, they've got around their trust. That trust is big for me. got a need to expect certain players to carry out the messages and if they don't, like you said, in the next couple of days, we'll be looking to add to the squad. So it's all to play for for them. You talk about having that concern going in for the break. mean, Lewis had had his chance, as you've said, I think it's a bright spark in that first half. I Oli Koka has one in close range as well. Was that something that kind of ignited that concern for you? Some players don't The players don't need to miss chances. It's assembled but the chances we've had over the last two games, think our ex-jewel is nearly free against Kidderminster, I don't know what it was today. We have to have goals. If we get that second goal with this crowd and where they are in the league, we win that game 4-5-0. When you don't, you can just see it gives them more oxygen. You know they're going to change, you know they're going to put it on you. And yeah. recumbled. That's really worrying. You mentioned obviously how you knew they would change. Why do you your players weren't able to adapt to the changes anyway? Because we tried to play the same way, short passes, especially into the pitch where it was so dry and getting so dried. All we had to do was spin them. Once you spin a team a few times, look at them, how many times they got in, we're just spinning the ball down the side. That's all we should have done. We would have got up the pitch and we would have played the game in there off. But what we do, we give the ball away and they play the game in half. And that's just basic football. Maybe because we had so much success, they thought it would come easy again. And it wasn't the case. So that's what was disappointing. We warned them what was coming and they didn't listen. But once they scored the equaliser, we still had plenty of time to create and obviously we brought on attacking players. We had to take cards off to protect him. He was feeling his calves. But yeah, again, even the last 20 minutes was really disappointing that we didn't really create anything considering to what we created in first half. You mentioned after the killer minutes of the game, you mentioned the word ruthless. You just mentioned as well before this, you mentioned the word naivety as well. How do you go about changing these sort of aspects and changes qualities going forward? Getting players in with killer instincts. It implies that we've scored goals. The gang's just not centre forwards and stuff like that. I feel we need to strengthen in other areas as well. The transfer window closes tomorrow, it? So we'll know exactly where we stand and hopefully we can get a few additions in. How busy do you anticipate being this week? Obviously I've got to speak to John and Ollie and Justin. Yeah, I would like a few players in to help the group. We are, as you can see, a very young and naive group. think our oldest player has just turned 30 or 31. We need a few leaders, real leaders to help and guide on that football pitch. Yeah, very frustrated figure. Roller coaster, he described us as. Welcome to Southend United, Kieran. Did no one tell him in his interview that that beard is going to go grey very, very quickly. ⁓ Charlie, one thing I picked up on. He said he can't trust some of his players. That's worrying after five games, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, one thing with Kieran is... ⁓ He's very honest, isn't he, in his interviews, which I don't mind. I think he's a bit fresh air. ⁓ Now, some may look at that negatively, but I think he's being honest. I would be more concerned if he thought everything was fine. He's obviously aware and can see where the shortfalls are and what he needs from his team. And publicly sort of calling it out, if you like. maybe he's hoping he'll get that reaction from key players potentially. ⁓ know, the players, they're gonna have their conversations away from the camera. You know, he's not gonna say to the camera anything that he's not gonna tell the players anyway. ⁓ And yeah, I think what this, you know, the opening five games have shown us is where our shortfalls are. ⁓ Now that season isn't gonna be defined on these opening five games, you know, let's give, you know, 10, 12. games in then I think we'll have a real look at how the of table shaping up. ⁓ But yeah, it's is a concern that, you know, he's bought his ballplayers in that he feels that he can trust and potentially, you know, take the reins and stuff. we mentioned, you know, we haven't got a It's not really a voice within the team and stuff. It's a very quiet team. yeah, that's clearly something. haven't even the previous few seasons, we've never really had anyone like that really. You look at days of like an Adam Barrett at the back, and you say Adeg and Ryan Leonard, these are players that are very vocal, you say, real nasty players in a way that... you know, they will disrupt, will get, you know, do the mucky side of the job. And that is something that we have really, really missed over recent seasons. And I think if we can get one or two players in like that, that John's mentioned, you know, are, you know, gonna, you know, shout the odds and, you know, pull people around, then, you know, like you say, going forward, we've got the flair players, we've got that attacking intent. It's just that gritty side that we're really lacking, ⁓ which hopefully, as I say, this transfer window closes for the Premier League and EFL, that we'll see what's available to us. We've alluded to we've got some money to spend. Let's hope that we can get two or three players in that can fill these voids that we've currently got. Yeah, well, I think he got confused because he said obviously transfer window shut. So he does Premier League in the EFL. Obviously, it doesn't apply to National League directly, but indirectly it does because you know, your premier players probably your fourth striker at Club X and he knows he's not going to play. then goes to the championship and then their players move to League One. So it does have an indirect sort of impact. So, you know, maybe over the week we will see he expects one or two to come in this week. Ben, where do you think we might strengthen? think we've mentioned striker. I think we're probably short of a fullback. I think, to be honest, I probably would still say like 40 much across almost every position apart from perhaps out wide. Because I think, I mean, we still got quite a small squad. Kamara's to be out as well, remember? Yeah, Kamara's. don't know the extent of his injury yet. It's a few weeks, doesn't it? Yeah, always is with hamstrings and stuff like that, it? But we would definitely like a fullback if you think about it, we talk about out and out fullbacks. Because obviously you've only really got McAdam and Vonte. I mean obviously Cox and Rayean and Taylor and Austin, I mean they can all play a fullback if we probably really happen to. But obviously that's not their starting position and I think yeah, obviously the obvious answer is... obvious answer is a striker. Just someone who's gonna put the ball in the net but I mean they're hard to come by, can't just go inside a striker. ⁓ I imagine that probably who comes in, mean Dier says we've got money to spend and the fact Probably Zabodav, you know if you look at Borum, sorry Ben, 1.75 for Abdul Malik ⁓ have sold Omarad to Peter Brother 600k so they've also got money to spend they're gonna be looking for strikers as well so there is competition out there isn't there? It's not gonna be that easy. it's gonna be difficult but I think at the end of the day the reason why we probably don't have one in already is because we're probably looking at someone who's either gonna be wanting to go to the EFL or is at an EFL club and obviously then they're trying to hold out but we'll see but I think I mean we are still in my opinion light all over And I think we just need a bit more sort of probably grit and a bit more experience as well Could be a week. Could be a busy week. We'll see Well, he did own up, you know to himself making some mistakes and what I like about Kieran, you know the players He said I'm happy for you to go and make mistakes in those attacking areas and he holds his hands up as well when he makes a mistake. We have to remember that he's in his first management job. He's come from the Premier League, which is a total different world. You're not going to rock up and know this level. And I think that's been evident with, know, Robbie Savage coming in at Forest Green last year. He didn't do it on a big budget. Same with Mark Hughes. mean, Mark Hughes probably had an even better career than Kieran. You know, he was unbelievable player for Man United, Barcelona, Chelsea. And let's not forget he was manager as well when they started coming in with a big buck. So, you know, Mark Hughes came in last year, didn't work out, off he went. So you're not going to necessarily walk straight in. It is a different world. You know, he's got a put up with rounds he's not used to, being so open when you've got windy days, going to some of these clubs where the ball's going to swirl around. You didn't have that in the Premier League. It's protected by these big stands. So I think he's going to learn a lot. Adam Ate as well, know, he's gonna learn a lot as well. I don't know if there was an incident at Kiddermen's last week I was gonna bring up where you know when we two won down Adam is trying to I don't know if you remember this Charlie he was trying to get the ball boys to get the ball back quicker now he held one at one ball kid because he didn't do it quick enough and and the fans immediately turned on him. Yeah, and I think he realized the error and I I think he must have heard what I said because as he went back I said, Adam, these kids are not full time. They rotate for the schools. They've got to be taught. And fair play to him at the end of the game. He did go over to the boy and gave him a hug and, you apologized. But we have to remember that these guys are coming from different levels and they're learning as well. So they are going to make mistakes. So I think there has to be a main element of getting behind them. Just with that Adam incident, it happened literally right in front of me. What I will say is, mean, he was asked, can you speed up getting the ball back to us, basically. look, emotions were high and stuff, and yeah, okay, and I said maybe you should have, maybe the way he said it should have been slightly more polite, let's say. He purely was just saying, can you please. get the ball back on the pitch quicker for us. And at the end he went over, he gave him a hug, I think he gave him his hat size and stuff. emotions running high, but yeah, it's a lot to contend with, isn't it? It's gonna take a bit of time. Yeah, I think also as fans, mean, You go on, I mean, if you go on X, you know, straight after a game, everyone will think, you know, it's all falling to pieces and the wheels have come off and, you know, we're in an absolute rut. Let's have a look at it. Take a step back. We've lost one game in five. You know, let's really be a bit realistic with it. We had, I think what hasn't helped is we had a fantastic opening three games, you know, we beat in Scunthorpe, we've beaten Austria. We've all got a bit tight, haven't we? Two teams that we notoriously have done so badly against. All of a sudden we've won, beaten them. And all of sudden, this expectation is, ⁓ my God, we're gonna absolutely smash the league. ⁓ Now, let's just take a bit of a step back and a bit of, you know, look at really what's happened. The point at Woking, Woking aren't a terrible telltale team. Now, yes, I think because of how we played the first halves and the drop off of the second half, that's what's made it really tough to kind of swallow. But when you sort of all said and done and you look back, I point away for a moment, Woking, three wins. know, kiddie, the kid of Minstead one is probably the one that you really do think, that's, that should have been avoidable. you know, opening five games, three wins a draw, one defeat. It's not, the end of the world. think we need to just kind of, there's plenty of games to go. As I say, the season isn't going to be determined on these opening five games. Did you hear the booing yet? Did you hear the booing yesterday though? Sorry? Did you hear the booing yesterday at full time? I didn't to be honest, John. didn't. There's no need for it. really ain't. It's Friday at Roots Hill as well. Yeah. I really don't know what our fan base expects. I know. I mean, I think I suggest, if we replicate the last five games in our next five games, there'll be six wins. Six wins, two draws, two defeats. You'd find me one Southam fan that wouldn't have taken that at the start. 100%. 100%. So, you know, and that first half on Friday was brilliant. Yesterday, first half was excellent. Exactly. We've had two bad second halves. I think we've had more than two bad second halves though. I think I'm going to probably be the opposite here. I think those first three games that we've won, I think we've been lucky. I think we've got away with getting three points at games where we could have easily have lost due to the errors that we've been making in that. Shouldn't be booing though, should they? Yeah, mean the booing is a bit... It's early days, they're still adjusting, no. They're adjusting, the players are still adjusting as a team. But listen, we've seen some exciting football. You're going to get goals in both ends. We are going to get some losses, but... You know, I'm sure things will turn around very quickly. But yeah, like I say, no bank holidays for a while, thankfully. So we move on. Right, up next, Yeovil at home. Yeovil are sitting full. Three wins on the bounce, full of confidence. ⁓ Unbeaten this season so far, three wins, two draws. Ten, four and five against. A number of players they've bought in. Now my pick to watch is Brett McGavin. Three assists for him, former Ipswich under 23 and he's actually made five appearances for Ipswich first team. Can't give him time and space on the ball. Mason O'Bang has started the season really well. Two goals from midfield for him. Two players we will be familiar with, Joe Gubbins and Slavy Spazov. Joe scored a last minute winner against Barrow away last week. I think it was his first ever competitive goal. Seems to be loving life there. Big loss for us. Ben, we've got to keep them out. Slavvy, can't let him get his first goal for Joville this Saturday, can we? No, no we can't. I mean, anyone that's left, mean, I wish them well. Obviously, if they play against us. But I mean, it's going to be a tough game. Like you said, I mean, they're full of confidence and they've got lots of players who are attacking and quick and I mean, quite a few that know the league. I'm completely... I that James Daly was there. I would have quite liked for us to sign him. Obviously to sign Joe Hay. McCormick started the season really well after a really good season last year as well. They've got some very good players going forward. And they're scoring goals as well. So it's going to be tough to them. It's going to be tough to get them. they've played Carlisle. Obviously drew with Carlisle. They've played Scunthorpe, obviously Scunthorpe don't quite seem to be clicking at the moment. They're still not a bad side and they're a physical side, they're difficult to play against at times. It is going be a tough game, this coming game against Jovolyn and the weekend after against Carlisle will probably be the best judge of where we rank in terms of how we come up against better sides. We've only just taken one point from the last two games. You would have expected more from those those games whereas you think yoval and Carlisle will be more difficult and you think they're probably two teams that will be up there at least in the playoffs So we'll see Hopefully we get a good crowd in again, but like we mentioned Kamara looks like he's gonna be out for a number of weeks Would you expect Twamley to slot straight in there? I mean, I thought he had a great first half Saturday and and he's a player that's obviously come up from know, leak below, he's got to find his feet and the best way to do it is give him minutes. Yeah, no, definitely agree. Like I think ⁓ when he came on against Kida Minster on Friday night, I thought we did well. He looked sharp and he looked positive, which is the main thing. And again, in a similar way yesterday as well, he looked, I think he looked good, he looked sharp. And as you say, in the only way for him to... get better and progress by playing football, we're not going to do that sat on the bench. So it's like I would start him on the right hand side this weekend and sort of see how it goes. I think the good thing is that they are quite versatile. Forward options, so it's like it doesn't work with time either and I mean there's probably you can probably try I'd know a cold cloth or a leon or popular on the other side It's not ideal. But obviously I mean someone like the pool is obviously left footed so I mean you can cut in and from the right hand side But we'll see if it's like I'd be I'd be more than happy with trying to start in there on Saturday Well, let's get some predictions guys. Are we gonna start with let's Sean been quiet for a while. Let's start with Sean I'm gonna go with 2-0 Southend. Yeah that's for me. Chris? ⁓ I'm gonna be controversial I think 2-1 to Yeovil. I thought you might. What are you gonna go with sorry? I'm gonna go with 2-1 to Yeovil. ⁓ Chris yeah John are you going to bring it back to Southend? Well before the weekend I would have I would have said a Southend win on the assumption that I thought we'd probably would have picked up at least six or four points over the weekend. I do get getting told by people that Yover could be right up there this season. I'm gonna go one all. Yeah, Charlie. Yeah, I mean exactly what John said. You mentioned about can we keep the ball out? I think it's can we get the ball in? You know, the moment. with that, yeah, I agree. think you will actually going to be a bit of a surprise package this season. really do. I think I've recruited quite well. Yeah, as much as I'd love to say a win, I think if I'm being brutally honest, I'm going to go same as John a one or draw. Ben? Well, someone's got to bring it back, don't they? I think Dier is going to demand a reaction. And I think also we're going to probably be in a position where he can then start what he probably thinks is then a bit of a stronger team. Because I mean, the team selection on Friday night was like not, it was a surprise, I think. Whereas I think on on Saturday, this coming Saturday, I think is probably more likely to be what we think as fans of probably some of our stronger players back in the starting lineup. So I'll go with 2-1 Southend. Yeah, well, like we did say in his interview, he was very strong. Certainly he is looking for a reaction. I think it will also depend if, you know, if we maybe can get one or two players in this week. But yeah, I'm going to join most of the crew and go with a 1-1. I can't see that there's any evidence at the moment that we will get a result tomorrow out as well. Sean. Look at all you lot. It's me and Ved keeping a faith. You lot are disgraced. You call yourselves shit. Come on man up. We're take them apart. They're part timers. Where they thought themselves was it? Come on boys. Listen I wouldn't be disappointed with the 1-0. I think they're a very very good side. We're still in transition and I think losing Kamara is a bit of a loss for us. But yeah, listen, anything more than one I'll be delighted, but I be disappointed with a draw. really wouldn't. Sucking man. Can't believe Get the North Bank going, Sean, that's what you need. let's see. We'll be back next Monday with reaction. Will Sean and Ben be to We'll have news next week of a great giveaway and we'll be looking ahead to Kyle Oll of the following week. What's left to say? Thanks to our sponsors Surgical Holdings. Thanks again Sean, Ben and John. Always great to have your views. Really good to have you guys on. And thank you to our listeners. Don't forget to comment, like and subscribe. you