Where to start with that? I walked out of Home Park with more questions than answers unfortunately. As an overall performance, it's barring Scunthorpe, probably the worst we've delivered in 2018. My thoughts anyway...
1) The midfield - Absolutely horrible all round. Barely strung four or five passes together, nobody showing for the ball, looked leggy. Desperately missing Sarcevic's energy. I thought Conor Grant was generally a passenger, but did have some nice moments. Fox and Ness miles away from their best.
2) Ruben Lameiras - One of my main concerns going into this season is the lack of options we have in the forward areas. He's turned in two tragic performances so far, but there's nobody to take his place. We know Wylde and Ainsworth aren't good enough. We know that Joel Grant is an impact sub at best. So what's motivating Ruben and pushing him to his best? Nothing. He's still shying out of challenges and he really didn't influence the game at all. Baring in mind he showed absolutely nothing before Christmas last year, we really need to hope that he can switch on quicker this year.
3) Communication - Was there any? From the Devonport, I barely heard the back five say a word to each other which is concerning.
4) The substitutions - If our main tactic to get a goal is throw a left back at left wing, then that highlights all kinds of issues in terms of recruitment and sums up my first point. Songo'o wasn't horrible when he came on, but why is he coming on at home with the scores level? He's somehow less mobile than Fox.
5) Tactics in general - Full backs look pacey but barely overlapped. The centre backs just launched the ball forward to Taylor who had nobody close to him. We didn't have anyone running direct or moving the ball forward quickly. Same glaring issues as early last season that haven't been addressed.
6) Recruitment - As already mentioned, we're short in the attacking wide areas. We're short of a central midfielder. Why did we bring in 3 new centre backs when Songo'o is capable as 4th choice and Sawyer can play there? Surely those wages were better spent in other areas.
7) Positives - Still haven't conceded from open play, which is great if not ultimately frustrating. Macey & Smith-Brown were good. About all I can muster I think.
Macey - 7 - Gets down well for a big lad and good with crosses. A promising home debut.
Smith-Brown - 7 - Best of the defensive unit today. Seems solid.
Edwards - 5 - A 6 for his aerial dominance for the first half, a 4 for his all round mess in the second. Looked like a man lacking sharpness as the game went on.
Wootton - 6 - Looked better, but clearly the partnership with Eddy is in its infancy
Moore - 5 - MOTM!? Defensively okay, but his touch is very poor and going forward wasn't good. Hopefully just nerves.
Fox - 6 - Below his usual, moved the ball too slowly.
Ness - 5 - Played like pre-xmas Ness last year. Second to everything.
C.Grant - 6 - A few nice touches and passes, but a bit of a passenger to be honest. Not helped by the hoofball tactics.
Lameiras - 3 - Passenger. Complete passenger.
Taylor - 5 - Battled, didn't win a huge amount and when he did, didn't find many green shirts. Again, a tactical issue.
Carey - 6 - Not at his best either, but looked our only real threat. Great pen, filthy nutmeg turn on their fullback.
Sawyer - 6 - Solid, got forward more than ASB.
Songo'o - 6 - Did what Songo'o does, but not sure why he came on.
Ladapo - 7 - Good impact! Looks pacier than I anticipated, stretched Southend a bit.
I'm not going to get too worried at this stage, especially after last year. The lads will need time to gel, but I really think we need to get two more players in on loan, a left winger and a more attack minded centre mid. Other than that, at least we've got a point on the board. Onto the next one!