Coughlan answers critics: 'I will fight the boys corner every day of the week'

Last updated : 23 August 2011 By westfield shrimper

Coughlan: In for Southend stay

Coughlan: 'We have to show that we’re good players and a good team '
 
The Shrimpers player-coach Graham Coughlan has joined the Roots Hall chorus telling us not to panic, we get it guys, but let's face it anybody that is after four games can't be much of a footy supporter, especially a Southend one!
 
For now though, with a fixture list that's not going to get easier over the next few weeks, it's back to the basics and finding the formula that got six points from the first two League games.
 
Coughlan told www.echo-news.co.uk: “I will fight the boys’ corner every day of the week, but they have to give something back and I just couldn’t defend some of the things going in the first half at the weekend. It was pretty lame if I’m honest and we just needed one player to give the crowd a lift. We’re certainly not panicking because it’s still very early days but we have to show that we’re good players and a good team and not just talk about being one”
 
Fair enough, you won't get any mixed messages from the uncomprimising vetaeran defender, who has already played more minutes that he expected to this camapign as sicknote Mark phillips recovers from his groin injury.
 
Coughlan said : “We won our first two league games and we’re still bedding in. The gaffer is still trying out new players and systems and we won’t be at our best until October or November. The next six or seven games are very tough for us though and we need to stand up and be counted because we are facing a lot of the teams who you would expect to be up there this season.”
 
Starting with a tough trip to Burslem and Port Vale at the weekend, not an easy game at all!
 
The faithful stay, er, faithful: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
 
The Coughlan Files
 
Graham Coughlan.jpg
Personal information
Full name Graham Coughlan
Date of birth 18 November 1974 (1974-11-18) (age 36)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current club Southend United (player-coach)
Number 5
Youth career
1993–1994 Cherry Orchard
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Bray Wanderers 11 (0)
1995–1999 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
1997 → Swindon Town (loan) 3 (0)
1999 → Livingston (loan) 6 (0)
1999–2001 Livingston 50 (2)
2001–2005 Plymouth Argyle 177 (25)
2005–2007 Sheffield Wednesday 51 (5)
2007 → Burnley (loan) 2 (0)
2007–2008 Rotherham United 45 (1)
2008–2010 Shrewsbury Town 78 (6)
2010– Southend United 36 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:30, 21 August 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Coughlan)