Less talking, more action wanted from Waddock (From This Is Local London)

Less talking, more action wanted from Waddock

6:14pm Saturday 1st September 2012 in Latest Sport By Andy Carswell

GARY Waddock pulled no punches in his assessment of defeat at Southend, questioning the desire of some of his players.

The Blues boss was left fuming at a lucklustre first half performance that paved the way for a Southend win that was far easier than the 1-0 scoreline would suggest.

And he said the time has come for his players to start walking the walk instead of just simply talking the talk.

He was asked about the confidence amongst his players after a second successive loss but Waddock said: “Confidence doesn’t stop you running, it doesn’t stop you competing, it doesn’t stop you tackling and running past your opposite number and going for challenges and winning your headers. That’s not confidence, that’s a given. That’s desire, that’s commitment – all the dirty words, if you like.

“Ability doesn’t come into any of that. We are in League Two, it’s a fight, it’s a scrap in every single game.

“You can talk the talk as long as you like. Performances are better. Actions speak louder than words. You can talk until the cows come home. You’ve got to go out and produce and we didn’t do that.

“No one stops you running, no one stops you competing, no one stops you tackling apart from yourself.”

And Waddock called for his men to stand up and be counted as they bid to bounce back from defeat.

He said: “We can’t go over that white line – they have to perform.

“Everybody’s up for the game beforehand, say the right things and early on in games we don’t seem to perform.”

A goal after just seven minutes was enough to see off Wanderers and Waddock said: “The first five minutes cost us. We didn’t start right again. We’ve been slow starters this season. The ball’s come into our box from a set play, they score from it and we are chasing the game for the remainder of the half.

“It lacked absolutely everything. There’s no way that group of players can go out on the field of play on a matchday and produce that type of performance. It’s something we can’t have here.”