SOUTHEND United have now played a quarter of their matches this season.

And, after Saturday’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to Gateshead, it is safe to say the campaign has not kicked off the way anyone connected with the club would have wanted.

Blues sit 16th in the National League standings with 14 points from their first 12 games.

But there are a number of reasons as to why the Shrimpers are not higher up the standings at this stage.

The lingering effects of a transfer embargo which was still in place at the start of the summer are well known.

However, what is hitting Blues hardest is the chopping and changing and the serious lack of consistency and continuity in key areas of the pitch.

Only four members of the starting-line up against York City on the opening day started Saturday’s clash with Gateshead and that again underlined how the Shrimpers have gone from a settled well drilled side to one now struggling to regain its identity.

All over the pitch – except for right wing-back – it can be argued and assessed just what the strongest option may be and Blues are very much back at the beginning of building new partnerships.

Injuries have not helped the cause, especially where the influential Cav Miley is concerned while Harry Taylor and the suspended Nathan Ralph were also big misses at the weekend.

Gone is the spine of the side which upset the odds last season and in its place, apart from Noor Husin, are players with minimal appearances still getting to grips with the league and their surroundings.

It is tough to take, especially when hopes were high after the takeover on the eve of the season.

But, eradicate the emotion and take a step back, and perhaps it was always going to take a bit of time to fully get Blues back on track given just how far the club had been allowed to fall.

It is also an obvious observation that the Shrimpers have been hit incredibly hard by the departures of Ollie Kensdale and Harry Cardwell.

Kensdale was certainly still work in progress but he was very much the main voice of a back three which has gone from being the best in division to looking worryingly weak.

The protection offered by Miley is sorely missed where that is concerned right now and so is the work-rate of Cardwell in attack.

Cardwell certainly brought more to Blues than just his goals and it is the absence of his all round game which is proving problematic.

The attitude and commitment can certainly not be questioned but confidence is now clearly an issue.

Jack Bridge, who has so often been the Shrimpers’ main creative force, has yet to really kick-start his season this time around.

And the left wing-back currently has just one goal, from the penalty spot, and one assist to his name in his 12 appearances so far.

However, Bridge is not alone in drifting in and out of games as there are other players Blues need more from if they are to get back on track.

George Moncur produced a stunning man of the match display at Oldham Athletic three weeks ago but has not hit those highs since and Noor Husin is also someone who should be having far more influence on games with the ability he possesses.

Further forward, Macauley Bonne has yet to hit top form and fitness and has been starved of service in his last two matches where he has been presented with hardly any opportunities to score.

Bonne certainly looked isolated at times against a well-drilled Gateshead side who, in truth are everything the Shrimpers are not right now.

But it is not all doom and gloom and, in Gus Scott-Morriss, Blues are boasting someone truly special.

The in-form right-wing back netted again on Saturday and has now netted nine goals in 12 games this season.

Only Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland and AFC Fylde midfielder Nick Haughton have scored more than Scott-Morriss in the top five tiers during the current campaign.

And Scott-Morriss has already beaten his tally from the whole of last season.

His latest effort brought Blues back level and after going behind but ultimately ended up going unrewarded.

Gateshead deservedly recorded all three points and it was very much an afternoon to forget for goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi.

Ever since Barnet away, which was the fourth game of the season, Andeng Ndi has looked shaky between the sticks and, his indecisiveness has been exposed by the defensive uncertainty in front of him.

Without going overboard in criticising the 21-year-old custodian, now does seem the right time to take him out of the limelight and look at alternative options in goal.

James Hillson has been on the bench as the back up keeper for every game this season but his skill-set is something of mystery for those outside the Shrimpers camp.

The former Arsenal trainee played a few minutes for Blues during pre-season before signing on non-contract terms but it is not known whether or not he was signed to back up and short term cover should Andeng Ndi get injured or whether or not he is a serious option himself.

Either way, it does seem best for everyone involved to give someone else a go but there is no quick fix.

The Shrimpers also need a leader at the back and improved attacking options but finding that at this level and at this stage of the season is an incredibly difficult task.

Blues have battled their way through a number of tough times in the past few seasons and must now display that character again.

Players already in the squad must step up and show what they can do to prove they deserve to be part of this new look team on a regular basis even when the injured players return.

But, given the number of changes, it will take time for the Shrimpers to get it right this season.

And the harsh reality is there could still be more frustrating afternoons before things finally start to consistently move in the right direction once again.