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Comment | Saints V Tottenham Hotspur The Verdict
at 07:48:10
I have seen us defend badly but I have never seen so many one on ones from any professional football team in my life. It is a disastrous tactic. I don’t understand the long term benefit because even a wonderful new defender as part of a better back four isn’t going to want to or be able to play this way successfully. I am glad Match of the Day 2 just laid into the system. They made a point that whilst the manager takes some blame, actually during a game players need to step up and change it too. I agree that some of our defending will often be lacking because of the standard of player but to expose ourselves like this ten times in a match is ridiculous. |
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Comment | Saints At Tottenham Hotspur The Verdict
at 09:02:20
I thought some of the football we played last night was the best I've see from us in a long time. Yes we could have defended a bit better, I was begging Stephens to turn around and see Son behind him for the non-pen - but he too was playing out of position. We took the game to a good expensively assembled team and should have won. We were still going for it at 2-2 despite the knock back of them equalizing, Redmond's misplaced pass tying to attack led to the opposition getting possession and ultimately getting the winner, but that happens, and I agree it was not a fair decision. I have had fans of 'big' teams saying they wished their team could pass and break like we do.
I really want us to play with this level of dynamism at home, just go for it, faster with the ball than in previous games, as I don't think more limited opposition will keep us out.
So glad JWP looks not as badly injured as first feared.
Let's win the next two at home! |
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Comment | Yoshida An Appreciation
at 14:17:12
One of my favourite players not least for his attitude and adaptability. If Yoshida was a forward player he’d be of the quality that gives their all and gets half a dozen goals a year and would have been much more appreciated. By some. Mistakes are always highlighted at the back as they inevitably lead to chances and goals against. And he was a regular in troubled times, hardly his fault. Well played Yoshi! |
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Comment | Saints V Tottenham Hotspur The Verdict
at 09:02:10
What a win! One bit of poor officiating that helped us was placing JWP's freekick 5+ yards nearer the goal from where the trip took place! As Ralph says being above the line, no matter how slight the advantage, makes such a difference. |
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Comment | Why Hoedt Has To Be The Future And Yoshida The Past !
at 11:13:57
I don't see how it needs to be an either/or situation. Hoedt has not always shone and I agree he's suffered with having to be an instant senior partner and the expectation being on Lazio's books has brought. Yoshida has rightly earned respect through dedication and I think through his improved performances too. I was at Brighton and thought he played well, particularly considering it was his first game. Maya has grown into the senior role he now has and I think that will benefit us. I think he's better than when he wasn't getting regular games due to our wealth of talent at that position.
We'll certainly need them both regularly this season whether it's together as a two, part of a three, or one of them partnering Vestergaard. |
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Comment | Why Would Anyone Want To Miss An FA Cup Semi Final !
at 11:14:48
I appreciate the rallying cry. I also appreciate it's hard for some fans to get there for the reasons stated.
And it is certainly hard for most of us to accept how generally awful we've been for the past two seasons, and to move past how most of feel about how avoidable it all was, this must be an acceptable factor in fans' decision making whether you like it or not.
For me, I was due to take my son to Bournemouth and actually thought we had no chance of semi final tickets. When the chance came we chatted about what we wanted to do and made a quick decision. We've refunded the Bournemouth game (can't afford both - there's one of those reasons again!) and are heading to Wembley.
I was at Villa Park in 2003 and it was wonderful. I agree in an ideal world it'd be played elsewhere, the FA wouldn't have raised lots of prices, and we'd be heading in to the game feeling positive. But even in this season's awful world I'm really excited at taking my son to his first huge game, and hoping he'll see his first Saints win!
We're in the £30 seats but I had a similar view for the JPT and that was some day.
Saints to win! |
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Comment | Bologna In For Gabbiadini
at 11:54:51
A terrible plan. I'm in complete agreement with others, we have had a very good striker and made awful use of him. Soul destroying games is right. I remember at home to Watford he ran back eighty yards just to touch the ball in the first half. I can't think of Saints, or any other team, almost going out of their way to make a player's move not work out. Even if this is just paper talk I'm afraid it just reinforces with me how rigid and just plain wrong our current manager's thinking is. Play him and pass to him! Has he ever missed a one on one?! And this is without going into how ridiculous selling anyone good in this window would be for our chances of salvaging the season. |
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Comment | The Real Issue Is Creating Chances Not Scoring Them !
at 13:15:12
My son's first three Saints games, 1-3 WHU, 0-0 Hull, and that match on Saturday. He's hanging in there ofcourse but it's such a terrible spectacle at the moment.
As to the problem/solution. We've all seen worse Saints teams but I've not seen such a gap between the lone striker and midfield in a long time, and this seems to be the case with whoever plays in midfield. It was more than annoying not to leave Gabbi on with Long, nothing else was working so why not try this. Towards the end of the 1st half Gabbi came back to the edge of our box just to chest the ball he was so uninvolved.
Our attacking midfielders are all very similar including none of them doing much without the ball, such as Wembley 76's point about being ahead of it. They want it to feet and through current lack of confidence don't do much when they receive it.
The lack of goals is now over a decent enough amount of games to call it a worrying pattern which requires some tactical adaptation, that's for sure. |
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Comment | Saints V Happoel Be'er Sheva The Verdict
at 11:46:38
It's the pace that frustrates me and the slow build up which for me is a sign of a team lacking confidence. Time and time again we had the ball in decent areas but no one made a run and the man with the ball appeared clueless or fearful as to what to do next. It's easy to keep the ball and pass this way and that, especially with inferior opposition, and then give responsibility to someone else when you realise you don't know what to do next.
I've no answers how to solve that issue but in terms of this European campaign I'm afraid we've brought about our own downfall up to and including last night. Most of us accept rotation but the selections in Europe have led directly to our exit. We coasted after Prague at home and assumed qualification was ours right up until last night and the stark realisation we'd messed it up.
I often look on 'lesser' teams and think we're much classier including their more basic but pacey attackers who on a good day for Saints would not get in our team, but sometimes you need a bit of urgency and directness and we've got so little right now it hurts.
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Comment | Saints At West Bromwich Albion The Verdict
at 09:30:47
I think lots of us looked at February and thought it looked pretty good especially after an excellent run of wins against good opposition. It’s a shame it hasn’t panned out as we hoped. It is clear Pelle is both tired and lacking confidence. I just about lean towards persisting with him, partly as the other options don’t appeal to me and partly as it is bound to change soon, I hope! I think the unsettled midfield is as much to do with our current form, I’ve no stats but our midfield 3 or 4 can’t have been the same for many games over the last month or so. I have absolute faith in Koeman but I feel, even with some injuries, he’s tinkered a little more than needed, and I don’t blame him, he’s looking for that key to goals and wins.
And I’m sure the vast majority agree that turning on our players is a ridiculous way to go about supporting your team. I think we need to gamble more, the obvious one being shoot more often. But also run at defences, try not to be worried about being tackled, commit the opposition a bit more than we currently are doing where we seem to get so far, then look up and assess options and pass the ball (and the buck), sure we retain possession but ultimately we create little.
I think someone pointed out 3 of the 8 goals of the month were against us so that’s bad luck right there, especially how early some have come. I for one refuse to become negative, I’d love to still be 3rd and I’m gutted the teams we lost players to are overtaking us but 6th is good and a win tomorrow will make everyone cheer up. It’s good we have a game so soon after Saturday.
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Comment | We March On !
at 14:51:30
The overreaction: For me it’s the contrast between Sunday and the astonishing 3 points almost week in, week out + clean sheets, that makes any defeat all the more stark. You almost get used to being 2nd! And I also think (and I include myself here) missing an opportunity to prove the media/neutral doubters wrong – that we had not truly been tested or when we had against Liverpool/Tottenham we lost – was so frustrating, more so than a ‘normal’ home defeat against the bigger boys.
My one worry is the slight lack of spark from some, in comparison to earlier on, possibly at the worst time with hard and frequent fixtures. But I completely trust our leadership and our team. It’d be great to get a bit of luck and take 2, 3 or 4 points from the next couple of games and re-group then. Saints aren’t used to being talked about so glowingly and so often and perhaps we need to ignore the good and the bad press and see where we are in the new year.
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Comment | Liverpool Websites Talk Of A Loan Move Back To St Mary's For Rickie
at 11:37:34
I’m sure Rickie’s the one we miss most and the only one we feel a bit gutted for that the move has not worked out. I wonder if it even factors in the decision-making of a modern footballer that they will probably go from 90 minutes to 5 or 10 most weeks if they’re lucky? It must be a totally different way of approaching the game and he’s clearly struggling with that aspect and how he’s being asked to influence proceedings. Oh well he wanted to move. I wouldn’t mind seeing him back, but that is based on happy memories and sympathy rather than thinking it would work out perfectly. For him to be nearing December without a goal would have been unthinkable in the seasons he has had with Saints and elsewhere. Home sweet home! |
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Comment | Krueger And Kat Kept Their Word
at 19:27:15
I'm a very relieved supporter, not solely due to the window (which was certainly positive) but mainly because it became clear, admittedly later into the traumatic summer, that we were still well run and intended to compete this season. Koeman looks like a proper leader. The transfers out hurt and could definitely have been handled more competently even if the outcome remained the player leaving, leading to even the more positive supporters (I am one) to question the plan. But that was then and this is now. We look decent and able to not only keep possession, but take it up a gear or two whilst remaining pretty solid at the back. I'm looking forward to our annual 3 points at home v Newcastle. phew. |
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Comment | Lambert To Liverpool ! Usually This Would Be Good Business !
at 09:33:10
I’m more upset by this, especially with the timing, than I am with Lallana/Shaw/everyone else’s possible departures. I’m sorry but we have to be tough now. Even if tough simply is delaying the transfer. Even if it’s a dream move and possibly inevitable, I completely agree that we need to say ‘sorry Rickie you need to hang on until later in the summer’. £9m, £4m, whatever, it isn’t a massive fee we desperately need to take advantage of - albeit a high one for a 32 year old. And this is before we talk about the impact his departure will have in goals scored and goals made and morale. Purely – as per your article – in feelgood/feelbad factor, I for one would be gutted if he took to the field as a Liverpool player in Brazil. I think I could still cheer him on but it wouldn’t be the same. Rickie, even more than Lallana, Shaw and Rodriguez, I was desperate for him to get there once he made his surprise debut in August. We have no reason to sell now and crikey please don’t sell before a new manager comes in and lines up replacements.
And as an aside – if and when players go, can we please (for once) play it hard and demand some decent swaps plus transfer fees – surely that’s a good way to rebuild, when we are in a strong negotiation position as we know clubs are desperate for our stars.
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Comment | Saints V Liverpool ! Always A Classic
at 15:07:57
The 4-1 in October 1989 is my favourite Saints game ever! Really took the game to them with players that had so much natural talent and they had no answer. So exciting to be there as a kid. There really have been some wonderful games as you rightly highlight. And lots of 3 points for us. With Liverpool coming into form we'll do well to stay with them but I fancy a win here. |
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Comment | Saints V Manchester City The Verdict
at 12:39:48
All the positivity is well earned, it was a great effort with skill and determination. I'm sure for lots of us the fact that all of the fringe players fitted in brilliantly is possibly the best thing about the game. I was possibly most worried about Clyne's absence but what a player Chambers looks, he played so well. Great atmosphere too!
I'd echo the individual brilliance of Osvaldo's goal but like Geordie Saint said it all started in our box. until I watched it again on MOTD (and despite the praise from pundits I wished they'd highlighted the actual goal) i'd forgotten the tackle led to the move from one end to the other with 5 or 6 involved. a great team goal, a great individual goal! |
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Comment | Saints V Aston Villa The Verdict
at 13:57:28
That was tough to take, especially coming as the most winnable of our run of games. I wonder if the players felt pressure because of that? I agree about a lack of game time proving a problem with being match ready, but when do we play people if not in home winnable games? I guess playing a bit during earlier in the season home winnable games is one answer mentioned before!
77% is Barcelona-esque and for me the similarities don’t end there because I’ve watched them try and try (albeit often eventually succeeding) to create clear cut chances and put games to bed. It is often easier to defend against a team you know are content to move the ball around at an even pace. We just couldn’t finish last night.
One thing that stood out for me is the whole issue of the pressing/high line of defence. To me it led directly to the big spaces being open for them to score from after balls played out of defence by Villa. It felt like we didn’t need to press forward as much and a more calm and measured approach, fewer players bombing on (probably with the outcome actually being less time on the ball) would have done the trick against this opposition. Especially with key midfield and defensive positions being occupied by Saints players with less game time in this system.
But sometimes these games do come along unfortunately. Despite the errors most other days it would have been a 4-1, even 4-0 game. As a long distance supporter Man City is my first trip this year and I think we may just get something. Can’t wait!
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Comment | Nigel Adkins A Thank You From The Fans
at 16:18:55
i guess it's all been said. we'll all still support saints but for some time the bitter taste will be oh so prominent. thanks to nigel for helping more than anyone to make supporting saints wonderful again. what class he showed under the stupid early season pressure and i was proud when the fans showed he was their absolute choice to get us established at this level. it is one man's agenda and we'll be here longer than he will. i think showing disgust at the decision can be done in a positive way and it is the way of us as saints fans to do this by publicly thanking nigel and also welcoming the new manager and giving him a chance to succeed.
some lucky team is going to get their next great manager soon.
all the best Nigel. |
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Comment | Davis Hits 600 League Games If He Plays
at 13:14:19
i won't begrudge giving him massive applause, certainly not as much as you begrudged (almost) making a compliment towards him in this article.
well done Kelvin. i hope he plays on saturday.
i think we'll win this one. |
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Comment | Time To Get Behind "ALL" The Players
at 21:29:22
it made me so angry to witness the treatment and i along with many others thankfully made sure he was welcomed on. it would have been wonderful if the long range shot or his closer in attempt had gone in. i recall our 1st and vital goal against coventry was after guly played a really intelligent cross to lallana to shoot. idiots who felt he had got it wrong because the ball wasn't played directly into onrushing teammates in the box had already started groaning and you could pick that up on replays afterwards. it was a great ball and i think epitomises guly's thoughtful contribution. i'm glad when he is involved.
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