| Yesterday's game 09:08 - Oct 19 with 1382 views | A1079 |
I watched the game yesterday (albeit from the comfort of home, which I am relieved about given that I was unwell and the fact that had I made the effort to travel 250 miles and then 250 back I would have been even more hacked off with our performance).
Trying to look at the plus points. Our defence recently looks miles better than it has for a long time. There now seems to be some organisation and working together and greater confidence.
In the first half we created some good attacking opportunities. But, my oh my, how inept are we in front of goal? At least 3 or 4 chances should have been put away and with it Swansea in that first half (as lets be frank Swansea offered nothing in this game at all other than a blocking force intended to get a point and a chance 1-0 win). At least 2 of the chances were criminal misses.
But, the 2nd half, was dull and inspid. Swansea offered no real threat apart from a few forays and there were not many moments where our own box was threatened. However, we also ceased to be an attacking force in that 2nd half and we lacked imagination and transition from defence to attack. It would have been more exciting to have watched paint dry. That is not what I expect from any Saints team at home. Where was the drive and passion? Where was the imagination? Our midfield and attack were easily either nullified or just didn't know how to create and be imaginative in attack/going forward.
Our players up front seem to lack any stature or presence. Crosses into a box with players of no height or presence to outgun a stoic Swansea defence.
The substitutions added very little and arguably made us worse. Scienza had a good game.
It is hard to know how much to lay at Still's door. If those chances or at least 50% of those chances had been put away in the 1st half we would have won convincingly and it would have been a better narrative. Can Still or any manager be blamed for incompetence like that in front of goal? (look at Postegoglu - Notts Forest should have scored and had some easy chances but didn't and he lost his job). On the other hand you see Bournemouth and Palace that have players at the age of 19 etc and can find the net. Why are our supposedly more experienced strikers so ineffective even at Championship level? But, where I do question our manager ability in this season - is the inspid performances or halves of a game. The lack of drive or passion to go at a team. The players that are not even getting on the bench that may not have been great in the PL (but who was) but I feel sure could make a difference at this level. The lack of imagination and creativity out from defence into midfield and attack.
Last season was awful. This season is better because we aren't losing every game but for entertainment value I would struggle to give us above a 5 and at home you expect something alot better - if they don't then those empty seats will become the norm. |  | | |  |
| Yesterday's game on 09:18 - Oct 19 with 1334 views | MytchettSaint |
We won’t be troubling the promotion and play off spots this season, that’s f’sure! |  |
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| Yesterday's game on 10:18 - Oct 19 with 1188 views | Saintcole7 |
Well according to Adam Blackmore, Jo Tessum and Will Still that's the best we've played and as Will Still said in his interview, something like "any one who knows about football could see this" when asked about the crowds reaction at the end. I've come to the conclusion I was at a different game as other than sporadic quick attacks which ended up with a shot with the power of a back pass straight at the keeper I was bored stupid and if we were still there now 24 hours later we would still not of scored! | | | |
| Yesterday's game on 10:26 - Oct 19 with 1156 views | Ifonly |
| Yesterday's game on 10:18 - Oct 19 by Saintcole7 |
Well according to Adam Blackmore, Jo Tessum and Will Still that's the best we've played and as Will Still said in his interview, something like "any one who knows about football could see this" when asked about the crowds reaction at the end. I've come to the conclusion I was at a different game as other than sporadic quick attacks which ended up with a shot with the power of a back pass straight at the keeper I was bored stupid and if we were still there now 24 hours later we would still not of scored! |
Agreed. Anyone who knows football would take account of the opposition. Swansea were piss poor so it was easy to dominate the game. But we showed few hints of turning that dominance into goals. That will probably continue until we find a centre forward from somewhere. | | | |
| Yesterday's game on 10:36 - Oct 19 with 1132 views | DorsetIan |
"But, where I do question our manager ability in this season - is the inspid performances or halves of a game. The lack of drive or passion to go at a team."
This is the absolutely heart of it. We struggle to 'go at' a team and I get the impression that the players don't know how they are meant to do that.
The 7 minutes of injury time epitomises that. We had so many attacking players on the pitch, we should have been all over them for the whole 7 minutes but were nowhere near that.
During the game I was wondering whether Shea Charles,for all that he is clearly a gifted footballer, is key to that lack of ooomph? He is just too relaxed and smooth in the way he glides around the pitch. Something of the Smallbone about him in that respect. We need urgency and forward focus.
And part of me sees this lack of drive or passion as reflective of the manager's personality. Any calmer and Still would be asleep. I've said it before, but it was exactly like this under Pellegrino and he seemed to have a similar personality. | |
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| Yesterday's game on 10:47 - Oct 19 with 1096 views | grumpy |
Swansea's spending in the transfer window compared to ours is laughable, and considering our parachute payments you would expect us to have a better team.
I don't think I can ever remember a more toothless attack at home. [Post edited 19 Oct 10:50]
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| Yesterday's game on 10:50 - Oct 19 with 1092 views | Saintcole7 |
| Yesterday's game on 10:36 - Oct 19 by DorsetIan |
"But, where I do question our manager ability in this season - is the inspid performances or halves of a game. The lack of drive or passion to go at a team."
This is the absolutely heart of it. We struggle to 'go at' a team and I get the impression that the players don't know how they are meant to do that.
The 7 minutes of injury time epitomises that. We had so many attacking players on the pitch, we should have been all over them for the whole 7 minutes but were nowhere near that.
During the game I was wondering whether Shea Charles,for all that he is clearly a gifted footballer, is key to that lack of ooomph? He is just too relaxed and smooth in the way he glides around the pitch. Something of the Smallbone about him in that respect. We need urgency and forward focus.
And part of me sees this lack of drive or passion as reflective of the manager's personality. Any calmer and Still would be asleep. I've said it before, but it was exactly like this under Pellegrino and he seemed to have a similar personality. |
With regards to Charles, completely agree, he stood out yesterday and I thought he had a good game, a couple of times though he picked up the ball and moved forward and rather than "going for it" was slow and indecisive and rather than unleashing a power drive at goal the attack just fizzled out. | | | |
| Yesterday's game on 10:51 - Oct 19 with 1078 views | Saintcole7 |
| Yesterday's game on 10:47 - Oct 19 by grumpy |
Swansea's spending in the transfer window compared to ours is laughable, and considering our parachute payments you would expect us to have a better team.
I don't think I can ever remember a more toothless attack at home. [Post edited 19 Oct 10:50]
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Well Will said we had an X3 so we should be thankful! | | | |
| Yesterday's game on 10:53 - Oct 19 with 1071 views | grumpy |
| Yesterday's game on 10:50 - Oct 19 by Saintcole7 |
With regards to Charles, completely agree, he stood out yesterday and I thought he had a good game, a couple of times though he picked up the ball and moved forward and rather than "going for it" was slow and indecisive and rather than unleashing a power drive at goal the attack just fizzled out. |
Charles needs to be more aggressive,good player yes but sometimes he looks as if he doesn't believe how good he is. | | | |
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| Yesterday's game on 11:01 - Oct 19 with 1038 views | dirk_doone |
| Yesterday's game on 10:53 - Oct 19 by grumpy |
Charles needs to be more aggressive,good player yes but sometimes he looks as if he doesn't believe how good he is. |
He probably can't believe what a mediocre team he's ended up in, but with quarter of the season gone, he's still on course to be our Player of the Season. [Post edited 19 Oct 11:13]
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| Yesterday's game on 11:06 - Oct 19 with 1016 views | grumpy |
| Yesterday's game on 11:01 - Oct 19 by dirk_doone |
He probably can't believe what a mediocre team he's ended up in, but with quarter of the season gone, he's still on course to be our Player of the Season. [Post edited 19 Oct 11:13]
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Léo Scienza looked good yesterday. | | | |
| Yesterday's game on 11:12 - Oct 19 with 1005 views | dirk_doone |
| Yesterday's game on 10:47 - Oct 19 by grumpy |
Swansea's spending in the transfer window compared to ours is laughable, and considering our parachute payments you would expect us to have a better team.
I don't think I can ever remember a more toothless attack at home. [Post edited 19 Oct 10:50]
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I agree. The standard of the Championship is very low, which is why the teams that come up from League One have little difficulty adjusting. What it really lacks is top class goalscorers, because they get hoovered up by the Premier League or top European leagues. So, the scoreless draw yesterday was hardly surprising
Any Championship team that gets a couple of decent goalscorers is very likely to be promoted. So, in the summer, what Sport Republic needed to use the Premier League parachute money for was obvious to everyone except them. Meanwhile Coventry, with Haji Wright (£7 mill from a Turkish league club and Victor Torp (£2 mill from a Danish league club) have got two goalscorers we could easily have afforded to buy. If only Sport Republic had anyone who knew anything about the Turkish or Danish leagues.... [Post edited 19 Oct 11:14]
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| Yesterday's game on 11:28 - Oct 19 with 954 views | saintmark1976 |
Honestly A1079, do you really travel 500 miles regularly to watch a team that has won only four league games out of the last forty eight attempts ?
You deserve the freedom of Southampton.
My round trip is but 60 miles and its almost a relief if a don’t feel well enough to attend, something I never ever thought I would admit having seen my first Saints game during the 1959/60 season.
Your summary of yesterday’s fiasco is excellent, in particular the last paragraph.
This coming week is crucial for the rest of the season.
Wins at Bristol City and Blackburn will get us back in the mix for an outside shot at automatic promotion and a good chance of making the playoffs. Anything less and mid table mediocrity for the next seven months awaits us all. | |
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| Yesterday's game on 11:29 - Oct 19 with 954 views | grumpy |
| Yesterday's game on 11:12 - Oct 19 by dirk_doone |
I agree. The standard of the Championship is very low, which is why the teams that come up from League One have little difficulty adjusting. What it really lacks is top class goalscorers, because they get hoovered up by the Premier League or top European leagues. So, the scoreless draw yesterday was hardly surprising
Any Championship team that gets a couple of decent goalscorers is very likely to be promoted. So, in the summer, what Sport Republic needed to use the Premier League parachute money for was obvious to everyone except them. Meanwhile Coventry, with Haji Wright (£7 mill from a Turkish league club and Victor Torp (£2 mill from a Danish league club) have got two goalscorers we could easily have afforded to buy. If only Sport Republic had anyone who knew anything about the Turkish or Danish leagues.... [Post edited 19 Oct 11:14]
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We sold a decent striker(for this division)to a Turkish club. | | | |
| Yesterday's game on 11:36 - Oct 19 with 893 views | kingslandstand1 |
| Yesterday's game on 10:50 - Oct 19 by Saintcole7 |
With regards to Charles, completely agree, he stood out yesterday and I thought he had a good game, a couple of times though he picked up the ball and moved forward and rather than "going for it" was slow and indecisive and rather than unleashing a power drive at goal the attack just fizzled out. |
You could also argue that there was no movement for him up front looking for spaces to run in to and if anyone did (and AA was asking for the ball a few times) he didn't use that opportunity and went back in to RM mode |  |
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| Yesterday's game on 11:37 - Oct 19 with 883 views | kingslandstand1 |
| Yesterday's game on 11:06 - Oct 19 by grumpy |
Léo Scienza looked good yesterday. |
And got taken off! | |
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| Yesterday's game on 11:39 - Oct 19 with 870 views | DorsetIan |
| Yesterday's game on 11:12 - Oct 19 by dirk_doone |
I agree. The standard of the Championship is very low, which is why the teams that come up from League One have little difficulty adjusting. What it really lacks is top class goalscorers, because they get hoovered up by the Premier League or top European leagues. So, the scoreless draw yesterday was hardly surprising
Any Championship team that gets a couple of decent goalscorers is very likely to be promoted. So, in the summer, what Sport Republic needed to use the Premier League parachute money for was obvious to everyone except them. Meanwhile Coventry, with Haji Wright (£7 mill from a Turkish league club and Victor Torp (£2 mill from a Danish league club) have got two goalscorers we could easily have afforded to buy. If only Sport Republic had anyone who knew anything about the Turkish or Danish leagues.... [Post edited 19 Oct 11:14]
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Don't forget Thomas-Asante. Said to be £2.25m from WBA.
Goals so far this season: Wright 8. Torp 6. T-A 6. | |
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| Yesterday's game on 11:40 - Oct 19 with 856 views | kingslandstand1 |
| Yesterday's game on 10:51 - Oct 19 by Saintcole7 |
Well Will said we had an X3 so we should be thankful! |
My neighbour had an XR3i once until it got nicked .......... | |
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| Yesterday's game on 11:45 - Oct 19 with 847 views | kingolaf |
| Yesterday's game on 10:18 - Oct 19 by Saintcole7 |
Well according to Adam Blackmore, Jo Tessum and Will Still that's the best we've played and as Will Still said in his interview, something like "any one who knows about football could see this" when asked about the crowds reaction at the end. I've come to the conclusion I was at a different game as other than sporadic quick attacks which ended up with a shot with the power of a back pass straight at the keeper I was bored stupid and if we were still there now 24 hours later we would still not of scored! |
Maybe it was our best performance but it’s a pretty low bar and wasn’t good enough to beat Swansea, who were very poor.
Blackmore is a lickspittle anyway. | | | |
| Yesterday's game on 11:57 - Oct 19 with 813 views | dirk_doone |
| Yesterday's game on 11:39 - Oct 19 by DorsetIan |
Don't forget Thomas-Asante. Said to be £2.25m from WBA.
Goals so far this season: Wright 8. Torp 6. T-A 6. |
Yes, it's no wonder they have scored nearly 3 times as many goals this season as we have. | |
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| Yesterday's game on 14:35 - Oct 19 with 626 views | DorsetIan |
| Yesterday's game on 11:57 - Oct 19 by dirk_doone |
Yes, it's no wonder they have scored nearly 3 times as many goals this season as we have. |
Matt Grimes is the glue in the middle of their midfield linking defence and attack.
Another one we didn’t sign, isn’t he? | |
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| Yesterday's game on 20:57 - Oct 19 with 386 views | 1teeminants |
| Yesterday's game on 11:01 - Oct 19 by dirk_doone |
He probably can't believe what a mediocre team he's ended up in, but with quarter of the season gone, he's still on course to be our Player of the Season. [Post edited 19 Oct 11:13]
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Don’t tell Butty that ffs . |  |
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| Yesterday's game on 19:16 - Oct 20 with 79 views | Berber |
| Yesterday's game on 11:12 - Oct 19 by dirk_doone |
I agree. The standard of the Championship is very low, which is why the teams that come up from League One have little difficulty adjusting. What it really lacks is top class goalscorers, because they get hoovered up by the Premier League or top European leagues. So, the scoreless draw yesterday was hardly surprising
Any Championship team that gets a couple of decent goalscorers is very likely to be promoted. So, in the summer, what Sport Republic needed to use the Premier League parachute money for was obvious to everyone except them. Meanwhile Coventry, with Haji Wright (£7 mill from a Turkish league club and Victor Torp (£2 mill from a Danish league club) have got two goalscorers we could easily have afforded to buy. If only Sport Republic had anyone who knew anything about the Turkish or Danish leagues.... [Post edited 19 Oct 11:14]
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If only SR had people on the board who knew about football. |  |
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