Saints vs Colchester - Post Match Reaction

[SFC Forever]

Jake Thomson is supposed to have speed and a willingness to take on defenders. He has not yet shown me anything to confirm that and also likes cutting into the middle of the park. If he is a winger he should try showing it or not be picked. Terribly disappointing game yesterday and the crowd became quiet very early once the initial chanting died. I left with a lot more questions that need to be answered than for all the previous games.

Why was Spiderman not in at the start?

Why was Thomson brought on?

Is Gillett going to get a game?

Is Lallana guarenteed a start and why?

Have we anybody available that can take corners and freekicks properly?

Why can't we find someone capable of putting in some good crosses.

Why do we give other teams so much room?

[krissyboy31]

His reputation continues to grow during his absense due to another injury. He must be the most highly rated player ever based on 2 early games last season.

 

Yup!! Couldn't agree more! Another waste of space signing IMO!

[hectors house]

I was at the match yesterday but only just had the opportunity to get on here. I think it's all been said one way or the other and there is a range of opinions. I have only seen the home matches and I feel we are definately getting better. Yesterday IMO we were not as good as against Birmingham but that is perhaps partly due to the way the opposition play (by-passing midfield). However I felt we were easily the better team and if we had got a break in the area and won 1-0 nobody would have said it was lucky and the mood of this thread would be completely different. I'm still hoping (not expecting) for the play offs and feel we just need a win and we will kick-on. I am remaining optimistic but I would like (very much) to see a win soon (please).

[red&white56]

Here's my view of the game;

 

We didn't have a midfield in the first half as Mellis was virtually invisible, even when he got the ball he did little with it. He had a one-on-one with their defense, if he broke through was in the penalty area with no-one around him and only the goalie to beat - he managed to kick the ball against the defender's legs (is that Chelski academy teaching?)

 

With him on we had effectively a 3 man midfield and as Lallana was pushing forward frequently we had a 2 man midfield most of the time. This is where Colchester beat us to almost every ball and this allowed to break up our play.

 

In the 2H, even with 10 men, Colchester played 3 men up and 4 in defense, and created problems because they bossed mid-field.

 

Things changed dramatically when Fish came on, we looked like scoring. Yes, his final touch let him down but he started creating things.

 

The defense played well and I thought Lallana and Lambert looked good up front. Lallana has the skills to create something from nothing - which he did on a coople of occasions. Paterson was weak, offside, knocked off the ball or our of position so that he was ineffective (the game was crying out for Saga!).

 

Overall disappointed that we lacked the creativity to break Colchester down, frustrated by the head tennis in midfield which always ended up with them winning the ball, but inspired by several things on the pitch.

[S-Clarke]

Here's my view of the game;

 

We didn't have a midfield in the first half as Mellis was virtually invisible, even when he got the ball he did little with it. He had a one-on-one with their defense, if he broke through was in the penalty area with no-one around him and only the goalie to beat - he managed to kick the ball against the defender's legs (is that Chelski academy teaching?)

 

With him on we had effectively a 3 man midfield and as Lallana was pushing forward frequently we had a 2 man midfield most of the time. This is where Colchester beat us to almost every ball and this allowed to break up our play.

 

In the 2H, even with 10 men, Colchester played 3 men up and 4 in defense, and created problems because they bossed mid-field.

 

Things changed dramatically when Fish came on, we looked like scoring. Yes, his final touch let him down but he started creating things.

 

The defense played well and I thought Lallana and Lambert looked good up front. Lallana has the skills to create something from nothing - which he did on a coople of occasions. Paterson was weak, offside, knocked off the ball or our of position so that he was ineffective (the game was crying out for Saga!).

 

Overall disappointed that we lacked the creativity to break Colchester down, frustrated by the head tennis in midfield which always ended up with them winning the ball, but inspired by several things on the pitch.

 

great view of the game, spot on IMO.

[krissyboy31]

Here's my view of the game;

 

We didn't have a midfield in the first half as Mellis was virtually invisible, even when he got the ball he did little with it. He had a one-on-one with their defense, if he broke through was in the penalty area with no-one around him and only the goalie to beat - he managed to kick the ball against the defender's legs (is that Chelski academy teaching?)

 

With him on we had effectively a 3 man midfield and as Lallana was pushing forward frequently we had a 2 man midfield most of the time. This is where Colchester beat us to almost every ball and this allowed to break up our play.

 

In the 2H, even with 10 men, Colchester played 3 men up and 4 in defense, and created problems because they bossed mid-field.

 

Things changed dramatically when Fish came on, we looked like scoring. Yes, his final touch let him down but he started creating things.

 

The defense played well and I thought Lallana and Lambert looked good up front. Lallana has the skills to create something from nothing - which he did on a coople of occasions. Paterson was weak, offside, knocked off the ball or our of position so that he was ineffective (the game was crying out for Saga!).

 

Overall disappointed that we lacked the creativity to break Colchester down, frustrated by the head tennis in midfield which always ended up with them winning the ball, but inspired by several things on the pitch.

 

A pretty good summary, although I think Morgan also made a big difference when he came on. Lisbie was by some distance the MoM though!!

[S-Clarke]

A pretty good summary, although I think Morgan also made a big difference when he came on. Lisbie was by some distance the MoM though!!

 

Lisbie was quality and exactly the sort of player we were crying out for up front! Tricky, Nimble, pacy....we were just cumbersome if im honest.

[.comsaint]

Lisbie was quality and exactly the sort of player we were crying out for up front! Tricky, Nimble, pacy....we were just cumbersome if im honest.

 

I feel sorry for Rickie Lambert at the moment. The guy is quality in this division as his records proves. But he's got virtually no support alongside him (in the form of a decent strike partner) - and worse still - the service being given to him is almost non-existent.

 

I'm sure - like me - he's hoping AP is trying his best to rectify that behind the scenes.

 

Saga is not the answer - nor is Paterson. Not sure if Papa will be used up front or out wide - but either way - he'll be a welcome addition for Lambo.

[JustMike]

Lisbie was quality and exactly the sort of player we were crying out for up front! Tricky, Nimble, pacy....we were just cumbersome if im honest.

 

didnt score though did he? My m.o.m was Thomas, solid, got forward well for a CB.

[SoccerMom]

People keep asking why Thomson was brought on? I thought it was obvious. Paterson had to come off or there would be no chance of a goal, Lambert isn't the sort of player to work well alone up front, so the only option was to put Lallana up there with him, or just behind. I suppose he could have brought Morgan on at that point and put James in RM, but Thomson has more pace than James. None of it was ideal, but with the squad so depleted for whatever reason, he had little choice.

[Scummer]

People keep asking why Thomson was brought on? I thought it was obvious. Paterson had to come off or there would be no chance of a goal, Lambert isn't the sort of player to work well alone up front, so the only option was to put Lallana up there with him, or just behind. I suppose he could have brought Morgan on at that point and put James in RM, but Thomson has more pace than James. None of it was ideal, but with the squad so depleted for whatever reason, he had little choice.

 

I think the idea of bringing both Mills and Thomson on was to try and stretch the game out wide and make the man advantage tell. It was absolutely the right thing to do. Didn't work largely due to lack of experience, particularly the Thomson. Mills did ok but Jake wasn't pushing on enough.

[the saint in winchester]

Same old predicatable Saints. Whenever we have a man sent off we go on to lose, When the opposing team have a man sent off, we don't win. Mentality is all wrong at the club, and this needs to be addressed asap otherwise we will be in a relegation battle again.

 

We already ARE in a relegation battle; sadly have been since starting on -10. Not winning the battle either. But yeah, 40 games still to go, so we have time to turn it around.

[Charlie Wayman]

Depressing familiarity about failure. Just like Burley... say no more!

 

Division 4 is a place we have never been to before in our history and yet it and all it's horrors loom ever more ominously, how much worse can this get?

 

Just glad I didn't bother to go up on Saturday, somehow you just knew it would be 0-0.

[Gorgiesaint]

Depressing familiarity about failure. Just like Burley... say no more!

 

Division 4 is a place we have never been to before in our history and yet it and all it's horrors loom ever more ominously, how much worse can this get?

 

Just glad I didn't bother to go up on Saturday, somehow you just knew it would be 0-0.

 

Well thanks for continuing to support the team !!!

 

But you're right, there is a depressing familiarity - amongst some of the posters on here.

 

The end of the wold is nigh....

[Channon's Sideburns]

Well thanks for continuing to support the team !!!

 

But you're right, there is a depressing familiarity - amongst some of the posters on here.

 

The end of the wold is nigh....

 

I think what Charlie is on about is that under Burley, the post match reports and interviews were always about 'there's a lot to be positive about', and 'we are working hard to improve things', and 'there's everything still to play for' (which was my personal Burley favourite).

 

Now, that is fine if you're picking up points but after you've heard it for eight weeks and with no sizeable improvement being shown, you start asking questions....

 

Which is understandable - after all, we put money in to attend don't we?

 

Under Burley (particularly the season where he declared at the start of the season and during it, that we were 'aiming for the play-offs' - NOTE not automatic promotion) the mindset within the players was all wrong.

 

So, when they lost games they should have drawn, or drew games they should have won, out game Georgie Boy with his lame excuses, thus giving the players the let-off instead of knocking six bells out of them for not performing.

 

The frustrating thing is, we all know what happened under Burley and DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN - where week in week out our players underperform but get let off by management.

 

So if that makes me negative, fill your boots. But at Xmas, if we're staring relegation in the face once more, don't come crying on here saying 'What went wrong?'

[Clifford Nelson]

People keep asking why Thomson was brought on? I thought it was obvious. Paterson had to come off or there would be no chance of a goal, Lambert isn't the sort of player to work well alone up front, so the only option was to put Lallana up there with him, or just behind. I suppose he could have brought Morgan on at that point and put James in RM, but Thomson has more pace than James. None of it was ideal, but with the squad so depleted for whatever reason, he had little choice.

 

What was actually so surprising was that JT showed that he didn't have any pace. He was outrun by the U's leftback who started three yards behind but made it look easy. He must have something which I haven't managed to spot yet, but speed it isn't.

[saint1977]

What was actually so surprising was that JT showed that he didn't have any pace. He was outrun by the U's leftback who started three yards behind but made it look easy. He must have something which I haven't managed to spot yet, but speed it isn't.

 

I don't rate Thomson at all but him and Mills were about the extent of Pardew's wide options on Saturday after the WP hold-up. If we did try to sign Craddock from Luton and may go for a loan, why don't we throw in some of our academy rejects like Thomson, James and Lancashire in as loans to become frees in January as well? They are clearly not L1 standard but might do well for Luton in the BSP and after all, Pardew says we need to trim the number of youngsters. Mills is an excellent prospect and shouldn't be mentioned in the same bracket as the above poor players. We need a loan RB and RM, both with pace IMO.

 

Mellis hasn't impressed me yet but it must be hard to join a side in such violent transition and that goes for Lambert and Hammond as well. Best is yet to come from them. Jaidi and Waigo should wake things up a bit.

[krissyboy31]

What was actually so surprising was that JT showed that he didn't have any pace. He was outrun by the U's leftback who started three yards behind but made it look easy. He must have something which I haven't managed to spot yet, but speed it isn't.

 

There is a difference between being quick and being quick with the football. I would hazard a guess that in a straight sprint Thomson would beat the Colchester left back quite comfortably but give him a football to dribble at the same time and he is as slow as the rest of our one paced team. Even Nathan Dyer struggled to show his true pace when in control (or not) of the ball. Oh for another Theo!!

[Saint_clark]

What was actually so surprising was that JT showed that he didn't have any pace. He was outrun by the U's leftback who started three yards behind but made it look easy. He must have something which I haven't managed to spot yet, but speed it isn't.

 

Agreed, and between no pace and no end product (Thomson) and pace with no end product (Mellis) there is only gonna be one winner.

[madruss]

Here's my view of the game;

 

We didn't have a midfield in the first half as Mellis was virtually invisible, even when he got the ball he did little with it. He had a one-on-one with their defense, if he broke through was in the penalty area with no-one around him and only the goalie to beat - he managed to kick the ball against the defender's legs (is that Chelski academy teaching?)

 

With him on we had effectively a 3 man midfield and as Lallana was pushing forward frequently we had a 2 man midfield most of the time. This is where Colchester beat us to almost every ball and this allowed to break up our play.

 

In the 2H, even with 10 men, Colchester played 3 men up and 4 in defense, and created problems because they bossed mid-field.

 

Things changed dramatically when Fish came on, we looked like scoring. Yes, his final touch let him down but he started creating things.

 

The defense played well and I thought Lallana and Lambert looked good up front. Lallana has the skills to create something from nothing - which he did on a coople of occasions. Paterson was weak, offside, knocked off the ball or our of position so that he was ineffective (the game was crying out for Saga!).

 

Overall disappointed that we lacked the creativity to break Colchester down, frustrated by the head tennis in midfield which always ended up with them winning the ball, but inspired by several things on the pitch.

 

Agreed. You could also argue that we didn't have a second striker, so ineffective was Paterson.

 

Re: Mellis, I couldn't believe that he didn't manage to pass it to Lambert when through on goal. I was absolutely fuming that he tried to score himself. Similarly in the second hald, Thomson just had to put the ball across the area when in the same position, but somehow managed to hit the first defender's hip!! Infuriating

[Saint_clark]

Agreed. You could also argue that we didn't have a second striker, so ineffective was Paterson.

 

Re: Mellis, I couldn't believe that he didn't manage to pass it to Lambert when through on goal. I was absolutely fuming that he tried to score himself. Similarly in the second hald, Thomson just had to put the ball across the area when in the same position, but somehow managed to hit the first defender's hip!! Infuriating

 

To be fair I thought at the time, and for me the highlights concluded, that he DID try to square it. He just waited too long.

[madruss]

To be fair I thought at the time, and for me the highlights concluded, that he DID try to square it. He just waited too long.

 

Still, pretty unforgiveable to not be able to pick Lambert out, he's big enough!!

[derry]

There is a difference between being quick and being quick with the football. I would hazard a guess that in a straight sprint Thomson would beat the Colchester left back quite comfortably but give him a football to dribble at the same time and he is as slow as the rest of our one paced team. Even Nathan Dyer struggled to show his true pace when in control (or not) of the ball. Oh for another Theo!!

 

Quick players wide shouldn't dribble. They should knock the ball down the touchline well past the defender and sprint give it one more touch towards the byeline and get behind the defence.

 

Again why haven't the academy taught them this, letting them dribble takes away their speed.

[trousers]

Still sticky?

[NickG]

Still sticky?

 

even if it wasn't you bumped it!

[trousers]

even if it wasn't you bumped it!

 

Can't bump a sticky, Shirley?

[NickG]

but just in case it loses its sticky.....

[SFC Forever]

With the posibility that both newly cleared players will play have we still got to play with no width? Mellis and Thomson both had stinkers but at charlton we may now have Holmes ready.

As poor as the Colchester game was we only needed to take one of our chances and then the game would have opened up. With our even more determined defence is it feasable that we could now now score and then defend a goal for a clean sheet?

[derry]

With the posibility that both newly cleared players will play have we still got to play with no width? Mellis and Thomson both had stinkers but at charlton we may now have Holmes ready.

As poor as the Colchester game was we only needed to take one of our chances and then the game would have opened up. With our even more determined defence is it feasable that we could now now score and then defend a goal for a clean sheet?

 

Provided Jaidi is fully fit I can see us being pretty solid at the back. The little I saw of Charlton last week they concentrate on getting to the byeline and cutting the ball back high or low. Our full backs will be key and so will the wide players to stay wide and stop Charlton easy access to the corners.

 

If we hold them and they start hitting balls into the centre backs as we do then it will be as easy for Trotman and Jaidi as it is for our opponents when we do the same thing.

 

I would like to see Holmes on the left with Waigo wide right and coming in on the right back post for centres hung up. Lambert and Saganowski as the battling strikers. I hope Waigo is decent in the air.

[Neil]

Surely we can move on from this game and make the Charlton build-up a sticky now, it's Thursday evening now?

[Chez]

Charlton seemed to have turned things around overnight?

 

Charlton were winning games long before they went down. Don't you recall them coming to SMS towards the end of last season and looking like one of the best sides in the CCC? For me they were easy favourites to go back so long as they kept hold of the likes of Bailey.

[trousers]

If this thread is still a sticky tomorrow afternoon I predict there will be utter chaos on this forum of ours