Saints 2 - 0 Yeovil Post Match Reaction

[up and away]

Very pleased with our first win since Easter. However, can't overlook the stats that said Yeovil had 16 shots to our 7 and we only had 3 shots on target all match - 2 of which were penalties. If anyone wants to have a pop at me for negativity please qulaify your criticism by addressing those facts first.

 

From reading this thread I would suggest we still have some players who don't cut it at League 1 level. And they're all from last seasons squad of underperformers. Keep making changes Alan - you're headed in the right direction.

 

Great to get the win, a comfortable win and we hardly looked threatened. That said, without the penalties it was difficult to see where the opening was coming from. The first was a stone wall penalty, but so stupid. Saga was going no where, but thank you very much. The second I thought was very harsh, eventually after I stopped celebrating. I see a lot of posts questioning that Papa may not be the person we expected, not totally unfair from the performance. But he takes defenders out of their comfort zone and I believe / hope he will make things happen. Seems to be able to take a knock and fears for him acclimatising to this league diminished. I get the feeling that he is going to get a load more knocks as teams see more of him.

 

I am putting a lot of hope in Papa because I find it difficult to see how we are going to open up defences the way we have been playing. Having that greyhound will stop the defence pushing right up and put space between the defenders for others to come into the game.

 

The way the defence and midfield are working, I can see real possibilities if we set up to counter attack teams, but that will not be an option for a lot of home games.

[Mr Saints]

Great to finally win, individually we probably have the best starting 11 in the league but still alot of improving to come as a team which will come with time.

 

Davis - 7 - Dealt with everything that came his way.

Thomas - 6 - Solid before coming off with yet another knock.

Harding - 7 - Easily a Championship player.

Trotman - 6 - Bit clumsy but good enough to deal with what they offered.

Jaidi - 8 - Exactly what we've been crying out for in the last 3 years, absolute rock.

Lallana - 6 - Average, not a left winger.

James 6 - Average, not a right winger.

Hammond - 8 - Good on the ball, mobile and strong in the tackle. Very impressive.

Schneiderlin - 6 - Not at his best but didn't need to be.

Saga - 6 - Not getting the breaks in and around the box but plenty of effort.

Lambert - 8 - In the Beattie mould, wins everything in the air and put away the pens superbly.

 

Mills - 6 - Should start wide left, offers natrual width and good delivery from set plays.

Waigo - 6 - Lively but raw, covers the ground very quickly but needs time to adapt.

Wotton - 6 - Bought on to break up play and did just that.

[shurlock]

Delighted we're up and running but still massive question marks over where the goals are going to come from. The midfield is too isolated from the attack, especially as we still look to go long. Would like to see us try something other than 4-4-2 if we insist on playing the likes of James and Lallana on the flanks while one of Schneiderlin and Hammond has to start in a much more forward position.

[alpine_saint]

How would you notice that? Were you actually there? apologies if you were.

 

Really, really, really tedious.

 

I have seen Schneiderlin play on a few occasions, and one can make observations without being physically present.

 

Why dont you give it a rest ?

[Red and White Army]

Really, really, really tedious.

 

I have seen Schneiderlin play on a few occasions, and one can make observations without being physically present.

 

Why dont you give it a rest ?

 

Why don't you give it a rest idiot?

 

You weren't there and you didn't see anything.

 

Your opinion on how our players played is worthless.

[alpine_saint]

Why don't you give it a rest idiot?

 

You weren't there and you didn't see anything.

 

Your opinion on how our players played is worthless.

 

Ah, another stalker returns.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

My ratings for Saints v Yeovil Town (2-0)

 

Kelvin Davis 7 - Plenty to do here and he did all that was required of him perfectly as usual .

W Thomas 5.5 - Tank's just not an attacking full back and it shows , he did his very best impersonation though .

R Jaidi 6.5 - A big capable CB I'll be surprised if he doesn't do well for us , caught up-field out of position too often for my liking .

N Trotman 6 - A good player already but when he gains experience and learns to concentrate a tad more he'll be quality .

D Harding 6.5 - I like this lad so much , not only a very decent full back but consistent with it .

L James 5 - Hard worker but I can't see what he offers us really as inherently better midfield players are available .

D Hammond 7.5 MOTM - The best I've seen him play for us , the commanding midfield hardman we'd hoped for .

M Schneiderlin 6 - Good vision and creative , but I can't say he's a game winning force as yet TBH .

A Lallana 7 - Only just beaten for MOTM here , super work rate matched with real ability on the ball - what more can you ask ?

M Saganowski 4.5 - Mr Nearly Man . Nothing ever quite works out for him does it , honest player but his 'touch' is just gone .

R Lambert 7 - Excellent target man but needs the proper service , he sure knows how to take a penalty too (two) :-D

 

Substitutes :

PW N'diaye - 7 Offside too often but an instant improvement on Saga , there was a Camera like air of excitement when he gets on the ball .

J Mills 7 - Another player who should be starting IMO , smashing little winger .

P Wotton 4 - he came on , he ran about a bit .

 

Conclusion :

We demanded a win and that's just what we got so well done to Alan Pardrew and the team . If you want to know how we won this odd game the picture's not quite so rosy however , we didn't play that well for long periods in all honesty and were it not for two 'debatable' penalty decisions I'm far from confident the match wouldn't have ended in a draw again .

We won because for the first time for ages we found an opposition that didn't have the gumption to mount a real counter attack after we went ahead - there a few teams as weak as Yeovil in this division so if we want to repeat this result consistently we'll have to play much better than this to be frank . I'm quite sure AP realises this .

 

The 3 points are most welcome but has a corner been turned ? we'll see .

[alpine_saint]

My ratings for Saints v Yeovil Town (2-0)

 

Kelvin Davis 7 - Plenty to do here and he did all that was required of him perfectly as usual .

W Thomas 5.5 - Tank's just not an attacking full back and it shows , he did his very best impersonation though .

R Jaidi 6.5 - A big capable CB I'll be surprised if he doesn't do well for us , caught up-field out of position too often for my liking .

N Trotman 6 - A good player already but when he gains experience and learns to concentrate a tad more he'll be quality .

D Harding 6.5 - I like this lad so much , not only a very decent full back but consistent with it .

L James 5 - Hard worker but I can't see what he offers us really as inherently better midfield players are available .

D Hammond 7.5 MOTM - The best I've seen him play for us , the commanding midfield hardman we'd hoped for .

M Schneiderlin 6 - Good vision and creative , but I can't say he's a game winning force as yet TBH .

A Lallana 7 - Only just beaten for MOTM here , super work rate matched with real ability on the ball - what more can you ask ?

M Saganowski 4.5 - Mr Nearly Man . Nothing ever quite works out for him does it , honest player but his 'touch' is just gone .

R Lambert 7 - Excellent target man but needs the proper service , he sure knows how to take a penalty too (two) :-D

 

Substitutes :

PW N'diaye - 7 Offside too often but an instant improvement on Saga , there was a Camera like air of excitement when he gets on the ball .

J Mills 7 - Another player who should be starting IMO , smashing little winger .

P Wotton 4 - he came on , he ran about a bit .

 

Conclusion :

We demanded a win and that's just what we got so well done to Alan Pardrew and the team . If you want to know how we won this odd game the picture's not quite so rosy however , we didn't play that well for long periods in all honesty and were it not for two 'debatable' penalty decisions I'm far from confident the match wouldn't have ended in a draw again .

We won because for the first time for ages we found an opposition that didn't have the gumption to mount a real counter attack after we went ahead - there a few teams as weak as Yeovil in this division so if we want to repeat this result consistently we'll have to play much better than this to be frank . I'm quite sure AP realises this .

 

The 3 points are most welcome but has a corner been turned ? we'll see .

 

He learns how to take a corner without wasting it ?

[wild-saint]

Why don't you give it a rest idiot?

 

You weren't there and you didn't see anything.

 

Your opinion on how our players played is worthless.

 

+100

[Give it to Ron]

 

P Wotton 4 - he came on , he ran about a bit .

 

.

 

He also won a few headers when he came on and put in a few good challenges.

Come on we know he is no Beckham but 4?? Lets not go down the route of marking because he is not liked. When he does a good job lets mark him properly.

 

I agree totally with your MOM as Hammond was everywhere and doing the job he was bought to do.

 

Saga was abysmal...when will we have a striker that can understand that Lambert actually wins 90% of the flicks ons and gambles. Cheated for the penalty......poor game from him and at least Waigo gives us an outlet by hitting it in the channels for him to use his pace.

I worry he maybe another BWP though with no football brain to look along the line but it was his first home game and just a bit too eager to impress.

 

We won but played poor but solid some good headeing by Trotman and Jaidi means we can now actually compete.

Now we need a winger to deliver to Lambert.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

He learns how to take a corner without wasting it ?

 

Agreed on that specific point - 'Fish' Mills can take a notably better corner kick .

[Jesus Reigned]

He learns how to take a corner without wasting it ?

 

The Lallana corner issue raised itself again yesterday; when he came on Mills took 3 or 4 and they all looked dangerous.

 

Then Lallana took one and floated it into the keeper's hands; totally wasted.

 

On that basis Mills has to be the main corner taker when he's on.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

He also won a few headers when he came on and put in a few good challenges.

Come on we know he is no Beckham but 4?? Lets not go down the route of marking because he is not liked. When he does a good job lets mark him properly.

 

My rating policy is to make 5/10 the starting point , do a bit better than average and I give more , a little less than average gets marked down obviously . When you think about it most players can be expected to fall into the 4-6 range . You could well argue that we're all guilty (myself included) of being too generous with marking Saints players as most normally are rated well above 5 - which is quite illogical really .

 

On more than one occasion I've found myself giving everyone above average marks when the teams performed terribly !

[Give it to Ron]

My rating policy is to make 5/10 the starting point , do a bit better than average and I give more , a little less than average gets marked down obviously . When you think about it most players can be expected to fall into the 4-6 range . You could well argue that we're all guilty (myself included) of being too generous with marking Saints players as most normally are rated well above 5 - which is quite illogical really .

 

On more than one occasion I've found myself giving everyone above average marks when the teams performed terribly !

 

Thats fair enough but 4 was a bit harsh IMO as he made some good contributions when he was on.

 

I would struggle to give anyone an 8 yesterday apart from Hammond.

[NickG]

Very pleased with our first win since Easter. However, can't overlook the stats that said Yeovil had 16 shots to our 7 and we only had 3 shots on target all match - 2 of which were penalties. If anyone wants to have a pop at me for negativity please qulaify your criticism by addressing those facts first.

 

From reading this thread I would suggest we still have some players who don't cut it at League 1 level. And they're all from last seasons squad of underperformers. Keep making changes Alan - you're headed in the right direction.

 

their shots were often pathetic, long range ran out of ideas shots that would never beat KD.

 

We played the game out, rightly so - and wouldn't have done in the past, when having 2-0 lead so were not going to goal as much as am sure we would have been if 0-0.

 

Spend about ten mins keeping ball in ole football!

[NickG]

Really, really, really tedious.

 

I have seen Schneiderlin play on a few occasions, and one can make observations without being physically present.

 

Why dont you give it a rest ?

 

 

observations - An inference or a judgment that is acquired from or based on observing

 

 

actually you can't!

Edited 20 September, 2009 by NickG

[Windmill Arm 2]

FFS !!!????

Surely to be awarded 2 penaltys, we must have been pressuring, and most likely in goal scoring positions when they were awarded, so whats there to moan about??????

 

Honestly, some of our fans are pathetic spoilt c**ts .

[alpine_saint]

observations - An inference or a judgment that is acquired from or based on observing

 

 

actually you can't!

 

How about observing reports from others ?

 

and why did you ignore the first half of that sentence ?

[alpine_saint]

The Lallana corner issue raised itself again yesterday; when he came on Mills took 3 or 4 and they all looked dangerous.

 

Then Lallana took one and floated it into the keeper's hands; totally wasted.

 

On that basis Mills has to be the main corner taker when he's on.

 

Interesting.

 

If Mills can take a mean corner, and Holmes cannot, that would reverse my preference for Holmes.

[suewhistle]

but it was his first home game and just a bit too eager to impress.

 

I wasn't there, so have no specific observations on the game (cough, cough) but that seems like a very likely situation. I know that when I made my debut of the bench for my women's side here in Italy my heart was going like mad and I rushed around madly. Too old and experienced and slow to be caught offside, though.:-)

 

If we can just harness that speed and enthusiasm it sounds like he'll be useful. Thank goodness winter pitches don't get heavy and claggy like they used to.

[NickG]

How about observing reports from others ?

 

and why did you ignore the first half of that sentence ?

only teasing - couldn't resist sorry!

 

(did you see me defending you this week!)

[SaintRobbie]

Happy days. 'We are staying up...!' (Repeat until bored)

 

[alpine_saint]

only teasing - couldn't resist sorry!

 

(did you see me defending you this week!)

 

Yes, I did - thanks

[NickG]

don't know why I ended up with quite so many 's?

[Special K]

A win is a win. We don't create much in open play though and i've never seen us worse at set pieces - we need to make them count. Hammond starting to exert much needed authority - good news. Sniederlin starting to look as if he enjoys playing, probably as a result of Hammond being there - bodes well. Up front - Waigo will be useful away from home. Defence much better with Jaidi. Just hope the confidence results in us being more incisive. And my 8 year old finally saw us win for the first time since Bristol City home the season before last - we went to about a dozen home games last season and i almost lost him to Chelsea, but fortunately he's got his interest back now, phew!!

[Bailey]

Slightly fortunate with both penalty decisions, but we were due a bit of luck.

 

Not a convincing win, but it's a win none the less.

 

Progress is being made, another clean sheet too.

 

Bring on the next game!

[Clifford Nelson]

I am delighted about the win. At this point I think it could come either way, it didn't have to be beautiful.

 

Some comments on players must be made. Schneiderlin is usually hailed as a terrific passer of the ball. I have never had the pleasure of seeing that, and yesterday was no exception. With monotonous regularity he passed the ball to those fellows in green. On two occasions he would have created one-on-ones with the goalie if he had chosen his own player instead. I put my head above the parapet and state that I don't think he is half the player he is made out to be.

 

Papa Waigo, in spite of several off sides, was cute on the ball and provided something we have been lacking: Danger in the box. I hope it doesn't get coached out of him. I also hope that somebody tells him not to pull the socks over his knees. In my section it became a long running joke that his suspenders were showing. However, the boy can play, and I know now why he was playing in Italy. He has got pace and technique. I hope he has got character as well and he will be the complete player.

 

Fish must start on the left to at least give us one wing option, and he also takes better corners than Lallana, who I otherwise thought had a decent game.

 

Jaidi was the leader at the back we have been missing. Hammond had a good game but will benefit from a stronger defensive midfielder beside him so he can start running into the box. He can, so he should be encouraged to do so, but Schneiderlin is not the partner to rely on breaking up a quick counter behind him.

[Channon's Sideburns]

Mills took some good corners today when he nicked the ball off Lallana

 

Yep before Lallana took it back off him and floated the next one straight to their keeper. Someone needs to have a word.

[Thedelldays]

Yep before Lallana took it back off him and floated the next one straight to their keeper. Someone needs to have a word.

worth mentioning at the fans forum?

[Professor]

Pardew said in the programme that he wants to bring in more players on loan if he can make spaces by off-loading some of the squad. After the game he said that the team didn't play well. That looks positive to me.

Hammond was the bright spot in a midfield that was otherwise quite anonymous. I'd be happier if Schneiderlin, Lallana and James were still squad players getting an occasional run out, like Mills and Mellis, rather than first choice starters. Maybe we have a potential first choice left midfield in Holmes, but otherwise midfield seems to be where the weakness is now. Even just one strong midfielder to play alongside Hammond might be enough to make the difference and take more of the burden off the young players.

[derry]

An ugly win and I'm grateful to the referee. The back five are solid, so are the two central midfielders. Lambert is more abused than used he must be really fed up with the lack of proper chances. Saganowski looked off the pace but the little Yeovil CB was quick.

 

The side lacks balance which is down to trying to accommodate Lallana. If we want to start playing like a team we have to dump this make do and mend approach to picking the wide men. We need to play proper wide men on both sides.

 

Lallana should be selected as a second striker or not at all, his play on the left and a slow fullback on the right means we have no penetration. We have scored 7 goals in 8 games and only 2 from play, that doesn't cut it any way you want to look at it.

 

Balance and pace are lacking and need to be introduced immediately. I would still play Lambert and Saganowski in the absence of a quick right sided player with Waigo wide right and Holmes/Mills wide left, until we do this, the strikers are living off scraps and we will not score enough goals.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

 

.....Hammond had a good game but will benefit from a stronger defensive midfielder beside him so he can start running into the box. He can, so he should be encouraged to do so, but Schneiderlin is not the partner to rely on breaking up a quick counter behind him.

 

A very astute observation if I may say so , the very same thought had occurred to me so we must both be right then . - Simon Gillett to partner Hammond in centre midfield methinks .

[Saint Charlie]

Saga was pretty poor I though. Certainly a shadow of the player hat joined us 3 years ago. Not really worth a place in the team IMO. No pace, no desire, no class, no creativity.

 

Waigo did more in 15mins than Saga in the whole time he was on the pitch.

 

IMO we should bring in a pacy or left winger (Gradel?) and play Papa up front where he will create the havoc needed for lambert (whose every touch was class) to get more scoring chances.

[SnailOB]

Saga was pretty poor I though. Certainly a shadow of the player hat joined us 3 years ago. Not really worth a place in the team IMO. No pace, no desire, no class, no creativity.

 

Waigo did more in 15mins than Saga in the whole time he was on the pitch.

 

IMO we should bring in a pacy or left winger (Gradel?) and play Papa up front where he will create the havoc needed for lambert (whose every touch was class) to get more scoring chances.

 

couldn't agree more. Lambert won every knock down, good control etc.. You could see Kelvin look for him on every occassion. Unfortunately there is noone to play off him. Saga is too slow to react, only moves AFTER the ball lands, never anticipates (even his diving was a bit delayed )

 

As for Papa, early days but at least he was willing to have a shot at goal. Before that we were always looking for the extra pass, cross etc.. Lack of shots yesterday was really frustrating.

 

Just can't see what Saga offers at the moment

[corky morris]

Probably gonna get shot for this, but I dont think we played well in an attacking sense, but were miles better defensively. If Pardew is building the solid foundation first he has in my opinion succeeded.

I thought the first was a pen & the second a joke, but I aint complaining.

Many of us have suggested a winger with pace & I think that is where we are lacking as we dont have any pace or a man that go can past the outside of a full back.

I love reading other peoples marks for players as I thought Saga played well in a way that Lambert does not. He chased everything & did not give defenders time on the ball. Hammond was our best player on the day, but IMHO only Morgan has a real touch of class. His passing is better than the rest of the team, but maybe he does not have the defensive strengths of a Case or Horne.

They had a lot more shots than us, but most of them were from outside the box which does not worry me to much as the only way they are gonna is with a 25 yarder as they dont happen to often.

Happy with the win & we will never know how much not winning was weighing on us so bag the points - move on to the next game & improve little by little.

[rooney]

All we need to do is play proper wingers.Lloyd James & Lallana are not proper wingers so it must be 2 from Holmes, Papa and Mills even though the latter is a lb. Lambert will thrive on crosses from the bi-line with the big centre backs joining him on corners, providing we send in whizzers and not scoops.

[krissyboy31]

FWIW I thought Davis was pretty poor yesterday. Had bugger all to do but fumbled the only cross he had to claim and distribution and kicking was dreadful.

Saga has been to the BWP school of off-side and apart from the odd play hardly got into the game.

Jaidi was off the pace at the start of the game and gave away a handful of unnecessary free kicks, which a better team may have punished. He did improve as the game went on though.

James was pretty poor again, no pace and not a lot of tacking ability.

Schneiderlin had a mixed game, showed glimpses of what he's capable of but then over hit his pass. Harding also had a bit of an off game but made up for it with work rate and desire.

Best players were Trotman, solid as you like, Lallana, who was always available and caused their defence (on both sides) all sorts of problems, Lambert, who despite never getting any protection from the officials, won just about every header, held the ball up well and of course hit 2 class penalties and Hammond, who I thought was immense. Best performance from any Saints player this season (and probably last as well).

 

Waigo looked lively when he came on two shot on target, got cynically chopped down. Can't ask for more than that in the cameo appearance.

Mills looked good when he came on and as others have said, gave an added dimension with his corners.

Wotton was ok, did what he needed to to see the game out.

[yorkie]

Just pleased with the win.

 

Boy we needed that...even if it as a couple of penalties - they all count!

 

Let's just hope +1 next week after a convincing win at Carlisle.

 

Can't go next week, but be there in spirit.

[Morph]

Delighted with the win.

 

Any thoughts on why Steve McManaman was in the Directors Box as a Liebherr invited guest ?

 

Regards

 

 

Morph

[Gemmel]

Delighted with the win.

 

Any thoughts on why Steve McManaman was in the Directors Box as a Liebherr invited guest ?

 

Regards

 

 

Morph

 

 

You listen to Radio Solent as well Morph

[saint lard]

Delighted with the win.

 

Any thoughts on why Steve McManaman was in the Directors Box as a Liebherr invited guest ?

 

Regards

 

 

Morph

No,none whatsoever.

You have posted nothing but cryptic bollix for an age,yet some hang on your every word.

No offence intended.

Regards.

[hypochondriac]

Delighted with the win.

 

Any thoughts on why Steve McManaman was in the Directors Box as a Liebherr invited guest ?

 

Regards

 

 

Morph

 

Do you have any thoughts?

[krissyboy31]

No,none whatsoever.

You have posted nothing but cryptic bollix for an age,yet some hang on your every word.

No offence intended.

Regards.

 

Wasn't that a direct question? I don't think it was meant as 'cryptic bollix' as you poetically put it.

[saint lard]

Wasn't that a direct question? I don't think it was meant as 'cryptic bollix' as you poetically put it.

No, it wasn't a direct question,just another supposed ITK teaser as per the norm.

Prove me wrong,that would be groovy.

[krissyboy31]

No, it wasn't a direct question,just another supposed ITK teaser as per the norm.

Prove me wrong,that would be groovy.

 

He's posing the same questions the press were after a previous match when Coppell was a guest of ML. Just coincedence? Apparently Coppell being there was (even though everybody was convinced he's to be our new SD/DoF) so McManaman being there probably is to but then again who knows?

[saint lard]

He's posing the same questions the press were after a previous match when Coppell was a guest of ML. Just coincedence? Apparently Coppell being there was (even though everybody was convinced he's to be our new SD/DoF) so McManaman being there probably is to but then again who knows?

 

But somebody is pretending to know however.

If they do know...just say.

Sorry,i'm just pesimistic and grumpy.

[saintwarwick]

Wow, spot on. I hadnt noticed that. Good observation.

 

How would you notice that? Were you actually there? apologies if you were.

 

He wasn't there sue, using other peoples views for his post.

[Teddy Nutkins]

Sometimes you have to win ugly and that's what we did,we cashed in on a long awaited slice of luck too.Well done all for that first win.On the negative side, was a little concearned at the amount of room we gave them 2nd half, in midfield, other than that onwards and upwards.

[SaintRobbie]

Ah, another stalker returns.

 

Yes Alpine, he's not got the highest of intellectual capabaility that's for sure.

[SaintRobbie]

Pardew said in the programme that he wants to bring in more players on loan if he can make spaces by off-loading some of the squad. After the game he said that the team didn't play well. That looks positive to me.

Hammond was the bright spot in a midfield that was otherwise quite anonymous. I'd be happier if Schneiderlin, Lallana and James were still squad players getting an occasional run out, like Mills and Mellis, rather than first choice starters. Maybe we have a potential first choice left midfield in Holmes, but otherwise midfield seems to be where the weakness is now. Even just one strong midfielder to play alongside Hammond might be enough to make the difference and take more of the burden off the young players.

 

That's good news Prof. I think AP is spot on. We still have a few legacy players that need to be cleared out IMHO. I get a good feeling about AP and the rebuild.

 

I think the rest of your post is also spot on.