Saints 2-3 Bistol Rovers - Autopsy

[Torres]

Only one answer to that - what did the Rovers side cost that beat us tonight !!!

 

How long has Trollope had to put it together? Did he have to build a team expected by a huge number of fans to overcome a ten point deduction and finish comfortably midtable, at worst, in the space of a few weeks?

[Jimmy_D]

Good game really, just absolutely gutting we were on the wrong side when it all finished, could have gone either way.

 

We'll have better days.

[AlfredKo]

I say the players should get disciplined not the manager,we shouldn't always blame the manager in football he had built a good squad and if the players aren't performing which is true they need to be come down on with a ton of bricks

 

But even Jan and Wotte was doing better than that garbage Pardew. Last season results were heavily due to lack or money.

If we had much money to spend last season, do you think that Jan and Wotte will do better?

The most scary thing at this moment is we have money to spend and have better players but the end product are still disgrace.

[Weston Saint]

Best game of football I have seen at SMS for 2 seasons or more.

 

Bristol Rovers are a good side with width and pace. We matched them for much of the game on the right but we were woeful on the wide left.

 

Davis at fault for there first goal, Mellis for the second by not closing down their winger as he cut in from the bye line. The third was a cracking goal.

 

If we continue to play as we did the first hour we will get the right results. However when they equalised we went narrow, took off the only player giving us width and pace and missed a couple of good chances.

[Torres]

How utterly unsurprising to read that as people who were actually at the game have joined this thread, the hysterics have died down.

[Um Bongo]

Where the **** did the Ref get 5 mins from and why the **** did we play 6?

 

Lambert got **** all, every ball he won the ref gave a free kick against him. We had NO WIDTH OR PACE at all. Waigo may have scored but he was a gormless headless chicken. He didn't know what to do. Rover's Number 11 should have been sent off for a disgusting challenge on Hammond. Lallana + Hammond the only one's who actually put some effort in tonight. And Finally.

 

Lloyd James. I ****ING HATE this bloke. He can't tackle, head, or defend. He put one decent cross in the second half. Other then that, the kid is ****e. He is one day going to led me to murder.

[solentstars]

We had chances at 2-1, we missed them.

 

They scored a belter at the end.

 

It happens. Get over it.

 

Everyone was banging on about what a stern test Bristol would be before the match. How in form they were. How most predicted a draw. Well, now we've lost what sounded like an excellent game to a last minute belter people start the usual hysterical ****e.

 

Constructive criticism is great but the wailing, girls-blouses on here are hard to stomach sometime.

true the wailing, girls-blouses are out in force lead by the usual suspects.

[brightspark]

Good game really, just absolutely gutting we were on the wrong side when it all finished, could have gone either way.

 

I can't understand how a team, man for man, as good as we are, that has had enough time to gel, can get themselves in a situation at home to be involved in an even game. No matter where they were in the table, Bristol Rovers are cr*p compared to us and we should have won, arguably comfortably.

 

Its not good enough and action must be taken because at the moment, all we can look forward to next season is another relegation struggle in League TWO

[saint_stevo]

true the wailing, girls-blouses are out in force lead by the usual suspects.

 

Where?

[ooarrlatvian]

Hey there's a few of us in Yate! A girl who worked in the shop on Cranleigh Court always wore a Saints top- a tight one too!

 

Anyway...

 

Onwards and upwards for Saints. Rovers couldn't seem to handle Papa for sixty minutes tonight. Bodes well for the rest of the season I think.

 

I still say Saints will beat a lot of sides at home this season with a noisy, largish crowd on their SIDE. 19,000 tonight- that's a thousand MORE than Pompous had at home on Saturday in the Prem- against Everton!

 

Look for the positives folks.

[Fan The Flames]

oh my ****ing god.

 

that is sick - absolutely sick.

 

I've had a bit of time to sit and think about it - and i still feel ****ing sick.

 

Not sure if i can be arsed to sum up the game, but i'll try.

 

first half was a bit huff and puff, we did try and get the ball down - we didn't hoof it as much has we have done, but Rovers were a constant threat down the flanks and through the middle with their attacking pace and it was worrying us - esp harding who seriously struggled all game.

 

Our goal was well worked though - nice little through ball by lambert and adam had held his position really well to keep onside - nice finish under the goalie - game on.

 

...then we let rovers have a feel of the ball again but they never really threatened us massively after we'd scored, but i hate to say it, it was a complete **** up by Kelvin - pretty much identical to the one he made against QPR a few seasons back, no idea wtf he was doing....and then it was 1-1.

 

2nd half..

 

I was blown away by how well we came out in the 2nd half, it was the perfect start with the goal. Cracking build up play, ball finds its self to Lloydy on the right, he whips a fantastic ball into the box....Lambo heads it, hits the bar, bounces on the line...but Papa anticipated it and got us back in front.

 

After that, for the next 10mins it was complete 1 way, we just battered them, harried them, chased them - they didn't know what hit them.

 

....then we just stopped. Just like that, we stopped doing the chasing, we let them control the game and they felt their way back into it. Harding was completely done by their winger for the goal, their player played the ball across the box and there was only going to be one outcome from there.

 

Rest of the game was pretty much played by rovers, we huffed and puffed a little bit, but rovers were using the width very very well and their pace was causing us all sorts of problems. Trotman and Jaidi were all over the place 2nd half.

 

Their winner was a ****ing joke though, ok it was a stunning 30 yarder into the top corner...but the guy was allowed to win the ball in space, play it...and then the other guy was just allowed to shoot, no one near him...95th min, seriously? what's that about? where's the closing down...?

 

Unbelievable game of football though - swung from side to side all game, a draw would have probably been fair - neither team did enough to win it outright IMO, but this is what happens when you loose control of the game.

 

Alot of lessons learned tonight..but by watching rovers more than us. Their wide play was brilliant and it's a lesson to how we need to play.

 

The pressure is on for Saturday now, make no doubt about it. If we fail to win that one, there could be trouble.

 

Ratings...

 

 

Kelvin 5 - Muck up for the goal, shouldn't have come out like that. Was a bit edgy for a bit too.

 

Harding 5 - Was done all game IMO - couldn't handle their winger. Worst game i've seen him play.

 

Jaidi - 6 - okish first half, but completely off the pace in the 2nd. Won the ball well in the air, but just couldn't handle their tricky pacy front men.

 

Trottman 6 - again - same as Jaidi pretty much, struggled with the game 2nd half and were just pulled about at times by rovers.

 

James - 7 played ok i felt. Got wide well and his crosses into the box were excellent, esp for the 2nd goal.

 

Mellis - 5 - not good for me. has the pace, did chase the ball down well but didn't offer an inch of support to Harding - he was so exposed, one of the reasons Harding struggled IMO.

 

Hammond 7 - gave his all, 110% - was key in our dominant period and kept us playing.

 

Morgan 9 - Best game he's had for us - unbelievably good. Ran the show when we were in charge, running with the ball, passing, could have scored...he was brilliant. But i must say, he lost his way a little on about 70ish mins.

 

Papa 7 - did well, decent anticipation for the goal - but needs to watch his runs! caught offside too often.

 

Lallana - 7 - did ok - good goal, chased and harried well and picked up pockets of space in and around Lambert which made us dangerous.

 

Lambert 7 - could have cored, unlucky not to IMO - but his hold up play was quality and his passing is very good. We should get it on the deck and play it to him like that - he's v good on the floor IMO.

 

 

....i'll go and lay down now i think.

 

Thanks good report, feel better about the result now.

[Bailey]

I'm surprised by how many people on here have been so critical of tonight's display. IMO, we played some of our best football this season, creating chances from open play and looking dangerous on the attack.

 

When you concede a screamer like that right at the death, you just have to hold your hands up and give the lad a bit of credit. The chances are he'll never strike a ball sweeter than that in his whole life!

 

I know it's depressing looking at the league table, but progress IS being made. We'll play a lot worse than we did tonight this season and win games. If we continue to perform like that throughout the course of the season, we'll be absolutely fine.

[samoakley]

EXACTLY right and sums up how I feel too. The club is disgusting and an embarrassment. I don't think it is possible to support a worse club, I hate supporting Southampton and wish I was born somewhere else. It is humiliating. Really.

 

Agreed 100%

 

BUT Im trying to stay postive just rember Cyrstal Place in 2003/4 season got promoted when they were 3rd bottom at the end of november and finished in the playoffs we may do the same.

[S-Clarke]

I can't understand how a team, man for man, as good as we are, that has had enough time to gel, can get themselves in a situation at home to be involved in an even game. No matter where they were in the table, Bristol Rovers are cr*p compared to us and we should have won, arguably comfortably.

 

Its not good enough and action must be taken because at the moment, all we can look forward to next season is another relegation struggle in League TWO

 

Rovers aren't crap, and they weren't crap tonight. If they play like that all season they'll go up automatically IMO. They had better players than us in the wide areas for a start.

 

I'm ****ed off - but i think a little respect for the oppo is due, they made it an excellent game of football.

[OldNick]

Rovers a good side, that matched us.

Lallana's best game for a long time....but we cannot afford his negligence in front of goal.He had the chance to kill the game nut shot at the keeper.

Their forward line much better than ours.

Those who sing for Saga need their brains tested IMO. Mejis is not good enough and was woeful for their 2nd. Not sure that KD was responsible for first goal, i thought we lost concentration.

Taking Papa off was a nonsense, our only pace.

Where did the 5 minutes of injury time come from?

[saintds]

Papa was poor tonight, Mellis should have stayed on as he was influential. Lallana looks so motivated at the moment, Jaidi was a class act until he tired, Trotman hardly put a foot wrong. I predicted at the start of the game that Rovers would overload us down their left and put James under pressure but they did the opposite - sods law says it was Harding's worst performance so far!

 

I just wish I could work out why we took our foot off when we were cruising. For periods of the game we looked like a CCC side. If only Morgan had stuck that chance away at the start of the 2nd half. Fitness certainly looked to be an issue in the last 15 minutes of the game.

 

I can understand people's anger about conceding a late goal like that, what i can't understand though are the negative pr1cks in Block 29 who whinged and moaned even when we were dominant.

 

FWIW, Pardew In.

[WIGANSAINT]

it"s a rsults business and we better start getting them or mr pardew will be out on his ear

[Northant Saint]

One more month of this lack of progress and I will be making a phone call to Mr Wotte.........

[Broke]

5 minutes added on and they score a beauty in the 96th minute seemed they had their Fergie time today. We need Thomas or Murty back badly, and Holmes down the left for some much needed width.

 

Lallana was like a man possesed tonight really impressive.

[Under Weststand]

Seriously starting to get worried now, seems that no matter who we get in, we can't put together a winning team. I never expected it to be easy in this league, but I didn't expect to be going into October with 10 games gone & still be in negative points.

The biggest worry for me is for all the signings we've made the lack of obvious improvement in the team & the still fragile defending & lack of confidence. Also there is an obvious lack of pace & width in the team which needs to be resolved.

[maysie]

Just got back from the game. Here are my ratings -

 

Davis - 6 - Some comfortable saves but fekt he was at fault for the first goal for rushing off his line

James - 5 - Not good enough (especially defensively). We are desperately missing Murty

Harding - 6 - had a good game to Williams came on but could not handle him

Jaidi -7- won nearly everything in the air

Trotman - 7 - See above

Melis - 6 - Had a good first half but went quiet in the second. Makes the wrong decisions at times

Hammond - 7 - whole hearted display gave his all

Schneiderlin - 8- Thought he was fantastic first half and at times in the second. However he goes missing at times. Did anyone notice we run out of ideas when he isnt actively searching for the ball.

Lallana - 7 - Liked the way he links up with Lambert. Still makes the wrong decisons sometimes. Great finish

Papa Waigo - 6 - Looks like he will be a hot/cold player. Was lukewarm tonight. Felt good to see someone running with the ball though.

Lambert - 6 - One a lot in the air. Might be me but thoughy he looked a little jaded

 

 

To sum it up it was an even game until they put their sub on who changed the game.

 

If we had made it 3-1 (we had a very good chance) we would have probably gone onto win.

 

Worrying that we didn't seem ready for the impact of Williams

[Um Bongo]

Player Ratings:

 

Davis: Might regret coming out early for the first goal. 6/10

James: I hate you 5/10

Trotman: Won most balls, was troubled by the pace. 6/10

Jaidi: Did well untill he tired. 7/10

Harding: Not at his best. 6/10

Lallana: Ran like he was on speed and put effort in. 8/10

Schinderlin: Useless again. Didn't do anything of note. 5/10

Hammond: MOTM for me. Was the victim of a horror tackle but batteled on. Should be made captain. 9/10

Mellis: **** off back to Chelsea. 4/10

Papa: Bit clueless, offside quite alot but got a goal. 6/10

Lambert: Worst game, didn't get anything at all though did set up the first goal. 6/10

[derry]

It's completely unacceptable to be done by a sub who we should have known about.

 

He seemed to come as a surprise to us.

 

If he'd been on the other flank it would have been much worse.

 

Bristol Rovers had pace all over the park, wide right caused us problems all game. The funny thing is we had two point blank chances that were placed and saved instead of blasting them into the net.

 

Waigo was useful and caused problems, Lallana had a decent game when he stayed central. Mellis was poor and stepped aside to let the cross go in for the second equaliser. Davis gifted the first equaliser by coming out 30 yds and not getting to the ball and was stranded, shades of QPR.

 

Waigo provided good width on the right but Mellis came inside all night.

Because of Waigo wide we played our best and most penetrating football of the season. The substitutions were awful. Mellis should have been replaced by Holmes, once Waigo came off we lost our shape and Wotton for Schneiderlin was bizarre.

 

Mills was supposed to help Harding who should have got tight on the winger but all that happened was a narrow shapeless mess that allowed us to be skinned down the lines especially our left. Two left backs and stll getting skinned. The final goal was brilliantly bent across Davis into the right hand side net.

[Micky]

How utterly unsurprising to read that as people who were actually at the game have joined this thread, the hysterics have died down.

 

But surely those people are not allowed to post an opinion are they... what sort of forum rules is this... we want more hysterics from the armchair fans... more calling for AP's removal - never mind that old 5 year plan that we all signed up to at the start of the season eh...?

[Saint J 77]

I feel sick!!!!!!!!!! When will this last minute goal thing against us end? I know I'm stating the obvious here but we need new players and quick. If we don’t have enough strength in our team to any points off the likes of Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield and Swindon then we are going to be propping up the table for the rest of the season. Surely the time has come to get in some loan signing of real quality? Isn't it time we do a little of what Notts County are trying to do, just so we have a chance of staying up? I know we are trying to do things the right way and not bring players here for the money or spend above the clubs means but I think the time has come to spend a little above what revenue we have made if money is there now otherwise we will be playing our football in a new league again next season. Gillingham is going to be another tough game, they are another really physical team and I don’t think we will be able to deal with them with the current squad At best we’ll get a point off them.

[Denzil]

Waigo was crap, Sheniderlin (sic?) was crap and Bristol Rovers were crap aswell. We should have been at least 4 - 1 up before they levelled. How we lost I will never know.

[S-Clarke]

Waigo was crap, Sheniderlin (sic?) was crap and Bristol Rovers were crap aswell. We should have been at least 4 - 1 up before they levelled. How we lost I will never know.

 

bizarre summery.

 

Wagio was ok - morgan was the best player on the pitch, and rovers were excellent.

 

wrong game maybe?

[JustMike]

still stunned but here's my 10p worth...

 

Lloyd James....Go and learn how to defend / jump / tackle / cross / run = woeful

Jaidi - ok i know he is 35 and lacking fitness but my god how slow is he?

Melis - please go back to Chelsea, how this lad starts is beyond me.

Llananana - Best game for us

Lambert - I feel sorry for this guy, is clearly a talent but its wasted with balls being pinged at him every time.

Harding - played well but will be disappointed with the last goal when he had the chance to clear before hand.

Morgan and Hammond - seem to be getting better together everygame

 

The officials - oh my god! should have been a straight red for the rover who 2 footed hammond. assistants who dont know the whole ball has to be over the line for throwings. and where did he get 8 mins in total of stoppage time over both halfs?

 

Bristols 3rd goal, quality finish

[madruss]

Best performance I've seen from a Saints side in a long long time. Power, urgency, passion and passing. Yeah we lost, but if that's all you're focusing on you're completely missing the point. There are a lot of games left, and we will win a lot of those games if we play like that. End of

[Tractor_Saint]

Ball boy in Kingsland block 34 had a shocking game.

[solentstars]

Best game of football I have seen at SMS for 2 seasons or more.

 

Bristol Rovers are a good side with width and pace. We matched them for much of the game on the right but we were woeful on the wide left.

 

Davis at fault for there first goal, Mellis for the second by not closing down their winger as he cut in from the bye line. The third was a cracking goal.

 

If we continue to play as we did the first hour we will get the right results. However when they equalised we went narrow, took off the only player giving us width and pace and missed a couple of good chances.

a good summary of the game i think

[OldNick]

Bristol Rovers had pace all over the park, wide right caused us problems all game. The funny thing is we had two point blank chances that were placed and saved instead of blasting them into the net.

 

Waigo was useful and caused problems, Lallana had a decent game when he stayed central. Mellis was poor and stepped aside to let the cross go in for the second equaliser. Davis gifted the first equaliser by coming out 30 yds and not getting to the ball and was stranded, shades of QPR.

 

Waigo provided good width on the right but Mellis came inside all night.

Because of Waigo wide we played our best and most penetrating football of the season. The substitutions were awful. Mellis should have been replaced by Holmes, once Waigo came off we lost our shape and Wotton for Schneiderlin was bizarre.

 

Mills was supposed to help Harding who should have got tight on the winger but all that happened was a narrow shapeless mess that allowed us to be skinned down the lines especially our left. Two left backs and stll getting skinned. The final goal was brilliantly bent across Davis into the right hand side net.

I think you have got most of that right.Until I see the first goal again I think it is hard to say if KD was at fault.It definately was not like the one v QPR. The team fell asleep when Hammond was booked for simulation

[Wes Tender]

Best game of football I have seen at SMS for 2 seasons or more.

 

Bristol Rovers are a good side with width and pace. We matched them for much of the game on the right but we were woeful on the wide left.

 

Davis at fault for there first goal, Mellis for the second by not closing down their winger as he cut in from the bye line. The third was a cracking goal.

 

If we continue to play as we did the first hour we will get the right results. However when they equalised we went narrow, took off the only player giving us width and pace and missed a couple of good chances.

 

This is close to what I thought. For large parts of the first half, we were playing very competitively, looked to be more up for it than them, passed the ball well, won virtually all the 50/50 balls and looked a class above BR. Even when they had gone in with the scores level, they came out right away and imposed themselves on the game, going ahead for a second time. For once it looked as if we might score again and again, as it looked as if BR were playing into our hands by allowing us to play passing, possession football.

 

And then what went wrong? When they scored their second equaliser, we froze and BR's self-belief grew and grew. Towards the end, although we could have sneaked a win, increasingly it looked to be more likely that BR would snatch the win.

 

The mistake by Kelvin that gifted them their first equaliser was dire. I hope that he doesn't do anything as bad for the rest of the season. The defence that had looked so solid, suddenly became hesitant and instead of clearing the ball quickly, they dallied on the ball. Harding had a decent game, but the others were suspect.

 

I seriously believe that the players need to see either a sports psychiatrist or a hypnotist. Either will do. They have simply lost their self-belief and cannot sustain their game when up against it.

 

And as an aside, when their fans had half of the Northam and in good voice, why did we allow them to play towards their fans in the second half? It is about time we changed that, isn't it?

[solentstars]

Best performance I've seen from a Saints side in a long long time. Power, urgency, passion and passing. Yeah we lost, but if that's all you're focusing on you're completely missing the point. There are a lot of games left, and we will win a lot of those games if we play like that. End of

i think you are right ,we are getting better has a side and i can see us mounting abid for promotion next seaon.

[Weston Saint]

But surely those people are not allowed to post an opinion are they... what sort of forum rules is this... we want more hysterics from the armchair fans... more calling for AP's removal - never mind that old 5 year plan that we all signed up to at the start of the season eh...?

Of course they are! But look at their comments and compare with those who went to the game. See the difference. That is what the poster was getting at.

[OldNick]

 

And as an aside, when their fans had half of the Northam and in good voice, why did we allow them to play towards their fans in the second half? It is about time we changed that, isn't it?

They won the toss I assume as we kicked off.

[positivepete]

Enjoyed the game, not the result. Our passing in the first half was crisper than it has been all season, and our movement much better. Mellis and Lallana interchanged really well. Rovers harried well, attacked and went for it, but we still had the best chances, the Lambert header in the first half, Morgan at 2-1 and Lallana at 2-2. At the time I thought the Morgan chance at 2-1 would come back to bite us, if that had gone in I think we would have scored more. Mind you I would be interested to see it again, I think it hit the keeper in the face, not sure he knew much about it.

[OldNick]

Enjoyed the game, not the result. Our passing in the first half was crisper than it has been all season, and our movement much better. Mellis and Lallana interchanged really well. Rovers harried well, attacked and went for it, but we still had the best chances, the Lambert header in the first half, Morgan at 2-1 and Lallana at 2-2. At the time I thought the Morgan chance at 2-1 would come back to bite us, if that had gone in I think we would have scored more. Mind you I would be interested to see it again, I think it hit the keeper in the face, not sure he knew much about it.

My mistake as I thought it was Lallana who missed that chance.It was vital.

As for Saga, he is dire and looked as though he has put on a stone.Taking Waigo off to put him on was a nonsense.

[Micky]

Of course they are! But look at their comments and compare with those who went to the game. See the difference. That is what the poster was getting at.

 

No shyte sherlock - I wouldn't have guessed that...!

[docker-p]

One win in ten is not good enough. Fact. Late start to the season was excuse enough for the first 5 games, but not now.

Poor substitions all season, unmotivated team, questionable fitness, but talks a great game.

A significant/ comfortable win on Saturday v Gillingham or Pardew should be sacked. Fact.

[Genk]

Fair play to Bristol tonite, came right back at us and our defending wasnt up to scratch im afraid. For 15 minutes after we scored out second we looked quality. Then they score and it all goes to pot. Couldn't string two passes together. Wotton on for Schneiderlin, sorry what? Fair play if he was really really struggling with an injury (I have no idea). I honestly think we looked a bit better than against Yeovil against a definite playoff team. 3 points on Saturday and this will be well and truly forgotten.

[trousers]

If we continue to play as we did the first hour we will get the right results.

 

I assume you mean "if we start to play the whole 90 minutes like we played the first 60"? If we "continue to play great for 60 minutes" and not the last 30 I suspect we won't get the right results.

 

Apologies if I've read you wrong!

[maysie]

One win in ten is not good enough. Fact. Late start to the season was excuse enough for the first 5 games, but not now.

Poor substitions all season, unmotivated team, questionable fitness, but talks a great game.

A significant/ comfortable win on Saturday v Gillingham or Pardew should be sacked. Fact.

 

Idiot. fact

[Weston Saint]

No shyte sherlock - I wouldn't have guessed that...!

Sorry Micky missed the irony! (again)

[CanadaSaint]

The substitutions were awful. Mellis should have been replaced by Holmes, once Waigo came off we lost our shape and Wotton for Schneiderlin was bizarre.

 

It was sickening to hear it go pear-shaped so it must have been even worse to actually watch it.

 

Poor substitutions are an indictment of the manager (especially shape-destroying subs), and allowing yourself to be so vulnerable to their sub (Williams) makes the issue worse.

 

Dave, are there signs of turning the corner (playing well be not getting a points reward) or are you starting to doubt AP?

[Genk]

My mistake as I thought it was Lallana who missed that chance.It was vital.

As for Saga, he is dire and looked as though he has put on a stone.Taking Waigo off to put him on was a nonsense.

 

There were two. Almost identical. Morgan and Lallana each had one.

[saint_stevo]

Next up, Simeon Jackson.........

[Weston Saint]

I assume you mean "if we start to play the whole 90 minutes like we played the first 60"? If we "continue to play great for 60 minutes" and not the last 30 I suspect we won't get the right results.

 

Apologies if I've read you wrong!

Thanks for the correction. That is what I meant

[LeBenali]

If Mellis gets in the starting XI on Saturday I'll really begin to doubt Pardew, thought he was woeful today. Although a minor point, I fail to see why we name two centre backs on the bench, surely we'd be better off having options such as Paterson, White etc?

[S-Clarke]

One win in ten is not good enough. Fact. Late start to the season was excuse enough for the first 5 games, but not now.

Poor substitions all season, unmotivated team, questionable fitness, but talks a great game.

A significant/ comfortable win on Saturday v Gillingham or Pardew should be sacked. Fact.

 

We were as motivated as we have been for years tonight, seriously - you cannot question the commit and the attitude, the players were well up for this one.

 

Personally at the moment i couldn't give a **** if we won 1-0 in the 90th min against gillingham.