Saints Vs Brighton - Post Match Discussion

[the saint in winchester]

Oh, and 4-5-1 works, not 4-4-2.

 

I agree! We do well to contain the opposition with 4-5-1 then press home advantage in the final 30 mins when we go 4-4-2 with extra front man. Why have we changed and decided to go 4-4-2 from the off?

[the saint in winchester]

As I said at the time, we were pretty poor on Wednesday too.

 

Yeah, I was alo critical of our performance on Wednesday ... but put that down to the awful weather at the time. We've dipped in our performance, and we need AP and the coaches to get them firing on all cylinders again.

[joffystevens]

To be honest performances in the cup im happy to get through!! Arsenal proved in the community shield to win haha

[Whitey Grandad]

I agree with almost everything that has been posted so far, except that we desperately need to keep James away from the right-back position. His defending was ponderous and cost us two goals and he will not get far enough forward before lumping the ball into the mix. These types of crosses are easiest for the defence and almost impossible for the attack. Morgan was exactly not the type of player we needed for this league. If he is not prepared to get stuck in then he has no business being out there. James also bottled quite a few challenges. We created several chances but Hammond and Lallana seemed to lack confidence or killer instinct. Will somebody please teach Lallana to put his foot through the ball? We looked lethargic and we were caught on the hop. We only scored when Brighton eased off after their second. One team wanted it more than the other, and it showed. I expect it will be different against Norwich.

[supersonic]

We got exactly what we deserved today, and credit where credit is due, brighton had a game plan, which they stuck to and were deserved winners in the end, probably should have been by more!

 

We lacked real quality all over the park today, in my opinion, especially in key areas like fullbacks and midifeld. I really don't see why we play schniederlin and hammod together, they are too simular and just play short passes to people, not much else.

 

The Fullbacks is a particular worry for me, all 3 goals came from poor positioning from both James and Harding, the latter I thought was particularly abismal today. His positioning on many occassions this season has been very suspicious and is getting punished for it. James looked no better than average going forward, I just don't get why he insits on taking every set piece and crossing to their keeper from 40yards everytime, use the winger to cross from the by-line, that's what he's there for.

 

Is anyone else really starting to worry about us defensively, We've conceded first in our last 3 league games and gone 2-0 down in our last two.

 

overall verdict:

Never thought i'd see the day that saints would be embarassed at home to Brighton, and yes we were embarassed, they played some brilliant football and we only looked like scoring 3 times, one of which was a penalty.

[LostBoys]

I thought both Harding and James were awful today amongst the rest of the poor performances.

[Bailey]

Complacency crept in today. Add to that the fact that it was Poyet's first game in charge, and this was never going to be an 'easy 3 points' as some had suggested. Brighton looked up for it and wanted it more than us, simple as that. You can't argue with the result as we were quite simply not good enough today.

 

First-half, Brighton were knocking the ball around, doing the basics very well and they looked dangerous going forward, purely because they were running at us with pace. Any side that does that against us will cause us problems because our back four lacks any real pace. Whilst we're on that subject, I wasn't impressed with Trotman or Jaidi today, but they've been excellent on the whole so I suppose they can be forgiven for having one bad game.

 

Second-half was better, if only slightly. Brighton just put two banks of four across the pitch and invited Saints to break them down, but it wasn't to be. Hammond missed a guilt-edged chance and Lallana went close with a glancing header, but in reality it was just one of those days and Poyet's side fully deserved their win and the three points.

 

Similarly to the Bristol Rovers defeat, this game might act as a little reminder to some of the staff, players and fans alike that we aren't head and shoulders above some of our League One rivals. It could act as a little reminder and a kick up the ass that we need.

 

One thing is for sure, I don't envy Norwich! After today's disappointment, I doubt any side fancies facing us next Saturday. Saints to get back to winning ways and to go on a 10-game unbeaten run anyone? Keep the faith guys, things are on the up and it's only one bad result, lets not get too carried away!

[SaintRobbie]

Too co(ky at the start, over confidence crept in for the first time in a while. But we could have easily won that game 4-3 as lost it.

 

The worst bit about this defeat is the fact my Brighton supporting neighbour has, early this very morning, put his shirt on the large stone lion that sits at the entrance to my front garden! Very funny to be fair!

 

Always said Gus Poyet was the engine behind Wise's success.

Edited 16 November, 2009 by SaintRobbie

[SaintRobbie]

I thought both Harding and James were awful today amongst the rest of the poor performances.

 

Agreed. Apart from 2-3 decent crosses James was particularly poor and Harding seemed to forget which team he was playing for given the passes intercepted.

[70's Mike]

4-5-1 moving to 4-4-2 works and we should stick to it.

 

It's stops the other teams playing, imposes our style and as they tire we bring on extra pace and destroy them.

 

totally agree

[Saint in Paradise]

I agree! We do well to contain the opposition with 4-5-1 then press home advantage in the final 30 mins when we go 4-4-2 with extra front man. Why have we changed and decided to go 4-4-2 from the off?

 

But several on here insisted that 4-5-1 was rubbish and we should start with 4-4-2

 

You know who you are chaps

[SaintRobbie]

But several on here insisted that 4-5-1 was rubbish and we should start with 4-4-2

 

You know who you are chaps

 

lol! I sort of concur with that too!

[SoccerMom]

Agreed. Apart from 2-3 decent crosses James was particularly poor and Harding seemed to forget which team he was playing for given the passes intercepted.

 

"That's why we let you go!" Actually made me laugh.

 

I wonder if something really got to him - even in the second half (when everyone here seems to think he got better) I remember seeing Thomas having to go and clear up a mess for him at the byline because he was so far out of position.

 

Have always thought he was a midfielder manqué. On a bad day he completely forgets what his primary job is - defending. Does alright as long as he stays focused, but last night he seemed to think he was still playing for the IKEA lot. Red and white stripes, boy, pass to the red and white stripes.

[JustMike]

I thought Harding was one of the better players to be honest. James on the other hand...hurry back Murty and as for suggestions he should play in CM you must be joking, right? He doesnt win headers and cant tackle properly, if we are going to drop Morgan then id rather it be for a new CM.

[Master Bates]

Why can't we score from corners?

 

Anyone know how many corners we've had in the last 5 games?

[St Will]

Why can't we score from corners?

 

Anyone know how many corners we've had in the last 5 games?

 

We scored from one against Oldham, and it was virtually a corner against MK Dons when we played that little training ground routine. Oh and WT scored from a corner against Charlton on Weds.

 

I know what you're saying, lots of corners and not that many goals. But that's just the nature of football. Man U would score 5 a game if they scored just 50% of their corners I would think

[70's Mike]

But several on here insisted that 4-5-1 was rubbish and we should start with 4-4-2

 

You know who you are chaps

 

Probably the ones sat behind the keyboard rather than at SMS

[Master Bates]

We scored from one against Oldham, and it was virtually a corner against MK Dons when we played that little training ground routine. Oh and WT scored from a corner against Charlton on Weds.

 

I know what you're saying, lots of corners and not that many goals. But that's just the nature of football. Man U would score 5 a game if they scored just 50% of their corners I would think

 

Kinda shut me up a wee bit.

 

:smt040

[Toadhall Saint]

Complacency crept in today. Add to that the fact that it was Poyet's first game in charge, and this was never going to be an 'easy 3 points' as some had suggested. Brighton looked up for it and wanted it more than us, simple as that. You can't argue with the result as we were quite simply not good enough today.

 

First-half, Brighton were knocking the ball around, doing the basics very well and they looked dangerous going forward, purely because they were running at us with pace. Any side that does that against us will cause us problems because our back four lacks any real pace. Whilst we're on that subject, I wasn't impressed with Trotman or Jaidi today, but they've been excellent on the whole so I suppose they can be forgiven for having one bad game.

 

Second-half was better, if only slightly. Brighton just put two banks of four across the pitch and invited Saints to break them down, but it wasn't to be. Hammond missed a guilt-edged chance and Lallana went close with a glancing header, but in reality it was just one of those days and Poyet's side fully deserved their win and the three points.

 

Similarly to the Bristol Rovers defeat, this game might act as a little reminder to some of the staff, players and fans alike that we aren't head and shoulders above some of our League One rivals. It could act as a little reminder and a kick up the ass that we need.

 

One thing is for sure, I don't envy Norwich! After today's disappointment, I doubt any side fancies facing us next Saturday. Saints to get back to winning ways and to go on a 10-game unbeaten run anyone? Keep the faith guys, things are on the up and it's only one bad result, lets not get too carried away!

 

Think that sums it up for me - Complacency & over confidence - two things that will put egg on your face!

[West End Saint]

totally agree

 

Me to 4 5 1 is the way to start you can change to 4 4 2 when required and make a impact on the game if we had sone this yesterday different result for me.

 

Brighton were quick out of the traps & into us all over the pitch if we weathered the storm we could of played our way into the game & changed to 4 4 2 when they tried & spaces strated to open up.

 

To be fair Brighton played very very well everyone of them was well up for it quicker to the ball all over the pitch.We also had some great chances there keeper made some very good saves but Brighton deserved the win it should have been 4-3 to them.

 

Lloyd James is not a right back the sooner Murty is back the better Harding didnt have his best game either.

 

I hope Pardew gets into the boys & we start 4 5 1 against Norwich and we get back to winning ways COYS

[Wes Tender]

The loss yesterday was caused by three factors.

1) Match on Sky TV curse

2) New manager syndrome

3) Brighton's cunning plan to wear our away strip, pack the Northam with their fans to give the impression that it was an away match, thus fooling the less intelligent of our players into passing to their players.

 

For the neutral observer, it must have been a riveting match. I take comfort though that IMO we created more chances than them and although they could have had one or two more goals themselves, we missed some real sitters and several free headers. The score could easily have been about 6-4 to us.

 

I'm also of the school of thought that 4-5-1 works better the first half with 4-4-2 the second half. I also noted that Brighton often left a striker up front during our set pieces, whereas we hardly ever do that ourselves. I would also like to know when we will stop playing head tennis in the centre of the park. More often than not we give away possession as a result. We are surely skilled enough to get the bloody ball on the deck and pass it around. We handed them the initiative, when we ought to have dictated play, as our players are generally more skilled than most teams' players.

 

I see this as a hiccup. We should learn from our mistakes and progress the stronger for it.

[derry]

The whole 4-4-2 vs 4-5-1 discussion is redundant if:

 

We make naive mistakes at the back

Our middle-two are both slow and ponderous

We sacrifice our width far too early by cutting inside

We end well-constructed attacks with crosses from deep that often don't even beat the first defender

 

What concerns me is that a lot of Div 1 managers watched what happens when a team takes it to us, and especially to the middle two at the back.

 

We desperately need Murty back.

 

Poyet did his homework and worked us out. Before the game he was quoted as telling his players that we were beatable because he had identified our weaknesses which they would concentrate on.

 

That was a worry to me because we have three major flaws. I felt if they could exploit these and nullify the only pace in the side down our right we could be in for a difficult game.

 

Firstly we don't play a proper 4-4-2, we play a wide right but Lallana plays where he likes sometimes on the left mostly narrow if he does, leaving Harding to fill the left side on his own..

 

Yesterday they read us like a book. Lallana leaving the space free in front of Harding led to him being picked off for the first goal. The second major problem is a lack of pace in firstly the centre of defence. Forster and Murray were nippy and cute and played the ball in behind them.

 

Their lack of pace in itself isn't critical with the right players around them but one of our biggest problems the lack of a proper right back which led to the final two goals.

 

For me James brings nothing to the team defensively and is painfully slow. When he is in possession instead of running at a defender he always looks to pass or hit a diagonal long cross in the general direction of the oppositions penalty area. The opposition have worked us out with Lallana narrow they can now afford to double bank our only real threat of pace down the right.

 

Lallana has to curb his enthusiasm and use his undoubted ability for the team and fill that wide position both attacking and more importantly defensively, or we have to get a proper wide left midfielder as obviously Holmes isn't rated. Quite what Pardew sees in Mills in an attacking role as he is all puff and no touch is beyond me.

 

We are going have to get used to seeing more teams playing like this against us as it is the smart way to play us.

 

Irrespective of the talent of some players and how pleasing to the eye their cameos are, sometimes the needs of the team are more important and until we sort the two main weaknesses wide left and right back we are going nowhere. We might win matches but we will also lose a fair number.

 

Interestingly we beat Charlton easily playing 4-4-2 with Lallana often wider against 4-5-1 and Brighton played a good 4-4-2 yesterday but we didn't. The double banking of our only pace allowed by our narrow left was the major cause of our defeat together with Brighton playing at a higher tempo and winning all the 50/50s. and second balls.

Edited 16 November, 2009 by derry

[sussexsaint]

Poyet did his homework and worked us out.

 

I think thats it to a tee - i thought Brighton did what they did well, they should have had their pen as well adn they took all their goals well, the last one was a great strike - we didn't take our chances but we had many; Lambert looked off the pace and frankly ill for a lot of the game. It shows that without him we don't seem to have a lot of striking options as I fear for Connoleys legs long term.

 

It was the curse of SKY and frankly we weren't going to go the whole season unbeaten, hopefully we will use it as a wake up call and not get complacent.

 

One poor result doesn't make a season

 

One swallow doesn't make a Summer, but it does make for a decent Saturday night

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Living in Brisbane don't get to see the Saints much. That was the first league match this season screened over here. So I will judge on what I saw. We look very pedestrian up front and in the middle and shaky at the back. Brighton were by far the better side. Very worrying. What is the point of Schneiderlin exactly?

[hypochondriac]

Living in Brisbane don't get to see the Saints much. That was the first league match this season screened over here. So I will judge on what I saw. We look very pedestrian up front and in the middle and shaky at the back. Brighton were by far the better side. Very worrying. What is the point of Schneiderlin exactly?

 

Seriously mate this was the worst performance I have seen this season and certainly no reflection on recent performances. If you had watched the MK Dons performance for example you would be amazed that it was the same team in front of you.

[Greenridge]

Poyet did his homework and worked us out. Before the game he was quoted as telling his players that we were beatable because he had identified our weaknesses which they would concentrate on.

 

That was a worry to me because we have three major flaws. I felt if they could exploit these and nullify the only pace in the side down our right we could be in for a difficult game.

 

Firstly we don't play a proper 4-4-2, we play a wide right but Lallana plays where he likes sometimes on the left mostly narrow if he does, leaving Harding to fill the left side on his own..

 

Yesterday they read us like a book. Lallana leaving the space free in front of Harding led to him being picked off for the first goal. The second major problem is a lack of pace in firstly the centre of defence. Forster and Murray were nippy and cute and played the ball in behind them.

 

Their lack of pace in itself isn't critical with the right players around them but one of our biggest problems the lack of a proper right back which led to the final two goals.

 

For me James brings nothing to the team defensively and is painfully slow. When he is in possession instead of running at a defender he always looks to pass or hit a diagonal long cross in the general direction of the oppositions penalty area. The opposition have worked us out with Lallana narrow they can now afford to double bank our only real threat of pace down the right.

 

Lallana has to curb his enthusiasm and use his undoubted ability for the team and fill that wide position both attacking and more importantly defensively, or we have to get a proper wide left midfielder as obviously Holmes isn't rated. Quite what Pardew sees in Mills in an attacking role as he is all puff and no touch is beyond me.

 

We are going have to get used to seeing more teams playing like this against us as it is the smart way to play us.

 

Irrespective of the talent of some players and how pleasing to the eye their cameos are, sometimes the needs of the team are more important and until we sort the two main weaknesses wide left and right back we are going nowhere. We might win matches but we will also lose a fair number.

 

Interestingly we beat Charlton easily playing 4-4-2 with Lallana often wider against 4-5-1 and Brighton played a good 4-4-2 yesterday but we didn't. The double banking of our only pace allowed by our narrow left was the major cause of our defeat.

 

I agree with your views on James but to point the finger at Lallana is just so predictable. I would have thought you would have tempered your disdain for him after being proved so wrong week after week but it doesn't seem to have any effect. If Adam left Harding exposed at times then maybe that's something we have to live. I'm sure it was no different to Antonio / Papa and James on the other flank.

 

The midfield got completely bypassed by the defence for the majority of the game and to watch Jaidi's body language was disturbing to say the least. I think you'll find there are plenty of places to point the finger before getting to Lallana. I'd like to think this was a one-off and that lessons will be learned and I'm glad we have someone like Pardew at the helm instead of internet managers.

[derry]

I agree with your views on James but to point the finger at Lallana is just so predictable. I would have thought you would have tempered your disdain for him after being proved so wrong week after week but it doesn't seem to have any effect. If Adam left Harding exposed at times then maybe that's something we have to live. I'm sure it was no different to Antonio / Papa and James on the other flank.

 

The midfield got completely bypassed by the defence for the majority of the game and to watch Jaidi's body language was disturbing to say the least. I think you'll find there are plenty of places to point the finger before getting to Lallana. I'd like to think this was a one-off and that lessons will be learned and I'm glad we have someone like Pardew at the helm instead of internet managers.

 

I admire Adam Lallana's ball skills, but our left side is an open door and wherever Lallana plays, here or somewhere else he isn't going to be able to do his own thing for much longer. Before we can move forward up the leagues the wide left and right back positions need sorting with or without Lallana.

[Greenridge]

I admire Adam Lallana's ball skills, but our left side is an open door and wherever Lallana plays, here or somewhere else he isn't going to be able to do his own thing for much longer. Before we can move forward up the leagues the wide left and right back positions need sorting with or without Lallana.

 

Well I think we'll have to agree to disagree. The positives that AL offers far outstrip the negatives IMHO. We could stick with a rigid orthodox 4-4-2 but have we got the personnel? Criticising AL's defensive skills is the same as criticising Kelvin's lack of goals - he's not in the team to be a defender. I entirely agree with regard to James but as I have said previously let's address items in some kind of priority and there were half a dozen or so ahead of the list before Lallana.

[saint_stevo]

Trottman- Flat footed and looked dis-interested

Jaidi- Walk around...ALOT

Hammond- How many guilt edged chances can he miss?

Lambert- Had a sniffle, was poor

Harding- Boo boys got to him it seemed, roasted for the first goal and touch of a baby elephant

Antonio- Fast but seemingly useless. Delivery shocking, doesn't have a trick, Waigo looked 10times the player when he came on.

[derry]

Well I think we'll have to agree to disagree. The positives that AL offers far outstrip the negatives IMHO. We could stick with a rigid orthodox 4-4-2 but have we got the personnel? Criticising AL's defensive skills is the same as criticising Kelvin's lack of goals - he's not in the team to be a defender. I entirely agree with regard to James but as I have said previously let's address items in some kind of priority and there were half a dozen or so ahead of the list before Lallana.

 

The fact that Lallana doesn't fill the left midfield position and roams all over the place IS the problem. The first goal was because Harding was on his own, Brighton bypassed him and the cross was turned in. It also allowed Brighton to get two players double banking Antonio. If Lallana played left midfield it would stop teams from compacting our right side and stretch them out.

 

Given a choice of Lallana using his abilities and filling the left side or carrying on the way he is, or replacing him with a proper left midfielder I would take the first option then the third.

[Window Cleaner]

We really need to get a grip people.We lost because we were ****ged out because although we have a largish squad 40% is just not up to scratch.

We played 2 hard games in 4 days and the regulars are knackered.

As the play-offs are just a mirage in the desert, it has obviously been decided that we're "up for the cups" and are prioritorising in that direction.

 

Trotman?? not interested cos he's probably homesick and just waiting to move back "oop north" with his partner and family.That's the trouble with loans, especially when the parent club's manager sticks his oar in where it isn"t necessary.

[saint_stevo]

We really need to get a grip people.We lost because we were ****ged out because although we have a largish squad 40% is just not up to scratch.

We played 2 hard games in 4 days and the regulars are knackered.

As the play-offs are just a mirage in the desert, it has obviously been decided that we're "up for the cups" and are prioritorising in that direction.

 

Trotman?? not interested cos he's probably homesick and just waiting to move back "oop north" with his partner and family.That's the trouble with loans, especially when the parent club's manager sticks his oar in where it isn"t necessary.

 

When did this happen?

[Window Cleaner]

When did this happen?

 

I don't know, a couple of weeks back. There was a link on this very forum to an interview by Irvine which said that Trotman would definitely be going back to Preston in January,probably as a result of some query or other about his non-eligibility for the FA Cup game against Bristol.Try looking for a thread marked "Trotman" or something like that.

[Whitey Grandad]

I don't know, a couple of weeks back. There was a link on this very forum to an interview by Irvine which said that Trotman would definitely be going back to Preston in January,probably as a result of some query or other about his non-eligibility for the FA Cup game against Bristol.Try looking for a thread marked "Trotman" or something like that.

That would explain a lot...

[saint_stevo]

ah yes i remember, saw it but couldnt open the interview at the time. think the thread was locked eventually

[derry]

ah yes i remember, saw it but couldnt open the interview at the time. think the thread was locked eventually

 

Irvine was also on Sky and said much the same thing. Trotman seemed to be a key player up until then. All of a sudden he is left out for the Charlton game and substituted yesterday. It may well be that we wanted him to stay but he has decided to go back and that has damaged the relationship.

[Window Cleaner]

Irvine was also on Sky and said much the same thing. Trotman seemed to be a key player up until then. All of a sudden he is left out for the Charlton game and substituted yesterday. It may well be that we wanted him to stay but he has decided to go back and that has damaged the relationship.

 

and who can blame him really? His life is back up there and Preston are doing fairly well, in sight of the play-offs (for now). I'm not a fan of loans and think they should be abolished along with the "transfer window".Most players who have a successful loan in lower leagues end up back at their parent clubs or sold to the highest bidder.

[derry]

and who can blame him really? His life is back up there and Preston are doing fairly well, in sight of the play-offs (for now). I'm not a fan of loans and think they should be abolished along with the "transfer window".Most players who have a successful loan in lower leagues end up back at their parent clubs or sold to the highest bidder.

 

You are absolutely right in all respects. The transfer windows are a ludicrous joke, as are loans.

 

What is needed is a proper reserve team structure with all but the selected first team playing on a Saturday together with a reduction of the first team substitute requirement from 7.

[Whitey Grandad]

You are absolutely right in all respects. The transfer windows are a ludicrous joke, as are loans.

 

What is needed is a proper reserve team structure with all but the selected first team playing on a Saturday together with a reduction of the first team substitute requirement from 7.[/QUOTE]

It is not compulsory to have 7 substitutes, but perhaps advisable. Bournemouth only had 4 on the bench on Saturday.

[Lazlo78]

My negatives:

- Trotman's lack of concentration

- Jaidi's shakiness

- Harding's positional play

- James' positional play

 

My positives:

- James' crossing. By League One standards he really puts in some quality crosses

- Antonio's throw ins. A new weapon?

- Pardew's willingness to take action both in replacing Trotman with Thomas and in swapping from 4-4-2 to the (previously untested?) 3-4-1-2.

 

Brighton played like men possessed but they ran out of steam in the 2nd half. Our entire defense was shaky from start to finish and their individual mistakes cost us goals.

 

The freaky thing is: even though our defense was at sea and they were 2-0 up, we still could have "easily" won this! Which says a lot about or offence - even though people are complaining, they still managed to put Brighton under pressure for long spells and they created enough chances to win the game (Hammond, Lallana and Waigo all missed sitters)...

 

Fair play to Pardew for realising that Trotman was out of the game and replacing him already at half time. A lot of previous managers wouldn't have done anything until the 80th minute... And it was nice to see him try to go for the equaliser instead of defending a 2-1 defeat. It did cost us the 3rd goal as the three man defense was stretched a bit too much. Mind you, James was skinned again and again in that 2nd half even when they were 4 at the back

 

Perspectives: cut out the individual mistakes from the defenders and a bit more luck in front of goal, and we would have been 3-1 winners...

[Window Cleaner]

At the end of the day the underlying reasons for yesterday's loss come down to gifting 2 goals at one end and missing or 4 fairly(straightforward) chances at the other. No team can be expected to score 3 or 4 goals every game because they give away softies at the other end. We got relegated for it last season

and won't reach the expected heights this season because of it. Our defence isn't up to scratch yet and valiant though our strikers may be we just can't expect them to come up with get out of jail cards week in week out.

The defence is better but it's still too slack.

[derry]

You are absolutely right in all respects. The transfer windows are a ludicrous joke, as are loans.

 

What is needed is a proper reserve team structure with all but the selected first team playing on a Saturday together with a reduction of the first team substitute requirement from 7.[/QUOTE]

It is not compulsory to have 7 substitutes, but perhaps advisable. Bournemouth only had 4 on the bench on Saturday.

 

I realise that, they only had three the previous week. If clubs who can afford the players are allowed 7 they will have 7 on the bench or even 11 if allowed.

 

Reducing the number and having a competitive standard regional reserve league made up of primarily senior players not in the first team would I'm sure be of more benefit than the present situation. If they got rid of loans it would be the only way to get games.

[red&white56]

We scored from one against Oldham, and it was virtually a corner against MK Dons when we played that little training ground routine. Oh and WT scored from a corner against Charlton on Weds.

 

I know what you're saying, lots of corners and not that many goals. But that's just the nature of football. Man U would score 5 a game if they scored just 50% of their corners I would think

 

I lost count of the number of corners we had yesterday, we had plenty but as I write this I struggle to think of a clear goal chance being created.............. (I'm sure there was one but for the rest of the time Brighton had it pretty easy).

[dune]

Dissapointing result, but i saw it coming. After our run of good results you can only put it down to one of those days. We will bounce back because this team of ours are winners and they'll learn from it.

[northam soul]

I have to say now i have had chance to reflect that the following occurs to me.

We could not handle their movement up front and i thought forster was excellent.

We kept passing the ball across the middle of the park then putting in crosses from far too deep most of the time.

Our corners are just not good enough as most are just floated in more in hope that we may get a knock down.

We played far too much long ball stuff up to Connolly and Lambert in almost desperation which there back four dealty with quite comfortably.

They also only had 4 in midfield but always seem to pick up the loose ball and have someone free to pass to.

I will put this down to a blip on our curent form and hope we improve for saturday but a vast improvement is needed on that showing.

[krissyboy31]

Thought their keeper was excellent. Came and got something on most of the crosses. KD take notice!!

[Super_Uwe]

That was shocking. I was just frustrated at how obvious the new manager factor was going to be. If we'd played them last week we'd have had no problems. Doesn't excuse defending like retards for 90 minutes or failing to trouble their keeper for 99% of the second half though.

 

If we'd matched their effort, we'd have won. But we didn't get near it. We were closed down, forced to panic, resort to long balls. Lambert got very little service. Still, I don't understand why you take off a guy with a long throw when you're chasing an equaliser late on.

 

Terrible performance, but now we see if we're a good team or merely on a good run. Good teams bounce back and go on another run of wins. Only other point is that Waigo just seemed to have a bit more quality than some other players and I'd like to see him play more. Antonio had the better of their defender and tore him apart for 10 minutes, then struggled.

 

Oh, and the biggest moan, and one that's been around for years now, dreadful corners. How many did we have, 15 maybe? And to my memory, not one of them caused a problem. Gently floating it into the box rarely works for anyone. James has a great cross in open play, so why are the corners so different?

 

To be honest our set pieces make me want to cry! They are just so, so average and utterly predictable. It is awful really to see this from professionals.

 

I don't expect our boys to be jinking past 2 or 3 players and smashing in from 35 yards every 5 minutes, but one thing that is inexcusable from a team of professional players is the inability to put some sort of a decent ball in from a set piece. Maybe it is a mental thing? I don't know.

 

I'm sure AP must be doing his nut in on the touchline sometimes...:mad:

[Saints foreva]

Trottman- Flat footed and looked dis-interested

Jaidi- Walk around...ALOT

Hammond- How many guilt edged chances can he miss?

Lambert- Had a sniffle, was poor

Harding- Boo boys got to him it seemed, roasted for the first goal and touch of a baby elephant

Antonio- Fast but seemingly useless. Delivery shocking, doesn't have a trick, Waigo looked 10times the player when he came on.

 

Pardew can take the blame for why Antonio was so useless yesterday. He had a pretty good start to the game for around the first 15 minutes, but I saw Poyet call the left back over and tell him something - after that Antonio never got past him. Why didn't Pardew move him over to the left to mess with their game plan?

 

Also - alot of people in this thread seem to be sticking up for Lloyd James. Why? He is by far our worst player. He is easily our weak leak in this team and is the main cause for our hoofball yesterday.

 

There were plenty of times he could have past the ball yesterday but no he would hit it into the area as if there was only 5 minutes on the clock when there was a whole 45 to get something. Crossing from far out gives the defenders more time to read the cross.

 

Lloyd James needs to be dropped! Put Thomas back at right back, at least he isn't scared enough to put a challenge in.

 

[saint_stevo]

Lloyd James did very little wrong yesterday as far as i could see. Harding was worse and more culperable than James

[Andy Durman]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We should have realised we were in for a hard game and YES started with 4-5-1. We didn't, We've learnt, we move on.

 

The next game is vital and a win against Norwich will put us back on track with lessons learnt.