Bees (1) v Saints (1) Post Match Chat

[Sour Mash]

We were poor tonight, particularly in the 2nd half, could well have lost by a lot more. Davis was different class!

[BadgerBadger]

3 pts from relegation Zone.....1win in 6......

 

7 months into a completley new outfit and your limited view focuses on that stat

[shurlock]

Isn't anyone a little worried that despite spending £2m+ we've not really pulled away from the relegation places?

 

All Saints seem to do now is play hoofball, it was very boring to watch and it really doesn't work unless it is against the sides who can't deal with Lambert. There seems to be more and more sides putting a massive man on Lambert now because they know that is all we do, I always thought West Ham played nice football under Pardew. None of this hoofball crap.

 

The hoofball is a worry and probably unsustainable - when you come up against a Kisnorbo or any physically accomplished defender as we have done against Colchester and Millwall, it doesn't work. We are dangerously reliant on Lambert, the target man that it detracts from the rest of his game and makes us all too easy to set up against. We don't even have the power and runners from midfield to truly exploit hoofball.

[Hatch]

That was crap.

 

Waste of time going, could have stayed in and nailed my eyelids to a cactus or something.

[RedAndWhite91]

Brentford should have won that. Terrific away day ruined by a drab performance on the pitch.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Yes and no. We obviously changed our style when Lloyd went off, but I don't think you can blame Morgan for our perceived problems. He's been present in most (if not all?) of our numerous victories this season.

 

 

The trouble is it's not Morgan himself exactly, although he is quite inconsistent - it's the manner in which he operates alongside his central midfield partner. For example, if he is playing with Wotton who is your meat and potatoes play-breaker, he always seems to play in a similar style. Morgan is no play-maker - he just ain't good enough. And when the chips are down and we need someone to take the fight to them - to be a midfield general type, we see him back-pedalling too deep because he doesn't have the balls, the confidence and/or the skill. Just how many goals has he scored? For a supposed attacking midfielder he is a disaster and I actually rate James higher than him at the moment.

 

He may be one for the future when in the CCC or Prem, but for this league he is not the right type of player IMO. He is costing us games and we need to find someone to replace him as a regular in the side PDQ to stand a chance in any of the competitions. Perhaps James is that player?

[Micky]

We were poor tonight, particularly in the 2nd half, could well have lost by a lot more. Davis was different class!

 

Did we lose tonight...?

[LaptopSaint]

Point away from home, tough place to go, new players bedding in, blah blah blah...

 

Play-off dreams are starting to slip away I fear. Too much ground to make up.

[terry hurlock]

Give some credit to Brentford. They played really well tonight, lots of good movement and pace. They obviously raise their game for the big boys. Funny chants from their fans at the end when they were singing 'we never lose to the big teams!' which basically means 'we always lose to sh*t teams!'.

And the ref was pretty sh*t too which didn't help.

 

The only disapointment was as the game went on it felt like it was gonna be our night- to play poorly and nick a win tonight as they just couldn't seem to find a way past Davis. But after watching the 2nd half nervously, i'm happy with that point.

 

Also impressed with Barnard and his work rate - gutted he missed that sitter in 2nd half. Seemed harder to miss than score after doing the all hard work! That would've tied the game up nicely and possibly gone on to scored a third as they pushed on.

Paul Wotton Football Genius! - Is there a more sarcastic football chant anywhere else?! Brilliant!

[dubai_phil]

A tad too much tinkering around maybe, unless either Perry or Jaidhi carrying knocks as well as Thommo.

 

AP did say he'd pick a side to play a specific way against them taking into account their pitch ... maybe he didn't think Jaidhi and Perry would last the distance on a heavy pitch against a constant aerial barrage so went for younger players who were fresh having had the weekend off.

 

Trouble is experience can count for more than running around.

 

Wonder if this fixture was one of APs 14 must wins, or if he'll be content with a point?

 

AP's comments on the OS before the game showed that he was worried about the state of the pitch and the style of football they played.

 

As a result he picked a team to "battle" and two big men up front.

 

James is an important battler and then got injured early

 

At FB he may have felt that Thomas would be done by the pace of their winger, what do we know, we don't get his scouting notes, and Fonte has only played one game with Seaborne and maybe he felt it better to play the two together rather than Fonte & Jaidi. Who knows?

 

So Hammond probably wasn't up to a full 45 on a nasty heavy pitch leaving MS. That injury more than anything probably upset his game plan, MS isn't the same type of player as James. The result shows that he was right to pick James in the first place. His only possible squad option was Gillett who maybe off anyway.

 

Then reading AP's after match notes you can see that he wasn't overly happy and that it was as much about tactics and selection and he didn't get it right.

 

But, a point away is a good result in normal times, cr@p if you are pushing for the playoffs, but it DOES highlight very clearly that need for the extra Central Midfielder.

 

Interesting few days ahead, AP has some thinking to do about the side he puts out. It was clear from his interviews that he does that, he probably would have got it right last night without the injury, let's hope he gets it spot on Saturday

[cadiz saint]

We should.

 

Lack of ambition = Saints fan syndrome

 

Saints fans sydrome: Whinge

[northam soul]

Well having gone to the game i feel i can justify my feelings.

Pardew has to take the blame here for the following reasons.

Seabourne and Ostemobor should never have been signed and at the very least should not of been playing yesterday - Jaidi and Thomas should of started.

You cannot keep changing 3 or 4 players every game especially in defence and expect them to gel.

Our midfield was totally outplayed again but i wonder if its the players or the way the manager tells them to play.

All we do is hoof it and nobody can use the pitch as an excuse as brentford played some nice football while we just lump it from anywhere.

Barnard played quite well on the whole but oh dear what a miss.

Kelvin was excellent and was easily our MOM and although we hit the wordwork realistically they should have scored 3 or 4 in the second half.

[LaptopSaint]

Oh dear. Seems a lot of the people who took the playoffs as a given a month ago are now throwing the toys out. Get a grip people, that run of good form was NEVER going to last all season.

 

 

True - but if we'd held on to leads we threw away at Millwall and Brentford we'd be just 8 points off the play-offs and pretty well set. And when you look at our team sheet against all but a small handful of teams in this league you think 'we should win this'.

Very few saw the play-offs as a given (I've been predicting 8th) but there's no harm in aiming high.

[hutch]

Not good enough for a team claiming to have real play-off aspirations. Particularly giving away leads in the last 2 away league games. Can't see that as anything other than 4 points dropped. We should be expecting to beat teams like Brentford, home and away.

 

 

 

But...

 

 

In perspective, of the last 9 league games, 6 have been away - and we picked up 8 points from those 6 away games - not wrist-slitting form. And we picked up 9 from 9 in the 3 home games.

 

17 points from the last 9 league games isn't bad, and I am still enjoying it. It will get better.

[Legod Third Coming]

Nonononono - you are NOT allowed to say things like that about Schneiderlin on here. He's our best player, donchyaknow ?

 

Which is what you were forced to concede earlier in the season...

 

The problem with this site us that it makes Captain Fickle McFickle of the Tenth Bengal Fickle Lancers look like he had the most concrete views in the world.

 

Spiderman is a good YOUNG player. Lloyd James us a good YOUNG player. Neither are Wayne Rooney or they would be playing for Manchester United or Aresenal not a provincial League One Club just recovering from the brink of oblivion.

 

Last night was a poor result. The manager knows it, we know it, the players know it. But after 26 games we've lost a handful, have won the vast majority and are doing ok.

 

All the wailing and gnashing of teeth is not going to change that. Still the same people who bleat about a point at Brentford would give Paul Wotton their life savings and a blow job if he scored the winning goal against Pompey. It's comical.

[shurlock]

Pretty clear that midfield has been a problem for a while - even brought up while we were winning. To this extent, worth considering Pards signings.

 

Defense

 

Jaidi

Seaborne

Fonte

Murty

Harding

Semi

 

Midfield

 

Hammond

 

Attack

 

Waigo (could be termed a midfielder but hardly going put in a shift)

Antonio (could be termed a midfielder but hardly going put in a shift)

Connolly

Lambert

Barnard

 

The lack of balance, especially the neglect of the midfield is blindingly clear. Without wanting to obvious, the fact that we've conceded goals or at other times not scored enough shouldnt just be seen as the problem of the defense and attack but also reflects the protection and service the midfield provides.

 

Now worth considering what Pards inherited: we lost Surman, probably our most cultured midfielder and one of the club's prized assets. Gillett who featured prominently last season can’t get a look in this one, so that's one less option in the middle. Wotton who was himself brought in to shore up the massive exodus of midfielders at the end of the 2007/8 season -Viafara, Safri, Idiakez, Licka etc- hence Portloo/Wotte's first signing- has not quite lived up his midfield general moniker while we never really replaced Cork who was a class act and ended up playing lots of games (more so than Schneiderlin).

 

All of which is to say that we've done the least in the area we've been most decimated over the past few seasons. Of course, there's an argument for saying we were also hit in other areas -say upfront (Rasiak, John, BWP etc) but at least we went out of our way to secure somebody like Lambert. Can't say the same thing about our midfield.

Edited 27 January, 2010 by shurlock

[saintsmike25]

James in midfeild - has done well and is growing in stature with every game, was his natural position for the u18 and reserves.

 

Wotton - Battling but doesn't add much and his legs HAVE gone so he just sits deep infront of the defence.

 

Hammond - box to box midfeilder but still lacks a certain cutting thrusting edge he's a lower quality championship player at best.

 

Morgan - Our best midfeilder but unfortunately NEEDS to be told to shoot or at least try it, great passer and will hopefully turn into a great player, has added bottle to his game and tackling ability

 

But what we NEED - Someone to give us a thrust and to take that ball forward and shoot, from the midfeild and dictate play and link up with the strikers like Lallana does on the left side.

[Glasgow_Saint]

10 wins from the last 26. NOT good enough.

 

Spent millions - yet battered by a team that cost under 200k!

[Fitzhugh Fella]

We were awful last night especially in the 2nd half where we were just so pedestrian. Starting to think Pardew lacks the nous to turn things around.

Lallana hardly got a kick all night - should be rested or dropped.

Midfield were anonymous and is our big problem area now.

 

Barnard made some good runs and worked his big chance well but what a miss and in front of all the fans too.

 

Interestingly after they scored I thought they would press hard for the winner but Brentford were happy for the point and we played our best footbasll in the last 8 munutes.

 

And boy was it cold.

 

Can' t really think of anything positive to say except Davis's performance - we really were at 6s and 7s most of the evening and on this performance Pardew is not making much progress tactically.

[forever a red and white]

We should.

 

Lack of ambition = Saints fan syndrome

 

maybe staying realistic? or should we be getting impatient sixth months into a season which has cost us numerous times?

[washsaint]

Not at the game so can't comment, but......

 

for me, Pardew talks in soundbites but lacks any real substance and has compiled a long list of strikers and defenders but ignored our weak midfield.

 

Why make so many changes after a good win against Ipswich?

 

Why bemoan the lack of energy from midfield when he could have played Gillet there...and one thing you can't deny is that Gillet provides energy (and no coincidence that Doncaster have failed to win since he came back from the CCC to League 1).

 

With the money that Pardew has spent, we should be doing an awful lot better than we are.

[Wes Tender]

It's getting a bit worrying that Lambert is going off the boil and that Barnard might not be able to pop the goals in for a game or two and start to lose confidence. Lambert's goals are increasingly from set pieces rather than open play.

 

But the problem has to be the midfield. The signing of a midfield general becomes urgent and I hope that we will get in one or even two midfielders of quality before the transfer window slams shut. It is useless having a decent defence and some good strikers if the service to them is lacking. Brentford's midfield outplayed ours for large parts of the game and it is a travesty that our man of the match was our goalkeeper. Thank God for Kelvin, or we could easily have suffered a heavy defeat.

[Bailey]

Not the best performance in truth, but it could and probably should have been worse for us.

 

Kelvin was first-class and kept us in the game. The penalty save was top-draw, full credit to him.

 

Barnard should have put the game to bed but it wasn't to be, and Brentford fully deserved their equaliser.

 

Saturday's game against Stockport is a must-win if we are to keep any play-off hopes alive.

 

The gap is increasing and we need to go on a good run of form to mount a serious promotion challenge.

[Tom28]

Well having gone to the game i feel i can justify my feelings.

Pardew has to take the blame here for the following reasons.

Seabourne and Ostemobor should never have been signed and at the very least should not of been playing yesterday - Jaidi and Thomas should of started.

You cannot keep changing 3 or 4 players every game especially in defence and expect them to gel.

Our midfield was totally outplayed again but i wonder if its the players or the way the manager tells them to play.

All we do is hoof it and nobody can use the pitch as an excuse as brentford played some nice football while we just lump it from anywhere.

Barnard played quite well on the whole but oh dear what a miss.

Kelvin was excellent and was easily our MOM and although we hit the wordwork realistically they should have scored 3 or 4 in the second half.

 

I was at the game last night too and I couldn't have said it better myself. You've covered it all perfectly. Really don't rate Seaborne-too one footed and he's got a 50p head. Otsemobor I thought got better as the game went on but is it just me, or does he wander around like he's in a daze most of the time?

 

I was genuinely impressed with Barnard but for most of the game he and Lambert were chasing scraps. The times we got the ball down and played it into Barnards feet, he looked good and the team looked dangerous.

 

So frustrated with hoofball last night. Kelvin was MOM. Wotton and James were awful. Lallana Is looking like Lallana of last season lately. We need some consistency and we need to get our best attacking team out. Personally I would go with this team each week...

 

Davis

Thomas Fonte Jaidi Harding

Antonio Schneiderlin/Hammond Lallana Holmes

Barnard Lambert

 

subs: Bart Mills Otsemobor Seaborne Schneiderlin/Hammond Waigo Connolly

[wild-saint]

lots moaning about him playing - what is he like?

 

personally i thought he was pretty good tonight. Lets be honest he no rio ferdinand on the ball. He is a no nonsence defender winning his headers, tackles and positioning is ok.

 

that muppet on the right otsemoboar IMO is a pile of effing turd and has no right to be wearing a saints shirt. roll on murty coming back in the team.

 

My biggest concern is the midfield. Wooton completely immobile and fails to be first to any lose ball, his passing is shyte. Lallana is ineffective out wide and needs to be bought inside and see the ball. Antonio well what can you say for all that pace and possession he gets he clearly worries defenders but oh for a bit of talent.

 

Barny looks ok but his sitter FFS that waas the chaning point of the game

[sandwichsaint]

Frustrating night all round; another dodgy selection (Otsemobor over Thomas? Seaborne over Jaidi? No MS?) and in all honesty a pretty dodgy performance from the team.

 

We started off nice and bright and took a deserved early lead but never looked comfortable in midfield and conceded lots of space and possession from the time James went off. We were particularly poor down the r/hand side with Antonio and Otsemobor all at sea against their pace and movement. Fortunately the combined efforts of Fonte (class) Seaborne (much better than last time) and DAVIS(!) was enough to keep us in front till half time, and we also had our share of chances and half chances, mainly playing on the break. We could, probably should, have been 2-0 at half time and we may well have got the 3 points.

 

Second half was a completely different story; Brentford stepped up and Saints shrank back into their collective shells; we just stopped playing all over the pitch and conceded pretty much every 50/50 and second ball for the whole of the 45. KD to thank for keeping it respectable as Brentford had way too much pace, movement and desire for our lot. Rubbish hoof ball from the whole of the back 4 (including Fonte who was launching up-and-unders in the first half too) which only brought pressure straight back on us. You have to question AP’s tactics when you see players like Lambert and Morgan blindly hitting it first time from the centre circle in the vague direction of the corner flag, second half we could have moved 5 miles down the road and played it at Twickenham. Isn’t the first thing you coach 9 year olds ‘take a touch’ and ‘take two’?

 

Hopeless football; for the first time last night the thought crossed my mind that we might not actually walk out of this league next season either … something has to change to turn this team into a Leeds or a Norwich… I’ve LOL’ed all season at those who say this team would be in the top half of the CCC… on last night’s form we would struggle to make the top half of this league.

 

Things we learnt (or as it Saints, things we never learn ….)

 

We defend too deep

We don’t retain the ball from the back or midfield

We have no real pace (bar Antonio) throughout the team

Otsemobor is not an option at RB, really poor player

MS is an attacking midfielder in a 4-5-1

Wotton does a job in a 4-5-1 but can’t play in a 4-4-2

Lallana can’t play anywhere near as effectively in 4-4-2 and is a much better player in a 4-5-1

Route one to Lambert has been sussed by other teams, he looks as bored with it as we do.

Waigo is a decent player at this level and with a good goal scoring record, why can’t he get near the team at the moment?

 

Davis 10! Outstanding individual performance

Otsemobor 3 Hope he can turn it around but don’t hold your breath; limited defensively and creates nothing going forward

Fonte 8 Class player but got caught up in the hoof-ball as much as anyone else (presumably playing to orders)

Seaborne 7 Much better than last time but struggles in the air at times for a big fellow (just what we need in this league – a non-heading centre back)… Jaidi

Mills 6 Started brightly but faded with the rest of the team …. Harding

Antonio 7 Lively and committed, wish people would get off his case a bit; he’s doing the job he’s asked to do and making a decent go of it. He’s got good pace, a decent shot and runs at defenders ….. would be an ideal sub at this level, not sure why he’s getting a regular 80 mins-plus over Papa?

James got stuck in and scored a really good goal, missed him when he went off.

Wotton 5 I’ve stuck up for him in the past and as ever you couldn’t fault his effort but not his best game, all hoof and Brentford easily by-passed him in midfield, shouldn’t ever be asked to play in a 4, just not up to it physically or technically.

Morgan 4 Back to his inconsistent worst after showing some decent form in the last couple of months. Ineffective in defence and attack and too often hoofed it when he did get it. If we are going to go a rigid 4-4-2 and play hoofball not sure he is the player for us or we are the club for him (which is a great pity both ways round).

Lallana 4 Lively link up in the first 20 minutes, can’t fault his effort beyond that but nil impact from there on. What a waste of a talented player, let’s get him in the middle in a 5 and get him on the ball every opportunity we get.

Barnard 7 My first sight (in a Saints shirt) and very promising he looked. Worked hard, decent movement and very tidy link up; did fantastic to beat both centre halves then fluffed a really straightfd chance (he only had to tuck it in the near post but had too much time and changed his mind). Will score loads of goals at this level.

Lambert 5 something not quite right, too often he just looks like he’s going through the motions rather than he wants to be out there playing and he wants to be playing for us. Could be tiredness (I don’t think it is), more likely he is completely demoralised having to chase lost causes for 90 minutes and playing in a team that creates very few scoring opportunities, worrying.

 

Draw probably a fair result, we should have gone 2 ahead in the first half and Barnard’s miss for 2-0 was the turning point; KD saved it from being a rout in the second half.

 

Fans watch; good numbers and lively atmosphere but do we have to sing quite so many P. songs? We sing far more songs about them than we ever do about us; it must have been totally bewildering for the home fans and must make us seem rather OBSESSED and INSECURE (which hopefully most of us aren’t).

[Saint_Jimbo83]

I was at the game last night and if Barnard would of scored early in the second half it would of been game over, easier to miss than score!

 

I thought we started really well and put a lot of pressure on them, but as soon as James came off injured we lost the grip on the game and I thought they were the better side after that. We were lucky to get a draw with the penalty miss and numerous chances before that!

 

We need to win these games, otherwise play offs aren't going to happen!!

[Lets B Avenue]

Fans watch; good numbers and lively atmosphere but do we have to sing quite so many P. songs? We sing far more songs about them than we ever do about us; it must have been totally bewildering for the home fans and must make us seem rather OBSESSED and INSECURE (which hopefully most of us aren’t).

 

No different to the last 5 years and they wonder why many cant be bothered to join in.

[JRM]

I was at the game last night too and I couldn't have said it better myself. You've covered it all perfectly. Really don't rate Seaborne-too one footed and he's got a 50p head. Otsemobor I thought got better as the game went on but is it just me, or does he wander around like he's in a daze most of the time?

 

I was genuinely impressed with Barnard but for most of the game he and Lambert were chasing scraps. The times we got the ball down and played it into Barnards feet, he looked good and the team looked dangerous.

 

So frustrated with hoofball last night. Kelvin was MOM. Wotton and James were awful. Lallana Is looking like Lallana of last season lately. We need some consistency and we need to get our best attacking team out. Personally I would go with this team each week...

 

Davis

Thomas Fonte Jaidi Harding

Antonio Schneiderlin/Hammond Lallana Holmes

Barnard Lambert

 

subs: Bart Mills Otsemobor Seaborne Schneiderlin/Hammond Waigo Connolly

 

 

I agree with that, Ostemobor looks lost most of the time and was beaten by their winger several time.

 

The 2nd half performance was as bad as Swindon away.

[Glasgow_Saint]

I agree with that, Ostemobor looks lost most of the time and was beaten by their winger several time.

 

The 2nd half performance was as bad as Swindon away.

 

That is very worrying!

[Saint Malc]

I am very disappointed this morning :-( A few games further into the season when the back four have got a bit more used to one another and we'll be hot. Second game together is not easy especially if you're trying to play catch up with the rest of the league and everyone's expecting you to win easily (the highest we've had our expectations for some time I would say). The thing I notice more than anything is how strong the team looks. We seem to be in control for most games but let ourselves down occasionally which is to be expected. However, the ten minutes leading up to their goal was awful. I immediately blamed Davis for not commanding his area on the many occasions the ball was pinged into the area during that time but perhaps that's a little unfair on Davis as I couldn't see everything from so far away (the other end of the pitch).

 

We still have an outside chance of making the PO's but it's starting to look a little like a bridge too far for this season :-( I still can't believe that it was only a few months ago that we very nearly didn't have a club and now look at us, almost running before we can walk.

 

I had a fabulous, SMS, stadium tour in the morning.

[saint_stevo]

i had just started to forget about Swindon away.....

[Toomer]

I saw their goal on SSN this morning it looked like a free header, was it?

[nickfinks]

very poor result, we do need to hold these tight leads, yeah we were under pressure second half, but they are a good side in pretty good form. In the end it would appear we count ourselves lucky, are we? or did we just get a good point away.

[Andyb1]

10 wins from the last 26. NOT good enough.

 

Spent millions - yet battered by a team that cost under 200k!

 

We weren't battered. Get some bloody perspective. First half we could\should have had the game won. Barnard missed a great chance to make it two nil. It was a crap pitch, they are good at home (beat Norwich 2-0, 1-1 with Charlton)...

 

Why is this place full of people that over react.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Frustrating night all round; another dodgy selection (Otsemobor over Thomas? Seaborne over Jaidi? No MS?) and in all honesty a pretty dodgy performance from the team.

 

We started off nice and bright and took a deserved early lead but never looked comfortable in midfield and conceded lots of space and possession from the time James went off. We were particularly poor down the r/hand side with Antonio and Otsemobor all at sea against their pace and movement. Fortunately the combined efforts of Fonte (class) Seaborne (much better than last time) and DAVIS(!) was enough to keep us in front till half time, and we also had our share of chances and half chances, mainly playing on the break. We could, probably should, have been 2-0 at half time and we may well have got the 3 points.

 

Second half was a completely different story; Brentford stepped up and Saints shrank back into their collective shells; we just stopped playing all over the pitch and conceded pretty much every 50/50 and second ball for the whole of the 45. KD to thank for keeping it respectable as Brentford had way too much pace, movement and desire for our lot. Rubbish hoof ball from the whole of the back 4 (including Fonte who was launching up-and-unders in the first half too) which only brought pressure straight back on us. You have to question AP’s tactics when you see players like Lambert and Morgan blindly hitting it first time from the centre circle in the vague direction of the corner flag, second half we could have moved 5 miles down the road and played it at Twickenham. Isn’t the first thing you coach 9 year olds ‘take a touch’ and ‘take two’?

 

Hopeless football; for the first time last night the thought crossed my mind that we might not actually walk out of this league next season either … something has to change to turn this team into a Leeds or a Norwich… I’ve LOL’ed all season at those who say this team would be in the top half of the CCC… on last night’s form we would struggle to make the top half of this league.

 

Things we learnt (or as it Saints, things we never learn ….)

 

We defend too deep

We don’t retain the ball from the back or midfield

We have no real pace (bar Antonio) throughout the team

Otsemobor is not an option at RB, really poor player

MS is an attacking midfielder in a 4-5-1

Wotton does a job in a 4-5-1 but can’t play in a 4-4-2

Lallana can’t play anywhere near as effectively in 4-4-2 and is a much better player in a 4-5-1

Route one to Lambert has been sussed by other teams, he looks as bored with it as we do.

Waigo is a decent player at this level and with a good goal scoring record, why can’t he get near the team at the moment?

 

Davis 10! Outstanding individual performance

Otsemobor 3 Hope he can turn it around but don’t hold your breath; limited defensively and creates nothing going forward

Fonte 8 Class player but got caught up in the hoof-ball as much as anyone else (presumably playing to orders)

Seaborne 7 Much better than last time but struggles in the air at times for a big fellow (just what we need in this league – a non-heading centre back)… Jaidi

Mills 6 Started brightly but faded with the rest of the team …. Harding

Antonio 7 Lively and committed, wish people would get off his case a bit; he’s doing the job he’s asked to do and making a decent go of it. He’s got good pace, a decent shot and runs at defenders ….. would be an ideal sub at this level, not sure why he’s getting a regular 80 mins-plus over Papa?

James got stuck in and scored a really good goal, missed him when he went off.

Wotton 5 I’ve stuck up for him in the past and as ever you couldn’t fault his effort but not his best game, all hoof and Brentford easily by-passed him in midfield, shouldn’t ever be asked to play in a 4, just not up to it physically or technically.

Morgan 4 Back to his inconsistent worst after showing some decent form in the last couple of months. Ineffective in defence and attack and too often hoofed it when he did get it. If we are going to go a rigid 4-4-2 and play hoofball not sure he is the player for us or we are the club for him (which is a great pity both ways round).

Lallana 4 Lively link up in the first 20 minutes, can’t fault his effort beyond that but nil impact from there on. What a waste of a talented player, let’s get him in the middle in a 5 and get him on the ball every opportunity we get.

Barnard 7 My first sight (in a Saints shirt) and very promising he looked. Worked hard, decent movement and very tidy link up; did fantastic to beat both centre halves then fluffed a really straightfd chance (he only had to tuck it in the near post but had too much time and changed his mind). Will score loads of goals at this level.

Lambert 5 something not quite right, too often he just looks like he’s going through the motions rather than he wants to be out there playing and he wants to be playing for us. Could be tiredness (I don’t think it is), more likely he is completely demoralised having to chase lost causes for 90 minutes and playing in a team that creates very few scoring opportunities, worrying.

 

Draw probably a fair result, we should have gone 2 ahead in the first half and Barnard’s miss for 2-0 was the turning point; KD saved it from being a rout in the second half.

 

Fans watch; good numbers and lively atmosphere but do we have to sing quite so many P. songs? We sing far more songs about them than we ever do about us; it must have been totally bewildering for the home fans and must make us seem rather OBSESSED and INSECURE (which hopefully most of us aren’t).

 

Good post - Worryingly, Pardew has much to do.

[DrZuess1979 the 2nd]

We weren't battered. Get some bloody perspective. First half we could\should have had the game won. Barnard missed a great chance to make it two nil. It was a crap pitch, they are good at home (beat Norwich 2-0, 1-1 with Charlton)...

 

Why is this place full of people that over react.

 

+1!!!

[Judge_B]

I saw their goal on SSN this morning it looked like a free header, was it?

 

No, it was a half volley from the edge of the box that went in off the referee. It always looks different on telly

[Chez]

I really enjoyed the Guinness before hand, the James strike, the "Paul Wotton football genious" chant, the terrace banter, the hot sausage rolls at half time, the pen save and the point blank save, the warmth of my car heater after the game and the quick drive home. The rest (and I mean how we played) was terrible.

 

Davis 10 - if the pen save wasn't good enough he pulled out one of the best saves of the season in the second half

Semi 5 - pretty average to say the least. Nothing going forward and never gets tight enough

Fonte 7 Tremendous first half, less dominating once Cort came on

Seabourne 7 Won a lot of relatively easy headers, but didn't see him dominate once Cort came on. Decent positioning in first half (hard to tell in second). Lots of booting it into the stand. A lot of that.

Mills 4 no where near as good as Saturday. Distribution was terrible.

Antonio 7 - the one player that actually did something. Beat the first man a lot but could never quite beat the second. Got shots away. A bit dissapointed with his tracking back at start of second half which left Semi exposed

Wotton 2 - Easy to bash the fella, but if anyone saw him trap the ball and pass to another Saint in that game then they were seeing things. All he did was head the ball uncontested straight to the opposition. He never got to any second ball and he had no effect on the game at all. I don't even recall him making a tackle.

James - 6 great goal then got injured so hard to judge

Lallana 4 didn't touch the ball int he first half, largely because Mills (and the other defenders) hoofed it and the other midfielders never got hold of it. Went inside for 5 minutes, then moved to right. Still no ball. Got to use him in a positin where he sees the ball all the time.

Barnard 7 - Much happier with this display against weaker oponents. Looked our best outfield player. Sharp, great first touch and busy. Felt he was a little too deep as we hoofed it over his head a lot and it ended up being Lambert chasing lost causes. Not his fault. The miss was a bad one. If that had gone in then it was game over. Big miss.

Lambert 4 - terrible service to him, but he didn't win much in th air and he wasn't sharp enough to pick up on one or two scraps. Dare I say it he and not Barnard should have been subbed

 

Morgan 4 - started badly with two powder puff challenges and failed to really get stuck in. Again the ball went over his head a lot but not enough second ball won.

Holmes - not on log enough to get a mark

Waigo - one ball over the top to chase on 89 minutes. The centre back beats him to it. This guy is either not quick or he didn't want it enough. Very dissaponted with that as it was a chance to get something going. No really on long enough to mark him.

 

Very poor performance. Outclassed by Brentford who passed all day long. We hoofed and were lucky to get a draw.

Edited 27 January, 2010 by Chez

[northam soul]

How can anyone blame the pitch - Brentford had no trouble PASSING the ball around our midfield on it.

They played with a bit of pace and movement and tried to keep the ball which is sadly something we cannot seem to do.

As for over reactions surely the judgements are being made on the game last night the same as when half of you get so excited when we win a game.We have looked poor in midfield for many weeks so i fail to see how it is an over reaction.

[Andyb1]

I really enjoyed the Guinness before hand, the James strike, the "Paul Wotton football genious" chant, the terrace banter, the hot sausage rolls at half time, the pen save and the point blank save, the warmth of my car heater after the game and the quick drive home. The rest (and I mean how we played) was terrible.

 

Davis 10 - if the pen save wasn't good enough he pulled out one of the best saves of the season in the second half

Semi 5 - pretty average to say the least. Nothing going forward and never gets tight enough

Fonte 7 Tremendous first half, less dominating once Cort came on

Seabourne 7 Won a lot of relatively easy headers, but didn't see him dominate once Cort came on. Decent positioning in first half (hard to tell in second). Lots of booting it into the stand. A lot of that.

Mills 4 no where near as good as Saturday. Distribution was terrible.

Antonio 7 - the one player that actually did something. Beat the first man a lot but could never quite beat the second. Got shots away. A bit dissapointed with his tracking back at start of second half which left Semi exposed

Wotton 2 - Easy to bash the fella, but if anyone saw him trap the ball and pass to another Saint in that game then they were seeing things. All he did was head the ball uncontested straight to the opposition. He never got to any second ball and he had no effect on the game at all. I don't even recall him making a tackle.

James - 6 great goal then got injured so hard to judge

Lallana 4 didn't touch the ball int he first half, largely because Mills (and the other defenders) hoofed it and the other midfielders never got hold of it. Went inside for 5 minutes, then moved to right. Still no ball. Got to use him in a positin where he sees the ball all the time.

Barnard 7 - Much happier with this display against weaker oponents. Looked our best outfield player. Sharp, great first touch and busy. Felt he was a little too deep as we hoofed it over his head a lot and it ended up being Lambert chasing lost causes. Not his fault. The miss was a bad one. If that had gone in then it was game over. Big miss.

Lambert 4 - terrible service to him, but he didn't win much in th air and he wasn't sharp enough to pick up on one or two scraps. Dare I say it he and not Barnard should have been subbed

 

Morgan 4 - started badly with two powder puff challenges and failed to really get stuck in. Again the ball went over his head a lot but not enough second ball won.

Holmes - not on log enough to get a mark

Waigo - one ball over the top to chase on 89 minutes. The centre back beats him to it. This guy is either not quick or he didn't want it enough. Very dissaponted with that as it was a chance to get something going. No really on long enough to mark him.

 

Very poor performance. Outclassed by Brentford who passed all day long. We hoofed and were lucky to get a draw.

 

Lallana did touch the ball when he hit the bar from 30 yards to be fair.

[fanimal]

And on top of all that (why we all love this game and club and each other) the M3 was closed and took an extra 30 minutes to get home!!

[Scudamore]

We didn't have a bad pre-season and to be honest had a good team early enough in the season.

 

Is that a fact?

 

Eastleigh

DREW 1-1

 

AFC Totton

DREW 2-2

 

Bournemouth

LOST 1-2

 

Cheltenham Town

DREW 0-0

 

Ajax

LOST 1-4

 

Heart of Midlothian

WON 3-0

 

QPR

LOST 0-3

 

Looks like we had a f::cking barnstormer of a pre season to me!

[Scudamore]

Oh and Jaidi is not capable of playing a game on a Saturday then a game on Tuesday.

 

Think some of you need to get your head round this fact.

[Smirking_Saint]

Is that a fact?

 

Eastleigh

DREW 1-1

 

AFC Totton

DREW 2-2

 

Bournemouth

LOST 1-2

 

Cheltenham Town

DREW 0-0

 

Ajax

LOST 1-4

 

Heart of Midlothian

WON 3-0

 

QPR

LOST 0-3

 

Looks like we had a f::cking barnstormer of a pre season to me!

 

Ok fair enough

 

Not that i think pre-season counts for anything, do we ever have a decent pre-season ?

[grammy]

10 wins from the last 26. NOT good enough.

 

Spent millions - yet battered by a team that cost under 200k!

 

Agreed GS but change the record ffs :smt088 same old! We all know we should be playing better in certain games including AP/NC etc. We have improved the squad without doubt and from what we hear we are continuing to do so. 5 year plan remember. Hardly battered (1-1) lol. Didn't we hit the woodwork twice? and from what I heard we defended very well the majority of the game. Disappointed Yes, approaching suicidal most def not!

[saints_is_the_south]

Is that a fact?

 

Eastleigh

DREW 1-1

 

AFC Totton

DREW 2-2

 

Bournemouth

LOST 1-2

 

Cheltenham Town

DREW 0-0

 

Ajax

LOST 1-4

 

Heart of Midlothian

WON 3-0

 

QPR

LOST 0-3

 

Looks like we had a f::cking barnstormer of a pre season to me!

 

Pardew was only here for 3 of those games (wasn't even in charge for Ajax so make that 2). Also a lot of the current 1st team were not here.

 

I fully believe that with a full pre-season under Pards & the squad we have now + a few more quality additions in the summer we will come out all guns blazing in August.

[Scudamore]

Ok fair enough

 

Not that i think pre-season counts for anything, do we ever have a decent pre-season ?

 

We did the season we were relegated from the Premier League as i remember it!

[influx]

why are people being so disrespectful to brentford?

 

it does my ****ing head in....they are a good team, they are not going to be relegated and are not in a relegation battle.

 

They have caused all the top teams problems, and only Swindon have won there this season.

 

they're a good side, and looking at the way the game panned out - a point is a good result.

 

 

Exactly! There are some really arrogant comments in this thread! We're Southampton, and we are in the 3rd tier of English football!! We were never that good when we were in the Prem so why the sudden belt of delusions of grandeur!!

[Appy]

I was really looking forward to seeing Jaidi and Fonte as our new centre back pairing last night, so i was very surprised to see Seabourne in the starting line up instead of Jaidi. Thomas being dropped also surprised me, i'm guessing he won't be with us much longer due to his high pay and small amount of appearances. It felt very much like a match from last season with little created and Kelvin keeping us in it again. Roll on Saturday, if we can't beat Stockport then mid-table is the best we can hope for this season.