Exeter 1-1 Saints - Reaction

[dubai_phil]

Final thought for the evening.

Up until the game I had spent an absolutely magical day watching Jiminez & Jaidee at the golf, possibly the best afternoon I had spent in ages.

I had the choice of staying at the golf with the buzz and watching egg chasers but decided to come home and listen to the game.

 

It was pretty clear it was a dumb decision, yes we are a better team on paper and yes with the money we have spent we should be walking this league.

 

but, despite the digs, money doesn't buy instant success, as City & Chelsea in the erly days before them found out, I don't accept that as a valid excuse, Before the game I was happy with the selection and to see the 4-5-1 selection. I was proved wrong, it didn't work.

 

I grumbled and agreed with the setiments of Alpine (but not his timing) I'm bitterly disappointed at our last two performances on the pitch as I HOPED for a run to the playoffs, now that is very unlikely and I'm back in the land of reality, this IS a hard league to get out of,

 

But the infrastructure and backbone IS there, I'm ****ed that we look to have to spend another year, some of AP's buys have question marks but some seem gems.

 

Maybe Hammond can come back, I thing that is the missing link so I'm just upset and disappointed as most of us are tonight, like nickh I really HOPED we could do it this year, but didn't really believe = anyway that hope is gone.

The point is, at the end of the day however we ARE on course for our first :winning season: in many years,It will just take time to adjust to that and the possible upheavel the summer will bring.

 

Anyway those up early tomorrow I'll wave at you on TV from alongside Rory, It'll dull the pain for me for a while.

 

And there IS a silver lining, for me if we miss the playoffs I can afford to go to the WC. **** poor consolation TBH

Edited 6 February, 2010 by dubai_phil

[derry]

So it's a bad pitch and we play crap. Nothing to do with the fact we have been playing crap on great pitches then.

 

It's the unbalanced selections that are causing the problems. We have the players but the tactics are neutering them.

[Katalinic]

So it's a bad pitch and we play crap. Nothing to do with the fact we have been playing crap on great pitches then.

 

It's the unbalanced selections that are causing the problems. We have the players but the tactics are neutering them.

 

The pitch really was crap. Having said that a couple of odd substitutions and Barnard should have come on sooner. It was a Wotton sort of pitch rather than a Schneiderlin. We need to be able to win ugly at these sort of places where footballing principles need to go out the window.

[lordswoodsaints]

Like a dogwalker without any hands......we can't keep hold of a lead.

At the start of the season I would have been happy with the point but as expectations have changed a point against a team of loans and frees isn't acceptable I'm afraid.

[Saint_clark]

Sorry, but NO pitch is a Wotton pitch.

An aimless ball to nowhere is an aimless ball to nowhere, regardless of whether the pitch is perfectly flat or has bit divets in it.

[Katalinic]

Sorry, but NO pitch is a Wotton pitch.

An aimless ball to nowhere is an aimless ball to nowhere, regardless of whether the pitch is perfectly flat or has bit divets in it.

 

We needed Wotton today more for his battling ability than errr..... "passing (in)ability"

[Saint_clark]

Still disagree.

To say Schneiderlin doesn't battle for the ball is a bit silly, seeing as he should have been sent off today for mistiming a tackle from behind. Last season you would have been right, but he has improved a lot.

Plus, Puncheon looked at his best when playing deep winning the ball from the opponents.

[SFC Forever]

People scoff at Wotton but could someone check out the ratio's for when he plays and when he doesn't.

 

His type of player is essential in this league. IMO

[Katalinic]

Still disagree.

To say Schneiderlin doesn't battle for the ball is a bit silly, seeing as he should have been sent off today for mistiming a tackle from behind. Last season you would have been right, but he has improved a lot.

Plus, Puncheon looked at his best when playing deep winning the ball from the opponents.

 

I'm sorry but I disagree, he bottles 50/50 balls and headers - lacks conviction still. I like him but he is the sort of ball player that needs a Jimmy Case type figure alongside. He has improved though as you say in that department. Also he needs to cut out the petulance, stupid yellow card today for kicking the ball away.

[The boy done well]

Just got back. Initially very disappointed and still am a bit but, on reflection, I think that the pitch was a great leveller. It was really dreadful, a point emphasised by Paul Tisdale in his after match interview on Radio East Devon which I heard on the way back.. Apparently they're trying to raise money to replace it as it hasn't been renewed/upgraded since it was first installed when the ground was built. He said that yesterday it was completely covered in puddles of water. As a result the pitch was very very heavy, the ball got stuck if passed along the ground, it bounced unevenly and running with it under any kind of proper control was virtually impossible. I thought Brentford's pitch was pretty poor-this was much worse.

 

Having said that, I can't understead why against a team like Exeter we don't play with more width and ambition. When we attacked we looked pretty dangerous, particularly on the odd occasion we managed to get down the wings. I just don't know why, having got our noses in front and looking comfortable, we don't press on with the quality we have; instead we let often much inferior opposition back in again.

 

FWIW the plus factors for me were Puncheon who I thought showed touches of real class and, once again, Fonte who is quality. AP's acquired some excellent players. He now has to make them play together as a quality unit and take control of games. I think he will but it maybe that we will have to wait until next season to see it.

[Saint_clark]

Oh, and by the way - "Leave them alone lino!"

Any of you lot on here the nutter who shouted that out every now and then?

[Saint_clark]

Having said that, I can't understead why against a team like Exeter we don't play with more width and ambition.

 

 

Did you see how narrow their pitch is?

[captainchris]

not good enough

 

minds on other things perhaps....

 

Draw a line, forget it and move on to Tuesday.

 

How many lines are we prepared to draw?

 

For me Pardew is suspect. Too many buys - Thomas dropped always, James in always are just two very suspect decisions which opitomise the Pardew era. He hasn't a clue where he is tactically or personnel wise. We have been playing poorly for a number of weeks now with often radically different teams from game to game.

He puts Waigo alongside Lambert for half a game a couple of times and it works well but next game he changes the format - he's lost and I fear slightly inadequate for the status we are aspiring to.

Even when we were winning more regularly often our goals have come from an individuals moment of skill rather than a consistant dominance of games through tactical play.

Considering the skill we have in the team and the money we are spending I have seen very little this season to convince me AP is the guy we need at the helm......Mind you - he interviews beautifully!

[tedmaul]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I guess there's a mixture of doom and gloom, allied to a bit of wrist slashing. It's disappointing, but Exeter at home are decent. I saw them turn over Leeds a couple of weeks ago.

 

Saying that, I think the playoffs are beyond us now. What happened to our guaranteed 3-1 win?

[View From The Top]

Just got back and haven't read the thread but we were crap. Really crap.

 

Tactics were very wrong and as soon as it became obvious, after about 5mins, that the pitch wasn't going to allow our football to work, it should have been changed.

 

James and Morgan were lightweight in midfield, Lambert isolated and the wide men impotent as everytime they attempted to bomb forward with the ball it bounced around like it was on a ploughed field.

 

Still, my nipper got a hi 5 for Thomas and as he's only 7 it's the coolest thing, ever!

[alpine_saint]

I knew we had a poor start, but that really stuffed us early in the season

 

Look at our place in the table, and add 10 points.

 

I'll be generous - add another 3 points for an earlier win than Yeovil.

We would still not be in a playoff position...

[Spudders]

Did you go to the Exeter game last season in the CC? I found it a very hard stand to get an atmosphere going.

 

Agree that some places it's hard to get an atmosphere going, but at least you can usually tell people are trying and that's the main thing.

Today just seemed like people weren't even bothered, I'm usually a follower but this afternoon I was starting songs! (I liked it )

[corky morris]

I am just back from the game.

This has to go down for me as one of our worst performance of the season. I am a big supporter of Pardew, but today he got about everything wrong. Firstly playing Puncheon as a striker alongside Lambert was wrong. Then playing James in central midfield was wrong. Then bringing Waigo off & playing Antonio as a striker was wrong. Then bringing Thomas on & playing Otsemebor as a winger was wrong. Then leaving it so late to bring on Barnard was wrong.

True, the pitch was shocking, but for me that was an excuse because Exeter were loads better on the same pitch.

In the home game Exeter played some of the best football we have seen at St Mary's when they went down to ten men. Today they were looking to play the pretty stuff while we hoofed it to often.

 

Ratings

Davis 6 Good save second half - not much to do

Otsemebor 5 Woeful first touch

Mills 6 A lot better 2nd half, but some poor passing

Fonte 6 Reasonable game

Seaborne 5 Honestly dont know why we bought him. I have seen him 4 times this year & Trotman, Perry & Jaidi are all better

Puncheon 6 Lots of effort, but wasteful

James 4 Terrible. He can not play CM in a 4 man midfield

Waigo 4 Pardew - he scores if he is a striker

Morgan 5 Did not like the conditions, but at least tried to pass the ball

Lallana 6 Quality goal - the rest was average at best

Lambert 4 Very poor game. Barnard won more in the air in 5 minutes - needs a rest

 

Why Pardew did not bring on Barnard earlier is beyond me then to play Puncheon & Antonio alongside Lambert before him was a very very poor decision.

 

FWIW - no play-offs for us!

[derry]

We've been crying out for a natural pacy wide left footer all season. So what do we do, buy one and play him up the middle. Waigo looked phenomenal up front alongside Lambert, we brought him in as a striker so we play him wide right. He was on at the same time as Antonio who gives us more pace, he is dropped.

 

In comes the favourite James and a compromise formation so that Lallana can play.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Just got back and haven't read the thread but we were crap. Really crap.

 

Tactics were very wrong and as soon as it became obvious, after about 5mins, that the pitch wasn't going to allow our football to work, it should have been changed.

 

James and Morgan were lightweight in midfield, Lambert isolated and the wide men impotent as everytime they attempted to bomb forward with the ball it bounced around like it was on a ploughed field.

 

Still, my nipper got a hi 5 for Thomas and as he's only 7 it's the coolest thing, ever!

 

Think I might have been standing next to you, just behind the goal?

 

After going to Brentford and seeing our woeful 2nd half performance and todays shocking last 45 minutes when Exeter ran us ragged I have got to say for the first time this season I am starting to doubt AP really knows what he is doing.

[Thedelldays]

Think I might have been standing next to you, just behind the goal?

 

After going to Brentford and seeing our woeful 2nd half performance and todays shocking last 45 minutes when Exeter ran us ragged I have got to say for the first time this season I am starting to doubt AP really knows what he is doing.

dont go there..you will become an outcast...this is a 5 year plan you know

[derry]

Think I might have been standing next to you, just behind the goal?

 

After going to Brentford and seeing our woeful 2nd half performance and todays shocking last 45 minutes when Exeter ran us ragged I have got to say for the first time this season I am starting to doubt AP really knows what he is doing.

 

Bloody hell Duncan, only starting. :smt052

[saintsmike25]

Not to be negative but WHY didn't Pardew play Waigo? I don't get it Lambert will get complacent if he has a poor game and doesn't feel HE needs to be playing well and scoring to stay in the team. I think we'll give it till the end of the season but Pardews decisions at times in terms of team selection baffle me.

[Saint_clark]

Not to be negative but WHY didn't Pardew play Waigo? I don't get it Lambert will get complacent if he has a poor game and doesn't feel HE needs to be playing well and scoring to stay in the team. I think we'll give it till the end of the season but Pardews decisions at times in terms of team selection baffle me.

 

He did? :confused:

[View From The Top]

Think I might have been standing next to you, just behind the goal?

 

 

Mine and Corky Morris's nippers were down in the front in the middle of the goal stood on the fence. My nipper was the one in the Saints baseball cap.

 

Corky and I stayed right at the back and just kept an eye on them.

[alpine_saint]

Think I might have been standing next to you, just behind the goal?

 

After going to Brentford and seeing our woeful 2nd half performance and todays shocking last 45 minutes when Exeter ran us ragged I have got to say for the first time this season I am starting to doubt AP really knows what he is doing.

 

Hey Dunc, you are a p**ck, a c**t, a clueless muppet, and you obviouly only like moaning for attention and dont go to games, you t**t.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Bloody hell Duncan, only starting. :smt052

 

Dave, I am trying to be positive about AP.

I like the way he talks and we certainly do not need another managerial upheavel but our football over the last 4 months has been clueless.

 

Yes I know NickG will point out we have picked up results and ugly wins etc but watching Exeter rip through us in the last 15 minutes and only a post stop us from losing made me suddenly think that with what AP has been given over the last 6 months we should at least look like we know what we are doing.

 

Dropping 2 points today was not the end of the world because I long ago thought the play offs were not realistic, but it is more the manner of our performance that has me worried. Tactically we were so inept.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Mine and Corky Morris's nippers were down in the front in the middle of the goal stood on the fence. My nipper was the one in the Saints baseball cap.

 

Corky and I stayed right at the back and just kept an eye on them.

 

Yea I saw you come down at HT and give them a coat - they were laughing at all the banter in the 2nd H (their keeper's pink outfit fed the guy behind me's reportoire).

 

They looked like they enjoyed themselves and its good to see kids on a wall within touching distance of the action.

[View From The Top]

Yea I saw you come down at HT and give them a coat - they were laughing at all the banter in the 2nd H (their keeper's pink outfit fed the guy behind me's reportoire).

 

They looked like they enjoyed themselves and its good to see kids on a wall within touching distance of the action.

 

They loved it.

 

The pair of them travel home and away with Corky and I and are well and truly hooked.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Hey Dunc, you are a p**ck, a c**t, a clueless muppet, and you obviouly only like moaning for attention and dont go to games, you t**t.

 

Indeed. been called all those things and worse.

 

I am really trying to be positive re AP because he talks the talk, but over the last few months I have become increasingly concerned that we are not progressing in the right direction.

Brentford A was dire and I did expect an improvement today but that 2nd H was shocking. Exeter were by far the superior team and that, after all the money we have spent is unnacceptable.

 

This is a big week coming up. Win both matches and he should be given until next year, but 2 defeats and I would regard this season as a bit of a waste. Bit harsh maybe but time waits for no man is this modern day football age.

I will probably be accused of being irrationally impatient but from what I am hearing NC is even more impatient than me.

 

Fingers crossed for the big week.

 

PS - Enjoyed Exeter's ground today - talk about ramshackle but so full of character.

[LostBoys]

Wrong look and shape to the side - another cheap goal conceded - another two points lost against low level opposition - playoffs looking very difficult now

[corky morris]

I am looking forward to AP's comments. It will be interesting to see how honest he is in his assessment??????

[Saint_clark]

I am looking forward to AP's comments. It will be interesting to see how honest he is in his assessment??????

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1957525,00.html

[alpine_saint]

Indeed. been called all those things and worse.

 

I am really trying to be positive re AP because he talks the talk, but over the last few months I have become increasingly concerned that we are not progressing in the right direction.

Brentford A was dire and I did expect an improvement today but that 2nd H was shocking. Exeter were by far the superior team and that, after all the money we have spent is unnacceptable.

 

This is a big week coming up. Win both matches and he should be given until next year, but 2 defeats and I would regard this season as a bit of a waste. Bit harsh maybe but time waits for no man is this modern day football age.

I will probably be accused of being irrationally impatient but from what I am hearing NC is even more impatient than me.

 

Fingers crossed for the big week.

 

PS - Enjoyed Exeter's ground today - talk about ramshackle but so full of character.

 

Despite my very vocal doubts about him, I would still give him until Xmas to see if we are making the right progress to go up next season. I am not totally blind to the challenges he faced at the beginning of the season, I just think it does not account for the sh*te performances now.

 

My opinion will not be impacted on this even if MKDons and Poopey absolutely tw*t us over the next week. I have always considered cup competitions as luxuries compared to league status, and a bonus.

 

Some people are too fixated on a day out at Wembley and a local p*ssing contest rather than the clubs general well-being, imo.

[corky morris]

Just read his comments - excuses if you ask me. Little honesty about how we were the poorer side & the only thing I agreed with him was how poor our set plays were. Shocking. Who was marking Taylor for their goal? Was it Lambert or Fonte? Poor defending whoever it was.

AP - we were ****!!!!

[View From The Top]

My opinion will not be impacted on this even if MKDons and Poopey absolutely tw*t us over the next week. I have always considered cup competitions as luxuries compared to league status, and a bonus.

 

Some people are too fixated on a day out at Wembley and a local p*ssing contest rather than the clubs general well-being, imo.

 

I've felt, and said, for a long time that the club had targeted Wembley this season and automatic promotion next year.

[derry]

Dave, I am trying to be positive about AP.

I like the way he talks and we certainly do not need another managerial upheavel but our football over the last 4 months has been clueless.

 

Yes I know NickG will point out we have picked up results and ugly wins etc but watching Exeter rip through us in the last 15 minutes and only a post stop us from losing made me suddenly think that with what AP has been given over the last 6 months we should at least look like we know what we are doing.

 

Dropping 2 points today was not the end of the world because I long ago thought the play offs were not realistic, but it is more the manner of our performance that has me worried. Tactically we were so inept.

 

A friend of mine who has been to the last few matches and was a brilliant player but smart, Teddy Nutkins knows him well, summed it up last week. He just said "Pardew just doesn't get it" That's what I think too.

[corky morris]

A friend of mine who has been to the last few matches and was a brilliant player but smart, Teddy Nutkins knows him well, summed it up last week. He just said "Pardew just doesn't get it" That's what I think too.

 

We were awesome at Walsall & I think we have gone backwards since then.

 

Its not the results - its the performances. We were poor at Brantford, Millwall & against Stockport. I believe we were better second half against Ipswich, but TBH I was away for the weekend so missed it.

[Plonko]

And there IS a silver lining, for me if we miss the playoffs I can afford to go to the WC. **** poor consolation TBH

 

If ya gotta go ya gotta go.

[Charlie2008]

I am just back from the game.

This has to go down for me as one of our worst performance of the season. I am a big supporter of Pardew, but today he got about everything wrong. Firstly playing Puncheon as a striker alongside Lambert was wrong. Then playing James in central midfield was wrong. Then bringing Waigo off & playing Antonio as a striker was wrong. Then bringing Thomas on & playing Otsemebor as a winger was wrong. Then leaving it so late to bring on Barnard was wrong.

True, the pitch was shocking, but for me that was an excuse because Exeter were loads better on the same pitch.

In the home game Exeter played some of the best football we have seen at St Mary's when they went down to ten men. Today they were looking to play the pretty stuff while we hoofed it to often.

 

What he said. :mad:

[suewhistle]

Why is it "blatant trolling" ?

 

Why is _what_ blatant trolling as the OP wasn't specific either to who he meant or what they said? Does that mean that you know what he's talking about, because personally I wasn't entirely sure (even if, without reading the thread, I had an inkling)? If you think he was referring to you are you saying the cap fits well?

 

As Leed's experience proves winning at Exeter is not a foregone conclusion, but I wish we occasionally threw caution to the winds with our formation and just went for a win with the ability we have. Connoly does seem missed, Lambert does seem tired but as I said in an earlier post we don't seem to display the physical urgency as a team which the lesser sides, with lesser ability, use to make up for their shortcomings. I feel we should have both aspects to our game.

[Saint Ockton]

Yes, its disappointing, but its clear we were the better side, and we deserved to win, we're still a team in the making... calm down

[Saint_clark]

Firstly playing Puncheon as a striker alongside Lambert was wrong. Then playing James in central midfield was wrong. Then bringing Waigo off & playing Antonio as a striker was wrong. Then bringing Thomas on & playing Otsemebor as a winger was wrong. Then leaving it so late to bring on Barnard was wrong.

 

1 - I honestly thought Puncheon was playing in CM. He certainly came back VERY deep to pick the ball up if he was playing up front.

2 - Who would you rather play at CM?

3 - Antonio played on the wing, not as a striker...

4 - He tried Otsemobor as a winger for about 7-8 minutes then subbed him. He has a lot of pace, it was worth a go.

[Saint_clark]

Yes, its disappointing, but its clear we were the better side, and we deserved to win, we're still a team in the making... calm down

 

No we weren't, and no we didn't, but yes we are.

A draw was a fair result based on the performances on the pitch.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1957525,00.html

 

That's the first time this season I have heard AP waffle.

 

Yea the pitch was awful, but they played better football than us on it - end off.

 

Lost a bit of respect for him tonight as for the first time I don't think he is being honest.

[Saint_clark]

That's the first time this season I have heard AP waffle.

 

Yea the pitch was awful, but they played better football than us on it - end off.

 

Lost a bit of respect for him tonight as for the first time I don't think he is being honest.

 

Have to agree to be honest. Really disappointed, especially about the "endeavour and commitment" comments.

[corky morris]

1 - I honestly thought Puncheon was playing in CM. He certainly came back VERY deep to pick the ball up if he was playing up front.

2 - Who would you rather play at CM?

3 - Antonio played on the wing, not as a striker...

4 - He tried Otsemobor as a winger for about 7-8 minutes then subbed him. He has a lot of pace, it was worth a go.

 

1. Why was he the one behind Lambert at throw ins & when we were attacking (& defending)

2. Gillet, Wotton, Hammond, Morgan even Puncheon or Lallana OR either of Exeter's 2 central midfielders........

3. No he went alongside Lambert, but was then told to go wide when Otsemembor went off.

4. Not when Antonio could have played there & you contradicted point 3 as I thought he was playing on the wing? Lallana was on the left by the way so dont say left wing or did we have 3 wingers playing on the wings?

[View From The Top]

I thought Papa was playing the central attacking midfield role, with James and Morgan the holding players, AL wide left and the new boy, whose name I can't spell, on the other flank.

 

Papa should have been wide with AL off RL.

 

James and Morgan were swamped and simply couldn't cope.

 

Lloyd James isn't, nor ever will be, a central midfielder.

[ladysaint]

Game by game we seem to be getting worse, very disappointed with today's performance.

[RedAndWhite91]

Blimey, didn't realise they hit the post in stoppage time.