Wycombe V Saints - Post Match Reaction

[OldNick]

Nigel Atkins, Paul Lambert, Sean O'Driscoll, Simon Grayson, Owen Coyle all build teams that pass the ball.

Bournemouths manager has done well. I dont think any of the above would be 'good enough' for us

[saint_stevo]

On a lighter note, the highlight of the evening was the Wycombe MC trying to pronounce Papa and Bart's names.

 

The half time penalty shoot out and celebrations were my highlight

[Thedelldays]

after some reflection all day..it is still an terrible result

[Saintjersey]

The half time penalty shoot out and celebrations were my highlight

 

We absolutely battered them penalty wise and celebration wise.

[saint_stevo]

after some reflection all day..it is still an terrible result

 

After much reflection, i wish i had saved my £20 and having to run to get a ticket/not miss too much on my gammy knee

 

We absolutely battered them penalty wise and celebration wise.

 

Concerned by the pink gloves on our mush though....

[derry]

Derry if you recall you mentioned Alex Ferguson as manager (I do realise it was tongue in cheek, althugh with some on here !!!)and so I followed on from there.

As always we are both close to the same thing (except KD) and want the team to go on from here.

 

Which was the unrealistic answer to an impossible hypothetical question.

[Chez]

My real concern is Hammond. He was superb V MK and I'm told at Norwich, a game I sadly couldn't make but dreadful last night and it's not a one-off, he's had a number of other utter stinkers, not least against Brighton. Morgan can be frustrating but you'd pick him ahead of Hammond. Does Hammond want to be in the Wotton role next season - coming on for 20 mins to shore it up or as our midfield heartbeat going into the CCC? Time he added consistency and made his mind up.

 

for me he was appauling in the MK Donns game. In his defence he was coming back from injury which meant he was miles off the pace - which is a problem for someone that is slow anyway. He was better last night that that game, but still not all that.

[Window Cleaner]

After much reflection, i wish i had saved my £20 and having to run to get a ticket/not miss too much on my gammy knee

 

 

 

Concerned by the pink gloves on our mush though....

 

 

 

they were probably red and white but his mum is crap at washing.

[derry]

Bournemouths manager has done well. I dont think any of the above would be 'good enough' for us

 

I like his style, he is doing well as is Paul Tisdale. As Clifford said what is needed is a club style. In that case only managers that fitted that style would be employed. The style would run top to bottom through the club. A change of manager would then not be such a big deal. The style would be overseen by the DoF. I certainly think Atkins, O'Driscoll and Lambert would be good enough.

[Window Cleaner]

I like his style, he is doing well as is Paul Tisdale. As Clifford said what is needed is a club style. In that case only managers that fitted that style would be employed. The style would run top to bottom through the club. A change of manager would then not be such a big deal. The style would be overseen by the DoF. I certainly think Atkins, O'Driscoll and Lambert would be good enough.

 

I doubt if we would be good enough for any of them though. We're in the 3rd Division don't forget.

[Chez]

After much reflection, i wish i had saved my £20 and having to run to get a ticket/not miss too much on my gammy knee

I was pretty cream crackered after a long day at work, followed by a mad rush drive up there, followed by a tough old drive back in the rain. On reflection I'm glad I saw a Saints game at Adams Park for the first time, but other than that it was a complete and utter waste of time.

 

If we had spent **** all and had the side that played at the start of the season it would be understandable, but we've signed Jardi, Semi, Harding, Fonte, Hammond, Waigo, Antonio, Puncheon and Barnard since then. With that sort of expenditure at this level you have to expect to win most games or at least dominate games, don't you? If you don't you are aiming too low IMO.

 

Don't for a minute think that I am not extremely happy that we survived as a club, have won a fair few games this season and of course got to Wembley in the painting competition, but at some point you've got to put the problems of the past behind us and ask why are we not doing better.

 

I guess come the end of the season I'll reflect on a half decent season considering the start, but anything but promotion next season will be a failure.

[derry]

I was pretty cream crackered after a long day at work, followed by a mad rush drive up there, followed by a tough old drive back in the rain. On reflection I'm glad I saw a Saints game at Adams Park for the first time, but other than that it was a complete and utter waste of time.

 

If we had spent **** all and had the side that played at the start of the season it would be understandable, but we've signed Jardi, Semi, Harding, Fonte, Hammond, Waigo, Antonio, Puncheon and Barnard since then. With that sort of expenditure at this level you have to expect to win most games or at least dominate games, don't you? If you don't you are aiming too low IMO.

 

Don't for a minute think that I am not extremely happy that we survived as a club, have won a fair few games this season and of course got to Wembley in the painting competition, but at some point you've got to put the problems of the past behind us and ask why are we not doing better.

 

I guess come the end of the season I'll reflect on a half decent season considering the start, but anything but promotion next season will be a failure.

 

 

This pretty well sums us up and where we are.

[derry]

I doubt if we would be good enough for any of them though. We're in the 3rd Division don't forget.

 

S****horpe, Doncaster and even Norwich can't compete with our financial strength making us despite the league a very attractive proposition.

[Window Cleaner]

S****horpe, Doncaster and even Norwich can't compete with our financial strength making us despite the league a very attractive proposition.

 

 

No-one is going to jack in a job in a higher division to manage Saints, which is probably why Pardew is manager.When he eventually gets the boot, which he will, we will take what is available among the unemployed or managers in our own division or lower.

[gogo_saint]

Look we were crap last night, i'm not argueing against that, but a lot of people are over reacting. We have come such a long way since the millwall game at the start of the season. no team can be rebuilt that quickly, and we have totally overhauled ours. this is the squad from that day

 

Davis, Harding, Thomas, Perry, Murty, James (Gillett 75), Wotton, Schneiderlin Thomson 83), Saganowski, Paterson (Gobern 70), Lallana. Substitutes- Bialkowski, Lancashire, Gillett, Holmes, Pulis, Thomson, Gobern

 

After that game and following results I, and many feared for surviving in this league. We have come a long way in a very short space of time and yes we still have a long way to go before we are the finished article even for this league, but we shouldn't be panicking. We went on a good run, expectations and hopes rise, thats natural. we all do the maths and make promotion seem possible. Cortese saying we need to win more is correct. The top teams look to win every game, instilling this pressure, and more importanly learning to play with this pressure on us is so important for a promotion push next season. if cortese or pardew write off this season, then the players have nothing to work for and efforts and results will drop. this is what pardew means by a 'winning mentality'.

 

Last season we would have lost this fixture, hands down, now we kept a clean sheet, the defence looks strong for the first time in a long time. I'm not excusing the performance of last night, just think its part of a series of stepping stones towards success i think we will eventually achieve. I don't think one team has gone down, started with a points deduction and got promoted, yes leeds got into the playoffs but their squad was not as drastically changed as ours.

 

I was sat in with the wycombe fans, (crap atmosphere) and some around said it was one of their best displays of the season, they also thought they played some good football(!), their game plan was to stop us playing, and they were very happy with a draw. as noted above they really didn't like harding. i did!

 

finally i found some interesting polls from throughout the season that will show how we have changed as a team, and our expectations:

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=16984&highlight=poll

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=80

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20037&highlight=poll

 

sorry for the jumpled post, very tired after a nightmare journey back. just feel people need to step back at look at our season from when it started.

[corsacar saint]

What a game to pick for my first away game of the season. We were second to every ball, and although we had arguably the best two chances of the game[Lambert and

Lallana], we were very fortunate to get a point. Wycombe, should have scored in the first minute, and the way we played we would not have equalised by christmas.

Also why did we not use the wings more, they were far easier to play through than the

minefield through the centre we continually tried to use.

[Smirking_Saint]

I was pretty cream crackered after a long day at work, followed by a mad rush drive up there, followed by a tough old drive back in the rain. On reflection I'm glad I saw a Saints game at Adams Park for the first time, but other than that it was a complete and utter waste of time.

 

If we had spent **** all and had the side that played at the start of the season it would be understandable, but we've signed Jardi, Semi, Harding, Fonte, Hammond, Waigo, Antonio, Puncheon and Barnard since then. With that sort of expenditure at this level you have to expect to win most games or at least dominate games, don't you? If you don't you are aiming too low IMO.

 

Don't for a minute think that I am not extremely happy that we survived as a club, have won a fair few games this season and of course got to Wembley in the painting competition, but at some point you've got to put the problems of the past behind us and ask why are we not doing better.

 

I guess come the end of the season I'll reflect on a half decent season considering the start, but anything but promotion next season will be a failure.

 

This pretty much sums me up Chez, and i will take that as it is pretty much what i have been saying for ages.

 

Especially that in bold which a few on here are failing to grasp, I am not ending the world because of our couple of losses but at some point they need to be seriously addressed or else it will be the same next season.

 

As always Chez you bring some relief to the board, and i always look forward to your posts as you seem to have a decent footballing head on your shoulders.

 

Cheers

[derry]

No-one is going to jack in a job in a higher division to manage Saints, which is probably why Pardew is manager.When he eventually gets the boot, which he will, we will take what is available among the unemployed or managers in our own division or lower.

 

Let's wait and see.

[Smirking_Saint]

No-one is going to jack in a job in a higher division to manage Saints, which is probably why Pardew is manager.When he eventually gets the boot, which he will, we will take what is available among the unemployed or managers in our own division or lower.

 

He is doing OK, not amazing but ok, i for one would want to see him see out that 18 months he was promised, i still think he can do well for us.

 

When we perform we really perform but Pardew needs to start instilling that ruthlessness and passion that will not see us become complacent against the lower teams.

 

I also agree with Derry, i for one like to watch wide players get wide, get to the byeline and cross those crosses that make strikers smile and defenders crap themselves. So that would be punch on the left and lallana on the right.

 

I though we would be playing better football under Pardew, but too many times (as good as a weapon as it is) we get stuck playing long ball to Lambert whether it is working or not.

[corsacar saint]

Yeovi and Brighton scored nine goals on that pitch between them, so presumably they had the sense to use the very playable wings.

[Window Cleaner]

He is doing OK, not amazing but ok, i for one would want to see him see out that 18 months he was promised, i still think he can do well for us.

 

When we perform we really perform but Pardew needs to start instilling that ruthlessness and passion that will not see us become complacent against the lower teams.

 

I also agree with Derry, i for one like to watch wide players get wide, get to the byeline and cross those crosses that make strikers smile and defenders crap themselves. So that would be punch on the left and lallana on the right.

 

I though we would be playing better football under Pardew, but too many times (as good as a weapon as it is) we get stuck playing long ball to Lambert whether it is working or not.

 

I'm not particularly keen for him to get sacked...but he probably will.

I do find our efficiency in front of goal leaves much to be desired though.

It will cost AP his job, he needs to sort it out or throw in the towel.

 

He has to step up and drop Lallana and let someone else have a stab..so to speak.

[Window Cleaner]

Yeovi and Brighton scored nine goals on that pitch between them, so presumably they had the sense to use the very playable wings.

 

but perhaps it's not always the same. The problem would seem to be their league game on Saturday and the rugby on Monday. Rugby is very destructive to football pitches especially when it rains and snows a bit. I remember the horror bog that is the Memorial Ground in Bristol, rugby and football don't mix.

[Smirking_Saint]

I'm not particularly keen for him to get sacked...but he probably will.

I do find our efficiency in front of goal leaves much to be desired though.

It will cost AP his job, he needs to sort it out or throw in the towel.

 

He has to step up and drop Lallana and let someone else have a stab..so to speak.

 

I mentioned about our efficiency in front of goal in the post match thread, i just don't get it, we have Lambert and Barnard, then the likes of Papa and Lallana and even now puncheon and for some reason they are scared to put it in the back of the net.

 

We have passed up easy finishes far too many times.

 

As for AL, i rate him, i woulnd't drop him, i get the fact that he is not quite as dominant as he was early season (tho very good against MK's and poopey) but i feel that is because he is seen as a threat and so gets crowded out, but this has it's benefits as it takes opposition players out of the game.

[Smirking_Saint]

but perhaps it's not always the same. The problem would seem to be their league game on Saturday and the rugby on Monday. Rugby is very destructive to football pitches especially when it rains and snows a bit. I remember the horror bog that is the Memorial Ground in Bristol, rugby and football don't mix.

 

Yup, the Wigan game sunday on the tele the pitch was dreadful again, i can only assume that was because of the egg chasing.

[Window Cleaner]

I mentioned about our efficiency in front of goal in the post match thread, i just don't get it, we have Lambert and Barnard, then the likes of Papa and Lallana and even now puncheon and for some reason they are scared to put it in the back of the net.

 

We have passed up easy finishes far too many times.

 

As for AL, i rate him, i woulnd't drop him, i get the fact that he is not quite as dominant as he was early season (tho very good against MK's and poopey) but i feel that is because he is seen as a threat and so gets crowded out, but this has it's benefits as it takes opposition players out of the game.

 

You may well rate him, what I don't rate is the 6 scoreable chances that he hasn't put away in the last 3 games.At Norwich it didn't matter so much, against Pompey and last night they cost us a place in the 6th round and 3 points respectively.He isn't a midfielder because he has no oomph, he isn't a striker because he can't score easy chances. He's a nowhere man and we need to get shot of him, he throws the balance all out.

[krissyboy31]

Yup, the Wigan game sunday on the tele the pitch was dreadful again, i can only assume that was because of the egg chasing.

 

Can't really blame the rugby in their case. Wigan Warriors have only played 2 games. It's just a crap pitch that they completely relay every year. They (and Wycombe) should look at how Reading manage to keep their pitch reasonable with Rugby Union (which is harder on the pitch, than League) played on it.

[Smirking_Saint]

You may well rate him, what I don't rate is the 6 scoreable chances that he hasn't put away in the last 3 games.At Norwich it didn't matter so much, against Pompey and last night they cost us a place in the 6th round and 3 points respectively.He isn't a midfielder because he has no oomph, he isn't a striker because he can't score easy chances. He's a nowhere man and we need to get shot of him, he throws the balance all out.

 

I can see your point, unfortunately he is young and lacking a bit of composure.

 

He is however a very talented player and one i wouldn't want to lose out, his touch and technique are fantastic, and those two things are something that IMO cannot be taught past the age of about 15 or so and in most cases is natural. You either have it by then or you never will.

 

He takes people on, he is creative and he is unpredictable. I agree he misses a few chances and now and again his strikes are not so much powder puff as some have said but are very rushed.

 

I have been there, he has obviously been g'eed up by pardew as you can see he is putting so much heart into his performances, closing down etc. When you have not scored in a while you at times rush your chances and you just don't connect properly. IMO that is what is going on, the coaches need to get hold of him and teach him some more composure.

[Smirking_Saint]

Can't really blame the rugby in their case. Wigan Warriors have only played 2 games. It's just a crap pitch that they completely relay every year. They (and Wycombe) should look at how Reading manage to keep their pitch reasonable with Rugby Union (which is harder on the pitch, than League) played on it.

 

Didn't know that, just a sh*t pitch then. I was thinking though. If i can play with a reasonable touch and i am sure many other forum posters can, on sh*ty council pitches etc. Then i am sure i can play on something as green and flat as St Marys.

 

So why oh why can professionals who train every day and by all accounts have better first touch technique and match sharpness then me or any of us. Blame a crappy pitch ?? You just adapt your game to suit and get used to it.

[Window Cleaner]

I can see your point, unfortunately he is young and lacking a bit of composure.

 

He is however a very talented player and one i wouldn't want to lose out, his touch and technique are fantastic, and those two things are something that IMO cannot be taught past the age of about 15 or so and in most cases is natural. You either have it by then or you never will.

 

He takes people on, he is creative and he is unpredictable. I agree he misses a few chances and now and again his strikes are not so much powder puff as some have said but are very rushed.

 

I have been there, he has obviously been g'eed up by pardew as you can see he is putting so much heart into his performances, closing down etc. When you have not scored in a while you at times rush your chances and you just don't connect properly. IMO that is what is going on, the coaches need to get hold of him and teach him some more composure.

 

He has no composure as Dave Merrington pointed out very firmly yesterday,

he's 22 soon and that's no spring chicken by football standards. Doubt if he'll ever come to much really, good skills but is obviously a bear of very little brain.

[Smirking_Saint]

He has no composure as Dave Merrington pointed out very firmly yesterday,

he's 22 soon and that's no spring chicken by football standards. Doubt if he'll ever come to much really, good skills but is obviously a bear of very little brain.

 

I also have my worries about his footballing brain/tactical side of the game.

 

Whether he has been coached that way or not. He doesn't track back enough and pulls inside too easily.

 

Shame as the boy has his talents, i still have faith he will come good.

[Joesaint]

Our team are no good on very very bad pitches! Just saw it on south today and could not understand how they get away with it!!!

 

I actually like rugby as well as football and thought rugby at st marys would be really good............. BUT not if that how the pitch will turn out.

 

COYS

[John B]

Our team are no good on very very bad pitches! Just saw it on south today and could not understand how they get away with it!!!

 

I actually like rugby as well as football and thought rugby at st marys would be really good............. BUT not if that how the pitch will turn out.

 

COYS

 

I think you will find that it is not usually like that

 

 

But there has been very heavy rain around here lately and with three games in four days it is not surprising the pitch was not that good

[Joesaint]

I think you will find that it is not usually like that

 

 

But there has been very heavy rain around here lately and with three games in four days it is not surprising the pitch was not that good

 

Did'nt really think about that, fair point.

[macthesaint]

I agree with so many of these posts.

The pitch was awful,but we turned out in numbers expecting to see a gung ho performance on the back of a great win at Norwich and were badly let down.

I wasted half a days leave from work and all I have to show for it is another new ground to tick off.Thats the risk you take being a fan.

Thanks again to all the friendly fellow Saints who make these trips bearable,theres always someone who has a chat and some of the banter is great.In your own way you add to the occasion especially for my kids have only recently started the away journeys.

[Chez]

He has no composure as Dave Merrington pointed out very firmly yesterday,

he's 22 soon and that's no spring chicken by football standards. Doubt if he'll ever come to much really, good skills but is obviously a bear of very little brain.

 

no composure? Merrington is entitled to his opinion, but that's all it is. The lad lacks pace which means he doesn't have that extra bit of time you need to settle yourself and plant it in the corner. Without that time you have to hit things as they come and that often means a bouncing or bobbling ball on the wrong foot. He shows great confidence to go for things even when they are not quite there. A lessor player will stop the ball, bring it onto the right foot and then the chance goes. He's not clinical, but no one ever said he was a striker. He's a talent that is going to get better.

 

He might be 22, but he was out for a long time with his heart problem. This must be taken into account as must the situation we were in two season ago that prevented Pearson gambling more on him.

 

I'm not sure what you deem `coming to much' but he'll play CCC thats for sure.

Edited 24 February, 2010 by Chez

[SFC Forever]

Someone please tell Pardew how to beat crap teams on crap pitches - soon.

 

 

 

Strengthen the midfield perhaps.

[captainchris]

so frustrated at the result after a great win, to follow it up with not just a rubbish result but a rubbish performance to go with it. Got to be more consistent in remaining games.

 

This is the absolute point of the matter not only are results very average our performances are too so why should we expect that to change - ever? There is no sign of a pattern of play or a passing game beginning to emerge.....This is why the Pardew situation is so worrying, he doesn't appear to be going anywhere........

[captainchris]

No it isn't. I've seen every game at SMS this season and in most of them we have been hoofing it up at Lambert. It's the way Pardew sets the team up to play with the wide midfielders tucked in and no natural left sided player.

 

100% correct

[Windmill Arm 2]

Pardew out.

 

 

And with him will go Lambert, Connolly, Barnard and others. FIVE YEAR PLAN (OCK END !!!!

[Legod Third Coming]

Rooney is scoring nearly all his goals inside the six yd area, 7 out of the last 8 from headers most of them from byeline crosses.

 

They are for me the best footballing team in the country.

 

And the manager recently admitted he spent all last season playing Rooney in the wrong position, during which period you would have sacked him... jesus wept...

[Saint_clark]

And with him will go Lambert, Connolly, Barnard and others. FIVE YEAR PLAN (OCK END !!!!

 

My post was sarcastic.

[Windmill Arm 2]

My post was sarcastic.

 

 

Then please accept my sincere apologies :smt053

I really pity some of the clueless juvenile teddy throwers on here.

[west saint]

did we lose ? are we being sucked into a relagation battle ? have we lost are last ten games ? NO!. Infact we have 4 points from to away games,against the best team in this league and one thats fighting for its life in this division. I really think some people on this site need to get real.

[Thedelldays]

And the manager recently admitted he spent all last season playing Rooney in the wrong position, during which period you would have sacked him... jesus wept...

no..as he won the league...pardew could play lambert in goal if it meant promotion this year

[Legod Third Coming]

no..as he won the league...pardew could play lambert in goal if it meant promotion this year

 

We could still go up...

 

The point is managers make good decisions and bad ones. They get things right and wrong.

 

The best ones get things right most often.

 

Pardew is doing a decent job - certainly better than Mancini!!!!!!

 

Who would have welcomed Tony Pulis here?

[Saint Fan CaM]

Lowlight of the evening was the 20 minute wait in the freekin' pub for a beer. Two barmaids serving in the nearest pub to the ground when there's a major football club in town! And they were just sauntering around like it was a Sunday afternoon FFS.

 

To be fair the cheese'n'bacon-burgers from the place near the ground were quite palettable - better than the stodge you get from our burger stalls. (;

[Thedelldays]

We could still go up...

 

The point is managers make good decisions and bad ones. They get things right and wrong.

 

The best ones get things right most often.

 

Pardew is doing a decent job - certainly better than Mancini!!!!!!

 

Who would have welcomed Tony Pulis here?

we could still go up..and pompey could still survive from 7 points after friday...

 

but in reality, neither of us will..we both have messed up in league games this season..

 

what mancini does is completely irrelevant to saints...

 

as for Pulis..you damn right I would have..I remember the football snobs rubbished him when he was linked with us..much like they rubbished billy davies

[Legod Third Coming]

we could still go up..and pompey could still survive from 7 points after friday...

 

but in reality, neither of us will..we both have messed up in league games this season..

 

what mancini does is completely irrelevant to saints...

 

as for Pulis..you damn right I would have..I remember the football snobs rubbished him when he was linked with us..much like they rubbished billy davies

 

Derry is advocating Owen Coyle as a manager. Seriously??

 

Watch him relegate Bolton AND Burnley - what a great addition he would be.

 

Pulis has never, ever been relegated.

 

The point is Pardew is doing a decent job - not brilliant, but it's way too early so say we need to change him.

 

Last night was utter garbage. Saturday was fantastic. People change their tune more often than the weather.

 

Last night we were just off it. That's all. We could still have won if Rickie had turned the shot from Puncheon in or Adam has buried the one great ball he was played in...

 

That sort of thing happens.

 

Our results at Exter, Millwall and Brentford are BETTER than those achieved by Norwich, Leeds and Charlton (which no one seems to care about - facts seem to be irrelevant on here...).

 

Last night was just rubbish, it happens.

[Clifford Nelson]

Passing and pretty football does not overcome hard work week in week out.

You need the mix of the good and ugly, that is where our club and some fans have missed the point since relegation from the PL.

You need a couple of brute centre halves , tough tackling midfielders who run and run and then a lump of a centre forward with a moore mobile player alongside to pick up the pieces.

 

No team will be successful without hard work, but you're making the mistake of saying 'hard work or pretty football', which is to fall right into the hole dug by the pragmatist.

 

Pretty or not, no team has ever been successful without a good strategy either. Success required both, not just one.

[Thedelldays]

Derry is advocating Owen Coyle as a manager. Seriously??

 

Watch him relegate Bolton AND Burnley - what a great addition he would be.

 

Pulis has never, ever been relegated.

 

The point is Pardew is doing a decent job - not brilliant, but it's way too early so say we need to change him.

 

Last night was utter garbage. Saturday was fantastic. People change their tune more often than the weather.

 

Last night we were just off it. That's all. We could still have won if Rickie had turned the shot from Puncheon in or Adam has buried the one great ball he was played in...

 

That sort of thing happens.

 

Our results at Exter, Millwall and Brentford are BETTER than those achieved by Norwich, Leeds and Charlton (which no one seems to care about - facts seem to be irrelevant on here...).

 

Last night was just rubbish, it happens.

 

 

coyle did a miracle with burnley in the first place...look at billy davies at derby..could not buy a win in the prem..yet again with another team (forest)..he kept them up and now are on stunning form towards a real promotion push..

 

as for chaning their tune..I judge a match on its own merits...regardless if we have won 10 in a row it was still an terrible result tuesday night