Brighton vs Saints Match Reaction Thread

[Wes Tender]

just back from the game and for 70 mins we were crap totally devoid of ideas going forward and resorted to the long ball game which was obvious everytime and Brighton had us sown up. puncheon looked completely lost up front and we had nothing in the middle of midfield although Hammond was putting himself about alot, as he was booed every time he got the ball. Jaidi was imperious in defence and all the defence played well. Brighton knocked it about well and could have been 2 or 3 up at halftime. Was getting really ****ed off with Pardew for not changing things about which he eventually did and we were a different team all over them and could have finished it off. Barnard was superb when he came on and first attack on the ground and he scored. Seabourne looked good playing football out of defence. We are not going to get promoted on this form lets hope it was a hangover from sunday

 

This seems to match the Solent commmentary.

 

Therefore the question needs to asked. Why was Pardew so negative in having Lambert alone up front? We seemed to have played into Brighton's hands by not playing to our strengths and putting them under the cosh. Eventually, when the substitutions were made, it was too late. On the face of it, Gus Poyet outmanouevred Pardew tacticallyfor three quarters of the match, especially when his two substitutes in the second half produced a goal between the two of them within minutes. Pardew's triple substitutions smacked of a last desperate throw of the dice. At least we pulled back one point, but I fear that our chances of the play-offs depended on us getting three points from the likes of Brighton and we have blown it. We are far more dependent on others tripping up now, rather than it being in our hands as it was a few games ago.

[doddisalegend]

With the players we have at our disposal,and all the hot air from the likes of KD how we

can definately make the play offs,this result is simply not good enough.

 

What do you expect the players and managment to say?

 

Interviewer = "so Kelvin can saints still make the play offs?"

 

KD = " Well the playoffs have been out of reach for months now so we're just going to avoid relegation and try again next year "

[Tractor_Saint]

Final photos from me tonight; Lee Barnard's equaliser

 

Got no video though have you

 

Firstly explanation of the videos, here's where we were sat and I'm not going to shell out on a super-dupa zoom camera just for this game!

 

 

Barnards Goal:

 

 

More to follow (although the best video from the night is the one above - most of the others contain "SHOOT FFS - SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT")

[Wes Tender]

You make it sound like we only have to play 4-4-2 to automatically win every game!

 

Brighton are no fools. They have just beaten both Brentford & Tranmere 3-0 at home - and sandwiched between that was a 2-0 away win at Oldham. If anything or anyone is to 'blame' - it's the abscence of Morgan...

 

And we recently beat Huddersfield and Walsall even more convincingly and Morgan wasn't playing at Wembley when we beat Carlisle 4-1.

 

The trouble was that the home team tried to pack the midfield to negate the threat of two of the most potent strikers in the division and it was only when we were on the verge of defeat that we dared to play them together and also introduce Papa Weigo too who is also a capable striker. We lacked guts and Brighton probably couldn't believe their luck that we were only playing Lambert up front until they had almost won all three points.

[rocknrollman no2]

We play 4-5-1 at the start and we struggle through most of the game.We then get a lucky goal great.

We change to 4-4-2 and bring on Barnard and we score from open play and we look like we are the better team.

Why doesnt Pardew know our strongest formation and best players?

If we had started the game with the same formation and players,we may have won it.

With just Lambert up front,we wont win anything.

Edited 1 April, 2010 by rocknrollman no2

[doddisalegend]

And we recently beat Huddersfield and Walsall even more convincingly and Morgan wasn't playing at Wembley when we beat Carlisle 4-1.

The trouble was that the home team tried to pack the midfield to negate the threat of two of the most potent strikers in the division and it was only when we were on the verge of defeat that we dared to play them together and also introduce Papa Weigo too who is also a capable striker. We lacked guts and Brighton probably couldn't believe their luck that we were only playing Lambert up front until they had almost won all three points.

 

Brighton are a far better side than carlisle HTH.

[Tractor_Saint]

Barnards Goal:

 

 

Doubt anyone in our end got the first Saints goal , I did get the celebrations ...

 

 

And to put it all in context.. the pan of the ground..

 

Edited 1 April, 2010 by Tractor_Saint

[monosaint]

Let's not forget we played 4-5-1 at Wembley so those who think that's negative think again. With Antonio and Lallana in the side we have players who can join the loan striker when attacking. If we had 5 Dean Hammonds in midfield then I would agree. We have played 4-4-2 away and remember Tranmere. So I don't buy that. I still look at the other fixtures and there are some tough games for those above us. If we win our next 2 home games then I think the Playoffs are back on. Simples!! I agree that the players and management have to talk up the Playoffs otherwise we might just as well pack up for the season.

[Tractor_Saint]

Barnards Goal:

 

 

Last one for tonight and it's a

 

[St Marco]

A draw away to one of the in form teams.

 

Good result end of.

[shurlock]

Relieved to come away with a point - apart from a bright spell at the start of the second half when Punch screwed a ball across the goal and some pressing at the end which led to the equaliser, we were poor.

 

As if I've said before, stop Lambert winning headers or us picking up the second ball and we run out of ideas. For all the talent in the team, we don't really cohere or look greater than the sum of our parts. We play like England did under McClaren or Sven. Its one reason why we're not very good at chasing games. Our inability to keep possession is also one reason why we struggle away from home.

 

Brighton showed how to play with real width, to get the ball down quickly, take a minimum number of touches and switch play - by contrast, we looked cumbersome and narrow, especially with Lallana upto his old tricks.

 

None of the returnees shone. Semi had a rough night while the Antonio gamble failed. Pards should have changed things earlier. Both Barnard and Papa made a difference when they came on - at least there were players going beyond Lambert.

 

Alot of our weakness flows from the midfield - I would have Gillett a run out over Wotton but he didn't even make the bench. When Wotton was subbed, Punch went to CM - maybe it was desperate measures for desperate times but it wasn't the worst thing in the world. I'll be interested to see what Pards does on monday. Either way, CM was a problem area before Schneiderlin got injured - it'll be a bigger one when he presumably leaves in the summer.

 

Think we should have had a pen at the end - Lambo was too honest and stayed on his feet. Refereeing was fine - the linesman in the far corner was an officious bast*rd but at least he was consistent.

 

The stadium was total ****e - would have been easier to watch a game of lawn bowls on a milk crate at the far end of the field.

Edited 2 April, 2010 by shurlock

[LostBoys]

I had to work and only listened to the Solent commentary and have just seen the goals on Sky. It sounds like the formation did us no favours on the night and a few players had poor perfomances. Their goals were well taken but both should have been prevented. Leaving Lambert isolated and Barnard on the bench does not appear to have been a good idea and we clearly miss Schneiderlin. I am not convinced about Wotton and I agree Gillet may have been an option. It may not be mathematically over quite yet but it will be on Monday if we do not win and the others do.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Tough game and all things considered a well ground out point. We probably needed to win though, so why we left it so long to bring on a proven goalscorer and the guy who got the assist is a mystery. Might be a point gained if Exeter turn over Colchester Friday night though. Play offs still not a serious chance as far as I am concerned, but encouraged that Pardew still seems to be going for it.

[Window Cleaner]

You make it sound like we only have to play 4-4-2 to automatically win every game!

 

Brighton are no fools. They have just beaten both Brentford & Tranmere 3-0 at home - and sandwiched between that was a 2-0 away win at Oldham. If anything or anyone is to 'blame' - it's the abscence of Morgan...

 

But should a side who have invested more than 3 million £ this season alone be totally dependant on one 20 year old lad? Don't really think so.

Anyway it's not the end of the world, we weren't going to win them all anyway. We'll have a tough time against Charlton I expect because they really need to win as well.

[Window Cleaner]

I see from the BBC that AP thinks we bossed the game, would you say that was right, you people who were there? I didn't get that impression from the commentary but with Dave you never can tell;

[Professor]

I was in the Brighton South Stand on a borrowed ST and had a great view. Saints had by far most of the play but Brighton got their 2 goals, each during a short period when they got a bit more possession, and scored by attacking down the flanks and making good crosses. They could also have scored at least two more on breaks or from free kicks, caused by Jaidi being too slow and resorting to fouls. I thought he was lucky not to get sent off.

When Saints had the ball they rarely looked like turning possession into goals. But they bossed the midfield for most of the game and Lambert was outstanding, holding the ball, laying it off, but never with enough support. Same with the wings, that when Antonio or Lallana got the ball down the wing, they had to hold up before crossing because there wasn't anyone to cross to, and by the time Saints had some people in the centre, Brighton had packed the defence. We had two chances from free kicks that came to nothing, but shouldn't have needed free kicks to win with that much control of the game.

 

Then came the subs, very late on, but transformed the match. Seaborne was really impressive at the back. Fast, reliable, providing wide cover and then playing the ball instead of just hoofing it. He effectively replaced Jaidi and Wotton by his speed and he can get to the ball without having to climb all over the player in front of him. Two strikers made all the difference up front and turned the midfield possession into genuine goal scoring chances but Pardew had simply not given them enough time, just 15 mins - plus 4 mins added. He should have made at least two changes at half time to dump the 4-5-1 but the truth is that he should never have played so negatively. It might work against a weak side like Carlisle, but not against stronger teams like Brighton who get an easy ride from it.

[Professor]

By the way, I would say that the Brighton crowd contains some of the most foul-mouthed ignorant individuals that I have ever been unfortunate enough to sit near at a football match. To see grown men losing all self-control and having temper tantrums that made them appear more like teenage thugs than adults, was truly sickening.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

A draw away to one of the in form teams.

 

Good result end of.

 

Well if you were still dreaming of a play-off place then 2 points dropped has to be a extremely bad result surely ? If on the other hand you consider our real chances to have died a quite death many weeks ago (my point of view as it happens) then our remaining league fixtures are of very little importance anyway .

 

Either way it can only be a terrible or a indifferent result I'd say - to describe a solitary point gained against Brighton & Hove Albion as a 'good result' for this club is to employ a definition of 'good' that I don't really recognize .

 

That may not be the 'end of' the discussion , but it's certainly all I've got to say on the subject .

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

By the way, I would say that the Brighton crowd contains some of the most foul-mouthed ignorant individuals that I have ever been unfortunate enough to sit near at a football match. To see grown men losing all self-control and having temper tantrums that made them appear more like teenage thugs than adults, was truly sickening.

 

It was just the same at AFC Bournemouth preseason , you just have to accept that there is a degree of jealously from the fans of the minor south coast clubs against SFC .

 

By the way , I really am 'laughing out loud' at the Bmth fans who were singing "Oh when the Saints go Johnston Paint" all those months ago .

[Wes Tender]

Brighton are a far better side than carlisle HTH.

 

Is that why they're above Carlisle in the table then? Oh, sorry, they're not. It's the other way around.

 

Look at the matches this season and Carlisle have beaten teams that we didn't and lost to some teams that we beat. The same can be said about Brighton, but tellingly we have only taken one point from Brighton from the six and yet we are above them in the table. So presumably we are a better team than Brighton, with decent enough away form, but still gave them far too much respect.

 

For all that Pardew says that we bossed it for most of the match, it didn't sound like it from the commentary and seemingly it wasn't a case that Brighton are better than us, but that we got it wrong tactically and snatched a point from the jaws of defeat.

[markr27]

I had heard how bad the view was from the away end, but didn't realise it would be that bad! Didn't expect to be frisked either, or 'encouraged' to go into the away 'suite' as soon as we arrived either (in good time prior to KO).

 

Cannot comment much on the first half, as it was played out of sight with regards Saints attacking, but defensively it seemed we were getting exposed by the midfield being bypassed by Brighton's quickness. 1-1 was good at the break and I did think AP would have seriously considered changes immediately or shortly after.

Someone surely would have suggested it through the dressing room window on their way back from the loo

 

Barnard was warming up for over 15 minutes before he came on second half, but to be fair we were having a decent spell early on, but Brighton broke away and scored.

I think most Saints fans wanted him on ASAP after that, as Saints just seemed to run out of ideas and play hoofball. Post substitutions they played better and funnily enough when we got the ball on the floor, Waigo burst to the byline, hit the ball low across the box, goal.

 

Happy with a point considering the performance in parts (wanted 3 naturally), but it leaves absolutely no margin for error now - 8 wins a must and that probably won't be enough.

[Charlie Wayman]

I'm really glad that our "individually selected world beaters" have been fully embedded with "a winning mentality" - good for you, Pards!

 

Certainly beats struggling for points in every away game....

 

Why the feckles didn't you just play last Sunday's team in a straightforward simple 4-4-2, you berk?

 

This one's 500% down to you; if you get your P45 on Tuesday morning don't ask "Why Me?"

[John B]

Why the feckles didn't you just play last Sunday's team in a straightforward simple 4-4-2, you berk?

 

Probably because we were playing Brighton Away and Pardew thought that they would not gift us goals like Carlisle did

Edited 2 April, 2010 by John B

[Charlie Wayman]

If on the other hand you consider our real chances to have died a quite death many weeks ago - at Christmas in fact - then our remaining league fixtures are of very little importance anyway .

 

Either way it can only be a terrible or a indifferent result I'd say - to describe a solitary point gained against Brighton & Hove Albion as a 'good result' for this club is to employ a definition of 'good' that I don't really recognize .

 

 

Charlie, I agree with you absolutely.

 

All the subsequent hoo-hah and shoeshine from Pards has been window-dressing to try to hoodwink the Swiss top brass that they have invetsed in a silk purse.

 

I've given up for this season so don't bother to tune in to away matches or slavishly trek to SMS every other week any more. They've got my money anyway so whether I'm there in body or spirit doesn't really matter.

 

What really scares me is that as things stand we look more and more like an average mid-table side of little ambition and limited ability. I want to believe it will be a cake-walk next season but we all know it won't, too many teams have cracked us when we don't have the advantage of home crowd support and familiar surroundings.

 

Pards say he will "build a team fit for the Premiership" in the close season...

 

How exactly? He needs players all over the park for that so where's the money coming from? Only two or three from this squad are anywhere near good enough. I'm more inclined to the view that if Saints really need another ground-up rebuilding exercise, then Corteses might as well start with a different manager and give him the money rather than risk it on Pardew buying another load of misfiring journeymen.

[.comsaint]

Got no video though have you

 

 

Steady on Mike. No one likes a smart arse

[Charlie Wayman]

...and on the evidence of last night that manager might be Gus Poyet who out-thought Pards every step of the way.

[VectisSaint]

Why the feckles didn't you just play last Sunday's team in a straightforward simple 4-4-2, you berk?

 

QUOTE]

 

Probably because we were playing Brighton Away and Pardew thought that they would not gift us goals like Carlisle did

Don't think Pards planned for Carlisle to gift us 3 goals. Berk.

 

Fact is Pards blundered last night. Doesn't mean he should be fired, but should be honest and put his hands up. His reaction on the OS is clearly bull****. We clearly did not boss the game, those that were there, the commentary and the stats prove that. Picked the wrong team, and failed to react quickly enough with subs. He did the same at Swindon away, occassionally he makes mistakes, but I still want him as manager next season, because he is better than just about anyone else around.

[John B]

...and on the evidence of last night that manager might be Gus Poyet who out-thought Pards every step of the way.

 

So how come Brighton did not win

 

2 2 was a good result

[doddisalegend]

...and on the evidence of last night that manager might be Gus Poyet who out-thought Pards every step of the way.

 

Great plan eveytime someone beats us (sorry gets a draw with us) we give their manager a job that way will always have the best manager:smt101

[doddisalegend]

Don't think Pards planned for Carlisle to gift us 3 goals. Berk.

 

Fact is Pards blundered last night. Doesn't mean he should be fired, but should be honest and put his hands up. His reaction on the OS is clearly bull****. We clearly did not boss the game, those that were there, the commentary and the stats prove that. Picked the wrong team, and failed to react quickly enough with subs. He did the same at Swindon away, occassionally he makes mistakes, but I still want him as manager next season, because he is better than just about anyone else around.

 

Those that where there couldn't see anything , the radio commentary sound pretty even (they where better early on, we where on top before half time we came out better at the start of the second half, their subs put them back on top finally our subs put as back in control). The BBC match stats give them slightly more possession but us more chances on goal all in all an even match. AP claiming we bossed it is a bit strong but the same token it wasn't saints with their backs to the wall for 90mins either.

Edited 2 April, 2010 by doddisalegend

[alpine_saint]

Don't think Pards planned for Carlisle to gift us 3 goals. Berk.

 

Fact is Pards blundered last night. Doesn't mean he should be fired, but should be honest and put his hands up. His reaction on the OS is clearly bull****. We clearly did not boss the game, those that were there, the commentary and the stats prove that. Picked the wrong team, and failed to react quickly enough with subs. He did the same at Swindon away, occassionally he makes mistakes, but I still want him as manager next season, because he is better than just about anyone else around.

 

But is he good enough to deliver promotion ? I have my doubts. They are small at the moment, but there are there nevertheless..

[John B]

 

But is he good enough to deliver promotion ? I have my doubts. They are small at the moment, but there are there nevertheless..

 

So how many wins does Pardew have to deliver next season when no doubt we will start better

 

So far we have 17 wins and 13 draws with 8 games to go

[alpine_saint]

 

So how many wins does Pardew have to deliver next season when no doubt we will start better

 

So far we have 17 wins and 13 draws with 8 games to go

 

If he were to maintain his record for this season throughout next season, would we be promoted ?

 

In my opinion you should take the record from August because we are always crap in August and September. Which means adding 10 points onto this seasons record.

 

So the answer is NO.

[S-Clarke]

I'm really glad that our "individually selected world beaters" have been fully embedded with "a winning mentality" - good for you, Pards!

 

Certainly beats struggling for points in every away game....

 

Why the feckles didn't you just play last Sunday's team in a straightforward simple 4-4-2, you berk?

 

This one's 500% down to you; if you get your P45 on Tuesday morning don't ask "Why Me?"

 

what did you think of the arsenal v barca game? your team did well!

[John B]

 

If he were to maintain his record for this season throughout next season, would we be promoted ?

 

In my opinion you should take the record from August because we are always crap in August and September. Which means adding 10 points onto this seasons record.

 

So the answer is NO.

 

But that was not the question

 

How many wins/points will make you happy you are always good at telling people what is wrong but do not often come up with anything creative

[alpine_saint]

 

But that was not the question

 

How many wins/points will make you happy you are always good at telling people what is wrong but do not often come up with anything creative

 

Enough wins/points for promotion. I would have thought that obvious.

[S-Clarke]

 

But that was not the question

 

How many wins/points will make you happy you are always good at telling people what is wrong but do not often come up with anything creative

 

we will need to win every game 5-0.

 

I don't understand alpine tbh, i thought i'd have a look back through the threats, and he wasn't very active at all after our cup win and i actually think he said he couldn't bring himself to watch it?

 

so here we are, producing a supposedly AWFUL result, and he's on song again posting in every thread.

 

You can't really have a go at people for moaning at you alpine, as it's quite obvious that only the negatives motivate your opinion.

[alpine_saint]

 

we will need to win every game 5-0.

 

I don't understand alpine tbh, i thought i'd have a look back through the threats, and he wasn't very active at all after our cup win and i actually think he said he couldn't bring himself to watch it?

 

 

This is completely unfair and childish. One of the results to please me most this season was beating Leeds a few weeks back - hardly 5-0.

 

I ask myself a simple question following every dire result - do I think from the info I have examined, that the team played to the best of its ability ? If they havent, I am p*ssed.

 

Are you really trying to tell me that the team were at their best against Exeter, Brentford, WYCOMBE, Tranmere and Brighton ???

[Legod Third Coming]

Gawd I'm sick of some of the fairweather w ankers we have as fans. Happy to bask in a Wembley final, don't bother turning up the rest of the time and then slag off the team and manager from their bedrooms between masturbating over internet porn. Well feck off back to big knockers.com.

 

Oh and Happy Easter.

[alpine_saint]

Gawd I'm sick of some of the fairweather w ankers we have as fans. Happy to bask in a Wembley final, don't bother turning up the rest of the time and then slag off the team and manager from their bedrooms between masturbating over internet porn. Well feck off back to big knockers.com.

 

Oh and Happy Easter.

 

hehehehe

[Katalinic]

 

This is completely unfair and childish. One of the results to please me most this season was beating Leeds a few weeks back - hardly 5-0.

 

I ask myself a simple question following every dire result - do I think from the info I have examined, that the team played to the best of its ability ? If they havent, I am p*ssed.

 

Are you really trying to tell me that the team were at their best against Exeter, Brentford, WYCOMBE, Tranmere and Brighton ???

 

Name me one team that are "at their best" week in week out, always play to the best of its ability and never lose a game?

[doddisalegend]

 

But is he good enough to deliver promotion ? I have my doubts. They are small at the moment, but there are there nevertheless..

 

Is anyone? football has to many varibles for dead certs, who knows what might happen next season?

[alpine_saint]

 

Name me one team that are "at their best" week in week out, always play to the best of its ability and never lose a game?

 

WHO SAID WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE A GAME ?

 

If we beat Norwich away, I expect us to be able to beat Tranmere away, FFS !

[John B]

 

WHO SAID WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE A GAME ?

 

If we beat Norwich away, I expect us to be able to beat Tranmere away, FFS !

 

Why?

[doddisalegend]

 

WHO SAID WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE A GAME ?

 

If we beat Norwich away, I expect us to be able to beat Tranmere away, FFS !

 

And that is the source of your pain, if football was that predictable we would all give up watching.

[saint_stevo]

1 point in 2 games v Brighton isn't good enough how ever you dress it up

[Katalinic]

 

WHO SAID WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE A GAME ?

 

If we beat Norwich away, I expect us to be able to beat Tranmere away, FFS !

 

Since when has football worked like that?

[saint_stevo]

what is with all the gammy quoting on this thread?

[John B]

 

Enough wins/points for promotion. I would have thought that obvious.

 

So are you saying Pardew is incapable of getting us promotion even though the number of points we may obtain without the ten point deduction would have got us promoted in most of the last few years

 

2008 82

 

2007 85

 

2006 79

 

2005 86

 

2004 83

 

2003 86

 

2002 84

 

2001 91

 

2000 88

 

Unable to find last years table

[John B]

1 point in 2 games v Brighton isn't good enough how ever you dress it up

 

But 6 out of 6 against MK Dons is