Doncaster 0-2 Saints - Post Match Reaction

[puff the magic dragon]

I went to the game today expecting defeat and in all fairness Doncaster did look very poor, but we made our luck and forced their defence into conceeding an own goal. The two penalties were both penalties as they took the player out, not the ball, but i've seen them not given. The referee was spot on. I'm not trying to paint a rosy picture as we won't be pitted against such a poor side every week, but what cannot be questioned is the desire of our young team. They deserve our support as does JP on relflection. I don't think this youth onus is the right way and it'll probably see us relegated, but it won't be from want of trying from the players. That is the biggest difference i noticed between this team and the teams we put out since the start of our downfall.

[Micky]

Cheers, mate.

 

I have heard nothing about the manner of performance today, but followed by WAP.

 

I am delighted that we won 2-0, but am somewhat worried about the manner of victory against what was, according to the few posts I have read on here tonight, a very poor opposing team.

 

Let's see if our new-found taste for victory extends to beating Norwich at home before rolling out the bunting and getting all euphoric, eh ?

 

Paaah...!! If we can do the mighty Doncaster Rovers at 'fortress' Keepmoat Stadium, then Norwich City on the hallowed turf that is SMS is but surely a 'walk in the park', is it not?

 

Go get your bunting ready....

Edited 27 September, 2008 by Micky

[NickG]

not saying its all sorted yet but when we fail to beat these teams, or play pretty football and lose -people moan saying these are the games we need to win and why don't we forget pretty football and grind out wins!

 

Sounds from radio summaries that it was comfortable.

[harvey]

Excellent result today and totally unexpected (by me anyway). Hope it continues on Tuesday..........we need some cheering up at SMS

[puff the magic dragon]

not saying its all sorted yet but when we fail to beat these teams, or play pretty football and lose -people moan saying these are the games we need to win and why don't we forget pretty football and grind out wins!

 

Sounds from radio summaries that it was comfortable.

 

It was comfortable because Doncaster offered nothing. Even saying that nor did we really. We could've won 3-0, but the two penalties were not from through on keeper fouls and the own goal cut back was the only time really threatened. The biggest plus was that they never looked threatening aside from just after our missed penalty when their tails momentarily got up. Our defending was very good.

[Saints foreva]

Davis - 8: Saved us a few times, another great game from Kelv.

James - 7: Thought he did well, looked soild at times.

Wotton - 7: Calm on the ball. Although he did get beat a few times and he was maybe at fault for some of the balls played over the top.

Lancashire - 7: Much better then his debut. First half he looked a little dodgy but then 2nd half thought he played well and seemed to be pretty calm under pressure.

Mills - 8: Thought he had a great game. Got forward well and got back well. Better then Surman at LB.

Schneiderlin - 6: Neat and tidy like usual. Seemed to take him a while to get off and going thought but still looked good.

Surman - 8: Much better playing in a advanced position. Got forward well. Good first penalty.

Cork - 7: Really impressed with this lad. Looks much better when he is in the midfield. Gets back well and had a decent pass.

Lallana - 6: Tried hard. Good effort and work rate with some neat passes but some of the stuff he tried today just didn't work for him.

McGoldrick - 7: Much better effort from the lad. Still very greedy imo but thought he did well today.

Pekert - 6: I don't know what to make of him. Looks good but don't use his height to advantage. He also seems to have a very poor touch and a lack of pace.

[mulletsaint]

Cheers, mate.

 

I have heard nothing about the manner of performance today, but followed by WAP.

 

I am delighted that we won 2-0, but am somewhat worried about the manner of victory against what was, according to the few posts I have read on here tonight, a very poor opposing team.

 

Let's see if our new-found taste for victory extends to beating Norwich at home before rolling out the bunting and getting all euphoric, eh ?

 

So let me get this straight. One win means we shouldn't get all excited and start "happy clapping", and yet one loss and it's slate everyone in sight and reach for the razor blades? Still each to his own I s'pose.

 

I aint gonna get too excited over what sounds like a scrappy but hard fought win over Donny, but at least points wise it's a step in the right direction. Well done lads, bring on Norwich.

[Mole]

Pekert - 6: I don't know what to make of him. Looks good but don't use his height to advantage. He also seems to have a very poor touch and a lack of pace.

 

I think Pekart is a bit of a rough diamond. A bit of polishing up and he'll be a good player for us.

[SarniaSaint]

Glad we won, doesn't matter how we did it.

A goal is a goal doesn't matter how it's scored and a win is a win.

 

Why some on here seem (apparently) disappointed we won is beyond me. Surely they don't want us to fail do they?

[Kadeem Hardison]

I would like to make two points:

 

1. If we are to discount wins against poor teams as not being worth celebrating, then by that same token we should also discount losses against better teams as not being worth deriding us over. And, judging by our league position last season and this, the better teams make up most of the league.

 

2. Complaining that we didn't create/score from open play is absolute a*se. That was in this game. In other games we created clear cut chances in open play but didn't score. Would you rather that? The fact we didn't score in open play today isn't a palimpsest that you can lay over every game for the rest of the season. Each game is a different entity.

 

For a bunch that complain about 'club spin' all the time, many of you are actually much worse offenders.

[Wiltshire Saint]

I don't think we should get too excited about this win. Doncaster are a poor team. Also, I am a bit concerned that we don't seem able to create/score from open play.

[rocknrollman no2]

Im so glad that we won today and lets hope it boosts the confidence of the team and maybe the fans as well.

But i think the real test will be on Tuesday against Norwich.

[rick1976.4.38]

great away win,they seem to play better away from sms at the moment.lets hope the lads can continue this run with a win against norwich on tuesday.all the doom and gloom merchants must be worried,we've now gone 3 ccc games without losing and two on the spin we've not conceeded.COYR

[alkasteve]

Good to win, every little (point) counts. Of course if the other team have been so poor it's a bit of a downer we've not taken advantage ourselves a la Barnsley. You don't want to be in 22nd at the end of the season and 1 point behind whoever who we could/should have beaten and regretting it. And besides if we're not going to beat the good teams (and of which there are many) then these are even more important - remember points means prizes!

 

And I even had a chocolate muffin to celebrate

[Wade Garrett]

You can only beat what's in front of you, and three points away from home is a good return in anyone's book.

[Pongo]

I would like to make two points:

 

1. If we are to discount wins against poor teams as not being worth celebrating, then by that same token we should also discount losses against better teams as not being worth deriding us over. And, judging by our league position last season and this, the better teams make up most of the league.

 

2. Complaining that we didn't create/score from open play is absolute a*se. That was in this game. In other games we created clear cut chances in open play but didn't score. Would you rather that? The fact we didn't score in open play today isn't a palimpsest that you can lay over every game for the rest of the season. Each game is a different entity.

 

For a bunch that complain about 'club spin' all the time, many of you are actually much worse offenders.

 

A spades a spade and yesterdays game was dull to say the least. Did you go or are you basing your opinion on the radio commentary?

[JHsaintsfan]

Yes. He was supposedly meant to be a CB in the first half but was defending further up then the line (in my opinion) then he went into the holding role when Perry came on. So translated means (in my opinion) in the first half he was to high up the pitch not really in a CB position of which they just hoofed it over him and that is where their chances came from. Hope that makes more sense

 

I thought one of Wotton's main strengths was how he organised the Saints line at the back getting them to move forward as a unit. I disagree about him personally playing further up than the line. He was good in the air as well

Another poster has mentioned that early on the line was possibly too high with Kelvin having to come racing of line two or three times in a short space of time to balls over the top.

Prefer seeing Wotton as a CB rather than a CM as from the games I have seen his distribution and ability to create space aren't anything special.

[Pongo]

I thought one of Wotton's main strengths was how he organised the Saints line at the back getting them to move forward as a unit. I disagree about him personally playing further up than the line. He was good in the air as well

Another poster has mentioned that early on the line was possibly too high with Kelvin having to come racing of line two or three times in a short space of time to balls over the top.

Prefer seeing Wotton as a CB rather than a CM as from the games I have seen his distribution and ability to create space aren't anything special.

 

Our defence was fantastic. The only time we got pushed back deep was after the 2nd penalty miss and that was only for about 2 minutes.

[Mr Saints]

How many times has an away team come to St Mary's in the last 2/3 seasons and nicked a lucky win scoring dodgy goals without being the better side? A nice suprise to be that away team for once.

[Shroppie]

Not sure where the "dodgy" penalty claims have come from - having been at the game, it was as clear cut as you could get, and I don't remember any of the Doncaster players complaining. In fact, the same goes for the second one, for which the defender should have been sent off.

 

First half was pretty even, they perhaps shaded it on chances, but second half we were comfortably the better side - I don't remember Davis making a difficult save after the break.

 

Totally agree. Nothing dodgy about either pen and both clear cut. Also agree that texhnically the second was last defender, but probably all a bit too close to the keeper.

 

Once the defence settled and woke up to long balls over the top (probably planned to exploit the lack of pace we normally have at CB) I thought we looked good today. Lancashire/Wotton looked solid, Mills and James had good enough games and the midfield really balanced.

 

There was real threat in attack and IMO the team are happier with the simpler 4-4-2. Lots of good movement, some skill and confidence on the ball and encouraging signs. Would love to see this a settled team. Not worried at all that John is out, Pekhart is way better. Hope Schneiderlin is ok but Wotton is a solid alternative with Perry at CB.

 

Really think we just need a settled team now.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

Now, I don't want to bring the mood down on this board, but as someone who was there yesterday, I have to say that the only reason we won was because Doncaster were EVER SO SLIGHTLY WORSE than we were.

 

It is still going to be a tough old season.

[Shroppie]

A spades a spade and yesterdays game was dull to say the least. Did you go or are you basing your opinion on the radio commentary?

 

Were you there, and if so what game did you watch? This was, for pretty well all the game, good. An honest attempt by two teams getting the ball down and playing football.

 

The only thing that was poor was Donny's finishing, fortunately, otherwise we could have easily lost 4 -2.

[Shroppie]

Davis - 8: Saved us a few times, another great game from Kelv.

James - 7: Thought he did well, looked soild at times.

Wotton - 7: Calm on the ball. Although he did get beat a few times and he was maybe at fault for some of the balls played over the top.

Lancashire - 7: Much better then his debut. First half he looked a little dodgy but then 2nd half thought he played well and seemed to be pretty calm under pressure.

Mills - 8: Thought he had a great game. Got forward well and got back well. Better then Surman at LB.

Schneiderlin - 6: Neat and tidy like usual. Seemed to take him a while to get off and going thought but still looked good.

Surman - 8: Much better playing in a advanced position. Got forward well. Good first penalty.

Cork - 7: Really impressed with this lad. Looks much better when he is in the midfield. Gets back well and had a decent pass.

Lallana - 6: Tried hard. Good effort and work rate with some neat passes but some of the stuff he tried today just didn't work for him.

McGoldrick - 7: Much better effort from the lad. Still very greedy imo but thought he did well today.

Pekert - 6: I don't know what to make of him. Looks good but don't use his height to advantage. He also seems to have a very poor touch and a lack of pace.

 

Pretty well agree with that, but would probably give Pekhart and Schneiderlin 7s.

[alpine_saint]

So let me get this straight. One win means we shouldn't get all excited and start "happy clapping", and yet one loss and it's slate everyone in sight and reach for the razor blades?

 

 

Its hardly been one loss, has it ? And it was Doncaster Rovers, FFS..

[Saint_clark]

We didn't seem to play at our best, and there were still some odd decision by Poortvliet - but 3 points is 3 points, and we could be very f*cking thankful for them come the end of the season.

[OldNick]

after seeing the goals, I think it is harsh to say it was an own goal.It was hardly a defender making a mistake but more of it hitting him as he tried to stop it going into the net.The pens were definites and Drews 2nd was a poor effort.

DMG shoudl be given the goal as it beaten the keeper and was going in

[northants saint]

Well deserved 3 points in my opinion, worked hard and forced a number of errors from them. I thought both teams tried to play, can't see where people get "poor game" from. Doncaster looked OK when on the ball, but not strong defensively. Both sides missed chances, us mainly in the first half when we could have been well ahead, their finishing was woeful. I thought we stopped playing at 2-0, either because we had established a lead or perhaps due to Morgan going off. When we played a bit of football, we won the 2nd penalty. Overall a confident, competent performance, surely we can follow it up with 3 points on Tuesday!

[Saint Fan CaM]

Well done to the lads - at last JP has seen sense it seems and gone with a plan B 4-4-2. Good result away from home, but this will mean little if we throw away 3 points at home on Tuesday. Once again I shall attend full of hope that the team is settled and they play to their potential.

[saintrich]

Well done to the lads - at last JP has seen sense it seems and gone with a plan B 4-4-2. Good result away from home, but this will mean little if we throw away 3 points at home on Tuesday. Once again I shall attend full of hope that the team is settled and they play to their potential.

 

 

We didn't have two upfront... McGoldrick was in the Lallana attacking midfield position in first half and then right wing the second.

[forever a red and white]

just what we needed.

u can only beat what is put in front of you we just need to find some consistency.

 

anyone got a link for highlights of the goals?

[OldNick]

Its hardly been one loss, has it ? And it was Doncaster Rovers, FFS..

So Donny who have with endeavour got to where they are now to be disrespected because a few years ago we were PL. They are at our level and compete with us and we had to beat clubs like that.Id prefer it was Brum but Ill accpet we poiunts and a better sunday because of it.

[Alan56]

great away win,they seem to play better away from sms at the moment.lets hope the lads can continue this run with a win against norwich on tuesday.all the doom and gloom merchants must be worried,we've now gone 3 ccc games without losing and two on the spin we've not conceeded.COYR

 

Yes my first away game this season and second game in total. A good result no doubt. Performance very average. Donny despite being woeful could have had 3 in the first half when KD was really excellent.

 

Having been to every game home and away, nigh on for the last 40 years, til the start of this season and the retention of the thieving duo, will I return??

 

NO!!!

 

Could even borrow my bros season tkt as he has only been once so far and felt the atmosphere, play and the Dutch buffoons tactics weird.

No, a 350 mile round trip to SMS is frankly no longer worth doing as quite frankly it is just not enjoyable. Sadly for SFC many others feel the same.

Crowds that would only just fill the Dell say it all.

 

To the happy clapping, ever optimistic who frequent this forum, I and about 8-9 thousand customers have deserted SMS this season on a regular basis and have seen, read and heard little or nothing that make us want to return.

Hurl your abuse in response. It wont however get the missing patronage back through the turnstiles.

 

Until and unless SFC is prepared to offer a pkge that is realistically priced and reflects the product on offer then it will remain on course for administration. Crowds like those of late cannot possibly sustain the club.

 

Re-visited the IW this week having been born and bred there. Sadly my family and friends there say the youngsters locally all look to follow the other local team now. A whole generation of fans will be lost in places like the IW, Fareham etc if the club is not careful. What if anything is the club doing to retain any sort of link with these areas where there is perhaps the lure of a currently more successful club to go to? With a half empty ground to fill at SMS they have a few options open to them I guess!!

 

This once proud club will I am sure come good again-when, who knows??

[Alucard]

Its hardly been one loss, has it ? And it was Doncaster Rovers, FFS..

And last season we drew 1-1 away to Colchester and scraped a 1-1 draw with S****horpe (who played 35 mins with 10 men) with a very dodgy last minute penalty from Vignal. A vast improvement to actually get 3 points and keep a clean sheet yesterday.

[gordonToo]

So Donny who have with endeavour got to where they are now to be disrespected because a few years ago we were PL. They are at our level and compete with us and we had to beat clubs like that.Id prefer it was Brum but Ill accpet we poiunts and a better sunday because of it.

 

I was quite impressed with Donny yesterday and they could have been 2 or even 3 ahead at HT with better finishing. As it happened luck was on our side for a change but there wasn't much between the two teams really. As for entertainment, well, the least said the better.

[dannysfc]

A Good Win and it is a good starting point of hopefully things to come!

Davis my Motm with Surman in a close second!

Also I was on The Championship this morning which is good even though I have not seen it yet lol!

Come On Saints!

[Sheff Saint]

Davis - 8: Saved us a few times, another great game from Kelv.

James - 7: Thought he did well, looked soild at times.

Wotton - 7: Calm on the ball. Although he did get beat a few times and he was maybe at fault for some of the balls played over the top.

Lancashire - 7: Much better then his debut. First half he looked a little dodgy but then 2nd half thought he played well and seemed to be pretty calm under pressure.

Mills - 8: Thought he had a great game. Got forward well and got back well. Better then Surman at LB.

Schneiderlin - 6: Neat and tidy like usual. Seemed to take him a while to get off and going thought but still looked good.

Surman - 8: Much better playing in a advanced position. Got forward well. Good first penalty.

Cork - 7: Really impressed with this lad. Looks much better when he is in the midfield. Gets back well and had a decent pass.

Lallana - 6: Tried hard. Good effort and work rate with some neat passes but some of the stuff he tried today just didn't work for him.

McGoldrick - 7: Much better effort from the lad. Still very greedy imo but thought he did well today.

Pekert - 6: I don't know what to make of him. Looks good but don't use his height to advantage. He also seems to have a very poor touch and a lack of pace.

 

 

I'd agree with most of them (although take off a mark each, we were'n't as good as 7's!)

 

One thing i reckon you're wrong on though is McGoldick and Lallana. I thought McGoldrick was poor, apart from the run for the cross for the goal i thought he sauntered around like a charlie big potatoes and actually delieverd nothing.

 

On the other hand i thought that everything good about our attacks came through Lallana. It wasn't his best game but he is the one true 'quality' player we've got at the mo.

 

Surman played well i thought and agree that Mills was very good.

 

Plus, Schienderen didn't seem to bring anything to the match, but we do seem to do better as a team when he's in the team. Might still be a coincedence but reckon he could be integral this year.

 

Better performance than Tuesday but still very average. We'd have not beaten many teams on that performance. BUT, it will help the confidence and to have Norwich so soon at home is fab. They've not started to clever so fingers crossed!!

[saint1977]

Davis - 8: Saved us a few times, another great game from Kelv.

James - 7: Thought he did well, looked soild at times.

Wotton - 7: Calm on the ball. Although he did get beat a few times and he was maybe at fault for some of the balls played over the top.

Lancashire - 7: Much better then his debut. First half he looked a little dodgy but then 2nd half thought he played well and seemed to be pretty calm under pressure.

Mills - 8: Thought he had a great game. Got forward well and got back well. Better then Surman at LB.

Schneiderlin - 6: Neat and tidy like usual. Seemed to take him a while to get off and going thought but still looked good.

Surman - 8: Much better playing in a advanced position. Got forward well. Good first penalty.

Cork - 7: Really impressed with this lad. Looks much better when he is in the midfield. Gets back well and had a decent pass.

Lallana - 6: Tried hard. Good effort and work rate with some neat passes but some of the stuff he tried today just didn't work for him.

McGoldrick - 7: Much better effort from the lad. Still very greedy imo but thought he did well today.

Pekert - 6: I don't know what to make of him. Looks good but don't use his height to advantage. He also seems to have a very poor touch and a lack of pace.

 

It's a better-looking team and 4-4-2 is the best system for Saints. Mills is making a difference at LB. Keep Cork in CM too JP and stay with 2-up please. Ta.

[St Marco]

not saying its all sorted yet but when we fail to beat these teams, or play pretty football and lose -people moan saying these are the games we need to win and why don't we forget pretty football and grind out wins!

 

Sounds from radio summaries that it was comfortable.

 

Nah it wasent comfortable. They had the better chances and from memory got more on target. It was one of those games were if the luck things had not happened it would of been 0-0 every single time. But as you say the result is what matters. Doncaster are one of the teams i see being around us near the end of the season so right now 3 points dont look so crucial but it will do come may. It was a huge result for us and will do wonders for our confidence. We have 4 tough games now but if we can win against Norwich i think we can push on and get away from the bottom which in turn releases a lot of pressure we have put on ourselves.

[Stanley Saint]

"James - 7: Thought he did well, looked soild at times."

 

Does that mean he soiled himself at times? If so, that's a concern.

[Chez]

Just returned from yet another Yorkshire pilgramage. Absolutely delighted we took all three points, but if anyone thinks we have turned a cormer they are kidding themselves. This win certainly won't do our confidence any harm and I hope we can get a roll going but I fear it may just paper over the cracks.

 

The positives.

We beat what was in front of us, but let me state that that was a Donny side short on confidence and lacking any cutting edge whatsoever.

Davis continues to shine and saved well when Byfield was 1 on 1. His distribution was top class and his ground kicking even on his wrong foot was solid.

Lancashire offers us some pace at CB.

Mills looked terrific in what is only his third game. Not only might we have founhd a decent fullback but it will allow Surman to play further forward.

Cork can play. I thought he was terrific at right back the other week and he looks as though he can play anywhere. He would be wasted at CB.

Stern looked good for 5 minutes.

Thats about it really.

 

The negatives.

James was and is terrible. I have bigged him up for three years as a CM. But he is the worst right back I have ever seen. Slow, poor distribution, crap in the air, appauling positional sense. He kept them on side time after time, dilly dallied on the ball andnearly cost us `shielding the ball off for a goal kick'. He is bad and we must try someone else.

 

Pekart was terrible. He won next to nothing in the air, chased hardly anything, did nothing with the ball when he got it. Very dissapointing. He has not impressed me at all so far. He must improve a lot.

 

McGoldrick scored, it was his goal, but he didn't do much for me. He is not a right midfielder and I don't understand why we play him there. Yes we won, yes he scored, but if we continue using him in this way we'll lose a lot more than we win.

[um pahars]

You can only beat what's in front of you, and three points away from home is a good return in anyone's book.

 

Absolutely, a win is a win. Look at the tabkle abd it's down there as a win.

 

Happy to win by any means whatsoever and hopefully it will give the team some confidence.

[Chez]

"James - 7: Thought he did well, looked soild at times."

 

Does that mean he soiled himself at times? If so, that's a concern.

 

he certainly looked ****.

[Neil]

It was anything but comfortable in the first half, every opposing team knows that the killer ball is in behind James now, and we can expect this week in week out.

Davies certainly is on fire at the moment and kept us on level terms. Cork is pure class, but complacency is often the only concern with him as he makes the occasional lapse. Must try to get him for the whole season. McGoldrick as usual flatters to deceive, over ices the cake too often for my liking

I'll give another mention to Wotton as I think he is unsung but gets stuck in and adds a bit of physical presence, he was certainly trying to pump up the Saints fans after one of the goals and seems up for it.

I'll take a scrappy 1-0 off someone's backside on Tuesday to get three points, must get the home win.

[ladysaint]

As a few have pointed out 0-2 away from home and 3 points was what was needed. Didnt particlarly like the way we played but the 3 points were important to us. Donny didnt offer anything but IMO had the best player on the pitch their number 23. Well impressed with Doncaster and the stadium maybe it helped that the sun was shining but what I saw of it I liked.

[CougarSaint]

Its hardly been one loss, has it ? And it was Doncaster Rovers, FFS..

 

Yup, the same Doncaster Rovers who beat Leeds United to get to the Championship.

 

Times change for all of us , it's about dealing with it, recognising what needs to be done, and moving on, onwards and upwards...

[Kaiser Soze]

Nice ground, friendly people, poor football side, had we played anyone half decent we would almost certainly got beat as we're lacking in several key areas. Can't add anything more than that as I was steaming drunk and don't remember much.

[saintcrris]

Well a win is a win so im chuffed.

 

It could of been 0-3 with the penalty miss, sounds like that would of been very harsh on DR.

 

Did not go so can't really comment on the performance, but to me the result is far more important.

Looking forward to Tuesday, we must start winning at home (or being very hard to beat)something we have really been lacking since moving to St Mary's really.

[yorkie]

The win was good - but it passed me by on Saturday.

 

Usually every moment from kick off would be a major focal point - however for the first time in years I took no interest in the game until about 7pm.

 

"Oh look" I said to the wife "Saints won 2-0, good job I didn't go after all"

 

I really can't be bothered any more - too little too late as far as I'm concerned.

 

WE all know what will happen on Tuesday - don't we!

[Wes Tender]

I would like to make two points:

 

1. If we are to discount wins against poor teams as not being worth celebrating, then by that same token we should also discount losses against better teams as not being worth deriding us over. And, judging by our league position last season and this, the better teams make up most of the league.

 

2. Complaining that we didn't create/score from open play is absolute a*se. That was in this game. In other games we created clear cut chances in open play but didn't score. Would you rather that? The fact we didn't score in open play today isn't a palimpsest that you can lay over every game for the rest of the season. Each game is a different entity.

 

For a bunch that complain about 'club spin' all the time, many of you are actually much worse offenders.

 

Regarding 1:-

 

We'll take all the points we can regardless of how we gain them. But realistically we ought to be beating teams like Doncaster if we are to have any hope of survival in this division. We ought also to be beating teams like Blackpool and Barnsley and although not in this division, Rotherham. But regarding our league position at the moment, the division is in fact made up mostly of teams better then us. Whether that situation persists until the end of the season remains to be seen.

 

Regarding 2

 

You miss the point. Any disappointment that we didn't play attractive passing football with a resultant ball in the net ending from one of our strikers, is because we were promised revolutionary total football. And if we played attractive passing football in other games and didn't score, then that is not better, as the system didn't work then either. Admittedly, anybody would be naive to believe in the total football concept if applied to a club like us in our circumstances, but that was spin, as you say. The difference between the spin put out by the club, is that is official. Anything that you call spin from the people on this forum, is just opinion.

[Navyred]

Lovely stadium, very friendly home supporters and the sun shining made Saturday a very enjoyable day out.

 

Thought Rovers played the diagonal ball very well, Wootton was caught out on numerous occasions, thankfully Ollie Lancashire has some speed about him and covered very well. Young Mills is settling in - just needs to contain his enthusiasm at times! Dave McG does not get very many plaudits, but I think he really put in a shift on Saturday - in a roll on the right wing that he does not enjoy.

 

I think with our current squad we really should be looking at 4-4-2. Pekhart looked a little laboured up front on his own and really needs another striker beside him. We now have Pekhart/McG/Paterson/Robertson/BWP as strikers (Lallana, must play in the hole behind/attacking from midfield). I really do believe that we will start scoring goals with 2 up front, because some of our outfield play has been very good. Maybe Robertson will bring something to the party, Paterson's speed and mobility could be the key, or even just giving McG the opportunity to play in the position that he scored bagfulls of goals for the Reserves is the answer.

 

No matter what, I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere on Saturday - Saints fans singing their hearts out and cheering on this very young team.

 

COYR