Saints 0-1 Plymouth - Reaction

[SW11_Saint]

really? thought he was our brightest player in the first half. All of our good opportunities came through him with his crossing/direct running.

Me too! If Lambert had of been playing he'd have bagged a couple in the first half alone. I thought Dickson was a real bright point. Lost his way a little in the second half, but then so did pretty much everyone else.

 

Better days ahead.

[trousers]

Best moment for me was Fonte down the left wing crossing to Jaidi in the box..... :-)

[trousers]

Pards not commenting on transfers on his Solent interview just now.

 

In a defensive or positive way?

[Special K]

What game were you watching?!

 

Felt he kept making the wrong choice. Was given plenty of ball, but couldn't get outside his man (not strong enough), didn't deliver quickly enough into the box when required (especially to feed Connolly) and wasn't quick or clever enough to turn inside and use his right peg to any great effect. Lallana showed what he should have been doing in the first half when he came on. And i think Harding delivers a much better cross than Dickson. Apart from that he had a blinder.

[S-Clarke]

Felt he kept making the wrong choice. Was given plenty of ball, but couldn't get outside his man (not strong enough), didn't deliver quickly enough into the box when required (especially to feed Connolly) and wasn't quick or clever enough to turn inside and use his right peg to any great effect. Lallana showed what he should have been doing in the first half when he came on. And i think Harding delivers a much better cross than Dickson. Apart from that he had a blinder.

 

I think you were watching the wrong player. Everyone's entitled to their opinions though.

[Viking Saint]

- Decent perfomance in first half, Dickson and Puncheon did okay, some nice interplay but no end product

- Barnard playing too wide, and then Connolly isolated in the box getting useless high balls in the box aren't going to be much use

- no one had the bottle to shoot, desperately need a back-up for Lambert

- Hammond crap as usual, uninspirational, doesn't distribute well and can't hit the target with two free headers- needs replacing with a midfielder who gets stuck in

 

not the end of the world, long long way to go, but expected more from this afternoon....disappointing....

[dune]

Someone will come out and say NC will turn the screw on AP.

 

A few more unimaginative and lathargic performances like we've seen today and NC will bring in a new manager I feel. I'm of the view that NC was close to sacking AP last season so don't see our chairman "giving it time".

[dune]

Poor performance, lightweight midfield, Barnard not very good, Dickson even worse. Why didn't AP buy a proper Leader, someone who can motivate on the pitch. Nothing seems to have got better from last season, in fact it looked worse.

 

Agree with this. Dickson made some schoolboy errors and I hope he improves or he'll bring nothing to this seasons squad compared to last seasons.

[trousers]

A few more unimaginative and lathargic performances like we've seen today and NC will bring in a new manager I feel. I'm of the view that NC was close to sacking AP last season so don't see our chairman "giving it time".

 

It was certainly one of those games where I sensed that Reid would play a blinder in the dressing room at half-time. We seemed to come out expecting more of the same (i.e. space and time). It was as if Pardew hadn't drummed into them that they would need to be more wary of Plymouth in the second half and it sort of took them by surprise for the 1st half hour of the second half that they didn't have the space to play anymore. Just an observational hunch.

[Wade Garrett]

I've been slagged off in the past for saying that Hammond and Harding were crap, but they didn't prove me wrong today. Harding should be behind both Dickson and Mills for the left-back spot.

 

Barnard kept making the wrong runs in the box.

 

Lallana livened things up, but it was a very lacklustre performance on a par with displays like Wycombe away last season. We definitely need to sign another centre-midfielder, and if we can't sign a forward, then we should play Lallana in a free role between the midfield and Lambert.

 

Thought Butterfield did well.

[Wade Garrett]

Agree with this. Dickson made some schoolboy errors and I hope he improves or he'll bring nothing to this seasons squad compared to last seasons.

 

Play him in his normal left-back spot. He won't be any worse than Harding.

[Deppo]

This is all Cortese's fault for not allowing photographers in/charging £3 booking fee/dropping the payment scheme/making staff pay for parking/rescinding Nick Illingsworth's season ticket. We'd have won 4-0 if it wasn't for all of that.

[Nexstar]

I've been slagged off in the past for saying that Hammond and Harding were crap, but they didn't prove me wrong today. Harding should be behind both Dickson and Mills for the left-back spot.

.

 

Felt it was one of the few bad performances of Harding i've seen. Hammond seemed the only person with the bottle to shoot.

[Wade Garrett]

A few more unimaginative and lathargic performances like we've seen today and NC will bring in a new manager I feel. I'm of the view that NC was close to sacking AP last season so don't see our chairman "giving it time".

 

Yes, but sacking him early into the season would be the worst executive decision. You either sack him and give a new manager the whole pre-season to prepare, or you stick with him. Personally, I don't think we have any choice but to stick with him.

[harvey]

Felt he kept making the wrong choice. Was given plenty of ball, but couldn't get outside his man (not strong enough), didn't deliver quickly enough into the box when required (especially to feed Connolly) and wasn't quick or clever enough to turn inside and use his right peg to any great effect. Lallana showed what he should have been doing in the first half when he came on. And i think Harding delivers a much better cross than Dickson. Apart from that he had a blinder.

 

Exactly how I saw it.

[dune]

This is all Cortese's fault for not allowing photographers in/charging £3 booking fee/dropping the payment scheme/making staff pay for parking/rescinding Nick Illingsworth's season ticket. We'd have won 4-0 if it wasn't for all of that.

 

The error on NC's part is sticking with AP last season against what I think he wanted to do. They've had ll summer including a jolly to switzerland to get their act together and todays performance and result mirrored our pre season. I reckon the next few weeks are going to be very disapointing.

[Wade Garrett]

Felt it was one of the few bad performances of Harding i've seen. Hammond seemed the only person with the bottle to shoot.

 

Trouble is, Hammond couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo, his shooting is worse than his passing and his runs.

 

I've seen Harding play crap a number of times. But I suppose we all have different opinions.

[SuperMikey]

Harding was brilliant in the first half, and I didn't think he was too bad in the second either tbh. Dickson was very good in the first half, and looked okay in the second. Lallana looked bright and lively when he came on, I think if he'd started (although not feasible), we would have scored. He cuts inside and links up well with other players, and that suits players like Connolly and Barnard. We were definitely missing Lambert up top today. Onwards and upwards chaps!

[dune]

Yes, but sacking him early into the season would be the worst executive decision. You either sack him and give a new manager the whole pre-season to prepare, or you stick with him. Personally, I don't think we have any choice but to stick with him.

 

Norwich did alright after sacking Gunn, but it's not ideal i'll grant you that. Hopefully i'll be proved wrong over the next few games and we'll transform from the team I saw today and in pre season.

[Wade Garrett]

Norwich did alright after sacking Gunn...

 

That is a very good point.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Ok... Now I understand why people talk about blind optimism on here.

 

One man team.

[derry]

Here we go again. The pre season was a collection of low key mixed up teams with meaningless results that are supposedly designed to have us flying out of the blocks in the first league game. Wrong, the best teams who stay the best teams, initially play a few easy fixtures then play a series of difficult competitive games to get ready. Not us, every year it is the same and surprise surprise here we are again scratching our heads, how did this happen again to the best team in the league.

 

We are short of another good centre back, a box to box leader, pace on the flanks and a big striker to challenge Lambert. After leaving Lambert out last season Pardew stated catagorically that we needed a target man up front to cover Lambert, four months ago FFS, what happened today was incompetence, no Lambert and two little forwards and no pace.

 

This team is the basis and needs strengthening. I bet Cortese and Leibherr are going home impressed by today's result. It won't take many more results like today for the changes to be rung. So if Pardew wants to see Christmas in Southampton, he'd better get on his bike and sort out the weaknesses. It's all very well talking about missing excellent players unless we wait, if he waits too long and the results fail to improve he won't get to wait.

[VectisSaint]

Felt it was one of the few bad performances of Harding i've seen. Hammond seemed the only person with the bottle to shoot.

Apart from being partly at fault for the goal, Harding did nothing wrong, indeed he was probably best player in the 1st half. Goal was not really his fault, it was the failure to deal with the header in the first place. Hammond was poor, did not drive on in MF and his headers were misplaced (though credit for getting into good positions). Did Hammond shoot? Don't recall if he did, Spiderman had couple of shots, as did Lallana, must have missed Hammond shooting. Problem today was Puncheon down the right, we were good down the left.

[Redondo Saint]

if you look at some of the current scores in all of the games you will notice several teams that are favourites to promote, losing at home.

 

Be ****ed off with todays result, but don't write off the team or manager just yet.

Edited 7 August, 2010 by Redondo Saint
incorret spelling the american way

[Deppo]

The error on NC's part is sticking with AP last season against what I think he wanted to do. They've had ll summer including a jolly to switzerland to get their act together and todays performance and result mirrored our pre season. I reckon the next few weeks are going to be very disapointing.

 

We've had our best players sidelined for most of that pre-season. Unfortunately, it'll take them a few games to get back to their best. Patience is the key. This league is not won or lost in the first few weeks.

[Guan 2.0]

Pards not commenting on transfers on his Solent interview just now.

 

As in refusing to show his hand, or not bringing it up?

[dune]

We've had our best players sidelined for most of that pre-season. Unfortunately, it'll take them a few games to get back to their best. Patience is the key. This league is not won or lost in the first week.

 

From what I saw today it better not be won or lost in the first month at least because other teams will soon suss out that we're all hype.

[Wade Garrett]

Apart from being partly at fault for the goal, Harding did nothing wrong, indeed he was probably best player in the 1st half. Goal was not really his fault, it was the failure to deal with the header in the first place. Hammond was poor, did not drive on in MF and his headers were misplaced (though credit for getting into good positions). Did Hammond shoot? Don't recall if he did, Spiderman had couple of shots, as did Lallana, must have missed Hammond shooting. Problem today was Puncheon down the right, we were good down the left.

 

Hardngi was absolute toilet who got down with balls around him or over his head too often. For the goal it looked like he was stood in concrete. The fact that he was taken off suggests that Pardew thought he was having a mare as well.

[Nexstar]

Apart from being partly at fault for the goal, Harding did nothing wrong, indeed he was probably best player in the 1st half. Goal was not really his fault, it was the failure to deal with the header in the first place. Hammond was poor, did not drive on in MF and his headers were misplaced (though credit for getting into good positions). Did Hammond shoot? Don't recall if he did, Spiderman had couple of shots, as did Lallana, must have missed Hammond shooting. Problem today was Puncheon down the right, we were good down the left.

 

Yeah Hammond had two headers and a dragged effort IIRC

[Viking Saint]

On a hugely positive note, the skate bastards are 0-2 down

 

every cloud.....;0)

[Viking Saint]

From what I saw today it better not be won or lost in the first month at least because other teams will soon suss out that we're all hype.

 

what? you mean just like last season? ;0)

[CityRanger]

Hammond could have had a dozen goals from headers in his 50 appearances for Saints but always seems to miss. It was bugging me last year, now really getting on my t!ts!

[derry]

On a hugely positive note, the skate bastards are 0-2 down

 

every cloud.....;0)

 

With due respect Mike if they lose every game it won't get us promoted. I'm bored with all the talk of Pompey and how good we are. It's time to walk the walk and no excuses. Pardew has had his free season and now it's time to deliver or go. The pre season was a joke and the false start yet again was entirely predictable.

[dune]

what? you mean just like last season? ;0)

 

Time will tell but I think that without signing some players to improve us we are a worse team than last season and last season we weren't that good. Yes we were better than average but hardly in a comparitive mould to a man u or a chelsea in the PL.

[Arizona]

On a hugely positive note, the skate bastards are 0-2 down

 

every cloud.....;0)

 

It's a mild giggle, but fairly insignificant overall. Nobody will care about Pompey when they're an average NPC team, so there is bugger all to be jealous about now.

[Huntingdon]

I notice Simon Gillett has been sent off for Doncaster, but has apparantely been excellent

 

We looked a bit flimsy in midfield today, we may have made a mistake in getting shot of that ankle biting Gillett

[Nexstar]

I would like to see a new winger/striker for Tuesday

[Jimmy Gabriel's Halo]

Just back from the match and after much thought during the drive home I can't help but think Plymouth have done us a huge favour here. Despite the first half being played almost entirely around their penalty area and crosses and corners coming in regularly there was no one there on the end of them. Their side was made up of 8ft 15" giants almost entirely and Barnard and Connolly never had a chance in the air against any of them. Yet what does Kelvin do ? Yes, bomb very inaccurate high, long balls to them all afternoon. His distribution today was very poor. Playing pretty football is all very well in the Prem, you can get away with being a dwarf there - witness J.Defoe & M.Owen - but in L1 and CCC you do need the type of player Plymouth had today, no nonsense get stuck in and defend in depth with numbers and you will nick those 1- 0 wins you don't really deserve. So, wake up call to AP - get those two pacy wingers/forwards we need, add a BIG nasty CF to back up Ricky, someone who would have got on the end of all those crosses first half. We also need a real nasty midfield pitbull and an eventual replacement for Jaidi who quite possibly will not last the pace for a whole season. Ryan Dickson ? I was hugely underwhelmed by him today.

Oh, and by the way I'll be putting a shilling on Plymouth for an outside chance of promotion because that is the sort of team that over 46 games will probably do it.

[VectisSaint]

Hardngi was absolute toilet who got down with balls around him or over his head too often. For the goal it looked like he was stood in concrete. The fact that he was taken off suggests that Pardew thought he was having a mare as well.

Rubbish. For the goal he was running towards the ball, and could not turn as quickly as the Argyle player who was facing the other way. Clearly you do not appreciate that the goal was the result of bad defending by I think Fonte and Butters (could have been Jaidi). Did nothing else wrong and was very effective first half with Dickson, I think I tend to agree with the Sky pundits who were saying similar. Pardew took him off to make space for Lallana knowing Dickson could drop back. Pity Pardew did not replace Punch with Chamberlain at the same time.

[alpine_saint]

30 from 46 should do

 

Thanks for the reply, but I asked "when", not "how many"

[itchen_dan]

Just re watched the final few minutes on Sky+ and even Summerfield (their goalscorer) said in his interview that it is only the 1st game and you can't look too much into it.

 

Not too bothered but lets move on and bring the title home

[Saint Billy]

Ummm, my fears were justified.

Bad pre-season leads to bad start to the season. Friendlies are important!!

 

We have also again become a one man team just like the days of MLT.

 

No replacements for Waigo and Antonio.

 

Jaidi is spent.

 

For a wealthy club we have not really improved on the quality of the team, infact I would say that we are weaker.

 

What does AP say at half time FFS.

 

I like AP and have supported him when others have slagged him off, but, he is in the last chance saloon now, if he cannot put together and manage a side with the backing that he has then his days are numbered.

 

Favourites was always going to be a tag that would be uncomfortable to live with being Southampton, I just hoped it would last longer than one match.

Edited 7 August, 2010 by Saint Billy
Typo

[Rasiak-9-]

Yeah, feels weird to be on the wrong end of such a ****ty result and still not feel that disappointed.

 

But seriously, Barnard and Connolly cannot play together at all, those who were at Gillingham away last season learned this, and it was confirmed today. DON'T do that again Pards, you can cross it in all you like but if the strikers are both two little poachers YOU WONT SCORE.

 

We need a bag of pace up front as well, because whilst Connolly and Barnard are quick in the Michael Owen sense of being quick to react and quick to make good movements off the ball, neither is actually fast in the raw pace category. Get us a nippy, lanky streak off **** in now Pards.

[SaintBobby]

Thanks for the reply, but I asked "when", not "how many"

 

As far as I recall, each match in the league is worth the same. So it doesn't matter which c.30 of the 46 games you win.

 

Hope this helps

[alpine_saint]

As far as I recall, each match in the league is worth the same. So it doesn't matter which c.30 of the 46 games you win.

 

Hope this helps

 

Bit much of an ask to expect the team to go on a 30-win streak at the end of the season though, so the critical point isnt that far away.

[Causer]

That was quite a worrying performance,it exposed many faults with our squad. 1 No pace,hopefully Antonio or Phillips will come in and solve this but if not we will never break down two compact banks of four.2 No tall backup for Lambert, the 3 foot wonders can work well against teams like Reading who give them time tp drop off and receive the ball but up against League One giant centre backs they have no chance. 3 Jaidi, he has lost all pace and now has the turning circle of the QE2 and his distribution is appalling.4 Puncheon, cuts inside far far too much making him really predictable and congesting the centre of the pitch. 5 Davis, some dreadful distribution that prevented us building any attacking moves.

 

We need to improve if we want to win this division.

[CitySaint]

Really showed the missing of our 'impact' subs we had last year. Pardew's reluctance to change things basically said to the subs bench, 'I don't think you are good enough' as he was unwilling to use them. Really disappointing start, but we didn't have our best player, Man Utd don't play great without Rooney. That raises the question, 'Should Pardew have bought a Lambert-esque' replacement? The answer has to be yes, due to the 'direct' style of football we rely on. Playing without Rickie is bad enough, but having to adapt a different style of play is nigh on impossible, and Barnard and Connolly did not work well together. I have based my positive outlook for the season on a Southampton team with Rickie Lambert in it, but today's game raises more questions about the manager than anything else and I have been a Pardew supporter (and still am!). No Impact subs (antonio, Waigo disposed off) and the common criticism. No Plan B (when Rickie is injured or misfiring, what if he broke his leg tomorrow?). I thought Dickson looked good though, so could be a positive signing and Plymouth defended extremely well, although Puncheon did not make the most of the possession he had first half. 45 games to improve on, and hopefully some additions to the squad, which looked a little bereft of ideas today. 2nd half, the crowd died, but agree with most of the comments that in the Northam stand, we can not create an atmosphere for the whole stadium, whilst also understanding that different people go to the game for different reasons.

 

Overall, frustrating day and so many questions to be answered.

[NickG]

Bit much of an ask to expect the team to go on a 30-win streak at the end of the season though, so the critical point isnt that far away.

 

don't worry - pretty sure we won't go on a run of 16 defeats.

[St Marco]

Interesting to see lot's of the supposed favs across the leagues lost today (middlesborugh lost 1-3, reading lost 1-2 etc), i wonder if their forums are the same?

 

We never win our first game so guess that tradition was always set to continue.

 

I didn't see anything in the game to be worried about. We played well in 1st half, and played bad in the 2nd half. A draw would of been a fair result as they made some good saves/blocks near the end.

 

However i do think we miss a Antonio/Waigo type player. The players on the bench are a bit on the weak side. A couple of players who can add a bit of flair is what we need and hopefully we can bring them in before the window shuts.

 

1 game down, loads to go. Not the end of the world.

[saint77]

Interesting to see lot's of the supposed favs across the leagues lost today (middlesborugh lost 1-3, reading lost 1-2 etc), i wonder if their forums are the same?

 

We never win our first game so guess that tradition was always set to continue.

 

I didn't see anything in the game to be worried about. We played well in 1st half, and played bad in the 2nd half. A draw would of been a fair result as they made some good saves/blocks near the end.

 

However i do think we miss a Antonio/Waigo type player. The players on the bench are a bit on the weak side. A couple of players who can add a bit of flair is what we need and hopefully we can bring them in before the window shuts.

 

1 game down, loads to go. Not the end of the world.

best summary so far