Saints 0-0 Colchester - Reaction

[Norm]

Disappointing. First half we were dire, absolute dire. 2nd half much improved to only poor. What frustrates me is the fact that Colchester were cr*p.

 

The laugh of the day, for me, was our free kick that didn't clear the two Colchester players in the wall of TWO. Both of them were midgets! The two smallest players on the park. Summed saints up for me. Best of luck, Mr Adkins.

[Nexstar]

First half was a bore, neither side really did anything worth writing about.

 

Second half we were by far and away the better side, Adkins had clearly told them to pass it more and we did. Crosses, corners and shots were being whipped in which was nice to see. The introductions of Holmes and Dickson made a considerable difference as we piled on the pressure for the final 20 minutes and somehow didn't win - Lambert would have had a hattrick if their keeper hadn't been on top form. It was a very positive second half display, with special mentions for Holmes, Oxlade-chamberlain (who was very dangerous again), and Dan Seaborne who I thought had a very solid game at the back.

 

Would like to see Holmes start instead of Puncheon next Saturday and maybe give Guly a go instead of Hammond if we haven't brought anyone in by then.

[Weston Saint]

After a pretty nondescript first half for both teams we certainly ruled the second. Good pressure and the only thing missing was the finish.

 

No need to press the panic button yet. Signs that Adkins influences on the team are beginning to take effect. Davis playing short balls to defenders to build from the back rather than hoof, a better shape and a heads up second half performance.

[Leicestersaint]

Very poor indeed. We simply can't score anymore - and that means it is difficult to win a match!

[Minty]

Amazing how some people can see the promise, yet others see nothing except negativity. Actually, no, not amazing really... that's football I guess!

[Steel City Saint]

How are we going against Norwich 's record last season? FFS Adkins has had no impact whatsoever. Cortese and him can go and do a few underwater farts. We are ****ing **** and will never score again whilst those ****ing idiots are in charge.

 

I guarantee that you are wrong. We will score again with them in charge.

[RedArmy]

Time to get on the loan market for a central midfielder, Hammond is pony.

[bpsaint]

If we'd started the match like we played in the last 30 minutes we'd have got the 3 points I reckon. Nice to see Adkins try and actually change the game with the substitutions of Dickson and Holmes, and play 3 at the back. That's one criticism of Pardew I did have,the lack of inspiration.

 

Credit to Davis saving that one on one,although in fairness it was kicked straight at him. He still fails to command his line which always worries me,there were a couple of times he remained rooted to his line as a cross flashed through the 6 yard box. Hopefully Holmes keeps his place for the next game and Punch is dropped, he was a new level of **** today.

[Norm]

Amazing how some people can see the promise, yet others see nothing except negativity. Actually, no, not amazing really... that's football I guess!

 

 

I think my view of the 90 minutes were ruined by the dreadful first 45. I was feeling robbed even though it only cost me £15 for both of us. If that is being negative, sorry.

[Window Cleaner]

We will lose Lallana and Lambert in January, look at the teams who went up last season, Norwich are 5th in the Championship...we are a JOKE!

 

on his current scoring form losing Lambert in the middle of next week even could only bring about better things if we replaced him with someone who scores.

[Dalek2003]

How are we going against Norwich 's record last season? FFS Adkins has had no impact whatsoever. Cortese and him can go and do a few underwater farts. We are ****ing **** and will never score again whilst those ****ing idiots are in charge.

 

You want to watch it mate, if you start calling for Pardew back you will become the new 'obsessive' in the Dalek- 'Hoddle should have been appointed mode.

[captainchris]

How are we going against Norwich 's record last season? FFS Adkins has had no impact whatsoever. Cortese and him can go and do a few underwater farts. We are ****ing **** and will never score again whilst those ****ing idiots are in charge.

 

You are talking out of your ass mate!!

 

We were 1 out of 10 first half but at least NA has issued orders to play the passing game and NO hoofing it!!!

Second we were much improved and passed it well and created much more....Even Davis passed it out rather his usual hoof every single time! Second half 6.5 out of 10

 

The football second half was decent to watch and it has a far better chance of eventual improvement in results that the big long lick we have now seen for aver a year from AP. I liked the football....

 

A few comments:

 

Wilkins - why are we keeping him on the books - he has the Pardew tactic - aim at the big screen at the other end of the ground !! so what use will he be to Atkins when it comes to coaching ?- How can he coach the Atkins brand of football???????? Get rid!!

 

Players today:

 

Davis - nothing to do - distribution very average and slow to think. 6 out 10

Butterfield - a light weight , ponderous and timid in personality - not one to keep. 5

Seabourne - ok, gives away fouls in dangerous positions. 6

Fonte - Solid and good positional sense. Drives forward well. 7

Harding - off the pace 4

Schdlin - Overated - very average 6

Hammond - no comment. 4

Chamberlain - Muscled out today and didn't really produce.

Puncheon - miles out of position, completely static, no intelligence, no anticipation 3

Lambert - played well - good control always showing for the ball, missed a chance but thought he played well. 7

Bernard - Lively, played well but never a threat. Tends to receive the ball back to goal rather than make runs.

 

Subs:

Holmes - Very lively and so much more intelligent than Puncheon. 7

Dixon - Played well 6

 

Comments: 442 is producing no goals. We are now a passing team with a weak midfield - change to a 451 until we have different personnel in...............

 

Like what I see of Atkins so far and would pay to watch this kind football - the goals will come in time. Forget trying to get promotion this year and concentrate on long term - if we get there though great!

[Saints foreva]

Hammond was awful today, those two midgets in Colchester midfield bullied him.

[The Cat]

Much better, especially second half. Good shape to the team.

 

Nice to see Puncheon is not above being subbed now. Would like to see Hammond replaced though. I think we need a more athletic midfielder, someone who can get into the space behind the strikers a lot quicker, especially if our wide midfielders are cutting in less.

[manji]

Poor first half but came out for second with intent. Must have been a good half-time talk. Substitutions worked. If it wasnt for thier keeper we would have scored. Not to mention at least one hand-ball that should have been a penalty for us. Players bar Lambert looked fitter and more up for it. I think the Adkins effect is starting to work. I dunno what was going on with Pardew and the players but he was obviously dragging down team morale.

Listened to the Hammond interview on the way home and I thought he made a telling comment on the players were training "with a smile on thier faces again".

[teamsaint]

Hammond was awful today, those two midgets in Colchester midfield bullied him.

 

perhaps they are better than Hammond.

 

Bally was a "midget".........

[Crab Lungs]

Amazing how some people can see the promise, yet others see nothing except negativity. Actually, no, not amazing really... that's football I guess!

 

I'll think you'll find it's the usual Saints suicide squad.

 

FWIW, I'm getting bored of reading over-the-top whinging so if they could just hurry up with the blades and get it over with....

 

Edit: Oh, and cue "surprise" that Holmes is actually good. Yes, he is good. Glad you've realised!

[Window Cleaner]

perhaps they are better than Hammond.

 

Bally was a "midget".........

 

midfield midgets bite yer balls

[Kingsland Red]

I thought the second half was good.

Nice to get a point against Colchester, from memory over the last few seasons we normally lose to them.

Lallana and Richardson to come in.

Onwards and upwards.

[saintjay77]

A point is better than none and it sounds like we were still creating chances so with a clean sheet we have improved. Moving in the right direction it seems. Another clean sheet and a winning goal must be the next step. Then look to putting a run together. So we have taken the 1st step at least. Hope the next step is in the same direction as the 1st.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Mmm, first half very poor - all players = 3. Second half was a different story, although Lambert, Hammond and Puncheon should be shot. Holmes and Dickson were a breath of fresh air when they came on - Holmes far superior to Puncheon and I hope he gets rewarded with a start. Barnard was everywhere and considering he's carrying an injury apparently, he had a fantastic game. As others have said, we need a replacement for Hammond - someone who has the nouse to take the ball through the middle and provide some 'on the ground to feet' service to the forwards, or indeed actually puts a decent shot on target.

 

Last word for the Ref and Lino on the Kingsland side => ******! We had a perfect stone-wall penalty claim for handball in the dying minutes of the 2nd half, which was turned down (Lino basically ignored it).

[Professor]

How are we going against Norwich 's record last season? FFS Adkins has had no impact whatsoever. Cortese and him can go and do a few underwater farts. We are ****ing **** and will never score again whilst those ****ing idiots are in charge.

Dear Mr Kingsbridge, inevitable to be disapointed but I don't think you are quite accurate there. Nigel Adkins has been in the post for less than a week, and has clearly inherited a set of problems, ie., a team that has lost all its games since the last manager left and has only had one league win so far this season. Clearly it is too early to draw any conclusion as to how good a manager, Adkins is, but he certainly is not an 'idiot' and neither is the Chairman. Cortese may have taken decisions many of us don't understand or agree with, but that does not make him stupid.

Your prediction that the team will never score another goal until there is new management does look rather extreme, and I would not recommend you placing a bet on it with William Hill.

Otherwise, I thought your post was excellent.

[captainchris]

Can I just say.....Colchester barely got a kick today. Our passing though not perfect was 1000% better than I've seen from Saints for many many games - most of last year in fact.

 

I give Atkins 9 out of 10 today for his tactics, game plan, structure, substitutions. and quality of instructions to the players on how to play...none of which are his players remember...

 

Would have given 10 for the win!

 

Things are looking very good for the future....

[rocknrollman no2]

Hammond was awful today, those two midgets in Colchester midfield bullied him.

 

Totally agree with this.I dont think Hammond won a tackle all game.

Today was like watching a team of five year olds play.There was no movement and everyone was bunched up in the middle.With the amount of free kicks and corners we had,we should have at least got one goal,but this being Saints we typically got nothing.

A lot of work ahead for Mr Adkins i think.

[saintscottofthenortham]

How are we going against Norwich 's record last season? FFS Adkins has had no impact whatsoever. Cortese and him can go and do a few underwater farts. We are ****ing **** and will never score again whilst those ****ing idiots are in charge.

 

IMO... You are off your nut mate.

 

2 problems today. Hammond and Puncheon. Hammond purely for being what he is, an utterly sh*t footballer. Puncheon? Someone please tell me where the Puncheon we signed has gone? His first four or so games for us, he was fantastic. Now... well, words can't express how much I despise that man at present. Every ball, he wasted, every corner he was allowed near he wasted, every free kick he was allowed near he wasted, the space on the teamsheet he took up he wasted, every single aspect of Jason F*CKING Puncheon is a complete and utter waste of F*cking space at the moment. Oxo on the right, Dickson/Holmes on the left would do me nicely.

 

On a brighter note... Wasn't it fantastic to watch some proper football in that 2nd half? No hoofball, no like for like subs when our game needed changing, add to that the fact that subs happened before 85 minutes was an improvement. I'm looking forward to what Adkins will bring to us, because I hated how we played under AP.

 

Had to laugh at how many people on the walk away from the ground come out with "Bloody new manager and NOTHING has changed, he aint got a clue!" What on earth is someone supposed to do in 5 F*CKING days!? Some fans make me want to explode.

[70's Mike]

Still looked like a collection of individuals who do not like each other, players on the ball have very few options on who to pass to, hence the ball gets launched forward at Bernard.

something is still not right in the camp

[Trader]

You are talking out of your ass mate!!

 

We were 1 out of 10 first half but at least NA has issued orders to play the passing game and NO hoofing it!!!

Second we were much improved and passed it well and created much more....Even Davis passed it out rather his usual hoof every single time! Second half 6.5 out of 10

 

The football second half was decent to watch and it has a far better chance of eventual improvement in results that the big long lick we have now seen for aver a year from AP. I liked the football....

 

A few comments:

 

Wilkins - why are we keeping him on the books - he has the Pardew tactic - aim at the big screen at the other end of the ground !! so what use will he be to Atkins when it comes to coaching ?- How can he coach the Atkins brand of football???????? Get rid!!

 

Players today:

 

Davis - nothing to do - distribution very average and slow to think. 6 out 10

Butterfield - a light weight , ponderous and timid in personality - not one to keep. 5

Seabourne - ok, gives away fouls in dangerous positions. 6

Fonte - Solid and good positional sense. Drives forward well. 7

Harding - off the pace 4

Schdlin - Overated - very average 6

Hammond - no comment. 4

Chamberlain - Muscled out today and didn't really produce.

Puncheon - miles out of position, completely static, no intelligence, no anticipation 3

Lambert - played well - good control always showing for the ball, missed a chance but thought he played well. 7

Bernard - Lively, played well but never a threat. Tends to receive the ball back to goal rather than make runs.

 

Subs:

Holmes - Very lively and so much more intelligent than Puncheon. 7

Dixon - Played well 6

 

Comments: 442 is producing no goals. We are now a passing team with a weak midfield - change to a 451 until we have different personnel in...............

 

Like what I see of Atkins so far and would pay to watch this kind football - the goals will come in time. Forget trying to get promotion this year and concentrate on long term - if we get there though great!

 

Thank you for your expert view.

 

Worryingly though you don't seem to have learned our manager's name yet.

[harvey]

Poor first half but came out for second with intent. Must have been a good half-time talk. Substitutions worked. If it wasnt for thier keeper we would have scored. Not to mention at least one hand-ball that should have been a penalty for us. Players bar Lambert looked fitter and more up for it. I think the Adkins effect is starting to work. I dunno what was going on with Pardew and the players but he was obviously dragging down team morale.

Listened to the Hammond interview on the way home and I thought he made a telling comment on the players were training "with a smile on thier faces again".

 

Excellent!!!!!! how many points do you get for having a smile on your face?...........Hammond hasn't lived up to the hype btw.

[stknowle]

Hammond was awful today, those two midgets in Colchester midfield bullied him.

 

Was Puncheon any good?

[madruss]

Just back from the game. A definite step in the right direction (albeit a small one). For once we started pretty slowly, Colchester were all over us and deserved to be at least 1 up after 20 or so minutes. The rest of the first half was very very dire and neither side created any real chances of note.

 

Second half was much better, and is the reason I think we're starting to turn the corner. There was urgency, positivity and a sense of purpose that has been lacking from every second half performance this season (including in Pardew's 3 games). At least two stonewall penalties were turned down, watch the one 10 minutes from time if they show it on the football league show - absolutely nailed on pen, then the cowardly lino gave us a corner even though the ball hadn't crossed the line!!!

 

Another positive was Adkins' double substitution, really revitalised the left hand side and it almost paid off within seconds as Holmes shot just wide.

 

There's a long way to go before we're the best team in the league again, but if we get a striker, CM (unless Hammond sorts himself out quickly) and right winger on loan then I reckon NA will have us back up the table in no time.

 

My ratings for what it's worth

 

Davis 6 -The good (save at the end), the bad (some of his kicking to no-one) and the ugly (nearly letting the ball bounce over his head into an open net in the first half) from Kelvin today.

Butterfield 6 - another solid performance today, didn't get forward as much as in previous games but then most of our attacking came down the left so not really surprising.

Fonte 7 - This is the Fonte we expect, solid in the tackle, great in the air and excellent distribution along the ground

Seaborne 7 - Quite impressed with DS, although he didn't get to grips with their striker in the first half he improved as the game went on. Also his distribution was superb, a complete world away from Jaidi who (this season) can only find the touchline with his forward passes

Harding 5 - not at his best, Colchester offered little going forward down the right and I would have expected Dan to be more of a threat going forward

Puncheon 5 - A couple of good deliveries from open play, but set pieces again were absolutely shocking and he wasn't much of a threat, even when the appalling Lloyd James came on!!

Schneiderlin 9 MOM - Absolutely world class. He did the job of two midfielders today, and he bloody had to because Hammond was AWOL. He tackled hard, put in a lot of running to create space and was pretty much the only player who actively wanted the ball...often he was the only outlet and he started most of our attacks. He popped up on the left, the right, in the box, and the piece de resistance was a superb bit of athleticism in our penalty area to clear from a dangerous situation. Far too good for league 1, but his commitment to the cause should be noted especially by the likes of Hammond.

Hammond 4 - Quite awful, a succession of misplaced passes, mistimed tackles, getting dispossessed far too easily by the platinum blonde midget. Such a shame because he was excellent against Bolton and looked like he had found some form. Perhaps he's having trouble coming to terms with AP leaving, whatever, he needs to get over it and start putting in captain's performances.

Chamberlain 5 - Anonymous in the first half, but perked up in the second and gave their full back a lot of problems. There's a lot of pressure on the lad, he's only 17 yet he's our only naturally right sided midfielder (and one used to playing in a central role). He's going to be quite some player, but today I think the pressure got to him a bit. We need cover in, and fast.

Barnard 7 - Great to have him back in the side. A lot of the time he was doing the job of two strikers, because Lambert wasn't challenging or making space or winning headers. Had a good turn and shot in the first half, and it was his run and cross which instigated the stonewall penalty 10 mins from time.

Lambert 4 - As others have commented, he's just not right at the moment. He's at least a yard and a half off the pace, he doesn't challenge with any vigour he pulls out of tackles, he's not the force he was in the air (last season he won literally every aerial challenge, or at least it seemed like he did - today it was 1 in 5, if that). He isn't fit. Whether it's mental or physical fitness I don't know, but it needs sorting and I pray that Adkins knows how. At the moment we have no choice but to play him, but if we had a decent loan player or a working 4-5-1 formation then I would suggest he's dropped until he sorts himself out.

That said, his free-kicks are fine at the moment and he was desperately unlucky not to score in stoppage time. But we can't have a passenger in the side just for his free-kicks, we might as well put Matty on the pitch with that reasoning

 

Subs:

Dickson 6 - made a difference when he came on, and formed an excellent partnership with Holmes. Made one superb run that had echoes of the one for Brentford at St. Mary's that set up their equaliser.

Holmes 7 - very impressed with Holmes, he was positive and direct and put good deliveries into the box. If he had Puncheon's pace he'd be a hell of a player.

[Window Cleaner]

IMO... You are off your nut mate.

 

, the space on the teamsheet he took up he wasted, .

 

:lol::lol::lol::lol::

[saintscottofthenortham]

I'll think you'll find it's the usual Saints suicide squad.

 

FWIW, I'm getting bored of reading over-the-top whinging so if they could just hurry up with the blades and get it over with....

 

Edit: Oh, and cue "surprise" that Holmes is actually good. Yes, he is good. Glad you've realised!

 

Can't remember what game it was last season (was away from home) but Holmesy got a start, was bloody brilliant, barely put a foot wrong and caused the oppo's RB havoc. Next game, dropped, never to be seen again under AP. I have never, and will never understand why. He really is a quality player.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Thank you for your expert view.

 

Worryingly though you don't seem to have learned our manager's name yet.

 

And he hasn't caught the name of the Left Back/Left Winger we signed from Brentford either by the looks of it...

[Crab Lungs]

Can't remember what game it was last season (was away from home) but Holmesy got a start, was bloody brilliant, barely put a foot wrong and caused the oppo's RB havoc. Next game, dropped, never to be seen again under AP. I have never, and will never understand why. He really is a quality player.

 

I too am of that opinion. Almost every time I've seen him he's looked a good winger - whether that was in the Champ or L1.

[LostBoys]

I was encouraged by the better second half after a dire first one. The simple fact is that we mullered Colchester (without scoring) and with performances by a number of players that were woeful. I am encouraged by the subs that came on. i have gone from to

[Running Man]

Shame we didn't win, but yes, much better second half which shows a significant change in mentality. We kept going, didn't let our heads drop or get frustrated, and showed that physical fitness clearly isn't that bad, and that with a bit more mental sharpness and application we can keep going for 95 minutes.

 

Adkins has only had a short time here, but he has clearly been able to lift the heads a bit and keep them focused for 90 minutes. Something to build on.

 

I completely agree with Minty. I actually came away having enjoyed the game today. I can't say the same about any of the other home games.

 

We showed a definite improvement in commitment particularly in the second half and had there keeper not pulled off three pretty good saves from Rickie we could easily have won the game.

 

A plus point for me were our subs. Dickson did what he's meant to but Holmes I thought deserved special mention for a strong performance and putting in some fine corners. I've never rated him in the past.

 

I feel more optimistic about our season now. Good work Mr Adkins.

[simo]

Wtf was their player up to when one on one he should of buried it looked like he flapped big time

[shinyhappysaint]

Pretty much agree with this Post - apart from: -

1) I would give Saints performance in the second half no more than a 5 out of 10. Very poor performance today, 1st game at home with our new manager, and I would have expected at the very least 100% fight and desire straight away.

2) Lambert was one of the worst players on the pitch, can not remember him winning a header and his attitude/energy is far from right. Couple of good free kicks maybe!

 

Schdlin is in my opinion VERY overrated and I have never liked him or hardly ever noticed him in midfield.

Hammond is poor full stop.

These 2 are the most urgent replacements I.M.O closely followed by Lambert.

 

Two really frustrating things with todays performance for me was that 99% of the crosses did not get past the 1st man - unacceptable in the professional game!

And there were many occasions where the ball fell loose in the area or on the edge of the area and we not once had anyone there anticipating it.

In the last 15/20 mins, if we had a natural goal poacher, we would have got at least 2 goals.

[Liquidshokk]

Wtf was their player up to when one on one he should of buried it looked like he flapped big time

 

That was a seriously insane moment and I was about to go into a fit of rage if that had gone in. Lucky for those around me he ****ed it up...

[Legod Third Coming]

Well that was better, for the first time this season I've come away from St Mary's feeling slightly lifted, rather than down after a dull-pointless performance.

 

There was only one team in this game, Colchester didn't play at all - they were so bad. The first half was ok, nothing special and we weren't enough threat, we had so much possession but did so little with it.

 

the 2nd half was more like it though....pace, energy, drive and we shot at goal! The keeper pulled off 2 fantastic saves in the 2nd half, one in the last second of the game and also pushed away a corner that was destined for seabornes head....and we possibly should have had at least 1 penality, although i couldn't see it that clearly. They'd obviously had a talking to at half time because it was much better, probably as well as we've played all season for a consistant amount of time as we had them penned in all half........but christ, that one break away colchester had in the 86th min felt like hell, we would not have deserved it and it would have been seriously hard to swallow...thank **** they were **** though.

 

Lambert looked a bit better, brought players into play like last season but is still cleary way off match fitness (As you can see when he keeps pulling up). Barnard improved our attack, much more livley than we have been and was full of energy and running, it kept their back 4 pushed right back and helped us dominate as much as we have.

 

The goals will come, we cannot play as well as we did in the 2nd half all season and fail to score again. Unfortunatley these results aren't helpung us, we're dropping off now and auto promotion is possibly almost becoming a distant dream.

 

Once we get a goal though, i can sense the confidence will flow through this team. We just need a break and we'll start ticking again, i think we may need a little help from the loan market though.

 

No point me posting other than to say the above is 100% accurate.

[Saint_lambden]

Wtf was their player up to when one on one he should of buried it looked like he flapped big time

 

Haven't got a clue how either of their two players in that attack didn't score - the first one stopped instead of shooting and the 2nd one's shot was ****.

 

Much improved 2nd half , but I think we must be the most frustrating football team in the world to watch.

 

Need that win next week - Carlisle won at Sheff Wednesday a few weeks back - so we can do it.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

A game of two half's if ever I saw one. If we continue to play like we did for the first 50 minutes, then we'll be bumping alone the bottom of the table all season frankly. On the other hand if we can carry over the form that we finished the game in ... well I think we could still do alright even now.

 

By the way - the ref 'bottled' at least one clear penalty decision in the second half.

[ribbo]

Just back from the game. A definite step in the right direction (albeit a small one). For once we started pretty slowly, Colchester were all over us and deserved to be at least 1 up after 20 or so minutes. The rest of the first half was very very dire and neither side created any real chances of note.

 

Second half was much better, and is the reason I think we're starting to turn the corner. There was urgency, positivity and a sense of purpose that has been lacking from every second half performance this season (including in Pardew's 3 games). At least two stonewall penalties were turned down, watch the one 10 minutes from time if they show it on the football league show - absolutely nailed on pen, then the cowardly lino gave us a corner even though the ball hadn't crossed the line!!!

 

Another positive was Adkins' double substitution, really revitalised the left hand side and it almost paid off within seconds as Holmes shot just wide.

 

There's a long way to go before we're the best team in the league again, but if we get a striker, CM (unless Hammond sorts himself out quickly) and right winger on loan then I reckon NA will have us back up the table in no time.

 

My ratings for what it's worth

 

Davis 6 -The good (save at the end), the bad (some of his kicking to no-one) and the ugly (nearly letting the ball bounce over his head into an open net in the first half) from Kelvin today.

Butterfield 6 - another solid performance today, didn't get forward as much as in previous games but then most of our attacking came down the left so not really surprising.

Fonte 7 - This is the Fonte we expect, solid in the tackle, great in the air and excellent distribution along the ground

Seaborne 7 - Quite impressed with DS, although he didn't get to grips with their striker in the first half he improved as the game went on. Also his distribution was superb, a complete world away from Jaidi who (this season) can only find the touchline with his forward passes

Harding 5 - not at his best, Colchester offered little going forward down the right and I would have expected Dan to be more of a threat going forward

Puncheon 5 - A couple of good deliveries from open play, but set pieces again were absolutely shocking and he wasn't much of a threat, even when the appalling Lloyd James came on!!

Schneiderlin 9 MOM - Absolutely world class. He did the job of two midfielders today, and he bloody had to because Hammond was AWOL. He tackled hard, put in a lot of running to create space and was pretty much the only player who actively wanted the ball...often he was the only outlet and he started most of our attacks. He popped up on the left, the right, in the box, and the piece de resistance was a superb bit of athleticism in our penalty area to clear from a dangerous situation. Far too good for league 1, but his commitment to the cause should be noted especially by the likes of Hammond.

Hammond 4 - Quite awful, a succession of misplaced passes, mistimed tackles, getting dispossessed far too easily by the platinum blonde midget. Such a shame because he was excellent against Bolton and looked like he had found some form. Perhaps he's having trouble coming to terms with AP leaving, whatever, he needs to get over it and start putting in captain's performances.

Chamberlain 5 - Anonymous in the first half, but perked up in the second and gave their full back a lot of problems. There's a lot of pressure on the lad, he's only 17 yet he's our only naturally right sided midfielder (and one used to playing in a central role). He's going to be quite some player, but today I think the pressure got to him a bit. We need cover in, and fast.

Barnard 7 - Great to have him back in the side. A lot of the time he was doing the job of two strikers, because Lambert wasn't challenging or making space or winning headers. Had a good turn and shot in the first half, and it was his run and cross which instigated the stonewall penalty 10 mins from time.

Lambert 4 - As others have commented, he's just not right at the moment. He's at least a yard and a half off the pace, he doesn't challenge with any vigour he pulls out of tackles, he's not the force he was in the air (last season he won literally every aerial challenge, or at least it seemed like he did - today it was 1 in 5, if that). He isn't fit. Whether it's mental or physical fitness I don't know, but it needs sorting and I pray that Adkins knows how. At the moment we have no choice but to play him, but if we had a decent loan player or a working 4-5-1 formation then I would suggest he's dropped until he sorts himself out.

That said, his free-kicks are fine at the moment and he was desperately unlucky not to score in stoppage time. But we can't have a passenger in the side just for his free-kicks, we might as well put Matty on the pitch with that reasoning

 

Subs:

Dickson 6 - made a difference when he came on, and formed an excellent partnership with Holmes. Made one superb run that had echoes of the one for Brentford at St. Mary's that set up their equaliser.

Holmes 7 - very impressed with Holmes, he was positive and direct and put good deliveries into the box. If he had Puncheon's pace he'd be a hell of a player.

 

thats not a bad write up to be fair, i'll add a couple of points though, Barnard was being held and fouled all over the shop and still he didnt give up, we could have had a couple of pens and how many handballs did the ref miss?! Morgan was outstanding, the posession in the second half was great to see again and the reason i think harding didnt have a good time was purely that he finds it ****ing hard to play on the same flank as puncheon.

 

dickson + holmes although lacking match sharpness played very well and you could see that holmes would drop inside when dickson wanted to overlap, a whole week of training ground work ahead now before next saturday, NA should have time to improve the lads.

[Legod Third Coming]

Pretty much agree with this Post - apart from: -

1) I would give Saints performance in the second half no more than a 5 out of 10. Very poor performance today, 1st game at home with our new manager, and I would have expected at the very least 100% fight and desire straight away.

2) Lambert was one of the worst players on the pitch, can not remember him winning a header and his attitude/energy is far from right. Couple of good free kicks maybe!

 

Schdlin is in my opinion VERY overrated and I have never liked him or hardly ever noticed him in midfield.

Hammond is poor full stop.

These 2 are the most urgent replacements I.M.O closely followed by Lambert.

 

Two really frustrating things with todays performance for me was that 99% of the crosses did not get past the 1st man - unacceptable in the professional game!

And there were many occasions where the ball fell loose in the area or on the edge of the area and we not once had anyone there anticipating it.

In the last 15/20 mins, if we had a natural goal poacher, we would have got at least 2 goals.

 

What game were you at?

 

The second half we showed pace. energy and commitment throughout. Both Homles and Puncheon hit good corners. Morgan had two poor freekicks which hit the first man/wall, otherwise our crossing was good. Dickson should start and although I think Hammond is a waste of a shirt, he hit two sensational balls - one which a fit Lambert would have lashed into the net and the second set up Chamberlain and then Barnard for a good chance.

 

If we play like we did for the second half for the remainder of the season, promotion is well within our grasp.

[madruss]

Pretty much agree with this Post - apart from: -

1) I would give Saints performance in the second half no more than a 5 out of 10. Very poor performance today, 1st game at home with our new manager, and I would have expected at the very least 100% fight and desire straight away.

2) Lambert was one of the worst players on the pitch, can not remember him winning a header and his attitude/energy is far from right. Couple of good free kicks maybe!

 

Schdlin is in my opinion VERY overrated and I have never liked him or hardly ever noticed him in midfield.

Hammond is poor full stop.

These 2 are the most urgent replacements I.M.O closely followed by Lambert.

 

Two really frustrating things with todays performance for me was that 99% of the crosses did not get past the 1st man - unacceptable in the professional game!

And there were many occasions where the ball fell loose in the area or on the edge of the area and we not once had anyone there anticipating it.

In the last 15/20 mins, if we had a natural goal poacher, we would have got at least 2 goals.

 

Very surprising to see anyone say that about Morgan today. I thought he was excellent, and out of all the players on the pitch he was the one who wanted the ball most and if you were to watch the game back you'd see that pretty much every move was started off my him and he was often the only outlet at throw-ins, free kicks or for the centre backs to pass it out of defence rather than hoofing it.

 

I reckon you must have been confusing him for Hammond today, easy to do given that Morgan was doing Hammond's job for him for most of the game.

[sidthesquid]

Adkins just on solent saying Connolly had a scan in the week on a hip problem, and Barnard's got a problem as well...

 

We are seriously thin on the striker front.

 

You could hardly accuse Rickie on that front!

[Tom8558]

Well I watched Winchester City and they lost 2 - 0 so a pretty rubbish day for football to be honest.

[sidthesquid]

Can't remember what game it was last season (was away from home) but Holmesy got a start, was bloody brilliant, barely put a foot wrong and caused the oppo's RB havoc. Next game, dropped, never to be seen again under AP. I have never, and will never understand why. He really is a quality player.

 

His problem is that he is hardly ever fit. He makes Pahars look like Franny on the fitness front. I don't think he has ever been fit for more than three weeks in a row since we signed, which is a shame as he undoubtedly has talent.

[manji]

Excellent!!!!!! how many points do you get for having a smile on your face?...........Hammond hasn't lived up to the hype btw.

 

the point I was trying make was that its seems when Pardew was manager all was not right with the team in training......agree about Hammond BTW.

[shinyhappysaint]

Very surprising to see anyone say that about Morgan today. I thought he was excellent, and out of all the players on the pitch he was the one who wanted the ball most and if you were to watch the game back you'd see that pretty much every move was started off my him and he was often the only outlet at throw-ins, free kicks or for the centre backs to pass it out of defence rather than hoofing it.

 

I reckon you must have been confusing him for Hammond today, easy to do given that Morgan was doing Hammond's job for him for most of the game.

 

No, definitely no confusion!

If I look hard for him on the pitch most games, he always seems to be running around alot, but mainly achieving nothing, seems unsure of his positioning.

I did spot him today out there attempting to play these long (beautiful when they work) passes out to the wings, mainly Chamberlains way, but I can not remember one actually reaching him. Waste of space in my opinion along with Hammond