Yeovil 1-1 Saints - Post-match reactions

[brightspark]

A points a point but we can't afford too many dropped points now we've done our honourary 'f**k up the start of the season' show.

 

Its typical that the top two is Brighton and Bournemouth. I suppose it had to be. Bournemouth is probably our first must win game of the season - they will be ecstatic to just be above us so to avoid a defeat against us at SMS would just spurr them on and knock the stuffing out of us again.

 

Its funny what a win can do because this is the first game since Rochdale that I actually cared about. COYR

[The Cat]

Not bad, not great.

 

Don't know if it was a penalty as it was up the other end. Thought once we'd taken the lead we'd go on and win. Guly looked good once we he went to the centre. People may have thought it was a negative substitution taking Barnard off but it gave us more, and different options and we started looking for quick balls through the middle rather than just relying on the ball out wide.

 

Lambert's shot that hit the bar was a screamer, other than that he played pretty much like he has been.

 

Wouldn't say Hammond was our best player, but he did well. Morgan was the stand out for me, his run that set up the goal was excellent. Well taken by Guly too, who was very unlucky with the shot that hit the post.

[dickyhale]

Just back Not a great game and Yeovil were happy with a point. Lambert unlucky not to score first have with a cracker. Guly scored a good goal and unlucky not to score again the hitting the post. Could not see the penalty as it was the other end and we were stood in the rain. Long drive home to the sat nav was playing silly buggers. Anyway better get off to bed as got to take Ding dong to school 8.30..If we are going to gain promotion we have to win games like this therefore another 2 points dropped

[St Landrew]

What shall I say..? Disappointed. Should have won..? One point away, in the circumstances is not enough. Yeovil are struggling and we didn't take advantage.

 

People will say: Andy, did you see the match..?

 

I'll say: It doesn't matter. I expect better.

 

Rather Alpine like, aren't I..?

[saints triumph]

Was like a home game, in as much as yeovil played like the away side and had 11 men behind the ball most of the time and we couldnt break them down, sounds familiar eh. Hit the woodwork twice and had a shot cleared off the line. How many times have we hit the woodwork so far this season? Plenty of wet Saints fans there but the atmosphere they created was crap.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

So who was it that hoofed the ball and gave it away before they came back up the field and won the penalty? Who are the hoofers in the side to which Adkins refers? Don't get much chance to watch the Saints over here - only seen them about 8 times in two years - lost every single one of them. So who are the hoofers this season? Who repeatedly bottles it when in possession?

[saintwiz]

Promotion is now out of the question. What a useless bunch of players, they continue to let their supporters down.

Worse team that I have ever seen at Southampton.

 

Are you sure happy chap?

[David Strover]

Promotion is now out of the question. What a useless bunch of players, they continue to let their supporters down.

Worse team that I have ever seen at Southampton

 

Hmmmm - haven't been watching Saints for that long then have you? Remember the first season in the old First Division? I think the t'internet would have exploded with indignate Saints fans in those days.

 

Just avoided relegation conceded 92 goals in 42 matches...

[teamsaint]

a bit of patience would help Adkins and the team. 5 points from 1 home and 2 away games is actually close to promotion form. It has been a really disappointing start, but there is plenty to play for. Getting either Lallana fit or Lambert in form would make a huge difference.

 

Pretty worried about saturday though.........

[hughieslastminutegoal]

This means we have got the same 9 points this season that we had last year at the same stage, but last year we had the excuse of players still coming into the side during Aug and Sept.

It is true that if the team is transformed and begins to win games the picture will improve, but last October, with new players settling in, we won 5 league games and drew 1, with 15 goals for and 6 against. Does anyone expect us to do that on the basis of the current form of the current squad?

 

The one bright spot is Adkins' criticism of the players in his post-match notes, and that he feels they are not playing to his instructions. Maybe some of them are not up to it, but at least he is telling them how it can be done.

There's just something in the back of my mind telling me they aren't the same 9 points. I think you'll find they are actually 9 of the 10 that were deducted last year. I was going to make another point, but I am waiting for Adkins instructions, although like the players I'll probably ignore them.

Edited 29 September, 2010 by hughieslastminutegoal

[lethallee]

I thought Adkins post match comments were spot on. Should of won game but didn't pass the ball well enough after scoring. Makes the game sound simple - get likes of lallana and Puncheon receiving the ball in dangerous areas and they will destroy teams. He seems to be very confident in his own ability and also team's ability. Still wants to win league... now that's positive thinking !!

[Kingsland Codger]

Was like a home game, in as much as yeovil played like the away side and had 11 men behind the ball most of the time and we couldnt break them down, sounds familiar eh. Hit the woodwork twice and had a shot cleared off the line. How many times have we hit the woodwork so far this season? Plenty of wet Saints fans there but the atmosphere they created was crap.

 

Very true about hitting the woodwork.

 

I regard 'hitting the woodwork' as another term for 'poor finishing' - so at the next training session it should be target practice for the lot of them.

[saints-cris]

Bit of a frustrating result last night, and yes the league table doesn't look great reading but there is so long to go. We are turning it around now I feel, not playing brilliantly and still picking up points.

 

If you said to me before the Sheff Wed game that we'd get 4 points from Sheff Wed and Yoevil away, I would definately have taken it.

[OldNick]

A laboured performance. We shift the ball too slowly and whilst methodical there is no zip.

AL came on and RL became our centre forward again, he seems to enjoy linking with AL.

KD had a poor game for his high standards, looked quite unsettled.

Super goal with Morgan doing what he should every game, by driving towards goal and laying off the ball for Guly to beautifully put the ball away.

All those fans who dont rate Guly will eat their words.

IMO NA made a mistake putting him wide, only after they equalised did he bring him infield and then he was everywhere. Once he adapts to English football he will be a super player for us.

We were undone by a long ball and Seaborne who was good made a rash tackle instead of letting their forward take a shot from a bit of an angle.

Jaidi was strong although doesnt seem to be able to head straight.

Overall we could/should have won a great turn out of fans but the open end made it difficult for the fans to make a noise.

Dont park in the away fans car park, we were there an hour trying to get out, add to that the sat nav playing up.

KD 4

DH 7

DB 5

DS 6

RJ 7

MS 8

DH 7

JP 7

OC 6

LB 6

RL 7

AL 8

GDP 8.5

[Weston Saint]

I did not see the game but went off to bed last night very disappointed with the result especially as we had taken the lead. However this morning having read Chap in the Chapel posts, a posters view I respect, and then reading Adkins after match comments I feel a little more confident that we will get it right soon.

 

Adkins pulled no punches and identified our problems with ease. We need to pass the ball, we need to keep possession, we need to get width and we need to get quality balls in. These are fundamental issues and easily put right with the quality of players we have.

 

A good insight into what he thinks of Guly as well. Using Adkins words “........he's got to realise as well it's not just what you do when you've got the football, you've got to work hard as well. He'll learn that coming into English football but he has quality.” “It's going to be very difficult for him - he doesn't know the language, he's come to a different country, a different environment and it would be hard for anybody to settle in and we need to allow him the time to do that. He's obviously a quality player with where he's come from and we've got to allow him that time.”

 

We have the right Manager and a decent squad. It just needs a little more time and a couple of loan signings until the transfer window opens. If Adkins can get the team playing the way he wants I am going to enjoy the football and not worry too much about the end of season just yet.

 

Bournemouth on Saturday will now be a very interesting game.

[fanimal]

How can you make an atmosphere in an open end and ****ing rain and wind??!!

 

Their team and fans reaction said it all to me, cheered like they had won! ALL THESE TEAMS FIGHT LIKE HELL AGAINST US. Another day we would have won 4-0, just no bloody luck at all at the moment, not one slip, drop, deflection, mistake, zilch, even on a skating rink of a pitch.

 

Just wish Morgan (who was great) would shoot! And Davis should stand still for penalties, yet again hit down the middle, see the OS pic!

 

I parked in the home car park as the away was full up, got out easy, back in Soton 11.15

[rooney]

NA interview on Radio Solent said it all.He was clearly frustrated at the Hoofing and the penalty give away, both being at odds with instructions. I suspect Seabourne will be dropped on Saturday.

[Bourno]

Some random thoughts on last night.

 

£2 for a cheeseburger was good value.

 

A packed (standing!) away end produced one of the worst atmospheres I can remember.

 

Guly was pretty good tonight, and you could tell his team mates have a bit more confidence in him as they were passing it to him, previously I have noticed that he has been in good positions but has not received the pass.

 

Seaborne looked like a rabbit caught in headlights everytime he received the ball, he really doesn't look comfortable and unsure of what do do with it. Ricky gave him a rollocking in the first half when there was an easy ball to him through the middle but he chose to hoof it out to the wing.

 

The back 4 seem to have a routine that when they have the ball at the back they have to pass it across the line. It is all a bit predicatable.

 

When Puncy moved to the right wing in the 2nd half he kept drifiting inside and left a massive space on the wing. We really needed someone out there to stretch the play.

 

Their number 7 should have been booked in the first half for a dive in the box. Apart from that it was one of the better reffing performances of the season. The lino needed to keep up though.

 

Lambert is not winning his headers like he was last season, seems like he is not jumping for half of them.

 

We are lacking that spark of creativity, Lallana is providing it when he comes on, but we need more.

[Saint Bowood]

Would agree with saint triumph it was like a home game. 1st half Yeovil stayed in their own half and tried to hit us on the break and at the moment we don't have the confidence or the craft to break teams down like we did last season. Lallana and Lambert, fit and on form would do that for us and thats the big miss. Without that Spiderman and Deano are workmanlike in midfield but rarely threaten and as such are easily contained by opposition filling the midfield. All too often they have to play the ball sideways or backwards because there are no options going forward. Barnard runs his legs off and Lambert 'shows' for balls but all to often the ball just comes straight back. Seabourne defends well but his distribution is patchy and several times last night he gave the ball away. Harding for me was our best player he defends and covers well and is always ready and willing to bomb on when theres a chance. Would've liked to see Dickson or Holmes given a run late on to see if they could create a chance. On the bright side 4 from 6 in 2 away games - but we need to improve fast if we really want to be playing in the Championship next season.

Crowd were subdued like the team - maybe it was just the open terrace and the rain - highlight was the people in the covered stand singing - "Where's your brolly gone?" to us soggy souls on the terrace.

Beat Bum-mouth on Sat and we'll reflect on 7 pts from 9 and think what was a good week it was.

[bender]

Noiw more than 10 points off the lead..

 

You mean 11 points.

[monkadill]

So you do not acknowledge we drew at Yovil - regardless of the points, its p!ss poor - put it into comparison, if we are the Man City of this league would you be happy to win at Westham and draw at Blackpool?

[bender]

9 points from 9 games. Same as last season and ended up 3 points of automatic promotion. (without the -10 obviously)

 

Dont forget there is no distraction of the JPT and hopefully the FA cup. 111 points still to play for and 11 off the top, not forgetting we have the best players who have yet to fully get it together yet.

[teamsaint]

So you do not acknowledge we drew at Yovil - regardless of the points, its p!ss poor - put it into comparison, if we are the Man City of this league would you be happy to win at Westham and draw at Blackpool?

 

4 points from 2 away games is still a good return. disappointing to lose a lead to a bottom half team...but that sort of thing happens in football, and 2 points a game will do us fine.

 

whats more, our defensive record is good for a team not winning that many...will stand us in good stead when the front 6 start firing....hopefully !!

[OldNick]

we are weaker than at this stage last season. Our squad does not have the pace and un-predictability it had. Barnard and Lambert do not have the pace to run away from a defence and so they can push up, having Antonio at the shoulder etc causes its own set of problems. Antonio is the past but we MUST get similar in to give us the edge. Lambert will start scoring again, but we have to accept this squad now is not going to get us promotion.

[Clifford Nelson]

 

We have the right Manager and a decent squad. It just needs a little more time and a couple of loan signings until the transfer window opens. If Adkins can get the team playing the way he wants I am going to enjoy the football and not worry too much about the end of season just yet.

 

QUOTE]

 

I very much agree, Ron, and it was interesting to read Chap in the Chapel, who seemed to know what he was talking about, apart from having seen the game, of course.

 

It must by now be absolutely clear that there were some major problems before NA arrived. I especially don't want to hear the nonsense about that pre-season doesn't matter from anybody, ever again. The signs were written large indeed.

 

We seems finally to be going in the right direction, and maybe at the end of this season we won't struggle against the bottom sides anymore. I start to think that that is what really is putting the seal on a really good team. We would all be motivated to compete against the top sides if we were able, but to get out of bed knowing that your work is on a rainy night at Huish Park is another matter. When we are properly mentally prepared to do that repeatedly, that's when NA will have succeded.

[Toadhall Saint]

we are weaker than at this stage last season. Our squad does not have the pace and un-predictability it had. Barnard and Lambert do not have the pace to run away from a defence and so they can push up, having Antonio at the shoulder etc causes its own set of problems. Antonio is the past but we MUST get similar in to give us the edge. Lambert will start scoring again, but we have to accept this squad now is not going to get us promotion.

 

excuse me if I don't.

[saintmatt]

Sounded as only Snerderlin was the only player up for it. Hammond anonymous again. !!!?

 

i was there.hammond was the best player on the pitch,closey followed by barnard

[Saint Fan CaM]

we are weaker than at this stage last season. Our squad does not have the pace and un-predictability it had. Barnard and Lambert do not have the pace to run away from a defence and so they can push up, having Antonio at the shoulder etc causes its own set of problems. Antonio is the past but we MUST get similar in to give us the edge. Lambert will start scoring again, but we have to accept this squad now is not going to get us promotion.

 

Completely agree with this analysis unfortunately. For some reason - perhaps injury - Lambert is nowhere near the potent force he was last season. While the defence has been supposedly strengthened, this is undermined by disruption to the squad further up the pitch. I maintain that the quality of the front 6 players is not just about their individual characteristics, but about how well they all work together.

 

For example to be promotion candidates, at least 4 of those 6 must be able to work the ball quickly and move up the pitch as one unit. We are just not doing this - 9/10 of our attacks are played at pedestrian pace allowing 11 players to get behind the ball. Then, when we lose the ball, do we put 11 men behind the ball? NO! When the opposition break on us, a good few of our team are gasping and not even trying to get back to defend.

 

Adkins may be a good manager, but he has a huge job to do to turn this team around. Right here right now I am not convinced the mix of players in the squad have what it takes, despite their supposed individual strengths. I hope I'm wrong, but this is looking like a failed season and I am fearful of the outcome of the review of NA's results come Xmas, as I think NC will be making a big decision regarding continuity of management versus expected season performance.

[Victor]

a bit of patience would help Adkins and the team. 5 points from 1 home and 2 away games is actually close to promotion form.

 

No it isn't. Not if you analyse it and do the maths; it equates to a final total of 64 points, 16 short of last season's 6th place.

 

After the expectation created by a win at Sheff W a draw at Yeovil was a disappointment although actually beating SW at present wasn't exactly amazing given the run of form they are in (which continued last night). Results have got to improve and, whatever the performance, 4 points from those 2 away games was undeniably NOT good, particularly when home form continues to be so poor.

 

However, what matters is how things develop from now, and the statistics of what has happened so far are meaningless.

[Saint_clark]

How can you make an atmosphere in an open end and ****ing rain and wind??!!

 

Their team and fans reaction said it all to me, cheered like they had won! ALL THESE TEAMS FIGHT LIKE HELL AGAINST US. Another day we would have won 4-0, just no bloody luck at all at the moment, not one slip, drop, deflection, mistake, zilch, even on a skating rink of a pitch.

 

Just wish Morgan (who was great) would shoot! And Davis should stand still for penalties, yet again hit down the middle, see the OS pic!

 

I parked in the home car park as the away was full up, got out easy, back in Soton 11.15

 

That pic is very misleading. It was obviously taken a split second after he shot, as the ball went into the bottom left corner.

[Saint_clark]

So you do not acknowledge we drew at Yovil - regardless of the points, its p!ss poor - put it into comparison, if we are the Man City of this league would you be happy to win at Westham and draw at Blackpool?

 

Hmm, if we are making Prem comparisons i'd say we'd won at Arsenal and drew at Blackpool. But meh.

[OldNick]

That pic is very misleading. It was obviously taken a split second after he shot, as the ball went into the bottom left corner.

 

it was a comment not worthy of reply. Davis was sent the wrong way, if he had stayed on his feet the player would have put it either side.It was a well taken pen

[Arizona]

Went last night but didn't have chance to post my thoughts when I got back. In terms of the quality of the play, we aren't there yet. There were some very good passages of play from us, especially the one leading up to the goal, but they were too sparse to really get hold of the game. At times we seemed to lack ideas, especially when Lambert was up front alone. There were some promising signs, it's just not there... yet. There's no point saying, "even Exeter beat Yeovil FFS!" either. West Brom just won at Arsenal, who's your money on for the Champions League spots? Don't forget it wasn't until this coming weekend last season when we finally clicked under Pardew (4-1 win over the Gills), and he'd had much longer in charge by then.

 

Lots of possitives though:

- 3 games unbeaten now

- 3 games we haven't conceded from open play

- Guly looks like he's starting to come good

- 4 points from 2 away games.

- Bournemouth near the top and we've already beaten them comfortably this season. Once we get our mojo back properly, we can beat anyone.

[angelman]

That pic is very misleading. It was obviously taken a split second after he shot, as the ball went into the bottom left corner.

 

I wouldn't say it was bottom left from where I was standing (and I called it right which way he was going). It was sort of half way to the corner and if he had gone the right way it would have been quite easy to save.

 

But the biggest problem for me last night was that there seemed to be a lack of or no communication between KD and the defence.

[Saint_clark]

I wouldn't say it was bottom left from where I was standing (and I called it right which way he was going). It was sort of half way to the corner and if he had gone the right way it would have been quite easy to save.

 

But the biggest problem for me last night was that there seemed to be a lack of or no communication between KD and the defence.

 

Agree with the second point, one of the first things I saw happen (I got in late) was Kelvin shout "keepers" at the top of his voice for a ball coming through and Seaborne ignoring him and heading it away.

[OldNick]

Went last night but didn't have chance to post my thoughts when I got back. In terms of the quality of the play, we aren't there yet. There were some very good passages of play from us, especially the one leading up to the goal, but they were too sparse to really get hold of the game. At times we seemed to lack ideas, especially when Lambert was up front alone. There were some promising signs, it's just not there... yet. There's no point saying, "even Exeter beat Yeovil FFS!" either. West Brom just won at Arsenal, who's your money on for the Champions League spots? Don't forget it wasn't until this coming weekend last season when we finally clicked under Pardew (4-1 win over the Gills), and he'd had much longer in charge by then.

 

Lots of possitives though:

- 3 games unbeaten now

- 3 games we haven't conceded from open play

- Guly looks like he's starting to come good

- 4 points from 2 away games.

- Bournemouth near the top and we've already beaten them comfortably this season. Once we get our mojo back properly, we can beat anyone.

 

Come on own up, how long did it take you to work out where to stand?

[angelman]

I thought most of the time that KD was at fault for not calling. But either way, there seemed to be a problem. KD might just have had a bad day.

[OldNick]

I wouldn't say it was bottom left from where I was standing (and I called it right which way he was going). It was sort of half way to the corner and if he had gone the right way it would have been quite easy to save.

 

But the biggest problem for me last night was that there seemed to be a lack of or no communication between KD and the defence.

were you the one singing 'winning in the rain'?

If the keeper dives the right way he does improve his chances of saving it, but you have to factor in that the taker just does not kick the ball but also tries to make the keeper go the wrong way.

I recall years ago Shilton said that he waited for the ball to be hit before trying to save it. He had an appalling record for doing so. it was then shown that if you try and wait the ball is in the net before you can react.

[Arizona]

Come on own up, how long did it take you to work out where to stand?

 

Was stood in the Yeovil end until 15 mins after kick off.

[JustMike]

Come on own up, how long did it take you to work out where to stand?

 

that was the highlight of last night :-)

[OldNick]

Was stood in the Yeovil end until 15 mins after kick off.

How many of them were sent off for trying to point the fact out?

[ART]

What can be expected from players who don't have the pressure of Reserve team players competing for places. The abolishing of the normal Reserve team play has left a big hole that I fear isn't going to be filled in time to compete for promotion. It's a very sad state of affairs and from a personal point of view I've never in 58 years following Saints felt so depressed about the situation. Marcus's sad parting seems to have taken all hope for the future away with him. Whatever reason Pardew was fired appears to have been the same as shooting ourselves in the foot. We've killed the goose who was laying the golden egg. All we have left is a slowly rotting cracked egg stuck together with sticky tape.

[Arizona]

How many of them were sent off for trying to point the fact out?

 

Just one actually. A misserable old fat bloke who'd been stood there moaning about the game ever since kick off.

[OldNick]

Just one actually. A misserable old fat bloke who'd been stood there moaning about the game ever since kick off.

I saw him as well but OohTerryHurlock didn't moan the whole game

[LostBoys]

I could only listen on the radio due to work but we missed chances and gave away a soft penalty. Very disappointing and two points lost - as Nigel Adkins said after the game. We must beat Bournemouth on Saturday.

[corsacar saint]

Another two points dropped,I am glad Nigel Adkins sounded as angry as I am with another sub standard result.I think NA will get things right,but I sincerely hope we do not have to right off this season first.

I still think we are suffering from a totally under cooked pre-season.

[JustMike]

I saw him as well but OohTerryHurlock didn't moan the whole game

 

did you see your good self in one of the photos on the OS?

[Window Cleaner]

Another two points dropped,I am glad Nigel Adkins sounded as angry as I am with another sub standard result.I think NA will get things right,but I sincerely hope we do not have to right off this season first.

I still think we are suffering from a totally under cooked pre-season.

 

He did sound angry didn't he,a bit too angry to remain lucid perhaps, kept repeating himself, still it's better than someone saying "well good fortune deserted us again".

[sandwichsaint]

Completely agree with this analysis unfortunately. For some reason - perhaps injury - Lambert is nowhere near the potent force he was last season. While the defence has been supposedly strengthened, this is undermined by disruption to the squad further up the pitch. I maintain that the quality of the front 6 players is not just about their individual characteristics, but about how well they all work together.

 

For example to be promotion candidates, at least 4 of those 6 must be able to work the ball quickly and move up the pitch as one unit. We are just not doing this - 9/10 of our attacks are played at pedestrian pace allowing 11 players to get behind the ball. Then, when we lose the ball, do we put 11 men behind the ball? NO! When the opposition break on us, a good few of our team are gasping and not even trying to get back to defend.

 

Adkins may be a good manager, but he has a huge job to do to turn this team around. Right here right now I am not convinced the mix of players in the squad have what it takes, despite their supposed individual strengths. I hope I'm wrong, but this is looking like a failed season and I am fearful of the outcome of the review of NA's results come Xmas, as I think NC will be making a big decision regarding continuity of management versus expected season performance.

 

I'm not sure that even NC will be doing anything quite as extreme as this. Adkins picked up an unfit, unmotivated squad, possibly one containing one (or more) subversive elements, and one that was massively under-performing; furthermore there is no indication at the moment that he is to be given 'any' reinforcements at this stage. Any improvement, from where he started, is a good improvement. I happen to think he is a really good manager and he is already (after a couple of weeks) starting to make a difference.

Any manager taking over a losing side has to 'stop the rot' before he can do anything else and that means tightening up massively at the back - here we have clear signs of improvement with no goals conceeded from open play in 3 games, and the only goal against a soft and apparantly needless penalty.We have avoided defeat for three successive games, our best run of the season so far! Adkins is starting to coax performances from Hammond, Harding, Seabourne and perhaps now Guly too, he also has Lallana to increasingly throw into the mix.

The problems are plain for all to see and as ever they come back to not replacing Ant and Dec who were massively under-rated by some last season, but who's absence haunts us every single game!

FFS why are we not getting in some alternative firepower/pace on loan? Every one of these dropped points pushes us further away from where we want to be - come on Nicola, Adkins is clearly the man for the job so let's back him while we can still go up this season.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Just seen Adkins interview on Saints Player... Wow. He was one unhappy bloke! And quite right too. So many times last season, we saw ourselves throw away leads in games we SHOULD have won. Some, comfortably. This was purely down to AP having no other plan than that of hoofball and that alone cost us whether we were winning or losing because if we wernt throwing away leads, we were limping into a loss in a game where the opposition had sussed us out a week or so before hand, and stopped us playing long balls. This is still hampering us now, and it wont be until Adkins has undone all the work done by AP over the last year or so that this will change. We have played some good football since NA has arrived, and I for one am very exited about our future under him. I am just frustrated that the likes of Super Kelv, Jaidi, Seaborne, Hammond and the one saints player who I cannot understand for the bleeding life of me why people rate him... Harding, cannot help themselves but to just leather their foot through the ball without so much as looking up and just gifting the opposition possession. This, according to NA is what yet again, cost us last night.