Towards the Northam Second Half

[Nexstar]

A point that has been raised many times over recent seasons but it now seems that the players are starting to take notice too.

 

We shot towards the Northam in the second half last week against Bournemouth and it worked, I was then hoping yesterday we would do the same. The teams did switch ends before kick-off, but Tranmere kicked off, which means Hammond chose to switch ends.

 

Obviously it worked again and I just think it's a massive boost for the players to have such loud support when they're attacking the goal or lining up for a corner.

 

Surely the signs in the tunnel could easily be changed so the Saints come out at the Northam end first half?

[Huffton]

Its not that, its because us in the Chapel drive them forwards late in the game.

[Gis]

I so much prefer us playing towards the Northam in the second half normally.....................but where I think it goes wrong is when the opposition bring large numbers, and then they end up playing towards what effectively becomes their end, once the central Northam blocks are given over to the away team.

 

I still wish Nicola had moved away support to the Chapel Kids Corner, whatever the Police views were.

[saintsforlife7]

I have always felt we should kick towards the Northam in the second half, really urging the team on I would like us to come out that end and start towards the Chapel

[paulwantsapint]

always thought we played better at the dell attacking milton in 2nd half

[SaintNeil90]

I always thought we should attack the Northam 2nd half but when its sunny at 3pm on a Saturday, it means kelvin has the sun in his eyes first half, which is probably why we always used to play towards the Northam for as long as I can remember.

[derry]

Bournemouth had the maximum away support but as we were attacking the Northam end it was quiet and drowned out by the Saints supporters. When it is the other way round the opponents are attacking their supporters end and they are making all the noise. Much better this way.

[derry]

I always thought we should attack the Northam 2nd half but when its sunny at 3pm on a Saturday, it means kelvin has the sun in his eyes first half, which is probably why we always used to play towards the Northam for as long as I can remember.

 

Illogical as the sun goes down lower in the second half for the early autumn/spring months and in the winter (most of the season) it is mostly cloudy.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I believe we actually scored and totally outplayed Tranmere during both half's yesterday - which seems to suggest it makes little or no difference which end we start at.

 

Some of us have being saying exactly that for the last 2000 years (or so it seems) on this forum in the hope that the message finally gets through !

[Block 5]

I believe we actually scored and totally outplayed Tranmere during both half's yesterday - which seems to suggest it makes little or no difference which end we start at.

 

Some of us have being saying exactly that for the last 2000 years (or so it seems) on this forum in the hope that the message finally gets through !

 

This.

Who's the new avatar CEC?

[Deppo]

This.

Who's the new avatar CEC?

 

Tony Slattery, obviously.

[SNB]

If I remember correctly we scored 1 at each end against Bournemouth and Tranmere?

If playing towards the Northam was actualy significant you would expect the goals to go flying in whether Saints were playing towards them first or second half.

In fact if the Northam was so much of an influence on the game one could argue, play towards that end of the ground for the first half - that would inspire the team to score loads of goals, demoralise the opposition and the second half would just be a formality!

[Nexstar]

If I remember correctly we scored 1 at each end against Bournemouth and Tranmere?

If playing towards the Northam was actualy significant you would expect the goals to go flying in whether Saints were playing towards them first or second half.

In fact if the Northam was so much of an influence on the game one could argue, play towards that end of the ground for the first half - that would inspire the team to score loads of goals, demoralise the opposition and the second half would just be a formality!

 

To be fair we had the ball in the net twice up the Northam end, and both Chaplow and Barnard had great chances

[The9]

Generally as more goals are scored at the end of football matches and I'm in the Northam I'd rather we attacked the Northam in the second half. Beyond that I suspect it doesn't make a toss of difference and I couldn't care less about it.

[Iowsaintsfan]

I was thinking about this saturday too when i noticed Hammond chose ends

[SoccerMom]

Tony Slattery, obviously.

 

tsk tsk. the man in black, Mr Johnny Cash. heathens.

[MorningtonCrescent]

The biggest benefit, IMO, to switching around in his way is that the opposition don't get to kick towards their fans in the 2nd half. Late goals against had become common at SMS. This way it seems to be harder for teams to get that late pressure that we so often became victims of.

 

Great decision and long may we be able to win the toss, if we can't warm up the other way around pre-match.

[Saint_clark]

We lined up as normal before the toss for the last two games. It's probably just the away team that's picked it.

[Nexstar]

We lined up as normal before the toss for the last two games. It's probably just the away team that's picked it.

 

But Tranmere kicked off

[Bucks Saint]

But Tranmere kicked off

 

so they DID touch the ball then? cheers, I was not there

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

tsk tsk. the man in black, Mr Johnny Cash. heathens.

 

I'm thinking of moving on from this 'Cash' bloke (who he?) to Willy Nelson, or quite possibly Conway Twitty. But there again the charms of Faron Young are starting to grow on me too.

 

As my musical guru, what do you reckon ?

[RonManager]

I'm thinking of moving on from this 'Cash' bloke (who he?) to Willy Nelson, or quite possibly Conway Twitty. But there again the charms of Faron Young are starting to grow on me too.

 

As my musical guru, what do you reckon ?

 

Lurleen Lumpkin?

 

[Deppo]

tsk tsk. the man in black, Mr Johnny Cash. heathens.

 

I think you'll find that it is Tony Slattery.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Ha!

 

That is my ideal woman.

[SoccerMom]

I think you'll find that it is Tony Slattery.

 

But *he* descended into a mire of drink and drugs...no wait.

Charlie, never abandon Big John, why would you want to? but Willie Nelson has musical integrity to burn. Although you could try a completely different tack and get into New Orleans r&b (keeping things on a gossamer Saints-related thread): Professor Longhair, James Booker, Dr John, Neville Brothers. There is music to bring you joy.

[OldNick]

Saints have kicked to the Chapel 2nd half for most games played at SMS. Our home form has been poor to say the least over the seasons. I believe that the visitors kicking to their own fans give them a lift in the 2nd half and is a time when we need the advantages.

[eharty9]

it's also that the away team shooting towards their travelling support in the second half drives them on to get their equalisier / winner

[Saint Fan CaM]

Completely agree with those saying we should kick towards the Northam in the 2nd half. It always seems to give away teams added impetus kicking towards their own fans and this should not be encouraged in the 2nd half IMO.

 

Only problem I have is I sit at the end of a row next to the gangway and at the end of games the JLE's (Johnny Leave Early) head off SLOWLY down the gangway blocking my fookin' view of the Northam end goal mouth for the last 5-10 minutes which is extremely fookin' annoying!!!

[OldNick]

 

Only problem I have is I sit at the end of a row next to the gangway and at the end of games the JLE's (Johnny Leave Early) head off SLOWLY down the gangway blocking my fookin' view of the Northam end goal mouth for the last 5-10 minutes which is extremely fookin' annoying!!!

Sorry about that I will bend down as i pass. it must be neary as annoying as the fans leaving to get a pint 10minutes before half time

[Saint-Fred]

A point that has been raised many times over recent seasons but it now seems that the players are starting to take notice too.

 

We shot towards the Northam in the second half last week against Bournemouth and it worked, I was then hoping yesterday we would do the same. The teams did switch ends before kick-off, but Tranmere kicked off, which means Hammond chose to switch ends.Obviously it worked again and I just think it's a massive boost for the players to have such loud support when they're attacking the goal or lining up for a corner.

 

Surely the signs in the tunnel could easily be changed so the Saints come out at the Northam end first half?

 

I think you'll find the rules have changed and the captain winning the toss has choice of both kick off and ends..So you can't assume Hammond chose to switch ends..As Tranmere kicked off, we can assume they won the toss and so chose to switch ends as well...

[Lets B Avenue]

I think you'll find the rules have changed and the captain winning the toss has choice of both kick off and ends..So you can't assume Hammond chose to switch ends..As Tranmere kicked off, we can assume they won the toss and so chose to switch ends as well...

 

Wrong.

[Saint-Fred]

I think you'll find the rules have changed and the captain winning the toss has choice of both kick off and ends..So you can't assume Hammond chose to switch ends..As Tranmere kicked off, we can assume they won the toss and so chose to switch ends as well...

 

Actually scrub that the looked up the FA rules and they say the winner choses ends, the other kicks off...but I was listening to a referree on talksport who said they chose both...No wonder the referring is so poor if they don't know the rules!

[PDobbo]

We kicked off against Bournemouth, so it was them who chose ends. Possibly trying to upset our usual routine, but inadvertently giving us a new one.

[LGTL]

Just checked my posts, I first suggested this in 2008. I'm glad to see they may have finally listened to me.

[Tamesaint]

I sit in the Chapel and like to see the team attacking my end in the second half

 

 

HOWEVER

 

I am more than happy to forego this pleasure if it means that we lose that horrible sinking feeling of inevitability that comes when we see the away team attacking (normally down their riight hand side) in the last minute of the game and you just know that they are going to score. I have lost count of the number of times this has happened at St Marys - in the Premiership , in the Championship and even in the first division. Last minute winning goals at the Chapel end never seem to happen for Saints. (Tessem against Sunderland is the only one that springs to mind).

 

Breaking this spiral by attacking the other end in the second half would be just great!!

[Mao Cap]

I sit in the Chapel and like to see the team attacking my end in the second half

 

 

HOWEVER

 

I am more than happy to forego this pleasure if it means that we lose that horrible sinking feeling of inevitability that comes when we see the away team attacking (normally down their riight hand side) in the last minute of the game and you just know that they are going to score. I have lost count of the number of times this has happened at St Marys - in the Premiership , in the Championship and even in the first division. Last minute winning goals at the Chapel end never seem to happen for Saints. (Tessem against Sunderland is the only one that springs to mind).

 

Breaking this spiral by attacking the other end in the second half would be just great!!

 

I think that's just because we tend to concede last-minute goals, not score them...

 

Camara v. Norwich in 05 and Fernandes v. Everton a year or two before that were pretty special ones I can remember going in at the Chapel End

[RedArmy]

Fernandes v. Everton a year or two before that were pretty special ones I can remember going in at the Chapel End

Beattie jumping on the crossbar.

[Tamesaint]

I think that's just because we tend to concede last-minute goals, not score them...

 

Camara v. Norwich in 05 and Fernandes v. Everton a year or two before that were pretty special ones I can remember going in at the Chapel End

 

You have to go back 5+ years to dig those up but you are definitely right with those 2. I was not sitting in the Chapel for either of them. Maybe if I sat elsewhere for all of the matches we would get more goals in the Chapel!! :-)

[OldNick]

It is a nonsense to attack the Chapel 2nd half and give the oppo the advantage kicking to their fans. The last 2 games we have kicked to the Northam and won. i would put money on that the % of wins us attacking the Northm being higher. Liverpool Man u etc aslways kick to their noisier fans 2nd half

[Wes Tender]

Obviously the position of the sun at various times of the season might be a factor if it could be in Kelvin's eyes during one half of play, but that can be assessed as to whether it was a problem or not depending on the weather conditions on the day.

 

Otherwise, for me, the option that makes more sense, is to attack towards the more vociferous home fans (the Northam) in the second half, especially if there is a large contingent of away fans behind the Northam end goal. Sometimes a team attacking towards their home support can give their players a lift and turn the match. The Leeds match where they overturned a three goal deficit to win 3-4 springs to mind and I wonder whether they would have managed it attacking towards the Chapel.