Saints 4 Huddersfield 1 - Reaction

[georgeweahscousin]

Guly was terrible..

 

Slow, his shooting Is very poor and his heading in goal was terrible

 

He does link up play Ok but that is the standard for a striker

 

He isn't a striker though, and his link up play is more than ok.

[Dr Who?]

Great result, this league is so open and anyone can beat any other team. Going to be a roller coaster but hopefully we have enough in the tank to finish in the top 2 and not have to go through the playoffs!!

[Thedelldays]

He isn't a striker though, and his link up play is more than ok.

 

It was decent.. Hardly set the game alight..

 

His chances he had were embarrassing.. I would hope any mid fielder (let alone an attacking one) would at least make the goaly work for it...

 

Chaplow is an attacking midfielder.. One shot.. One goal

[georgeweahscousin]

It was decent.. Hardly set the game alight..

 

His chances he had were embarrassing.. I would hope any mid fielder (let alone an attacking one) would at least make the goaly work for it...

 

Chaplow is an attacking midfielder.. One shot.. One goal

 

True, but he chipped in with two assists, I remember a game recently, where Chaplow missed several sitters. One of those things.

[Tractor_Saint]

He isn't a striker though, and his link up play is more than ok.

 

I expect the likes of Jaidi and Fonte to have a few problems hitting the target from 10 yards out but when a midfielder is in that position at least three times in a match and fails to hit target then I'm afraid that's a bad performance. Take his free header in the first half * - it was though he thought the goals were still set up for the pre-match warm up - miles off !

 

* one example of many during the game

[Griffo]

Will there be some sort of highlights show tonight?

[Saint_clark]

Will there be some sort of highlights show tonight?

 

Unfortunately not. B*llocks, eh? The goals should be up on Saintsplayer tomorrow though.

[corsacar saint]

I did not make today,as I had to take my mother to Salisbury to my sisters.Sounds like I missed the best attacking performance of the season,by some way. Pleased to hear Rickie played well,and as has been alluded too,some Saints fans seem to love a scapegoat.

It appears Guly seems to have taken the mantle from Puncheon,do some want him driven out of the club as well.

[Tractor_Saint]

Unfortunately not. B*llocks, eh? The goals should be up on Saintsplayer tomorrow though.

 

Argh - I wanted to see Ricky's turn and half-volley goal !! Did that come straight from a throw in? Fantastic goal from what I saw and can't believe I won't see it on League One Show ;(

[Saint_clark]

I did not make today,as I had to take my mother to Salisbury to my sisters.Sounds like I missed the best attacking performance of the season,by some way. Pleased to hear Rickie played well,and as has been alluded too,some Saints fans seem to love a scapegoat.

It appears Guly seems to have taken the mantle from Puncheon,do some want him driven out of the club as well.

 

I would be happy if we signed Guly, but I reckon we could still find better.

[Saint_clark]

Argh - I wanted to see Ricky's turn and half-volley goal !! Did that come straight from a throw in? Fantastic goal from what I saw and can't believe I won't see it on League One Show ;(

 

I think it did, yeah. It was in the net before I even realised he had the ball tbh. I think everyone in the stadium jumped up to celebrate and then just stopped for a moment, not knowing what had happened.

[Under Weststand]

Sounds like a terrific performance today, good news that Ricky is coming back to form. The good thing so far is the league is still wide open. A fully fit & hopefully a free scoring Lambert, combined with Saints finding at last a good run of consistency could make this the season we all want so much. WIFM

[Jonnyboy]

Will there be some sort of highlights show tonight?

 

There doesnt seem to be anything, not even a normal MOTD?

[53andout]

Dont post very often but get off Gullys back He created two goals today with great link up play in addition set up two other good chanes Chased numerous endless causes Yes he did miss a couple of chances but at least he put himself in those positions The following is not a dig at Lambert but what did he do today apart from score a goal that in all honesty the keeper should have saved

[saints-cris]

Thoroughly enjoyed today, from 20 minutes onwards we hammered one of the better teams in the league. We did everything we had to after conceding. Although i do wish we'd stop going a goal down each week.

 

It was always guna be an open game and guaranteed goals, but i didnt think it would be as one sided as it was. Until they scored we should have been 2-0 up, and then when they scored i thought it was guna be one of those days again, bu fair play we responded really well and going in at 2-1 was perhaps flattering to them! After that it was just a class performance.

 

Davis- Kicking a bit suspect at times, didn have too much to do - 6

Butterfield - Was okay, Richardson handled their winger better though - 6

Fonte - Very solid, mopped up what Jaidi didnt - 8

Jaidi - An beast today, espescially second half. Shaky at the start though - 8 - MOM

Harding - Decent enough, fairly solid - 7

Oxo - What a quality player, hope he stays with us for a while - 8

Hammond - Decent game, drove at them a few times and got around the pich well - 7

Schneiderlin - Fairly quiet game for him - 6

Lallana - Such a classy player, never miscontrolls it, flicks, tricks, and always looks like making something happen - 8

Guly - Besides finishing, i thought he was really lively. Made good runs and linked up well - 7

Lambert - Glimpses of what he can be like. Very much a goal of a player who has more confidence, much sharper today - 7

 

Subs:

Chaplow - Right substitution, added more energy and a really nice finish too - 7

Richardson - Handled their winger really well, kept him quiet - 7

Dickson - n/a - Wasnt really on very long

 

Overall, very good performance. Can we PLEASE go on a run now.

[Clifford Nelson]

He was one of our best players. In fact, I would even say he was our MOTM. All he needed was a goal to top it off. Yes, first half he had chances, however he never stopped running, despite having the **** kicked out of him by their number 8.

 

Could have easily been 2/3 down, how they missed the open goal i'll never know. Their first goal shouldn't have stood, the free kick was taken nowhere near where the 'foul' was. Both Fonte and Jaidi looked like they were on another planet.

 

We finally woke up and we battered them. The period from 20-35mins is the best I have seen us play this season. Lambert looked back on form and a well taken goal, though i'm not sure if the keeper helped it in. Lovely move then set up AOC, who's finish was superb.

 

From then it was never in any doubt, Jaidi finally woke up second half and was outstanding, a well taken goal and rock at the back. Chaplow get's another goal and will be signed up next week.

 

Very good performance, but we can still give more!

 

Forgot about the goal line clearance in the first few minutes from their defender - Outstanding.

 

I think I completely agree with that, although I thought the assist for AOX was my MOTM Mr Guly.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Good win today and some room for optimism after a horrible few weeks. However, this is Saints and whenever Mr Optimism is around, Mr **** it up Completely is just around the corner. Exeter next up.

Edited 29 December, 2010 by Kingsbridge Saint

[hugh]

I read this without seeing who had posted it.

 

Good, intelligent critique Minty.

 

*tips hat in Minty's general direction*

 

 

Agree with this summary almost word for word. A few things I would add though.

 

I was genuinely concerned after the first 20 minutes. It wasn't that we were being outplayed or outfought, but we just looked very shaky and fragile at the back. I had expected quite an open game, and it started exdactly that way, but the only difference was some woeful defending and wayward finished from us. We equalized however, with a goal that I thought the keeper should've saved but look forward to seeing again because it was so unexpected (virtually the whole Kingsland thought it had hit the side-netting at first), we started to get a good grip on things. That said however, it wasn't until the second half when I felt we were on top of their strikers.

 

Lallana's showed so much skill and close control today, he deserved a goal, but fully played his part. Chamberlain delivered the goods too and scored a very mature, composed goal that belied his tender age. He picked his spot and passed it in. A lot of other strikers could learn from it. He took a heavy challenge which clearly affected him but he was excellent to that point.

 

I thought the whole back 5 were dubious for a good half an hour but they gradually tightened up and Jaidi improved markedly after the half hour and nothing got past him or Fonte after that. But lessons do need to be learnt from the ease with which they scored their goal, and the open goal miss shortly afterwards. We switched off and must learn from it. Davis too had a couple of moments where I felt he should've come out to claim the ball or been more decisive. One high ball inparticular was crying out for him to come and collect, but it was allowed to drop and bounce 18 yards out... we won a free kick for an infringement but it concerned me a little.

 

Schneiderlin and Hammond did well, the latter, like the defence, especially after 30 minutes had passed. Chaplow came on and did exactly what was needed to help see the game out and also scored a quality finish from Guly's intelligent pay off. Guly has got some criticism on here and it's easy to see why... his scoring chances were all wasted and those stick in the mind, but his link up play and running of the channel's was good and whilst he can certainly improve, he contributed a lot to the win today, make no mistake.

 

Lambert is still improving, his goal will be a massive fillip for him, and I suspect was rather lucky, but that doesn't matter right now. His workrate was visibly better and he got zero from the ref, despite similarly physical challenges being punished the other way around.

 

18 efforts on target, 7 off target, their keeper made some good saves and we missed others. A lot of good things to take from the game and forward into 2011. Absolutely no reason why we cannot move on and get automatic promotion as long as we learn about the things we still need to improve and stop giving other teams chances that we seem prone to doing.

 

We can and should be positive (go on alpine, give it a go), whilst recognising that we are nowhere near the finished article. As someone else said, no one in this league is consistent. We will lose games and will play poorly. We just need to be the least inconsistent.

Edited 28 December, 2010 by hugh
Pressed wrong button. Doh.

[Thedelldays]

True, but he chipped in with two assists, I remember a game recently, where Chaplow missed several sitters. One of those things.

 

but i am on about this game...guly was awful in front of goal

[Doctoroncall]

There doesnt seem to be anything, not even a normal MOTD?

 

They are both on tomorrow.

[Tractor_Saint]

I think it did, yeah. It was in the net before I even realised he had the ball tbh. I think everyone in the stadium jumped up to celebrate and then just stopped for a moment, not knowing what had happened.

 

Yeah - being in the Kingsland at the opposite end and knowing how we rip into the opposing fans when "you thought you had scored, you were wrong, you were wrong", I must admit I had to wait a good 5 seconds before celebrating that it really had gone in. The turn and shot looked fantastic but it was one of those that looked like it had hit the side netting. Glad it went in!

[doddisalegend]

Good win today and some room for optimism after a horrible few weeks. However, this is Saints and whenever Mr Optimism is around, Mr **** it up Completely is just around the corner. Dagenham and Redbridge next up.

 

I thought it was Exeter on sat?

[Um Bongo]

I think I completely agree with that, although I thought the assist for AOX was my MOTM Mr Guly.

 

You are quite right, it was.

[WinchesterSaint]

Guly was bad in front of goal today, otherwise his all round link up play and effort was good and he created two goals, he isn't a golscoring forward like Lambert or Barnard, he is an attacking midfielder.I agree that Barney would have had 2 or 3 today if he had started.

 

I thought both defences looked dodgy for the first 20 mins today, difference was that ours sorted themselves out although their keeper should have stopped Lambos goal, we made a half decent side look ordinary in the end but we were certainly rusty initially.

 

Regarding the corporates choosing MotM - I was in corporate today and we don't have a vote on it, most people in our box couldn't believe he won it (although he did have a good game), really should have been Lallana or Jaidi.

[Clifford Nelson]

It is quite amazing the criticism Guly is getting from not scoring after having gotten himself into goalscoring positions. I can't recall Lambert has gotten anything like the vitriol, although until today he has hardly gotten himself into any goal scoring positions. AND GULY ISN'T EVEN A STRIKER!!!

 

I hope he gets a contract with us for the very reason that he has never had the opportunity to play the role that he should be playing for us, i.e. the one of the offensive midfielder. We have, I'm afraid, got form in this department. If he's not getting a contract, I wonder why on earth we took him here at all. Our problem with him is that he ought to be the off CM in a 4-3-3/4-5-1, and not in a 4-4-2. In spite of that he kept RL, AL and AOX fed with balls all through the afternoon. He is very quick on the uptake and the reading of the game and he plays to feet at speed. He also makes himself playable most of the time, so he gets to see a lot of the ball. The amount of work he put in to keep AL and AOX performing was extraordinary.

 

If I am exaggerating slightly, that may be so, because I so enjoy seeing that kind of football being played compared to the huffing and puffing and playing for free kicks. I feel it gives us some class which we couldn't afford to buy if we wanted a british player doing the same thing. I wonder if there is one, actually.

 

So, even if others may not appreciate him like I do, how on earth can he be condemned like he has been by so many here today?

[Thedelldays]

AND GULY ISN'T EVEN A STRIKER!!!?

 

says who..?

he certainly is not a midfielder really either

[bpsaint]

Saw him play against Cardiff for us and he was terrific in the 2nd half after taking some appalling stick in the first. The facrt that he is still in the Prem says all you need to know.

 

I was at that game too,and as I did on the day I still question why he couldn't have played with the same enthusiasm and heart as he did that second half all the time. I love that people keep reminding me that he still plays in the Prem as if I don't know. I never said he was a bad player,I said I thought he was **** when he played for us and know many many others agree with this.

[bpsaint]

I expect you told him so week in week out, and Puncheon, and...hold on were you one of the dicks in Kingsland north slating Guly the whole match?

 

No wonder they leave for higher leagues

 

Wasn't in the Kingsland today no,but aren't you an obnoxious ****** for acting all holier than thou about people having a bad opinion of a player.

[Viking Warrior]

Thoroughly enjoyed todays game, I loved the chant 1-0 up and you f**ked it up very funny. what was the handbags at 6 paces between the huddersfield fans? and the old bill with the camera took ages to get into a position to film their fans.

 

 

As for the game a great alround performance and I did feel it wasnt going to be our day when we failed to convert a couple of chances early on and they missed a sitter before scoring. but we fought back got the equaliser thru sir rickie. we should have had three before half time but the ball smacked against the crossbar.

 

Second half was excellent for the first 30 minutes and then we seemed to shut up shop that was a sensible tactic but i would have liked a further goal or two.

 

As for Guly he is an intelligent and skilfull player but lacks the killer instinct in front of goal but that is posibly something that can be worked on in training. get off guly's back and get behind him

[Thedelldays]

i thought morgan was much better today.....

 

the through ball chipped over two defenders for AoC was superb and we very nearly scored from that

[Chez]

i thought morgan was much better today.....

 

yep, he was excellent. Strong, fast across the ground, got stuck in, kept the ball and passed it well. He was gutted to be subbed (which i8s a good sign), but I guess the little tug back (in front of the ref) whilst on a yellow gave Adkins the jitters and he played it safe by bringing Chaplow on. Really pleased for him as he has struggled after the U21 game. Real competition at CM for the first time in a long time. I hope there aren't too many more internationals between now and the end of the season.

[buctootim]

what was the handbags at 6 paces between the huddersfield fans?

 

According to the Hudders site there were three Saints fans in the away end and it kicked off when they celebrated the equaliser.

[Amesbury Saint]

According to the Hudders site there were three Saints fans in the away end and it kicked off when they celebrated the equaliser.

 

did they not fancy one of the 8,000 empty seats in the home ends?

[John Boy Saint]

I thought it was Exeter on sat?

 

Heavy Snow forecast on Friday night in Hampshire:24" in and hour and a half

 

Enjoyed today's game well played Saints. Always a pleasure to see us spank team without breaking much of a sweat.

[Red and White Army]

2 weeks without a game and the players should be hungry and determined.

 

Lo and behold, we serve up the same hung-over yuletide sh*te as always.

 

We are a f**king joke and are going BACKWARDS away from the playoff spots.

 

Beginning to think Adkins aint up to it.

 

Love some of the retards on the match thread.

[jam]

yep, he was excellent. Strong, fast across the ground, got stuck in, kept the ball and passed it well. He was gutted to be subbed (which i8s a good sign), but I guess the little tug back (in front of the ref) whilst on a yellow gave Adkins the jitters and he played it safe by bringing Chaplow on. Really pleased for him as he has struggled after the U21 game. Real competition at CM for the first time in a long time. I hope there aren't too many more internationals between now and the end of the season.

 

I noticed that Adkins pulled Morgan aside to have a word when he was subbed. Hopefully he got across that the game was won and there was no reason to risk him getting injured or suspended.

[jam]

i thought morgan was much better today.....

 

the through ball chipped over two defenders for AoC was superb and we very nearly scored from that

 

He made some really nice touches to work the ball into space and move the play about. Hopefully it will be the start of a return to form for him. I'd actually like to see him pushed forward and have Hammond in the anchor role.

[Saint Lindford]

Heavy Snow forecast on Friday night in Hampshire:24" in and hour and a half

 

Enjoyed today's game well played Saints. Always a pleasure to see us spank team without breaking much of a sweat.

 

You remember the game then? All that beer might have clouded the mind!!

[St_Tel49]

Guly may have missed some chances but his link play around the box was good.

 

Chamberlain's best game for us I reckon - everyone will want him.

 

Best moment apart from the goals: Jaidi's backheel...class!

Indeed. Guly played well until he got into the box where he looked like a player who had lost his confidence.

[sfc4prem]

Indeed. Guly played well until he got into the box where he looked like a player who had lost his confidence.

 

It's no surprise he's lost confidence when the whole crowd groans and moans when he does one little thing wrong, whereas when Mr. Lallana misses an easy chance in front of goal not many seem to slate him.

[St_Tel49]

Yep thats the one,the same Fuller who was absolute dog**** when he played for us.

Yep - and our support really helped him out of his bad spell!!!

[suewhistle]

At last! 4 and a half years abroad so only seeing games at Christmas and early season and I've seen one win in that time (Exeter last Christmas). So a real pleasure, although conceding first brought on a "oh dear here we go feeling". But by 3-1 I was only feeling a little nervous - being a long terms Saints fan - and said "I'd feel happier with 4" and 10 seconds later Chaplow duly obliged. Even better was that I got to miss Alpine on the match day thread - from the references here he seems to have been "on form"!

 

Lambert's goal was in front of me and like many I thought he'd hit the side netting. Great timing for the turn and the shot was vicious. Lallana is a sheer pleasure to watch with his control and touch as is Ox. The guy next to me made a joke about Guly being substituted just before he missed another one, but although he was frustrating he covered a lot of ground, was always available, passed well but showed he needs to hone his striking instincts: lacks a bit of confidence in those situations. Jaidi did the simple things well and Fonte covered for his lack of pace.

 

We need to cut out gifting goals like we did and tweak our finishing skills and we are going to punish someone far more than we did today. I told my friend to line up a ticket for the last home match of the season as I'm seriously considering coming over for the weekend to celebrate, even if I'm only a poor English teacher!

[St_Tel49]

Astute post. Yes Guly can frustrate big time with his finishing but today he worked his socks off and was a "presence" all afternoon. That presence was responsible for 2 of our goals - sometimes you have to look a little deeper at what certain players offer.

Sadly, some of our support only see mistakes. In fact they sit waiting for them just so that they can shout abuse.

[Jonnyboy]

Wasn't in the Kingsland today no,but aren't you an obnoxious ****** for acting all holier than thou about people having a bad opinion of a player.

 

trying to start chants about guly being **** was obnoxious

[NickG]

...

[NickG]

Sadly, some of our support only see mistakes. In fact they sit waiting for them just so that they can shout abuse.

 

too true

[corky morris]

If Guly is an attacking midfielder then why did Adkins play him further up the field than Lambert for half the game? His link up maybe OK, but I dont think he is as good a striker as either LB or DC.

Lallana was our best player today IMHO. Also special mention for Harding today following his shocker at Carlisle. I thought he played well today.

We still look vulnerable at the back though IMHO.

[St_Tel49]

All the while we were winning the Ashes people wanted Ashley Giles dropped because he was not taking enough wickets - forgetting that it wasn't one wicket that won the Ashes or one run it was ALL of them.

 

It's a little like asking for a Heston Blumenthal Xmas pudding and then moaning that he's overdone the raisins...

 

We win as a TEAM of the manager's baking. When it loses ask him to change the ingredients.

 

Until then shut the ferk up because you sound like an idiot.

 

?????????? -this response does not seem to accord as a reply to the quoted post. I'm puzzled.

[Charlie Wayman]

Didn't see that one coming! After the first ten minutes it looked like we'd be savaged.

 

By no means one of our best performances, the defence was lamentable in the first half. You talk about unexpected results, this has to be one of the best ever, what a turnaround. How many times have we outclassed the oppos and drawn or lost - this time they even bettered us first half and yet still we won.

 

Maybe the miracle that clinches our season, that is as long as we get a 6-0 on Saturday

[lenwilkins]

At last! 4 and a half years abroad so only seeing games at Christmas and early season and I've seen one win in that time (Exeter last Christmas). So a real pleasure, although conceding first brought on a "oh dear here we go feeling". But by 3-1 I was only feeling a little nervous - being a long terms Saints fan - and said "I'd feel happier with 4" and 10 seconds later Chaplow duly obliged. Even better was that I got to miss Alpine on the match day thread - from the references here he seems to have been "on form"!

 

Lambert's goal was in front of me and like many I thought he'd hit the side netting. Great timing for the turn and the shot was vicious. Lallana is a sheer pleasure to watch with his control and touch as is Ox. The guy next to me made a joke about Guly being substituted just before he missed another one, but although he was frustrating he covered a lot of ground, was always available, passed well but showed he needs to hone his striking instincts: lacks a bit of confidence in those situations. Jaidi did the simple things well and Fonte covered for his lack of pace.

 

We need to cut out gifting goals like we did and tweak our finishing skills and we are going to punish someone far more than we did today. I told my friend to line up a ticket for the last home match of the season as I'm seriously considering coming over for the weekend to celebrate, even if I'm only a poor English teacher!

 

I'd feel happier with 4" - did I misread that???