Barnsley V Saints 0-1 Post match Chat!

[Chez]

Back from the game- more comfortable than the scoreline and the final flurry in the last 5mins suggested. Many games last season were more challenging than today - perhaps there is some truth in the idea that as big fishes in a small pond, teams raised their game and played negatively against us.

 

For me, the 40 or so passes (maybe not that many) in the middle of the 2nd half, involving the whole team, summed up the performance. Patient, incisive, fluid, proper team play. As the chants made clear, we really were taking the pi $$.

 

Agree Seaborne had a massive game - stayed composed and bailed out Harding a few times. Richardson also had an excellent game - looks a totally different from the player last season who mi**** passes and looked dull and lethargic. Keith Hill's is basically to hit long diagonal balls behind the fullbacks and Richardson was equal to everything - the highlight was a 40 yard cross-field run to cut out a ball down the left. Lallana also had a very good game, though was perhaps a bit wasteful in front of goal. Connolly, notwithstanding a few dodgy offside decisions, was his busy, clever self.

 

For me Cork was MOTM - if his form continues, he will be an absolute gem. Closed, challenged and never gave away a cheap free-kick and showed some Lallana-esque touches going forward. Cork allows for a proper division of labour between CMs, getting the best out of Hammmond. And where last season the ball seemed to bogged down in treacle in midfield, Cork ensures that we play at a high tempo and distribute the ball with economy.

 

Hopefully we will bring in a pacey CF. Our patience in possession sucked Barnsley in on numerous occasions, creating space behind the defence that would have ruthlessly been exploited with a ball over the top. At times, it appears that everybody is dropping deep which can leave us a bit thin up top. Having a bit of pace makes the opposition think twice about playing a high line to counter the bodies in midfield.

 

Otherwise, RM is probably our biggest headache at the moment. Guly looked much more dangerous when he moved to a more central position, often dropping deep to pick the ball up from the back 4 (similar). Given Guly isn't a natural RM, he seems to have developed a better understanding of his responsibilities playing with Butterfield - that rapport isn't quite there with Frazer. Hopefully, that's just teething problems. De Ridder is an obvious solution - and his first touch, an exquisite spin on the box to put in AL makes him a really exciting prospect; however, lAdkins played him as a centre forward. Some say that this is because Adkins doesn't trust the defensive aspects of De Ridder's wing play; for me, it highlights that once Connolly gets subbed and as long as Barney is injured, we're short up top.

 

Most of the Barnsley fans were under no illusions that we were the superior side, though they were also pretty clear that Chaplow deserved a straight red (it happened in the other half, so hard to tell where we were).

 

Only two games but all round, a great day.

 

You saw exactly the same game I did.

[Charlie Wayman]

I worry about Morgan Schneiderlin who will surely walk if he doesn't get a start soon. He was pure class against Torquay but got only a few minutes at Barnsley... Why? What's the problem? He is masterly on the ball as a receiver (from the back four - playing the ball out as Nigel wants it) and giver which is what you need in mid-field as well as spoilers such as Hammond.

 

What do others think about this? Can we really afford to disaffect him and drive him out? FFS he's a French U21 international.

[S-Clarke]

I worry about Morgan Schneiderlin who will surely walk if he doesn't get a start soon. He was pure class against Torquay but got only a few minutes at Barnsley... Why? What's the problem? He is masterly on the ball as a receiver (from the back four - playing the ball out as Nigel wants it) and giver which is what you need in mid-field as well as spoilers such as Hammond.

 

What do others think about this? Can we really afford to disaffect him and drive him out? FFS he's a French U21 international.

 

Well Morgan and Cork are playing better at the moment, and seemed to have developed a good understanding. So for me, that's the midfield 2 for the foreseeable.

 

Morgan will get a chance, but it shows what great competition we have here.

[The9]

I worry about Morgan Schneiderlin who will surely walk if he doesn't get a start soon. He was pure class against Torquay but got only a few minutes at Barnsley... Why? What's the problem? He is masterly on the ball as a receiver (from the back four - playing the ball out as Nigel wants it) and giver which is what you need in mid-field as well as spoilers such as Hammond.

 

What do others think about this? Can we really afford to disaffect him and drive him out? FFS he's a French U21 international.

 

I think he's in a run of poor form based on what he did pre-season and doesn't deserve a place in the team. Cork and Hammond appear to complement each other well and he's not going to get a game at the moment. Can't say I'm too bothered either, the only times he looked impressive to me were the weeks immediately after U-21s matches when he seems to be pinging the ball around at a faster pace and has some urgency in his game - he doesn't seem to want to inject that urgency into a match normally and that won't get him into the team. He has to take the few opportunities he will get and show he CAN'T be left out. Making massive goal-related mistakes in pre-season won't have helped his case.

[shurlock]

Morgan has signed a new contract if you believe his interview with French media, so I can't see too many problems morale-wise. Most players can accept being left out if the team is playing well (as we are) and I'm sure NA's repeated calls that its a squad game must have some impact. At any rate, the door is a little bit more open now that Chaplow is suspended.

[Appy]

I worry about Morgan Schneiderlin who will surely walk if he doesn't get a start soon. He was pure class against Torquay but got only a few minutes at Barnsley... Why? What's the problem? He is masterly on the ball as a receiver (from the back four - playing the ball out as Nigel wants it) and giver which is what you need in mid-field as well as spoilers such as Hammond.

 

What do others think about this? Can we really afford to disaffect him and drive him out? FFS he's a French U21 international.

 

Why would we drop either Hammond or Cork?

 

They have been fantastic together in our 1st 2 league games.

[Thedelldays]

I worry about Morgan Schneiderlin who will surely walk if he doesn't get a start soon. He was pure class against Torquay but got only a few minutes at Barnsley... Why? What's the problem? He is masterly on the ball as a receiver (from the back four - playing the ball out as Nigel wants it) and giver which is what you need in mid-field as well as spoilers such as Hammond.

 

What do others think about this? Can we really afford to disaffect him and drive him out? FFS he's a French U21 international.

yeah..hence why he just signed a new contract

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

A Barnsley fans view on us!! Best team

The Saint's will be the best team we see at the well this season, foot balled us to death :/

Edited 14 August, 2011 by SOTONS EAST SIDE

[teamsaint]

Haven't seen Saints play like that in many a year. Cork was outstanding, moves the ball with the speed and accuracy of a quality PL player, and is clearly making a huge difference.

 

Would love to know how many passes that incredible move was.

 

Negatives(sorry!) . We should have buried them, and nearly paid the price. chap being a chump. He is too good a player to need to behave like that.

 

Oh, and in response to the post up the board, you can sing and support your team just as well sitting down as standing up. I personally resent being forced to stand to watch a game of football that has cost a great deal of money and time.

[yorkie]

Yeah but sitting down just isn't right at football is it? Anyway when I was in a choir at Junior School we always had to stand up to sing...apparently it's all to do with the diaphragm!

[The9]

But not the win of Championship leaders ????

 

Surely exactly the win of championship leaders. A ground out victory instead of lamenting 2 or 3 points lost. They didn't have a shot on goal until the 93rd minute!

 

Quite. Not the win of a team that's going to win the League by 15 points, maybe... but this is the Championship, and there are a ton of twisty-turny things to come yet.

[Sour Mash]

I watched the full 90mins again last night and if anything it highlighted how utterly s***e Barnsley were, absolutely dire. Was far from our best performance in 20 years as suggested by some on here, plenty of good, comfortable passing football against a team of that quality was nice to see, but no reason for some of the over-excitement on here. We were a goal line clearance away from coming away with a point. And how many saves did their keeper make? Should be a MUCH bigger test tomorrow night.

[conaero]

Where did you manage to find the full 90mins from?

[shurlock]

Where did you manage to find the full 90mins from?

 

Barnsley official site - you need a saints player subscription to log in, though.

[teamsaint]

Yeah but sitting down just isn't right at football is it? Anyway when I was in a choir at Junior School we always had to stand up to sing...apparently it's all to do with the diaphragm!

 

Standing is fine at standing prices !!

[Tom28]

Just watched the first 45 and we were ruthlessly efficient. Seemed at times to be playing a 4-2-2-2 formation with Guly and Lallana popping up left, right and down the middle. With that formation it makes the full backs so important to provide width. FR looked quality but DH did look a weak link in possession - he never really seems like he wants to be on the ball, so maybe the DF signing was a good one. Generally though, the whole team was excellent - it just looked effortlessly easy. Admittedly we'll come up against better opposition this season but it bodes well that we look so 'gelled' so early on in the season.

[The9]

I watched the full 90mins again last night and if anything it highlighted how utterly s***e Barnsley were, absolutely dire. Was far from our best performance in 20 years as suggested by some on here, plenty of good, comfortable passing football against a team of that quality was nice to see, but no reason for some of the over-excitement on here. We were a goal line clearance away from coming away with a point. And how many saves did their keeper make? Should be a MUCH bigger test tomorrow night.

 

Fair points, but I'm not sure how well qualified you are to comment on whether it's the best performance *I've* seen Saints put in in 20 years, which is the only reference I'm aware of by anyone to that time frame...

 

Even considering that I wasn't at a lot of the other matches people have suggested I think think we were excellent. The fact we passed comfortably was part of the key to that, Barnsley hardly stood off us, they put on a lot of pressure, but we just kept it.

 

You're right that we should have made more chances (rather than very nearly making excellent goalscoring opportunities, which we did 4 or 5 times with through balls people didn't get on the end of), and yes, we were one goal line clearance from drawing because we didn't score more goals - but it was still a hugely impressive passing performance which was creating openings and showing excellent individual skill from Lallana and Cork in particular. Barnsley were a decent defensive side, but didn't offer anything going forward until late because we totally covered off their preferred long balls and worked hard to close down the short options.

 

Even better, we won whilst still getting the kick up the ar5e Barnsley's comeback provided to show the players what happens if that level drops.

[Charlie Wayman]

I watched the full 90mins again last night and if anything it highlighted how utterly s***e Barnsley were, absolutely dire. Was far from our best performance in 20 years as suggested by some on here, plenty of good, comfortable passing football against a team of that quality was nice to see, but no reason for some of the over-excitement on here. We were a goal line clearance away from coming away with a point. And how many saves did their keeper make? Should be a MUCH bigger test tomorrow night.

 

We need to remember too that Barnsley are one of the favourites for relegation, which if turns out to be the case will set our performance in a more meaningful perspective. We looked really good against Torquay last week with the diamond formation after 60 mins, couldn't stop pinging it around; scored twice and should have had two more at least - so it wasn't a fluke at Barnsley but may say something about them and Torquay?