Quite possibly the finest 5 minutes of Saints football ever....?

[trousers]

I've just watched the full 90 minutes of the Saints vs Forest game again (released on Saints Player this afternoon), and the way we saw out the 5 minutes of injury time was even better than I remember from watching it in the stadium.

 

I know there are probably finer periods of Saints play down the years, in particular in terms of offensive play, but the way we snuffed out the game on Saturday was sublime and wouldn't have shamed a Premier League or Champions League game IMO.

 

Watch this period of play again in all its glory here: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/20110913/full-90-saints-3-2-forest-2nd-half_2264122_2449544/0,,10280~2449544~1,00.html

 

p.s. I know this has been highlighted before on the match reaction thread, but having watched it again I felt compelled to highlight it again!

 

p.p.s. Nigel's slow-mo reaction when the 5 minute board goes up is superb

Edited 13 September, 2011 by trousers

[saintscottofthenortham]

Havnt seen it back yet but at the time I was impressed and it really didn't feel like watching Saints. Heart was saying "Bite your Nails, Tap your feet, put your hands over your face and show everyone your a quivering wreck." but the head was saying "nothing to worry about here chap, sit down, chilax and Roll a smoke, for today we are victorious."

[Mattio]

that was orgasmic!

[S-Clarke]

This team certainly knows how to win games, from any position.

 

When you have that momentum that's not just from 1 season, it's pretty much 2 seasons of winning every week, it's not going to be shaken off very easily and with us adding better quality it makes its likely to continue even more.

[Avenue Saint]

Quality. Thank God for how the club have come back from those dark dark days!

 

Unity going forward very important gents.

[hypochondriac]

Better than Ipswich away? Moments in that game we were unplayable.

[Bad Wolf]

Saints best football ever - The lead up to Channon's last goal for us. (Or was it Keegan? I'm only 20)

 

We actually did play some brilliant football under Jan Portvliette tbf.

[RedFear]

when the 5 mins went up, i wasnt sure i was going to be able to handle it! but as has been said, we played it out brilliantly, and forest barely got a touch in those 5 minutes

 

to be fair, we have been playing out the last minutes of games like that all season. very impressive

[rallyboy]

it was the same at the Millwall game, we had the ball, they couldn't get it.

As far as holding out goes I did enjoy the MK Dons injury time last year.

Kelv punched one cross into Hythe, Lallana gave it evrrything to block crosses, then Lee Barnard ran the ball from halfway to the corner and won a foul.

That was a battle - this team has shown it can be clever and it also has steel.

 

For me the late nightmares of Boro and Everton have been banished.

[Saint_clark]

Even better watching it back than it seemed at the time. Fantastic football.

[Jonnyboy]

Do they ever put up full match coverage a bit sooner?

 

Id sign up for Saints PLayer if they released videos say the next day...

[Barry the Badger]

I had a Liverpool supporting mate along with me for this one and he was MASSIVELY impressed.

[Saint_clark]

Do they ever put up full match coverage a bit sooner?

 

Id sign up for Saints PLayer if they released videos say the next day...

I think they have to wait 2 or 3 days due to the contract the BBC have got for showing highlights.

[Boris Karloff]

The only thing was when Chaplow got a chance you just thought "hit row HH" and it went gently to the keeper. Memories of that Bent goal all those years ago came flooding back.

[Professor]

Although it was very good possession football, and through the opposition, not just back passes, I would say that its slightly disrespectful to some of Saint's Premier Teams to say this is the best 5 minutes ever. Saint's 5 goals in the first half against Man U in the 6-3 defeat is worth looking at on You-Tube and what you do notice from some of the Prem games is that the game seems to be played noticeably faster than currently in the NpC. We have some good players now and some who could hold their own in the Prem, but I'm not sure we have an Eyol Berkovic, or an Egil Ostanstadt and certainly we don't have a Le Tiss whose chip over Peter Schmeichel in the 6-3 win was sublime.

[Wes Tender]

Although it was very good possession football, and through the opposition, not just back passes, I would say that its slightly disrespectful to some of Saint's Premier Teams to say this is the best 5 minutes ever. Saint's 5 goals in the first half against Man U in the 6-3 defeat is worth looking at on You-Tube and what you do notice from some of the Prem games is that the game seems to be played noticeably faster than currently in the NpC. We have some good players now and some who could hold their own in the Prem, but I'm not sure we have an Eyol Berkovic, or an Egil Ostanstadt and certainly we don't have a Le Tiss whose chip over Peter Schmeichel in the 6-3 win was sublime.

 

Did we score those five goals in five minutes? No. The thread is about the best five minutes in Saint's history. We did come close to three goals in five minutes, taking 6 minutes for Berkovic (83) and Ostenstad (85 & 89) to score them, but we only scored 3 in the first half, not five.

 

But when bemoaning that we do not currently have players of the calibre of MLT, Berkovic or Ostenstad at the club now, it is instructive to consider that the team that thrashed ManUre also comprised such iconic luminaries of the footballing pantheon as Trigger Dryden, Potter (what became of him?), Simon definitely not Bobby Charlton, Alan Neilson and Magilton the crab.

 

Whether this team is better than that team all things considered, is debateable. That team in 1996/7 was:-

 

D Beasant, J Dodd, S Charlton (G Potter, 70), R Dryden, C Lundekvam , U van Gobbel, M Oakley, M Le Tissier (G Watson), E Ostenstad, E Berkovic, A Neilson (J Magilton, 75)

[Chez]

Potter (what became of him?),

he was football development manager at Hull University, went to Leeds poly to do the same and now coaches in Sweden I think.

[VectisSaint]

I sort of see what you are saying, but I don't think it was particularly outstanding. It could have been improved by Kelvin not lumping it, but passing it out from the back in a more controlled way, we got a bit lucky with Lambert winning a coupld of these balls. It was also clear that Forest had completely lost their way by the 90th minute and some of their players were dead on their feet. But fair's fair, in the past Southampton would have backed off and backed off inviting the opposition to attack and our defence would have panicked and conceded a soft goal, thats an area that we clealry have improved massively. It also shows that our fitness levels are now very good that we can still play like this and even threaten from the 90th to the 95th minute. It was interesting when the 4th official put the board up for 5 minutes (where did that come from) that McClaren initially looked delighted, 3 or 4 minutes later he was trying to hide down the tunnel as he saw his side being completely outplayed.

 

Is this the best 5 minutes of football ever? Nah, doesn't even come close, but good stuff nonetheless. Probably not even our best 5 minutes this season to be honest, ask Ipswich.

[West End Saint]

You should have been at Ipswich away first half for 35 minutes the best I have ever seen Saints play the passing & movement was just top draw all at pace Ipswich were chassing shadows.

 

I do agree that we also played very very well in patches 1st half against Forest the move for the 2nd goal was sublime but honest we were better & for longer away at Ipswich

[Legod Third Coming]

This is what I admire most about what NA has achieved. We have players who are confident on the ball. Genuinely, this is the secret of the success of BARCA and all other world-class teams.

The ball is to be loved and caressed like a young mistress you cannot wait to see again, not belted around like an old wife you can't wait to see the back off...

[CanadaSaint]

This is what I admire most about what NA has achieved. We have players who are confident on the ball. Genuinely, this is the secret of the success of BARCA and all other world-class teams.

The ball is to be loved and caressed like a young mistress you cannot wait to see again, not belted around like an old wife you can't wait to see the back off...

 

And that's exactly what he set out to achieve because I remember him saying it. IIRC he took some heat on here for motivating our opponents with comments like that.

 

It's a joy to watch at times but we must guard against the Arsenal syndrome - all style and no trophies. I actually thought that even the mighty Barca fell into that exact trap when they were so on-top yesterday.

[Legod Third Coming]

And that's exactly what he set out to achieve because I remember him saying it. IIRC he took some heat on here for motivating our opponents with comments like that.

 

It's a joy to watch at times but we must guard against the Arsenal syndrome - all style and no trophies. I actually thought that even the mighty Barca fell into that exact trap when they were so on-top yesterday.

 

Agreed - but we do also score a lot of goals - more United than Arsenal right now.

BUT - we have fans who are intent on seeing players get it forward ALL the time and they need to stop shouting for players to belt it forward every time we might go sideways or even backwards.

The best pass is the % pass - not a hoof with a likelihood of giving it away.

If the opening is not immediately obvious there is nothing wrong with patience.

One thing is a FACT. The opposition cannot score while we have the ball...

 

Where I think we differ from Arsenal and must continue to do so is by having a strong spine and players who are not afraid to get stuck in when it's needed or put their laces through it when it's called for...

[harwellsaint]

what a day! i was sat with me best mucker mr khiara in the bike shed about four rows from the man u fans , i have never seen such shock on footy fans faces and to say we gave them loads is an understatemet! then topped off with a chemical brothers all nighter at brixton academy with quite a few saints shirts dotted in the crowd, what a day!!!!!

[Golden Balls]

BUT - we have fans who are intent on seeing players get it forward ALL the time and they need to stop shouting for players to belt it forward every time we might go sideways or even backwards.

 

Very true.

 

There were 2 guys behind me in the Northam on Saturday who kept shouting things like 'Get rid of it' 'Get it in th mixer' 'Get it up there'. Then when we didn't it was immediately followed up with 'for ***** sake' when we passed it sideways, backwards and even forwards retaining possession leading to us creating a chance.

 

I think this is where the England team have suffered. They've been brought up with these sayings and it's only just started to change. Possession is what it's all about. Without it, you can't do anything. I'm glad to see Saints & NA employing this tactic more than most.

[The Cat]

Very true.

 

There were 2 guys behind me in the Northam on Saturday who kept shouting things like 'Get rid of it' 'Get it in th mixer' 'Get it up there'. Then when we didn't it was immediately followed up with 'for ***** sake' when we passed it sideways, backwards and even forwards retaining possession leading to us creating a chance.

 

I think this is where the England team have suffered. They've been brought up with these sayings and it's only just started to change. Possession is what it's all about. Without it, you can't do anything. I'm glad to see Saints & NA employing this tactic more than most.

 

I completely agree.

 

Does my head in when people shout out stuff like that, and with us now being in a position where we are often leading games coming towards the end it will only happen more often.

 

Was the same at Swindon when we were 2-1 up. People imploring the defence to hoof it when we only had Forte up front. To be fair to him he's not really a striker and struggled all evening to hold the ball up, so what use is it just lumping it in the air? All it achieves is giving them possession.

 

As I said on a thread after the Forest game, do these people not remember Crouch against Everton at St Mary's???

 

From my point of view it just goes to show how little knowledge of the game and our tactics some people have. Probably the same people who shout "keep it on the deck" when we start hoofing it.

[Fan The Flames]

Very true.

 

There were 2 guys behind me in the Northam on Saturday who kept shouting things like 'Get rid of it' 'Get it in th mixer' 'Get it up there'. Then when we didn't it was immediately followed up with 'for ***** sake' when we passed it sideways, backwards and even forwards retaining possession leading to us creating a chance.

 

I think this is where the England team have suffered. They've been brought up with these sayings and it's only just started to change. Possession is what it's all about. Without it, you can't do anything. I'm glad to see Saints & NA employing this tactic more than most.

 

Its like booing Fosby for flopping, some people take a while to realise things have changed for ever. As long as its morons in the crowd shouting it and not the manager then we will be ok.

[matt75]

I went to the game on Saturday (unfortunately the first this season) and thought we played some of the best football I have seen us play for years, even in the Premiership days.

I then watched the Newcastle v QPR game the other night and thought both teams looked slower, less precise with passing and generally c**p compared to what i watched against Forest.

[THEVMAN]

I think a major factor is that the majority of our players seem to be relaxed and confident when getting the ball to feet,there's no hot potato syndrome going on.

[Wildgoose]

It was a very classy way to close out a match, and a totally different 'league' (sorry for the play on words) to the way we closed out at home to say Hartlepool last season.

Very very impressed. Love what's happening. These are good days to support the Saints!

[CanadaSaint]

Very true.

 

There were 2 guys behind me in the Northam on Saturday who kept shouting things like 'Get rid of it' 'Get it in th mixer' 'Get it up there'. Then when we didn't it was immediately followed up with 'for ***** sake' when we passed it sideways, backwards and even forwards retaining possession leading to us creating a chance.

 

I think this is where the England team have suffered. They've been brought up with these sayings and it's only just started to change. Possession is what it's all about. Without it, you can't do anything. I'm glad to see Saints & NA employing this tactic more than most.

 

I agree with you as well, and there's something of a very similar ilk that bugged the hell out of me.

 

Last time we were back I went to watch some little kids playing, Tyro or something like that, and exactly the same thing was coming from the parents.

 

It takes a lot of courage to "play the right way" these days, with so much at stake and with parents behaving like that.

 

For all his understated manner and appearance, and for all his tired clichés, Adkins is a really intelligent guy with very high principles and really, really big balls.

[Fan The Flames]

My mate runs a kids football team and he tries to get them to play the ball about. He went through a period when told the kids he didn't care about the result he just wanted them to play the ball about, he then had dads moaning at him and some kids left because they didn't enjoy it anymore. He says that the kids now try and play it about but when they get the jitters they go back to hoofing it and he has a hard job getting them to calm down again and return to passing.

[Legod Third Coming]

My mate runs a kids football team and he tries to get them to play the ball about. He went through a period when told the kids he didn't care about the result he just wanted them to play the ball about, he then had dads moaning at him and some kids left because they didn't enjoy it anymore. He says that the kids now try and play it about but when they get the jitters they go back to hoofing it and he has a hard job getting them to calm down again and return to passing.

 

When I was playing (badly) our manager used to make us run around the pitch if we hit the ball above waist height and over 25 yards... For a while it did my head in as I could pick a bloke out on the wing 50 yards away with a cracking ball over the top... Then I realised that bloke couldn't trap cement anyway...

[The Cat]

The stuff about Tyro leagues is pretty true in my experience. I've done some holiday time coaching for kids in that age group and from what some of them have told me some of the managers play the kids who can kick it the furthest in defence regardless of their ability. We had one who was excellent in front of goal and scored bucketloads on our course but was a defender in his team because he was good at clearing the ball a long way.

 

Fortunately with the amount of European football on tv now a lot of kids are trying to emulate Messi. I'd rather see a youngster who is too greedy but loves dribbling than one content to spend all day hoofing the ball in the air. Mind you I'm the one in the crowd laughing rather than berating them when Guly or Lallana try an outrageous flick or attempt to beat one man too many and lose the ball.