Saints 4 Birmingham 1 - Reactions Thread

[SaintRobbie]

I thought we'd draw. But, wow! We are going to be Champions.

 

BRILLIANT!!!

[Legod Third Coming]

Um, well, all those teams except Leicester kinda had 3 points taken away from them!!

 

Aye, kinda self-fulfilling that teams we beat are going to be below us when we're top, and after 7 games...

 

Better to look at what odds those clubs were for promotion at the start of the season.

 

What's clear is the two best teams in the league right now are us and Boro.

[Saint_clark]

According to the stats on the Beeb we only had three shots on target

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14869920.stm

[pedg]

According to the stats on the Beeb we only had three shots on target

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14869920.stm

 

I suspect they did not count the penalty as a shot on target as its something of a special case?

[Saint_clark]

I suspect they did not count the penalty as a shot on target as its something of a special case?

 

No, they count those as well. Even if you accept it wasn't on target because it went in off the post, I can distinctly remember a shot by Lallana that was saved in the second half.

[chip]

Connelly absolute class above today.

[Neil]

NA - "We'll look at the table in January and hope we are in the top 10, but there are 15 or 16 teams with aspirations to get promotion."

 

Yes, I hope we are in the top 10 in January!

 

Seriously, absolutely outstanding win and a super afternoon out in the elements!

[Crazy Diamond]

Hooiveld was solid today, kept King well out of it. More of the same please!

[adrian lord]

Great stuff going forward from Nigel Adkins' Red And White Goal Machine. We were lucky to concede only once, but I could live with 4-2

 

excellent write up and a hilarious reference to Rickie's girth about the waist!

[pedg]

No, they count those as well. Even if you accept it wasn't on target because it went in off the post, I can distinctly remember a shot by Lallana that was saved in the second half.

 

I guess the simple answer is that who ever was doing the text commentary and maintaining all the stats on the BBC website was so impressed by our performance that they forgot to press the required buttons.

 

Guardian has us down as 4 on target

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/match/2011/sep/18/southampton-v-birminghamcityfc

Edited 18 September, 2011 by pedg
remove implies sexism!

[Farnboro Saint]

A much improved performance over last week. The defence looked much better than against Forest and moving Cork back into midfield was a very good decision by Adkins.

 

I was disappointed for Connolly not to get that goal, apart from the fact he wasnt offside, i felt he really deserved it this week, he had a great game.

 

The whole team were superb though. Im becoming rather accustomed to watching our South Coast Brazil every week. Long may it continue..

[K,Billy's supersound]

good game, great result. must admit i'm very surprised were top let alone in the top 6.

but its only been 7 games lets not go over board thinking its all easy and were certs for promotion.

[corsacar saint]

Going forward we were[are] magnificent,Kelvin was superb today and it was difiicult to pick out a man of the match.[Maybe Connolly at a push]. The 3 goal scoreline

maybe was a little flattering,but who cares,this is a fantastic time for our wonderful club.

Let us not forget that the Birmingham back four have played hundreds of premier league games between them and we ran them ragged. Finally I thought the young referee was excellent,despite being a bit pernickity at times. I forgot to mention we are just the eleven points clear of that shower down the road.

[Give it to Ron]

good game, great result. must admit i'm very surprised were top let alone in the top 6.

but its only been 7 games lets not go over board thinking its all easy and were certs for promotion.

 

I dont think many people are TBH we all know its early days and that it can go wrong quickly lets just enjoy it for the time being.

We have had some bad years recently so its great to be on the way back.

My expectations this season were consolidation and the hope we can compete.

Today at times we were different class...the quality of the forward play had me in raptures and I

have such a smile on my face tonight after that game.

Enjoying it while it lasts....5 more wins and we are safe from relegation ;-)

[doddisalegend]

One of my biggest questions was answered today: Can we play our style against a strong, physical team on a wet pitch?

 

I don't thing Birmingham were particularly physical (apart from Stephen Carr), the first few miniutes the heavy rain and slippy pitch didn't seem to help our style of play but once the rain calmed down we got in the grove. I think we mixed it up more today a lot more long kicking from kelvin than last week against Forest.

[Barry the Badger]

I don't thing Birmingham were particularly physical (apart from Stephen Carr), the first few miniutes the heavy rain and slippy pitch didn't seem to help our style of play but once the rain calmedo down we got in the grove. I think we mixed it up more today a lot more long kicking from kelvin than last week against Forest.

 

Was quite funny when he went to give it short as the defense were under pressure and the whole northam went a bit mental.

[Jack]

I forgot to mention we are just the eleven points clear of that shower down the road.

 

We're actually 12 points clear of that shower down the road. Not bad after 7 games

[sidthesquid]

I thought we were excellent today alround, & nobody deserved less than an 8. I thought Hooiveld looked very solid & he and Fonte looked like they had played two years together, not two games. Cork must be the bargain of the season, Hammond looks totally at ease in this league and Connolly was so good at creating space for others that he deserved a goal for his tireless efforts.

Basically we just passed Brum to death today. Sometimes it looks a bit aimless and frustrates me when we end up back where we started, but when it works & suddenly space opens up we are unplayable.

It's effing good being a Saints fan at the moment.

[CanadaSaint]

No, but he Le Tissed him about three times on the trot, dropping a shoulder one way and then the other!!!!! Carr looked physically sick being made to run around in circles!!!!!

 

That sounds like a good "read" on Lallana's quality because Carr was a decent premier League defender for years, and not that out of place there last year.

 

I don't thing Birmingham were particularly physical (apart from Stephen Carr), the first few miniutes the heavy rain and slippy pitch didn't seem to help our style of play but once the rain calmed down we got in the grove. I think we mixed it up more today a lot more long kicking from kelvin than last week against Forest.

 

Still a bit of a question mark then but it sounds like we do have a different kind of game in there somewhere - a bit more steel when it's needed, perhaps. Fair comment?

[S-Clarke]

I thought we were excellent today alround, & nobody deserved less than an 8. I thought Hooiveld looked very solid & he and Fonte looked like they had played two years together, not two games. Cork must be the bargain of the season, Hammond looks totally at ease in this league and Connolly was so good at creating space for others that he deserved a goal for his tireless efforts.

Basically we just passed Brum to death today. Sometimes it looks a bit aimless and frustrates me when we end up back where we started, but when it works & suddenly space opens up we are unplayable.

It's effing good being a Saints fan at the moment.

 

That's the aim of the game though, if you can't find that opening, you go back...keep the ball and try again. This is great football IMO, and is much better than aimless boots up the pitch that people around me were screaming at us to do.

 

Eventually you'll get through playing football, as we have technically gifted players that will eventually open up teams at this level. We just need to be patient and that's one quality this team has at the moment, they never panic. Always in control of the situation.

[supersonic]

Absolutely fantastic, especially the first half. It wasn't easy and Birmingham were a decent strong side with some players who on paper should be Premier League.

 

Davis made some fantastic saves and his distribution was good. Very impressed with Hooiveld, looked strong and did what he needed to. Cleared when it needed and played when needed. Didn't have the easiest of days against King but he did well. I'm also impressed with how Hammond has stepped up, I was worried he wouldn't make the grade but he seems a very capable championship player.

 

Hopefully we can keep up the good form

[supergoose]

Another great performance - Well done Nigel and the lads.

[Plumstead_Saint]

We've beaten Birmingham but they are only 14th in the table and we are top, so was it no more than to be expected? We have only played one team from the top 10 which was the defeat at Leicester. The clubs we have beaten are Leeds (11th); Birmingham (14th); Millwall (15th); Barnsley (16th); Ipswich (19th); and Notts Forest (22nd). Should we be worried?

Schoolboy error Prof. Those are their position in the league now, not where they were when we played them. Important difference - part of the reason they are where they are is because we took 3 points off them.

Do you see now?

[Plumstead_Saint]

Fantastic result - I thought we would slip up today.

Well played boys.

The fact we have some depth in the squad makes me feel we have a good chance of keeping this up.

Schneiderlin and De Ridder can't get a start at the moment!

[1976_Child]

we was rubbish...

 

(for 9 minutes... the rest we was unbeatable)

 

Solid performance, quality in abundance, little dodgy moments by Jos H but excusable given it is his second trot out. Brum sh!te. E I E I O up the ....

[Pedro]

Just seen the goals again on Sky, real class. Great result, tough to select a MOM, all had a good game.

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

Guly's goal was brilliant and it was 99% a brilliant performance. However, having had time to reflect on the 3.5hr journey back to Essex, we really have got to do something about the defence IMO. At times today I thought it looked far too suspect.

[Leicestersaint]

Just back - great result - well done our boys!

[S-Clarke]

Guly's goal was brilliant and it was 99% a brilliant performance. However, having had time to reflect on the 3.5hr journey back to Essex, we really have got to do something about the defence IMO. At times today I thought it looked far too suspect.

 

Teams like Birmingham and Forest will have long periods in games where they press us and create chances, we rode our luck a little, but I felt our defensive shape today was much better than last week (mainly down to having a natural right back in there)

 

I can't see anything major to worry about. The only thing that bugged me a little was our conceding of free kicks in and around the box.

[liebherr driver]

We've beaten Birmingham but they are only 14th in the table and we are top, so was it no more than to be expected? We have only played one team from the top 10 which was the defeat at Leicester. The clubs we have beaten are Leeds (11th); Birmingham (14th); Millwall (15th); Barnsley (16th); Ipswich (19th); and Notts Forest (22nd). Should we be worried?

 

I'd be worried if I was your psychiatrist

[teamsaint]

Teams like Birmingham and Forest will have long periods in games where they press us and create chances, we rode our luck a little, but I felt our defensive shape today was much better than last week (mainly down to having a natural right back in there)

 

I can't see anything major to worry about. The only thing that bugged me a little was our conceding of free kicks in and around the box.

 

AL mentioned this in his interview on solent...and its exactly the sort of thing we need to sharpen up on.

We are playing amazing stuff.....and Deano is playing such a big part.

if we can get the defensive side spot on, could be a great season.

[Crab Lungs]

We've beaten Birmingham but they are only 14th in the table and we are top, so was it no more than to be expected? We have only played one team from the top 10 which was the defeat at Leicester. The clubs we have beaten are Leeds (11th); Birmingham (14th); Millwall (15th); Barnsley (16th); Ipswich (19th); and Notts Forest (22nd). Should we be worried?

 

Pretty much every club we've played with the exception of Leeds have been behind us in the table, tbf...

[Graffito]

So "Dagenham and Redbridge" go top. Take that Monkey Boy.

 

A pleasant surprise to see MLT and his family in the Kingsland today.

[suewhistle]

Not long in after our away game in Turin and a pizza afterwards. I was steeling myself for bad news, but 4-1!: big grin here. Glad I signed on to Saints player the other day. Slightly disappointed with the crowd but surely they'll start creeping now?

[Legod Third Coming]

Teams like Birmingham and Forest will have long periods in games where they press us and create chances, we rode our luck a little, but I felt our defensive shape today was much better than last week (mainly down to having a natural right back in there)

 

I can't see anything major to worry about. The only thing that bugged me a little was our conceding of free kicks in and around the box.

 

I think this is a good call - we need to be able to soak pressure because there are other good teams in this league.

That said, we are suspect at the back on occasion. That's something we can fix with a settled back four playing together every week.

Since inividually, they are all good players.

[The Cat]

Sheer quality today and a far better team performance than the Forest game. Everyone played their part. Fox and Hooiveld seemed more comfortable, Richardson was excellent and the midfield bolstered by the return of Cork who I will just carry on lauding on a weekly basis for the rest of his Saints career. He is that good.

 

I feel very privileged to be watching this team develop. Some of our players are fantastic, Lallana ridiculously so for this league. He's exactly the sort of player I'd love whatever team he plays for, and best of all it's ours.

 

Adkins interview was funny. He loves the club so much he's even praising our concourses.

[Wilf]

but its only been 7 games lets not go over board thinking its all easy and were certs for promotion.

 

Is anyone thinking that? Has anyone said that?

 

I think all the posts on here so far are the sound of people enjoying a great win early in the season, nothing more, nothing less.

[S-Clarke]

Is anyone thinking that? Has anyone said that?

 

I think all the posts on here so far are the sound of people enjoying a great win early in the season, nothing more, nothing less.

 

Yep, it's great to see no one getting too carried away at the moment. It's important to keep the perspective in that we're still newley promoted to this league and we won't have it all our way every week, but let's just enjoy each game at a time and see what happens.

 

Much more fun that way rather than getting stressed over individual results.

[View From The Top]

After all the sh it we've been through over the last 5 years or so I think we're perfectly entitled to be slightly intoxicated on success at the moment.

[silversaint]

Anyone got any highlights or a link to the goals? COYR.

[dubai_phil]

Enjoy the good days. They've been few and far between these past years.

 

Another surprising (before the game) result and another great performance that had the Solent guys salivating into their coffee.

 

Happy day, long may NA keep getting the team set up to give them to us.

[Wilf]

"A valiant Blues effort went unrewarded in Hampshire thanks to Nigel Adkins' classy Southampton side"

 

"Chris Hughton admitted Southampton deserved all three points at St. Mary's but felt the 4-1 scoreline was a false reflection of the game as a whole".

 

From BCFC official site

 

http://www.bcfc.com/page/Home

[Hurricane163]

I cannot add to this. A perfect summary of what I saw. Well done saints!!!

[maxi_sopez]

anyone got the goals?

[The Cat]

anyone got the goals?

 

No. But here's some post match footage.

 

[LostBoys]

Connelly absolute class above today.

 

I thought his performance was immense today Birmingham just could not live with him and nearly as good as the masterclass against Plymouth away last season.

[thefunkygibbons]

Great first half

 

Obvious that Brum were going to run at us a bit more in the second half

 

However, we were always better when we played our way, ball to feet and linking up play

 

In addition, we need to do something about KD passing out from the back

[Benali Saint]

Great result against a strong Brum team.

Back to the top of the league with 3 times as many points as the Skates. Love it

[hughieslastminutegoal]

We've beaten Birmingham but they are only 14th in the table and we are top, so was it no more than to be expected? We have only played one team from the top 10 which was the defeat at Leicester. The clubs we have beaten are Leeds (11th); Birmingham (14th); Millwall (15th); Barnsley (16th); Ipswich (19th); and Notts Forest (22nd). Should we be worried?

 

Could be, after just 7 games. that losing to us has helped put them in those positions?? Just a thought.

[scotty]

Was quite funny when he went to give it short as the defense were under pressure and the whole northam went a bit mental.

 

It was exactly the same from the itchen in the 2nd half. Every time kelvin played a short ball out and we tried to pass it out of defence, we ended up in trouble. He's obviously been told to do that, (and NA knows a thing or two about keeping,) but it just wasnt working yesterday. I'm far more comfortable seeing kelvin clear his lines rather than trying the fancy stuff around our own box. The itchen were screaming at him at one stage to "just f*cking kick it!!!"