Micky Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 No you don't. Saints have a +9 goal difference from 9 games and are top of the league. Errr, yes we do: http://www.skysports.com/football/league/0,,11687,00.html Too much pressure being put on the forward line - a clean sheet tonight and we would have won. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy_D Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 We might have slipped up the last two games, but everyone else has missed their chance to punish us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 LOL at Alpine's mention! Que? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Fox is alright in an attacking sense, but I'd say positionally at the back from when I've seen him he's very suspect and in away games that will cost you. Burnley fans said exactly the same about him, often goes walk about and isn't anywhere to be seen when they attack. Hopefully the coaches can improve him, but I think Harding is a much better defensive full back. Agree with this. I have always liked Harding and I definitely prefer him to Fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Sounded like a poor game, we didn't take our (many) chances. One of those nights. We sounded a lot better when De Ridder came on, maybe a start for him soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Since when has our target been to win this league? We've just flaming well been promoted. Let's take each game at a time, see where we are in January and go from there. No way should our target be to win the league, totally unrealistic. Top 6 is realistic and we should be there if we carry on like this. And it wasn't really Cardiff reserves either, pretty much full strength apart from Mason up top who you could consider their reserve. I thought they'd be weaker than they were, but a couple of players recovered quicker... Since the Chairman said so. And quite right too!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Since the Chairman said so. And quite right too!!! ...i still think it's amazingly unrealistic, but we'll see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Lalana had a quiet game- says Merrington. I agree. Absolutely. But that is why there is 46 games in a season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 ...i still think it's amazingly unrealistic, but we'll see. No way. If you aim to be 6th, you'll be 7th. Man's folly is not to set his ambitions too high and fail, but to set them too low and succeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorpe-le-Saint Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Onwards and upwards, but I feel sorry for the 2,000 who went up there and have to endure a day at work tomorrow knackered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintalan Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 ... but 2 soft goals and misses from 6 yards mean you will not win the championship... Probably means that no team will be Champions then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBoys Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Since when has our target been to win this league? We've just flaming well been promoted. Let's take each game at a time, see where we are in January and go from there. No way should our target be to win the league, totally unrealistic. Top 6 is realistic and we should be there if we carry on like this. And it wasn't really Cardiff reserves either, pretty much full strength apart from Mason up top who you could consider their reserve. I thought they'd be weaker than they were, but a couple of players recovered quicker... Not so 8 players out according to their web site. You cannot put a gloss on a poor performance. If you take the last two games we have missed 5 headers from the edge of the 6 yard box. How can you concede 2 goals to a lone striker one from a goalkeepers clearance. While accepting your point about not expecting auto promotion soft goals and missed comfortable chances wont put you in the top 6 either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 It was a disappointment, and there is obviously some work to do in defence. We need to try harder if we are going to fight our way up to the top of this division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Not so 8 players out according to their web site. You cannot put a gloss on a poor performance. If you take the last two games we have missed 5 headers from the edge of the 6 yard box. How can you concede 2 goals to a lone striker one from a goalkeepers clearance. While accepting your point about not expecting auto promotion soft goals and missed comfortable chances wont put you in the top 6 either. Yep, agree, that's true - but I don't think it's anything to really worry about yet.....when we stop creating those chances we can start to worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmore Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Still a brilliant start to the season, but why do we always seem to get punished when we make mistakes? I can't remember Saints getting a goal from an opposition mistake for ages. Just for info - at the same point last season QPR had 23 points and Norwich had 16. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Not so 8 players out according to their web site. You cannot put a gloss on a poor performance. If you take the last two games we have missed 5 headers from the edge of the 6 yard box. How can you concede 2 goals to a lone striker one from a goalkeepers clearance. While accepting your point about not expecting auto promotion soft goals and missed comfortable chances wont put you in the top 6 either. If every team in this league did what you say guess there they would be tonight? You got it. Playing Olympiakos or Valencia. Get a grip man. WE ARE TOP. Not even top six. Which mean's we're the best of the bunch who are not the best in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Still a brilliant start to the season, but why do we always seem to get punished when we make mistakes? I can't remember Saints getting a goal from an opposition mistake for ages. Just for info - at the same point last season QPR had 23 points and Norwich had 16. Good point. A ray of sunshine in a dour evening, nice one mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Disappointed not to get something at a weakened Cardiff. Hopefully bounce back with a win Saturday, or its going to start to look like a wobbly wheel on the bus. Being top is a fabulous achievement though, so still very happy with the way things are going and confident going into the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan17 Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 I could only listen on the radio but 2 soft goals and misses from 6 yards mean you will not win the championship. Very disappointed against Cardiff reserves Is anyone really expecting to win the championship??......We were in League One last year yeah????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MINIBARCELONASAINT Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 http://may-cause-offence.tumblr.com/post/10777515126/the-records-of-a-record-breaking-start-break My views, any viewings will be much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Is anyone really expecting to win the championship??......We were in League One last year yeah????? Yes, me and the Chairman. And Paul Lambert... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 (edited) Not chuffed. No one likes losing, give the abuse amiss fellers it Doesn't taste nice. Spent most of the day fishing and blanked bar two big crabs, some days its like that. Edited 28 September, 2011 by cellone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan17 Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Not chuffed. No one likes losing, give the abuse amiss fellers it Doesn't taste nice. Spent most of the day fishing and blanked bar two big crabs, some days its like that. Sorry if this ends with a sent by blah blah phone thing. LOL how odd?!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Just seen the goals - really Kelvin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian the Red Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Dissappointed, once again created loads of chances, but gave away 2 goals. Back 4 has always been a worry and still is. But we lost and we are still top of the league, leading scorers, playing great football....is it all that bad? We were due a poor run and we have just had it - 1 draw and 1 loss. Need to get back on the bus on Saturday and win, and win well!! COYR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 first goal was a socking punt down the field, we didn't deal with the bounce and Davis was caught too far out. Not pretty defending. The 2nd was just a give away from Jos, sloppy passing and their player played in Miller who finished very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintrich Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Why did we continue to pass out from the back? You could tell from the first 5 minutes that Cardiff weren't going to allow us to play like that. Very rushed with the ball, too many passes and flicks going astray. We needed someone to get on the ball, get their head up and dictate play - we missed Hammond IMO. Connolly mustve have had a pass completition rate of less than 25%, Guly not much better. At least the latter won a few headers and did a bit more of note. Fox was dire. Performance in general was poor, the most dissapointing thing was that Cardiff barely bothered us defensively, apart from the two goals we conceded... Didn't take advantage. Schneiderlin (although he did do v well in the build up) and Lambert missed two absolute sitters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raging Bull Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 De Riddler sound up for it from what I heard (have trouble listening to it instead of being there & we always score when I turn off!!) gotta be worth a squirt from the start on sat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint for ever Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 De Ridder should start on saturday in place of Guly and Hammond back in for Morgan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 De Ridder should start on saturday in place of Guly and Hammond back in for Morgan Would agree in part, but I'd give Conners a break. Put Guly up top with Lambo, he's been pretty useful as a striker in the past. (that shows how stretched we are up front....we need a loan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 If we were going by the notion that a team who wins their home games and draws their away games should have enough points for promotion, we're not doing too badly. Home: 4 games, 12 points out of 12. Away: 5 Away games, 7 points out of 15. Still 2 more than if we'd have drawn every game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 As long as we win our home games and pick up the odd point away from home we should be ok for a lower mid table finish. That would probably fit our target and would be a good return for our modest investment over the summer. I think next year will be the year we really push on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 As long as we win our home games and pick up the odd point away from home we should be ok for a lower mid table finish. That would probably fit our target and would be a good return for our modest investment over the summer. I think next year will be the year we really push on. Do shut up you troll. "That was quite emotional and got under my skin. I hope we are celebrating like that again next May. "And I don't just expect to be promoted this year, I want us to be champions" Nicola Cortese, September 2011. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3833092/Nicola-Cortese-I-want-Southampton-to-be-champions.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 As long as we win our home games and pick up the odd point away from home we should be ok for a lower mid table finish. That would probably fit our target and would be a good return for our modest investment over the summer. I think next year will be the year we really push on. Around 17th? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stepgar Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 This will be test of character for the players and Adkins in readiness for the weekend. I think and fea that teams will adopt asimilar approach in playing high up against our defenders forcing us to play to the middle where we have less chance of playing the football we want to. Plan B? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Is anyone really expecting to win the championship??......We were in League One last year yeah????? You'd better take up your query with the chairman. "That was quite emotional and got under my skin. I hope we are celebrating like that again next May. "And I don't just expect to be promoted this year, I want us to be champions" Nicola Cortese, September 2011. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...champions.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 I am not trolling. I am genuine in my belief that we will finish 17th or thereabouts and it would be an achievement in our first year in a new league. I understood we had a five year plan and i am sure next year when the management have had a better chance to asses the team in the contest of this league they will act decisively in the early summer months of the close season ensuring we have a better chance of success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Since when has our target been to win this league? We've just flaming well been promoted. Let's take each game at a time, see where we are in January and go from there. No way should our target be to win the league, totally unrealistic. Top 6 is realistic and we should be there if we carry on like this. And it wasn't really Cardiff reserves either, pretty much full strength apart from Mason up top who you could consider their reserve. I thought they'd be weaker than they were, but a couple of players recovered quicker... Sorry chaps, you're going to have to start swallowing this: "That was quite emotional and got under my skin. I hope we are celebrating like that again next May. "And I don't just expect to be promoted this year, I want us to be champions" Nicola Cortese, September 2011. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...champions.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowllyd Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 As long as we win our home games and pick up the odd point away from home we should be ok for a lower mid table finish. That would probably fit our target and would be a good return for our modest investment over the summer. I think next year will be the year we really push on. Can I just advise you not to give up the day job? Unless, of course, being a comedian is your day job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 I am not trolling. I am genuine in my belief that we will finish 17th or thereabouts and it would be an achievement in our first year in a new league. I understood we had a five year plan and i am sure next year when the management have had a better chance to asses the team in the contest of this league they will act decisively in the early summer months of the close season ensuring we have a better chance of success. The five year plan includes getting promoted this season. We will not finish anywhere near 17th, you know it. Stop trolling you tedious idiot. I will return to ignoring you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBoys Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 If every team in this league did what you say guess there they would be tonight? You got it. Playing Olympiakos or Valencia. Get a grip man. WE ARE TOP. Not even top six. Which mean's we're the best of the bunch who are not the best in the world. I think you have missed the point. Yes we are top and I am ecstatically happy and cannot really believe it but we have just lost to a side with 8 first teamers missing to a lone striker with one ball out of the parks league and the other a gift. It does not matter if you are top or bottom if you concede soft goals and miss headers from 6 yards you will not win. Every performance like this offsets one other excellent performance. And i got nil points on the prediction league for the second week running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northant Saint Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 No you don't. Saints have a +9 goal difference from 9 games and are top of the league. Yes but that is only because we are outscoring our opponents. Tonight was a perfect example of what happens when we don't take our chances. The OP is right, we need to rack up some clean sheets or at least start tightening up defensively, otherwise a lot of games could slip away like this. Still very pleased with how we sound going forward though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Should we be surprised this had saints losing written all over it Top of the table Chance to go 3pts clear..................Check All our nearest rivals screwed up last night................Check Cardiff have a major injury crisis..............................Check Saints fans starting to feel confident.........................Check Yep we were going to lose this one. Observations on tonights match (via solent) Soft goals Lallana was very quiet We could have nicked something with a bit better finishing I want Barney back We gave the ball away a lot (seemed to be the main phrase from the tatters) Why can't Kelvin make better use of long/short balls? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maysie Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 http://audioboo.fm/boos/486635-nigel-adkins-speaks-after-the-defeat-to-cardiff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 I think you have missed the point. Yes we are top and I am ecstatically happy and cannot really believe it but we have just lost to a side with 8 first teamers missing to a lone striker with one ball out of the parks league and the other a gift. It does not matter if you are top or bottom if you concede soft goals and miss headers from 6 yards you will not win. Every performance like this offsets one other excellent performance. And i got nil points on the prediction league for the second week running. I know your point. But we make mistakes. Cardiff also make mistakes. The point is EVERY team in this league makes mistakes. After 9 games, we're making fewer than anyone else because we're top. What makes you think we will increase the level of mistakes by any more than any other team in the league?? Tonight and Saturday our finishing was poor. But for the other 7 games it's been pretty sensational. That's over 70% great finishing. That's why we're top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vin Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Just got back - frustrating night all-in-all. We never really got going in the first half and, although we had plenty of possession, we just looked a little jaded and lacked penetration. Second half we started well and then gave away a very soft goal. Started to get back into it, missed a couple of chances, and then Hooiveld, who otherwise had an excellent game, sloppily gave the ball away and we're 2-0 down. We really gifted the win to Cardiff tonight, they really didn't do enough themselves to win it. Our finishing was poor (Rickie should have had 2). Lallana was anonymous, Guly had one of his frustrating games and Connolly just had a mare. Think we probably needed to freshen the side up by bringing in De Ridder from the start (but that's easy to say with hindsight). He was excellent once he came on, committing people, twisting and turning and keeping hold of the ball and deserved his goal at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocco boxo Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Good rest then boys...our boss must knoww the way to get the best out of them with his sports science etc Then a four goal gap over Watford! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benj Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Just got back, I think the word to sum up our performance would be sloppy. Lots of missed passes, bad touches, poor position and shoddy finishing cost us the game. In the first half we looked like we could have played for weeks and not come anywhere near to scoring, let in a very sloppy goal being hit on the break (although a massive shout for handball from their defender). Connolly was on the pitch far too long, he had an absolute shocker today. De Ridder came on and turned the game around in a matter of seconds, suddenly we looked dangerous and straight away created two great opportunities, one of which Morgan really should have scored. A poor pass from Jos cost us the 2nd goal, which is a shame because he had a really solid game apart from that. We looked really dangerous in the last 10 minutes but left it way too late. A stunning bit of control from De Ridder for his goal though. Davis - 6, could have been more decisive with the first goal. Richardson - 6, fairly solid but nothing special. Fonte - 6, got stuck in and made some great challenegs but a few positioning mistakes and sloppy passes. Jos - 7, would have been higher without the mistake for the second goal, looked really really solid and domineering. Fox - 5, gave the ball away loads and allowed himself to be trapped too many times. Guly - 4, nightmare game, constantly gave the ball away with shocking passes and an awful first touch. Summed up when a perfect ball to him on the penalty spot was there to be attacked but instead waited for it to come to him and fell over backwards whilst trying to volley it. Cork - 6, Very quiet game with some sloppy passing. Schneiderlin - 5, hardly got involved and the one time he did get in there really really should have beat the keeper from 6 yards out. Lallana - 6, worst game I've seen from him in a long time, struggled to get involved at all and when he did didn't look anywhere near what we've come to expect from him. Connolly - 2, I hate to say it because he's been great recently but today was just unbelievably bad, gave the ball away 90% of the time he got it and never looked like creating a thing. Lambert - 6, struggled to get involved, good assist for the goal though. De Ridder - 9, WOW, this was something special for me. Maybe it looked better than it was because of how poor the rest of the team was but the within 5 minutes of being on the pitch he'd created two clear cut chances and continued to give their defence the run around for the rest of the game. Brilliant ball control, good pace and incredible strength, only remember him misplacing one pass all night. Chaplow - 7, was involved in some neat little passing moves that created opportunities towards the end of the game, did everything that Cork didn't. The one positive to come out of this game for me is De Ridder, class performance in an awful team showing, he HAS to start on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 After having had such a good run up until now, Adkins hasn't been able to practice his excuses for defeat. This is a major disdvantage of winninmg games in August as it is crucial for managers to be able to convincingly blame everything and anything while ignoring the fact that the other team was better than their team. Adkins attempts after the Cardiff game might look weak, but let's remember he's out of practice. Maybe he'll do better after the Derby, West Ham and Middlesborough games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 28 September, 2011 Share Posted 28 September, 2011 Just back. Cardiff weren't great going forward but hassled us out of possession in midfield quite frequently. Our passing wasn't as crisp as normal and we gave the ball away too cheaply. Looked much better when De Ridder came on as Connolly seemed to struggle. Lallana was quiet and Schneiderlin gave the ball away more often than a player of his quality should. We still created plenty of chances, Lambert's second half missed header at the back post was pretty lame. Schneiderlin also missed a great opportunity just after they scored their first when he was put through in the box after a quality move. Wasn'y very impressed by Fox's performance tonight. Too many bad passes and his decision making was at times poor. Davis - 6 - Annoyed most of the crowd in the first half by taking ages from goal kicks. Indeed we seemed quite happy to slow down play at all set pieces. Good handling in the box but not many saves to make. Maybe a bit hasty in coming off his line for the first goal. Richardson - 7 - Played well. Fonte - 6 - Not his best game but was ok. Hooiveld - 6 - Solid. Would have been 7 if not for his mistake for the second goal Fox - 5 - Very sloppy at times. Lallana - 6 - Quiet. Schneiderlin - 5 - Not at his best by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe lacking sharpness. Cork - 6 - Miscontrolled the ball a few times in midfield. Put in a good shift though. Guly - 7 - Our best defender in the first half. Stumbled about a bit in possession at times, fell over when getting the ball for a throw in which was funny. Connolly - 5 - Looked tired. Didn't link up with Lallana much. Lambert - 7 - Held the ball up well and linked play nicely. Should have scored. De Ridder - 7 - Lively, good goal. Chaplow - 6 - Did ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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