Back From The Game Thread

[dune]

Cardiffs new ground was a run of the mill what you'd expect subuteo stadium like St Marys so nothing interesting to say about that. Predictably the atmosphere matched the stadium and the PA put the cherry on the cake with American style pre match music etc. Ninian Park was a good laugh, but we didn't even get a single rendition of God Save The Queen going this time around which was very disapointing.

 

As for the game first half was boring.

 

In the second half we started brightly and were the better side from the off. They scored. We were still the better side. They scored again. Missed our chances and weren't as acurate as we should have been in the final third to create more chances. If I was Adkins I wouldn't be at all happy because we've just lost a game we should have won.

Edited 29 September, 2011 by Saint_clark
How childish

[SaintAndy14]

Just back myself. Spent more on a taxi from St Mary's to Hedge End than I did getting a return to Cardiff. That topped the evening off! Not the best away game at all.

[Lighthouse]

Any chance of a thread which isn't infested with brain dead f**ktards? No, okay fair enough, I'll use this one....

 

It was very nearly a carbon copy of Burnley, right down to Lamberts headed miss at the far post, 3 yards out from a Fraser cross. First 70 mins we were crap, didn't threaten, gave the ball away cheaply with silly flick one straight to the opposition and the goal kicks... Kelvin I beg thee, have mercy upon us. Seriously, what is the point? If there is a massive open space in the middle then fair enough, but 9/10 times there just isn't. Worst case they rob the ball off Cork and score. Best case we pass it around the back 3 a couple of times before it ends up back with Kelvin, who just hoofs the fecker anyway.

 

Guly is a liability away from home, Lallana was quiet all evening, Kelvin was all at sea for the first goal and Connolly was anonymous again.

[Saint Garrett]

I'm tired, we lost, will write something proper tomorrow.

[dune]

I'm tired, we lost, will write something proper tomorrow.

 

Same here, but can't sleep for a bit after all that driving. Be alright once i've had some me time.

[Golden Balls]

We played some lovely football followed by amature football. We seemed to want to score the perfect goal, a lot like Arsenal. We just dont seem to want to shoot from further than 12 yards. We gave the ball away far too cheaply. Little flicks here and there as well as basic 10 yard passes gave the ball away, sometimes in very dangerous areas including one which led to their 2nd goal. Very sloppy. We had our chances though and should have had a pen just before their 2nd goal. I think a draw would have been a fair result.

 

I wish we would stop this passing it out to the middle from goal kicks. Has it ever worked? It's so bloody obvious! It can work with a quick roll out at the right time but Davis was looking for the pass every time and they knew that.

 

Lallana, Connolly and Lambert were all quiet today. Richardson did well. Was not impressed with Fox, Davis or Guly. De Ridder (once again) looked brilliant when he came on.

 

Their ground looks pretty, but I hated it. Ninian Park was awesome. Really intimidating and loud. This was awful and their fans were so quiet (except for when they scored and the 3 minutes after that) we completely outsung them even at 2-0 down. A Cardiff fan on TalkSport seemed very impressed with us.

[whelk]

what's with the 'real fans' parenthesis?

Plenty of sad mugs go to away games who know fck all about the game. And many of us have family and work commitments that don't allow us to travel round the country

[Turkish]

Same here, but can't sleep for a bit after all that driving. Be alright once i've had some me time.

 

You have more in common with super mikey than you think.

[surrey1saint]

We played some lovely football followed by amature football. We seemed to want to score the perfect goal, a lot like Arsenal. We just dont seem to want to shoot from further than 12 yards. We gave the ball away far too cheaply. Little flicks here and there as well as basic 10 yard passes gave the ball away, sometimes in very dangerous areas including one which led to their 2nd goal. Very sloppy. We had our chances though and should have had a pen just before their 2nd goal. I think a draw would have been a fair result.

 

I wish we would stop this passing it out to the middle from goal kicks. Has it ever worked? It's so bloody obvious! It can work with a quick roll out at the right time but Davis was looking for the pass every time and they knew that.

 

Lallana, Connolly and Lambert were all quiet today. Richardson did well. Was not impressed with Fox, Davis or Guly. De Ridder (once again) looked brilliant when he came on.

 

Their ground looks pretty, but I hated it. Ninian Park was awesome. Really intimidating and loud. This was awful and their fans were so quiet (except for when they scored and the 3 minutes after that) we completely outsung them even at 2-0 down. A Cardiff fan on TalkSport seemed very impressed with us.

 

Pretty good review of the game IMO.....

 

Was the best away following this season a couple of stewards told me!

[stanthemanfairoak]

sad to say it again but guly should never start away from home.

[Danbert]

You mean you're going to have a ****

[dune]

Last edited by Saint_clark; Today at 08:51 AM. Reason: How childish

 

It's called banter and having a sense of humour. You should attempt it some time.

[dune]

You have more in common with super mikey than you think.

 

Careful mate, any humour whatsoever is frowned upon by Saint_clarke.

[Saint Lindford]

Another of those what might have been moments. As mentioned above almost a carbon copy of Burnley except that we started brightly and Cardiff hardly got a kick in the first 5 mins. First half was eminently forgettable, second half we improved and chances for Schneiderlin (keeper made a great save), Lambert (twice) and Lallana should have been taken, couple that with the ref missing a blatent hand ball meant once again were going to suffer. We gifted them the 2 goals with KD and Fonte in no mans land from a long punt up field and then trying to pass out from the back went straight to one of their players who put Miller in for the second. Next time out would like to see De Ridder start in place of Guly who again was frustrating, good in parts but very pants in others. Note to coaching staff, lets try working on a plan B when the short goal kick is not on.................. soooooooooooooooooooooo frustrating!!!!!!

 

Good set up outside the stadium with the parking for the away fans, Cardiff fans we met were very welcoming. Inside the stadium the stadium announcer tried to get some atmosphere going from the home fans to no avail, WTF was the air raid siren all about?? Was their biggest crowd of the season and still they did make much noise, clealy made more than them all night.

 

We are still top of the league but only just, to think that if we had taken a couple of the chances at Burnley and last night we would be 5 points clear. Mind you if someone had said at the start of the season that after 9 games we would be top of the league have won 6, drawn 1 and lost 2 then I am sure we would all have taken it.

[The9]

As has been said above, it was very like Burnley - except that we played a fair bit better at Cardiff, though the insistence on playing tippy-tappy in front of the back line has finally cost us - I suppose after 9 league games that's a reasonable failure rate compared to success.

 

Not sure why Guly's getting so slated, he puts in the odd loose pass but in the last two games Hammond, Cork, Lambert, Connolly and Fox have all done the same. He also won a few vital headers at early corners, though he didn't do himself any favours falling over with that late chance. Nice to see him last the 90 minutes though, is that his first full game this season ?

 

Basically Burnley were better than Cardiff who left everything to Miller (including winning a swathe of free-kicks for not being fouled), and if we'd been able to finish in either of them we'd be 5 points clear at the top.

 

I already said everything there was to say about the imbecilic use of the short goal kick to an always-marked centre midfielder on the edge of our own box on Saturday. When we decided to whack it at Lambert instead, it was again an infinitely more useful and safer tactic, gaining possession high up in the opposing half on more than half the occasions we used it. No professional football team in the world is going to fall for the tactic of sticking the full backs on the half way line, the centre backs wide of the box and leaving the bloke we obviously want to pass it to, the only player moving towards the kicker, unmarked.

 

When it comes down to it though, we failed to head a big hoof and gave the ball away in the final third for the second - we can't expect to win if we make defensive mistakes and don't take easy, clear-cut chances, no matter how well we continue to carve out openings late on.

 

EDIT: LOL at the similarities with the post above. FWIW I thought the stadium was really REALLY nice, well laid out, quick service when I went to get served and when there was singing it was massively magnified. However, the tannoy announcer, who also does Wales games, is frankly a good example of why Wales shouldn't have any input into "match day entertainment", and announcing the number of minutes left in Welsh first is precisely the kind of welsh language act bo11ocks that led me to leave the place in the first place.

Edited 29 September, 2011 by The9

[TheSaint75]

Last edited by Saint_clark; Today at 08:51 AM. Reason: How childish

 

It's called banter and having a sense of humour. You should attempt it some time.

 

So should you!

[Saint Garrett]

Right...

 

 

Well thought we played and on another night where things had gone in our favour we could have won that game easily. We were very comfortable on the ball until the final third where we seemed to give the ball away quite a bit. Was impressed with Richardson, he gets forward and has a decent cross on him. Still unimpressed with Guly - he had a decent first half and then was pretty much anonymous in the second. Not sure he is an 'away' player. De ridder gave us much needed energy when he came on and caused them problems.

 

Lallana didn't do anything really of note, which is probably why we didnt win. Lambert should have atleast hit the target with both those headers. Chaplow looked good when he came on, but he's just a bit of a liability when it comes to needless fouls. Still not sure about our midfield best combination.

 

Thought we really missed Hammonds bite in midfield but Schneiderlin has obvius qualities. Just to reitarate a few other posters.....STOP THE SHORT BALL FROM GOAL KICKS EVERY TIME!!! It is too obvious, we need to learn when to play football and when to get rid and it has been a matter of time until we gave the ball away dicking about with it in our own half and gifting them a goal. We have someone who wins a lot of headers up front so why not use him as an option. Once we started playing it up to Lambert - we actually looked like we were going to create a clear cut opportunity rather than just crowding the top of the 18 yrd box.

 

Was impressed with our fans - thought we did well in numbers and in noise and its always nice to see us outsing the home fans (all apart from about the 5 mins after their second)

 

Another ground to tick off, but not the result that we wanted. But we are still top so cant complain to lose away from home to a team who are promotion hopefuls as well. Thought Miller looked like a proper goalscorer so when he was given the opportunity he was always likely to score.

 

p.s....Not sure what Davis was doing on their first goal...

[The9]

I'm also not sure what Davis was doing... because I'd looked away and didn't see the thing until it was bouncing past the 6 yards line. WTF Frazer was doing on the goalline I'm not sure about, he probably could have headed it onto the bar or maybe even hooked it away, but he just... didn't. I blame his shorts.

 

One thing you did raise that I'd forgotten, was that in the last 15 minutes when we were most successful we were whacking diagonal balls to Lambert from Richardson and mopping up around their area. An oldie but a goodie - what I couldn't figure out was why, when this was obviously working as well as the passing game, wasn't Lambert constantly moving to the far post, so that Fox could ALSO hit long balls to him when the ball was on the other side of the pitch ?

 

It was a sign that we were doing pretty well that Cardiff's shots off target were basically all crappy free-kicks, they weren't creating anything in open play that we didn't gift them.

[LGTL]

This game was very similar to Burnley, only Burnley were a better team. Cardiff had two attempts on goal and scored from both, all through sloppy defending. How Lambert hasn't buried that header last night i'll never know, much like his chance at Burnley. Lallana very quiet, Richardson my MOTM. I'd start De Ridder instead of Connolly on Saturday who looked knackered after about 10 minutes, and every time Chaplow has come on he has impressed me this season bar Barnsley. I'd keep Guly and Lallana on the wings, but the CM pairing is a difficult one to decide at the moment.

[Saint Garrett]

 

Picture of Saints fans I found on the not606 board. Good following.

[JRM]

 

Picture of Saints fans I found on the not606 board. Good following.

 

yeah that looks quality - top away support midweek.

[The9]

You have more in common with super mikey than you think.

 

Did you know there was a shop named after you next to Burnley's ground?

[Sour Mash]

Thought their new ground was done on the cheap, but atmosphere not too bad, thought our support was really good at times.

Game itself - teams have worked us out a bit now and we can't enjoy being an unknown commodity. Stop Davis playing it short, don't let Lallana have any time on the ball, we struggle for a plan b going forward, aren't direct enough going forward and give away soft goals at the back. Connolly definitely needs a rest. I don't rate Fox, especially considering how much we paid for him. An annoying game, very similar to Burnley, two teams that did very little and were there for the taking really. Also, nothing worse than a team that doesn't start playing until its a goal down, same as Burnley. Hammond shouldn't have been dropped either, just because of one poor half after such a top run of performances.

[The Kraken]

yeah that looks quality - top away support midweek.

 

Very good support; apparently Leicester only took around 500 fans to Cardiff, which must be a similar distance to us.

[Sour Mash]

yeah that looks quality - top away support midweek.

For periods of the 2nd half our support was quality, shows how good it really can be at times.

[Golden Balls]

Thought their new ground was done on the cheap, but atmosphere not too bad, thought our support was really good at times.

 

I thought the ground itself looked quite cheap outside. But inside there are loads of positives. Outside there are plenty of shops and pubs as well as parking for £5. Didn't take too long to get out of the car park either. Inside, the toilets were huge, plenty of catering facilities so basically no queues. Also, they open the gates for a smoking area where there are buger vans outside. Loads of room in general.

 

Inside the actual 'bowl' it looks alright, nothing special. It seems that when the Cardiff fans did make noice (not often) the ground kept it inside creating a potentially good atmosphere. Staff were all good too. All round, the total opposite of Ninian Park...but I would rather watch a game at Ninian Park.

[Golden Balls]

Amazing how opinions can differ re: Atmosphere.

 

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=60757

 

I thought we sounded brilliant for the majority of the game and hardly heard them except for when they scored, which led to "2-0, and you still dont sing"

[Sour Mash]

Amazing how opinions can differ re: Atmosphere.

 

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=60757

 

I thought we sounded brilliant for the majority of the game and hardly heard them except for when they scored, which led to "2-0, and you still dont sing"

They don't seem the sharpest bunch on there to be fair.

[doddisalegend]

Amazing how opinions can differ re: Atmosphere.

 

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=60757

 

I thought we sounded brilliant for the majority of the game and hardly heard them except for when they scored, which led to "2-0, and you still dont sing"

 

The saints fans sounded loud on the radio (hardly heard a peep out of the cardiff fans) but maybe the solent tatters were sat right in the middle of them.

[The Kraken]

Amazing how opinions can differ re: Atmosphere.

 

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=60757

 

I thought we sounded brilliant for the majority of the game and hardly heard them except for when they scored, which led to "2-0, and you still dont sing"

 

I was in the corporate area in the main stand; the truth is somewhere in between. Cardiff made a fair bit of a racket at times but didn't keep the singing going for long spells. Saints also put up a good showing but, from the other side of the ground, I wouldn't say were very loud.

 

It doesn't help that the main singing areas for home and away teams are at opposite ends of the ground.

[dune]

I didn't think we were that loud and we didn't sing the national anthem either which was UNFORGIVEABLE. That said most stood up all game and we didn't have a lot to cheer. Also it being in cardiff with little scope for away drinking for the masses didn't help. As I said in my OP it was nowhere near as good as our previous trips to Ninian Park.

[Golden Balls]

I didn't think we were that loud and we didn't sing the national anthem either which was UNFORGIVEABLE. That said most stood up all game and we didn't have a lot to cheer. Also it being in cardiff with little scope for away drinking for the masses didn't help. As I said in my OP it was nowhere near as good as our previous trips to Ninian Park.

 

I think it didn't really have the right type of atmosphere for the England/Wales jibes. That said, maybe if you started it, others would have followed?

 

They get that every week though, pretty boring, unoriginal attempt to wind them up.

 

Just as boring as their "Just a small town in Portsmouth" chant.

[dronskisaint]

I didn't think we were that loud and we didn't sing the national anthem either which was UNFORGIVEABLE. That said most stood up all game and we didn't have a lot to cheer. Also it being in cardiff with little scope for away drinking for the masses didn't help. As I said in my OP it was nowhere near as good as our previous trips to Ninian Park.

 

You know the words to Sospan Fach?

[niceandfriendly]

I think it didn't really have the right type of atmosphere for the England/Wales jibes. That said, maybe if you started it, others would have followed?

 

They get that every week though, pretty boring, unoriginal attempt to wind them up.

 

Just as boring as their "Just a small town in Portsmouth" chant.

 

Indeed, as well as "There's only one Harry Redknapp". Glad to hear the Saints fans bucked the trend and didn't follow down that embarrassing route.

[Sparky_Mark]

On another day we could have scored 4 or 5, Cardiff didn't really create a lot and thought it was all us most of the second half, ground itself looks okay although the tv screen in the corner is the most annoying thing on earth, constantly flashing with rubbish adverts, thought us as fans only got louder when we were behind, realising we needed to get behind the lads. Was impressed with De Ridder when he came on he brightened us up a hell of a lot with his movement and skill, should start ahead on guly he is useless!

[doddisalegend]

On another day we could have scored 4 or 5, Cardiff didn't really create a lot and thought it was all us most of the second half, ground itself looks okay although the tv screen in the corner is the most annoying thing on earth, constantly flashing with rubbish adverts, thought us as fans only got louder when we were behind, realising we needed to get behind the lads. Was impressed with De Ridder when he came on he brightened us up a hell of a lot with his movement and skill, should start ahead on guly he is useless!

 

Harsh. He can be great on his day scored some great goals for us. It's just he blows hot and cold to much for my liking. If he's having a poor game the whole team suffers.

[hypochondriac]

I don't think a midweek away game is the place to play Guly TBH.

[Turkish]

Did you know there was a shop named after you next to Burnley's ground?

 

"Arrogant, condesending c*nt" Is a strange name for a shop.

[70's Mike]

Most have expressed my views but having thought on it for 24 hours, i agree with Stanthemanfairoak Guly has to be left out away from home and Hammond/Chaplow start to give us extra defensive bite.

If not Guly then Connolly.

After saying that I enjoyed the evening although still think the best thing about Wales is Severn Bridge heading East

[Neil]

Well almost 24 hours on and I'm still annoyed at last night. A golden opportunity to extend our lead at the top and, surprise surprise, we blew it big style.

 

Cardiff weren't very good and looked low on confidence, yet we completely let them off the hook and gifted them two diabolical goals.

 

Not getting carried away by last night's bad result and performance, but do we have a genuine problem away from home? Does Nigel really know what's required away from home, and can he get that across to the players? I'm beginning to have some doubts.

 

We're just playing too much football in the wrong areas of the park, which seems to be consistently creating problems and encouraging the oppostion. We need to tighten up and not play the ball out from the keeper and defence every time, as it's got way too predictable and dangerous.

 

I do have some sympathy for Nigel because he is probably missing the striker he thought he'd have by now, Connolly completely anonymous, frustrated and making mistakes on the rare occasions he did see the ball. Would be good to see Barnard again soon to freshen things up.

 

Time for De Ridder to get a full game to show what he can do, and maybe time for Harding to get a game?

Fox has great crossing ability, but seems a bit arrogant and not bothered about defending too much.

 

The chances were still there to have drawn or won. Frustrating evening, but roll on Saturday and back to the fortress...

[the great escape]

Guly is like marmite for me, i love and hate him all in the same game! But how does Guly start every away game??! i love that we play attacking football and with that we leave our full backs ( one of whom fox is pretty poor defensivley)at times somewhat exposed but Guly doesnt even pretend to get back into position and when we arnt firing on all cylinders going forward it allows teams to get in so many easy balls into our box.... please play de ridder against Watford

[Ohio Saint]

we didn't sing the national anthem either which was UNFORGIVEABLE.

 

Unforgivable? That's bullcrap! God Save the Queen? 50% of the words in the title alone consist of an invisible friend I don't believe in and an old lady I don't support. If people don't want to sing it, you should just get over it.

[shurlock]

Guly is like marmite for me, i love and hate him all in the same game! But how does Guly start every away game??! i love that we play attacking football and with that we leave our full backs ( one of whom fox is pretty poor defensivley)at times somewhat exposed but Guly doesnt even pretend to get back into position and when we arnt firing on all cylinders going forward it allows teams to get in so many easy balls into our box.... please play de ridder against Watford

 

I thought Guly worked his socks off defensively against Cardiff

[stanthemanfairoak]

[]I thought Guly worked his socks off defensively against Cardiff[/ what game where you watchin?

[Lets B Avenue]

[]I thought Guly worked his socks off defensively against Cardiff[/ what game where you watchin?

 

The game you didn't go to?

[doddisalegend]

Interesting that people at the game can't agree on Guly's performance. For what it's worth the Solent tatters weren't very impressed with him until De Ridder started warming up when Guly was suddenly every where working his socks off. Any truth to that? Did the threat of being subbed up Gulys game? hence the oppossing views on him?

[oldsarum]

The game you didn't go to?

 

Indeed Guly won more headers defending in our penalty area than anyone else especially from the long throw in's Cardiif were using

[stevegrant]

I thought Guly was our best player by some margin on Wednesday night. Always involved, and was a key focal point of our attack as Lallana was nullified pretty well by Cardiff. It would be fair to say that his work-rate and defensive work has rarely won him plaudits, but I lost count of the number of headers he won in our area from their set pieces and the number of times he chased back to win possession back (sometimes from his own mistake, admittedly, but he was far from the worst offender in that regard).

[Saint Malc]

The best thing for me was walking away from the ground and listening to the Cardiff fans talking behind us saying how good and loud the Saints fans were. The best they'd heard.

 

Remember, we are Saints :-)

[Bearsy]

Mummy I had a scary dream and wet the bed

 

Last edited by Saint Clark; 01.10.2011 08:35 Reason: How childish