Palace 2 - 0 Saints - Post Match Reaction Thread

[Chap in the Chapel]

A shame, but it's clear what this season's priority is. Well done to all who went. Anyone know whether Ryan Dickson is injured? He is starting to seem increasingly marginalised. Paul Walsh on Sky is being very complimentary about Ward-Prowse, so he's probably one of tonight's positives, along with the return of Barnard. Saturday, I'd like to think, will see us back on track after a rest for most of our key men.

[sfc4prem]

On way back. To fork out hard-earned cash supporting the team and receive that teamsheet and performance was F*cking disappointing. It may "only be the Carling Cup" but that was rubbish.

 

Only highlights were Morgan and his young-er apprentice JW-P, oh, and Benjamin Reeves.

 

De Ridder, Butterfield and Forte were sh*te. Forte especially, he was f*cking useless.

 

Would have quite liked to get through to the Quarters tbh.

[Thedelldays]

On way back. To fork out hard-earned cash supporting the team and receive that teamsheet and performance was F*cking disappointing. It may "only be the Carling Cup" but that was rubbish.Only highlights were Morgan and his young-er apprentice JW-P, oh, and Benjamin Reeves.De Ridder, Butterfield and Forte were sh*te. Forte especially, he was f*cking useless.Would have quite liked to get through to the Quarters tbh.

you must have known that adkins was going to playJWP Reeves bart butters martin.....he did say so

[hackedoff]

Cork,much better in midfield than in defence

De Ridder,much better as an impact player coming off the bench than when starting

Forte, just not up to this level, sorry Nigel, surely you can see that now?

Win on Saturday and tonight will be history but I really fear that unless " we" are careful, the season could stall.

[alpine_saint]

Cork,much better in midfield than in defence

De Ridder,much better as an impact player coming off the bench than when starting

Forte, just not up to this level, sorry Nigel, surely you can see that now?

Win on Saturday and tonight will be history but I really fear that unless " we" are careful, the season could stall.

 

Yep, the message from tonight for NA must be that he hasnt got as much squad depth as everyone likes to think he has.

[St Marco]

won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2..?????

 

Which bit are you refering to?

 

If you are talking about our away results we have played 7 won 2, drawn 3 and lost 2. But form guides are not made on total results for a season are they.....What you did in the first month isn't indication of how your playing 4 months later. Most form guides use 5/6 games to base a teams form on as that is normally just over a month or so's amount of results. As i said above based on "form" we sit joint 22nd just as that link shows you. Have not won in 6 away games in all comps. Our last away win was against Swindon which was 10 games ago.

 

As i said our away form needs looking at. Don't see how that is worth shooting down?

[Thedelldays]

Which bit are you refering to?

 

If you are talking about our away results we have played 7 won 2, drawn 3 and lost 2. But form guides are not made on total results for a season are they.....What you did in the first month isn't indication of how your playing 4 months later. Most form guides use 5/6 games to base a teams form on as that is normally just over a month or so's amount of results. As i said above based on "form" we sit joint 22nd just as that link shows you. Have not won in 6 away games in all comps. Our last away win was against Swindon which was 10 games ago.

 

As i said our away form needs looking at. Don't see how that is worth shooting down?

im not shooting anything down...dont know why you would say that..just not sure what our away form is....hence the ????

 

thank god for home form....

[doddisalegend]

To be fair that isn't quite right. We have actually only won twice in seven games now. That is only 28% win ratio in the past 7 games. Away wise based on the last 5 games we are joint 22nd http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D1/aform.html

Only 2 teams have worse away form then us right now (Pompey and Coventry).

 

It is only a cup game and shouldn't be looked into to much but i think it is pretty safe to say our away form needs looking at.

 

Is there any point in comparing tonights team with the team we normally put out? We played a midfielder in defence, a 16 year old, a striker who can't even get on the bench on match days and a RB who has played twice this season. Todays result is hardly an indication that our league form is shot to pieces.

[alpine_saint]

Which bit are you refering to?

 

If you are talking about our away results we have played 7 won 2, drawn 3 and lost 2. But form guides are not made on total results for a season are they.....What you did in the first month isn't indication of how your playing 4 months later. Most form guides use 5/6 games to base a teams form on as that is normally just over a month or so's amount of results. As i said above based on "form" we sit joint 22nd just as that link shows you. Have not won in 6 away games in all comps. Our last away win was against Swindon which was 10 games ago.

 

As i said our away form needs looking at. Don't see how that is worth shooting down?

 

It isnt and you are absolutely right. We should be doing better away from home in order to sustain our momentum. This "we still averaging 2 points per game" mentality is appalingly complacent.

[Stepgar]

Although losing hurts, sometimes it can actually bring you back a peg (not suggesting that we needed it) or two just to help keep feet firmly on the ground. So I guess if you are going to lose then the cup at this stage is probably the best time to do it. Allowing for everyone to realise that we are not unbeatable and that we have to continue to raise the standard that we Have now set ourselves. For me Boro are like West Ham, hitting form while we look to maybe slowing slightly. Saturday is just as big the West Ham game for me.

[alpine_saint]

Is there any point in comparing tonights team with the team we normally put out? We played a midfielder in defence, a 16 year old, a striker who can't even get on the bench on match days and a RB who has played twice this season. Todays result is hardly an indication that our league form is shot to pieces.

 

Most of those players you have identified, and the rest, should have had more hunger and motivation to demonstrate their worth. I dont believe they are all genuinely ****, in fact the 16 year old should probably be reasonably happy with his contribution tonight.

[Windmill Arm 2]

Mixed emotions.

 

Couldnt give a shiny one about the League Cup.

 

Desperately worried about our ability to get up for away matches, and the fact that several players on the fringes didnt do more to sell themselves to the manager tonight.

 

Are things getting too cosy down at SMS at the moment ???

WE MADE TEN CHANGES TO THE STARTING 11, are you mental? the intent of the management was clear from the outset ie, If we win great, if we lose 'Whatever'

 

I can't believe total phuking morons like you and Window Licker are actually slating the performance. For the love of god phuk off !!!

[SaintRobbie]

Shame - would've been nice to have the 2nd team with a competition to keep them firing on. But, the League is all that really matters this year… cups are for when we're established in the Premier League.

[alpine_saint]

WE MADE TEN CHANGES TO THE STARTING 11, are you mental? the intent of the management was clear from the outset ie, If we win great, if we lose 'Whatever'

 

I can't believe total phuking morons like you and Window Licker are actually slating the performance. For the love of god phuk off !!!

 

Oh dear. I see the site's Tourette's sufferer has turned up...

[doddisalegend]

Most of those players you have identified, and the rest, should have had more hunger and motivation to demonstrate their worth. I dont believe they are all genuinely ****, in fact the 16 year old should probably be reasonably happy with his contribution tonight.

 

Maybe they should... however to use this result with such a changed team as indication of imminent league collapse makes no sense. I imagine the team we put out tonight would struggle against most championship sides luckily this isn't the team we normally play.

[alpine_saint]

Maybe they should... however to use this result with such a changed team as indication of imminent league collapse makes no sense. I imagine the team we put out tonight would struggle against most championship sides luckily this isn't the team we normally play.

 

I agree, but it does suggest we dont have the squad depth that everyone supposes we do. A 46-game season is a long season...

[Thedelldays]

I agree, but it does suggest we dont have the squad depth that everyone supposes we do. A 46-game season is a long season...

it depends whether we will completely change the first 11 from league game to league game or not..

[Windmill Arm 2]

Terrible. Reserves or no reserves we are effing hopeless away and sooner rather than later it's going to cost us dear.

 

Middlesbrough is beginning to freak me out now, I'm not sure we have the confidence in the side at present to score enough goals to win it. If Lallana and Fonte are not available it could get very bad, with Barnard miles off match fitness and Connolly seemingly having lost the plot.

Man up you fanny, we drew away at DERBY and READING two very good Championship teams (without our best player). Sandwiched inbetween that we beat West Ham, the promotion favourites, we will probably beat Boro at home on Saturday, if we draw, so what? ..........jesus, one defeat and out come all the bellends!

[doddisalegend]

Man up you fanny, we drew away at DERBY and READING two very good Championship teams (without our best player). Sandwiched inbetween that we beat West Ham, the promotion favourites, we will probably beat Boro at home on Saturday, if we draw, so what? ..........jesus, one defeat and out come all the bellends!

 

Are you always this angry?

[alpine_saint]

it depends whether we will completely change the first 11 from league game to league game or not..

 

No it doesnt.

 

SDR has put his case to start back tonight

Forte is no back-up forward for Rickie, an off-form Connolly and a distracted Barnard

Butterfield hasnt challenged Richardson's place

 

EDIT: Beginning to feel like another clear-out is overdue.

[Windmill Arm 2]

A 46-game season is a long season...

It'll be even longer if we have to keep reading this phuking drivel everytime we lose.

[alpine_saint]

It'll be even longer if we have to keep reading this phuking drivel everytime we lose.

 

P*ss off then...

[woodsaint]

Oh ffs!!! We are currently top of the league and we lost a game that looking at the team NA picked, we werent fussed about anyways. Get a grip!!!! Our away league record is 9 points from 21, not too bad (close to 1.5 points average per game). Our two defeats were leicester where we should have got at least a point and cardiff were we had an off day. If we keep our fantastic home form up and get close to 1.5 points per game away from home, like were doing and we will still be sitting pretty at the top of the league

[mitch01]

Away form must get better, but I'm not too gutted not to be in the last 8 of the CC. In Nige and Nicola I trust.

[Dalek2003]

To be fair that isn't quite right. We have actually only won twice in seven games now. That is only 28% win ratio in the past 7 games. Away wise based on the last 5 games we are joint 22nd http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/D1/aform.html

Only 2 teams have worse away form then us right now (Pompey and Coventry).

 

It is only a cup game and shouldn't be looked into to much but i think it is pretty safe to say our away form needs looking at.

 

Looks like a fair bet for 17th if we keep this form up.

[DrunkenSaint]

On way back. To fork out hard-earned cash supporting the team and receive that teamsheet and performance was F*cking disappointing. It may "only be the Carling Cup" but that was rubbish.

 

Only highlights were Morgan and his young-er apprentice JW-P, oh, and Benjamin Reeves.

 

De Ridder, Butterfield and Forte were sh*te. Forte especially, he was f*cking useless.

 

Would have quite liked to get through to the Quarters tbh.

 

Forte has alwats been sh*te, never rated him never will but all players probably knew that as a club we're only interested in one thing..Promotion. De ridder might have been poor today but i think him playing off the attacker is where he is best, to use his pace and his ability to run at the defence. He might of also been instructed not to get booked or injured so as a player your not going to have a good game are you? I think one good thing has come out of this, some of our youngers seem very good indeed, JWP and Morgan sounded good together. Roll on Saturday!

[Dalek2003]

Yep, the message from tonight for NA must be that he hasnt got as much squad depth as everyone likes to think he has.

 

been saying it for the last 5 months. Chickens will come home to roost.

[M271]

According to NA in his post match interview some fringe players didn't seize their chance (Butterfield, Forte ?) but the youngsters stepped up to the task. He talked about the January transfer window more then before, if we can stay near the top of the league I can see us attracting good players and NC releasing sufficient funds to make the push for the Premier League.

[alpine_saint]

According to NA in his post match interview some fringe players didn't seize their chance (Butterfield, Forte ?) but the youngsters stepped up to the task. He talked about the January transfer window more then before, if we can stay near the top of the league I can see us attracting good players and NC releasing sufficient funds to make the push for the Premier League.

 

Good News. The penny has dropped, it seems.

 

Fingers crossed we can hold our ground with the top 6 until the transfer window opens.

[Winnersaint]

MTFU all of you disbelievers, and Alpine you are just a K U N T. You self centred t o s s e r. I've kind of sussed it's all about the wind up with you. Btw I don't have tourettes (****. ****, ****). If I were you I would seek medical/psychological help, failing that I'd chuck yourself off the nearest high mountain. there are plenty around in that Saints supporting stronghold of Austria. Tbh this is not a serious post. Alps you do keep me entertained even if you seem to know F C U K all about football. If you've been a saints fan for 40 odd years you kind of get used to all of it.

[S-Clarke]

MTFU all of you disbelievers, and Alpine you are just a K U N T. You self centred t o s s e r. I've kind of sussed it's all about the wind up with you. Btw I don't have tourettes (****. ****, ****). If I were you I would seek medical/psychological help, failing that I'd chuck yourself off the nearest high mountain. there are plenty around in that Saints supporting stronghold of Austria. Tbh this is not a serious post. Alps you do keep me entertained even if you seem to know F C U K all about football. If you've been a saints fan for 40 odd years you kind of get used to all of it.

 

This post has totally confused me.

[Colinjb]

On BBC 1 right now. "Young Nuns."

 

Are the fates teasing us?

[alpine_saint]

MTFU all of you disbelievers, and Alpine you are just a K U N T. You self centred t o s s e r. I've kind of sussed it's all about the wind up with you. Btw I don't have tourettes (****. ****, ****). If I were you I would seek medical/psychological help, failing that I'd chuck yourself off the nearest high mountain. there are plenty around in that Saints supporting stronghold of Austria. Tbh this is not a serious post. Alps you do keep me entertained even if you seem to know F C U K all about football. If you've been a saints fan for 40 odd years you kind of get used to all of it.

 

[Give it to Ron]

been saying it for the last 5 months. Chickens will come home to roost.

 

Nearly every Saints fan knows we need a quick pacey striker to compliment our squad - reason we havent signed one...we are saving the money for when Nige gets the sack and Glenda packs in his lucrative job and we have to beat all those other clubs clamouring for him.

[Jackie@home]

Not too worried about tonight - the difference in intensity of the league games this season compared to last season is huge. We have to be really on the ball every League match, especially now we're top and teams won't under-estimate us any more - we can't waste too much energy on the cups. After all, last season we were the big boys; this season we're competing against lots of ex-Prem players & teams which big wage bills and managers like Allardyce who know how to grind out results. At least we know that the production line at the academy is still working, Barnard's on his way back, and Forte can be sent out on loan!

[explorer saint]

No away wins since the end august need to get 9 points including cov away, this away form is starting to worry me

[S-Clarke]

No away wins since the end august need to get 9 points including cov away, this away form is starting to worry me

 

We've not had many wins away, but to be fair we've been picking up points and winning at home, which is automatic promotion form anyway. We'll still get our fair share of away wins, we've just had some very tricky ones to contend with over the last month.

[Colinjb]

No away wins since the end august need to get 9 points including cov away, this away form is starting to worry me

 

Win at home, draw away. That is promotion form.

 

It would be nice to have a few away wins... especially with Cov comming up... i've never seen us win at Cov

[supersonic]

On way back now. Sat on train.

 

Utter ****e is the best way to describe the match and performance.

 

Forte has probably played his last game for Saints.

 

De Ridder went from hero to zero in 3 days. Just looked. Completely uninterested.

 

They were there for the taking a 0-0 then 2 stupid mistakes let them in.

 

Harding showed why Fox has been playing recently, very poor an slow. Gave away penalty.

 

 

 

End on a positive... Ward-Prowse was excellent. Best saints player. Looked so composed and professional for a 16 year old playing his 1st game...has a very bright future, based on tonight's performance, I just hope it's with Saints

[Jackie@home]

If we had been losing to Bristol City, Donny and Barnsley I would be more worried about our away form, but we've mainly drawn and only narrowly lost 2 games against teams that have both been predicted to be right near the top of the league at the end of the season. Some people seem to be forgetting that we've only just got promoted, and that the feat achieved by Norwich is being talked about so much because it is extremely rare. As for it being that the penny had dropped with NA at last that we need another striker - grant the man some intelligence - we made substantial bids for several strikers in the summer; you can't always sign who you want, same happened to Wenger. Luckily, the Oxo money is there if we find the right players to sign during the window.

[alpine_saint]

If we had been losing to Bristol City, Donny and Barnsley I would be more worried about our away form, but we've mainly drawn and only narrowly lost 2 games against teams that have both been predicted to be right near the top of the league at the end of the season. Some people seem to be forgetting that we've only just got promoted, and that the feat achieved by Norwich is being talked about so much because it is extremely rare. As for it being that the penny had dropped with NA at last that we need another striker - grant the man some intelligence - we made substantial bids for several strikers in the summer; you can't always sign who you want, same happened to Wenger. Luckily, the Oxo money is there if we find the right players to sign during the window.

 

Jackie, maybe you arent aware of this, but there is a body of opinion round here that thinks we dont need to strengthen in January...

[Saint_clark]

No it doesnt.

 

SDR has put his case to start back tonight - Not sure what you mean here? He sounded like our most involved player

Forte is no back-up forward for Rickie, an off-form Connolly and a distracted Barnard - Connolly is not off-form...he hasn't scored for a while, but he is still linking up well. This rest will have done him the world of good.

Butterfield hasnt challenged Richardson's place - We have no idea if that's true, do we. I'd have agreed if you'd made a comment r.e the left back position, considering Harding gave away the penalty.

 

EDIT: Beginning to feel like another clear-out is overdue.

 

As for your last comment, that is pure mental. We have, IMO, the closest thing to a complete squad we've had in at least 10 years.

[Leicestersaint]

Disappointing.

[AussieDog]

Until Monday, West Ham hadn't won away since August, so based on alot of the comments on here, it seems as if the first and second teams in the championship are rubbish and if we're going to finish 17th, then West Ham are going to struggle to avoid relegation....lol

I do think some of the "fringe" players let themselves down, by the sound of it, but I also think NA picked a strange team and it just goes to show that pace on it's own won't win games, otherwise Forte and DeRidder would have had a field day. Players like Harding and Butterfield can now see why they aren't in the first team. Taking an objective view, I do think we're struggling a little at CB for cover, and we need a "fox in the box" up front.

I also happen to think we might be in for a disappointment on Saturday (this fantastic home run can't continue for ever....just ask ManUre....lol) - but even if we lost on Saturday I still think we're a top 6 team and with luck on our side, we could still get an automatic promotion place.

 

Besides...being perfectly selfish, I don't want the league sewn up by the end of February - I want us to clinch it against Pompey in April so I can be there to see it!

[trousers]

End on a positive... Ward-Prowse was excellent. Best saints player. Looked so composed and professional for a 16 year old playing his 1st game

 

Sounds like a worthwhile evening just for that point alone. Yes, a fair few negatives (it would seem) but we could look back on this tie as the day that Ward-Prowse seized his opportunity and pushed on into the first team squad.

 

Every cloud....

[CWD]

EDIT: Beginning to feel like another clear-out is overdue.

 

That would literally be the worst thing NA could do right now. The togetherness of the squad is our main attribute at the moment.

[LostBoys]

It is difficult to get excited about this competition this year when you are top of the league and promotion is an opportunity. I am embarassed to report I got my first 10 points in the prediction league this season with this result. I will get my coat as I leave. Well done to the real supporters who made the trip.

[LostBoys]

On way back. To fork out hard-earned cash supporting the team and receive that teamsheet and performance was F*cking disappointing. It may "only be the Carling Cup" but that was rubbish.

 

Only highlights were Morgan and his young-er apprentice JW-P, oh, and Benjamin Reeves.

 

De Ridder, Butterfield and Forte were sh*te. Forte especially, he was f*cking useless.

 

Would have quite liked to get through to the Quarters tbh.

 

 

It did not come over that bad on the radio but you were there.

[Bourno]

Having travelled to the game, I am bothered we lost. Overall we had enough possession and build up but not the finishing. Forte was not very good, he was in a couple of positions where a pass would have made an easy goal for a team mate. De Ridder had 90 minutes and only proved to me that he doesn't deserve a start he is better utilised as an impact off the bench player.

 

Had we started with Hoovield and Barnard we would have won this game.

[SuperMikey]

Yep, the message from tonight for NA must be that he hasnt got as much squad depth as everyone likes to think he has.

 

I'm a relatively happy clappy type of supporter, but while we have lots of quality youngsters coming through I don't think we have sufficient backup for certain positions. Centre Back and Striker being the main priorities in January I think. We need Championship level players who can step in when injuries and suspensions occurr imo. It might seem harsh on players like Aaron Martin - who was apparently very solid tonight - but if Fonte was to suffer an injury and be kept out for 3 or 4 months, who would feel 100% comfortable having Aaron starting each game and who would feel comfortable with Harlee Dean (our 4th choice centre back while Seaborne is injured) on the bench? Same for up front, if Rickie was to suffer an injury we would be completely screwed.

 

Sounds quite negative and reactionary on the back of tonight's defeat, but I seriously think it's an area that needs to be addressed in January. NA says it's about a squad game, but a squad needs to be deep enough to cope with a crisis.