Doncaster 1 - 0 Saints - Post Match Reaction

[Super_Uwe]

A very disappointing result sweetened by the fact that the Hammers lost as well. However Cardiff are really going some at the moment and I think they could well be more of a threat to us.

 

Unless we completely blow up over Christmas, we are going to be in a terrific position to push on in the New Year. As I've said over the last few years, all you need to be come Christmas/New Year is in contention. It's all very well being 20 points clear now, but you don't win the league in December. We will also be able to look at strengthening in the New Year as well.

 

In addition, my in-laws are Plymouth fans, and to be honest with you I think most of them would laugh at some people on here in terms of how negative they are. They nearly went bust, are forced to play a load of kids/rejects from other clubs, and will do damn well to avoid a third successive relegation out of the Football League. And some people on here think we've got it bad!

 

There are clearly things to work on (away form being the priority), but as I've said time and time again, we need to trust NA and the players to get things right. They deserve that at the very least based on what they have achieved over the past 18 months. That's not being complacent, that's just being appreciative of what they have done so far, and hopefully will continue to do so.

[Window Cleaner]

Having just watched the highlights how the hell did Morgan miss that chance? I'd of put money on Barney to put that shot away. Defending for the donny goal was shocking how route 1 was that? punt up field, cross and sharp had all the time in the world to turn and shoot.

 

Needed to hit it first time really,a real striker probably would have. Ikeme is inching over to his left because with the defender on Morgan's left he knows that Morgan only has the option of slotting it between him and the post.Trouble is Barney probably wouldn't have got there in the first place. Sort of chance thar De Ridder would have probably taken well enough but as he wasn't there........... Good keeping anyway. Like Beye,Ikeme is a player we should have an eye on if he's available for not much from Wolves.

Edited 5 December, 2011 by Window Cleaner

[Cabrone]

Can't help but think that Donny, like Brizzle are a better team than their position would suggest as both have some decent players despite having dodgy starts to the season.

 

Not excusing the results and not saying that I'm not disappointed but both teams won't be the roll-overs that the table would suggest from now on in.

 

However I'd like to see us being a bit braver on the road by not just packing our midfield with defensive players and putting 1 up front. Guly was always going to be up against it on his own with little support.

 

Had we rocked up at Donny with a more attacking line up then I think we would have got at least a draw so come on Saints!!

[saint1977]

I think our squad has done superbly to get us to where it has done, beyond all expectations. However, I'd echo the views of those urging fresh faces and we need NA and NC to be agreeing fees now with selling clubs so that we can get players in for talks so that deals are ready for 1 Jan registration and we can get a couple of them ready for the Brighton away game. I'd agree with those also that are calling for a speedy winger to come in, I had wanted a pacy striker but actually Saturday confirmed our fears on what happens when Rickie is injured or not fully fit. Another taller striker would be better. A loan CB from the PL might suffice whilst Dan recovers but we obviously need more cover in that position.

 

Barney needs a loan out until May provided a recall clause is in place - Coventry might be a destination if we pick up the wages. We could loan him to a L1 promotion chaser who could pay the wages but we won't find out whether he can do it at NPC level.

[trousers]

For those of you who aren't around on here Matchday Threads ... THEVMAN certainly is ITK.

 

^This

[wightman35]

Totally true...

I am from a generation that remembers how we dipped out of certain promotion after Charlie Wayman got injured and our goals dried up... I wish that feeling on no one.

We are now in a different era and decent clubs have replacements in every position, so have we, but not for the most important player it seems.

We scorned that opportunity in the last transfer and loan window.. I consider that complacent by several people in important positions in our club.

 

Like you suggest, I too, have for ever been scarred by the promotion chase of 1949. If my (elusive) memory is right, we had an 8 point leads in division two (as was) and it gradually disappeared before Easter. The belief of my Dad was that the directors then could not afford promotion. Doubt that this time:), but the lack of alternative striker is of concern. Perhaps our summer and loan window efforts were lacking.

[derry]

Second half we went to a 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 with SDR playing up the middle and closer to Guly and Lallana in the hole; with the subs, we switched to playing with width -Holmes on one wing; and Lallana on the other with Guly and Barnard down the middle.

 

Both formations were balanced; yet we probably worked more chances and enjoyed greater pressure in the first half when we had less 'balance'.

 

Am all for balance but not if it means sacrificing quality. Barney offered nothing. Ditto Holmes, though I have more time for him than some others. And Butterfield upfront is a joke. For whatever reason -match fitness, quality at this level- all those three players are far behind our regular starters at the moment, so the idea that with their 'balance' things would have been different is hard to take seriously. Without better quality in the squad, starting Hammond, Schneiderlin and Cork wasn't ideal but made sense. My only complaint, perhaps, is that we didn't play Lallana up with Guly in the first half (we did in the 2nd) and play Schneiderlin somewhere else -say CM with Cork on the right and SDR on the left. But I wouldn't have changed the personnel.

 

We were not balanced, playing the three central midfielders does not work, they cancel each other out rather than provide the teamwork that is necessary. Two out of three works but all three causes a confliction which stops the natural flow. You are mistaking width for balance. It is a common occurrence especially when there is an abundance of good players

all picked because of their ability but not their ability to play together. Nobody would ever say that Lampard and Gerrard aren't good players but they just can't play effectively in the same team, therefore the team is often better with a slightly inferior player who improves the collective teamwork which is much more important than the individual.

 

It is the teamwork that has got us to the top, it is the deterioration in that overall teamwork caused by playing the three central midfielders that is causing the problem, against Hull, take one of them out and we immediately play better. I couldn't believe he made the same mistake three games in a row. As for Butterfield, he did score a hat trick in one match, Schneiderlin scored twice in a hundred plus games and is like a rabbit in the headlights when presented with a scoring opportunity, I know who I'd prefer provided he is fit.

[View From The Top]

I'm still 'kin fuming over the pile of sh it I paid £27 to watch on Saturday. C**ts.

[InvictaSaint]

can I ask whether you did the 500 mile round journey to Donny and also went to City last week? I ask because it is usually those that attend games have a far more balanced view than those that are forced to watch teletext or highlights, but on this occasion I think its those that have attended that are the most unhappy and posting the most negative opinions.

 

The reason for this is that they are the ones that not only saw a defeat - which currently you can bare when we are top of the league and winning right left and centre - but they are also the ones that had to endure two woeful displays and tactical **** ups by the manager. They are also the ones that will be fratton on the 18h.

 

Yes, was at both games, though from where I live (Medway) Donny is slightly nearer and Bristol slightly further away than these places are for denizens of Southampton. Is my decision to remain positive rather than join the doom and gloom brigade now more valid?

[david in sweden]

Totally true...

I am from a generation that remembers how we dipped out of certain promotion after Charlie Wayman got injured and our goals dried up... I wish that feeling on no one.

We are now in a different era and decent clubs have replacements in every position, so have we, but not for the most important player it seems.

We scorned that opportunity in the last transfer and loan window.. I consider that complacent by several people in important positions in our club.

 

 

Good to read you on this issue, patred44.

Although I guess I'm abit younger than you...I only started supporting Saints as a schoolboy in the late 50's...many is the time I've heard this sorry tale from my late father who was a staunch fan in the post war period. Those two devastating seasons 48/49 and 49/50 were just too much for many of his generation ..only to be followed by releagtion 3 years later.

 

The influence that Charlie Wayman had on the side cannot be under-rated as we can see by his scoring record.

Having joined in October '47 ..he scored 17 times in 27 starts.´in his first season. The following season he netted 32 goals in 37 games (of 42). Your memory of that time is pretty accurate ( according to In that Number). Saints were 8 points clear at Easter with 7 games left. The fateful game at White Hart Lane is legend - if not for the 69,000+ crowd, but because Ted Bates hit both posts ..and had a shot cleared off the line. Finally Wayman (already injured) scored after GK had parried his first shot in 82 mins.. No subs. in those days and Charlie went off with a badly pulled thigh muscle - didn't play for another 4 games but was never fit.

The tragic games that followed were a travesty and in midst of missed penalties and disallowed "goals " we lost 4 of the last 7 games.

We finished 3rd - in the days when only the top 2 got promotion. The following season 49/50 was more of a tragedy, as although they weren't direct title challengers (that ws Spurs -who had since signed Saints star FB Alf Ramsey) but Saints lost only one of the last 12 games and finished tantilisingly with the two Sheffield clubs - all on 52 points, but lost out on goal average. Waymans share was 24 goals in 36 games...and then he left and moved back up North.

In those days Saints were continually in debt kept afloat only by contributions from richer directors. It's probably true to say that we wouldn't have been able to afford the cost of a Div. 1 lifestyle, but maybe a bit unfair to say that the club didn't want promotion, but everything costs!

In all this time Charlie Wayman was not only a club hero but got recognition from many as a top class striker, and there was never anyone in reserve even close to him. No Saints player since has ever come close to his 77 goals in 107 games.

 

In later years , we had many good strikers, Reeves and George O'Brien. The legendary Ron Davies, but there were always reserves whenever he was injured (Chivers and Channon). The thing that really worries me, is that we have no real replacement for the injured Lambert -at such a crucial time .

Of course we all hope to see him back ASAP, but what if ...? I really hope we can patch together a strike force that will clear us until January, and beyond and that we have a fully-fit Lambert back to carry on his goal-scoring marathon.

 

Our defence is, generally speaking quite good (as it was in Waymans day when we had one of the best defences) but without a big man up front we will lack goals and lose points. My priority for January is TWO strikers, and follow the age-old football analogy " play the man who is in form " , whoever it is !

The tragedy of the Wayman era must not be allowed to happen again. Surely no-one can say that we can't "afford " promotion now .

Edited 7 December, 2011 by david in sweden