back from the game thread

[jimbojones10]

thought first 50 mins we looked very good, think when guly plays on the right and dc plays up front we look like a different team. lambert red card seemed harsh. thought that what we had on the bench was awful and shows we HAVE to improve our squad asap.

[Scarface]

Not harsh at all..... He lashed out and got the bold tossed in the face. Red card everyday of the week

[madruss]

After a slightly dodgy start, we soon took complete control of the game. The fact that Brighton didn't have their first shot on target until 60 minutes tells its own story.

 

We played with a diamond formation, Guly at the top, Cork on the right. At times it changed to a 4-3-3 as Lambert and Connolly pulled wide. We created some excellent chances through patient passing moves which gathered pace as we got into the final third. Guly was superb in his free-roaming role, and Connolly looked back to his best - linking up very well with Lallana (as he always does). You could tell from the reaction of the players that Lallana's shot had crossed the line, and how Guly missed from 6 yards I'll never know. 2-0 at half time would not have flattered us.

 

Second half started much like the first, Saints in total control. Fox should have scored as he burst into the box, and then Lambert was shoved to the ground in the penalty area...no idea why a pen wasn't given.

 

Rickie then got sent off for a push on El-Abd after he'd been hauled to the ground and held down by the bald-headed ****. Can't argue with the red card, and from then on we were never going to win.

 

Our shape and formation completely nullified them with 11 men, but with 10 men that shape and formation disappeared and we lacked any focal point to our attacks. If we had kept with 11, we would have definitely won the game.

 

Forte came on, and tried hard, but he can't lead the line. Brighton utilised their extra space very well.

 

Their first goal should have been smothered by Kelvin, although he did make a world class save before that. 2nd goal was a brilliant strike,and the third was a lucky deflection.

 

All in all, an excellent first 50 minutes, ruined by the sending off, and highlighting how shallow our squad is. This transfer window will determine whether we finish top 2 or not, if we make 2 or 3 quality signings we will go up. It's as simple as that.

[south]

thought first 50 mins we looked very good, think when guly plays on the right and dc plays up front we look like a different team. lambert red card seemed harsh. thought that what we had on the bench was awful and shows we HAVE to improve our squad asap.

 

Better than Brighton had on the pitch though, effectively beaten by their reserves....

 

Two Youth players making their debut as well.

[supergoose]

After a slightly dodgy start, we soon took complete control of the game. The fact that Brighton didn't have their first shot on target until 60 minutes tells its own story.

 

We played with a diamond formation, Guly at the top, Cork on the right. At times it changed to a 4-3-3 as Lambert and Connolly pulled wide. We created some excellent chances through patient passing moves which gathered pace as we got into the final third. Guly was superb in his free-roaming role, and Connolly looked back to his best - linking up very well with Lallana (as he always does). You could tell from the reaction of the players that Lallana's shot had crossed the line, and how Guly missed from 6 yards I'll never know. 2-0 at half time would not have flattered us.

 

Second half started much like the first, Saints in total control. Fox should have scored as he burst into the box, and then Lambert was shoved to the ground in the penalty area...no idea why a pen wasn't given.

 

Rickie then got sent off for a push on El-Abd after he'd been hauled to the ground and held down by the bald-headed ****. Can't argue with the red card, and from then on we were never going to win.

 

Our shape and formation completely nullified them with 11 men, but with 10 men that shape and formation disappeared and we lacked any focal point to our attacks. If we had kept with 11, we would have definitely won the game.

 

Forte came on, and tried hard, but he can't lead the line. Brighton utilised their extra space very well.

 

Their first goal should have been smothered by Kelvin, although he did make a world class save before that. 2nd goal was a brilliant strike,and the third was a lucky deflection.

 

All in all, an excellent first 50 minutes, ruined by the sending off, and highlighting how shallow our squad is. This transfer window will determine whether we finish top 2 or not, if we make 2 or 3 quality signings we will go up. It's as simple as that.

Excellent report - cheers.

[shurlock]

Better than Brighton had on the pitch though, effectively beaten by their reserves....

 

Two Youth players making their debut as well.

 

Mate, why don't f**k off back to your own board where you can discuss how we hoof, hoof, hoof.

[S-Clarke]

After a slightly dodgy start, we soon took complete control of the game. The fact that Brighton didn't have their first shot on target until 60 minutes tells its own story.

 

We played with a diamond formation, Guly at the top, Cork on the right. At times it changed to a 4-3-3 as Lambert and Connolly pulled wide. We created some excellent chances through patient passing moves which gathered pace as we got into the final third. Guly was superb in his free-roaming role, and Connolly looked back to his best - linking up very well with Lallana (as he always does). You could tell from the reaction of the players that Lallana's shot had crossed the line, and how Guly missed from 6 yards I'll never know. 2-0 at half time would not have flattered us.

 

Second half started much like the first, Saints in total control. Fox should have scored as he burst into the box, and then Lambert was shoved to the ground in the penalty area...no idea why a pen wasn't given.

 

Rickie then got sent off for a push on El-Abd after he'd been hauled to the ground and held down by the bald-headed ****. Can't argue with the red card, and from then on we were never going to win.

 

Our shape and formation completely nullified them with 11 men, but with 10 men that shape and formation disappeared and we lacked any focal point to our attacks. If we had kept with 11, we would have definitely won the game.

 

Forte came on, and tried hard, but he can't lead the line. Brighton utilised their extra space very well.

 

Their first goal should have been smothered by Kelvin, although he did make a world class save before that. 2nd goal was a brilliant strike,and the third was a lucky deflection.

 

All in all, an excellent first 50 minutes, ruined by the sending off, and highlighting how shallow our squad is. This transfer window will determine whether we finish top 2 or not, if we make 2 or 3 quality signings we will go up. It's as simple as that.

 

Great report. Good to read a proper balanced report like that.

[Chez]

 

Two Youth players making their debut as well.

explains why we took you to pieces whilst the sides had equal numbers.

[Sambib]

Don't think you took us to pieces per se

 

You were definitely the better team before the sending off though but afterwards, as should be expected, we dominated.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Just back

Re Lambert’s red. I don’t mind refs who make mistakes but I do not like refs who are cowards and D’Urso falls into that category.

Minutes before the Lambert sending off he (D’Urso) denied him an absolute stonewall pen. It was right in front of D’Urso and the Saints fans but he chose to ignore it because he didn’t fancy the fuss. Lambert was quite rightly furious and his frustration probably made him push the Brighton def when trying to legitimately regain his feet. I don't think he "raised" his hands because he was actually on the ground when the incident happened.

Also D’Urso’s treatment of Harding was scandalous. First booking was a brilliant tackle. I am still seething about him getting booked.

 

OK – positives and negatives.

POSITIVES

We were the better side up to the Lambert sending off and, even after that, held our own until Brighton profited from a Davis fumble (again), got a wonder goal (shows it pays to let fly sometimes) and a lucky ricochet from a corner.

Lambert is going to get a much needed rest, he looked jaded before he got sent off.

It must be obvious by the fact we had to use Reeves and Forte that WE DO REALLY NEED TO BUY’ AND BUY SIGNIFICANTLY. Someone from Japan may be one for the future but we can’t expect him to shine straight away.

Connolly had a good game, worked his socks off and was full of enterprise.

Martin did not let himself down at all and nearly scored towards the end.

Reeves and Forte were not too bad either.

Hooiveld Saints MoM. Thank Christ we got him when we did.

NEGATIVES

Lallana not good again although he scored a goal which the coward D’Urso missed. Needs a break (welcome back Puncheon?)

Davis spilled another – no point making great saves from shots if you can’t get the basics right.

Cork missed an absolute sitter at 2-0 which would have put B&HA under pressure had he scored. Cork worked hard but he is SO goal shy (as is all our midfield Chaplow excepted) and that is a big minus. His form recently has not been good.

 

Summary. Overall we were unlucky and having a coward as a ref caused our downfall. However I have a feeling we will all find out in the next 4 weeks how committed the Liebherr family are to getting their club and us into the Premiership. Throwing money at a club rarely makes sense but right now that is exactly what we need. A statement of intent we can all rally around and a boost to morale? We are running on empty after a fantastic year - time to add new blood.

Finally their ground looks a lot better from the outside than it does from the inside. It is half finished although as someone has said they are planning to do more work.

[Leicestersaint]

D'Urso is cr*p.

[Miltonroadboy]

Fitzhugh Fella makes an interesting statement about using Puncheon now he is back and resting AL. My feelings are that if AL is given a break, and to be honest he has not been on top of his game for a few weeks now, then Holmes should be given a chance. He is an ideal replacement on the left side of midfield, crosses well and can score. I know he has been an injury waiting to happen in the past but appears to be fit and has looked good in the 5 minutes he has been given as sub recently!! Is there another NA personality clash here? If so this is beginning to worry me.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Point 1. Get behind the Manager and the team. We have over-performed so far to expectations and we're still top of the league (amazingly). There is still plenty of time and opportunity to arrest the 'blip' and come back even stronger.

 

Point 2. I am a little concerned about some of Adkins tactical decisions. He seems more intent on playing certain players and in a certain manner than on sending out a team with a game plan that will actually win a game. Two examples? Guly - sacrifricing width in midfield by playing him central was a disaster. Harding - in the last game, both the Brighton team and fans blamed Harding for the sending off of at least one of their players and it is clear that he was targetted by some cycnical challenges today.

 

Point 3. Lambert needs to show why he is worthy of a place in the Premiership beyond his goal scoring. If he is the talisman the team relies on, then he really needs to be more disciplined regardless of the cheating methods employed by the opposition. Adkins was right about one thing - Lamberts dismissal lost us the game - however it was just the straw that broke the donkeys back.

 

Point 4. We may have a large squad, but there are too many reservists who are not of Championship standard, let alone Premiership quality. Now is the time for NC to spend the money that will give NA the ammunition to cross the winning line. Fail to do this and automatic promotion will slip us by I fear.