Back From The Game Thread.

[View From The Top]

That was as good as we've played away for many a long month. Get in.

[saint_jas]

Fantastic performance. Cracking goal by Morgan and a good block by Jos before we scored our 1st.

[yamms_schmitz]

Great game. The first time i have been really upbeat on a Saturday for a while. We are back to being the dominating team. The minor slip in form is behind us now.

[SFC Forever]

We all hope so, and new blood transfusion imminent.

[raucebysaint]

What a great day.. Team played really well, fans were excellent and the result, well it could have been 6 or 7 in the end. Lee Camp saved 2 great shots and Jos and Aaron both missed sitters from crosses near the end. It was good to see AL gettiing back to his best but it would be wrong to single anyone out , the whole team played well.. and i've lost my voice but i don't care.

 

we are SOUTHAMPTON we're top of the league!!

[opthomps]

I dont get to many games, but enjoyed that today. First half was good. second half was excellent. At home with a kebab reflecting. Lallana, Cork and Fox particularly impressed me.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

That was a solid performance - Hooiveld was outstanding in the air - unbeatable. Martin continues to deputise well too.

 

Great to see Connolly and his link-up play back, and something to mention about the midfield too. For a while it's been debated whether Schneiderlin, Hammond, and Cork can play in the same team. It has never really clicked, and all the time it has been Schneiderlin out on the right. Well in the second half at Coventry we had Cork on the right in the 'Chaplow' role (energy, a bit further up the pitch, and tucking into pockets of space) and it worked well. And that is what we went with today and it again worked fantastically - that is the right balance.

 

Fox defended very well, and Forest sticking a winger on him didn't work at all. Nor did their long ball game.

 

Lots of confidence back with this Saints team now, and done without Lambert which is a relief (and surprising to me). Managed to do this without needing to risk De Ridder (unused from the bench) and only concern is Guly aggravating the gluteal injury.

 

Could have been 6 or 7 too.

 

All in all, a fantastic game and great atmosphere in the away end.

 

Hooiveld MOM - cannot emphasis how class he was today.

[thegaffer]

watched it on live stream and we controlled the game for long periods and in the last 5 minutes could have scored another 4.Midfield back to its brilliant best with Morgan pulling the strings.

[Saint_Jonny]

Agree with the Hooiveld sentiments, he was awesome. Martin had a good game too.

 

We looked guaranteed to concede at one point in the first half when Harewood was one on one with KD, he was just about to pull the trigger when Hooiveld came from no where and put in the best challenge I've seen....maybe ever, to put the ball out for a corner. Ok maybe I'm over doing it, but trust me, it was ****ing awesome.

 

Lallana was back to his brilliant best.

 

Morgan, Cork and Hammond all had great games, the movement and interchanging was a joy to watch, so fluent, and BRILLIANT to see them shooting when they have the chance.

 

Guly put a great shift in, DC linked up well with the midfield. Struggling to think of a dodgy performance really! Who needs a right back when you've got Dan Harding eh!

 

Loved it.

[dune]

That was as good as we've played away for many a long month. Get in.

 

That's good to hear. Our away fans deserve that because considering where we are in the league it's not been good for most games.

[St Chalet]

As someone who can't get to a lot of the games, this is the thread I look for the most. You normally get a much clearer feeling for how we did.

 

Sounds like today was a happy awayday and an indication that our form may be returning.

[View From The Top]

As someone who can't get to a lot of the games, this is the thread I look for the most. You normally get a much clearer feeling for how we did.

 

Sounds like today was a happy awayday and an indication that our form may be returning.

 

I do most away games and, IMHO, we were back to our flowing, arrogant best.

 

With Chappers and Lambert to return my faith is being restored after an awful December.

[Scarface]

Just show the importance of getting the first goal, thought we Played better than that in the first half at Brighton just couldn't get the first goal

 

Jos was class at the back bossed the game

 

Lallana was back to his best, especially when they went to 10 men really exploited the space at the back

 

Gully and collony didn't look great but for a make shift forward line we did great and hope means we have turned the corner

 

Come on you reds!

[Shroppie]

Agree with pretty well everything written. A bit flat in the first 20 mins but no serious threats except for a couple of headers. Coped pretty well with their wingers and they won little from long balls. Aaron had another good game and Jos was awesome. His saving block was amazing.

 

Once we got the goal you could see the confidence coming back - ball pinging round the midfield at pace, linking well especially with DC. Thought Guly worked hard at being a front man today. First touch perhaps still not good enough but managed some good lay-offs. Hope his injury's not too bad, but i'm not optimistic. Bring on Lee!

 

After the (correct) sending off, Forest heads dropped even further and the body language said this is a team in crisis. For the last 20 they did nothing except chase shadows as our movement and control got back to its best. We could/should have had at least 3 more - Aaron, Jos close in and good saves from Fox, Holmes and ?Hammond long shots. AL looking back to his best.

 

Best I've felt after a game for weeks.

[ExSt Peter Saint]

Great team performance today. Couldn't fault anyone and most of the fans were great apart from one next to me who expressed great pleasure when Guly had to go off injured - I gave him a dirty look, but left it at that.

Really impressed with the way everything gelled today and the effort throughout the team right up to the end of the game when many teams would have been cruising. Only slight complaint is that I'd rather have had youngsters on the bench (who did really well last week and deserved a place) than not fully fit older members of the squad.

[Huffton]

First half probably could have gone either way to be honest, but second half was all Saints, and had it not been for Lee Camp and some comedy centre back shooting errors it could have been 8. Top day out.

[kpturner]

At last I have seen an away win in the league - having been to Leicester, Burnley, Bristol, Pompey, Doncaster and Brighton.

 

I didn't get to Ipswich as I was on holiday so I cannot compare it directly with this match, but it has got to be one of the easiest away wins I can remember witnessing. Forest are completely and utterly clueless. We had no pressure on our midfield at all. Yes, they had a couple of half chances in the first half (great block by Hooiveld) but apart from that it was like watching men against boys. I actually left the ground feeling disappointed that we didn't score at least 5.

 

Cotterill is taking this bunch down and no mistake.

[St Marco]

Was a great performance from us I felt. Thought we had a few close shaves and Jos did very well but overall even with 11 we were clearly the better team. The motm was probably their keeper as it really could of been double figures.

 

At the time I was not sure if it was a sending off as you see it week in week out. But having now seen the footage I think the Forest fans need to hold their hands up and say they got it wrong. They gave the ref so much stick and Connolly. He clearly get's whacked hard by an elbow and the modern game has no place for that type of behaviour.

Some of our players were a bit out of order getting involved but they were right in that it is a sending off. Steve the mong Cotteril was just using that as a way to try and take pressure off himself. By trying to blame our staff/players for "influencing" the ref just hides the fact his team played poorly. In fact I would go so far as to say they are the worst team i have seen us play this season. They looked a lot worse then they did at our place. Was true hit and hope football. If it was not for Camp he would be sacked now in my opinion. They were lucky Lambo was not there as he would of bagged loads today.

 

All in all great result for us and nice to get a win at the ****ty ground.

[Chez]

I underestimated how badly effected by a lack of confidence Forest would be. They looked shot and only Cov have looked worse. They are in big trouble and with no money to buy players they are going need to sell to bring in to turn their season. I start with Forest just to set the scene on this victory. Don't get carried away by it, just as you shouldn't have got carried away by the Brighton defeat.

 

In the first half we weren't great. We started very slowly and expected Forest to put the pressure on. They didn't, they stood off and it allowed us to get a foothold in the game. Jos' block on Harewood shot immediately proceeded us going up the other end and scoring. A bad mistake by Chambers let us in. From that moment on the game was ours. The red card, fully justified in my eyes just out a nail in the coffin. I thought Forest would rally after the break but we just dominated completely and could have got a hat full of goals. We passed them to death, stretch them and then exploited the huge gaps out wide. We must be the worst side to go down to ten men against. We passed and moved. First touch from everyone was top notch and the game was an exhibition with half hour to go. There will be much tougher tests. Great to get our season back on track. I think we have played well in the last four games and Connellys link up play has a lot to do with that.

 

Davies 7 I watched his warm up and he was terrible. Dropping everything, even letting one slip through his hands. Who gives a **** about the warms up? Well he had **** all to do in the game, one McGugan freekick aside. He gets a 7 as the save was decent, no more than that, but otherwise perfect game for him. Kicking and decisions great.

Harding 6 decent enough, very solid defensively as always, a 6 is a decent score by my rational, but he always came inside and didn't look overly comfortable going forward on his right peg. Why would he? McGugan offered little threat.

Martin 8 hardly noticed him, which perhaps shows how in control him and we were. Should have. scored

Jos 8 another solid game. Rightly booked when Lallana's poor pass left him exposed to Tudgay's pace. Decent (nothing more than that) block, to Harewood's shot. Shoukd have scored.

Fox 6 decent game, good choices but worryingly got taken to pieces for pace in the first half by McCeary, came to nothing thankfully. I can see why he drops so deep and doesn't get tight. He hasn't got pace. Terrible corners again. Woeful in fact until Connelly flicked on that Martin should have buried.

Cork 9 superb game and our stand out player for me even at right midfield. Adkins made the right choice going back to his tried and trusted players

Morgan 8 Massive fan, but I didn't think it was his best game to be honest. A fella behind me was going spare at Morgan for bottling out of a few tackles on the first half and he might have had a point, however you could say he made the right choices seeing as he wouldn't have made those tackles. Second half he got hold of the game and that was the end for Forest. I've always said he had a great shot on him, he strikes the ball well and today he got the time he needed.

Hammond 8 just the usual Hammond, passing and offering himself. The centre was ours.

Connelly 9 movement was terrific and as mentioned him linking up the play has been badly missed. He got in between the lines and we moved effortlessly from back to front

Guly 7 once again one or two poor first touches, but whenever he miscontrolled he worked his socks off to try and win it back and often did. Actually there weren't too many bad touches and he lead the line well. Probably his best away showing since Barnsley. Lucky not to be booked in the incident where he did his hamstring.

 

Holmes 7 I'm not a fan (lack of pace and engine leaves me wanting more) but he looked good today. Forgive me for mentioning the warm up again, but unlike most others he was smashing his shots in top and bottom corners during the practice and looked 100% on it. When he came on he showed exactly the same professionalism. Good movement and usual excellent first touch.

Edited 14 January, 2012 by Chez

[Jonnyboy]

Chez Chez Chez - Kelvin Davis, Sir. ;-)

[sandwichsaint]

Great away day and you can only beat what's put in front of you. A great team performance and hopefully one that will kick-start our second part of the season.

 

KD 7 Little to do in the first half and even less in the second.

DH 8 Thought he was excellent throughout. Great engine and he was up and down all game.

Hoov 8 (every week!) Fast becoming a new Saints legend - love his celebrations on the goals and after the games. He's more of a Saints fan than most of us! We are really lucky to have him.

AM 8 I've seen him live 5 or 6 times and I've never seen him have a bad game. More than capable cover at CH.

DF 7 Mixed it up better today, played a lot of short stuff with AL and DC though a lot of his corners were poor.

JC 8 Back to his best, a class above anything Forest had on the pitch.

DH 9 Captain marvel today, he was everywhere first half and kept everybody else pulling in the right direction.

MS 9 Give him this sort of room and he will destroy you; he did.

AL 8 Much improved, not back to his best 'best' but still way too good for Forest.

Gully 7 Worked hard but not enough end product. Took his goal well enough.

DC 9 Another that looked back to his best. Looked fitter and sharper than he has done for a long time, still a top player at this level.

 

Fantastic away performance, we could (and should!) have had 5 or 6.

 

If we can stick Lambert and Hooper on the front of this lot there's no reason why we can't win this league!

 

COYRs

[Jonnyboy]

Just show the importance of getting the first goal, thought we Played better than that in the first half at Brighton just couldn't get the first goal

 

Jos was class at the back bossed the game

 

Lallana was back to his best, especially when they went to 10 men really exploited the space at the back

 

Gully and collony didn't look great but for a make shift forward line we did great and hope means we have turned the corner

 

Come on you reds!

 

I hope you're drunk.

[shurlock]

Great result, though it was a professional rather than a champagne performance. We were very comfortable and patient but didn't create that much until the flurry of chances at the end. Above all, Forest were woeful - the hoofball and a has-been harewood played into our hands as its bread and butter for Jos and for all the talk about Cotterill's teams being physical, was amazed how much time and space our midfield was given and that more than anything laid the foundations for our victory. Connolly deserves special mention for all his runs alone, though he was a tad wasteful in possession in the 2nd half. It does seem that when DC is in the team, we can play with a narrower formation -and that suits our 3 CMs, especially when Cork is furthest advanced of the trio. Harding also did a very good job at RB, providing the kind of width we've expected from Frazer and was unlucky not to see more of the ball after working himself into good positions. Finally, Adam looked like he had hit some form -and was involved in most of our attacking play. But lets not get too carried away - Forest were devoid of ideas and rhythm well before the sending off, a shadow of the team we played at SMS. But I'm not going to lose too much sleep over the ins and outs of the performance given I was confidently expecting us to hit a brick wall at the start of the day.

Edited 14 January, 2012 by shurlock

[Jack]

Great day out, the first away win I've witnessed this season at the 6th attempt.

 

Let's not kid ourselves though. Our support, although good in numbers, was embarrassing untill we went 1 up. Most were stood in silence, no songs got going, and then when the Forest fans chirped up there was a small reply of "we forgot that you were here". Hideous. Was much better in the 2nd half, but all in all a disappointment.

 

With the football - we were comfortable enough, but never really got going untill forest were down to 10. They should have scored at least 1 in the 1st half.

 

Not all doom and gloom though, we scored a good first goal, dominated after they went down to 10 - which we haven't done vs 10 men yet this season. Cork was immense, Jos and Martin were solid, Guly looked decent as a target man, and DC was everywhere, made so many good runs, scored and could have had another.

 

All in all a good day out and a very welcome away win.

[sfc4prem]

Great day out, the first away win I've witnessed this season at the 6th attempt.

 

Let's not kid ourselves though. Our support, although good in numbers, was embarrassing untill we went 1 up. Most were stood in silence, no songs got going, and then when the Forest fans chirped up there was a small reply of "we forgot that you were here". Hideous. Was much better in the 2nd half, but all in all a disappointment.

 

With the football - we were comfortable enough, but never really got going untill forest were down to 10. They should have scored at least 1 in the 1st half.

 

Not all doom and gloom though, we scored a good first goal, dominated after they went down to 10 - which we haven't done vs 10 men yet this season. Cork was immense, Jos and Martin were solid, Guly looked decent as a target man, and DC was everywhere, made so many good runs, scored and could have had another.

 

All in all a good day out and a very welcome away win.

 

Did you do anything to attempt to remedy the atmosphere? Were you trying to start songs? If so fair play, but if not you're just as bad as the others.

 

xx

[Jack]

Did you do anything to attempt to remedy the atmosphere? Were you trying to start songs? If so fair play, but if not you're just as bad as the others.

 

xx

 

We did, as always. We were in block W2, row W, whiich is on the right hand side of the away end as you look at the pitch. 4 lads, singing our hearts out and trying our best to get a response from those around us. It was much improved in the 2nd half, but before we went 1 up, nobody around us would join in. Incredibly poor for a newly promoted side who sit top of the league, IMO

[Griffo]

You can tell it's been a good away day when you're getting in at 2.30.

 

We won 3-0 and yes it was a quality day, but most of you c*nts need to start singing more. Our support was atrocious at times today. Sort yourselves out.

[dubai_phil]

Strange to hear moans about the support.

 

Sounded awesome on the live stream in the second half.

 

Perhaps the opposite of what happened at poopey, the crowd mikes were all aimed at the away fans?

[View From The Top]

I'll assume it's young folk who are demanding non stop singing. Perhaps, when they grow up, they'll understand that not all want to, as is their right.

[Ashby Saint]

I have been to most midlands games. This was the most comfortable win I've seen for ages. Actually enjoyed second half without worrying about the final result.

 

Singing was ok. Didn't seem to be as coordinated as previous games with different sides singing different songs.

[Chez]

I'm not young and IMO the level of noise was poor by our standards. I put that down to a very poor first half that offered both sets of fans pretty much nothing to get their teeth into. The home fans were as bad as I have ever encountered, that didn't help generate an atmosphere, and the cold. It was bloody freezing.

[View From The Top]

I'm not young and IMO the level of noise was poor by our standards. I put that down to a very poor first half that offered both sets of fans pretty much nothing to get their teeth into. The home fans were as bad as I have ever encountered, that didn't help generate an atmosphere, and the cold. It was bloody freezing.

 

Wasn't that cold mush. I was just to the right and it appeared to me that one 1/2 would be singing one song and at the same time the other half were signing another. I can't remember the acoustics being that poor at Forest before.

[Chez]

Wasn't that cold mush. I was just to the right and it appeared to me that one 1/2 would be singing one song and at the same time the other half were signing another. I can't remember the acoustics being that poor at Forest before.

second half it was bitter. Agree with you about the different songs, but boy were we quiet in the first half. It matters not. The display on the pitch was great.

[Window Cleaner]

I have been to most midlands games. This was the most comfortable win I've seen for ages. Actually enjoyed second half without worrying about the final result.

 

Singing was ok. Didn't seem to be as coordinated as previous games with different sides singing different songs.

 

You could hear the Saints fan's singing OK on TV, not bad, choice of songs wrong though, didn't even give them a 'we can see you sneaking out' when the Forest fans started leaving after we went 2 up.

[Chez]

You could hear the Saints fan's singing OK on TV, not bad, choice of songs wrong though, didn't even give them a 'we can see you sneaking out' when the Forest fans started leaving after we went 2 up.

the fire drill song was attempted on the left side

[Window Cleaner]

the fire drill song was attempted on the left side

 

But "we are top of the league" is what came over at that moment.Plenty of time for that all game but when you have a chance to denigrate another team's fans it must be seized, especially as you are no longer permitted to stereotype and thus insult them.

Edited 15 January, 2012 by Window Cleaner

[RonManager]

Perhaps a set list should be issued

[Window Cleaner]

Perhaps a set list should be issued

 

Why not, hymn sheets keep the rabble in order in those Sunday emporiums which I do not frequent.

[Huffton]

You could hear the Saints fan's singing OK on TV, not bad, choice of songs wrong though, didn't even give them a 'we can see you sneaking out' when the Forest fans started leaving after we went 2 up.

 

We gave them a loud enough rendition of 'cheerio' to be fair.

[RonManager]

We gave them a loud enough rendition of 'cheerio' to be fair.

 

We did indeed.

 

I waved as well cos I'm an Ultra.

[View From The Top]

We gave them a loud enough rendition of 'cheerio' to be fair.

 

Which, much to my nippers delight, was started by him. Made his day that did.

[Sour Mash]

Much better performance from us, not sure how much it was down to playing a VERY poor Forest side, particularly one that was down to ten men for half the game.

 

Biggest positive is the fact that it feels like it's kick started our momentum (which was so important at the start of the season) again and gave a few of key players the chance to get back in their flow and confidence up again, while knocking the ball around and trying a few tricks again, I'm thinking particularly Lallana and Connoly, also it must have been a real boost for the side scoring 3 without Lambert, they must have had some doubt internally how they would fare. The last 20 mins, we really took the p*ss and it could have easily been 5 or 6.

 

Agree with others, really quiet, lifeless upport from us. Yes, fans can "support" however the see fit, it is a pity nevertheless. Very officious stewarding there as well, worst I've seen for a while. Epic journey up ther consisting of an £80 cab fare from Market Harborough due to the trains being f*****d and a good post-match booze up, can't complain all told!

[Orange]

As Jack pointed out, the 'we forgot that you were here' etc is alwasys sung by the same people who have been silent until we score.

The atmosphere did just seem very flat, too many zombie types. Their stewards were p*icks. Our song repertoire is also very bad.

 

The football made up for it though. Could have been so much more in the second half, fantastic to watch.

And had Lambert been in the box i'm sure it would have been!

[View From The Top]

Interesting about the stewards as they were non existent where we were, upper X1 row T, stairway 12.

[yorkie]

Regarding the atmosphere it was alright. I usually sing and shout a lot but have a really bad throat and only just managed to smile when we scored. In the lower tier stod for the whole game - no power mad stewards near me!

Poor Forest side but you can only beat what's put in front of you!

Business back to normal with Cork giving us the Chaplow width - although not as fast - leaving Hammond & Schneiderlin to run the middle of the park. It's obviously a role Morgan doesn't like and Hammond doesn't have the first touch or vision. After around a month of persisitng with the three in the middle - we seem to have found a solution to playing all three in the same midfield.

[Window Cleaner]

It's obviously a role Morgan doesn't like and Hammond doesn't have the first touch or vision. After around a month of persisitng with the three in the middle - we seem to have found a solution to playing all three in the same midfield.

 

And we seemed to hit on it almost by hazard because at Coventry we had no other options but to try it. I'd have thought it was pretty evident but then I've always thought that Morgan is a far better defender than Jack because he positions himself better and isn't afraid to pick up the odd yellow card for a crude,last ditch,one for the team foul,even has the happy ability to make them look clumsy and unintentional as well,important attribute in the modern game.

[Foxstone]

Excellent result against what I have to say is a poor Forest side who seemed to lack any method or motivation - But then thats Clott for you I suppose.

 

2 away wins on the spin now which shows we can do it although we will facew much better sides than this.

 

But a happy Sunday all round.

[Chez]

Interesting about the stewards as they were non existent where we were, upper X1 row T, stairway 12.

on left hand side they spent the whole first half making people sit down. Tiresome. I know they need to show willing to meet ground safety rules but when the rest of the ground is standing it doesn't half annoy.

[Chez]

Just watched the highlights and I was wrong about the Jos block. It certainly was decent. The keeper should have done better with Morgan's goal and Claridge, who normally calls things right was totally wrong about the red card. It was clearly a red. Have to laugh at Clot trying to drag in some non existent foul prior to the red. Straw clutching at its best.

Edited 15 January, 2012 by Chez

[Window Cleaner]

The keeper should have done better with Morgan's goal

 

 

I've looked at the incident a couple of times because I have the advantage of having the whole game on the DD of my satellite box,the shot is beautifully stuck and doesn't rise at all,I think Camp was fooled by that but he could have only done better if the shot hadn't been so well struck.Even if he'd got down the ball might have come back out for our sniffers.