Saints 0 Leicester 2 Post Match Chat

[S-Clarke]

That was truly, truly, truly inept. The worst performance for a long long time.

 

We were pants. There is not a single positive I can think of from tonight, not a single moment. How on earth they will put a highlights package together of that is beyond me - good luck.

 

We had no shape, no drive, no width - we couldn't touch the ball or control it -we basically had no idea how to play football. Clueless from the word go.

 

I think too much was read into the Forest game, we won that game because of the man advantage and the space they gave us to play. Lecister closed us down and that was that, game over. We had no idea or other option at all.

 

Connolly and Guly as a strike force were embarrassing, Flaque looked like a lost child out there, Morgan and Hammond were utterly woeful in the middle and continuously gave the ball away.

 

Martin was skinned down the right hand side too often, same can be said for Harding. Jos's headers went up, rather than away. The only player that resembled a footballer out there was Fox, and then De Ridder when he came on.

 

That was not Southampton, that was a team that is missing it's spine and it showed painfully. When we have to play Fox at CB and put Holmes on in hope of getting something out of the game, it shows you don't have the depth.

 

We need additions to this side or we will slide away if our big players are out for too much longer.

 

A truly forgettable night. If we play like that on a regular basis we will finish a long way from the top 6.

[Winnersaint]

Indeed. Watching saints in the rain while Shilton scored. Losing to wrexhanm in the cup in 74 and getting relegated. 01/05/76. Keegan. 5 (was it) England captains playing for Saints. Moran's goal against the Skates. Adrian ****ing Heath. The Wallaces Le Tiss and Shearer. The great escape. losing to Tranmere from 3-0. Cardiff 03. Boro when saggy chops was first in charge. Capitulation at Nottarf Krap etc.etc. Some people really need to get a sense of perspective. we may go up, we may not. get used to the unpredictability that goes with supporting Saints. Even the in the good times things will never run truly smoothly.

[Cascadia Saint]

You have been around log enough to know ! Don't get me started.

 

Getting started does not appear to be your problem... Stopping, maybe.

[Saint Without a Halo]

This is still Saints why make it easy when the hard way is available!

[rooney]

We were poor all over the pitch. You cannot single out any particular player on this performance they all looked like rabbits in the headlights. NA has a big job to do now with all the injuries. We have been going backwards since Bristol City Away and the players got to step up now.

[dubai_phil]

One game does not a season make, but why are we not currently up for the challenge especially bearing in mind we could have returned to the top of the league with a win tonight. Who's to blame ... An under performing team, a manager who currently seems to lack tactical awareness or owners who stubbornly refuse to move the club forward when there is a realistic opportunity ?????????

 

Think what was worse than the performance was listening to the local commentator rolling out a series of facts, one of which was we'd taken 4 points from our last 4 home games. (No idea if he was right as during the game he called Hooiveld Martin AND Hammond - Harding

 

Fact is we have now been poor for about 6 weeks with a couple of stutters back into form.

 

IMHO it is not wrist slitting time, BUT some of our lads HAVE run out of steam

[Lazlo78]

For a man who is very keen on a left and right footed pairing at centre back having a left footed right back is strange, especially with a rb on the bench. For me the first few minutes set the tone and the situation at right back was crucial in this.

 

As I wrote, Harding has been a very good stand-in RB against Coventry and Nottm Forest, so I can see why Adkins chose him over a Richardson that wasn't entirely match fit. But I agree that Harding failed badly today and that it might have been a major factor behind our general anxiousness. So, to me not a bad decision by NA, as he could have hoped that Harding would have delivered for the third game running...

[ART]

Worse performance since the relegation season. Sadly shows how far we are from being a team that could compete in the Premiership. I've been dreading since we made the top spot of seeing Saints under Atkins, repeating the huge S****horpe slump when they were right up there, only to sink like a stone. Poor showing from the Saints supporters who seem no longer interested in filling the Stadium and watching at home. This is not a good sign should we get promoted with all matches on TV. Lets the chairman see even in top flight the fans will prefer to watch on TV than fill up the stadium. A very sad indicator of the times. I suddenly feel the rose colored spectacles have fallen off and we're back to reality having fooled everyone into believing we were a top side. ******** to the Academy, we are still a buying club.

[CWD]

Time to start planning for next season in the NPC, doing the transfers properly in the summer, and the new promotion push.

 

Why write this as fact? It is fundamentally not true. Why not phrase it like:

 

"In my opinion it is time to start planning for next season in the NPC, doing the transfers properly in the summer, and the new promotion push, as personally I do not believe we will go up this season."

 

This would be a far more truthful and mature response.

[Micky]

Bad day at the office - never really got into the game. I was actually pleased to get away with only 2 - 0 in the end.

 

Draw a line under and move on. Can't believe that some sections of the crowd saw fit to boo. We are still second ffs.

[up and away]

Nothing to be too disappointed about, we were not that bad but Leicester were very good. They took the midfield away from us and their forwards linked very well. We weren't 10/10 in midfield but as good as the the Forest game. Leicester gave us zero time on the ball that we trying to get rid of it rather than pass it on.

 

Hooiveld was immense, must have been his best game to date, Harding was poor, compounded by playing on the wrong side. You could see the writing on the wall with Nugents goal, something I doubt would have happened if he had been on his natural side. Falque just underlined to me how desperate we need an in form Lallana back. Guly was iffy and Connolly easily marshalled, but I would not have expected much more from Lambert given that service. I thougt Fonte was a big loss tonight to add to the midfield but that's the way things go. If we had Fonte, Chaplow and Lallana back and on form we could have done something about Leicester, but we did not and will just have to suck this one up.

 

I think we may have been able to get away with that performance against Cardiff, but that was a very good, disciplined performance from Leicester.

[pimpin4rizeal]

We was terrible tonight thought jos played well but overall we was awfull.

 

Will be glad too see chaplow back hes one player that gives us drive and passion

Think our form has gone down with him out.

 

Think its time to get the cheque book out cortese

 

Ps hope to god jos Injury isnt serious

[dubai_phil]

Do not think it is the manager, he would have identified targets. Then he with permission of the chairman make bids for the players. These will be turned down or accepted, like hooper. Then when they ask to much, we stop bidding, again in the case of hooper. There is not that much out there that is better than what we have got, for the money we are willing or can afford to spend.

 

Sean St Ledger was immense tonight.

 

Yet is available (according to our 'tater) for around 650k.

 

Wellens & Danns covering for the missing Andy King made our 3 CM's look awful. Danns was a freebie.

 

Yes the mentality and team dynamic is critical to us but there are players out there WCDAJFU and would be better cover than we have

[corky morris]

When was the last time we scored a goal like Nugent scored??? Morgan at Forest was completely different...........................We dont seem to score goals like that OR am in i forgetting some??????

[Wade Garrett]

Nothing to be too disappointed about, we were not that bad but Leicester were very good. They took the midfield away from us and their forwards linked very well. We weren't 10/10 in midfield but as good as the the Forest game. Leicester gave us zero time on the ball that we trying to get rid of it rather than pass it on.

 

Hooiveld was immense, must have been his best game to date, Harding was poor, compounded by playing on the wrong side. You could see the writing on the wall with Nugents goal, something I doubt would have happened if he had been on his natural side. Falque just underlined to me how desperate we need an in form Lallana back. Guly was iffy and Connolly easily marshalled, but I would not have expected much more from Lambert given that service. I thougt Fonte was a big loss tonight to add to the midfield but that's the way things go. If we had Fonte, Chaplow and Lallana back and on form we could have done something about Leicester, but we did not and will just have to suck this one up.

 

I think we may have been able to get away with that performance against Cardiff, but that was a very good, disciplined performance from Leicester.

 

I reckon Cardiff will murder us if we play like that again.

[S-Clarke]

I reckon Cardiff will murder us if we play like that again.

 

Most teams would!

[saint1977]

That was awful. I do agree with the posters who are complaining about the booing, the players don't deserve that but Cortese really does need to set Nigel a budget for fees and wages and let the manager manage. Concerned about Jos limping off and a centre back is now a urgent priority as well as forwards, tonight was a game too far for Martin. Only Jos and Morgan showed up, Guly in patches second half. Felt sorry for Falque, came into a poor side, Hammond and Cork were unbelievably poor. Connolly - rival for Luis Boa Morte's shocker at Villa years ago in the FA Cup, if he starts again this season we've really messed up in the transfer market.

 

The Puncheon situation is festering now, take Holloway's £650k and re-invest it or part ex him for McGugan who could be class with Adkins as his manager. We know Cotterill rates Puncheon and he needs money to freshen up his squad as well so it would be a low risk deal. Powell from MK is also worth a bid of £1m or so, pacy and direct. Sure, he's still learning the game and won't always choose the right options yet but he'll give us that directness and pace that we badly lack. We need another CB as well.

 

Some weird decisions by Adkins, I think he was rattled by the crowd and I can understand that as it was a bit harsh but why didn't Butterfield start at RB if Frazer wasn't 100% to start?

 

We've done really well so far but need to pull our fingers out and get 3 or 4 new faces in for Cardiff. I'm at the next game and ready to get behind the lads.

[ulstersaint]

What did we learn tonight? What we have known for a while:-

1. If Lambert is out of the team we have not got a like-for-like replacement

2. Guly can have brilliant moments, but most of the time his first touch is poor

3. Chaplow's injury was the start of the downturn in our form

4. Lee Holmes is not good enough - had a chance to shine tonight and fluffed a clear goal-scoring chance

5. If the opposition close us down quickly high up the pitch, we can't get a passing game going and build pressure

6. Lambert, Lallana and Fonte are our key players

7. We need re-inforcements in this transfer window

[Plumstead_Saint]

Can't believe that some sections of the crowd saw fit to boo. We are still second ffs.

Yes why is the home support so fickle?

12th man my a**e.

You don't get that kind of s**t from our supporters at away games.

[DrunkenSaint]

formation, tactics all wrong, need to stop this 3 cm thing we do, it works now and again but not all the time, NA does not like to change things but he needs to get it into his thick skull that playing hammond, cork and morgan does not work even having chappers back wont help if he keeps on doing the same tactics week in week out other teams know how to beat us now. The games we have won recently have come about getting good luck for us ie: playing against 10 men. Gully isnt up for a fight and DC plays well one week then does nothing the next. Now we have AL out and our main defender out it does not look good does it. Maybe we need fresh blood through transfer market or even give our kids ago, they are doing great.

[Norm]

Depleted side or not we were out-skilled, out-muscled and out-enthused. Probably unfair to single a couple out but a back four with Harding and Martin is just not up to it. Hoiveldt was good as was Fox. Why didn't Richardson start instead of Harding?

 

Agree 100%. We were outfought, out played by a far better team. We got exactly what we deserved, nothing! And to those writng that we were without 4/5/6 players, so were Leicester.

[pimpin4rizeal]

Anyone else think cork looks really lightweight in the midfield at times ?

Also he gives us nothing playin wide we really lacked width tonight

Our midfield was awfull tonight

[Special K]

If the excuse is that we were missing 3 players, we'd better hope not to get promoted as we'd get battered every week. For me, there was enough talent to get a result of sorts, even it if it was a draw. Trouble is NA again started with the wrong formation and we were overrun in midfield. The momentum and tempo went with Leicester and that was it. This season has been built on home form and if this now deserts us, we will slip out of the play off places. The next 6 games will be very interesting.

[S-Clarke]

Anyone else think cork looks really lightweight in the midfield at times ?

Also he gives us nothing playin wide we really lacked width tonight

Our midfield was awfull tonight

 

He was incredibly light weight tonight. But he was one of our better midfielders. - that says alot I guess

[MOSaint]

There was at least enough talent in that side to make it a competitive game, they didn't perform so we got rolled.

[Um Bongo]

Cork was the only one who vaguely tried tonight - Everyone might as well have stayed at home.

 

The worrying thing for me was the lack of passion on display - No-one motivating anyone. Bottling 50/50's, afraid to shoot - We haven't played that big in a long, long time.

 

We move on and one things for sure, Bottle it in Millwall and you will get your arses handed to you.

[dan17]

A few things:

 

1. Half a team missing, including our most influential players. Any team in the league would struggle in that scenario. We need to make sure we nurse players back to full fitness and not push them too soon.

 

2. That said, the players out there should have performed better. Although Leicester never gave us a chance to get going the energy levels were not good enough, players were dwelling and panicking on the ball, and looked a bit scared to me. The crowd compounded matters - the booing was pathetic and the players needed backing. The crowd passed their apprehension onto the players and it did not help.

 

3. With some players given a chance tonight and not making an impression, there may be a reaction in the transfer market. I always knew we'd have a sticky spell and it would be hard to bounce out of it. We've got to be positive during this period.

 

4. We're still second (unbelievably) and the Cardiff game is massive. I hope lots of players are back for that - and maybe a couple of new faces.

 

Very good point, rest as many people as possible for Sat.

[beavis17]

I was sat in the Chapel tonight and the booing at the end was a disgrace...especially from those fans who offered no support during the match.

 

We've still only lost 2 games at home this season which is a decent record in this league.

 

Now the Cardiff game has turned into a must win match if we are serious about automatic promotion.

[Micky]

Yes why is the home support so fickle?

12th man my a**e.

You don't get that kind of s**t from our supporters at away games.

 

Kind of annoyed me a little bit. Here we are all doom and gloom, but we are still second in the league. Look were we were this time last year. You really cannot argue that good progress has been made. Personally I think we are becoming a victim of our own success.

 

One poor performance - really no need to give the players stick and boo - they will know that it was not a good display.

 

Edit: I should also say though that at times in the first half the support sounded very good on the feed that I had - still doesn't excuse the booing though. IMHO.

Edited 23 January, 2012 by Micky

[austsaint]

Haven't felt this depressed after a Saints game for a long while. Fox, Martin, Cork, Morgan, Hammond and Guly were all shocking. Basically we looked like a team missing our key players. The positive being that we were! Easily the worst performance of the season that I've seen, we need to move on from this asap.

 

However, if you booed, you are quite simply a bellend.

 

How did you rate Harding's performance then???

[saint1977]

Do not think it is the manager, he would have identified targets. Then he with permission of the chairman make bids for the players. These will be turned down or accepted, like hooper. Then when they ask to much, we stop bidding, again in the case of hooper. There is not that much out there that is better than what we have got, for the money we are willing or can afford to spend.

 

Don't be taken in by that old chesnut, we might need to freshen up an out of form player from elsewhere like McGugan and it's something we've done well in the past. I do think Adkins has to be set a budget and allowed to buy who he needs within that framework. We can't afford the likes of Hooper so we ought be looking for forwards with pace in Leagues 1 and 2 that we can develop. Le Fondre has done well at Reading. What about proper loans - the lad Leicester brought on from Villa tonight is quality and exactly what we needed.

 

Apart from Frazer and De Ridder, even Plymouth wouldn't give our other subs a first XI start so we are badly short. If Jos is injured then we'll need 2 CBs.

[Mr X]

Lets put things in perspective one bad day at the office has far from ruined our season. however that was the worst most gutless performance of the season not a player in our team escaped with any credit... maybe hoiveld for keeping the scoreline down leicester should have won five or six nil!!

[James]

Really really poor tonight.

 

Some mistakes made by Nige tonight:

 

1) Playing Harding at RB - just terrible for the whole game I thought - Frazer should have started if fit enough (which it appeared he was when he came on and did a good job)

 

2) Throwing Falque straight in there - have been surprised by the positive comments on here about him after that, looked like a fish out of water I thought and was glad to see De Ridder come on. Hoping there's more to come but wasn't particularly encouraged by tonight's showing.

 

Other than that, I don't think he could have done much else and it shows how dreadfully thin the squad is. I'm all for keeping a close knit group, but its plainly obvious that we can't make that impact change from the bench when things aren't going our way. Players like Holmes (hate to pick on him but feel the need to after tonight) weren't good enough for us in League 1 and he definitely isn't a player worthy even of a place on the bench for a team supposedly challenging at the top of the Champ. There's no doubt that teams like boro and WHU would struggle if they were missing as many key players as we are but they have got a much better quality of replacement.

 

What worries me is that its all well and good saying we've got key men to come back, but they won't just step in and immediately be performing to the level they were prior to their absence and that is what we need to make sure we get back on track.

 

Tonight is the night I really started to doubt we could go up automatically - Cardiff are closing in on us fast and will take the **** out of us next Tuesday if we play like we did tonight. What is so annoying about the current situation is that the league this year is very very poor, and we are (on our day) better than any team in the division but I really think we might have run out of gas this season.

 

Nige seems to have run out of ideas when plan A doesn't work, the worry on his face after the game was clear for all to see.

 

Finally, why oh why haven't we been more decisive in the transfer market? Its been clear for weeks we've needed new blood but none has materialised (bar Falque and Lee, although not here yet). Its a dangerous gamble to sign players like Lee who may not settle and have taken almost the entire January window to arrive! As for bidding for players like Hooper, its great to show ambition but doesn't matter a jot if they don't sign and therefore can't make an impact. We need some new faces now, but I doubt we'll get them and fear we'll blow a very good chance of promotion this season.

[BILLY]

Nothing to be too disappointed about, we were not that bad but Leicester were very good. They took the midfield away from us and their forwards linked very well. We weren't 10/10 in midfield but as good as the the Forest game. Leicester gave us zero time on the ball that we trying to get rid of it rather than pass it on.

 

I think we may have been able to get away with that performance against Cardiff, but that was a very good, disciplined performance from Leicester.

 

Are you taking the ****? We were ******* crap tonight. If we played like that against any team, even Forest we would get beat.

[SaintNeil90]

Lets put things in perspective one bad day at the office has far from ruined our season. however that was the worst most gutless performance of the season not a player in our team escaped with any credit... maybe hoiveld for keeping the scoreline down leicester should have won five or six nil!!

 

With all these injuries its going to be more than just this game.

[hypochondriac]

We have lost a lot of points through failing to strengthen the squad either in the summer or early January IMO.

 

Leicester executed their game plan to perfection. Teams now realise that if they get in our faces and pressure us, we can't play our passing game and we have no answer. When we tried to hoof it, Guly failed to win a single header and the ball just came straight back at us.

 

Our worst performance of the season by a fair way and pretty concerning if Adkins thinks we need no more strengthening. A few weeks ago he sounded determined to take advantage of the January window. I wonder what has changed?

[Dr Who?]

Never ever boo you own team FFS! Let alone a team that is second in the table, do you really think this is going to help? What is wrong with our fans?

 

Liverpool fans do not boo their team and they are terrible at the moment.... Stick behind the team. I heard Chelsea and Arsenal fans doing the same over recent weeks!

 

It is not panto FFS!! But most teams are behind you!!!

[BILLY]

Really really poor tonight.

 

Some mistakes made by Nige tonight:

 

1) Playing Harding at RB - just terrible for the whole game I thought - Frazer should have started if fit enough (which it appeared he was when he came on and did a good job)

 

2) Throwing Falque straight in there - have been surprised by the positive comments on here about him after that, looked like a fish out of water I thought and was glad to see De Ridder come on. Hoping there's more to come but wasn't particularly encouraged by tonight's showing.

 

Other than that, I don't think he could have done much else and it shows how dreadfully thin the squad is. I'm all for keeping a close knit group, but its plainly obvious that we can't make that impact change from the bench when things aren't going our way. Players like Holmes (hate to pick on him but feel the need to after tonight) weren't good enough for us in League 1 and he definitely isn't a player worthy even of a place on the bench for a team supposedly challenging at the top of the Champ. There's no doubt that teams like boro and WHU would struggle if they were missing as many key players as we are but they have got a much better quality of replacement.

 

What worries me is that its all well and good saying we've got key men to come back, but they won't just step in and immediately be performing to the level they were prior to their absence and that is what we need to make sure we get back on track.

 

Tonight is the night I really started to doubt we could go up automatically - Cardiff are closing in on us fast and will take the **** out of us next Tuesday if we play like we did tonight. What is so annoying about the current situation is that the league this year is very very poor, and we are (on our day) better than any team in the division but I really think we might have run out of gas this season.

 

Nige seems to have run out of ideas when plan A doesn't work, the worry on his face after the game was clear for all to see.

 

Finally, why oh why haven't we been more decisive in the transfer market? Its been clear for weeks we've needed new blood but none has materialised (bar Falque and Lee, although not here yet). Its a dangerous gamble to sign players like Lee who may not settle and have taken almost the entire January window to arrive! As for bidding for players like Hooper, its great to show ambition but doesn't matter a jot if they don't sign and therefore can't make an impact. We need some new faces now, but I doubt we'll get them and fear we'll blow a very good chance of promotion this season.

 

Agree with all these. We need re-inforcements now before we blow it.

[hypochondriac]

Nothing to be too disappointed about, we were not that bad but Leicester were very good. They took the midfield away from us and their forwards linked very well. We weren't 10/10 in midfield but as good as the the Forest game. Leicester gave us zero time on the ball that we trying to get rid of it rather than pass it on.

 

Hooiveld was immense, must have been his best game to date, Harding was poor, compounded by playing on the wrong side. You could see the writing on the wall with Nugents goal, something I doubt would have happened if he had been on his natural side. Falque just underlined to me how desperate we need an in form Lallana back. Guly was iffy and Connolly easily marshalled, but I would not have expected much more from Lambert given that service. I thougt Fonte was a big loss tonight to add to the midfield but that's the way things go. If we had Fonte, Chaplow and Lallana back and on form we could have done something about Leicester, but we did not and will just have to suck this one up.

 

I think we may have been able to get away with that performance against Cardiff, but that was a very good, disciplined performance from Leicester.

 

Sorry but that is absolute rubbish. We were totally terrible.

[Under Weststand]

Well that was very dissapointing. We looked completely shot tonight lethargic & clueless. Guly was trully awful Connolly looked like a 35-yr old today, he shouldn't be starting games only come on as an impact sub. I think the main reason Martin looked so bad was he was having to do the work of the right back as well, as Harding was getting a new arse hole ripped by Dyer. lets hope & pray that Jos is not to serious, could be looking at 1 fit CB by Satuarday. Will not judge Falque on that performance as he couldn't be expected to shine the way the rest of the team played tonight. Spiderman was completely anonomous!

Jos, Davis & Fox only three that showed anything like tonight. We are looking desperatley thin Squad wise now. Injuries are killing us.

[aintforever]

Complete sh!te, time to spend some money.

[James]

Well that was very dissapointing. We looked completely shot tonight lethargic & clueless. Guly was trully awful Connolly looked like a 35-yr old today, he shouldn't be starting games only come on as an impact sub. I think the main reason Martin looked so bad was he was having to do the work of the right back as well, as Harding was getting a new arse hole ripped by Dyer. lets hope & pray that Jos is not to serious, could be looking at 1 fit CB by Satuarday. Will not judge Falque on that performance as he couldn't be expected to shine the way the rest of the team played tonight. Spiderman was completely anonomous!

Jos, Davis & Fox only three that showed anything like tonight. We are looking desperatley thin Squad wise now. Injuries are killing us.

 

Martin looks bad (both tonight and against Bristol imo) because we play it out from the back at home and he doesn't have the confidence or skill on the ball to do this. He put us under so much pressure with a poor touch tonight. He's not got the class or the skill of a Fonte who basically plays as an extra man in the midfield when we've got the ball.

[dronskisaint]

That was bad. Still, anybody who bood at the end is a ****.

 

Agree 100%

[CWD]

How did you rate Harding's performance then???

 

Meh... Hard to criticise someone playing out of position too harshly imo. However, the last thing a left-footed player playing at right back should do is allow a right-footed striker to cut inside a shoot with his right foot. Nugent finished well, but DH and Martin shouldn't be giving him that room.

[dan17]

Complete shambles. No passion, drive or commitment. Couldn't control the ball, pass it accurately over five yards, there was no movement, no pressing on their midfield who, given the freedom of the park, strolled around and did what they liked. We were second to every ball and bottled the fifty-fiftys. Not one player comes out of that with any credit. What's happened to our fitness? We were totally one paced - snail pace and appeared unable to up the tempo at any stage. Yes, we had key players missing but that does not excuse such a shoddy and lacklustre performance. Pathetic for a side that should now be capitalising on a brilliant first half of the season.

 

Agree with every single word.

[Mr X]

With all these injuries its going to be more than just this game.

 

True! cant help feeling adkins has left it too late to get the one or two class players we need in, weve been crying out for a backup for lambert for some time sure we have strikers but none in the proven 15-20 goals a season mould

[S-Clarke]

Martin looks bad (both tonight and against Bristol imo) because we play it out from the back at home and he doesn't have the confidence or skill on the ball to do this. He put us under so much pressure with a poor touch tonight. He's not got the class or the skill of a Fonte who basically plays as an extra man in the midfield when we've got the ball.

 

This. Spot on.

 

We struggle to play the way we want to play when he's in the side. Always has been the way. He's not a bad player, don't get me wrong, but he's not got the ability on the ball to be able to play out from the back with the assurance of someone like Fonte for e.g.

[Um Bongo]

Only 21,000 there as well.

 

**** sake, we're 2nd in the league FFS. Awful support. Booing as well. WTF?

 

Yeah it was a bad performance. But some of you need to rewind 3 years and have a think.

[Dr Who?]

We have lost a lot of points through failing to strengthen the squad either in the summer or early January IMO.

 

Leicester executed their game plan to perfection. Teams now realise that if they get in our faces and pressure us, we can't play our passing game and we have no answer. When we tried to hoof it, Guly failed to win a single header and the ball just came straight back at us.

 

Our worst performance of the season by a fair way and pretty concerning if Adkins thinks we need no more strengthening. A few weeks ago he sounded determined to take advantage of the January window. I wonder what has changed?

 

This is 100% spot on. We have had a great season so far, and do not think we did much wrong in the summer, but in this window it was clear we needed to act fast. Today like the Reading away game Leicester got at us, and in our face, and we could not settle.

 

On the back of this I still think we will sign a couple more players, but maybe not the main ones we were after, but just how much over the odds do we pay for the maynards, hoopers, and Sharp of this world. Do we gamble and break the bank, when it might not pay off. We also do not want to buy for the sake of buying if they are not up to the tankard we already have.

[alpine_saint]

Really really poor tonight.

 

Some mistakes made by Nige tonight:

 

1) Playing Harding at RB - just terrible for the whole game I thought - Frazer should have started if fit enough (which it appeared he was when he came on and did a good job)

 

2) Throwing Falque straight in there - have been surprised by the positive comments on here about him after that, looked like a fish out of water I thought and was glad to see De Ridder come on. Hoping there's more to come but wasn't particularly encouraged by tonight's showing.

 

Other than that, I don't think he could have done much else and it shows how dreadfully thin the squad is. I'm all for keeping a close knit group, but its plainly obvious that we can't make that impact change from the bench when things aren't going our way. Players like Holmes (hate to pick on him but feel the need to after tonight) weren't good enough for us in League 1 and he definitely isn't a player worthy even of a place on the bench for a team supposedly challenging at the top of the Champ. There's no doubt that teams like boro and WHU would struggle if they were missing as many key players as we are but they have got a much better quality of replacement.

 

What worries me is that its all well and good saying we've got key men to come back, but they won't just step in and immediately be performing to the level they were prior to their absence and that is what we need to make sure we get back on track.

 

Tonight is the night I really started to doubt we could go up automatically - Cardiff are closing in on us fast and will take the **** out of us next Tuesday if we play like we did tonight. What is so annoying about the current situation is that the league this year is very very poor, and we are (on our day) better than any team in the division but I really think we might have run out of gas this season.

 

Nige seems to have run out of ideas when plan A doesn't work, the worry on his face after the game was clear for all to see.

 

Finally, why oh why haven't we been more decisive in the transfer market? Its been clear for weeks we've needed new blood but none has materialised (bar Falque and Lee, although not here yet). Its a dangerous gamble to sign players like Lee who may not settle and have taken almost the entire January window to arrive! As for bidding for players like Hooper, its great to show ambition but doesn't matter a jot if they don't sign and therefore can't make an impact. We need some new faces now, but I doubt we'll get them and fear we'll blow a very good chance of promotion this season.

 

Good post.