S-Clarke Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Couldn't see the game, how did Billy settle in? One chance, wanted to take an extra touch and the chance was lost. but other than that invisible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Couldn't see the game, how did Billy settle in? Couple of touches, almost had a chance to shoot 8 yards out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Game of opinions, but i thought Morgan was the best player on the pitch by a mile. Put his foot in, intercepted all day long and was one of the few players on the pitch who looked comfortable passing the ball. I can't quite believe you thought they were hungrier than us considering we controlled 90% of the game. The pitch was unplayable. The ball wasn't bouncing true nor was it rolling true. I think it's a bit of a shambles the game went ahead Agree, Morgan was one of our best players insofar as the conditions permitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulstersaint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Someone explain for him. Perhaps because Schneiderlin often passes the ball forward and Hammond only passes sideways or backwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Perhaps because Schneiderlin often passes the ball forward and Hammond only passes sideways or backwards. Can't agree with that. Morgan is only sideways and backwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWD Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Only managed to catch the last 35 mins. Rubbish game. Knew from minute 56 that it was gonna end 0-0! Move on, difficult to read anything into this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthemarch Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 great point. fact. Birmingham form team at the moment. can't complain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Happy with a point away from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Adam Blackmore on about the 7 day rule, not sure if Fox is banned for Millwall or Burnley but Harding excellent replacement or maybe Shaw for Millwall game. Hope the cup doesn't become a distraction from the league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints foreva Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Time to take Lambert off free-kicks imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verlaine1979 Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 The team desperately needs Chaplow back to do something with the acres of space we leave between the half way line and the edge of the box. Puncheon played very well first half and seemed the only player willing to advance with the ball more than about five yards, we need more of that, because popping the ball twenty yards forward in an attempt to hit Lambert's head isn't a particularly effective tactic of late. Opponents seem to have figured out that if they double up on Lallana on the wing, the way we're set up we don't take advantage of the overload in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 0-0 thought Martin and Fonte were superb and Fox and Richardson did their defensive duties well. OK their crossing was poor but anyone who has ever played in snow will tell you it is bl*ody difficult to get off the ground.Kelvin said he was struggling to get it to half way. Disappointed Rickie did not blast it but a win at home to Burnley and that will be a great point, we just need to finish in top two not 20 points ahead of the rest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamsaint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 that will look a decent point in the end. The goals will come back, the wins will return. We went to a big rival that is flying and outplayed them in conditions that we certainly wouldn't have chosen. absolutely awful decisions on foxy's 2 yellows. a good days work overall. Also, to have played Cardiff and brum this week and only conceded one iffy goal is a good sign. stiill in 2nd, got to be happy with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio Saint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 only managed to catch the last 35 mins. Rubbish game. wtf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint in winchester Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Match was a joke. If anyone doubted the power of TV over football, there it was. The two most free-scoring sides in this league and not a goal between them. Should have been postponed and let Sky Sports play some archive footage for 90 minutes. Ok, yeah, we got a point, but we are now 4 points off Wham. And Rickie, for crying out loud .... shoot at goal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooh it's a corner Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 that will look a decent point in the end. The goals will come back, the wins will return. We went to a big rival that is flying and outplayed them in conditions that we certainly wouldn't have chosen. absolutely awful decisions on foxy's 2 yellows. a good days work overall. Also, to have played Cardiff and brum this week and only conceded one iffy goal is a good sign. stiill in 2nd, got to be happy with that. Yup. I can't understand the negativity, a few games ago it was "we've got to play West Ham, Brum, Cardiff, Blackpool, Hull, Leeds etc" I'm looking at the remaining fixtures now and thinking 17 to go, 8 against teams in the top half, 9 against teams in the bottom half. We are second. Teams have had a chance to overtake us, and with the exception of WHU have failed. We are going to be okay here folks, keep the faith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadaSaint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Agree, Morgan was one of our best players insofar as the conditions permitted. I agree with that and admit to being pleasantly surprised because I thought he'd be MIA as it wasn't his kind of day/pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaltashSaint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 That was a good point (which could yet prove to be key come the end of the season) in tough conditions (which certainly didn't suit our passing style of play) against an in-form side who have a good home record. Superb performance from Martin - he is getting better every game - and Punch is looking really sharp and keen to impress. Why, however, did Rickie not take a shot at goal with that late free-kick? Bizarre! Oh well, onwards and upwards.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Time to take Lambert off free-kicks imo.so long as Fox is not his replacement. How on earth did he ever get the tag as a good set piece deliverer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raucebysaint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Good result tonight, no damage done.. We need to start a decent run now though if we want automatic promotion. Carry on the way we have for the last 6 weeks and we won't even make the playoffs. This is the best chance we could have for years to come, so come on boys lets lets do it this season.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexstar Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Bet Sky were delighted they chose that for TV! Birmingham have been like a steam train in recent weeks so on the face of it it's a very good away point. The performance is a difficult one to judge, with both teams putting many more balls astray than they normally would. Annoyed that Lambert didn't shoot, how many of those chipped balls to the back stick have actually gone in, 1? 2? Thought Puncehon was our MOTM but is obviously still struggling with match fitness. Roll on the next game, Burnley at home is a necessary 3 points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 I see 19Canteen is having a pop at De Ridder on Twitter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasgow_Saint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 De ridder was poor today imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 I see 19Canteen is having a pop at De Ridder on Twitter... You follow him??! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint-crinny Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Bit of luck came our way when the officials missed a obvious pen when Fox upended a Brum player in the box, but we may have been due some good fortune. A Dull game in the main but not a bad away point against this divisions in-form team I suppose. Keep this under your collective hats chaps, but I reckon the last two games where we have proved to be a match for strong opposition might just indicate that although we are still short of our best form we may - just may - have turned the corner performance wise. As ever time will tell. Dpm't agree with that - Fox got to the ball just ahead of the Brum player when they showed the replay - Lino was quite to flag for our freekick as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fen Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Thought we played well and some good stuff but created very little, very tricky conditions. Didn't Fox should have been sent off, the first was never a free kick let alone a booking and although the second was a foul, its never a yellow card. Can't believe someone mentioned Fox's tackle was a penalty, he clearly won the ball and was fouled after. Disappointed to see Lambert chip the ball to the far post from the free kick in the last minute, he should be shooting from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 I'd be worried if, in good weather conditions, we'd had that much possession and created so little but 0-0 to the weather tonight. Sending off, my ar.se. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Bit of luck came our way when the officials missed a obvious pen when Fox upended a Brum player in the box, but we may have been due some good fortune. As ever time will tell. Well you must be the only one who saw that, I never saw any obvious pen, nor did I see an Brum players appealing, or hear the crowd go up. Other than that - I obviously got here too late - it's all been said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalkie saint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Good point given the conditions and against a good team in form. Puncheon again did well, we do look better with him in the team and was one of our better players at running with the ball at the opposition tonight. Great support again, all you could hear on tv. Other teams will drop points over the following weeks, West Ham won ok, but they are not the real deal in my mind and we should not be afraid of getting something up there, as long as we dont get a so called premiership ref......todays was very porr and struggled to take pitch into account with soem of his decisions.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Durman Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Well done Saints tough game, tough conditions and a good result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Off to party down town edinbug shortly. We could have the best players in the world and some on here would still moan . The conditions were treacherous from the highlights I have seen in the past hour . Not a game for flair and skill to come to the fore due to the snow and icy conditions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Overall: Any clean sheet away from home to a promotion contender is a good start. Had we tested their keeper more, who knows if we might've snatched all three. To have no real attempts (openings, yes, but not real attempts on goal) is always disappointing and it is right to highlight that, but in the context of the overall game, I don't think we should be too harsh. Biggest disappointment for me was undoubtedly the crossing from all players, not just the fullbacks, although they naturally get the most opportunities when we play a diamond. To criticise them too much would also he harsh as they have provided many assists this season so the criticism comes mainly from them not maintaining those high standards. However, conditions do play a part and if the ground underfoot was not secure and players had doubts about it then it is bound to affect them. Still, we need to get back to the quality crossing we've seen previously. I thought the team generally played well today, possession was good for long periods and the key thing that Nigel often talks about, and that we lacked for 90 mins against Leicester and 40ish against Cardiff, was to control the game. Today we did that for probably 65+ which is an improvement and important in denying the opposition chances. We may not have created much but Birmingham only forced 2 saves from Kelvin, and their home form has been excellent. I find the whole Morgan/Hammond debate quite tiring personally. Both are good players with slightly different strengths. The way some fans polarise them is embarrassing IMO. Morgan had a good game today, some important tackles and interceptions especially, and first half, with Lallana and Puncheon making good runs and probing well, we looked pretty good. Second half there seemed to be less options available and Punch ran out of steam a bit (but was arguably our MOM until that point IMO). Upfront there was some good link play and lots of near misses when it came to trying to play our way through their defence. We should've tested their keeper with more shots from outside the box and we were close with some through balls but ultimately we didn't do enough in the final third. I don't think any individual players are to 'blame' for that as such, there was lots of intelligent movement but sometimes you just have to have a go. Puncheon should be able to last 90 mins soon and when he can do so I think we've got a really strong midfield. His sharp movement and good control was a joy to watch at times and arguably he has been our best 'signing' of the transfer window in the games since, so far. Well done Jason, keep it up. Finally, the sending off. Beagrie's comment summed it up for me. Neither were really a yellow, so definitely not a red, and possibly one of the most shocking decisions I've ever seen. Except perhaps the 'decision' to allow West Ham's winning goal today. A shocking day for the officials. Nigel said more about that decision in his post match comments than I've ever heard him comment about any refereeing decision so he obviously wasn't happy. If you look back at our form over the last 10 games or so, it is disappointing, but in the last few games I've seen us start to control the ball, and therefore the games, a lot more than we were in the few games before that. The signings have given us more strength in depth, we're unbeaten in 3 again, and it was this time last year, when we started to fear for our position, that we all, players, staff AND fans, rallied and carried the team through to the end of the season on a fantastic run. In some ways the pressure is off us now. We're not at the top, we're in the pack and it is rather tight at the top. But we're no longer the team everyone wants to beat/catch, and with injured players returning, we have every reason to be positive about the next few weeks and months. Keep the faith Saints fans. Nigel and the players have earnt that so far, stay positive and who knows what we can achieve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Would've taken beating Cardiff and losing to Brum (or vice versa) at the start of the week, three points, but am happy with two and with neither team gaining ground on us. Still second tonight, West Ham can still be caught too. Bang goes our makeshift centre back! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Fox's red card was ridiculous, his first yellow was a superb challenge and the second was a case of Burke making a lot of very little contact and going down quite easily - although tbf it was a very slippy surface. Content with a point against the most in-form team in the league, my Brum supporting mate who comes to Saints games with me was devastated that they didn't beat us. Why didn't Rickie shoot at the end..although the visibility was appalling and they had a huge wall so it's understandable that he tried the far post tactic which has worked so many times this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nexstar Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 From anyone that was at the game, how was the atmosphere? Could hear our fans for most of the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsacar saint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Very good point,I thought the defence wsas sound,and Punch was excellent again . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ART Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Delighted we held on for a point but more interested to see Jack Cork comng off and rush off to meet David Beckham about modeling Beck's his latest undies collection. Sadly where the team are concerned I'm left feeling it's a case of "Slip, slip, sliding away" from now on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky morris Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Starting to think ref's have it in for us! Decent point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BARCELONASAINT Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 I can't believe the amount of negative posters on here having a go at the team and especially our talisman Lambert. The whole team need a huge round of applause for going to a team that have the best form in the league at the moment and playing them of the park for large parts of the game in horrendous conditions. I believe we have turned the corner and are playing ourselves back into form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExSt Peter Saint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Absolutely agree with what everyone's said about Fox. Neither was a yellow, so should have been on the pitch at the end. Don't think it would have made any difference though, as we didn't have a shot on goal the entire match and if you don't do that, you can't score - simples! MOTM either Puncheon or Morgan, but very hard to judge anyone on that surface - not really a football game at all. We tried to play in the first half and had most of the possession but we could have played another hour and nobody would have scored the way both teams were failing to control the ball. On ward and upward - hope Sharp's next match sees him make a proper debut where there is a chance of real football being played. Think he carries more threat than DC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pangy Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Just got back,considering the conditions which were terrible I thought it was a good point,not sure how it appeared on tv but it was arctic at the ground,Morgan was excellent first half easily our best player,can someone tell me what fox's 2nd yellow was for? We were at the other end and it looked like a 50-50,conditions were so poor you could hardly see the other end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Just got back,considering the conditions which were terrible I thought it was a good point,not sure how it appeared on tv but it was arctic at the ground,Morgan was excellent first half easily our best player,can someone tell me what fox's 2nd yellow was for? We were at the other end and it looked like a 50-50,conditions were so poor you could hardly see the other end. It wasn't for anything. He just moved the player off the ball, just slightly put his arm on his back to move him away from the path of the ball. At the very most a dubious foul and free kick, but to give a yellow was frankly embarrassing. Apparently he also misses the Burnley game as the suspension doesn't kick in until 7 days from the event. what a load of ****. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 First half couldn't really see much to be honest with you. Didn't think either team looked like they were going to score. Sort of got the vibe that nobody wanted to mess up and to be fair I am amazed nobody did. The only time I was worried was when Morgan lost the ball and brought their guy down on the edge of the box. Thankfully the boys didn't shy away from that shot as I imagine it would of fecking hurt whoever took that hit! Second half was also a bit meh to be honest. Can't really recall any chances other then the one that fell to Sharp. But that was more of a half chance I'd say. The way Brum set their defence up it was obvious they didn't want us to have any room or have any clear views of goal. They defended very well and it is easy to see why they have let in few goals. We never really had any clear chances to shoot from 25-30 yards out as they always pushed a player up to track the ball. All in all very happy with a draw. The conditions were laughable. I felt Arctic Fox did very well and people say it wasen't a red so again we get a crap ref decision go against us. If I had to pick a motm for us I would go with either Martin (should call him Iceman) or Puncheon. Martin has come on so much this season and think he could turn into a good player. Puncheon was all over the place in the first half trying to create things but more importantly tracking back to defend. Loads of positives and i'm sure there are negatives if you want to look for them. But getting a point, with 10 men, in the snow when you couldn't see **** away at the inform team in the league is a great point. Well done lads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Thought Morgan was great in the first half, as was Lallana but he went missing in the second half. Puncheon was also excellent, great to have him back in the team. Martin and Fonte did a great job defending the hoof ball except from that N'Daw header early on. Shame we can't appeal Fox red, as it was absolutely outrageous. Phil Dowd really is an idiot. If Sharp had taken his chance first time we'd be talking about all 3 points! But let's not blame him for one missed chance eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Unfair to slag anyone off today. The conditions were unplayable, and the game should never have started. Good point away from home. We are better than them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sibster Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 I hope we appeal the red card as that was a joke. Unfortunately there is no provision in law to appeal a second caution-well except in the case of mistaken identity but to be honest there is no chance of that sticking. Harsh as the second caution was there is pretty much nothing that we can do about it....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Disappointed we never took the advantage we had in the first half to score. Some say a win and a loss against Cardiff and Birmingham (3rd and 4th) would have been better than just 2 draws BUT in the first senario one would have gained some advantage. This way neither make inroads into our position and we have the advantage by having more points. Obviously a win win or win draw would have been better but I am quietly happy. Now, if we can beat West Ham, and why not! they will be the team sweating. Birmingham and Cardiff are good sides both in good form and we showed we can match them at the very least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 Dowd was very poor - ridiculous red card. Disappointed with a point as i thought we could have had all three if only we had managed to get in a few shots on target. Lambert's free kick at the end - what was that all about?? Please can our two full backs practice crossing the ball to one of our own players occasionally?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lallana's Left Peg Posted 4 February, 2012 Share Posted 4 February, 2012 A challenging day on and off the pitch today. Got down to Birmingham early to get ahead of the weather and glad I did. Then as the hours passed in the pub the snow slowly started to settle to the point when we made our way to the ground it was clear it would be an 'interesting' game. First 10 mins I think Birmingham adapted well to the conditions and their long ball game mixed with trying to get Burke involved on the right was threatening. Then we got a hold of the game by going to a diamond and played by far the better football, but it was not threatening as both teams battled the conditions. Much the same second half really - I think Birmingham had the better chances in the game but we had better control of the ball and Hughton knew it too, taking off a striker with 25mins to go and replacing him with a midfielder. Puncheon, Schneiderlin, and Martin were outstanding. I'd have taken a point beforehand, even moreso when the scores from Cardiff and Middlesbrough came through. We are definitely playing well. Left Birmingham at 8 and got back to Manchester at 11. 3hrs on the M6 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 5 February, 2012 Share Posted 5 February, 2012 with the form they have been showing happy to take a point at Birmingham all day long and twice on Sundays. Not on TV over here so fortunately didnt have to watch it. Really need the 3 points at SMS next weekend. Never easy in the league though. COYR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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