Saints vs Those Around Us

[Saint-Armstrong]

Have seen a few posters on here talking about teams catching up on us and how we seem to struggle in the big games, so decided I'd look into our record vs the other current Top 10 sides.

 

This Season:

 

(Green showing at least half points gained / Orange showing under half points gained, but potential to get over half /

Red showing failure to gain at least half the points)

 

Saints vs....

 

...West Ham United - 3/3

...Cardiff City - 1/6

...Blackpool - 1/3

...Birmingham - 4/6

...Middlesbrough - 3/3

...Hull City - 3/3

...Reading - 1/3

...Leeds United - 3/3

...Brighton - 3/6

 

As the above shows, we have only accrued less than half the available points over 2 games against one challenger around us, Cardiff City.

 

All the others we have gained at least half of the available points, except against Reading and Blackpool, who we could still get over half the points available to us, as we have to play them both again.

 

So it works out at:

 

22 points out of the available 36, which works out that we are taking 61% of the points available against those around us, with potential for that to change.

 

So although we are doing reasonably well against those around us, it is perhaps disappointing to only take 1 point against Cardiff this season.

 

I see no reason why we can't beat both Leeds and Hull, and potentially Boro and Blackpool, even if these are all away games!

 

We have done well at home, but our season could well be defined on our away games, which could be worrying. I still feel we will win more than we draw/lose at St. Mary's from here on, but need to be stepping it up away from home. I do feel we are starting to return to form however.

 

I hope you followed that!

[CWD]

Games against the big teams haven't really been the team's problem over the last few seasons. It's the performances and results against the likes of Rochdale, Walsall, Bristol City and Doncaster that may be our undoing!

[alpine_saint]

Have seen a few posters on here talking about teams catching up on us and how we seem to struggle in the big games, so decided I'd look into our record vs the other current Top 10 sides.

 

This Season:

 

(Green showing at least half points gained / Orange showing under half points gained, but potential to get over half /

Red showing failure to gain at least half the points)

 

Saints vs....

 

...West Ham United - 3/3

...Cardiff City - 1/6

...Blackpool - 1/3

...Birmingham - 4/6

...Middlesbrough - 3/3

...Hull City - 3/3

...Reading - 1/3

...Leeds United - 3/3

...Brighton - 3/6

 

As the above shows, we have only accrued less than half the available points over 2 games against one challenger around us, Cardiff City.

 

All the others we have gained at least half of the available points, except against Reading and Blackpool, who we could still get over half the points available to us, as we have to play them both again.

 

So it works out at:

 

22 points out of the available 36, which works out that we are taking 61% of the points available against those around us, with potential for that to change.

 

So although we are doing reasonably well against those around us, it is perhaps disappointing to only take 1 point against Cardiff this season.

 

I see no reason why we can't beat both Leeds and Hull, and potentially Boro and Blackpool, even if these are all away games!

 

We have done well at home, but our season could well be defined on our away games, which could be worrying. I still feel we will win more than we draw/lose at St. Mary's from here on, but need to be stepping it up away from home. I do feel we are starting to return to form however.

 

I hope you followed that!

 

Your anaylsis paints a potentially positive picture.

 

However, it doesnt address the fact that sh*t like Bristol City did the double over us.

 

I really fear we are going to look back at those two games with regret..

[stevegrant]

Your anaylsis paints a potentially positive picture.

 

However, it doesnt address the fact that sh*t like Bristol City did the double over us.

 

I really fear we are going to look back at those two games with regret..

Bristol City and Leicester both did the double over us by pressing us particularly high up the pitch, which strangled us and forced us to rush our play and as a result make lots of mistakes. Most clubs in this division don't play that way (I'd argue both of those sides don't normally play that way either but adapted their tactics specifically against us), and don't have the players capable of playing that way.

[Jack]

Also, Bristol City had just got a new manager in and they were in the middle of a mini revival. We had an off day at home against them.

 

Away at Leicester, we were unlucky. Their 3rd goal should never have counted for foul on Lambert, and we found their keeper in unbelievable form. We absolutely battered them in the 2nd half

[alpine_saint]

Bristol City and Leicester both did the double over us by pressing us particularly high up the pitch, which strangled us and forced us to rush our play and as a result make lots of mistakes. Most clubs in this division don't play that way (I'd argue both of those sides don't normally play that way either but adapted their tactics specifically against us), and don't have the players capable of playing that way.

 

Well if they dont normally play like that, there is nothing stopping the other 17 teams we've got to play doing the same.

 

Your comment paints only half the picture. We are supposed to have more quality about us than them by a long way, and should have been able to adapt to their tactics and let our quality shine through to win the day. I can understand Leicester managing what they did, they have the quality.

 

Whatever you way you portray it, the two games against BC represent low points of the season (well, along with Doncaster maybe, but they were making good loan moves at the time) that may come back to bite us on the ass.

[rallyboy]

without wanting to sound too positive I reckon our squad will be in better shape that many around us once we get a couple back from injury.

We lose Fox, Harding steps straight in - we have three good centre backs, we now have good cover up front, we have choices in midfield.

And perhaps even our reserve keeper has got his worst career moment out of the way early doors.

I do hope so.

 

With games coming thick and fast there are some clubs out there with less cover, and they must be dreading an injury or two.

We look to have some depth - very similar to last season when as the pressure built, even a ludicrously-dogged Huddersfield couldn't stop us.

[dubai_phil]

I tell you what.

 

Let's all swap our position now and our current form and sqaud for one of the teams chasing us and ask.

 

Who would we rather be?

 

I agree with SG about our ability to dispose of "allegedly rubbish teams" it's been a failing of ours for as long as I can remember - cracking performances against top sides (the old Liverpool Games at the Dell anyone?) often undone by a "not up for the game" the following week.

 

Think it is in this area that we need to improve our options on the pitch and our psychology. NA changed things after about 20 minutes last night and we looked much better, IMHO we need to be able to KEEP doing that and have an alternative when teams DO press us.

[Jack]

Well if they dont normally play like that, there is nothing stopping the other 17 teams we've got to play doing the same.

 

Your comment paints only half the picture. We are supposed to have more quality about us than them by a long way, and should have been able to adapt to their tactics and let our quality shine through to win the day. I can understand Leicester managing what they did, they have the quality.

 

Whatever you way you portray it, the two games against BC represent low points of the season (well, along with Doncaster maybe, but they were making good loan moves at the time) that may come back to bite us on the ass.

 

It happens to the best of teams Alps. Look at what Blackburn did at Old Trafford a few weeks ago. Look at Man City at Everton. Barcelona have been dropping points and failing to score recently. No matter how good a side is, they will have some unlikely defeats over a season.

 

We're nearly back to full strength, and we've strengthened. With players returning and others finding some lost form, there's no reason we can't replicate our form from the first few months of the season.