Saints 2 - 3 Millwall - Post Match Reaction

[St_Tel49]

Result = dissapointing

Negative emotive reaction from some fans = expected

 

Its pretty ironic when so many have mentioned confidence as an issue, when those very fans are lacking it right now. It should have been obvious to all and sundry that in this league we were going to be up against it - we have only just been promoted from L1 - and there are teams with bigger budgets and experience of the 'miserable winter', and the BIg Sam hood and 1-0 approach, that our desire to pass teh ball was always going to struggle against if our creative midfield was disrupted or off form. Add to that injuries and suspensions and some of you seem to be bottling it. We started way beyond expectations and lets be honest that was in part because so amny around us started poorly - they have now caught up and the best sides are playing to tehir potential, whilst we have hit a sticky patch (in part through injuries to KEY players) but also because it was never going to be as easy as teh early results suggested.

 

We can analyse, criticise and be generally all doom and gloom and lose our bottle - which is an option some seem to want to take (for whatever reason) or we can look at the table, look at the squad and come to a more pragmatic (and realistic) conclusion, namely we have a GOOD squad - OK not all are the same standard, but for the Cahmpionship they have proven they CAN live with teh best...when on form and with the best 11.

 

Now is not teh time for being pussies, but a time for the support to ENCOURAGE, BELIEVE and make our contribution to the CONFIDENCE - as much as defeat hurts, as much as defeats may cause worry, choice is simple, give up now as some seem happy to do (as it will validate their pre-season doom and gloom predictions) or show some balls, recognise that our great start has mmeant that despite the recent slump we are still top 2, have added Sharp and AL seems to finding his form, Chappers back, Ricky still firing and CAN do it.

 

Sure we need to get cracking and yes we need some luck, but we also need support that is positive, behind the team, no matter what twists and turns there are still to come.

 

BELIEVE.

I am very much a glass half full kind of poster but even I am starting to get concerned by our continuing inability to see out games. When we went 2-1 up last night there is no way that Millwall should have been allowed back into the game again - whoever we had on the pitch. There's not much point in saying that we did not have our best 11 out - if we are going to get automatic promotion we should be getting results from whatever team goes on the park. When we lost Lambert against Brighton - they did not have their best players out - and we should still have been able to see the game out to at least a 0-0. Plenty of other 10 man teams have done it and a team aspiring to promotion should be perfectly capable of doing it. Enough of the gloom - what's to be done about it. One thing is for sure is that turning on the manager and players will not help in the slightest. The best that we can do as fans is to get right being the team 100% (as we have done all season) and the least we can expect of the team is that they give us the same.

[leithsaint]

Such fine lines. Gulys first half header required a superb full stretch save from the Millwall keeper. Lallana hitting the bar with a free kick. A really fantastic effort from Reeves ruined by a questionable offside decision. Seemed as though there were several chances created, Lee through and should really hit the target, De Ridder choosing to pass when a shot from close range would have put the keeper in an awkward position. Barnard with two first time shots that have both been blocked by a defender right in front of him.

 

I would be interested if anyone can detail what tactical/formation changes were made after Saints took the lead and before Millwall equalised (not much time between them I realise).

 

The team really does not seem to have been settled for some time now, Chaplow injury, Fonte and Hooiveld not played together since Boxing Day(?), Lambert suspension, Lallana dip on form, cup games that have seen many changes in personnel, and now uncertainty around how to use new signings. I hope that Adkins can quickly settle on a regular team and that some continuity breads consistent performances.

[Jonnyboy]

oh dear what a dissappointment. The attendance, the atmosphere, the first 30 minutes, the defending, the crossing, barts kicking, the finishing, the two linos, the West Ham song, the missed opportunity...oh well maybe I need to look at the positives (seeing as for once Adkins spared us his false positivity and told us how he rally felt) and that was certainly seeing Chaplow back (although miles from his best), Reeves ability and, er, **** I'm all out.

 

Bart 4 two decent saves, both I expected him to make, but still good, handling OK, but his kicking was absolutely woeful. He sliced nearly all, failed to get height or distance and put us in trouble several times. He actually got away with it on several other occasions. I thought the Northam were very patient with him. I struggled to not moan at him. I've never been impressed and don't want to see him as our second choice keeper next season unless he learns how to kick again,

Richardson 6 ball watched a couple of times and nearly exposed, but to be fair he had little cover in front of him. He improved but yet again his crosses we poor. Too long of too short. Crap really. Compare that with Millwall who had two of three chances and every cross was dangerous.

Fonte 7 decent display for me

Martin 5 got done a couples of times badly by their striker

Harding 6 got beaten badly for their second. Crossing poor.

Hammond 9 thought he had a very good game. Worked tremendously hard and kept the ball well. Looked up for it.

Chaplow 5 miles off the pace. Left us massively exposed in the middle leading to the first goal. Improved, but work rate was not high enough. Yes he's just coming back, and its great, but the mark is for how he played not how he did play before injury

de Ridder 7 not bad at all, busy, lots of effort and movement, good control etc. but where is that end product we need? Seriously need him to be scoring the odd goal like Feeney's third - coming inside and curling one into the top corner. Never even tries it. The one shot he had was horrible.

Lallana 8 ran the game especially in the second half

Chung 6 lots of runs, sadly him and de Ridder seemed to make the same ones, but until Reeves came on none were really found. Poor effort in the second half when dribbling through, and a very poor miss when it looked easier to score. I'm not all that impressed. He should have taken one of those chances

Guly 6 not as bad a some fans will make out. Better in midfield than up front, but we improved with Lambert

 

Reeves 8 Looked extremely good, one under hit pass, but some sublime through balls too. Impressive.

Lambert 7 very deep, took his goal well

Barnard not on long enough to get a mark

 

who?

[david in sweden]

Bart 4 two decent saves, both I expected him to make, but still good, handling OK, but his kicking was absolutely woeful. He sliced nearly all, failed to get height or distance and put us in trouble several times. He actually got away with it on several other occasions. I thought the Northam were very patient with him. I struggled to not moan at him. I've never been impressed and don't want to see him as our second choice keeper next season unless he learns how to kick again,

 

 

Agree with that one Chez.

 

Much as I admire KD, I have my doubts if even he is class enough for the Premiership(?).... but the thought that Bart would be our only alternative (and I'm not counting Tommy Forecast - you understand)... really frightens me !

[Colinjb]

who?

 

Lee Chung-Sung

 

The birth name of Tadanari Lee. As he is now a completely naturalised Japanese citizen I wouldn't use that though.

[captainchris]

Surprised how little i cared. Shame lots of our squad players couldn't raise their game or put the effort in. Still, Lallana sounded excellent and we started to create more. Just wish Millwall had bothered against West Ham.

 

Maybe Nigel should have played the full first team, hard to say really. But the important thing is Saturday and we need some help from the fans. A good attendance and not getting on their back with every misplaced pass or going a goal down etc. Otherwise we could turn the poor home spell into a serious problem. Maybe they need to slip down the league so expectations become a bit more realistic though. Personally I'd take 3 points from the next 2 games, any more would be fantastic.

 

Looking forward to Sharp playing saturday, hope he's not on the bench. If Adkins reverts to starting Connolly on Saturday I'll lose my first bit of faith in him.

Concur...........We are starting game after game badly and NA keeps saying we prepared as usual - Well maybe we should preparing a lot differently..!

[up and away]

Concur...........We are starting game after game badly and NA keeps saying we prepared as usual - Well maybe we should preparing a lot differently..!

 

This game generally just passed me by, heard 5-10 minutes in the car and Adkins post match and that was about it. Looking at Chez's match report that was the general impression I got for those few minutes, with the exception that Hammond had really put in a shift.

 

What I find incredible is Adkins reactions on iplayer? We have seen this so many times I am absolutely shocked he is surprised or feel more to do with the reality of how some players like Chaplow are off the pace. It's going to take Chaplow several games to get into the swing and the centre was not where he previously found such good form. So we only had one virtually effective midfielder in Hammond and we were expected to roll over Millwall when they put up a similar performance they did last time at St Mary's, totally unbelieveable.

 

I don't feel this game has any standing for the coming Burnley game and feel we have other options which make things far brighter given the whole equation. Unless Adkins reactions were borne of frustration and the moment, I really have to wonder what he has seen play out previously.

[kpturner]

not nearly enough decent crosses considering the number of opportunities and time they both have. Fox's set pieces are terrible.

Fox set up the equaliser against West Ham and delivered three assists against Derby. Frazer Richardson has already notched more assists this season than any other player in the second tier of English football - 11. I think they are both doing just fine.

[Minty]

Strange thread to resurrect to make that point...?

[RonManager]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ffs

[kpturner]

Strange thread to resurrect to make that point...?

Maybe - but hardly worth a whole new thread. I am just catching up after a week off sick ;-) Edited 20 February, 2012 by kpturner