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Saints 2-2 Pompey - Reactions


Lighthouse

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Will we continue yet again against Palace with exactly the same formula which is clearly not working. We are NOT controlling games and haven't for a long time. As we have no pace we remorselessly try to play through the middle with no pace. IF we are going to continue with this predictable tactic we need five in midfield so that we have a spare man to get beyond our forward line and break the predictability.....Chaplow is the only guy who seems to be able to do this. NA we are running out of steam and have been for a long time - we need to address this...

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Sorry? What are you on about now?

 

Lambert couldnt jump? he won every ball second half. I maintain that it was v poor by adam not to shoot and then dive, he did it a west ham too and twice today. I thought he played well otherwise but dont like to see that from a saints player.

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Morgan won't be back this season, would put him as a doubt for the start of next year based on how Nigel was talking about it. That is as big a blow as any. Some people don't appreciate him, but we have no composure in the middle of the park without him. Cork and Hammond played ok today, alot of tenacity and effort...but very little composure from either of them, that was the main problem. We lacked a central midfield player to just take a touch, stop the ball and move it on. We will miss him enormously.

 

That is just a ridiculous assumption. It looked bad, but let's wait and see first.

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You might be right mate.

 

Very concerned about Morgan. Lost control of midfield without him.

 

Typical, lee and Morgan both playing well and out they go with injury...

 

Might have to change formation and go 4-5-1 with runners from midfield in support of Rickie?

 

Recent games, where we've played poor, it's been the midfield battle where we've lost out!

 

Today, when they go the ball they picked passes out at will. No pressure with Hammond running backwards and cork not really mister tenacious!

 

Well put .......

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Morgan won't be back this season, would put him as a doubt for the start of next year based on how Nigel was talking about it. That is as big a blow as any. Some people don't appreciate him, but we have no composure in the middle of the park without him. Cork and Hammond played ok today, alot of tenacity and effort...but very little composure from either of them, that was the main problem. We lacked a central midfield player to just take a touch, stop the ball and move it on. We will miss him enormously.

 

Dead right. I'd argue that we've lacked that even with Morgan playing because he's been playing in front of the back four, and it's next to impossible to do that and fulfill the role you're talking about.

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....Cowards.....yellow...... don't deserve to be red and white.......

 

Unfortunately I'm talking about some of the fans on here, not the players.

 

A brilliant strike in the last minute and we're rubbish. If he skews it wide, we're brilliant and going up.

 

What else have I read on here.....

 

Lambert clearly not fit - Probably true but he won 99% of everything in the air, held it up brilliantly, showed good touches and hit a great free kick

Lallana can't shoot - I can think of at least 2 occasions he contrived to hit a brilliant shot when balls rebounded in his direction

Fonte - We need to find a goof partner for Jos. Just f*ck off. You don't deserve someone of his class

 

A classless performance, but as we all know, fans are untouchable

 

:rolleyes:

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I spose it's not all gloom & doom. . . quite.

 

On monday - West Ham are home to Birmingham - and Reading are away at Brighton. Both tough fixtures & as we found out, Brighton away particularly.

 

The tough part for Adkins will be lifting the lads after what seems like a defeat today. Palace away is going to be tough - but I can think of several harder

away games to go to following a confidence-sapping local derby draw.

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I didn't understand the Harding substitution...why not bring on Martin for his height at set pieces at the end?

 

Cork my MOTM

I am a Guly fan - today he was abysmal and I cannot defend him at all not that De Ridder was much better.

Our problems have been since Lee got injured and our forward line is so static the midfield struggle to create anything.

Sharp scored 2 - never did much else, Lambert is nowhere near fit and Lallana dive was a disgrace.

 

We need another win and quick.

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....Cowards.....yellow...... don't deserve to be red and white.......

 

Unfortunately I'm talking about some of the fans on here, not the players.

 

A brilliant strike in the last minute and we're rubbish. If he skews it wide, we're brilliant and going up.

 

What else have I read on here.....

 

Lambert clearly not fit - Probably true but he won 99% of everything in the air, held it up brilliantly, showed good touches and hit a great free kick

Lallana can't shoot - I can think of at least 2 occasions he contrived to hit a brilliant shot when balls rebounded in his direction

Fonte - We need to find a goof partner for Jos. Just f*ck off. You don't deserve someone of his class

 

A classless performance, but as we all know, fans are untouchable

 

:rolleyes:

 

Well put, a win would have papered over the cracks BUT crucially we would have been 6 points clear of the hammers so statistically we would have had a better chance of going up....

 

I've now calmed down and realise the result isn't too bad, just worry about the impact of this game going forward both psychologically and with Morgan's injury

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There keeper made at least 3 if not 4 great saves by they deserved the draw if not more.

 

But their players wanted it more than ours.

 

Do Prado had another bad game - he has game changing moments but for a while now his moments have cost us. At the start of the season his moments of magic were creating goals - now his moments are when he fails to close or chase the ball and the opposition are gifted the ball. Such a moment led to the first Pompey goal which really came out of nothing. Surely after the game at Fratton Park where he bottled it he shoul have been on the bench for this one at best.

 

De Ridder also had yet bother one of those days where he runs fast with ball but fails to do anything with it. He beats his man creates the space, open the game up for the through ball to a red and white shirt with time and space in the box - but does he pass it - oh no he doesn't - he runs down a blind alley snd yet again fails to get the cross in, loses the ball or smashes over the bar!

 

Sharp scored two goals - But he goes down far too easily - and way too often. And why were we playing long balls to the shortest man on the pitch!?

 

Lallana also went down too easily - and really should have stayed on his feet to score at the end.

 

Morgan's injury could be the worst result from today's game - he's more important to us than most people realise. We will really miss him if he's out for long.

 

Cork had a great time - we really need him to step up now - and for Chaplow to get his form back.

 

Our fullbacks need to learn how to defend and the whole team need to learn how to defend against width and pace.

 

And why oh why did we kick the ball long with a minute to - giving away possession???

 

I have a horrible feeling today's result could well see us play each other again next season in the same division. Momentum can be a horrible thing. And despite what anyone may say todays was not just another game.

 

Pompey have done the double on us this season from where I'm sitting - our players have really let us down when it matters in my opinion!

 

Whichever division we're in next season Guly and Steve need to be replaced - and we need tovbuy fullbacks that can actually defend!

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Adkins just said Morgan is out for the season - or words to that effect. He's got a very badly injured knee (stud marks all down it) and that's his season finished.

 

More good news then!

 

Bloody football. . . .

 

I listened to Adkins on Solent and I didn't hear him say that he would be out for the session I remember words like this - that it was a bad challenge and has a stud mark on his knee, it wasn't looking good and the knee had swollen up but they'll assess it later, he will definately not play on Monday v Palace.

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Although I'm too p1ssed to look at the data, I don't think that's the first time we've taken off a forward and brought on Harding, and then conceded a goal

 

Anyone got more energy than me to look into it?

 

A crap tactic anyway. Bring Martin on to sit in front of Jos and Jose for the last 5 minutes I can get, but a left back (and not a tall one) to play exactly where and do what?

 

We defend better from the front, so if you take the forward off the ball comes back at you much quicker

Edited by Winchester Red
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Adkins is right - we have to move on although it was a diabolical performance at times today and we need to be 1000% better to stay in the top 2. Midfield is a real problem area, particularly if Morgan is out. Cork played decently today but Hammond needs to step up, skates midfielders were dominating him and can't see him making an impact at this level next season for us if we do collapse and miss out on promotion. If Chaplow was in better touch, I'd play him CM so Cork can sit and Chaplow could give us the energy sorely lacking today. Puncheon HAS to start on the right, Guly is a busted flush this season. People are saying Lambert played poorly but he had the beating of Pearce in the air and Sharp caused Rocha all kinds of problems. If our full backs had even had a 4/10 game with their crossing we'd have scored more than 2 goals. Fox in particular was poor today. Falque should get on the bench as well, freshen things up a bit. The diamond formation and the current selections need a change.

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I was expecting a tight game,with us to win by the odd goal.To concede so late on,is pretty hard to take,however for all the chances we had,a draw was a fair result.We were totally disjointed in midfield and shaky at the back and were second best to most 50/50 balls.

We have not played well for a few games now and ,at Palace is now a total must win game,I hope we have the courage to see it through,but I am starting to be a tad concerned for the first time in a few months.

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Losing Morgan so early was massive. We were completely unable to get our passing game going once he left the pitch.

 

I thought KD was at fault for their 1st, beaten from 18 yeards at his near post FFS. Not sure why the lino was flagging for out 2nd. Really disappointed by our support as well. We were practically non-existent following their 1st and well into the 2nd half. I don't think their players felt threatened or that they were in a hostile atmosphere and that allowed them to raise their game.

 

So gutted to lose the 3 points, even if we didn't necessarily deserve them. Nige has got to go some now to get us back in the groove for the last 5 games.

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Jeez - 11 men in red and white shirts spent 98 minutes kicking a leather ball around a patch of grass, playing against another 11 in blue shirts. THAT'S ALL.

 

It was a game of football, - no earthquakes, no floods, no plagues of locusts, yet some people seem to think it's the end of the world.

 

Come the end of the season, whether promoted or not, life will continue. And then, in August it all starts again. How many of the wrist slitters will be back on here on match day 1, whichever division we are in, waiting for the first chance to write off the next 9 months ?

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Only just seen the score at the Ricoh. How sick will the Skates feel if Coventry win that after snatching a point today. :lol:

 

Boro, Posh and Palace really aren't all that based on todays showing. The latter 2 with nothing at all to play for. As a neutral, I'd definitely still put my money on Saints, but as a Saints fan... oooh er.

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Today's performance and Blackpool were totally different.

 

Blackpool exposed us with width whereas skates played a diamond packing the midfield. Today was a day for width/pace to take advantage of their narrowness- yet we have none or it's too inconsistent.

 

We went long with balls to a semi-fit lambert (though I wouldn't place too much on his fitness or lack of it-they also did a good job in shackling him at fratton). But in doing so,we sucked our AMs into the middle, making us even more narrow.

 

Despite his goals, I didn't think sharp was all that good. Didn't look very penetrating -more so than say Connolly; but unlike Connolly didn't have the touch to bring others in. Given Lambert was occupying two CBs, the game was set up for the second striker to make a difference.

 

Schneiderlin's departure made little difference for me IMO. His class is on the road and that will be sorely missed in the last three away games.

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Maguire was troubleing Richardson, Guly the nearest player who should have rushed in and covered his inside, turned and strolled towards the corner of the box whilst Maguire made bit of room and hit a screamer beating Davis at the near post. He could have blocked Maguire off but just couldn't be bothered. He has been pretty poor since the new year and on todays display doesn't rate a place.

 

Lallana went down three or four times looking for free kicks and didn't get them and although I was too far away to see the detail he went down again in the box when he probably should have stayed on his feet. Today he was missing and allowed the right back to attack our right side causing us problems. Bringing Harding on did nothing but disrupt the shape. Harding for Lallana maybe but Sharp was an outlet, after that we never cleared the ball out of our half.

 

Davis was hopeless today, the management wanted him to hit Lambert who was winning everything up front but he kept putting his defenders under pressure then had then to clear himself under pressure when the ball came back to him.

 

One of my biggest criticisms is the number of passes we make behind the target forcing the player to come backwards and FFS why hit a pass crossfield to Richardson when a forward pass to DeRidder also free was the pass.

 

It is a shame we haven't a midfielder like Grant McCann who is a good forward passer. Either way I think we are strong enough to kick on.

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Jeez - 11 men in red and white shirts spent 98 minutes kicking a leather ball around a patch of grass, playing against another 11 in blue shirts. THAT'S ALL.

 

It was a game of football, - no earthquakes, no floods, no plagues of locusts, yet some people seem to think it's the end of the world.

 

Come the end of the season, whether promoted or not, life will continue. And then, in August it all starts again. How many of the wrist slitters will be back on here on match day 1, whichever division we are in, waiting for the first chance to write off the next 9 months ?

 

As the great Bill Shankly once said "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that!"

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Losing Morgan so early was massive. We were completely unable to get our passing game going once he left the pitch.

 

I thought KD was at fault for their 1st, beaten from 18 yeards at his near post FFS. Not sure why the lino was flagging for out 2nd. Really disappointed by our support as well. We were practically non-existent following their 1st and well into the 2nd half. I don't think their players felt threatened or that they were in a hostile atmosphere and that allowed them to raise their game.

 

So gutted to lose the 3 points, even if we didn't necessarily deserve them. Nige has got to go some now to get us back in the groove for the last 5 games.

 

The Lino flagged for offside for some reason. Lallana took the corner, their player kindly headed it up and towards goal and Sharp bundled it in. I guess the lino thought we had headed it. Fortunately the ref put him straight.

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Today's performance and Blackpool were totally different.

 

Blackpool exposed us with width whereas skates played a diamond packing the midfield. Today was a day for width/pace to take advantage of their narrowness- yet we have none or it's too inconsistent.

 

We went long with balls to a semi-fit lambert (though I wouldn't place too much on his fitness or lack of it-they also did a good job in shackling him at fratton). But in doing so,we sucked our AMs into the middle, making us even more narrow.

 

Despite his goals, I didn't think sharp was all that good. Didn't look very penetrating -more so than say Connolly; but unlike Connolly didn't have the touch to bring others in. Given Lambert was occupying two CBs, the game was set up for the second striker to make a difference.

 

Schneiderlin's departure made little difference for me IMO. His class is on the road and that will be sorely missed in the last three away games.

 

 

Blackpool showed us how to play 4 4 2 with width Pompey showed us how the diamond packed Midfield works

We need to learn from these games and move forward!

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Which teams fans are chuffed tonight because they threw a spanner in the works of the promotion campaign of hated rivals, knowing they themselves are a bustedflush set for relegation at best ?

 

Which teams fans are f*cked off and feeling like the world might end ?

 

Yep. We might as well have lost today, it certainly feels like it.

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Lallana went down three or four times looking for free kicks and didn't get them and although I was too far away to see the detail he went down again in the box when he probably should have stayed on his feet.

 

 

The ball was gone doesn't really matter if the keeper touched him or not (don't think he did though) Close control let him down for once,should have just chipped the diving keeper. Couldn't believe that miss...cost us the game no doubt.

He just has to correct his touch when one on one with keepers if he wants his career to move forward to the next level but then I'm sure he knows that.

Edited by Window Cleaner
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Which teams fans are chuffed tonight because they threw a spanner in the works of the promotion campaign of hated rivals, knowing they themselves are a bustedflush set for relegation at best ?

 

Which teams fans are f*cked off and feeling like the world might end ?

 

Yep. We might as well have lost today, it certainly feels like it.

 

No the point was important because it put us back to the top of the League so it's not like losing really.

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Just back from the game. Gutted!

They came to kick us off the park & defend deep going 4-5-1 & hoof the ball as often as possible.

Ref allowed them to get away with it most of the game. Allen could have easily been sent off for one of three challenges. The challenge on Morgan was late. He intended to get him & it worked. Our midfield is no where near as good without him. Guly was a passenger, but DeRidder was only slightly better.

We were poor. Dragged down to their level. Their keeper makes 2 world class saves & they hit 2 goals that they won't score again in one game for another 10 seasons.

Adkins comment about us having 11 players on the pitch as they did not react to constant provocation was interesting. Teams want to get at us. I understand that, but within 2 minutes the ref let things go in their favour then booked Morgan understandbly so. No consistency at all.

Rickie did not look fit, but we are still miles better with him in the side.

They came, they kicked, they peaked, but then again we won't be playing next season!!!

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Good point. Derby's are always hard. It's still in our hands. Believe.

 

Jack Cork - Best display in a Saints shirt. MOTM for me and was everywhere. Guly on the other hand......

 

Really? I thought he was awful, couldnt control the ball, out muscled everytime. I don't rate him, sorry. Its all about opinions though.

 

Not a great performance and we really need to take our chances at this level, but its still in our hands!

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A draw at Blackpool and a win today would have seen us a comfortable 7 points clear of the Hammers with 5 to go instead it is squeaky bum time with a lead of 4 points over them and Reading to come on Friday.

 

Ho Hum! As Saints we always like to do it the hard way. 45 years of supporting them has constantly proved that!

Edited by Saint Without a Halo
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The ball was gone doesn't really matter if the keeper touched him or not (don't think he did though) Close control let him down for once,should have just chipped the diving keeper. Couldn't believe that miss...cost us the game no doubt.

He just has to correct his touch when one on one with keepers if he wants his career to move forward to the next level but then I'm sure he knows that.

 

From where I was sat, I was surprised he didn't take the shot on - easier than attempting to go round the keeper.

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From where I was sat, I was surprised he didn't take the shot on - easier than attempting to go round the keeper.

 

As I said all it need was a little dink over Ashdown.Messi gets a lot of his goals like that not that I'm making any comparison though.

Ashdown did his job, drove him wide,probably seen plenty of footage because it's not the first time that Adam has done this.

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Gutted, ****ing gutted.

 

The team were terrible today, especially in the 2nd half.

 

Lallana bottled that chance when someone picked out the pass to put him into the box, what the **** was he doing? No surprise to see him **** it though, he always over complicate's things but people on here think he's the best player in the league? Nah, the best player in the league would have took a shot and not tried to dance around the goalkeeper and then do some pathetic dive when he loses the ball.

 

Davis - Nothing he could do about the two goals. 6/10.

 

Richardson - Varney got the better of him on many occasions, felt he struggled a bit. 4/10.

Fonte - Done OK. 6/10.

Jos - Done OK. 6/10.

Fox - Some good crosses into the box, probably one of our better players. 6/10.

 

Guly - Didn't play well, but not helped by the fact that people will moan at him and always get on his back. 4/10.

Cork - Probably the best player. 7/10.

Hammond - Meh. 4/10.

Lallana - The lad has talent but he's just as frustrating to watch as Guly can be. Today, he was poor imo. He ran a lot but like usual he just done too much with the ball, he isn't the best player in this League like many on here say he is. 4/10.

 

Lambert - Meh, poor performance. 4/10.

Sharp - Two goals. 6/10.

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Some of the tit for tat slating comments on here is becoming ****ing embarassing between people on here.You would think it was a forum for two clubs not one,the way some of you throw the toys out of the pram is laughable at times.We are STILL top of the league lets try and stay positive before this forum has a meltdown (you know who you are)

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Two of the best goals I've ever seen at SMS. Still absolutely gutting to lose the two points at the death, but that goal from Norris was almost a carbon copy of the MLT equaliser against Newcastle at the Dell (1997 maybe?). Absolutely stunning volley. The first goal was a total belter as well, never seen anyone put it in the top left corner from that angle before...unbelievable.

 

As for Saints, they looked tense today and lacked the bravery and composure to play the normal passing game. The same lack of composure affected SDR and Lallana when they went through on goal.

 

Good news is, we've got a game straight away to get the disappointment out of our system. If we raise our game and beat Reading on Friday, we will go up. Very fine margins now. Squeaky. Bum. Time.

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As I said all it need was a little dink over Ashdown.Messi gets a lot of his goals like that not that I'm making any comparison though.

Ashdown did his job, drove him wide,probably seen plenty of footage because it's not the first time that Adam has done this.

 

Did it even need a dink? Couldn't he just have driven it early rather than running with the ball and making the angle tighter. From the other side of the ground, it didn't seem he needed to be so elaborate.

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