Saints 1 Reading 3 - The Wake

[Webby]

I've read some comments on here saying how Reading don't deserve to be top and that they've just had a good run, that's all. That's insane. Of course they do. Sour grapes IMO.

 

I'm as gutted as the next man cos I wanted the title. It's not over yet but it's looking unlikely. It hurts to not be the best, but as I write this I'm thinking it may lead to less pressure next season if we were to come second. Who knows?

[Aardvark]

For me that was the best performance I have ever seen from Lambert - he was superb. Constantly dropping to win the ball in the air and invariably playing in Sharp or Chaplow. Lallana almost matched him first half.

 

Good luck to Reading, they rode their luck last night (as against Leeds - as indeed did we) but nobody flukes a run like theirs.

[Webby]

I thought Lambert was poor in the last 15-20 mins. His touch evaded him and he wasn't winning headers like he did earlier in the game. Tiredness perhaps?

[S-Clarke]

I thought Lambert was poor in the last 15-20 mins. His touch evaded him and he wasn't winning headers like he did earlier in the game. Tiredness perhaps?

 

Wouldn't be surprised given the unbelievable effort he put in for the majority of that game, he played like a man possessed at times.

[Window Cleaner]

Wouldn't be surprised given the unbelievable effort he put in for the majority of that game, he played like a man possessed at times.

 

Think the physionomy of the game probably led to a bit of tiredness in our players.We were all over them from the start and then suddenly we found ourselves chasing the game for 35 minutes or so.A better balanced bench might have made quite a bit of difference, had we had say a real CM available,but Pompey screwed us over again there as well.

[alpine_saint]

I reckon we are still more likely to secure 2nd than Wham.

 

However, I hope NC has taken note and has started drafting his summer shopping list, because to survive in the PL this team will need major surgery in defence, midfield and possibly GK. Of last nights starting XI, I would only definitely keep Rickie, Jos and Jack.

Edited 14 April, 2012 by alpine_saint

[Whitey Grandad]

the deflection should get the assist for the goal, Federici looked to have it covered if Harte (I think) hadn't got a touch on it and made it go to ground and rear up.Good shot though.

 

Very minor, if anything. The ball was hit down into the ground very hard.

[Window Cleaner]

Very minor, if anything. The ball was hit down into the ground very hard.

 

I'd have to look again, thought hitting Harte made it go into the ground

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

Bang on Alpine.

 

Reading are the best team I've seen in this division and will be worthy champions. We will be worthy runners up.

 

Their defence was superb and just soaked us up and their attack was like a rapier, ready to pierce us whenever they had the chance.

 

Congrats to them, it was no fluke that they beat us last night.

 

Saints on the other hand were slow and laboured. Every time we got possession we played a flurry of square balls giving the Reading defence ages to get organised.

 

If we get to the prem (and I'm confident we will) we badly need pace and we need a midfield that knows how to exploit pace with piercing balls in a faster, more direct approach. We also need to cross properly, don't just sling in balls from deep positions that do very little against a good defence - cross from the byline..

 

We also need a new GK, not because KD has been bad (far from it) but if we want to give ourselves a chance we need the best we can get between the sticks to stem the goals against.

 

Reading were a class outfit and will do very well in the prem.

 

They gave us an early taste of the ruthless finishing we can expect week in week out if we get promoted.

 

I hope Nige has learnt a few things from last night.

 

SDR was my MOM - the only player who tried to really 'get at' Reading and put in a few decent crosses from the byline.

 

Strongly disagree on most of that. Saints haven't played as well as they did last night at sms in weeks even months. Ready were clinical obviously but saints totally out played them and had them on back foot for most of the game. All 3 of their goals were self inflicted. A part from chaplow, fonte and fox the rest of the team played really well. Impressed with lambo and sharp partnership. Play like that for remainder of season and we should be ok.

[alpine_saint]

Strongly disagree on most of that. Saints haven't played as well as they did last night at sms in weeks even months. Ready were clinical obviously but saints totally out played them and had them on back foot for most of the game. All 3 of their goals were self inflicted. A part from chaplow, fonte and fox the rest of the team played really well. Impressed with lambo and sharp partnership. Play like that for remainder of season and we should be ok.

 

I really dont get this mentality. And this isnt personally against you, because about 50% of the posts on here are saying the same thing. If we self-inflicted 3 goals against Reading, why will we suddenly self-inflict 0 goals against other teams ?

 

The mistakes are part of our performance; how the f*ck can you treat them as two separate entities ?

 

This "play like that the rest of the season and we will be comfortable" attitude is utter codswallop.

[st.sj]

Last night was an important game in that it has shown clearly some defficiencies we have in the way we defend, to be fair it has beenapparent for some time. All credit to Reading they deserved to win, they were better than us on the night. That doesnt take anything away from us we have done incredibly well and I have no doubt we will be promoted this year, 2 years ahead of "the 5 year plan" Possibly even as champions, although Reading have got the momentum.

Quite amusing seeing how the same posters can only see the negatives. They must lead miserable lives, but good luck to them.

[royal fleet]

Reading view

 

I saw someone say earlier that a Reading fan would be offended by the 'mugging' comments, to be honest I think it is pretty fair.

 

There were times last night when we were chasing shadows, and there were far too many last ditch tackles and good saves for my liking. We have done a job on other teams away from home this season on a regular basis, but it has been a lot less backs to the wall last night.

 

I thought Lambert was a little wasteful, Sharp was too keen to look for a penalty, but Lallana was awesome, real quality, and for long periods of the game when I wondered if we had a midfield on the park.

 

We were clinical, I am sure it is no consolation but Kebe manages about 1 cross in 20 like that, but we know we can count on Alfie to take his chances when they come.

 

I am sure you will go up. I really can't see the Hammers not bottling at least one game.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Last night was a kind of early "welcome to the Premiership" message to the players. I think this was a good representation of how we will fair against a fair few of the teams BELOW the top 6 - any team above 6th place will tear our midfield and defence a new one IMO. Having said that, the ref last night bottled two nailed on pens for some reason - one was so blatant it was criminal that it was not given.

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

Last night was an important game in that it has shown clearly some defficiencies we have in the way we defend, to be fair it has beenapparent for some time. All credit to Reading they deserved to win, they were better than us on the night. That doesnt take anything away from us we have done incredibly well and I have no doubt we will be promoted this year, 2 years ahead of "the 5 year plan" Possibly even as champions, although Reading have got the momentum.

Quite amusing seeing how the same posters can only see the negatives. They must lead miserable lives, but good luck to them.

 

How can you say reading deserved to win? You must have been watching another game. You won't see a more one sided game than that this season apart from maybe our game at leeds where we got battered but won. No one on here thought we deserved to win that game so why did reading deserve to win?

[SuperMikey]

I would suggest you watch it again

de ridder got a few good crosses and..took two players with him so butterfield could get crosses in

 

for a winger to come off the bench, he is as good as you are going to get

 

This.

 

Thought Steve was very good when he came off the bench, there was a reason they had their LB, LM and CB marking him after he came on. He beat Harte a few times and got crosses in at the byline, and made some good runs with the ball infield. Don't understand the stick he gets from some people tbh - you can't expect a perfect cross or shot after having to beat 3 players to make the room! He had to do a lot of hard work last night.

[Lord Duckhunter]

After last sat's result I thought we needed to win 3 games. The ones that looked most winnable were Palace, Peterboro and Cov, with the hope that me may pinch a point or 3 in the other 2 games. Nothing really has changed, beat Peterboro and Cov and barring some freak results that will be enough.

 

I thought we played pretty well last night,but Reading did a number on us, just like they did to West Ham, Brighton and countless other sides this season. They executed their game plan to perfection and only looked rattled at 1-1. That's when we lost it, not managing to go on and punish them in the 20 mins after we scored.

 

All 3 of their goals were errors. Fox gave a poor ball, but we didn't defend correctly after that. The thing I hate about the modern game is full backs letting wingers get crosses in too easily, it seems to be a modern trend that they dont want to close down too tightly in case they get skinned. Kebe was given too much space to pick his cross and Roberts was not put under enough pressure with the header. The second one, I thought Hammond was at fault and the 3rd was a bit of a joke.

 

Going forward we were ok until we were 2-1 down, then I was dissapointed. As someone earlier said RL started to tire, I didn't see the point in bringing Guly on and then playing him deep in a stright swap and I didn't think we pressured Harte enough. I dont know why SDR didn't keep roasting him, but my gut feeling is we dont give him the ball early enough and we always give it to his feet. Slow build up meant that they could double up and protect Harte, and when was the last time we knocked an earlier ball into the space behind the full back for SDR to run onto?

 

I still think we'll go up, but a favour off Brighton would be most welcome.

[Legod Third Coming]

I really dont get this mentality. And this isnt personally against you, because about 50% of the posts on here are saying the same thing. If we self-inflicted 3 goals against Reading, why will we suddenly self-inflict 0 goals against other teams ?

 

The mistakes are part of our performance; how the f*ck can you treat them as two separate entities ?

 

This "play like that the rest of the season and we will be comfortable" attitude is utter codswallop.

 

Do we make those mistakes every week?

 

Is that how Adkins has become the most successful manager in England over the past 18 months apart from Fergie and Mancini??

[kwsaint]

We were lucky to win at Leeds and Millwall. Last night it didn't go for us. It happens. However, play like that in the remaining three games and we will be playing Premier League football next season. Reading had three chances - and they all went in. They looked a really solid team, but we played all the football. Its a shame that we won't win the title now, but we would have settled for second at the start of the season.

[Whitey Grandad]

Reading view

 

I saw someone say earlier that a Reading fan would be offended by the 'mugging' comments, to be honest I think it is pretty fair.

 

There were times last night when we were chasing shadows, and there were far too many last ditch tackles and good saves for my liking. We have done a job on other teams away from home this season on a regular basis, but it has been a lot less backs to the wall last night.

 

I thought Lambert was a little wasteful, Sharp was too keen to look for a penalty, but Lallana was awesome, real quality, and for long periods of the game when I wondered if we had a midfield on the park.

 

We were clinical, I am sure it is no consolation but Kebe manages about 1 cross in 20 like that, but we know we can count on Alfie to take his chances when they come.

 

I am sure you will go up. I really can't see the Hammers not bottling at least one game.

 

Thanks for your comments. I used the term 'mugging' but only because I couldn't think of a better one. I fell like we've been mugged, but there was nothing improper or unfair about the way that you played last night. Solid defending, no silly mistakes and razor-sharp finishing. Congratulations on your promotion, there's still a chance of the title for us and we hope to play you again next season.

[Steeleye Saint]

Ouch! The next morning after the game is very painful. Can't I go back to sleep and wake up when the season is over?

 

You slept? Wish I had!

[Whitey Grandad]

Do we make those mistakes every week?

 

Is that how Adkins has become the most successful manager in England over the past 18 months apart from Fergie and Mancini??

 

Not every week but there have been far too many of them lately, Blackpool, Portsmouth, Reading. Cut those out and we're laughing.

[alpine_saint]

Reading view

 

I saw someone say earlier that a Reading fan would be offended by the 'mugging' comments, to be honest I think it is pretty fair.

 

There were times last night when we were chasing shadows, and there were far too many last ditch tackles and good saves for my liking. We have done a job on other teams away from home this season on a regular basis, but it has been a lot less backs to the wall last night.

 

I thought Lambert was a little wasteful, Sharp was too keen to look for a penalty, but Lallana was awesome, real quality, and for long periods of the game when I wondered if we had a midfield on the park.

 

We were clinical, I am sure it is no consolation but Kebe manages about 1 cross in 20 like that, but we know we can count on Alfie to take his chances when they come.

 

I am sure you will go up. I really can't see the Hammers not bottling at least one game.

 

Well I think you are being too generous. Kind of you, but unecessary.

[Friday's Legacy]

I've read some comments on here saying how Reading don't deserve to be top and that they've just had a good run, that's all. That's insane. Of course they do. Sour grapes IMO.

 

I'm as gutted as the next man cos I wanted the title. It's not over yet but it's looking unlikely. It hurts to not be the best, but as I write this I'm thinking it may lead to less pressure next season if we were to come second. Who knows?

 

Hi

 

Thanks for the comments. I think it rattled McDermott in the post match interview as well. People keep saying we're on a late run but we're not. If you go back to mid November we would be about 18 clear at the top now, it may actually be more since your last two results. It is an exceptional run but it's not a late run, it's consistency that's been our key and then adding a big front man in Jason Roberts in January.

 

You guys were superb in the first half. You play great football and have some superb players. You'll go up with us but hopefully behind us, but do you know what? I'd still take 2nd. At the end of the day we both want promotion. The silverware would be nice though

 

Cheeky vid of an over-excited Royal last night http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=95zpzq&s=5

 

Here's to Brighton today...!!!!

[Ohio Saint]

 

Here's to Brighton today...!!!!

 

It's streaming today. A chance for us lot to further punish our frazzled nerves. http://www.hahasport.com/c-1.html

[Saint86]

Right, so I get sky sports, fully accepting that we don't win on TV. The feel quietly confident that this was the night for us and that we would win. (naivety 101)

 

Saints proceed to play well. But ultimately **** it up. (Am i the only one who thinks Fonte should be shot? - 1st and last goal he was to blame. Fox equally for the first. He also didn't close down the first Portsmouth goal on the weekend.)

 

Oh well I thinks,

 

Onwards and upwards.

 

hen I discover that the boro game is also on Sky TV now.... Facepalm, another loss for saints? 3rd place, then TV Playoff games - which we will loose? Pessimistic I know, I mean we only need 2 wins, and that is if WHAM can win evey game. But, despite this, I am slightly worried.

 

Having watched the last few games, Fonte needs to step up. Poor Guly looked shot of confidence. A far cry from the man who started the season, although what he was supposed to do in centre mid I will never know. Gutted we lost, but fingers crossed we will win at Peterborough and Middlesbrough and still sneak the title. As for reading, I'm glad they will at least go up and Hope we can finish off WHAM's hopes!

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Was absolutely gutted last night, but feel much more rational and positive now. It was a blow to lose, but the performance in general was very good and three more efforts like that and we'll be just fine.

 

As for Reading, they defended well and took their chances. Whilst you can see we played better than them in terms of having the ball and creating, they what they had to do very well. Another day we shove 4 goals past them with no reply. Football goes like that.

 

I trust Adkins to get the team focussed for Posh, and there are goals in that game for us.

[tobes8]

Still confident but if we don't make it I am very worried about losing lambert.....just think we could end up with Jonathon Stead instead!!

[st.sj]

How can you say reading deserved to win? You must have been watching another game. You won't see a more one sided game than that this season apart from maybe our game at leeds where we got battered but won. No one on here thought we deserved to win that game so why did reading deserve to win?

Just saying they deserved to win because they took there chances and defended well against us. There plan seemed to be to let us have possession on most of the pitch but in the last third thought they packed the space and broke us down well. Certainly caught us well on the break. If Reading had been us we would have thought we had deserved to win I reckon. Just wanting to give credit where it was due. Come on they havent had the run they have had bynot being a very good team. This I must stress takes nothing away from our results this year which after all has kept us at the top all season.

[Friday's Legacy]

Still confident but if we don't make it I am very worried about losing lambert.....just think we could end up with Jonathon Stead instead!!

 

If you don't make it (and I'm 100% certain you will), I wouldn't mind taking Lambert off of you. He's a real handful and would suit well in the PL. Perhaps our lovely Russian can stump up the cash for Lallana while he's at it

 

You boys will be absolutely fine. West Ham have another loss in them yet and will bottle the play-offs too.

 

GARN BRIGHTON!!!

[captainchris]

Poor as Fonte was and he was 'again'. Has Fox been actually instructed not to close down to prevent crosses coming in ??? I only ask as it seems to be the case - he actually stood six feet from the winger and watched him cross it in for the first goal!! God, lets get the basics right....

[mitch01]

http://notplayedonpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/reading-show-value-of-art-of-half.html

 

My take on the proceedings.

 

Can't wait for Tuesday, tickets arrived this morning!

[Ohio Saint]

Skates losing....What thread does this belong in!!?

[Ohio Saint]

And WHam winning.

[Ohio Saint]

Skates losing....What thread does this belong in!!?

 

Sorry, never mind. I found the thread. (Insert facepalm here)

[Leicestersaint]

Dreadful referee but we gifted them their goals and did not take our chances. We are too reliant on Lambert as our main scorer.

[Dalek2003]

Had we scored that penalty against Blackpool, it could have all been different.

[Micky]

Had we got anything from Bristol City, it could have all been different.

[alpine_saint]

Had we got anything from Bristol City, it could have all been different.

 

This.

[Window Cleaner]

Had we got anything from Bristol City, it could have all been different.

 

but you can say that about so many games and not just for us either. Still think that not crushing Skates could be prejudicial

to us though.

[Charlie Wayman]

Wayman and Supersonic... why dont you just FO and support someone else - you obviously enjoy walling in self pity and miseray when we lose far more than supporting a side that has out performed all expectations so far this season... feckin do one' date=' will you, I am fecking sick and tired of those that seem to relish our negatives more than enjoying our positives - absolute feckin [u']w @nkers [/u]the lot of you.

 

Had you intelligence enough to actually read and understand what I was saying about last night's game no doubt you could have enlightened us on your persuasive counter arguments.

 

As it is your reply speaks magnitudes about your total inability to understand, analyse or deduce anything useful from a football match. Clearly you are a loud mouthed buffoon who hides behind the anonymity of a website moniker. As for loyalty, I was watching Saints playing probably long before you ever existed.

 

Silly boy, silly reply.

[alpine_saint]

Had you intelligence enough to actually read and understand what I was saying about last night's game no doubt you could have enlightened us on your persuasive counter arguments.

 

As it is your reply speaks magnitudes about your total inability to understand, analyse or deduce anything useful from a football match. Clearly you are a loud mouthed buffoon who hides behind the anonymity of a website moniker. As for loyalty, I was watching Saints playing probably long before you ever existed.

 

Silly boy, silly reply.

 

In fairness, Frank is one of the more sensible, deeper people on here (sometimes about 500 words too deep).

 

Try reading the thread and taking in the replies to anyone who dares to see a bigger picture behind last nights result (now being exponentially amplified by WHams performance this afternoon)

[alpine_saint]

Blackpool, Birmingham, Cardiff.

 

The playoffs will be f**king nightmare, and we will be so gutted we wont raise our game.

[S-Clarke]

Blackpool, Birmingham, Cardiff.

 

The playoffs will be f**king nightmare, and we will be so gutted we wont raise our game.

 

We won't be in the playoffs. Stop wumming.

[Thedelldays]

Blackpool, Birmingham, Cardiff.

 

The playoffs will be f**king nightmare, and we will be so gutted we wont raise our game.

you are pure gold

[Frank's cousin]

Had you intelligence enough to actually read and understand what I was saying about last night's game no doubt you could have enlightened us on your persuasive counter arguments.

 

As it is your reply speaks magnitudes about your total inability to understand, analyse or deduce anything useful from a football match. Clearly you are a loud mouthed buffoon who hides behind the anonymity of a website moniker. As for loyalty, I was watching Saints playing probably long before you ever existed.

 

Silly boy, silly reply.

 

How amusing - read that back to yourself and tell me me you dont sound like a complete pompous arse. I hide behind no 'moniker' and like most football fans can read see and deduce exactly what I want from a game - you like to pretend you are looking to analyse every minute detail, yet you do NOTHING but focus on negatives - all the fricken time, and you try and come across like some arogant 'pundit' and we all know how badly they read a game. I am sick of the likes of you calling yourself a supporter. You obviously dont understand the nature of 'support' - If you want higher quality every minute of the game go and support Barcelona. As to your deductions about my age, I suggest you don't become a detective.... If you had half the 'knowledge' of the game you like to believe you have, you would appreciate all that has been achieved by the team - a side far form the finished article, that has made fans proud, yet you wet yourself with glee when we lose as it provides you with your crumbling soapbox to whinge, moan, under the guise of your 'special' brand of 'in depth punditry'.... more commonly known as total bo ll ox.

 

We can all see the frailties and mistakes both due to quality of individuals and tactical naiviety - yet throughout the entire season, no matter that we have done so incredibly well, you have done nothing but spout your rubbish ... Skate...dear boy.... tos ser

Edited 14 April, 2012 by Frank's cousin

[Frank's cousin]

Blackpool, Birmingham, Cardiff.

 

The playoffs will be f**king nightmare, and we will be so gutted we wont raise our game.

 

Chin up Alps... still in our hands. It was lawyas going to be tense, exciting and likely to require firm clenching of teh buttocks... but its what teh game is all about and why we love it!

[alpine_saint]

Chin up Alps... still in our hands. It was lawyas going to be tense' date=' exciting and likely to require firm clenching of teh buttocks... but its what teh game is all about and why we love it![/quote']

 

Frank, we should have been over-the-hill-and-far-away by now.

 

We really blew it in the last couple of weeks.

[Frank's cousin]

Frank, we should have been over-the-hill-and-far-away by now.

 

We really blew it in the last couple of weeks.

 

Nope, did not blow t, just got beat - happens after a long hard season. They are all still learning as is our Nige and as he said time and again, there would be twists and turns to come yet. 3 games to go, not for the faint of heart, but come on admit it, its bloomin exciting!

[badgerx16]

We are 3 points ahead of WHU, still have a superior GD, and we both have 2 away games next week. Only if it gets to the point where it is mathematically certain we cannot go up, I may, reluctantly, have to accept there will be no Premier League football for me next season. Until then, ( and given it will not happen ), COYS !

[corky morris]

There really are some clueless muppets on here.

Reading were defensively organised!!! My A R S E!!!!!!!! They conceded 19 efforts on goal!!! Free headers for Joss twice, Lallana & someone else. FREE F U C K I N G Headers!! Lambert ran the centre halfs everywhere!!!

They had 4 efforts on target & scored 3 goals. We gifted them them 3 goals. Fox, Hammond & Fonte.

Yes, the strikers need to be better (Joss clearly is a defender), but our defence has been shocking recently.

West Ham win by 6 & we are plus 3.

If we bottle it - it is our own fault - no one elses!!!

Massive game at Posh. IMHO we need 7 pts from last 3 games as a minimum.

Come one Saints, time to show us all how good we really are!!