As good as yesterday's performance was....

[VectisSaint]

I cant believe some of the comments on this thread.

 

Seems some of our fans would have preferred a 5-0 butt-f**king.

 

We just scared the living sh*t out of Premier League Champions, a team that didnt lose at home last season.

 

There is stuff we need to work on, but Jesus, what a base to work from...

Well said.

 

By the way, when do we get the old Alpine back? :-)

[Minty]

Agree that it was a good base to work from as I've said, but I don't think there is anyone who would've 'preferred a 5-0 butt-f**ing' ... that's a bit silly.

 

In fact, I think overall, the reaction to this game has been one of the most considered and balanced I've seen for many years: Recognition of the effort that was put in, the promise showed, and the need for improvement in certain areas to continue the good work.

[teamsaint]

its clear to me that the key to our season will be how well we can defend against the bottom 14 or so teams...and especially at home.

[Wes Tender]

Bottom line was we did not get spanked, yes they could have been out of sight but failed to convert the chances they were presented with, you could see we were cautious but grew in confidence when we realised they were not as invincible as on paper would say. So on that score being billed as cannon fodder the fact we made a game of it is a positive, zero points for all that effort is a negative without doubt.Football is a game of ifs and buts, if the Lino was standing in line not 8ft beyond our back line, Tevez probably would have been flagged offside. If Webb had followed the letter of the law from previous seasons, we would have had a penalty (just look at Skrtel the day before) not only that Lescott should probably have been off too as that was a 2 footed studs up tackle on JRod, and we have seen many a player walk for just a little of that.Do what we know we can and we will be alright. As for stamina I would say as a team we are fitter now than we were under WGS which makes coping with the challenge each week so much easier. Man City at 3-2 thought we were put to bed but we kept at them.Nigel may have been positive in the post match interview, but as he said himself it counted for nothing: that is feet squarely on the ground with work to be done.

Yes, it counted for nothing in the table, but I'm sure that Adkins realises more than probably most, the effect that the narrow loss against City has had on the team and their prospects going on from here. The confidence boost for most of them is massive.

 

Most had never played at this level before, against World class stars. But Adkins had probably instilled a belief in them that they might surprise both themselves and the football world if they stuck to the game plan and gave a hundred percent effort. They now know that having played so well and lost so narrowly, they can mix it with any other team in the division. They might respect the top teams like Chelsea, ManUre, Liverpool, Arsenal, etc, but they now should realise that they have a reasonable chance of beating some of them on the day if the football Gods smile on them.

 

I am confident from seeing the progress made by us through the divisions that Adkins assembles a team comprising players with a very singular mindset and character. There don't appear to be the massive egos, the troublemakers and disruptive players seen at many other clubs. Team spirit appears to be stronger than with any Saints team I have watched these past twenty years. One just gets the impression that if we were to suffer a reverse in our fortunes this season, that they would just roll up their sleeves to get themselves out of it. They play for each other.

 

We might still need the last few remaining pieces of the jigsaw to be in place, some additions in certain areas, but in the meantime we have players on whom we rely to give maximum effort.

 

If our match with City were to have been a few weeks later, it would be interesting to speculate how it might have gone with an addition or two to the defence, Lee fit and playing a part, Ramirez signed?

 

But in many ways, playing the Champions in our first match, when last season we were a division below, has not worked out too badly. Anyway, this is Saints. We always lose our first match (apart from last season).

[sotonjoe]

You need to cut through the hyperbole, positive and negative, and be realistic about it. We would never have actually expected to get anything from the game and would have hoped to be able to walk away from the game afterwards without a huge amount of self-coubt about our ability to compete in this league. The fact that that actually happened and we didn't get absolutely stuffed is a huge relief for everybody, and this outcome is just about the best we could realistically have hoped for.

[alpine_saint]

Agree that it was a good base to work from as I've said, but I don't think there is anyone who would've 'preferred a 5-0 butt-f**ing' ... that's a bit silly.

 

In fact, I think overall, the reaction to this game has been one of the most considered and balanced I've seen for many years: Recognition of the effort that was put in, the promise showed, and the need for improvement in certain areas to continue the good work.

 

I disagree, I think some people (particulary Kraken) have gone out of their way to be negative about the performance.

 

And personally, I think its quite pathetic how there seems to be a body of opinion that believes how well we do against Wigan in the second match of the season is some sort of metric by which we should predict the season of 38 games. If we lose to Wigan at home, we could easily get a surprise win at Anfield later in the season

[View From The Top]

You need to cut through the hyperbole, positive and negative, and be realistic about it. We would never have actually expected to get anything from the game and would have hoped to be able to walk away from the game afterwards without a huge amount of self-coubt about our ability to compete in this league. The fact that that actually happened and we didn't get absolutely stuffed is a huge relief for everybody, and this outcome is just about the best we could realistically have hoped for.

 

+1.

[Minty]

And personally, I think its quite pathetic how there seems to be a body of opinion that believes how well we do against Wigan in the second match of the season is some sort of metric by which we should predict the season of 38 games. If we lose to Wigan at home, we could easily get a surprise win at Anfield later in the season

Alps, I completely agree and if you don't mind me saying so, am a little shocked that this has come from your keyboard! Be prepared for this to be copied and pasted in future if you decide to get a little bit heavy after any subsequent defeats this season.

Edited 20 August, 2012 by Minty

[scotty]

I disagree, I think some people (particulary Kraken) have gone out of their way to be negative about the performance.

 

And personally, I think its quite pathetic how there seems to be a body of opinion that believes how well we do against Wigan in the second match of the season is some sort of metric by which we should predict the season of 38 games. If we lose to Wigan at home, we could easily get a surprise win at Anfield later in the season

 

Who are you, and what have you done with Alpine?

[alpine_saint]

Alps, I completely agree and if you don't mind me saying so, am a little shocked that this has come from your keyboard! Be prepared for this to be copied and pasted in future if you decide to get a little bit heavy after any subsequent defeats this season.

 

We are back where we were for 27 years, our place recklessly and egotistically thrown away by Lowe and his cronies. Yet I already hate the PL for the blatant bias of the media and the officials and its utter obsession with money. The previous 2 seasons were much more pure sporting spectacles, so whether we stay up amongst the elite in abject misery or go back down to be kings of a smaller hill, i couldnt care less. I am going to try to enjoy the game more as underdogs and worry less about the ramifications.

[Minty]

We are back where we were for 27 years, our place recklessly and egotistically thrown away by Lowe and his cronies. Yet I already hate the PL for the blatant bias of the media and the officials and its utter obsession with money. The previous 2 seasons were much more pure sporting spectacles, so whether we stay up amongst the elite in abject misery or go back down to be kings of a smaller hill, i couldnt care less. I am going to try to enjoy the game more as underdogs and worry less about the ramifications.

Amen to that.

[Ian the Red]

...are we not guilty of going a little over the top with the merits of the game?

 

Firstly this is not an attack on the team; I was really surprised by how confident and comfortable we looked at times. Our two goals were well worked and well taken, and overall there was more to be pleased with than not.

 

However, I think we're kidding ourselves a bit that, on another day, Man City could have been well and truly out of sight before we clawed our way back into the game. They scored 3 goals in the game, missed a penalty, Silva was guilty of at least one miss of a virtual open goal, Clichy blazed over from 6 yards out, Balotelli somehow put it wide from a similar distance. 3 goals scored plus at least 4 where you'd put your money on a goal, and it could quite easily have been a very different scoreline and story.

 

Of course that's mitigated against the fact we were up against the champions, at their home ground, and we were expecting nothing more than a complete hammering. And I know that you need an element of luck to get anything from these games. But I'm hearing things like "this was our best performance in years" from some people and, well, and I think we're in danger of playing the plucky losers card too much.

 

IMO the Wigan game will tell us much more about our team than this game has. That's when the real pressure is on, and the level of expectation goes right up.

 

I find myself agreeing with you again Kraken.

 

I believe that NA needs to take a long hard look at yesterday's performnace and be under no illusion that we need to improve. Like most, I am very proud of how our team performed yesterday. However, we must improve and hopefully NA will take on board the lessons that need to be learnt and the problems that need to be rectified.

 

 

1. We have no alternative to Ricky Lambert, he must play from the start

 

2. We need to strengthen the defence very quickly… we were far to naïve yesterday and their 2nd and 3rd goals should have been avoided.

 

3. We need a commanding Goalkeeper – KD has been a wonderful servant to the Club but he will cost the team many, many, many more points than he will earn for the team. Too many times yesterday he pushed the ball back into the 6 yard box, had City been a little more sharp they would have destroyed us.

4. More pace. Defenders are terrified of pace, we lack real pace in our team going forward. We need a winger with pace.

 

Yes, we played well and will pick up points against the lesser teams in the premiership. But we want more don’t we??

[Minty]

A little something to add to this, a tweet from Jaidi earlier this morning just goes to show how the players are feeling after yesterday:

 

Great atmosphere in the 1st team changing room today before training. You can feel the confidence flying around #keepyourheadsup #SaintsFC

[Frank's cousin]

Good on you Alps - can appreciate that the perspective is different between L1 and NPC and the Pre...with teh latter being teh place we should be (in many an eye) so the expectation in L1 and NPC was such that we SHOULD have been highly competitive all the time... even if that is a tad unrealistic.

 

Dont think Kracken was being too negative - if we put that performance up against expectation for yesterday it was great enjoyable and obviously something excellent to build on. If we put it up against what is needed to bridge that quality gap its a fair distance and I guess if we have such aspirations its good to know where we are. On most occasions we will concede more than 3 if we give that number of opportunities away..

 

Aso going to enjoy it for what it is this year, but if NC is serious about long term growth, will need to ensure the mind set is about points as well a great attitude and passion.

[alpine_saint]

I find myself agreeing with you again Kraken.

 

I believe that NA needs to take a long hard look at yesterday's performnace and be under no illusion that we need to improve. Like most, I am very proud of how our team performed yesterday. However, we must improve and hopefully NA will take on board the lessons that need to be learnt and the problems that need to be rectified.

 

 

The tone of these comments really depresses me.

 

How many of our squad and management have prior PL experience ? Sod All.

 

We made a bunch of arrogant complacent "superstars" panic for a few minutes. And managed to shut the mouths of their mouthy Manky fans.

 

The spirit in the squad must be incredible, and now even higher.

 

NA and NC now just need to add a little quality in the weak areas which must be so obvious to them if us morons can see them too. They dont need us to tell them

 

Provided we do a bit more business before the window snaps shut, I am very optimistic. If we dont, then there is a question mark over the bus and the "plan"

[Avenue Saint]

The tone of these comments really depresses me.

 

How many of our squad and management have prior PL experience ? Sod All.

 

We made a bunch of arrogant complacent "superstars" panic for a few minutes. And managed to shut the mouths of their mouthy Manky fans.

 

The spirit in the squad must be incredible, and now even higher.

 

NA and NC now just need to add a little quality in the weak areas which must be so obvious to them if us morons can see them too. They dont need us to tell them

 

Provided we do a bit more business before the window snaps shut, I am very optimistic. If we dont, then there is a question mark over the bus and the "plan"

 

Fair play Alpine, decent post.

[Toadhall Saint]

I find myself agreeing with you again Kraken.

 

I believe that NA needs to take a long hard look at yesterday's performnace and be under no illusion that we need to improve. Like most, I am very proud of how our team performed yesterday. However, we must improve and hopefully NA will take on board the lessons that need to be learnt and the problems that need to be rectified.

 

 

1. We have no alternative to Ricky Lambert, he must play from the start

 

2. We need to strengthen the defence very quickly… we were far to naïve yesterday and their 2nd and 3rd goals should have been avoided.

 

3. We need a commanding Goalkeeper – KD has been a wonderful servant to the Club but he will cost the team many, many, many more points than he will earn for the team. Too many times yesterday he pushed the ball back into the 6 yard box, had City been a little more sharp they would have destroyed us.

4. More pace. Defenders are terrified of pace, we lack real pace in our team going forward. We need a winger with pace.

 

Yes, we played well and will pick up points against the lesser teams in the premiership. But we want more don’t we??

 

NA knows all you have said he needs to do. Do you really think he doesn't? Feck me we were playing one of the best teams in the world so lets face it most teams and Managers know they need to improve when using City as the bench mark.

[krissyboy31]

Their first goal was at best a borderline offside, Clyne was leaning and his left shoulder was probably nearer the goal than any part of Tevez. It was certainly close enough that the lino could be forgiven for not flagging.

 

If the lino was in line with play he would have flagged because he wouldn't have seen anything of Clyne. Unfortunately because officials are not as fit or as fast as players, they tend to try and stay ahead of play and therefore from his angle, Clyne appeared to play Tevez onside.

[Ewell]

Alps, I completely agree and if you don't mind me saying so, am a little shocked that this has come from your keyboard! Be prepared for this to be copied and pasted in future if you decide to get a little bit heavy after any subsequent defeats this season.

 

I actually think you have somehow managed to steal Alpine's login!

[Professor]

As good as yesterday's performance was....... hang on it wasn't that GOOD because we were outplayed for much of the game and were lucky because of City's glaring misses, but it was good in parts. Adkins had clearly got a plan and the team responded well, with vigorous defending and breaking well when the opportunity came, but if the intention was to play possession football, that didn't come off when you saw how much possession City had and how much our players had to run around. But the tactics were good, given the players picked to play.

Where I take issue is with the selection. Can't see the logic of having two of our best players on the bench. When they came on, they both scored, so what might they have done if they'd been on for 90 minutes? Had we then needed an impact sub, Billy Sharp would still have been available and could have done more than the pointless 5 minutes or so he got at the end.

Adkins said afterwards that leaving Lambert out was a 'massive' call. Yes Nigel, and it was the wrong call as Rickie showed when he got the chance.

[Dalek2003]

As long as the players entertain the fans and do their best then a defeat is not that important.

 

This season in the premier league is a bonus and the management is right to keep a tight rein on finances safe in the knowledge that relegation with a big pay day is not the end of the world. We are building the squad in sustainable way and if we have to 'yoyo' for a few years, then so be it.

 

I broadly agree with the sentiments of Alpine and am appalled at some of the whingers on this site who seem to think we are going to comfotably settle in the Premiership considering the ridiculuous risks some clubs take on buying players with over inflated values.

[Hedgehog]

As good as yesterdays performance was...................we aint bottom

[The9]

If the lino was in line with play he would have flagged because he wouldn't have seen anything of Clyne. Unfortunately because officials are not as fit or as fast as players, they tend to try and stay ahead of play and therefore from his angle, Clyne appeared to play Tevez onside.

 

As Clyne's upper body was nearer the goal-line than Tevez's leg, he would have been able to see Clyne quite well... and the stripes on the pitch were perfectly placed to help out with it. Besides, I've messed around with the freeze frame and you still can't make it so Tevez is actually offside. People just want it to be because we went past Fonte, but he wasn't the last defender.

[Wes Tender]

As good as yesterday's performance was....... hang on it wasn't that GOOD because we were outplayed for much of the game and were lucky because of City's glaring misses, but it was good in parts. Adkins had clearly got a plan and the team responded well, with vigorous defending and breaking well when the opportunity came, but if the intention was to play possession football, that didn't come off when you saw how much possession City had and how much our players had to run around. But the tactics were good, given the players picked to play.

Where I take issue is with the selection. Can't see the logic of having two of our best players on the bench. When they came on, they both scored, so what might they have done if they'd been on for 90 minutes? Had we then needed an impact sub, Billy Sharp would still have been available and could have done more than the pointless 5 minutes or so he got at the end.

Adkins said afterwards that leaving Lambert out was a 'massive' call. Yes Nigel, and it was the wrong call as Rickie showed when he got the chance.

 

This management lark is a doddle, isn't it? Stands to reason, Rodney, play your best players from the start, not the young kid and the wide man. No need to worry about whether they are fit to start, or whether tactically bowling a googly might catch the opposition on the hop because they had made plans to accomodate the team that was expected to play. After all, if Davis and Lambert were each capable of scoring in less than 45 minutes, had they played the full ninety, they would have scored another brace, eh? It isn't rocket science, is it?

 

As for City's so-called World class footballers and their glaring misses, their days are numbered. Why pay all that money for players who are so wasteful of their opportunities in front of goal? They'll be replaced for having off days against minnows like us. Little Southampton had only about 4 shots on goal and scored with 2 of them. Just think how many goals we would have had if we were to increase the number of shooting opportunities.

[Turkish]

It seems that in the fact in amongst the uphoria that we didn't get the thrashing everyone thought and gave a good account of ourselves was that we that we lost and it's arguable that 2 of the goals, certainly their last one, came from defensive errors. There were a lot of positives to take from sunday and it was a good performance but we still seem to be blighted by individual errors and lapses of concentration in defence. This needs addressing quickly.

[Noodles34]

our season will be defined by the Wigan game on Saturday, win it and will be fine, lose and thats that!

[supersonic]

Unless we bring in defensive reinforcements we'll be going straight back down

[Ian the Red]

As good as yesterday's performance was....... hang on it wasn't that GOOD because we were outplayed for much of the game and were lucky because of City's glaring misses, but it was good in parts. Adkins had clearly got a plan and the team responded well, with vigorous defending and breaking well when the opportunity came, but if the intention was to play possession football, that didn't come off when you saw how much possession City had and how much our players had to run around. But the tactics were good, given the players picked to play.

Where I take issue is with the selection. Can't see the logic of having two of our best players on the bench. When they came on, they both scored, so what might they have done if they'd been on for 90 minutes? Had we then needed an impact sub, Billy Sharp would still have been available and could have done more than the pointless 5 minutes or so he got at the end.

Adkins said afterwards that leaving Lambert out was a 'massive' call. Yes Nigel, and it was the wrong call as Rickie showed when he got the chance.

 

Spot on Professor!! As I have said NA needs to learn very quickly from his mistakes and ensure we improve.

[Ian the Red]

The tone of these comments really depresses me.

 

How many of our squad and management have prior PL experience ? Sod All.

 

We made a bunch of arrogant complacent "superstars" panic for a few minutes. And managed to shut the mouths of their mouthy Manky fans.

 

The spirit in the squad must be incredible, and now even higher.

 

NA and NC now just need to add a little quality in the weak areas which must be so obvious to them if us morons can see them too. They dont need us to tell them

 

Provided we do a bit more business before the window snaps shut, I am very optimistic. If we dont, then there is a question mark over the bus and the "plan"

 

Agree in part Alpine, dont get me wrong, I am extremely optimistic and very positive; but I want SFC to stay in the premier league. We did not retain possession of the ball very well; our defending was pretty poor and the team selection IMO was wrong. Yes we caused a huge probelm to Man City going 2-1 up and I, as every other Saints fan was jumping around the room hoping and praying we would hold on.........

 

Confidence and spirit will go a long way, but it is very fragile. With ManUre and the gooners two of the next 3 teams we could well be at the bottom if we do not buy quickly, improve defensively and play our best players from the start....................

[david in sweden]

The tone of these comments really depresses me. How many of our squad and management have prior PL experience ? Sod All.

We made a bunch of arrogant complacent "superstars" panic for a few minutes. And managed to shut the mouths of their mouthy Manky fans. The spirit in the squad must be incredible, and now even higher.

NA and NC now just need to add a little quality in the weak areas which must be so obvious to them if us morons can see them too. They dont need us to tell them

Provided we do a bit more business before the window snaps shut, I am very optimistic. If we dont, then there is a question mark over the bus and the "plan"

 

 

here I am agreeing with you again, Alpine.

 

Had we started with one of the "lesser" (I didn't say weaker) sides in the first few games , and not got Man.City until November, we'd never had the the chance to make a proper assessment.

 

What we saw, was not the cricket score that the punters had predicted, but a Saints team that could score twice in a few minutes against the best side in the land..and on their own patch.

 

Of course we saw own " known-weakness " in defence, but we have 10 days to help put that right. I have never been so encouraged - even though we came away pointless, we won't be the last to do that.

[Professor]

To those who think that Nigel's tactices of holding back his best two players until part way through the second half was a good idea, why stop at only two. Lallana or Morgan could have been held back as well.

Surely anyone who watched the game could see that the weakened 11 we put out were out-played despite the massive effort they made. But they weren't our strongest side and were lucky not to be 2 or 3 goals down by half-time. With Rickie, and our international midielder, Steve Davis on the field we had arguable as good a side as we can put out amd they played a 2-2 draw in the second half, with a lot more possession on our side.

If Lambert or Davis were judged not to be fit enough for 90 minutes it would have made more sense to play them from the outset and to sub them if and when they needed replacing, not the other way around. The team selection was incomprehensible at kick off, not just to a few ignorant fans like me but to the likes of Adam Blackmore and Dave Merrington as well, and its no clearer now than it was at the time.

[maysie]

To those who think that Nigel's tactices of holding back his best two players until part way through the second half was a good idea, why stop at only two. Lallana or Morgan could have been held back as well.

Surely anyone who watched the game could see that the weakened 11 we put out were out-played despite the massive effort they made. But they weren't our strongest side and were lucky not to be 2 or 3 goals down by half-time. With Rickie, and our international midielder, Steve Davis on the field we had arguable as good a side as we can put out amd they played a 2-2 draw in the second half, with a lot more possession on our side.

If Lambert or Davis were judged not to be fit enough for 90 minutes it would have made more sense to play them from the outset and to sub them if and when they needed replacing, not the other way around. The team selection was incomprehensible at kick off, not just to a few ignorant fans like me but to the likes of Adam Blackmore and Dave Merrington as well, and its no clearer now than it was at the time.

 

That's been playing on your mind then.

[Wes Tender]

To those who think that Nigel's tactices of holding back his best two players until part way through the second half was a good idea, why stop at only two. Lallana or Morgan could have been held back as well.

Surely anyone who watched the game could see that the weakened 11 we put out were out-played despite the massive effort they made. But they weren't our strongest side and were lucky not to be 2 or 3 goals down by half-time. With Rickie, and our international midielder, Steve Davis on the field we had arguable as good a side as we can put out amd they played a 2-2 draw in the second half, with a lot more possession on our side.

If Lambert or Davis were judged not to be fit enough for 90 minutes it would have made more sense to play them from the outset and to sub them if and when they needed replacing, not the other way around. The team selection was incomprehensible at kick off, not just to a few ignorant fans like me but to the likes of Adam Blackmore and Dave Merrington as well, and its no clearer now than it was at the time.

 

Well, there's a game coming up on Saturday, so instead of whinging about the team selection after the last match, (when the likes of Dave Merrington and Adam Blackmore were probably eating humble pie following a result that had most of the pundits purring at how we had given the champions a bit of a fright), how about you telling Adkins what team he should choose for this next match?

 

Naturally you will be able to qualify your selection based not only on your knowledge of the players' fitness levels, but also on their mental preparedness and the strategy required based on the intelligence garnered through watching videos of Wigan's last matches, which will identify their strengths and weaknesses in different areas of the pitch and different times of the match.

 

So name the team and your prophecy for when the substitutions are likely to be and when they will be made and we'll see how you fare after the match. Naturally, you will be naming the strongest team from the first whistle, as anything else would be playing right into Wigan's hands; but I would be interested to hear what you consider to be the strongest team. If we sign Ramirez tomorrow, should he start? How about Lee if he's fit? Sharp or Rodrigues up front with Lambert, or him on his own?

[The Kraken]

What's the point? Its not as if he could be proven right or wrong, is it?

[Professor]

Well, there's a game coming up on Saturday, so instead of whinging about the team selection after the last match, (when the likes of Dave Merrington and Adam Blackmore were probably eating humble pie following a result that had most of the pundits purring at how we had given the champions a bit of a fright), how about you telling Adkins what team he should choose for this next match?

 

Naturally you will be able to qualify your selection based not only on your knowledge of the players' fitness levels, but also on their mental preparedness and the strategy required based on the intelligence garnered through watching videos of Wigan's last matches, which will identify their strengths and weaknesses in different areas of the pitch and different times of the match.

 

So name the team and your prophecy for when the substitutions are likely to be and when they will be made and we'll see how you fare after the match. Naturally, you will be naming the strongest team from the first whistle, as anything else would be playing right into Wigan's hands; but I would be interested to hear what you consider to be the strongest team. If we sign Ramirez tomorrow, should he start? How about Lee if he's fit? Sharp or Rodrigues up front with Lambert, or him on his own?

 

My dear Wes, maybe I should be flattered that you would be interested in my opinion on next week's team selection, except it's not true. What others think of my opinions is of no importance, although some may agree and some not. The purpose of a discussion board is just that, to discuss, comment and generate thought.

It is my opinion that a manager should play his strongest team against his stongest opponents. The Man City defeat was marginal, due in part to luck and in part to the huge effort made by the Saints' players on the pitch, but that does not mean that a better result might not have been possible if we had included our best two players from the start. You are quite right that there are some players, especially amongst the strikers, who are interchangeable. The manager must decide on which combinations of his best players to pick, but that is not what he did at Man City. He played an untried teenager - who I agree did well - but probably not as well as the NI international captain might have done, fresh from an international run-out in midweek, and who underlined that by scoring soon after he was on the pitch. He also didn't play any of his strikers in the lead position and left out our most prolific goalscorer, instead playing an extra midfield player in Guly to lead up front. Instead of deciding which striker to play he didn't play one up front all, and although he picked Jay-Rod he played him in wide midfield doing defensive duties much of the time. I believe he was too cautious, more intent on trying to limit the size of the defeat. I am optimistic that it is a mistake he won't make again but the Man U match and certainly the Arsenal match, may show if that is so.

By the way, Wes, you are perfectly entitled not to like these opinions, but do have another look at the title of this thread because it's is an invitation to take off the rose-tinted glasses, so it should not be a surprise that posts on this thread may include some that are not are unstinted praise, despite the battling performance. There are other threads where the manager can be congratulated.