Stevenage 1 Saints 4 : Reactions

[saintchris23]

Just back (live 25 mins away in St Albans)

 

First half we looked appalling (a real advert for how not to play 4-3-3), Seaborne on the one hand was good at tackling but on the other hand got turned EVERY TIME but the lanky L1 striker! Shameful he's on the bench in the prem. Richardson was the other "cb" but it was more like playing 2 right backs and they should have punished us twice before half time.

 

Second half Nigel clearly threw a shoe and told everyone to SORT IT OUT. Worked, 4-3-3 when everyone puts the right commitment and follows what they have been told to do.

 

Our first good play from punch, looked up for the first time all game to get it to sharp who sent it across to Lee. 3 players demonstrating some proper class.

 

Second was a MASSIVE back pass, the cb looked at him and the keeper still picked it up. Was hilarious!!! Worth the £20 alone decent from chaplow and sharp to score it.

 

3rd was a SCREAMER from punch, volleys it left foot ball spinning the wrong way and is an amazing goal!

 

Theirs was a mistake from us passing it round the box, couldn't see the culprit but Gazza had no chance.

 

4th was a decent hit from out side the area, could have done with another for my bets but can't have everything.

 

 

Overall best things to take from the game are the kids look pretty good, Shaw was the worst - nervy and not in the best places but had good ideas going forward, JWP looked good - good passes on the ball, Reeves - scored a good goal and Hoskins looks skilful and should have scored. Gazza looks a fine 2nd choice keeper, few good saves, made his presence known and organised a difficult back line. Our 2nd choice players look ok back ups, just not all on at the same time in the prem, that wont be good.

 

Quote of the day "Oh Guly" ah Shaw went forward and lost it

 

Motm Lee for putting the effort of someone who wants 1st team.

 

It took you 25 mins?! It took me 15 coasting down the A1and A414!

 

Good to see another saints fan in St Albans, I thought I was the only one!

[Charlie Wayman]

Who were we playing tonight? Um... Stevenage, let's not get carried away chaps

[Charlie Wayman]

It took you 25 mins?! It took me 15 coasting down the A1and A414!

 

Good to see another saints fan in St Albans, I thought I was the only one!

 

Another one in Smallford near Nottcutts.

[pingwing]

Another one in Smallford near Nottcutts.

 

It took you 25 mins?! It took me 15 coasting down the A1and A414!

 

Good to see another saints fan in St Albans, I thought I was the only one!

 

My Polo isn't all that fast...

 

But yes lads! Nice to know there are a few people round here supporting the saints!

[Sour Mash]

How was Shaw?

Few poor passes that played us into trouble and a few runs that were unproductive, but it wasn't an out and out bad performance from the lad, got a few good challenges in and Stevenage are no mugs. Good learning curve for the kid and the potential is definitely there - not ready for the first team this season though.

[pap]

Who were we playing tonight? Um... Stevenage, let's not get carried away chaps

 

Best team in Stevenage mate, and we mullered them

 

Man Utd next, and they're not even the best team in Manchester.

[cambsaint]

Absolutely dreadful in the first half-I lost count of the corners we conceded, but we took control in the second, played well and won easily.

What a cack-up by their goalie though.

The most friendly ground I've ever been to. Stewards excellent.

Less than fifteen minutes from my son's house in Letchworth.

[the wedge]

Just back home from the game, I live in Finsbury Park so it's 20 mins on the train.

 

Bit of a game of two halves, Stevenage were a very fast, pressing unit to start with and we never got going. We were, laughably, predictable and the home fans took great joy in letting us know that. We couldn’t string 3 passes together and we were second to everything. Only some poor finishing and last ditch tackling kept us on level terms at the break. Only Puncheon was a serious attacking threat, he was class throughout.

 

Some of the senior starting XI stepped up a couple of gears in the second half and the youngsters started to gain in confidence which lead to the first goal. Harsh on Stevenage, but that’s how far we’ve come now.

 

The second goal was an appalling referee mistake that thanks to Chappy’s quick thinking led to a goal. There was no way that the defender’s sliced clearance was a backpass. And once 2-0 up, everyone started oozing with confidence, especially the kids who started some mazy individual runs and slick touches.

 

Punch’s goal epitomized his overall performance, it was a level up from the rest of the players on the pitch. Cracking goal, best I’ve seen for years.

 

Our fourth was another good strike, the youngsters were flying by now after a shaky 1st half. Hoskins had a phenomenal effort go wide near the end after a Bergkamp v Newcastle style turn. It was brilliant and deserved a goal.

 

Gazzaniga: 6/10. Didn’t have much to do. I think he did look nervy and I didn’t trust his long ball distribution at all, it never went to one of our lads.

 

Butters: 6/10. Efficient if nothing else, positioning was good but rarely went forward.

 

Frazer: 6/10. Covered CB well enough, passing was a bit off but did his job well.

 

Seaborne: 6/10. Just pleased he’s still playing football after the year he’s had.

 

Shaw: Nervous, uncertain but showed some glimpses of what he’s capable of. Mazy, pacy runs forward often led to nothing but he’d gained 45 yards in seconds.

 

JWP: 7/10. At the heart of everything. Love how stuck in he gets, like Hammond with a lot more pace. Calm, collected and impressive.

 

Dean: 6/10. Just seems off the pace the team wants to play, but does what he does well enough. Stuck in, win the ball, play it to someone else.

 

Chappers: 6/10. Largely anonymous 1st half. Showed glimpses of quick thinking and ability but was largely off the pace, like Deano.

 

Puncheon: 9/10. Immense. At the heart of so many attacks. Skillful, tricky and gets a bonus point for the worldy goal.

 

Lee: 7/10. I think he’s a bit lost on the wing, I’d like to see him more central, as he was more effective cutting inside. But delivered some great crosses on his left peg. His celebration was class, putting his finger to his mouth in front of Stevenage’s mouthy fans. Got clattered by their right back straight after.

Sharp: 6.5/10. Totally isolated first half due to us being on the back foot for long chunks of the game. That coupled with us playing everything from the back which always ended up with us losing the ball in midfield. Came more into the game 2nd half and worked very hard to set up Lee and took his own goal well.

 

Subs:

Reeves: Great goal, oozed confidence once he came on, which filtered through the team.

Chambers: Didn’t notice him.

Hoskins: Great piece of skill as mentioned above. Deserved a goal, and probably longer on the field.

 

Really enjoyed the game though, nice little ground and brilliantly old fashioned PA announcer.

[dickyhale]

Just back home in Shirley 212 miles round trip. Much same as the other ratings. Nice friendly little ground on a down note No sinks/water in the toilet just them spray things they have in the hospital (I know my hands were greasy from the burger van) but a wins a win COYR

[LGTL]

I really enjoyed that. Performance wasn't great first half but oh we'll.

[david in sweden]

Forget Ramirez, we've got Puncheon

 

errr...maybe not, eh?

[Tractor_Saint]

[Saint Malc]

A thoroughly enjoyable evening only spoiled by those beggars who wanted to stand and make such a consistent noise in my ear'ole . We weren't great in the first half but that team would walk League 1 IMO. Still not that impressed with Lee though. JWP was the stand-out for me.

[Torres]

Gazzaniga: 6/10. Didn’t have much to do. I think he did look nervy and I didn’t trust his long ball distribution at all, it never went to one of our lads.

 

Bit harsh. When he was forced to hit it long he only had Sharp, Lee and Puncheon to aim at and they're all about 5ft tall.

[West End Saint]

Enjoyed the game great to tick off the Lamex Stadium I thought Stevenage were a decent side they played very well 1st half & we looked like a side that had never played together 2nd half we sorted it out played well scored some good goals job done another away tie somewhere I havent been would be good fingers crossed for the draw

[Mattio]

lol @ the couple sat behind me in block C who were constantly complaining about how they can no longer enjoy football because people stand up and sing stupid songs

[View From The Top]

Still can't believe I was stupid enough to do a 260mile round trip to see Saints play Stevenage in the mickey mouse cup.

 

The thing that struck me late on was how we are obviously using some sort of cloning machine for the players coming through from the academy. All short & blonde, almost identical from a distance. It's like a footballing Boys From Brazil!

[sotonjoe]

Just seen the goals after reading all they hype and I have to say I think people are overreacting a bit with regards to Puncheon and Reeves' goals. Reading Twitter, I thought we'd just scored two of the most sensational goals ever!

 

TBF, I think the Reeves one is probably better than Puncheon's. Hats off to Puncheon for giving it a go, but he's in acres of space and the keeper is nowhere etc. It's certainly not the goal scoring opportunity he's going to get in the Prem every week. Reeves' goal was very well taken though; very professional for such a youngster.

 

So, two good goals, but I hope everybody kept their shirts on and didn't start swinging them above their heads etc.

[Torres]

lol @ the couple sat behind me in block C who were constantly complaining about how they can no longer enjoy football because people stand up and sing stupid songs

 

That was a couple from here - fish fingers and bungle. They go to a lot of away games but they don't half moan a lot. They're quite a sweet couple away from the ground though. First Saints fans to formalise their civil partnership, I believe.

[Minty]

I scored a better goal than Punch's in a game against Hull fans at Fleming Park a few years ago. Just sayin'.

 

Both were quality strikes in their own way, and nice to see... we don't see too many goals from distance at Saints these days.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

2 players I was especially watching for last night were Sharp and Lee as I have doubts that either are good enough for the Prem. Lee was off the pace all night but as he is returning from injury I think the jury is still out but I do have reservations about Sharp. His main strength is his finishing but tonight he blasted one over the bar when very well-placed. OK it was only v Stevenage (not being patronising - they played quite well in fact) and it is only one mistake but overall I have to say I was disappointed in his evening's work. A squad member I suppose and we could have worse.

[Saint Charlie]

2 players I was especially watching for last night were Sharp and Lee as I have doubts that either are good enough for the Prem. Lee was off the pace all night but as he is returning from injury I think the jury is still out but I do have reservations about Sharp. His main strength is his finishing but tonight he blasted one over the bar when very well-placed. OK it was only v Stevenage (not being patronising - they played quite well in fact) and it is only one mistake but overall I have to say I was disappointed in his evening's work. A squad member I suppose and we could have worse.

 

Lee is a tidy player no doubt and useful to have in the squad but there is a danger that people go overboard on his abilities.

[Whitey Grandad]

Got to be pleased with the result. Shame about the clean sheet. When's the draw for the next round?

[View From The Top]

Got to be pleased with the result. Shame about the clean sheet. When's the draw for the next round?

 

Thursday lunchtime.

[Matthew Le God]

When's the draw for the next round?

 

Thursday lunchtime.

 

After the Northampton vs Wolves game live on Sky on Thursday evening.

[View From The Top]

After the Northampton vs Wolves game live on Sky on Thursday evening.

 

Cheers.

[Seaford Saint]

lol @ the couple sat behind me in block C who were constantly complaining about how they can no longer enjoy football because people stand up and sing stupid songs

 

I am with the couple on this one...you lot who stand when asked not to should look at yourselves. Personally I would prefer to sit with fans of other teams than with you. You have no manners......

[Mattio]

I am with the couple on this one...you lot who stand when asked not to should look at yourselves. Personally I would prefer to sit with fans of other teams than with you. You have no manners......

 

TBH if it was that much of an issue, there were plenty if free seats in block B where everyone was sat down!

[The9]

FFS get Seabourne off he sounds sh!t

 

We need quality CB's for the Prem and fast cos Seabourne is not up to League one standard by sounds of it

 

Funnily enough he was by far the best of our back 4 last night.

[Griffo]

I know the game wasn't the most inspiring to some but why do people go and talk about pointless b*llocks for 90 minutes? I heard conversations about everything but football around me, ranging from brands of washing machine to what they were going to have for dinner. Atmosphere was sh*te in our end as predicted as well.

 

On the plus side we won and scored 2 very good goals.

[The9]

I'll give a quick recap, seeing as I went.

 

First half, no movement, players struggled in the system which was exactly as the first team play. It's limitations were pretty obvious, if a full back has the ball the wide midfielder can't provide a short ball option and if he does can't get up to support the lone striker. So every ball from full back is either a chip up the line or a 1-2 with the defensive midfielder and back to the keeper. At least it is when there's no movement.

 

Haber up front for Stevenage looked good and probably should have had a couple. Gazzaniga looked solid, took ages over his kicks (infuriating the home fans as he waited for Plan B to kick in as they had us well marked) and ended up going long a fair bit.

 

Shaw looked awful defensively, and not great under pressure with the ball, whacking it a fair few times. Bad decision-making, but on the flipside looked like Gareth Bale the one time he got into their half and really threatening. Doesn't appear to be a left back, but has left-mid potential. Seaborne was decent enough, dug us out of a few holes by reading crosses and runs well. Richardson (out of position at right CB) got done by one over the top and also caught in the 6 yard box by Haber toeing the ball away from him. Looked rusty and a little slow. Butterfield struggled to do anything useful with the ball but showed his defensive experience.

 

Chaplow ran a bit second half but wasn't really in it, Ward-Prowse tried to get some pace into the match and worked hard but no-one else responded and he wasn't often the pass of choice. Hammond was Hammond, sideways, competent but limited. Tadanari Lee, like many of the fringe first teamers, looked like he had something better to be doing. A few forward runs and then the goal from a nice Puncheon cut back. He was trying a little bit. Sharp looked completely isolated and utterly unsuited to the system, and barely got a touch. Didn't really make many runs.

 

Second half there was a bit more effort, and eventually Stevenage ran out of steam. It was never a backpass for our 2nd but credit to Chaplow and Sharp for quick thinking, Puncheon's goal was superb, then we brought on the blonde squad and both Chambers and Reeves looked impressive (especially Reeves, best performance by far I've seen from him) - then Hoskins came on late on, looked hugely confident, created himself a couple of chances and didn't look out of his depth at all. Probably played better than Sharp in his 5 minutes on the pitch to be honest, very impressed.

 

Overall, we deserved the win, but made very hard work of it for a long time, got in front, then the kids came on an it looked like a completely different side, dynamic, creative and exciting. There might be a lesson in there somewhere.

 

Crab Lungs is not wrong about our short blonde player cloning plant.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Funnily enough he was by far the best of our back 4 last night.

 

Agreed

[The Cat]

 

Haber up front for Stevenage looked good and probably should have had a couple.

 

He looked good but had no end product. Socks pulled up above the knee, shaved side of head, slicked up hair on top, strutting around the pitch like Cristiano Ronaldo but with less than 1% of the ability. The header he fluffed at the back post in the first half was embarassing.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the second half despite dropping a chip covered in ketchup down my t shirt and staining it. That'll teach me to eat at football.

[View From The Top]

He looked good but had no end product. Socks pulled up above the knee, shaved side of head, slicked up hair on top, strutting around the pitch like Cristiano Ronaldo but with less than 1% of the ability. The header he fluffed at the back post in the first half was embarassing.

 

 

That's almost verbatim what we said.

[stevegrant]

I thoroughly enjoyed the second half despite dropping a chip covered in ketchup down my t shirt and staining it. That'll teach me to eat at football.

You were warned that would happen, tbf

[Saint_clark]

Just seen the goals after reading all they hype and I have to say I think people are overreacting a bit with regards to Puncheon and Reeves' goals. Reading Twitter, I thought we'd just scored two of the most sensational goals ever!

 

TBF, I think the Reeves one is probably better than Puncheon's. Hats off to Puncheon for giving it a go, but he's in acres of space and the keeper is nowhere etc. It's certainly not the goal scoring opportunity he's going to get in the Prem every week. Reeves' goal was very well taken though; very professional for such a youngster.

 

So, two good goals, but I hope everybody kept their shirts on and didn't start swinging them above their heads etc.

 

If Lambert had scored the same goal Puncheon did, everyone would be going mental. It was great technique.

[The Cat]

You were warned that would happen, tbf

 

Haha, I'm still quite pleased with myself for not covering everyone else with chips when Lee scored.

[The Cat]

If Lambert had scored the same goal Puncheon did, everyone would be going mental. It was great technique.

 

I thought it would be goal of the night until I saw the highlights of the Forest vs Wigan game. There were some seriously incredible goals in that.

[cambsaint]

Although it may not have been intended as a backpass, in effect it was exactly that.

The goalie had masses of time to kick it away, but thought he'd be (clever?) and pick it up.

Chaplow showed very quick thinking in asking the ref if he could take it early while Stevenage were arguing, and an easy goal ensued.

The reaction of the Saints players to the alleged backpass seemed to be of initial disbelief that the goalie had actually picked it up instead of hoofing it safely into touch, and the appeals were slightly delayed.

If he had been under pressure or there was any danger of it going in then he may have been justified in using his hands.

[The9]

I know the game wasn't the most inspiring to some but why do people go and talk about pointless b*llocks for 90 minutes? I heard conversations about everything but football around me, ranging from brands of washing machine to what they were going to have for dinner. Atmosphere was sh*te in our end as predicted as well.

 

On the plus side we won and scored 2 very good goals.

 

It's because other people have friends and want to talk to them.

[Whitey Grandad]

After the Northampton vs Wolves game live on Sky on Thursday evening.

 

Thanks, I'll be watching.

[The9]

He looked good but had no end product. Socks pulled up above the knee, shaved side of head, slicked up hair on top, strutting around the pitch like Cristiano Ronaldo but with less than 1% of the ability. The header he fluffed at the back post in the first half was embarassing.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the second half despite dropping a chip covered in ketchup down my t shirt and staining it. That'll teach me to eat at football.

 

He did very well to get what he did out of our defenders, Shaw aside they all have experience higher than he's playing at. But yeah, that one header was rubbish, hit him on the side of the head I think. I didn't really notice his hair.

 

Sounds like you were in the back row like us, hope you didn't talk about washing machines or the surly teen conversation police will be on to you.

[Whitey Grandad]

Although it may not have been intended as a backpass, in effect it was exactly that.

The goalie had masses of time to kick it away, but thought he'd be (clever?) and pick it up.

Chaplow showed very quick thinking in asking the ref if he could take it early while Stevenage were arguing, and an easy goal ensued.

The reaction of the Saints players to the alleged backpass seemed to be of initial disbelief that the goalie had actually picked it up instead of hoofing it safely into touch, and the appeals were slightly delayed.

If he had been under pressure or there was any danger of it going in then he may have been justified in using his hands.

 

'deliberate kick' is the law. Do you think he meant it? I have always taken 'deliberate' to mean that the player must have thought about it.

[The Cat]

Sounds like you were in the back row like us, hope you didn't talk about washing machines or the surly teen conversation police will be on to you.

 

I don't recall any washing machine based conversations although after the chip based incident it's feasible that I would have joined in given half a chance, especially if they'd had any advice on the best ways of getting out ketchup stains.

[The9]

Although it may not have been intended as a backpass, in effect it was exactly that.

The goalie had masses of time to kick it away, but thought he'd be (clever?) and pick it up.

Chaplow showed very quick thinking in asking the ref if he could take it early while Stevenage were arguing, and an easy goal ensued.

The reaction of the Saints players to the alleged backpass seemed to be of initial disbelief that the goalie had actually picked it up instead of hoofing it safely into touch, and the appeals were slightly delayed.

If he had been under pressure or there was any danger of it going in then he may have been justified in using his hands.

 

It was not a backpass under any interpretation of the law. It has to be intentional, the guy was trying to hammer it up the field.

 

I was the bloke shouting "stick it down and stick it in" as soon as the keeper didn't boot it off the pitch.

[SaintRobbie]

God our defence is poor.

 

I tell you what though... if you havent seen the Puncheon goal buy a Saints TV subscription... it's up there with the best of MLT.

[ArcticSaint]

Thanks for the perspectives on Haber. It'll be interesting to see if he can score a few at League One and move up at some point. Judging by the BBC updates he must like to try and beat the offside trap, while failing miserably.

[Torres]

I was the bloke shouting "stick it down and stick it in" as soon as the keeper didn't boot it off the pitch.

 

Are you claiming an assist?