Saints 2 Man United 3 - Post Match Reactions

[Saints foreva]

So gutted.

 

We have a really weak back line for this league, probably the weakest in the whole League.

[max_saints]

Wonderful performance today but for the lapse of concentration towards the end..

 

Lambert showed once again that he can more than cut it in the top league and just uses his big and towering presence to wonderful effect. He also is a clever player and always looks to pick the smaller players he can bully to challenge the ball for. Had vidic in his pocket all game.

 

AL and Punch were extremely effective going down the flanks and cutting in. JWP and Davis both had a good game in midfield and were tireless but the player who really shone was schneiderlin, he spotted any danger and immediately cut them out. Morgan totally stopped kagawa from playing all game and almost did the same to his replacement scholes. and of course, there was also his goal, MOTM for me.

 

Defense wise... we all know about fox, most of the time he just seems unsure and is always caught between attacking and defending. He wants to go forward but at the same time is afraid of leaving too much space behind thus he's always missing, doesn't seem too confident either. On the other hand, clyne was ok other than his two slips (?????) but seems to hold on to the ball for too long and needs to release it quicker!

 

Fonte and Jos.... just very average i guess, i see those kind of errors every week from defenders of the other mid-low end teams. KD was poor in distributing the ball and most of the time his kicks go straight to the other team. the problem with this is that it means our defenders can't rest and have to start to worry about another attack again. also seem slow to react to the ball. anyway gazzaniga, CHDAJFU?

 

with the front three of lambert, AL and punch playing so well today, wonder if adkins is going to break that up to fit in ramirez and mayuka. also have the problem of Jrod, this sudden surplus of attackers would mean he's going to start on the bench alot. of course there still is guly and lee as well. oh yes not to forget De ridder... i know people talk about squad depth but surely thats too many attacking players while we are lacking in defense? wouldn't want them starting to grow unhappy and affecting the harmony...

[Wade Garrett]

Yeh, four promotions in six years ... hasn't got a clue

 

Where did I say he was clueless? He had a bad day, that's all.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

he rates Big Sam, say no more

 

Hi Nick that's a bundle of quotes from a sample of the bitter cuuunts on their forum, not just 1 chirpy cockney. Lets see how they get on eh? Personally I think we will be fine.

[OldNick]

Hi Nick that's a bundle of quotes from a sample of the bitter cuuunts on their forum' date=' not just 1 chirpy cockney. Lets see how they get on eh? Personally I think we will be fine.[/quote'] oh,.... they obviously count us as a threat to their league place and still sore after coming third last season

[norwaysaint]

Only just finished watching the match, I recorded it, because I was out fishing with the kids (caught 2 mackerel, thanks).

 

 

It was really annoying, we were bossing the midfield easily for ages, passing it around and building chances. WP, Lallana, Davis and Puncheon were all brilliant. Then, around the time Scholes came on, we started just panicking and hitting long balls, completely missing out midfield where we'd dominated before. We were going to lose from then on. We never really got our composure back after the penalty. It was a mess before the subs came on.

[Wade Garrett]

Wonderful performance today but for the lapse of concentration towards the end..

 

Lambert showed once again that he can more than cut it in the top league and just uses his big and towering presence to wonderful effect. He also is a clever player and always looks to pick the smaller players he can bully to challenge the ball for. Had vidic in his pocket all game.

 

AL and Punch were extremely effective going down the flanks and cutting in. JWP and Davis both had a good game in midfield and were tireless but the player who really shone was schneiderlin, he spotted any danger and immediately cut them out. Morgan totally stopped kagawa from playing all game and almost did the same to his replacement scholes. and of course, there was also his goal, MOTM for me.

 

Defense wise... we all know about fox, most of the time he just seems unsure and is always caught between attacking and defending. He wants to go forward but at the same time is afraid of leaving too much space behind thus he's always missing, doesn't seem too confident either. On the other hand, clyne was ok other than his two slips (?????) but seems to hold on to the ball for too long and needs to release it quicker!

 

Fonte and Jos.... just very average i guess, i see those kind of errors every week from defenders of the other mid-low end teams. KD was poor in distributing the ball and most of the time his kicks go straight to the other team. the problem with this is that it means our defenders can't rest and have to start to worry about another attack again. also seem slow to react to the ball. anyway gazzaniga, CHDAJFU?

 

with the front three of lambert, AL and punch playing so well today, wonder if adkins is going to break that up to fit in ramirez and mayuka. also have the problem of Jrod, this sudden surplus of attackers would mean he's going to start on the bench alot. of course there still is guly and lee as well. oh yes not to forget De ridder... i know people talk about squad depth but surely thats too many attacking players while we are lacking in defense? wouldn't want them starting to grow unhappy and affecting the harmony...

 

Good post. If our midfield and front line carry on playing like that we'll pick up plenty of points against the many teams who aren't as potent in attack than City or United.

 

I think the after match thread shouldn't start until a few hours after he games has finished. Too many raw emotions.

 

The numbers of attacking players will serve us well over the season, with injuries and suspensions.

[Tractor_Saint]

Kinda missed the Rickie goal but what a celebration! Lost my voice at that point. Peaked too early!

[video=youtube_share;dEapGBQ5Bns]

[Ruffo]

Cannot understand why we had 4 minutes of injury time? It feels like every time we are playing a top team and are in the position to take something away from the game, some official comes out with an obscene amount of injury time!

 

Great effort by the lads today. Stood up once again against one of the best clubs in the world.

[LostBoys]

Very enjoyable game and we should have won based on overall performanmce on a world wide stage BUT

 

Fox does not go tight on Valencia and watches the cross Clyne slips and VP scores 1

 

Guly finds himself at left back as an overhit corner comes his way so does he leave it as there is no one behind him - no he heads it a few yards to a Man U player - VP scores 2

 

Fonte makes an unchallenged poor header out straight to a Man u player ball comes in to him again and he slices it for a corner. VP comes across the defender and scores the third.

 

Really amateurish defending which ruins a very good performance otherwise.

 

There are a few players making basic mistakes and while you can get away with them in the Football League the ball will end up in your net in the Prem.

 

I thought the substitutions were a disaster. Very disappointed but i had us down to lose 2 zip in the prediction League but as ever it is the hope that kills the spirit.

Edited 2 September, 2012 by LostBoys
so upset I cannot spell

[Saints Warrior]

Gutted, Atkins lost the game for us with 3 stupid substitutions as he took our best 3 players off and put 3 with no real pace or bite. Taxi for Guly as he is just too slow and a waste of space. Poor dfence from Saints from corners. But overall a brillaint performance. Just not sure where or how Jay fits into team and if Lalana, Punch or Lamber dont play then how Saints are supposed to create chances.

[Stu Man Do]

Fox is a liability in this league. WIll cost us plenty more goals. Poor subs this game cost us. Note to Nige please please never take off your three best players again within 5mins! What's everyone's opinion on JROD as well? Seems utterly wasted to me on he left and bit worried to see him failing to win headers against fabio!

[Legod Third Coming]

Cannot understand why we had 4 minutes of injury time? It feels like every time we are playing a top team and are in the position to take something away from the game, some official comes out with an obscene amount of injury time!

 

Great effort by the lads today. Stood up once again against one of the best clubs in the world.

 

To be fair it should be 30 second per substituion I think so 6 subs = 3 minutes.

[Saints foreva]

So glad I never moved to the Itchen North this season. Looked awful over there today, majority sat down apart from the 4 back rows in Block 1.

[doddisalegend]

Just like the old PL days conceding in injury time. Our defence is going to screw us this season they're not up to it (Clyne apart) that's 8 goals cocede in three games...Not good enough. The subs today where totally wrong. Long (long) season ahead.

 

On the plus side our attack seems decent and Lambert doesn't look out of place at all.

[Saint Billy]

No doubt they could have lasted 90 minutes, but not at the pace they had produced earlier in the match when they were most effective. You do see that, don't you? If a player lacks that extra yard of pace that they started with, or is not mentally as sharp as when they are fresh, then opposition players who have fresh legs and who have been instructed to exploit weaknesses by a great tactical manager, will run rings around them. But I'm sure that you and others who do not see this, have the ability to accurately forecast whether those two late ManUre goals would have been prevented had we left those three players on the pitch until the end.

 

No I dont see that at all, what I did see is VP of Man U lasting the whole game and scoring a hatrick.

 

Ok Lambert might of tired somewhat but AL and punch still seemed full of running and should have stayed as they were still a threat, you do see that don't you?

[JoeShmoe]

Still saw a lot of empty seats on the TV?

[up and away]

Agreed, Scholes is a class act. We didn't react to him coming on and to be fair we don't have anyone near his class even at 65 (or whatever age he is). However...

 

I simply don't see any other manager with experience changing his entire front line in that situation and bringing on a guy for his first ever game in English football.

 

I think what we saw today was 997. And if you can't work that out, it's the difference in Premiership/top flight games the managers have overseen...

 

Or to put it another way, could you see Fergie pulling off his front three at 2-1 on 78 minutes at Old Trafford against Chelsea/Citeh?

 

It's harsh on Adkins but this is a tough league and Puncheon, in particular, was giving Evra the runaround which in turn was reducing their threat.

 

Still, you have to hope the manager is not daft and will learn quickly. And hopefully the CBs can learn equallly quickly - stand up, don't dive in and concentrate the whole game.

 

Not downhearted just cheesed off.

 

Unless you are going to man mark Scholes from his own half, you really don't stand much of a chance. Scholes just by passed the midfield with the accuracy of his long passing and our arses suddenly went along with that introduction. A few teams cancel him out but hardly any of the lower clubs. Our biggest cause of the turn around came when we stopped playing the ball out. Panic set in from Fonte and everyone started to try and lash it any where.

 

The substitutions made sense, Mayuka the pace machine goes up the middle to try and catch them on the break, Guly goes over and shores up the right. I still can't get the numpties blaming Guly, it was other positions that caused the problem. The only thing I would say about the subs is it would have been nice to have brought on Cork. The only question that needs answering was did we need to change out those players, had they got little left in the tank?

[Griffo]

What was up with the empty seats in the Itchen? Yet again.. Why do the club advertise it as a f*cking sell out?

 

Secondly, regardless of how well we played, it was obvious we were sitting deeper and deeper as the second half went on and invited them on. No professional club should concede two late goals like that if they defended properly. Awful.

[JoeShmoe]

I thought the subs bench was lopsided , we had 4 forwards and Richardson. Chaplow should have been a sub instead of Guly. I can see why they took SRL off but not Adam and Punch, but as has been said we dropped deeper and deeper and stopped passing the ball, same as we did against Man City, and tbh we did it last year in games as well

[Legod Third Coming]

Unless you are going to man mark Scholes from his own half, you really don't stand much of a chance. Scholes just by passed the midfield with the accuracy of his long passing and our arses suddenly went along with that introduction. A few teams cancel him out but hardly any of the lower clubs. Our biggest cause of the turn around came when we stopped playing the ball out. Panic set in from Fonte and everyone started to try and lash it any where.

 

The substitutions made sense, Mayuka the pace machine goes up the middle to try and catch them on the break, Guly goes over and shores up the right. I still can't get the numpties blaming Guly, it was other positions that caused the problem. The only thing I would say about the subs is it would have been nice to have brought on Cork. The only question that needs answering was did we need to change out those players, had they got little left in the tank?

 

Maybe I was missing it, but I thought with a two-week break ahead, and given the way AL and Puncheon were playing, there was no need for them to come off. And SRL is just too bloody good to bring off even at 90%. He's a handful. Defenders hate him. The more I think about it, the more I think we gave those points away. I stick by my original assertion, I can't see Fergie or Mancini or the other top class managers chaning 25% of their team in the last fifteen minutes when leading 2-1, unless there were injuries. It was a real risk and it backfired.

 

Don't fault Adkins. He's only had three games at the top level. He'll learn. He'll have to!!

 

And our defence needs work. The marking for the third goal was poor. Wouldn't have mattered who we played if you let the best marksman in the league have a free header!!

 

Still, hope this doesn't knock the confidence. Onwards and upwards!

[CanadaSaint]

What was up with the empty seats in the Itchen? Yet again.. Why do the club advertise it as a f*cking sell out?

 

It looks really, really bad to a worldwide audience and they need to get it sorted ASAP.

[St_Tel49]

gutted....KD and JF poor....subs were poor..failed to make an impact.....again another good performance, without any points.....

I am flummoxed by the criticisms of Davis on here. What did he do wrong - the goals were not his fault. WHo was responsible for allowing Van Persie space on his own for the first goal and for not putting him under pressure for the third one. The ball for the second goal could have broken to anyone but sadly it was RVP. To my mind the substitutions were responsible for the loss because they unbalanced the team. There is no point in picking on individual players today. I am a big fan of NA but I am afraid today's loss is down to him . The team was coping admirably and then totally lost their way after the subs. - plus - we were playing united and any slip up will get punished. I am NOT calling for NA's sacking - anybody advocating that is being ridiculous.

[Tractor_Saint]

It looks really, really bad to a worldwide audience and they need to get it sorted ASAP.

 

Two areas I saw with a lot of seats missing:

 

The lower part of the Itchen which I think is where the Youth team and WAGs sit - so where were they all?

 

Up by the Corporate boxes to the left of Cortese as you look at it. Is that Corporate that someone has booked but doesn't attend? Was same for Wigan...

[Tractor_Saint]

Kelvin Penalty save...

[video=youtube;GW4-ERZtXBM]

[Saint_Jonny]

Saints were amazing for 80 minutes, proud of them for that.

 

So painful to get double bummed at the end, however. I'll be dwelling on that til' I'm sat at the Emirates in two weeks time.

 

Morgan was outstanding. Out. Stand. Ing.

[S-Clarke]

Welcome to the Premier League.

 

It only takes a second for a player to take a touch and score at this level, a game can be changed in a blink of an eye. Unfortunately we are naive in certain area's of the pitch, which is costing us at the moments. Actually, I think ''naive'' is the perfect way to sum up this game really. From a tactical point of view, It was slightly naive of Adkins to make the wholesale changes he did - in the time-frame he did. Way too much change, way too quickly. What with their introduction of Scholes, Fergie totally won the tactical battle there.

 

But there weren't many negatives, that's what frustrates the hell out of me. We caught Man Utd on a sloppy day and we took advantage of that, but we even had the chances to make even more advantage of that - we could have had 3 today if we were more clinical in and around the box as Utd were all over the shop at times.

 

The best department of the team for me was the middle. For 60 odd mins they ran the show, Ward-Prowse will not be here for much longer if he continues to put in displays like this - let's be honest. Morgan had his best game of the season and confirms everyone's beliefs that he was always a premiership quality footballer. Davis added that steal and experience in there as well, and he had a very good game in the middle of the park.

 

The front 3 of Lambert, Lalanna and Puncheon were terrific - that was as effective over a prolonged period that we have been in this formation, and it's all down to playing the correct players in their natural positions! No more strikers on the left, and no more midfielders on the right. Puncheon had the game of his life, probably his best ever performance for us. Well done that lad.

 

I Never had any worries over Lambert. He's a goal scorer, he will score goals wherever he is and at whatever level he plays at. He's natural and the way he pulls away on the far post is a gift, his movement in that area is unplayable when the delivery is right. We used that so often last year and it's good to see that's still an effective option this year as well. That's probably the most effective part our play, the diagonal balls to Lambert - that's contributed to so many goals over the last 3 years.

 

Unfortunately the reality is that we're bottom, 3 games, 0 points, -4 GD. But what I'd say to everyone is sit back, take a deep breath over the next few weeks - and don't panic. I would imagine Adkins is saying exactly the same. There are so many positives about us, and we need to feed off those. It might be a case that we have to ''score more than you'' up until January, but we've got the players to do so.

 

It was always going to be like this at the start of the season. I'd expect a similar effort at Arsenal next week as well, we're just too naive at this current time against teams like these. We'll learn and we'll grow because we're a young group (that's including the management), but it really was unlucky to hit all these teams at the start.

 

The pressure on the Villa game is going to be immense though....that's what worries me.

[Crab Lungs]

http://www.redcafe.net/f6/post-match-v-southampton-358709/

 

Lol. One comment crediting us, other than that, it was because they were sh1t.

 

We're now the small fish!

[St_Tel49]

Although in my earlier posts i was questioning the substitutions and our defensive capabilities i would also like to add that there were some really good performances from the team and yes there are plenty of things to be positive about. Mayuka has to settle in and Yoshida will i am sure be a big plus for us and of course Ramirez, i think that is something that we can all be excited about.

Agreed - Puncheon has been a revelation this season, Clyne, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Steve Davis, JWP ad SRL all excellent and will scare a lot of defences this season.

[Legod Third Coming]

Welcome to the Premier League.

 

It only takes a second for a player to take a touch and score at this level, a game can be changed in a blink of an eye. Unfortunately we are naive in certain area's of the pitch, which is costing us at the moments. Actually, I think ''naive'' is the perfect way to sum up this game really. From a tactical point of view, It was slightly naive of Adkins to make the wholesale changes he did - in the time-frame he did. Way too much change, way too quickly. What with their introduction of Scholes, Fergie totally won the tactical battle there.

 

But there weren't many negatives, that's what frustrates the hell out of me. We caught Man Utd on a sloppy day and we took advantage of that, but we even had the chances to make even more advantage of that - we could have had 3 today if we were more clinical in and around the box as Utd were all over the shop at times.

 

The best department of the team for me was the middle. For 60 odd mins they ran the show, Ward-Prowse will not be here for much longer if he continues to put in displays like this - let's be honest. Morgan had his best game of the season and confirms everyone's beliefs that he was always a premiership quality footballer. Davis added that steal and experience in there as well, and he had a very good game in the middle of the park.

 

The front 3 of Lambert, Lalanna and Puncheon were terrific - that was as effective over a prolonged period that we have been in this formation, and it's all down to playing the correct players in their natural positions! No more strikers on the left, and no more midfielders on the right. Puncheon had the game of his life, probably his best ever performance for us. Well done that lad.

 

I Never had any worries over Lambert. He's a goal scorer, he will score goals wherever he is and at whatever level he plays at. He's natural and the way he pulls away on the far post is a gift, his movement in that area is unplayable when the delivery is right. We used that so often last year and it's good to see that's still an effective option this year as well. That's probably the most effective part our play, the diagonal balls to Lambert - that's contributed to so many goals over the last 3 years.

 

Unfortunately the reality is that we're bottom, 3 games, 0 points, -4 GD. But what I'd say to everyone is sit back, take a deep breath over the next few weeks - and don't panic. I would imagine Adkins is saying exactly the same. There are so many positives about us, and we need to feed off those. It might be a case that we have to ''score more than you'' up until January, but we've got the players to do so.

 

It was always going to be like this at the start of the season. I'd expect a similar effort at Arsenal next week as well, we're just too naive at this current time against teams like these. We'll learn and we'll grow because we're a young group (that's including the management), but it really was unlucky to hit all these teams at the start.

 

The pressure on the Villa game is going to be immense though....that's what worries me.

 

Looking at West Ham's opening run of games and ours anyone would think the FA had it in for us...

[Crab Lungs]

That said, better comments here;

 

http://www.redcafe.net/f11/southampton-vs-manchester-united-358381/index46.html

[Dalek2003]

Alpine doesnt post on here anymore...... Him and Dalek made that promise "if Ramirez signs"

 

Alpine and Dalek are dead (yipeeee) long live ART!

 

Find the post where I said that I would stop posting if Ramirez signed.

 

As I said before I promised if Hooper signed.

 

So do the honourable thing and find the evidence. I will be charitable and say that you are igniorant as opposed to lying.

 

So please stop this trolling or I will put you on my ignore list LOL !

[simo]

I blame nigel for r loss taking lanbo adam and punch (who i dont like but think he played his best game in a saints shirt) off!

[Dalek2003]

United were rattled and had to bring on two very experienced Premier players.

 

We have defended leads like this in the NPC and have nearly got caught out. The difference is, it is difficult to close out top class premier players.

 

We are learning lessons the hard way , but we should not be disheartened by this defeat.

 

We will not get relegated for losing to the likes of Manure or Citeh, but we will if we don't defeat the likes of Norwich, QPR and dare I say it Wigan !

[Cabrone]

Like City we had them by the throat but we couldn't quite finish them off, gave them a tiny sniff of victory and they took it.

 

Guess that's why they are top of the pile.

 

Still, plenty of positives to be taken from the game, just need to keep on believing that we can compete with the best because we can.

 

Lambo, Lallana and Puncheon sounded class today.

 

Could have done with a class GK in the transfer window.

[Micky]

Still saw a lot of empty seats on the TV?

 

I noticed that as well - a little worrying if we can't sell out for this level of match.

[Weymouthsaint]

Two areas I saw with a lot of seats missing:

 

The lower part of the Itchen which I think is where the Youth team and WAGs sit - so where were they all?

 

Up by the Corporate boxes to the left of Cortese as you look at it. Is that Corporate that someone has booked but doesn't attend? Was same for Wigan...

 

cant get bloody tickets and you see that on the tv, come on saints sort it, wont get many chances to watch you this season and today was one!!!

[Crouchie Crouchie]

I'm not sure why Kelvin is getting bashed all the time. I thought he played a blinder, saving the pen and getting a hand to a few decent shots?

[smithy]

I blame nigel for r loss taking lanbo adam and punch (who i dont like but think he played his best game in a saints shirt) off!

This.

Subs didnt need to be made, ridiculous. He was trying to inject something into the game and it backfired.

 

Morgan, though was our best player, followed closely by the three he took off.

[redder freak]

Wigan aside we've just played two of the best sides in England and we're furious that we lost. I take some positives from that. 35 games to go. This team will only get better.

[CB Fry]

What was up with the empty seats in the Itchen? Yet again.. Why do the club advertise it as a f*cking sell out?.

 

Those seats were for the Olympic family.

[S-Clarke]

I'm not sure why Kelvin is getting bashed all the time. I thought he played a blinder, saving the pen and getting a hand to a few decent shots?

 

He didn't have a great deal to do, let's be honest. A great penalty save and wasn't at fault for any of the goals. I think his distribution on 2 occasions was so bad though, almost undone all our hard work by just one sloppy bit of play.

[Dalek2003]

IMO we need as a club to be patient and allow people to adjust to Premier League football. Knee jerk reactions will get us nowhere. Even if we are bottom at Christmas, as long as we are not adrift we can bring in new players and strengthen the team.

We need to be thinking about a team we are building over the next three years regarless of the division we are in.

If we get relegated, so what, we can bounce back. But, in the meantime let us build for the long term and back NA.

[Mr Saints]

Negative subs cost us, why oh why bring Lambert off when he is so strong defending set pieces.

 

I'm convinced we would of gone on to win if we had got the 3rd goal when we had that 5-10 minute spell after we scored.

 

Morgan was the best player on the pitch IMO.

[Griffo]

 

Morgan was the best player on the pitch IMO.

 

Not Van Persie then?

[Mr Saints]

Not Van Persie then?

 

Doesn't deserve man of the match for being a **** with that pen. What a ****.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

A top post from you Dalek. I fully agree. Must be that hive mind of yours.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

Doesn't deserve man of the match for being a **** with that pen. What a ****.

 

He absolutely does deserve it. Misses a pen and still scores 3. Now there's a striker.

[Saint J 77]

I really am still feeling very gutted. It just had to be Fergies day didn't it? Not even getting a point was the real kick in the teeth!

[lordswoodsaints]

We played very well for most of the game,but our weaknesses really showed towards the end and the subs that Adkins made did nothing but put pressure on us,if they were to counter the subs that Manu made then it backfired,they were ****e.....the new lad was awful,looked like a dazed baby giraffe,Rodriguez doesn't fit where they want him to play and he must be wondering what the **** he is doing here,guly looked his usual self.

Adkins made the mistake of taking off 3 players who were causing problems and replacing them with nobodies,if he took them off for fitness reasons then I for one want to know why they are not fit,if they were taken off for tactical reasons then Adkins needs to go back to football school because that was an awful decision.

We are the new Blackburn,play well but end up with nothing.