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Arsenal 6 - 1 Saints - Post Match Reaction


Saint_clark

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Well, four games in and we've already played what I think will be the top 3 at the end of the season.

 

Zero points (no surprise) and -7 on goal difference (others, I suspect, will do worse.)

 

Our midfield played far too deep in the first half, much better in the second.

 

Fonte looked better - even more so for having Yoshida alongside him.

 

I'd be inclined to play Yoshida at LB because Fox is constantly done for pace, seldom goal-side, and he ball-watches. Our middle two continually have to cover for his inadequacies which pulls us out of shape, and that makes us vulnerable down the other flank.

 

And Kelvin was not at all good again today - his positioning for the free kick was pitiful.

 

Play Yosihida as a CB, that's his position. We're going to have to stick with Fox, as we have no other options. I don't think he was too bad today, but he just caught at this level and we will be punished by that in future games as well. But putting square pegs into round holes isn't likley to improve the situation.

 

Agree on Fonte, wasn't bad today - looked assured. Probably best CB, which is a bizarre thing to say after a 6-1, but hey ho.

 

Kelvin - looked lower league. Couple of the goals he conceded were awful, just seems too slow to move.

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Oh dear, although to be positive Ramirez looks very good, very direct which we didn't have before he came on and I think he lifted the rest of the team for a spell. Rodriguez much better in the center. Too many backward passes for my liking, being safe when we should be pressing forward. Showed too much respect to a good arsenal team and they destroyed us.

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Well, glad that run of games is over! Unfortunately if we don't get the win next week we've got Everton away the following week which will be tough. In fact our first run of winnable games seems to start the back end of October. I guess what I'm saying is stick behind the team and the manager. We need to keep up last week's level of performance week in week out then we should be ok, weak defence or not. Any more starts like today and we're really gonna struggle.

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Oh dear, although to be positive Ramirez looks very good, very direct which we didn't have before he came on and I think he lifted the rest of the team for a spell. Rodriguez much better in the center. Too many backward passes for my liking, being safe when we should be pressing forward. Showed too much respect to a good arsenal team and they destroyed us.

 

Ramirez seemlessly fitted in, and that has to be a major positive for everyone in my opinion. Sometimes these foreign imports take time to adjust, get hassled off the ball etc. - but he was on it, from word go. Winning the ball back, holding off challenges, winning headers. Looks a perfect PL player, and add that to his obvious technical genius and his brain, then we're in an incredible position to have someone like him in our first team. Astonishing signing really.

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I remember the good old days back in the prem when we took batterings from the top sides all the time but just got on with it. Now we need a mass bed wetting session and an inquest into what went wrong and who is to blame. This place will be horrible this week with all our resident football club management experts telling us how right they were about everything during the summer

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I just hope that the players can put this hammering behind them before the Villa match, looked like they still hadn't got over the nature of the United defeat.

 

First game for a long time where the players looked as if they didn't believe they could get a result.

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Can't believe we beat Arsenal 4-3 at the Emirates!? What great goals by Hooiveld, Clyne, Fox and Walcott!!!

 

In all serious I was not expecting to win this one - but this is not a vintage Arsensal team. 6-1 is a real tonking whoever we were playing anyway. I just hope it wasn't a knock-out blow.

 

I have to ask - are we even going to get one point this season? I can see us failing miserably to win a game until January when we can bring in a first choice keeper, left back and two centrebacks.

 

It's not like we didn't know we needed to strengthen our defence last summer - let alone this one!

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Well I expected 1 point from our first 4 games so I'm not all that surprised. A spanking was always on the cards but it is NEVER these games which get you relegated. It's the home games against teams outside the top 4 which ultimately decide your fate.

 

We will get better. People complain about or lack of activity bringing in defenders but we have got Clyne and Yoshi who I think will do alright. Don't forget we went for a LB and a better 'keeper so Adkins is aware of our problems, the right deal just wasn't available at the time. Don't forget last time we almost stayed up with Bernard, Davenport, Claus, Jackobsson, Van Damme and Delap in defence. Given time our defence will be better than that shower of sh*te.

 

Ramirez looks good

Yoshi looks good.

Clyne and JWP will only get better.

Lambert will make idiots of a lot of defenders this season.

We haven't seen anything of Yukka yet.

 

Keep the faith!!

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For me Puncheon promises more than he delivers.

 

Had quite a bit of the ball, but too many poor passes or loss of possession, gives away silly free kicks and back to endangering the scoreboard with his shooting!

 

Midfield were given a masterclass lesson by aresenal today - AL was MIA, Spiderman seemed to deep, Davis totally out classed., Ward Prowse stood out but the cameo from Ramirez eclipsed him and brings great hopes for the future.

 

Goal differnce looking shabby to say the least - need to hand out a few beatings at home now.

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Worse than I'd hoped and frankly clueless in the first half. Yoshida and Ramirez will probably help but oh dear our limitations certainly were exposed. Sure we were better in the second half with a more conventional 4-4-2 but with that formation we had no penetration whatsoever and in any case Arsenal clearly eased up to save energy for Wednesday night.

 

This doesn't auger well whichever way you mix it. Even if Ramirez turns out to be the signing of the century he won't be able to do it on his own. Our movement off the ball was slow, clumsy and predictable compared with Arsenal's.

 

I hope this isn't the end for Davis and Lambert but they looked pretty poor today. If I was Nigel I'd be getting a bit worried about our overall quality but we have what we have until January and he'll have to do more than play containment football to win more than 1 point from games.

 

Still, we've been here before and no doubt will be here again so it can't get any worse.

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I remember the good old days back in the prem when we took batterings from the top sides all the time but just got on with it. Now we need a mass bed wetting session and an inquest into what went wrong and who is to blame. This place will be horrible this week with all our resident football club management experts telling us how right they were about everything during the summer

 

The last few seasons the fans have devoloped a "winning mentality" it's going to take time to revert back to being happy with draws at home, getting beat 6-1 away and getting used to looking at the bottom of the table rather than the top....bear with us while some of us re-discover our good old "plucky saints in the PL" mentality.

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Worse than I'd hoped and frankly clueless in the first half. Yoshida and Ramirez will probably help but oh dear our limitations certainly were exposed. Sure we were better in the second half with a more conventional 4-4-2 but with that formation we had no penetration whatsoever and in any case Arsenal clearly eased up to save energy for Wednesday night.

 

This doesn't auger well whichever way you mix it. Even if Ramirez turns out to be the signing of the century he won't be able to do it on his own. Our movement off the ball was slow, clumsy and predictable compared with Arsenal's.

 

I hope this isn't the end for Davis and Lambert but they looked pretty poor today. If I was Nigel I'd be getting a bit worried about our overall quality but we have what we have until January and he'll have to do more than play containment football to win more than 1 point from games.

 

Still, we've been here before and no doubt will be here again so it can't get any worse.

 

One of your better, and more informed posts in my opinion.

 

Don't agree on the Lambert bit though.

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Five scored and 15 conceded, nil points tbf against the best teams if we don't beat villa I can see cortese getting twitchy allegedly he's already spoken to Harry which for the record I don't believe he's the answer get the defence sorted and we still have a chance

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The last few seasons the fans have devoloped a "winning mentality" it's going to take time to revert back to being happy with draws at home, getting beat 6-1 away and getting used to looking at the bottom of the table rather than the top....bear with us while some of us re-discover our good old "plucky saints in the PL" mentality.

 

Well most desperately wanted this (from memory, maybe you personally weren't fussed) but it is what it is, there will be more of these types of results but also some good ones mixed in. It will be the usual 8-9 home games which will define our season, just like always. I'm sure there will be a few positive surprises along the way as well though

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TheSquad is just not PL standard I am afraid

 

I think it will become PL standard, in time. The nature is that we're very young, and quite naive. But the quality and ability is there.

 

Unfortunately we've been thrown straight into the deep end, so any failings or early season naivety will be taken full advantage of.

 

In the 4 games I've seen the quality, and we will cause most teams problems at this level. The naivety comes from the ****ty goals we're conceding, but then let's just realise the players who have scored against us.

 

The Wigan result is the one that stands out. If we'd have played as we did against Man Utd, or Man City, we'd have won that and we'd be sitting on 3 points in a much more positive situation.

 

Next week will be huge though, there is no denying that. The pressure on the management, and the players to get a result (Heck,e ven 1 point on the board would be something) will be immense and I'm not sure how some of the younger lads will respond to that sort of pressure - it's the first time many have experienced this sort of game.

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It's going to be a long season and my concern is that it's going to take a few games for the new players to settle in.

 

Actually it is not going to be a long season at all, 4 down only 34 left to play and about 5 of those certain defeats - you'll be amazed how quickly that goes when you're struggling so we need 42 points from 87. That's what I mean about a short season.

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This may sound like over-reaction, but I feel like Gazzaniga should be given a chance in goal against Villa.

 

Davis has made far too many mistakes in these first four games, Gazzaniga can't possibly be worse.

 

I have to say I've been thinking the same.

 

It's difficult to judge due to the quality of opposition in 3 of the last 4 games, but I can't help thinking that he should be doing better against some of those shots.

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Hmm, weird game today. Some terrible play, but also some positives.

 

Poor:

 

Davis had a shocker. Don't know what he was doing for the free kick, just completely misjudged. Beaten very easily at his near post for the 3rd as well. Wouldn't drop him yet, but needs a kick up the a*se.

 

Fullbacks, both got roasted today. Gervinho and AOC had the measure of the pair of them. At one point, fox was done so easily it's a joke. If we're going to encourage them to get forward, midfielders have to drop in as cover.

 

Not much thrust from midfield, Lallana in particular was comfortably handled by Jenkinson.

 

Positives:

 

Ramirez is a gem. Just on another level to rest of then. Always looks to change the angle of the attack and plays with his head up. Given space at SMS, he will punish some teams.

 

Yoshida is quick and pretty good on the ball. Maybe not the brute CB we need, but could be an upgrade on what we have.

 

Start of the 2nd half, we kept possession for a little 10 min spell and looked pretty good. Just undone by shocking defending at the back.

 

As people say, season starts now really. Villa game is massive.

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thank god that run of results is over.....we al knew it was mightily impossible and most teams would lose 3 out of 4 from that lot..let alone a brand new prem team....

 

we simply have to improve defensively or we are toast.....simple as that...

 

Agree, and Wigan are no slouches either.

 

My main concern is it sounds like Villa are starting to pull it together - Pat Murphy on 5live was purring about them this afternoon...

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Outclassed by an Arsenal side in great form.

 

Defence is a concern, although stats can be deceiving. Whilst it's disappointing to have conceded 15 goals in 4 games, people must remember we've played City, United and Arsenal.

 

Played OK in spells second-half, Ramirez looks lively and Yoshida was decent enough all things considered.

 

Massive game next week, win that and potentially we can go 14th. Arguably more pressure on that one than today, where nobody expected us to get anything.

 

Buzz words of the week? Perspective and positivity.

 

Not all doom and gloom, although I agree, we need to start picking up points now - and fast!

 

Keep the faith.

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I struggle to see how Gazza would have kept any of those goals out TBH, so Davis does not deserve to be whipping boy. Simple fact is we came up too quick - not enough time to form a Prem team AND retain squad unity at the same time.

 

It's not just about the goals, his distribution is shocking and he doesn't hold on to anything.

 

A couple of those goals I would hope Gazzaniga would have done better with. Hooiveld's OG in particular, he let the ball squirm right under his body, unforgivable.

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Worried about Kelvin, he's been really poor all season and was a nightmare today. All his invincibility of last few years has dissipated and he looks slow and indecisive, usually the beginning of the end for a GK.

 

A confident PL quality keeper would make such a difference to our shaky defence, but that's for January. Our options currently are continue with KD, start Paulo or bring in an out of contract like Gordon.

 

Maybe will have to think about starting Gazza, he appears to have a lot of potential and may well surprise with his progress. As things stand Kelvin will cost us too many points, I suspect.

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Just got back. Live in North London in a house with a bunch of arsenal fans :(

Good god. That first half was the most one sided thing i have ever seen, lucky it wasnt 6 at half time. Total shambles. Kelvin didnt do much wrong but fills me with no confidence. Fox was poor. The only positive was Arsenal were incredible, so so so good. Second half a bit better, Gaston looked good, so did Jay Rod he needs a proper chance in his position. Next week will be huge and very difficult. Not confident.

Final positive was sitting in Arsenal end and saints fan were great, well done all of ya.

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As expected....match and reaction! Had to be 6-1 didn't it, not 5 or 7, just the same as 2003.

 

Still only annoyed about the Wigan game. The one damn game we couldn't score and if we'd taken the lead I think we'd have won. Psychological pressure is only going to get worse so really need to avoid defeat against Villa. If we lose that and Everton I imagine the pressure would be too much. Be a horrible way for Adkins to go and I doubt I'd pay much more attention to the season, but fans will get on his back. Not that any other manager can do much to improve the defence. Still think you defend as a team but too many individual errors. Football is harsh and whatever Kelvin has done, he's struggling badly. Said for year's he fine but will always concede too many near post and long shots. Feel sorry for him as he's trying his best.

 

But no team gets relegated due to results against the top 4. Got called stupid for preferring a stuffing to another 3-2 gallant loss. Well I felt 100 times worse after MU. Perhaps they needed that kick up the arse rather than plaudits for gaining no points. Plenty of talent there, plenty of time and plenty of games. Like every other team out there, we'll get ripped apart sometimes. Just as we did in every relegation battle in our history. People said they'd take 17th but don't seem to accept such a position involves taking some thrashings. A lot of thrashings. If you want to stay up, you have to get over it and get behind the team. That's why fans did last time in the top flight. If instead they choose to whine and get on players backs then they probably will get exactly what they deserve.

 

If I were a gambling man I'd be going 1-0 v Villa. Happens so often when a team has been stuffed the previous game. Personally I think we have more chance of winning that game than if we'd lost 3-2 today and done well. Some might not agree or understand that, but it happens to teams every season.

 

Play like we did against Man Utd, cut out some of the individual errors and not have to face top 4 sides and we'll start picking up points. More depressing that the result is the sheer predictability of the reaction though. Before, during and after the game. Utter parody of itself now and renders the forum completely pointless with any half sensible conversation impossible. Frustrating, but again, expected.

 

Post of the day, without a shadow of a doubt.

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Finishing 17th is success this season. We can achieve that regardless of the size of today's battering. The elements that aren't good enough - Davies, Fox definitely, Fonte, Hooiveld probably - will be weeded out and replaced, we will get stronger and hopefully in 2/3 seasons we will be an established premiership force. It's all about scraping by with what we've got at the moment, at least until January, and having 1 more point than 3 other sides at the end of the season.

All that said, if we lose to Villa next week I am going to start worrying that this season could be a complete embarrassment.

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End of the day you can't expect a side that clinched consecutive promotions to have all the areas sussed out, especially against the top 4. We've not had time to consolidate, especially in defense because we've reached the Prem well ahead of schedule. We were always going to have very little points going into first 4 games. Nige will get it right eventually but it will take time and real balls from all the lads on the pitch.

 

I just pray to god that 'Arry doesn't make a comeback

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It's difficult. Arsenal are the sort of side that will pass holes through us if we go for it in our normal style a la City and United. However, doing what we did in the first 15 trying to defend deep is suicide because they will have about 70% possession and 1st goal absolutely slays us.

 

Positive that we can create chances, if we'd taken a few more it might have been a bit different. But we have to hold out early and really get first goals in games - as we did against the Manchesters - not many teams will take us down like they did if we work on those last 15 minutes or so. Maybe Yoshida will be our saviour once he gets up to pace

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Midfield crap without the ball. Don't close down dont track runners. But the defence will take 100% of the blame as usual.

 

Totally agree-the midfield gave the defense little protection. Their first goal spoke volumes- their one attacker should never have outfought two of our midfielders to come out with the ball. Yes our midfield covers ground but it is incredibly lightweight. What I would do for one physical, powerful CM- a Tiote type player. Arsenal also showed what a little bit of pace can do. Mayuka apart, we don't have any players who can truly test or put a defense on the backfoot.

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Ramirez seemlessly fitted in, and that has to be a major positive for everyone in my opinion. Sometimes these foreign imports take time to adjust, get hassled off the ball etc. - but he was on it, from word go. Winning the ball back, holding off challenges, winning headers. Looks a perfect PL player, and add that to his obvious technical genius and his brain, then we're in an incredible position to have someone like him in our first team. Astonishing signing really.

 

You got all that from 45 mins? Really? I thought he did well but let's not get carried away here. Personally I'd play him as one of the front 3 - might see a little less of the ball but will be more dangerous when he gets it. Pleased to see Rodriguez come on and hold the ball up well in the CF position though. End of the day, to coin a phrase, we lost to the better side and there's no real disgrace in that. Actually if that's the way we're aspiring to play (like Arsenal today) then we've had a good lesson; sure we'll learn from it.

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You got all that from 45 mins? Really? I thought he did well but let's not get carried away here. Personally I'd play him as one of the front 3 - might see a little less of the ball but will be more dangerous when he gets it. Pleased to see Rodriguez come on and hold the ball up well in the CF position though. End of the day, to coin a phrase, we lost to the better side and there's no real disgrace in that. Actually if that's the way we're aspiring to play (like Arsenal today) then we've had a good lesson; sure we'll learn from it.

 

That's what I saw in 45mins, that's all I was putting out there.

 

And there wasn't any other positive.

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Today's game was just wrong, 2 own goals do not happen every season.

 

We didn't start well and the own goal made us panic.

 

Fonte looked fine, no goal was his fault directly, and his positioning improved with Yoshida in (who showed better skill on the ball so hopefully some improvement). However I think Davis does not seem to be up for the Prem. Should have caught the ball in the 1st own goal, the free kick is good but he took a long time to react (he didn't see it late) and dived too early and poorly, it didn't even get it in that far away from the centre. Finally in the 3rd goal we have a repeat of City's first, being unable to cover the near post is something that PL strikers will notice and will make him/us pay.

 

Ramirez looked good and confident on the ball but I won't come up with an opinion on him, Yoshida or Mayuka just yet. Think it's only fair if he settles in the squad and actually gets some proper game time rather than 45 minutes in a dead game before considering him a good or bad investment.

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Shocking first half. Rickie isolated and ineffective. Morgan weirdly off the pace. Got unlucky with the first goal.

 

Second half better. Ramirez was excellent and most of the play went through him. Surprisingly impressed with JayRod too, much sharper than Rickie. Fonte has improved, Fox was hopeless throughout. Yoshi also promising.

 

Liked Theo and Alex applauding us at the end.

 

Arsenal's fans are appallingly boring.

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