Saints 2 Fulham 2 - Post Match Reactions

[trousers]

We will finish 8th....

 

 

 

...from bottom :-)

[yorkie]

The game was one way traffic and we should have won convincingly. I don't blame the team or the Manager - I blame the fans!

The substitution of Lambert was not the wrong thing to do in my opinion - he had run himself into the ground closing down. Yoshida was out numbered on the right - Fox got little cover from Lallana on the left. Time and time again we looked out muscled by their ownly attacker!

Poor old Jos - another two own goals...he will reward us with a couple at the other end soon!

Another point less to win before the end of the season - we will win away soon - hopefully next weekend!

[S-Clarke]

It does pain me to say it, but we just don't look anywhere near good enough. We weren't helped by injures to Gaston and Clyne though, but the reality is that we cannot afford to lose that sort of quality because we have no backup of equal or similar level.

 

The fact that Chaplow came on said it all, great servant but he's never a PL player and our squad is thread bare with the injuries we have. Let's hope they clear up quickly and we can get the likes of Clyne, Gaston, Mayuka out on the pitch. Without the quality they provide, we've got no chance it pains me to say.

 

Let's hope we get to January with our head still above water as our CM and CB area need addressing in terms of cover, and additional quality.

[Minsk]

Adkins has been great for us, and was unlucky to lose Ramirez and Clyne today, but taking off your best two attacking players at home against a side there for the taking is a direct route to a P45 if it doesn't come off. Davis and Schneiderlin were both hopeless today, both of them have the first touch of a camel and repeatedly gave the ball away. We have to sort out the pub defending too. Hooiveld is becoming a liability.

 

I would have taken a point before the game as Fulham have been playing well but without two of there better players this year they were there for the taking today.

 

Poor decision to take Lambert off so early again, despite not having one of his better games he was still miles more of a threat than Rodriguez. Nice to see Gully come on and play well.

 

I am usually Fox's biggest critic but he had a good game as did Davis and Morgan in midfield, but man of the match Jose Fonte and that has bugger all to do with the 2 goals he was immense at the back.

 

Strange how people can have such a different opinion of the same players in the same match.

 

FWIW, I agree with Ewell's in this case.

 

However, he then contradicts himself by saying it was a poor decision to take Lambert off but nice to see Guly come on and play well.

 

In this case, I agree with the second statement. Guly DID play well when he came on; therefore, maybe it was a correct decision by Adkins?

 

I think we were unlucky with the early loss of Richardson (especially with Clyne already missing) and the disallowed goal should have stood. I am also certain we would have won with our best 11 on the pitch. That has to be countered with the fact that Fulham were also missing their 2 first choice forwards though.

 

All in all, disappointing to drop 2 points but happy to have the one having gone behind so late in the game.

[Toomer]

Could have and should have won that, we should have been 3 up at half time.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Our defence is absolutely awful. Fox and Hooiveld nowhere near good enough.

[Lymsaint]

[

 

We ALL agreed with the Puncheon substitution. Yeah he runs around but EVERY time he got near the box the final ball was just not there AND more importantly he didn't look capable of providing it. Guly got in the way more and with arms and legs going in all directions at least he made their defence work to get the ball back off him.

 

 

Agree with this, Punch played well in the first half but was too slow in passing/crossing in the second,

[pap]

Frustrating game. Tons of opportunities to win it. Fulham seemed incapable of defending at corners. Jos has got to stop scoring goals for other teams. Maya looked a bit dodgy at times. Very predictable at the end. Still, will take the end result as I think we were lucky not to concede a pen through Yoshida.

[S-Clarke]

Our defence is absolutely awful. Fox and Hooiveld nowhere near good enough.

 

That's pretty much true. Players who I felt pretty comfortable with have shocked me, as they look completely and utterly out of their depth. As good as we can be going forward, these guys look destined to continue making the same mistakes, game after game.

 

Still believe it's going to be a case of ''score more than you'' until January, and hope we're still in touch.

[RedWillie]

Respectable attendance, a draw clutched from the hands of a win.....

[kpturner]

Davis and Schneiderlin were both hopeless today, both of them have the first touch of a camel and repeatedly gave the ball away.

That is a wind-up, right? Either that or you get the vote for clueless supporter of the year.

[Elmore]

I'm usually pretty positive, but that just seemed a really poor performance. There was virtually nothing to get the crowd excited.

 

Puncheon and Lambert should have stayed on the pitch imo.

 

Hooiveld looks like a different player to last season - if this is how he played in SPL, I can see why Celtic were not bothered to see him go.

 

Massive blow losing Clyne and Ramirez before the match as well as Richardson on the 8th minute., but we should still of had enough to see out the game and beat Fulham at home.

 

Pretty disappointed as that was a great chance to grab 3 points.

[Rebel]

Rodriguez looked good playing in front of Lambert - he just needs one goal and then they will start to go in. He had the pace and height we need t lead th line and he running to Crete space for Lambert behind him. Plus it's gives us two targets two aim for with the long ball out from he back.

 

Gazzinaga also added a lot with his distribution from he back - his kicking is so so much better than Kelvin's.

 

Puncheon and Lambert were two of our better players today - taking them both off seemed to lose the team it's shape and cohesion - and although they maybe weren't creating as much with the ball in the 10 minutes or so before that they were still keeping possession.

 

If they'd stayed on we probably would have held on for the one nil victory or maybe got the second goal.

[Elmore]

Plus we let in another 2 goals. It seems we have to score at least 2 goals to get anything out of a game these days as we let at least 2 in every single match. That is untenable.

[Tractor_Saint]

Good advert for Barclay's for our first goal celebration

 

[Saint Paul]

A poor game all round from both teams. Saints seemed to lack any kind of teamwork at times and looked stretched and disjointed. Fulham held onto the ball and passed much better as a team but showed very little ambition going forward. All the time Lambert is on the pitch he causes the other team problems regardless as to if he is on top form or not. When he is substituted it takes pressure off the oposition and allows them to play further up the pitch. At times we needed somebody to put their foot on the ball and calm things down a bit instead of hoofing it back to Fulham and waiting for the next attack to come at us.

 

On the plus side it was good to see us show enough metal to come back from 2-1 when all looked to be lost. Also the goalkeeper looks to be a good signing, he looks to be a good shot stopper with good distribution and calm for his age. I would have taken a point before the game but on reflection it should have been 3pts against a lack lustre Fulham side.

[JoeShmoe]

After scoring the first in 4 minutes, I thought we'd go on and get a few more, but Fulham didn't make it too easy for us.

 

It's easy to see why our defence struggles, they're just so nervous when the ball comes near them. Granted we were unfortunate to lose Frazer early on, and not have a right back on the bench, but Jos was shocking when he came on. Just shocking, and I hate to say that as he was one of my fave players in the nPC. Fonte has grown in stature as the season has gone on, and ignoring his two well taken goals, he was our best defender today. Perhaps he's improved since being partnered with Yoshi. So far, it's hard to see Jos as a Premier League defender. Maybe he'll improve, but maybe the Celtic fans were on to something. Danny Fox had a better game than others I've seen this season, but it's easy to see why he's limited. We had a good spell of passing in the first half, we strung quite a few together, then the ball eventually went to Fox and he punted it long. It's a shame Clyne picked up a knock pre-game, thank God he's got a couple of weeks to recover. Gazzaniga, I thought, looked fairly good. He made a good save shortly after they hit the post, and his long kicking was good, but it's obvious he's still learning the game. He'll make a mistake eventually, a la Bialkowski against Blackpool last season, it's a case of whether it'll dent his confidence. I'm looking forward to the introduction of Boruc.

 

As for the midfield, Davis and Morgan did both have good games. We were the better team in the first half. Lallana has had better games - I still prefer him higher up the pitch. Up top, I am surprised both Rickie and Punch was subbed. Fonte gets my MOTM (and probably most other people's) but Puncheon was having a good game. Always hustling, good touch on the ball, always looking for an outlet and has that pace to scare the opposition. Perhaps he faded a bit, but he seemed like our best attacking outlet. I'd havce brought Mayuka on in lieu of Guly, but that's up to Nigel I guess. Rickie could've scored a couple today, and probably would on a better day, but Rodriguez looked a bit lost.

 

All in all we should've won, as for the bulk of the game I thought we were the better, more decisive team, but as soon as Jos banged that ball past Gazzaniga, I just knew they'd go on to get a second. I'm mightily relieved we didn't give up, and one point is better than none, but this is two points dropped for me.

 

Still, blue line and all that, bring on the Hammers, and a fully fit Saints...

 

Completely agree with all of this. Such a shame Clyne and Ramirez were unfit as we'd have won that comfortably

 

Hooiveld is completely out of his depth at this level. He has been all season. We'd have been better off bringing on Reeves at RB. Fonte and Maya bailed him out at least twice but he was at fault for both goals. There's also an air of panic when he plays and he cant distribute from the back

[redder freak]

Much better defensive performance than against Everton. Tactical slog against a solid top 10 Premier League side, with some of our key players (Ramirez, Clyne) missing. Could easily have won it if their keeper had been sent off for his foul on Puncheon, instead of the goal being disallowed for his dive.

[SaintBobby]

I think there's a strong case for looking into whether we can pick up a new centre back and full back on a free.

 

Pretty dreadful game between two very mediocre teams.

 

On the upside, at least it's obvious where our weaknesses are.

 

November looks like a huge month.

[DJ_TOAST]

Loved that all those people leaving early after they scored missed our last goal.

 

I almost got a ban today which still slightly annoyed about. End of half time went to use disabled toilet in Northam as stood near it, steward bangs on door has big rant about how can't use em unless disabled so Im like fair enough. I go to use normal cubicle and when come out there's like 6 stewards stood outside toilet waiting for me...Im like wtf. Theyre like we want word with you so go out and another 4 or so stewards outside...so got 10 around me when get out and they start accusing me of smoking (when was guy in cubicle next to me was)and I try to explain I dont eve smoke but they not having any of it.. in end Im given warning but told if anymore mischief from me in future will be banned. ruined afteroon a bit...makes me laugh though them thinking they are higher mortals or something

[ART]

We are going to find as in the past, having overseas Internationals in the squad, especially Asians. South Americans and Africans is going to cost us real big. They are going to be absent or of little effet for 2 games for every one game by Home International or European players. Thought most did well considering Ramirez, Clyne and Mayuba were away.

Fonte would do well as a striker, adding additional defence when games get tough. Can't see games getting any easier and ADKINS and his 2 Stooges really have their work cut out for him. Why the hell was Puncheon and Ricky taken off when we needed goals. More insane substitutions

[Weston Saint]

I thought Gazzaniga had a decent game. Looks up before the ball comes to him and has already decided who it is going to by the time it reaches him. Something Davis was weak at doing. Decent command of his area as well.

 

Yoshida struggled at right back when he took over and it is clearly not a position he is used to or has the skill to undertake

 

Watched Fox from close quarters in the second half and I am afraid Lallana did not support him enough in defence.

 

Fonte looked assured but Hooiveld looked like a player coming back from injury

 

In midfield Schneiderlin was fine but I was disappointed yet again with Davies. Little inventiveness, vision or forward driving for my liking. You cannot have him and Schneiderlin doing the same thing. It negates any forward momentum.

 

Puncheon worked very hard to win the ball and use it. He lacks the football brain at this level but makes up for it with determination. I was very surprised to see him replaced so early on in the second half. Lallana worked hard but his end product let him down today.

 

Up front in a 4-4-2 I thought Lambert and Rodriguez looked a good pairing. Again I could not see why Lambert was replaced!

 

Chaplow does not come near a replacement for Puncheon. I have been a big supporter of Guly in the past but like Chaplow I do not think he is Premier material.

 

Thought Adkins has the team set up well and we dominated the first half. Fulham came at us in the second half but we could have held them if he had not panicked and changed things around. We were poorer for the loss of the two players who were subbed and he has to take some blame for that decision.

 

A draw came as a bit of a relief in the end but it should not have been that way. However, anyone calling for Adkins head or that Fonte’s late equalizer saved his job are wide of the mark. This team and it’s Manager are still learning about Premier football. They need time. I think they will just about survive as a Premier side but it will be a close call

[Stepgar]

@joshooiveld20: Low as a snakes belly.. nothing to do with luck just poor from me. (Again). Bad place at the moment.

[The Kraken]

@joshooiveld20: Low as a snakes belly.. nothing to do with luck just poor from me. (Again). Bad place at the moment.

 

Not a lot you can say to that. Sadly entirely true, and simply not good enough from a Premier League defender.

[Stepgar]

Not a lot you can say to that. Sadly entirely true, and simply not good enough from a Premier League defender.

 

It's not for the lack of trying. Lets get behind the fella. I am sure he won a few points last year so without him we would not be in the position of playing in the elite league.

[The Kraken]

It's not for the lack of trying. Lets get behind the fella. I am sure he won a few points last year so without him we would not be in the position of playing in the elite league.

 

True enough, but unfortunately there's no room for sentiment in football. Especially at this level. If Clyne is back then Jos will be back to the bench.

[Stepgar]

True enough, but unfortunately there's no room for sentiment in football. Especially at this level. If Clyne is back then Jos will be back to the bench.

 

Hear what you're saying but let's not forget either. The guy is clearly of his knees and needs some support. If he feels every time he gets an opportunity that the fans are getting on his back it will do more harm than good.

[up and away]

It does pain me to say it, but we just don't look anywhere near good enough. We weren't helped by injures to Gaston and Clyne though, but the reality is that we cannot afford to lose that sort of quality because we have no backup of equal or similar level.

 

The fact that Chaplow came on said it all, great servant but he's never a PL player and our squad is thread bare with the injuries we have. Let's hope they clear up quickly and we can get the likes of Clyne, Gaston, Mayuka out on the pitch. Without the quality they provide, we've got no chance it pains me to say.

 

Let's hope we get to January with our head still above water as our CM and CB area need addressing in terms of cover, and additional quality.

 

That's about it for me as well, although Chaplow could be a really good sub if he gets his form back. Gaston and Clyne are our best attacking threats and we need either Rodriques or Mayuka to be the type of player we all dreamt them to be. Puncheon is just mediocre and shows why he has never had an extended run previously in the Premier. I still enjoyed the game and thought we did well with what we had on the pitch, but that does not blunt the reality.

[70's Mike]

we got a point 36 to go

[Wade Garrett]

I thought Gazzaniga had a decent game. Looks up before the ball comes to him and has already decided who it is going to by the time it reaches him. Something Davis was weak at doing. Decent command of his area as well.

 

Yoshida struggled at right back when he took over and it is clearly not a position he is used to or has the skill to undertake

 

Watched Fox from close quarters in the second half and I am afraid Lallana did not support him enough in defence.

 

Fonte looked assured but Hooiveld looked like a player coming back from injury

 

In midfield Schneiderlin was fine but I was disappointed yet again with Davies. Little inventiveness, vision or forward driving for my liking. You cannot have him and Schneiderlin doing the same thing. It negates any forward momentum.

 

Puncheon worked very hard to win the ball and use it. He lacks the football brain at this level but makes up for it with determination. I was very surprised to see him replaced so early on in the second half. Lallana worked hard but his end product let him down today.

 

Up front in a 4-4-2 I thought Lambert and Rodriguez looked a good pairing. Again I could not see why Lambert was replaced!

 

Chaplow does not come near a replacement for Puncheon. I have been a big supporter of Guly in the past but like Chaplow I do not think he is Premier material.

 

Thought Adkins has the team set up well and we dominated the first half. Fulham came at us in the second half but we could have held them if he had not panicked and changed things around. We were poorer for the loss of the two players who were subbed and he has to take some blame for that decision.

 

A draw came as a bit of a relief in the end but it should not have been that way. However, anyone calling for Adkins head or that Fonte’s late equalizer saved his job are wide of the mark. This team and it’s Manager are still learning about Premier football. They need time. I think they will just about survive as a Premier side but it will be a close call

 

Managers are very rarely afforded time. Our keeper was replaced by Adkins because he wasn't up to the Premier. Who knows what may happen if Cortese doesn't think the manager isn't up to it.

[70's Mike]

Managers are very rarely afforded time. Our keeper was replaced by Adkins because he wasn't up to the Premier. Who knows what may happen if Cortese doesn't think the manager isn't up to it.

 

he will look for a new one who believes in Les Reeds vision

[OldNick]

he will look for a new one who believes in Les Reeds vision

Curbishly it is then

[Cheese on Toast]

When you look at Fulham's position in the league, it's not really a bad result.. however we didnt play brillitantly in the second half

[S-Clarke]

When you look at Fulham's position in the league, it's not really a bad result.. however we didnt play brillitantly in the second half

 

It's not great, because they were without alot of their starters today, so were kind of there for the taking. They're probably at their weakest at the mo.

 

But on the flip side, we showed great character and determination not to be beaten - but unfortunately that alone will not keep us up, we need quality as well, which was sadly lacking in many areas today. A very lower league performance for the majority of the 2nd half

[surrey1saint]

J Rod is not good enough....yet.

 

Why so many Guly hatters in the Northam? Why don't they see what he dioes on the pich,usually good things!

[Deanovski]

Me and my whole family have been nothing but massive Adkins fans but as soon as he took lambert off EVERY one in the bar said "FFS same as utd game, we will end up F**king this up". Then we let in 2 Goals not to say Guly or Chaplow were bad when they came on but it meant the Fulham team just got better. But if the substitution cost Adkins the game it would've rightly so cost him his job. FWIW I also think Jay rod looked lots more like a player worth 7m today

[Pedro]

No sentiment, a results driven business, can see achange soon.

[Webby]

Disappointed with Lallana today. Yes, worked hard but just doesn't seem to create anything at the moment. Dwells on the ball too long.

 

Overall I think our passing was sloppy today. No pace, or zippyness to our passing. Couple of hospital balls out there in the 2nd half. We've got to move the ball around quicker, with pace on the ball. Too slow at the moment.

[S-Clarke]

No sentiment, a results driven business, can see achange soon.

 

Who else will do better with what we have? Be honest, with the injuries we have, this is a squad that will be ripped apart by most teams in this league - which is why I loved the character shown to get a 2-2 today.

[saintsmike25]

Wow, can't believe some of the moaners on here.

 

Plenty of football yet to play! Plus it's a good point, we will need them. We were just unlucky today, we need to be wary of the ball out wide and those low driven crosses.

[Webby]

Who else will do better with what we have? Be honest, with the injuries we have, this is a squad that will be ripped apart by most teams in this league - which is why I loved the character shown to get a 2-2 today.

 

The character word always comes out when a team has come from behind, always, but I'd like to see some character to get us a 2 goal lead and put the game to bed instead.

[70's Mike]

Who else will do better with what we have? Be honest, with the injuries we have, this is a squad that will be ripped apart by most teams in this league - which is why I loved the character shown to get a 2-2 today.

 

Totally agree but when i got home and looked at the pictures of NA both before, during and after the game he did not look his normal self, i hope i am wrong but i am starting to believe a change is on its way

[Rasiak-9-]

Positives:

 

1) Jose Fonte is held back only by confidence; and scoring a goal does a world of good for whatever position you're in. All of a sudden even if you do make a mistake you've always got the fact you've scored as a defence and its no coincidence that Jose had a terrific game at the back having had the confidence boost of a goal. Clearly does have the natural ability to some extent.

 

2) Getting a result playing badly; We got a result of sorts against a decent team when playing poorly. Compare that to Reading who were at 100% vs. Newcastle and Swansea in their last two and all of a sudden a 2-2 seems a decent result.

 

3) Good set-piece deliveries and goals; I don't much like remembering the days of being utterly harmless from set-pieces so 3 goals in our last two games from corners/FKs is a good sign. We'll need to make them count against teams who beat us in terms of possession.

 

4) Good fight; Conceding an 88th minute "winner" is sickening. Good fight to pick ourselves up and salvage a draw.

 

5) Chaplow and Guly; As much as the subs in terms of the tactical side of making them might be criticised as well as who we chose to be replaced, both players did well when they came on.

 

6) Gazzaniga; Looks a genuinely good keeper and not just a decent prospect. Made a great save today as well and had good hands claiming crosses. Even had the confidence to take a touch and run the clock down here and there even if his kicking wasn't great. Genuinely capable of starting

 

Negatives:

 

1) Poor defending as a unit from the midfield backwards; Fulham scored simple goals. Preventable ones, but simple ones. Richardson arrived late for a simple pulled-back cross and Riise's shot should have been closed down.

 

2) Panic at the back; Very often we were spooning the ball away and not quite knowing who's job it was to clear the ball. We looked like a team who knew they would concede at some point. Worrying.

 

3) Yoshida can't play full back; At the highest levels you need full-backs like Phillip Lahm and Ashley Cole who can match the agility and pace of high-level flicks 'n' tricks wingers. Yoshida isn't a good enough full-back one-on-one although plays well as a centre-half.

 

4) Rodriguez; His signing becomes more mysterious by the moment. Desperately needs his first goal regardless of how well he plays in other areas of the game. He's an out and out centre-forward who does little else than (what he ought to do) score goals.

 

5) Lambert; Dossed around a bit. Needs to put more in during "bad" games. Its all well and good being the best and most talented player in the squad but he needs to put in a shift going forward even in games in which he doesn't score. Our best player didn't play well today.

[S-Clarke]

Totally agree but when i got home and looked at the pictures of NA both before' date=' during and after the game he did not look his normal self, i hope i am wrong but i am starting to believe a change is on its way[/quote']

 

I think he was as fuming as the rest of us on our defending, again. He's probably getting to the point where he's starting to realise there's not a lot he can do without additional players.

[cellone]

Not in the bottom three.

[Shroppie]

On the bright side, we were without Gaston, Clyne, Cork, and someone I think is called Lee, but has been injured so much I've forgotten, had a makeshift RB and we got a point which should have been three. Fonte is improving. Puncheon had a good game and worked his socks off. I've seen worse from Fox.

 

On the other hand, we can't afford to waste chances like we did especially in the first half. Should have been at least 3 up. And Fox/Lallana were hopelessly beaten for the third. Today won't do Jos's confidence any good which is a shame because he was key for us last season and I have faith in him to make it in the Prem. Adam didn't have his best game. He never seems happy playing in front of Fox.

 

At least we've got 2 weeks to get players back. Gaston and Clyne are obviously important but I don't underestimate how much we've missed Cork.

 

We'll beat Spurs.

[GAS]

Well done Jose, may have saved your gaffer.

And what a shocker of a player Hooiveld is. A disaster or two waiting to happen in every game he plays. Own up, who has ever said he is a better player than Fonte?

[S-Clarke]

And what a shocker of a player Hooiveld is. A disaster or two waiting to happen in every game he plays. Own up, who has ever said he is a better player than Fonte?

 

He's having a bad time at the moment, and is possibly out of his depth. But he was better than Fonte on many occasions last season. It's odd how it's switch around.

 

But if we're honest, both CB's aren't good enough for where we are striving to be. So Fonte, and Jos will both need replacing sooner rather than later.

 

He's been a great servant though and I hope he still gets support from us. He's earned that, surely.

[Shroppie]

And what a shocker of a player Hooiveld is. A disaster or two waiting to happen in every game he plays. Own up, who has ever said he is a better player than Fonte?

 

Last season he was and he will be again.

 

Can't believe how quickly some forget.

[Turkish]

Interesting that a number of people are saying we are lacking experience at this level. Exactly the thing some of us said during the window we were missing and were pounced on and told this wasnt nessasary.