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Saints 2 Fulham 2 - Post Match Reactions


St Chalet

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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 was like it last season though. Okay for much of games but made errors and lapses in concentration which proved costly. His goals papered over the cracks and got him hero status in some fans eyes. The fact was our back 5 last season were not good enough for a top 6 championship side and woefully short at this level. He seems like a great guy and is popular but sadly you need more than that to be a premier league player.

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2 points dropped. Yet again dropped points at home. Some people are getting found out very quickly at this level.

 

Hooiveld: 3 own goals and 2 penalties conceded so far this season. Cracking bloke, sadly not up to scratch.

 

Yoshida looked poor today, but in fairness he's not a full-back, but some of his defending looked suspect.

 

Rodriguez. Why? £6m - hardly touched the ball in the first half. Got bullied all over the place, poor control numerous times, poor in the air and looked knackered after an hour. For a front man he goes missing too much. I got slated by some (mostly people who weren't at the game) for saying similar things after watching him against Sheff Wed reserves. What does Mayuka have to do to get a game?

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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.

 

WTF ? It was 2 points lost from the sort of HOME game we have to win if we are to survive.

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2 points dropped. Yet again dropped points at home. Some people are getting found out very quickly at this level.

 

Hooiveld: 3 own goals and 2 penalties conceded so far this season. Cracking bloke, sadly not up to scratch.

 

Yoshida looked poor today, but in fairness he's not a full-back, but some of his defending looked suspect.

 

Rodriguez. Why? £6m - hardly touched the ball in the first half. Got bullied all over the place, poor control numerous times, poor in the air and looked knackered after an hour. For a front man he goes missing too much. I got slated by some (mostly people who weren't at the game) for saying similar things after watching him against Sheff Wed reserves. What does Mayuka have to do to get a game?

 

Agree 100%

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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.

 

I thought Fonte defended well today.

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Disappointing not to win that but let's not over react.

 

We were missing 3 of out best players in Clyne, Cork and Gaston. I doubt Morgan was 100% at his best either. It was only the 7th game of the season and we have a steep learning curve. If you are busy moaning about the lack of Premier League signings, look at QPR and how well they're doing. We have the tallent and will improve.

 

Rodriguez - He clearly has the ability but he was always a long term signing. It's a big step up for him and it will take time (a lot more than 7 games) to see the best of him.

 

If nothing else take comfort in the knowlege that at least 5 teams are probably as bad as us at the moment and they haven't played the fixture list of death.

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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.

 

Yep.

 

I still don't think it's experience we're lacking, it's ability. Danny Fox isn't a good enough left back at this level. Same for Richardson. And Jos. And even Fonte looks very shaky despite his goals and much improved performance today. Clyne has been one of the bright sparks so far and he has no premier league experience. We just need better players and we need midfielders who understand we are short of ability at the back and to start doing a better job of tracking runners and making us a bit more solid. Davis and Morgan did that better today but it still wasn't enough.

 

We attempted to sign a left back over the summer but it fell through, we bought a goalkeeper in on a free as a last resort, a right back and eventually got a center back in at the last minute when the manager said he wanted to bring in TWO at the start of the summer.

 

The chairman has failed to give the manager the appropriate tools for the job, and i feel a bit sick for NA that it's going to cost him his job in all likelihood. His demeanor at the moment suggests he's a dead man walking

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I still don't think it's experience we're lacking, it's ability. Danny Fox isn't a good enough left back at this level. Same for Richardson. And Jos. And even Fonte looks very shaky despite his goals and much improved performance today. Clyne has been one of the bright sparks so far and he has no premier league experience. We just need better players and we need midfielders who understand we are short of ability at the back and to start doing a better job of tracking runners and making us a bit more solid. Davis and Morgan did that better today but it still wasn't enough.

 

We attempted to sign a left back over the summer but it fell through, we bought a goalkeeper in on a free as a last resort, a right back and eventually got a center back in at the last minute when the manager said he wanted to bring in TWO at the start of the summer.

 

The chairman has failed to give the manager the appropriate tools for the job, and i feel a bit sick for NA that it's going to cost him his job in all likelihood. His demeanor at the moment suggests he's a dead man walking

 

I absolutely agree with all you as about the transfer window, I've said exactly the same thing, almost word for word in the past. For me goal keepers and centre backs are crucial positions and you need experience and quality. Good teams are built of solid defences and if you don't concede you don't lose. Yoshida looks okay, dodgy today but to be fair he's not a right back, the reality is though that Hooliveld, Fonte and Fox aren't good enough but apart from Yoshida we've little else in those positions.

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I didnt go to match today ad Daniel`s 2nd birthday so at Marwell zoo. But I did predict a 1 nil win for Fullham so a draw for Saints looks about right but wait to see the game on MOTD.

 

I dont think we will get too many wins this season as the decent and half decent teams have a lot more experience and quality. Saints need time and we dont have that and a big spend in Jan window for defenders wont happen.

 

Good recovery in the end and 2 goals from Fonte who I think will be good for us this season

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I haven't read any of the threads on here re the game but why substitute Lambert and puncheon and therefore concede the initiative?

 

Indeed, not exactly rocket science, is it ?

 

To me, NA was so low on confidence he was trying to settle for 1-0 with 25mins to go. And his decision blew up in his face - again.

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Lacked leadership on the pitch today, no one organising or rallying. Jimmy Case would be turning in his grave if he was dead!!!!

Lallana's worst game by some distance - ineffectual up front, poor free kicks and did not support Fox, who did OK considering.

Our two best players were Davis and Gazzaniga

Hooiveld is becoming a liability he had no need to stick his foot out - it was needless, clumsy and stupid.

Too many Championship players involved today ie Chaplow, Puncheon, Do Prado, Richardson

That was two points thrown away because Fulham were poor.

Whatever, I would leave R Lambert on the pitch even with one leg - he is our talisman. For the first time tonight I find myself slightly questioning NA's judgement. Massive respect for him but he needs to learn quickly and not sure he is doing that. And surely it is time to spend that 30 grand and reintroduce Ryan Dickson at least onto the bench? He is better than Richardson and gives us an option.

To leave on a high - we have the next fortnight being out of a relegation position.

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Lacked leadership on the pitch today, no one organising or rallying. Jimmy Case would be turning in his grave if he was dead!!!!

Lallana's worst game by some distance - ineffectual up front, poor free kicks and did not support Fox, who did OK considering.

Our two best players were Davis and Gazzaniga

Hooiveld is becoming a liability he had no need to stick his foot out - it was needless, clumsy and stupid.

Too many Championship players involved today ie Chaplow, Puncheon, Do Prado, Richardson

That was two points thrown away because Fulham were poor.

Whatever, I would leave R Lambert on the pitch even with one leg - he is our talisman. For the first time tonight I find myself slightly questioning NA's judgement. Massive respect for him but he needs to learn quickly and not sure he is doing that. And surely it is time to spend that 30 grand and reintroduce Ryan Dickson at least onto the bench? He is better than Richardson and gives us an option.

To leave on a high - we have the nest fortnight being out of a relegation position.

 

And NC has a fortnight to bed-in a new manager (if it is going thru his head).

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why substitute Lambert and puncheon and therefore concede the initiative? I think this is the biggest question of the season, its not the first time.

 

* Can they not last 90 min

* Is it better to have another player with something different rather than keep same two on and let opponent know what we are about

* Are Saints a mix and match team that doesnt have a fixed 11

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Davis and Schneiderlin were both hopeless today.

 

What planet are you on? They were both very good today, Davis worked his socks off and Schneiderlin gives much needed protection to a shaky back four. If Ramirez was there to add the creativity we lacked I think we would have won comfortably.

 

As it was we should have been two or three up by half time, and as others have said, NA's substitutions were mystifying.

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Well that was 2 points dropped, Fulham looked a useless hoof a lot side, what a joke of a side.

 

We should have had 3 or 4 in the first 20 mins when we actually played football, then we had close to 60 mins of copying Fulham at hoof, went to 2-1 then hammered at their goal for the rest of the game. Both their goals took deflections and were strokes of luck with Duff being their only mobile or interested player. Ruiz looked good second half when he dropped deep for them as Lambert couldn't keep up with him in that sort of area. Schwarzer is also still class, despite Gazza putting in a decent shift with saves and a comical amount of time wasting.

 

Fonte was the best player on the pitch and Rodriguez was the worst, we have massively over paid for a player who isn't ready yet. For a tall lad he's pretty naff in the air and is rushing his chances badly. No idea who Myukua has insulted to not have been stuck on with Lambert as that looked good last time.

 

Other main disappointment was Punch did a typical Punch game, everyone playing (at times unneeded) 1 touch football and he thought he could mess about taking 30.

 

At least Fox was much better today, chair thrown at him seems to have helped.

 

Finally thought the ref was properly nervous of the cameras on in, Jos booked for having limbs was a joke and he seemed so hit and miss to what was and wasn't a foul. Plus when we had 2 guys down in the first few mins it looked like an IRA bombing wouldn't have made him stop the game. Took Lambert 2 goes to floor someone just so Frazer could be seen too and Rodriguez given a pat on the back.

 

Actually why did Rodriguez go down more times than a Thai hooker but still run about for 90 mins? Seems to have the worst set of habits already without the goal scoring.

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Just back. Haven't read the thread but quite sure many have questioned why Lambert was subbed, especially when Fulham looked dodgy at set pieces all game.

 

A winnable game we didn't win. Normally positive about Saints but didn't like that at all. Two points thrown away.

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I was happy at half time and looking forward to three points but more importantly a clean sheet. They were better in the second half but taking SRL and Punch off was wrong in my opinion. We should have won - should have been at least two clear at half time but as the game wore on it was inevitable they would score. Having said that we finished stronger and could have won. The crowd stayed with the team and a great reaction at full time including a chant for Fonte. Can we improve in all the poor areas in order to stay up? I am not sure. A bit deflated to be honest.

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If you lose your first choice RB and have to use, your back up. Wheres his back up. Poor planning.

3x11=33

 

Take off Lambert!!!! Unbelieveable Jeff.

Is Lambert undroppable now? I love him, and think he'll be great for us this year, but all players have off days and today was one of those. It was worth changing it up.

 

Well... Good for you...

You have something stuck under your full stop button.

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Thought AL was poor today and has been in a few games this season - is the captaincy putting too much pressure on him? Might be worth resting him for a game or two.

 

Thoughts?

 

I've mentioned elsewhere that I don't think he's a captain, and I think he should relinquish the role to someone more suited to it.

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Thought AL was poor today and has been in a few games this season - is the captaincy putting too much pressure on him? Might be worth resting him for a game or two.

 

Thoughts?

 

Nope, he was doing most the right things right as captain, I felt he was let down by a lack of passing on the floor.

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What planet are you on? They were both very good today, Davis worked his socks off and Schneiderlin gives much needed protection to a shaky back four. If Ramirez was there to add the creativity we lacked I think we would have won comfortably.

 

As it was we should have been two or three up by half time, and as others have said, NA's substitutions were mystifying.

Totally agree, I read this earlier and wasn't able to reply at the time, but if someone genuinely thought Davis and Morgan were hopeless today then God help us. Clearly an understanding of football is not something you get in Kingsbridge. Thought Morgan was very good today, was a bit concerned knowing he had been injured, but he did not hold back. Davis too was much better today. The only other game where he looked this good was against Villa, coincidentally the other game where he did not have JWP alongside. Not knocking jWP but I think him and Davis are too similar and sort of get in each other's way.

 

Great performance from Jose today, covering for an out of sorts Jos and an out of position Yoshi. Note to Adkins, never ever play Yoshi at RB again, for a player I really rate he was like a fish out of water, hopeless with his passes, terrible throw-ins - why oh why was Butters not on the bench, we seem to be overloaded with left footed players, and our only right sided cover was not available as a sub. Hope Frazer is OK, didn't look good when he went down. One criticism for Fonte - why the **** did you take your shirt of and get a booking, stupid, we will regret that when suspensions come along. Lambert looked well out of sorts today, I know how he felt, was feeling like I was hung over as well (though I wasn't).

 

We would have got 3 points today I am sure if Gaston and Clyne had played. Fulham were quite poor, although they still showed more than Wigan. Still 2 home games unbeaten now.

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Some massive over-reactions on this thread tonight. I am as disappointed as everyone else with second half but a number of unfair points in my opionion as follows:

 

1. Been as underwhelmed by JayRod as every one else up to now, but thought he worked his socks off first half and was a threat. He faded 2nd half as did Lambert - see below

2. Today is a case study as to why Nigel left Lambert on the bench at Man City - he isn'tfit enough to press the opposition's back four for more than an hour. Thats why he was take off to much derision - but we were being run all over from not being in Fulham's faces upfront

3. My biggest grievance is that we are now in mid-October and we still dont have a settled back 4. Injuries dont help, but truth is we only have 1 premiership quality defender and thats Clyne (albeit Fonte did well today). Massive priority for January - but that could be too late if we are not careful

4. Have a look at our next 6 league fixtures - reason to feel we can get at least a point and in many cases three from each game (Spurs looks tough though). So not a crisis - we just need to be competitive going into January window

5.Paulo's distribution and shot stopping looks firstclass. With more experience he could be a world beater - hope we stick with him

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Very disappointing game but not surprising really when the starting line-up was revealed. Good to see Morgan back quickly from injury and he and Davis ran the show in the first half and it was essential that during that period of domination we should have made the game secure.

 

We didn't of course, Saints being Saints so the inevitable happened. Jol moved things around at HT to stop our midfield domination by closing m down Morgan and Davis which more or less stopped the flow of our game. Predictable and yet we had no plan B to regain control. Last year we used the diamond to do that but not this year, why? Inevitably we defended deeper and deeper as a result of not being able to keep the football with people resort to long balls which just kept coming back. It was only a matter of time before they scored and we were dead lucky to get out of jail at the end.

 

As for the subs, it was always going to be a problem with such a makeshift start XI and not much better on the bench. Taking Ricky off always seems to me to be a match-losing strategy. If Adkins is wanting to bring Guly on for his pace stick him on the wing for F's sake and either ditch Punch or lallana and surely the place for Chaps today was at RB replacing Jos who was out of sorts. Poor old Jos one of those days he couldn't do right for doing wrong. My guess is that the ball came at him so fast that he was on auto with no time to think and stuck a boot in with the intention of the ball ending back up the mid-field. He was just unlucky with that and all those with hindsight need to accept, what else could he have done in that split second?

 

We lost two points today because of poor tactical awareness and our newly acquired inability to change our play around to suit the ebb and flow of the game and that is down to the coaches only, so sorry Nigel but this buck stops with you; you won't improve our defending by telling us how bad it is so get off your Rrse and do something about it - get better defensive coaching on-board fast of you'll go down before the ship.

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TBH I didn't think we played well enough to win the game today and thought Fulham, particularly 2nd half were the better team. That said, gutted to concede 2 late goals and delighted to get an even later one to pull it back. It was an obvious blow not to have Ramirez and Clyne available and even more so to lose Richardson so early that really disrupted the game plan.

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I didn't see the game or even listen to commentary but it doesn't seem to stop other people commenting... From what I've seen of other games I think the substitution of Lambert may have been to protect him. He's big and getting on a bit and struggles to maintain peak fitness and by all accounts wasn't having a good game: I'd imagine those considerations contributed to the decision. As for Puncheon, I've noticed from watching him live that he fades rapidly towards the end of games and this particularly impacts his covering back.

 

I'll go and have a look on Saints player in the week to come to my own conclusions ("Morgan couldn't trap a ball","Morgan MOTM"..) hmm..

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So is it just me who cannot understand why our leading scorer for the last 3 seasons was playing in a deeper role. He is our biggest threat so we play him in a withdrawn role supporting the main striker rodriguez who was not up to it.

Rickie Lambert must play up front, yes he can drop off to receive the ball but not play in a deep role.

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Bit drunk so forgive me WHY DOES EVERY GAME WE PLAY HAVE TO BE SO ****ING DRAMATIC

 

Because otherwise the game wouldn't go well with our post match reactions in here THAT ARE EVEN MORE ****ING DRAMATIC :)

 

Schneiderlin should have had a second yellow today.

Lallana really is a fantastic player.

Yoshida did a tidy job as RB but it was clear that he was not comfortable with the position. Mostly he played simple passes and while he was very concentrated we missed Clyne or Frazer bombing forwards.

Hooiveld - one of my favourites and an honest workman - lacks pace and confidence. Should be a substitute and a specialist for when we are defending long balls at the end of a game.

Gazza looks promising and with the right coaching and some protection in front of him could be a good PL keeper very soon.

j-Rod worked his socks off today. Goals will come once the whole organisation behind him gets more settled and we get better at keeping possession.

 

Football is a great game. I'm enjoying seeing us in one of the best leagues in the world and I see no reason to give up just because there is a steep learning curve. Get behind Adkins and the team - united we stand or fall. A few good results and we could be on our way up the league...

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Anyone who thinks we didn't play well today is off the mark, imo. Sure, individual problems (Jos!) happened but there were points when the team were purring. Anyone remember the series of passes that prompted the oles?

 

My brother, who occasionally claims to be a Villa fan, was full of praise during the first half. We played well, just stupid bloody mistakes. The shame of it is they were easily correctable.

 

Was Jos' own goal even going in?

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Anyone who thinks we didn't play well today is off the mark, imo. Sure, individual problems (Jos!) happened but there were points when the team were purring. Anyone remember the series of passes that prompted the oles?

 

My brother, who occasionally claims to be a Villa fan, was full of praise during the first half. We played well, just stupid bloody mistakes. The shame of it is they were easily correctable.

 

Was Jos' own goal even going in?

 

Was definitely going wide

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Twas a game of 2 very different halves. First half I thought we were pretty decent in patches. Second half we were total poo. It amazes me how different people see the same game. Puncheon looked knackeed after about 30 minutes. I was not surprised when he went off. Chaplow was total poo!! Not knocking the lad, but very poor. Yoshida is never a right back!!

I thought Morgan did well, great save from gazza & Jay Rod was none stop all game.

Not sure why he took Lambert off. He missed the target in the first half when it was easier to hit the target after great work by Jay Rod, but he was always a threat.

Jos has posted on Twitter he thought he was rubbish! Agreed Jos, you were. No fan of Fox, but thought he was better today.

Starting to worry about Adkins Everyone could see how deep we were & we simply invite them on to us. We just didnt keep possession of the football.

Fulham are poo & were there for the taking.

Ref was poo too. Sidwell represents everything that is crap about the PL. Average at best player, in the refs ear all the time & commiting nasty niggly challenges when the ref aint looking. I was worried about Ruiz pre game, but thought he was poo too.

A point gained from 3 points lost from 3 points won..................typical Saints!!

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Neutrals are starting to like us for our style. On a Danish footy site fans of Arsenal, ManU, Blackburn, Wolves etc. are praising us for playing exciting football this season even though the results look bad. Especially Lallana and Lambert are getting more and more attention from other fans...

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Neutrals are starting to like us for our style. On a Danish footy site fans of Arsenal, ManU, Blackburn, Wolves etc. are praising us for playing exciting football this season even though the results look bad. Especially Lallana and Lambert are getting more and more attention from other fans...

 

There are also plenty that think we are just shyte.... And even more so considering the money we spent

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