Saints 1-2 Spurs // Post-Match Views

[Bucks Saint]

Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but nice to see MLT make an appearance in the northam today. Looked a little embarrassed when the songs started up!

 

Agreed. One of the few positives from today.

[Bucks Saint]

Boruc probably should of saved the first and went total walkabout for the second, from what I've seen so far he is the worst of our three keepers.

 

Tosh.

[Chez]

4-4-2 and we were ****. When we went to 4-3-3 we ran Spurs ragged. Mayuka made a huge difference nit only offering us something in attack but penning them back. The side followed his lead and we were camped in their half and really should have got a draw.

 

Boruc 5 - slow off his line for the second goal, very little else to do

Fox 3 - tough assignment, but yet another game where he did next to nothing defensively and just as little offensively. When playing on Adkins side of the pitch it becomes obvious how crap he is and is rightly substituted

Joshida 4 - Felt the first goal came because he just didn't put any pressure on Defoe at at. So easy for him to collect the ball, dance inside and lay it off. Get tight and make it tough when he turns inside. Terrible distribution, which is important as he seems to be the guy responsible to bring the ball out from the back, time after time he put us in trouble or gave it away. Far from convinced. I think I would prefer Jos to be honest.

Fonte 7 - thought he had a decent game, one poor header when he could have chested it down apart.

Clyne 5 - ball watched for the first goal. Very very poor. You have got to at least try and out Bale off. How easy was it for Bale to head that goal compared to Yoshida's effort later challkenegd by Gallas. This sort of error is killing us. Decent second half keeping Bale quiet. But maybe more to do with the lack of service to him than what Clyne did.Got to cut these errors out as he has a great all round game.

Lallana 7 - huge workrate, but all defensively in first half. Got caught dozing which could have hurt us badly. It didn't. When moved into the middle he ran the show. A real threat and they couldn't handle him.

Davis 6 - terrible first half. Just horrid. Excellent second. Could not understand why he was subbed. We were totally on top at that point so no reason to other than fresh legs, but we've lost momentum several times doing that so concerned that Adkins has not learned his lesson.

Morgan 6 - pretty much the same as Davis. Great second half. Boy is he quick. Out ran Bale in second half. That took some doing. Shame that thunderous drive didn't go in

Puncheon 5 - less comfortable in the 4-4-2. Kept coming inside, which become predictable. Got caught in possession once and seemed to just give up. He then lost his bottle, choosing to boot the next ball rather than get it down and play. He wasn't bad, he just didn't offer any threat which meant their fullback was free to attack

Lambert 4 - did nothing first half apart from a great defensive header. Struggled to win any of the lofted punts to him. Did a little bit more in the second, but reputation kept him on the pitch. Did chase hard though in second half to put the defenders under pressure.

Rodriguez 7 - worked the channels hard in first half but service dried up and he couldn't be expected to beat three. The goal just filled him with confidence and he seemed to be everywhere for a period. Particularly impressed with his tracking of Lennon one occasion. Probably went unnoticed, but essential.

Mayuka 8 - outstanding. Turned the game on its head. Pace, tricks, some great turns. Every time I see him he impresses me. Tore their left back a new one.

Guly 6 Were the shouts of Guly or boos when he came on? Not sure. He did pretty well again, following on from a great display at West Ham. He usually does well in CM, that's where he is comfortable.

Reeves 7 - Did more defensively in 15 minutes than Fox has all season. Great first touch, looks confident and got tight to Lennon. Lennon was snuffed out. Not sure he has the pace to play at fullback but he looks a brilliant prospect to me.

[SaintBobby]

Not too bad, overall.

 

First half was a shambles and no bite up front.

 

2nd was very good.

 

We clearly have problems, but at least they are identifiable problems.

[stknowle]

First half we were awful. I don't normally single out players but Boruc was dreadful. Quite how he is preferred to Gazza or Kelvyn is a mystery. Second half we could easily have won if two of the many shots we had had been on target. I don't know what Adkins said at half time but I wish he'd said it before kick-off.

 

Feck's sake haven't seen Boruc (apart from Wham highlights shambles on MOTd) but if we are saying Davis would be an improvement then I simply give up.

[Saint_John]

I hope that puts a end to the calls for us to play 4-4-2.

 

For the first hour we played 4-4-2 with NO SHOTS at goal in the 1st half and only a tame Jason effort early in the 2nd half.

 

Then the change to 4-2-3-1 (or some call it 4-3-3) with Jason going off and JayR & Mayuka playing wide behind Rickie and suddenly it is all one way traffic, all because we had changed systems.

imo we were very unluckly not to get a point from the game. The stats showed that we had 11 shots in totals and 6 on target, so 10 of those must have come in the last 35mins playing the 4-2-3-1 system.

[corsacar saint]

The first half performance,was right up there with the worst I have seen from Saints in 49 years of watching them. The last half hour, we decided to give it a go and were unlucky not to get a draw.

The plusses were Mayuka and Rodriguez,the minuses a shocking defence,that are hell bent on giving the opposition at least a 2 goal start,virtually every game. If we are not careful,we will be marooned at the bottom of the league in january and no half decent defender will want to join us then.

[kpturner]

OK, I saw it from the Northam, so I might have been mistaken, although I am quite high up and directly in line with the incident, so my viewpoint was quite good. But what I saw, was that Boruc should have come for the ball, but seemed to be in two minds about it. But until I see the evidence on Match of the Day, I will continue to hold the opinion that both Davis and Gazzaniga would have been quicker and more decisive than Boruc appeared to be. And if Boruc wasn't at fault, what was the disdain from the Chapel all about?

Boruc did nothing wrong at all for the second goal - came straight out as he should and made himself as big as possible in an attempt to block the shot. In fact, if the shot hadn't been scuffed, he would probably have saved it.

[Saints foreva]

Clyne is awful. Had a good first game against City but been **** ever since (minus the Villa game). Another who isn't ready for the Premier League.

 

Boruc also had a mare today for their 2nd and looks overweight. Why has Gazza been dropped?

[kpturner]

Boruc probably should of saved the first and went total walkabout for the second, from what I've seen so far he is the worst of our three keepers.

 

Explain how on earth his actions for the second goal can be described as "total walkabout"? I think you need to study the video and have a rethink.

[Chris Marsden = Genius]

Now Guly is starting to be demoted to the bench step up Artur Boruc as the next scapegoat. Honestly to me didn't do too much wrong with the goals, Clyne on the other hand nowhere near the first and had a fair few metres head start over dempsey for the second but didn't want it as much.

[Cheese on Toast]

Explain how on earth his actions for the second goal can be described as "total walkabout"? I think you need to study the video and have a rethink.

 

Oh, won't you just go away

[sammysaint]

Postive from the game i really think Ben Reeves looks pacey and has a great 1st touch, i would happly have him at LB, i think he can make that his spot, also Fonte had a good game, not brilliant but something to build on, same as Yoshida both at times looked very good tackling heading and positioning, there passing was slightly poor at times, but that can be worked on.

[pimpin4rizeal]

First half was worst ive seen us play this season. But as soon as mayuka came on we looked far more dangerous and had enough chances in that period to get something out of the game.

Maya shoukd have found the net from his header. Im still not sure about rodriguez myself he looks a bit of a jack of all trades master of none to me, rarely has enough skill and guile to beat his man but well done for first goal. Ive been much more impressed with mayuka in the time ive seen him he looks a real livewire hope we are not gonna just use hom as an impact player

[trousers]

Am I the only one who thought we played "ok" in the first 15 minutes,up until Bale scored?

 

I remember turning to my son just before the first goal and saying: "solid start for us....this'll be one of those games where we match the opposition for a while them concede two sloppy goals.

 

IMO we were only "dreadful " for 30 minutes (so, 1/3rd of the game).

 

Yes, I know we should aim to not be "dreadful" at all but it wasn't for the majority of the game.

[kpturner]

Oh, won't you just go away

Why?

[Cheese on Toast]

Why?

 

you irritate me

[S-Clarke]

Am I the only one who thought we played "ok" in the first 15 minutes,up until Bale scored?

 

I remember turning to my son just before the first goal and saying: "solid start for us....this'll be one of those games where we match the opposition for a while them concede two sloppy goals.

 

IMO we were only "dreadful " for 30 minutes (so, 1/3rd of the game).

 

Yes, I know we should aim to not be "dreadful" at all but it wasn't for the majority of the game.

 

Personally I thought we started okish, but them from 10mins till about 60ishmins we were atrocious and they took the ****!

 

But from 60mins onwards we got ourselves some credibility back, but against decent sides then we can't give them spells like we did.

[Chez]

Am I the only one who thought we played "ok" in the first 15 minutes,up until Bale scored?

 

I remember turning to my son just before the first goal and saying: "solid start for us....this'll be one of those games where we match the opposition for a while them concede two sloppy goals.

 

IMO we were only "dreadful " for 30 minutes (so, 1/3rd of the game).

 

Yes, I know we should aim to not be "dreadful" at all but it wasn't for the majority of the game.

yeah I thought we started well, without offering much if a threat. Mayuka coming on and moving to 4-3-3 made all the difference.

[kpturner]

you irritate me

Log off then - I am sure nobody will notice.

[Give it to Ron]

Probably the worst 45 minutes from us I have seen for many a year - Spurs were just cruising, we again gifted them the goals and the way we let Defoe just drift in with no pressure or on Huddlesstone

was terrible.

The second goal we actually had them on the back foot and then Lallana played an abysmal pass and gave it away and then they just went by us as though not there-

was disappointed at Davis giving up the chase back and comical defending gifted it again.

 

As others have said its changed with Mayuke coming on and offering us pace and we could finally get in behind them.

Ricky had a poor game, J-Rod looked much better today and hopefully that goal will push him onwards.

[AlfredKo]

First half was worst ive seen us play this season. But as soon as mayuka came on we looked far more dangerous and had enough chances in that period to get something out of the game.

Maya shoukd have found the net from his header. Im still not sure about rodriguez myself he looks a bit of a jack of all trades master of none to me, rarely has enough skill and guile to beat his man but well done for first goal. Ive been much more impressed with mayuka in the time ive seen him he looks a real livewire hope we are not gonna just use hom as an impact player

 

I agree with you about rodriguez, he is **** playing as a winger

[bender]

I'm going to ask for half my money back after that first half.

 

It's all very well having encouraging spells/halfs in games but what the point if in the rest of the game we're sh1te and ship 2,3 or more goals. FFS in the first half we didnt have one shot let alone one on target. Spurs would have scored 5 or 6 today if Defoe wasnt so gash.

 

Need Cork and Ramirez back and fast, or maybe NA is just out of his depth.

 

Still think we'll stay up because something will change in a big way - it has to.

[John B]

For things to change we need to keep a clean sheet

 

To keep a clean sheet we need good defenders something which Adkins has overlooked

[RonManager]

Another well executed tactical defeat.

 

It's all coming together nicely.

[Thedelldays]

We are going down unless something big changes

 

Poorer teams have come up. Spent no where near what we have and stayed up

 

Shocking

[Roger]

Have to say lambert only really looked threatening when he went right upfront last 20 mins but j rod did look good. We need mayuka to start as only one with pace and teams can't play a high line then. The bright spot is Ramirez playing mayuka through.

[Orange]

What a hard bunch those spurs fans were giving it to a load of families from the safety of the rail bridge, got spat on by one of the c*nts.

 

At least we made a game of it in the end, but first half we really were awful. They looked like scoring every time they were on the attack.

[Glasgow_Saint]

I have said since day one........ Our season starts November 5th

[Give it to Ron]

We are going down unless something big changes

 

Poorer teams have come up. Spent no where near what we have and stayed up

 

Shocking

 

Not with a defence as bad as ours...everyone knows it and a change of manager will not alter that

and make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

2 more gifted goals today IMO - no pressure on the ball, allowed to drift inside and backed off.

Until we are able to bring in replacements we are lumbered.

[LostBoys]

2 more soft goals and it could have been more. Better second half and we missed a number of chances combined with some outstanding defending.

[oracle saint]

A few observations from the Itchen stand.

It's no coincidence that Saints looked far better once Puncheon came off. Time after time he drifted inside to leave Clyne exposed and allowing the Spurs LB to advance. Not once did JP take on an extremely slow and bulky spurs LB. Saints' best move of the first half came from Clyne getting on his outside and putting in a good cross (I'd have liked to see Adam move across to try and put the LB under more intensive pressure). It was obvious that part of JP's rôle was to stay wide and offer protection - NA was furiously gesticulating at him in the first half as JP was obviously not carrying out the NA game plan. JP got the message; shrugged and spread his arms; if I'd been NA I'd have substituted him on the spot! Time after time the game passed JP by as he was too far infield - totally ineffectual. I'm amazed that NA brought him out for the second half. I would not be too surprised if he rarely features from now as Mayuka offered caviar and champagne after JP's tripe and onions. On today's evidence Mayuka can play wide right and if that's consistently the case I think we might have solved one of our problems. Though why has it taken so long to try out Mayuka?

 

Davis was a major disappointment and seemed to avoid positions where he might receive the ball. On several occasions he drifted away into poor positions instead of offering himself as an outlet for a pass. This meant that the Saints defenders tended to have to resort to lumping the ball up to the forwards as there was no midfield to pass into. Things worked slightly better as Morgan and Davis seemed to change positions with MS moving forward and Davis dropping back. It was no surprise though that both JP and Davis were substituted - two pretty poor performances.

 

Saints had a very weak bench although Reeves played well - another confident youngster eager to get into the game. I look forward to Cork and Morgan resuming their partnership and I'd like to see one of Lambert/Rodriguez playing with Lee/Mayuka purely to add pace and variety to the forward line. Add Ramirez into the mix and I think we'll see Saints' results start to improve.

 

I was behind the Bale header - it was excellently placed (though disgracefully unchallenged) and I did wonder whether a slightly more agile keeper (Gazzaniga?) might have saved it.

[chi saint]

Problems we have are as follows

 

Little or no width,

No over lapping and so little possibility of runs to the corner post which comes as a result of my first point, in that we had no width.

 

Finally and in my view most importantly, no urgency, we play delightful football at times, but that doesn't win you games if you don't get the ball into the oppositions net.

 

I could count the number of times we actually ran at them on one finger. We played it around, some lovely passing but then tried walk it onto the their 6 yard box or more sadly knocked it about at the back then lumped it forward, complete waste of time.

 

We need to set ourselves up to run at the opposition, have them back peddling not coming forward to meet us.

 

Until we have the confidence to take players on im afraid were always likely to come unstuck.

 

None of the above is beyond the relasm fo a good coach, but things need to change soon.

[Dig Dig]

Thedelldays has been such a pussay this season

[Dr Who?]

I have said since day one........ Our season starts November 5th

 

Then we will remember remember. WBA is another tough game, and I do not expect much away from home. The season starts 10th November.

[Saint_clark]

The two Spurs fans fighting over Friedals shirt is brilliant, and cringeworthy at the same time.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20117987

[shurlock]

yeah I thought we started well, without offering much if a threat. Mayuka coming on and moving to 4-3-3 made all the difference.

 

Did we switch to 4-3-3 - felt like 4-4-2 with just a change in personnel. Lallana still seemed to be coming off the left and JR/RL still appeared to hold a central position. Agree though that Mayuka made a huge difference - even better if he could play centrally, pulling defenders to the left and right.

[mcjwills]

Was totally appalled by the cvnts in the kingsland that booed Guly before he even came on the pitch. They can just **** off and not return to St Marys.

[Saint_clark]

Did we switch to 4-3-3 - felt like 4-4-2 with just a change in personnel. Lallana still seemed to be coming off the left and JR/RL still appeared to hold a central position. Agree though that Mayuka made a huge difference - even better if he could play centrally, pulling defenders to the left and right.

 

It was 4-3-3 for about 5 minutes, Lambert Rodriguez and Mayuka were definitely holding a line up front together for a short space of time.

[CanadaSaint]

There's plenty of Premier league tape out there showing how weak Clyne is on a ball slung to the far post so we can expect to see it more and more.

 

He offers a lot going forward and in certain defensive situations but he has to address this weakness - pronto.

 

I'm starting to wonder if we employ a ball-watching coach because we're very good at it.

[Cheese on Toast]

Then we will remember remember. WBA is another tough game, and I do not expect much away from home. The season starts 10th November.

 

The championship starts next august

[Dr Who?]

Never ever boo a Saints player!

[Dr Who?]

The championship starts next august

 

It might well come up in the end, when we run out of dates for our season to start. The first season at SMS, our season started in November.

[Saint_clark]

There's plenty of Premier league tape out there showing how weak Clyne is on a ball slung to the far post so we can expect to see it more and more.

 

He offers a lot going forward and in certain defensive situations but he has to address this weakness - pronto.

 

I'm starting to wonder if we employ a ball-watching coach because we're very good at it.

 

I don't think he'll be able to, he's a short full-back. Much like Rafael V Lambert, if he comes up against a player with a few inches on him AND a good leap, he's got no hope. His best option in those situations is to let them have it and try to put himself in the way of the goal.

[pangy]

Clyne was in a standing position,Bale had the momentum it was always going to be Bales ball

[Cheese on Toast]

Clyne was in a standing position,Bale had the momentum it was always going to be Bales ball

 

I bet if he did a backflip at the exact right time... he could have stopped bale from scoring

[DrunkenSaint]

Mayuka has to start the next game. He completely changed the game when he came on with his confidence and his pace. His confidence spread to the others and the who,e team stepped up a gear or two.

 

I thought we might have got the 2-2 draw before Adkins made the last 2 subs - but they took our momentum down a notch or two.

 

Ben Reeves looked the part and should probably start the next game over Fox - but we did miss Fox's free kick delivery. Problem is he can't defend and that and the long diagonal ball is all he's got to his game.

 

Guly just proved he's not up to this level of football - he lacks the dynamism you need at this level. Even in the per-game warm up he looked half-*rsed!

 

Davis I'm not sure about - he can look tidy on the ball but passes backwards and sideways too much, has no pace and can't defend or tackle - and doesnt run with the ball or drive the game forward. I think Cork will give us an awful lot more in the middle of the pitch.

 

Shaw has a great free kick and could be our answer to left back with Reeves as sub, as for Davis, i've said it a lot this season already, JWP is much better but i would keep him in til Cork is back and play Jwp as well as morgan in a 3 man cm midfield.

Mayuka is a great player why it's taken this amount of time for him to get that much play time is unreal, he should of been starting every game since Ramirez got injured, how Guly was picked over Mayuka last week was a very very strange choice.

Jrod, i like him but atm Mayuka, Lallana and Ramirez are much better choices to play behind the striker.

 

My midfield/forward line up when all is fit would be...

 

---Cork---Morgan----Jwp----

----Mayuka/Lallana-----Ramirez-

----------Lambert/JRod----------

 

I think that has a better shape and should suit us a lot more, having 3 CM's should provide good defensive cover with the attacking midfielders behind the striker going wide when possible. Having Jrod playing behind the striker is just a waste, although played better today he's far better as a main striker, would be a good sub and cover for Lambo played in his correct position. Btw the 442 formation didnt work today in the first half and we should never try it again, too many teams now play a 5 man midfield which counters out the 442.

[kpturner]

you irritate me

Abusive PMs too - nice

[Nexstar]

Well, we got to see our relegation team and our mid-table team all in one match.

 

Pretty much this

[BILLY]

Defensively much better.

 

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

Are you ******* taking the ****?