Saints vs Swansea Post Match Reactions

[Jack]

Encouraging performance. Need to back it up with a win on Saturday. I think we'll only improve with time. We've got such a young and inexperienced squad, but there is plenty of talent.

 

Gazzaniga (20)

 

Clyne (21)

Fonte (28)

Yoshida (24)

Shaw (17)

 

Schneiderlin (23)

Cork (23)

Lallana (24)

Ramirez (21)

Puncheon (26)

 

Lambert (30)

 

 

Average age was only 23 out there yesterday. If we pull it off and survive this season, with a few defensive additions, I think we'll become a very decent side.

[(not THE) Kevin Moore]

er, it was at Man City. They murdered them and were robbed.

I agree Fulham were poor and should have been beaten, but today it was about us nullifying them and not them being poor. Just look at how good they looked in the first ten minutes. We got hold of the game and didn't look back. We played well. We did create and at times they were hanging on. Maybe the clear cut chance weren't there, but we did enough to deserve to win.

 

I get the feeling that because you have called for Adkins to be sacked you have drawn a line in the sand and now anything that happens is not good enough. I saw you moaned about the subs on another thread suggesting Adkins was clueless. He has made mistakes this season but not today.

 

If you're looking for negatives (all the time) then you'll find them. I don't understand the negativity from yesterday.

 

We looked pretty good to my eyes and while the result was gutting the performance was a good one. Cork coming back in stiffened us up and as a result the defence looked less stretched (give or take a couple of dicey moments).

 

I fail to see the logic from those calling for NA's head. Is there an alternate universe where under a different manager gazza clears that ball up the pitch... Mental.

 

Onwards and upwards with Adkins!

[shurlock]

Ok performance -not great- very little to suggest we've turned a corner. We'll have a better idea next weekend.

[trousers]

Another 2 points thrown away. If we can't beat teams as poor as Swansea were yesterday at home, then we won't be staying in the league. It's as simple as that. It's alright Nigel telling us there were positives, which there were, but we need points, and we need to be seeing games out like that. For me the negatives out-weighed the positives again.

 

Positives -Shaw, Cork and Puncheon came in and all looked good, hopefully they'll all be given a run in the team. We seemed to defend o.k. yesterday

 

negatives - 2 points thrown away, we created as many chances for Swansea as they did themselves. Lack of leadership on the pitch is worrying, if Lallana spent as much time rallying the players as he did falling over we'd improve. Why were there no attacking subs made? Lambert and Ramirez were **** poor yesterday, yet stayed on the pitch for the whole game

 

Adkins is damned if if does, damned if he doesn't.

 

It wasn't too long ago he was slated for substituting our two best players (on paper) and "throwing away a lead" in the process.

 

Keeping the team largely intact was the best approach yesterday IMO

[shurlock]

Adkins is damned if if does, damned if he doesn't.

 

It wasn't too long ago he was slated for substituting our two best players (on paper) and "throwing away a lead" in the process.

 

Keeping the team largely intact was the best approach yesterday IMO

 

 

Would have brought Mayuka on for Punch - they were looking shaky on the right and fresh legs might have done more damage. But by no means would it necessarily have been a game-changer.

[Wade Garrett]

We definitely looked more solid yesterday, but to be fair Swansea never really committed a lot of men forward. Very disappointed not to have beaten them.

[Olallana]

A pretty even first 45 minutes followed by a second half where we were clearly the better footballing team I thought. Jack Cork's welcome return for the (terminally ordinary) Davis improved the midfield significantly - we have missed this classy player more than some on here have realized. In addition the other unfamiliar face in the team, Luke Shaw, (in for the struggling Danny Fox at LB) did more than okay I thought. If he did make the odd error (as all youngsters do) he at least had the recovery pace to win the ball back.

 

So after a lot of hard graft against a stubborn Swans defence Schneiderlin scored a (rare) header and we had worked ourself into a precious winning position. For a brief moment it looked as if we might even take all 3 points if only we could avoid our habitual defensive **** up. But our shocking defending is a harder habit to break than Crack Cocaine it would seem, and the inevitable happened courtesy of a disastrous Yoshida howler. The status of being captain of Japan means the square root of ferk all in the crucible of the Premier League I'm afraid.

 

So we drew a game we desperately needed to win and questions over the managers future, and more importantly, our PL survival remain unanswered. For my money a single point is no good at all in our situation, and should we lose the critical away game v QPR next week then the chances of our surviving this season would look very bleak indeed - if they don't already that is.

 

 

IF you really think that goal was Yoshidas fault you clearly show that your understanding of football is pretty close to zero....

[Chez]

Would have brought Mayuka on for Punch - they were looking shaky on the right and fresh legs might have done more damage. But by no means would it necessarily have been a game-changer.

 

Mayuka is a striker not a right midfield. He can play as a winger as part of a 4-3-3, but I don't want to see him playing right midfield as part of a four.

[(not THE) Kevin Moore]

Mayuka is a striker not a right midfield. He can play as a winger as part of a 4-3-3, but I don't want to see him playing right midfield as part of a four.

 

I thought we pretty much set up in a 433 yesterday, well more of a 4231 really.

 

Mayuka could probably have come on for Punch, but even near the end of the game Punch was getting in behind, would've been harsh to bring him off. IMHO

[rshephard3]

We definitely looked more solid yesterday, but to be fair Swansea never really committed a lot of men forward. Very disappointed not to have beaten them.

 

Put it this way, of the other 18 teams in the league, I think potentially 17 or 18 would have beaten Swansea on home turf yesterday. It doesn't count as a positive if the opposition is just more s**t than you've been playing recently. Swansea are good, but specifically at home. I didn't think either side was great yesterday, but we needed to beat a team who can't score away from home, especially after taking a second half lead.

[Graffito]

Another 2 points thrown away. If we can't beat teams as poor as Swansea were yesterday at home, then we won't be staying in the league. It's as simple as that. It's alright Nigel telling us there were positives, which there were, but we need points, and we need to be seeing games out like that. For me the negatives out-weighed the positives again.

 

Positives -Shaw, Cork and Puncheon came in and all looked good, hopefully they'll all be given a run in the team. We seemed to defend o.k. yesterday

 

negatives - 2 points thrown away, we created as many chances for Swansea as they did themselves. Lack of leadership on the pitch is worrying, if Lallana spent as much time rallying the players as he did falling over we'd improve. Why were there no attacking subs made? Lambert and Ramirez were **** poor yesterday, yet stayed on the pitch for the whole game - What does Mayuka have to do to get on the pitch? We ran out of ideas (not for the first time this season) and why was every pass made backwards or sideways? The team was set out offensively, but why were the players playing so negatively.

 

I would say the team was playing conservatively rather than negatively. We've conceded a lot of goals recently. But for the errors that gave them the opportunity to score (expertly taken by Dyer) we would have had all three points and the tactics would have been vindicated.

[shurlock]

Mayuka is a striker not a right midfield. He can play as a winger as part of a 4-3-3, but I don't want to see him playing right midfield as part of a four.

 

Agree but we were playing 4-3-3 yesterday, no? It was effectively the same set up as against Villa (with Shaw in for Fox and Cork in for Davis). When we were in possession, AL and Punch were further up supporting Lambert with Ramirez in the hole, though interestingly when Swansea were in possession, AL and Punch dropped back with Cork, Ramirez and Lambert furthest forward.

 

Separately there was also a case for pushing someone closer to Lambert once we started hitting and getting success from long, diagonal balls to him. Schneiderlin got his goal from a knock down/layoff but, all too often, people were arriving late. When we go direct like that, it's probably best to go to 4-4-2 with the game made for a fox in the box -a Nmayuka, even a Sharp.

[Graffito]

I'm not an advocate of laying long but in yesterday's match I think we could have done so a bit more to good effect. Swansea didn't look that good at the back. Would have brought on Mayuka for Puncheon at 70 minutes.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

IF you really think that goal was Yoshidas fault you clearly show that your understanding of football is pretty close to zero....

 

If the OS concedes that the goal was the result of a Yoshida slip up, then would it seem rather churlish of me to disagree no? The keeper probably shouldn't have passed it to him and he failed to control the ball at all satisfactorily - with disastrous results. But if you have some different interpretation sonny Jim why don't you enlighten us with it.

[VectisSaint]

But our shocking defending is a harder habit to break than Crack Cocaine it would seem, and the inevitable happened courtesy of a disastrous Yoshida howler. The status of being captain of Japan means the square root of ferk all in the crucible of the Premier League I'm afraid.

Sorry, but it was not Yoshi's howler that caused the goal, it was a poor pass back after a complete cock up by Gazza with this awful pass out, and quick thinking by Dyer. Unfortunately though the real problem was the lead up to the goal in the first place. Jack Cork had a very good game, but he was squarely to blame for fannying about with the ball in the middle of the park and then making a completely unnecessary pass back to Yoshi. Puts a defence under pressure when there is no need. When you are slightly nervous at the back the last thing you need is dodgy balls back from midfield. Shocking decision making by Corky, for me otherwise he would probably have been man of the match. I agree Yoshi and Gazza should have dealt with it, but the root cause of the problem was not with either of them. We play the ball back into defence far too often in my opinion, sometimes the better option is simply to turn and belt it up field, when who knows what might happen.

[sad saints fan]

If the OS concedes that the goal was the result of a Yoshida slip up, then would it seem rather churlish of me to disagree no? The keeper probably shouldn't have passed it to him and he failed to control the ball at all satisfactorily - with disastrous results. But if you have some different interpretation sonny Jim why don't you enlighten us with it.

 

NA says on the OS "one unfortunate decision from a young goalkeeper has resulted in the ball going in the back of our net"

So if Nigel says its goalie error that will do for me.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Can't help noticing the slow transition from defence to attack, the slow ponderous build ups. Often Puncheon is the culprit, putting his foot on it, squaring off the defender, thinking about what to do next, shimmying, turning, looking for a pass.....too ****ing slow. He wasn't too bad overall, but needs to stop slowing things down so often, he does best when he just knocks it past his oppo and beats him for pace - he did it a few times.

Edited 11 November, 2012 by Kingsbridge Saint

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

NA says on the OS "one unfortunate decision from a young goalkeeper has resulted in the ball going in the back of our net"

So if Nigel says its goalie error that will do for me.

 

Do try to read it more carefully in future - from the OS 'MATCH REPORT'

 

And they paid the price on 72 when the visitors levelled up by capitalising on a defensive slip form Yoshida that allowed substitute DYER to pick the bottom corner via the far post.

[saint si]

Both were to blame.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Sorry, but it was not Yoshi's howler that caused the goal, it was a poor pass back after a complete cock up by Gazza with this awful pass out, and quick thinking by Dyer. Unfortunately though the real problem was the lead up to the goal in the first place. Jack Cork had a very good game, but he was squarely to blame for fannying about with the ball in the middle of the park and then making a completely unnecessary pass back to Yoshi. Puts a defence under pressure when there is no need. When you are slightly nervous at the back the last thing you need is dodgy balls back from midfield. Shocking decision making by Corky, for me otherwise he would probably have been man of the match. I agree Yoshi and Gazza should have dealt with it, but the root cause of the problem was not with either of them. We play the ball back into defence far too often in my opinion, sometimes the better option is simply to turn and belt it up field, when who knows what might happen.

 

Well shipmate they all make mistakes and to err is Human and all that, but I expect an experienced defender and the captain of a decent international side to be able to trap and control a football adequately, or alternatively, be sufficiently aware of the opposition players around him to at least avert the danger by putting the ball out of play. He did neither.

 

You obviously have different standards.

[saint si]

Also it was still a great finish from dyer. He had a hell of a lot to do still.

[Weston Saint]

Mayuka is a striker not a right midfield. He can play as a winger as part of a 4-3-3, but I don't want to see him playing right midfield as part of a four.

I heard an interesting quote yesterday that my friend attributed to Reed. He said we have a player in the squad that could be of the quality of Ronaldo given time to develop and that player was Mayuka.

 

I am not sure why he does not feature more but perhaps he does not provide the right balance in the side at present. We will lose him in the new year to the African Nations cup as well. However seems the club rate his potential. Would love to know if Adkins shares Reed view.

[ottery st mary]

Mayuka definitely has the pace....

 

Apart from video clips and a few sub appearances.....

 

Impression so far.......A mixture of Rod and Danny Wallace and a touch of Ali Dia.

[Whitey Grandad]

Well shipmate they all make mistakes and to err is Human and all that, but I expect an experienced defender and the captain of a decent international side to be able to trap and control a football adequately, or alternatively, be sufficiently aware of the opposition players around him to at least avert the danger by putting the ball out of play. He did neither.

 

You obviously have different standards.

I agree. He obviously didn't know that Dyer was on top of him. All he had to do was turn right instead of left when receiving the ball and it would have bounced outfield. Anyway, any Premier League player should have been able to control that ball without it flying away off his chest.

[beatlesaint]

I heard an interesting quote yesterday that my friend attributed to Reed. He said we have a player in the squad that could be of the quality of Ronaldo given time to develop and that player was Mayuka.

 

I am not sure why he does not feature more but perhaps he does not provide the right balance in the side at present. We will lose him in the new year to the African Nations cup as well. However seems the club rate his potential. Would love to know if Adkins shares Reed view.

 

Apart from being given a role of lone striker against Leeds which he obviously wasnt too good at, I'm amazed after the Spurs game he hasn't started against either WBA or yesterday.

If the club/Reed seriously believe that it is even more of a mystery that he hasn't featured more.

 

I do hope the club dont start bleating in January by saying "of course we have lost Mayuka to the African Nations Cup" because the amount of game time he is getting it will hardly be a loss.

[Whitey Grandad]

NA says on the OS "one unfortunate decision from a young goalkeeper has resulted in the ball going in the back of our net"

So if Nigel says its goalie error that will do for me.

Well if Nigel can't even get that right...

[saintbob40]

Sorry, but it was not Yoshi's howler that caused the goal, it was a poor pass back after a complete cock up by Gazza with this awful pass out, and quick thinking by Dyer. Unfortunately though the real problem was the lead up to the goal in the first place. Jack Cork had a very good game, but he was squarely to blame for fannying about with the ball in the middle of the park and then making a completely unnecessary pass back to Yoshi. Puts a defence under pressure when there is no need. When you are slightly nervous at the back the last thing you need is dodgy balls back from midfield. Shocking decision making by Corky, for me otherwise he would probably have been man of the match. I agree Yoshi and Gazza should have dealt with it, but the root cause of the problem was not with either of them. We play the ball back into defence far too often in my opinion, sometimes the better option is simply to turn and belt it up field, when who knows what might happen.

 

A nicely wieghted pass to feet is not usually viewed as a bad one. Ridiculous post..........

[Chez]

Agree but we were playing 4-3-3 yesterday, no?

Not IMO. It was 4-4-2 (or if you prefer 4-4-1-1) with Ramirez playing off Lambert. Lallana and Puncheon played as left and right midfielders not wingers.

[Olallana]

So who do you people think should take responsibility in the Swansea goal situation?

 

The player getting the ball and can see the whole field and should identify where the danger is or the player backing away and needs eyes in his back to see the field and where the danger could be?

 

Yeah that´s pretty much football basics for the defense...

[JackFrost]

I heard an interesting quote yesterday that my friend attributed to Reed. He said we have a player in the squad that could be of the quality of Ronaldo given time to develop and that player was Mayuka.

 

I am not sure why he does not feature more but perhaps he does not provide the right balance in the side at present. We will lose him in the new year to the African Nations cup as well. However seems the club rate his potential. Would love to know if Adkins shares Reed view.

 

I watched Mayuka play in the 2012 African cup of nations and he was absolutely brilliant for the whole tournament. He tore sides apart with his pace, was creative, he had vision, he produced an absolutely wonderful overhead kick to set up one of Zambia's goals and he could finish. He was one reason why Zambia were surprise winners of that tournament and his performances were leagues above what Puncheon has done for us this season. I was delighted when we signed him and am puzzled why he hasn't had more game time.

[Chez]

I heard an interesting quote yesterday that my friend attributed to Reed. He said we have a player in the squad that could be of the quality of Ronaldo given time to develop and that player was Mayuka.

 

I am not sure why he does not feature more but perhaps he does not provide the right balance in the side at present. We will lose him in the new year to the African Nations cup as well. However seems the club rate his potential. Would love to know if Adkins shares Reed view.

Everything I've seen suggests we have a real talent on our hands, but he's obviously down the pecking order. Hope he is settling in OK as not playing can't help that. He's still very young so I can see him becoming a huge fans favourite in years to come.

[Chez]

I watched Mayuka play in the 2012 African cup of nations and he was absolutely brilliant for the whole tournament. He tore sides apart with his pace, was creative, he had vision, he produced an absolutely wonderful overhead kick to set up one of Zambia's goals and he could finish. He was one reason why Zambia were surprise winners of that tournament and his performances were leagues above what Puncheon has done for us this season. I was delighted when we signed him and am puzzled why he hasn't had more game time.

he played centre forward for them though so why have you not referenced Lambert and Rodrigez rather than Puncheon?

[Webby]

Also it was still a great finish from dyer. He had a hell of a lot to do still.

 

I felt that Gazza's 'dive' was horrendous. He just never pushed off the ground with his feet to gain any extra reach. It was almost as if he thought he had it covered.

 

How tall is Gazza? 6ft 7"?

[Fitzhugh Fella]

IF you really think that goal was Yoshidas fault you clearly show that your understanding of football is pretty close to zero....

 

 

Chapel End Charlie almost always gets it spot on imo so to suggest that his understanding is pretty close to zero, is pretty close to crass.

However the goal was 90% Gazzaniga's fault as no way should he have thrown it to Yoshida. Perhaps Yoshida should not tried to trap it but he had little idea Dyer was bearing down on him. Gazza, had he looked, would have noticed.

[Charlie Wayman]

Two more point down the drain, how much longer can this farcical situation continue before Adkins is put out of his misery? There are no positives when you're chasing 40 points, at this rate we won't even get 20.

 

I'm afraid the "Going down" taunt applies more realistically every week. If we are going to change the coaching people let's get on a FFFing well do it and at least give the new people a fighting chance of keeping us up. Indecision is ruining us. Come on Cortese sort put your mess!

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

I would say Duncan that few accidents have but a single cause, and both keeper and defender must share the in the blame for this calamitous goal. But I'd personalty place the larger percentage of the blame on Yoshida's failure to control the ball.

 

It may be an excessively obvious thing to say, but it seems to me that for at least two season now our keepers - starting with Kelvin - have been specifically instructed to routinely play the ball out to the nearest free defender, rather than the time honored 'hoof' many of us grew up with. Yes Gazzinga should clearly have booted it upfield, but sometimes it's hard to break the habits that have been drilled into you.

 

I'm sure he'll learn in time.

[Jonnyboy]

Both were to blame.

 

this

[Windmill Arm 2]

Thats got to be it.

 

Another week.

 

Another substitution/tactical f**k-up.

 

Another defensive f**k-up.

 

Another wasted home match.

 

*awaits those saying "at least we are not bottom any more"

Where you there 'slim'? I was and witnessed an improved performance. Nobody really gives a toss for the rambling dribblings of a comedy character like you. You are an idiot.

[sadoldgit]

You do not pass the ball to a defender with his back to the ball and a player on his back. You are asking for trouble and that is wht happened. Agreed 90% goalkeepers fault.

[S-Clarke]

You do not pass the ball to a defender with his back to the ball and a player on his back. You are asking for trouble and that is wht happened. Agreed 90% goalkeepers fault.

 

on 72 mins, a 1-0, that ball should have been launched as far up field as possible. I'm all for playing football from the back, but there are just times in a game and games in a season where you just do what has to be done. Swansea weren't going to create anything as we nullified them in general play, which makes it even more frustrating as we gave them that goal. They didn't have to work.

[Webby]

I've just watched this again. Maya plays the ball back to gazza and then gets himself into space to make himself available for a return pass. He is facing the ball, or at least side on, and he is in 15 yards of space when gazza plays it to him. Maya wanted the ball. The fact is that dyer read it and took advantage of Maya's poor touch to nick it off him.

 

The more I see it, the more I feel it was Maya's fault. He did not make himself aware of dyer. If he had, he could have volleyed it away with no danger. Perhaps this is what dyer was brought on to do?

 

Having said that, gazza should have come out more to narrow the angle for the shot. He was inside the six yard box when he fell, sorry, dived. He ought to have been on the six yard line at least.

Edited 11 November, 2012 by Webby

[Wade Garrett]

on 72 mins, a 1-0, that ball should have been launched as far up field as possible. I'm all for playing football from the back, but there are just times in a game and games in a season where you just do what has to be done. Swansea weren't going to create anything as we nullified them in general play, which makes it even more frustrating as we gave them that goal. They didn't have to work.

 

It's also something that Kelvin used to do a lot, putting his defenders under pressure with some daft passes.

 

If in doubt, blast it forward and push your defence up.

[Sour Mash]

I've just watched this again. Maya plays the ball back to gazza and then gets himself into space to make himself available for a return pass. He is facing the ball, or at least side on, and he is in 15 yards of space when gazza plays it to him. Maya wanted the ball. The fact is that dyer read it and took advantage of Maya's poor touch to nick it off him.

 

The more I see it, the more I feel it was Maya's fault. He did not make himself aware of dyer. If he had, he could have volleyed it away with no danger. Perhaps this is what dyer was brought on to do?

 

Having said that, gazza should have come out more to narrow the angle for the shot. He was inside the six yard box when he fell, sorry, dived. He ought to have been on the six yard line at least.

But Gazzaniga played the ball at a very awkward height for Yoshida. He should also have spotted Dyer rapidly approaching, so it was both their fault, but ulimtately it comes down to whoever is so obsessed with us always playing it out from the back.

[Sour Mash]

I heard an interesting quote yesterday that my friend attributed to Reed. He said we have a player in the squad that could be of the quality of Ronaldo given time to develop and that player was Mayuka.

 

I am not sure why he does not feature more but perhaps he does not provide the right balance in the side at present. We will lose him in the new year to the African Nations cup as well. However seems the club rate his potential. Would love to know if Adkins shares Reed view.

Well thats a ridiculous quote - Mayuka will never be anywhere near the quality of Ronaldo.

[corky morris]

All Mayuka does is make a mockery of our summer spending. Without doubt the boy can play, but when we signed Ramirez & Jay Rod the last thing we needed was a striker. We had Sharp as 4th choice let alone Barnard. We choose to play 4-5-1 (bo11ox to this 4-3-3) which requires just the one up front. Never forget us lumping the ball up to him against Man Utd when NA took Lambert off. What we needed was defenders.........................................Lot of people laughed when WHU signed Collins, but he is better than what we have.

[Professor]

All Mayuka does is make a mockery of our summer spending. Without doubt the boy can play, but when we signed Ramirez & Jay Rod the last thing we needed was a striker. We had Sharp as 4th choice let alone Barnard. We choose to play 4-5-1 (bo11ox to this 4-3-3) which requires just the one up front. Never forget us lumping the ball up to him against Man Utd when NA took Lambert off. What we needed was defenders.........................................Lot of people laughed when WHU signed Collins, but he is better than what we have.

Agreed. And I suspect Adkins does as well.

[sfc4prem]

Gutted. By far the better team, let down by one mistake by Gazza and Yoshida, and two **** decisions from the **** ref. Shot ourselves in the foot. A sad outcome from a promising performance - that embodies our season thus far.

[Thedelldays]

that god awful west ham with their utterly terrible manager are winning again..

 

ffs

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

All Mayuka does is make a mockery of our summer spending. Without doubt the boy can play, but when we signed Ramirez & Jay Rod the last thing we needed was a striker. We had Sharp as 4th choice let alone Barnard. We choose to play 4-5-1 (bo11ox to this 4-3-3) which requires just the one up front. Never forget us lumping the ball up to him against Man Utd when NA took Lambert off. What we needed was defenders.........................................Lot of people laughed when WHU signed Collins, but he is better than what we have.

Yep that signing does look a strange one - 2x CB, 1 LB and with hindsight a domineering CM were urgently required, not another forward.

[Legod Third Coming]

We played alright, as did Swansea. Their number 20 ran the midfield for them and Cork ran it for us.

 

Morgan wasn't at the races apart from the goal.

 

We should have had one (or two, unless you're Martin Keown) penalties.

 

And as Adkins said, a young lad in goal makes a mistake and hands them a point and costs us two...

 

I think we'll feel better next week when we win away for the first time. We are ideally set up to beat QPR.