Was yesterday the turning point?

[lordswoodsaints]

Or just a game that we played better than we have done for a while?

 

I was encouraged about the performance yesterday and think that was our best starting 11,apart from the mistake for the goal the team played well and we were a bit unlucky with a few of the referees decision.

So well done Nigel,you almost got it spot on yesterday.

[the stain]

It was an improvement, but given that we were at home, against Swansea, I expected us to be a little more penetrating. That said, I wouldn't change that team much/at all for the next game. I'm not sure what's going on with Mayuka. What's his role in the team? It seems odd that he doesn't really get many chances.

[Thedelldays]

it was OK..we still hardly troubled their keeper and they are hit big time with injuries....and we still made our in game howler

[slickmick]

Guess the QPR game will answer that question.

[Saint_lambden]

We'll find out next Saturday if it was a turning point. Need to win 2 out of the next 3 games at least.

[Greenridge]

I'm not sure what's going on with Mayuka. What's his role in the team? It seems odd that he doesn't really get many chances.

 

Has he got any history in the right-midfield spot? Whilst Puncheon occasionally shows some form I feel this is a weakness for us.

[miserableoldgit]

The big problem is that we can`t seem to play for 90 mins. Against Aston Villa crap first half, brilliant second. Same against Spurs. Same against West Ham (good first half, crap second). Same yesterday. Swansea wouldn`t let us have the ball in the first half but we came out fighting in the second until they scored and the heads dropped. How many times has this scenario happened this season? Good for 45, but not good enough for 90?

[Wade Garrett]

It was an improved performance (which is the least we could have expected). Cork made a difference, and Shaw played well. Ramirez showed at times what a great player he's going to be.

 

As others have said though, it was against a very average Swansea.

 

Next week is make or break for Nigel. Hopefully the team can build on that performance and get another manager sacked next week rather than ours.

[the stain]

Has he got any history in the right-midfield spot? Whilst Puncheon occasionally shows some form I feel this is a weakness for us.

 

I have no idea. I thought he was an out and out striker. I guess, because he's meant to be quick, people assume he can play on the right of a front three, but I'm not sure it's as easy as that. Why pay £3 for him if theres no room in the team for him? At least with Rodriguez you could argue he is the long term successor of Lambert, so who's this chap and when will he ever get a game? That's £9m (I'm sure he cost £3m) spent on two strikers who don't really play. That, for Southampton, is almost unforgivable. What a waste of money. It's the only question mark that hangs over Adkins, for me.

[lordswoodsaints]

It was an improved performance (which is the least we could have expected). Cork made a difference, and Shaw played well. Ramirez showed at times what a great player he's going to be.

 

As others have said though, it was against a very average Swansea.

 

Next week is make or break for Nigel. Hopefully the team can build on that performance and get another manager sacked next week rather than ours.

 

Yes,I'll have to agree,one manager will be out of a job next week.

[Dazza82]

it was OK..we still hardly troubled their keeper and they are hit big time with injuries....and we still made our in game howler

 

Out of interest Who?

 

 

Vorm, Taylor has been out since 2nd game i think,Chico and Bartley does he play regular?

 

Dont forget we could say, Shaw isnt match fit neither is Cork or Ramierez. So i dont think you can use that against us

[Thedelldays]

Out of interest Who?

 

 

Vorm, Taylor has been out since 2nd game i think,Chico and Bartley does he play regular?

 

Dont forget we could say, Shaw isnt match fit neither is Cork or Ramierez. So i dont think you can use that against us

did danny granham play..?

 

add him to their list..

 

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_mobile_host.htm

 

isnt that most of their back 5...?

 

 

we hardly troubled their keeper....

Edited 11 November, 2012 by Thedelldays

[Dazza82]

did danny granham play..?

 

add him to their list..

 

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_mobile_host.htm

 

Considering he is not on that list you have just provided how are we to know if he is injured.

 

Also he isnt their goalscoring threat its Michu, how was he yesterday?

[Thedelldays]

Considering he is not on that list you have just provided how are we to know if he is injured.

 

Also he isnt their goalscoring threat its Michu, how was he yesterday?

he is....almost their back line out...an utterly crap performance from them and we hardly troubled their keeper

 

a turning point..yes

offers little hope really as we needed to win that game.

 

huge game next week and I cant help worry about QPRs pace will cause us no end of problems

pretty tragic for our hopes of surviving when you are trying to point score about only keeping the 11th place team to a draw...at home...when they were terrible and have been pretty terrible on the road nearly all season..

 

we should have and needed to win yesterday, you know it, I know it

[VectisSaint]

Problem that seems to be coming up though is that we are gradually getting better in defence, rarely looked troubled in our last 2 games in terms of organisation or penetration from opposition, but silly mistakes creep in. BUT, we seem to have forgotten how to score now. Its weeks since Rickie last netted, none of our other forward players are hitting the net (OK, J-Rod scored 1), our goals are drying up and only our defensive midfielders and CBs seem to be able to score now.

[david in sweden]

Or just a game that we played better than we have done for a while?

 

I was encouraged about the performance yesterday and think that was our best starting 11, apart from the mistake for the goal the team played well and we were a bit unlucky with a few of the referees decision.

So well done Nigel,you almost got it spot on yesterday.

 

 

AGREED, but more than a few games have been lost this season because of individual mistakes.

While that continues ....we're fighting an uphill battle.

[david in sweden]

I'm not sure what's going on with Mayuka. What's his role in the team?

It seems odd that he doesn't really get many chances.

 

 

the same might be said of Tadanari Lee. Oh I know he's been injured, but the reason that both these players were signed (I think) was not because they were seen as "match-winners" .....but as adding an extra dimension to an already successful winning side.

 

The main problem now is that we are no longer successful, and putting in inexperienced (albeit talented) players comes into the same category as introducing " Academy talent " into the side and expecting them to turn the tide that even our most senior players cannot manage to do.

[MAY-Z]

The game reminded me of the 2004/5 matches against crystal palace and west brom - people thought it was an improvement but in reality it was costly

 

We have now used home games against villa, wigan, fulham and Swansea for only 1 win

[Berkshire Saint]

The game reminded me of the 2004/5 matches against crystal palace and west brom - people thought it was an improvement but in reality it was costly

 

We have now used home games against villa, wigan, fulham and Swansea for only 1 win

 

Yep. I'm usually pretty positive but the patterns from the 04/05 season are quickly emerging! I've pretty much resigned myself to relegation already after not winning yesterday. The same season around this time we lost away to a Norwich side that hadn't won all season in the league...I fear we might see something similar at QPR next weekend.

[Graffito]

Can't say something was a turning point except in hindsight. A win and a clean sheet would have given the team such a confidence boost going into what I fear will be a difficult match for us at QPR. The more I think about the more I think it's a right b@stard we gifted Swansea a goal.

[Wade Garrett]

The game reminded me of the 2004/5 matches against crystal palace and west brom - people thought it was an improvement but in reality it was costly

 

We have now used home games against villa, wigan, fulham and Swansea for only 1 win

 

I agree, I hope it's not another false dawn. But at least we can go into the QPR game with a bit of confidence.

[Dublin Saint]

I have no idea. I thought he was an out and out striker. I guess, because he's meant to be quick, people assume he can play on the right of a front three, but I'm not sure it's as easy as that. Why pay £3 for him if theres no room in the team for him? At least with Rodriguez you could argue he is the long term successor of Lambert, so who's this chap and when will he ever get a game? That's £9m (I'm sure he cost £3m) spent on two strikers who don't really play. That, for Southampton, is almost unforgivable. What a waste of money. It's the only question mark that hangs over Adkins, for me.

This. We spent a fortune on bench warmers. Why??

[Legod Third Coming]

This. We spent a fortune on bench warmers. Why??

 

Because we need a squad?

 

Or are we supposed to have only 11 players now?

[Dr Who?]

Got everything crossed, for the 2nd of our must win games!

[the stain]

Because we need a squad?

 

Or are we supposed to have only 11 players now?

 

No, come on now. Of course we needed to improve the squad, but you don't do that by spending £9m on two players to act as squad players/back up. We could have actually improved the team with that money. I reckon, with the right scouting, we could have found 3 players capable of playing in the first 11 for that money. I'm completely behind Adkins and the team, but the more I think of how we wasted money, the more cross I get. I have only now stopped shedding tears about spending so much money on Delap all those years ago. This is insanity.

[Saint_clark]

It was another game where we improved on our disastrous start (bar a relapse by Gazza and Yoshida). Beat QPR next saturday and things look a lot more rosy.

[Colinjb]

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

 

Or something....

[Legod Third Coming]

No, come on now. Of course we needed to improve the squad, but you don't do that by spending £9m on two players to act as squad players/back up. We could have actually improved the team with that money. I reckon, with the right scouting, we could have found 3 players capable of playing in the first 11 for that money. I'm completely behind Adkins and the team, but the more I think of how we wasted money, the more cross I get. I have only now stopped shedding tears about spending so much money on Delap all those years ago. This is insanity.

 

If Lambert turns an ankle tomorrow, Jay Rod starts. And he'll start other games with and without Lambert (already has). £3m players to play in the first team in the Premiership better than we have? Tough ask, very. But possible... Personally I wouldn't have spent £7m on a centre-forward when we had Sharp - I would have spent it on two CBs.

[Saint Fan CaM]

If Lambert turns an ankle tomorrow, Jay Rod starts. And he'll start other games with and without Lambert (already has). £3m players to play in the first team in the Premiership better than we have? Tough ask, very. But possible... Personally I wouldn't have spent £7m on a centre-forward when we had Sharp - I would have spent it on two CBs.

 

Agree with all that.

[notnowcato]

If Lambert turns an ankle tomorrow, Jay Rod starts. And he'll start other games with and without Lambert (already has). £3m players to play in the first team in the Premiership better than we have? Tough ask, very. But possible... Personally I wouldn't have spent £7m on a centre-forward when we had Sharp - I would have spent it on two CBs.

 

That's if you assume all of the budget was spent.

 

Anyway, some decent signs for optimism but I'm not going to get too excited as I thought Swansea we're distinctly average.

[david in sweden]

Or just a game that we played better than we have done for a while?

 

I was encouraged about the performance yesterday and think that was our best starting 11,apart from the mistake for the goal the team played well and we were a bit unlucky with a few of the referees decision. So well done Nigel,you almost got it spot on yesterday.

 

I watched the match streamed on my computer, with pretty poor sound quality......but the 30,000+ gate it sounded quite subdued. Was there good crowd support ...or ?

 

We had lots of possession, but it looked a poor game to me.

[stevegrant]

the same might be said of Tadanari Lee. Oh I know he's been injured, but the reason that both these players were signed (I think) was not because they were seen as "match-winners" .....but as adding an extra dimension to an already successful winning side.

Neither Lee or Mayuka have taken their opportunities to prove their worth when given a starting place in the Capital One Cup. Of course, that needs to be in the context that they're playing alongside a load of reserves, but even so, Lee was disappointing at both Stevenage and Leeds, while Mayuka obviously only played at Elland Road but did very little.

 

For all the plaudits he's received for cameo performances against Villa and Spurs, in his other outings he's not shown anything. He was on the pitch for 20 minutes at West Brom last week and I can't remember him touching the ball.

[david in sweden]

Neither Lee or Mayuka have taken their opportunities to prove their worth when given a starting place in the Capital One Cup. Of course, that needs to be in the context that they're playing alongside a load of reserves, but even so, Lee was disappointing at both Stevenage and Leeds, while Mayuka obviously only played at Elland Road but did very little.

 

For all the plaudits he's received for cameo performances against Villa and Spurs, in his other outings he's not shown anything. He was on the pitch for 20 minutes at West Brom last week and I can't remember him touching the ball.

 

 

of course being sent on when the harm has already been done can't be very encouraging. It's certainly not the same as being there and part of the formation from the start -even if you know which way we're kicking.

[NickG]

Reckon that is pretty close to our best 11 and best shape.

 

The two positions I could see changing at Lambert and Puncheon. With Jay-Rod / Mayuka / Guly / Lee / Rowe? / Isgrove? competing. Personally, if RL isn't scoring, think Jay-Rod could offer more.

 

Happy to stick with team from Saturday for next week - but wouldn't be disappointed to see possibly Jay-Rod and Guly for Puncheon and Lambert - won't make me popular on here!!!

[NickG]

what is Chambers like? He plays RM doesn't he?

[Dark Munster]

Yes,I'll have to agree,one manager will be out of a job next week.

 

Even if it's a draw?

[lordswoodsaints]

Even if it's a draw?

 

I think the only way Hughes will keep his job is to beat us,I don't think a draw will save him.....likewise if Adkins fails to get anything from the game then it will become very difficult for him to justify his job