Saints 0 Everton 0 - Post Match

[St Matty]

Two clean sheets with Jos in the team. Would never have put money on that.

I blame SRL for not getting 3 points - but then hey

NC showed up - balls of steel then

Sawthe three idiots with the hankies before the game

After that respect to the fans cracking atmosphere on telly shut Martin Tyler & Paul Walsh uo

 

And well done lads (players), The King is dead long live the king

 

Agree with all except the balls of steel. Having told the stewards to remove offensive banners from 12 year old kids I doubt anyone was going to be allowed to abuse the don.

[Andy Williams]

Just joined Saints Web - been a lifelong fan - born Ryde IOW but lived in the North East for years currently in Middlesbrough follow Saints religiously but didn't know what to expect last night. Read national newspapers and Daily Echo online and they say that players play for each as a team these days and not necessarily for the manager, they get paid to do a professional job regardless of who's shouting from the sideline. I think 0-0 is a great point when the first half was ours and the second half was theirs. Solidifying the back is what Adkins worked on at the training ground and it's showed in the last 6 games or so. Yes I was stunned at his dismissal and feel sorry for him but thank him for his loyalty and passion and for taking the club through from League 1 to Premier League but I also take the point from a couple of national journalists that say the Argentine will attract some top European talent like the players already being discussed form Espanyol and Anderlecht - we should give this guy time and hope that he brings success to the club like Adkins did, if we do well (and well is just staying up this year isn't it surely?) then we'll say it's a brave and bold move from Cortese but if we go down then Cortese has to face the music and take the blame. Personally I like what I see and draws against Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton are amazing results whether they are home or away ties - I don't think we will go down whoever is in charge - there are far worse teams than us that deserve to go down. The key is keeping the starting 11 fit!! Is that long for a forum post - sorry! This is new to me!!

[Norm]

Andy, I love your songs! Esp, Moon River. Funny thing is, I thought you died last Sept?

[Saint Garrett]

Thought the atmosphere last night was pretty poor tbh, Rarely did it get going.

[Norm]

Thought the atmosphere last night was pretty poor tbh, Rarely did it get going.

 

Strange you think that. I sat in the Kingsland-Northam corner (Block 37) last night for the first time ever. Both my grandson and I thought it was great for noise and atmosphere.

[yorkie]

Strange you think that. I sat in the Kingsland-Northam corner (Block 37) last night for the first time ever. Both my grandson and I thought it was great for noise and atmosphere.

 

 

 

Blimey Norm - back in the fold?

Glad to see your grandson still has the bug - I bet he loved Nigel!

 

I thought the atmosphere came over well on the TV last night, even with the sound a little muted/damped down. Certainly Gary Neville thought so!

 

A bit off topic - but as much I despised him as a footballer, and all the reports I got about him from friends in Manchester - he is a very even handed pundit with no other agenda than to be positive about the team playing football. Even though his brother was playing for Everton - he really talked up Saints for all their flowing football. He's not such a knob after all!

[Junior Mullet]

Our bench is incredibly weak. Has been all season so credit to NA and the coaches for doing so well in the circumstances.

 

Played a good team off the park completely first half.

[Norm]

Blimey Norm - back in the fold?

Glad to see your grandson still has the bug - I bet he loved Nigel!

 

I thought the atmosphere came over well on the TV last night, even with the sound a little muted/damped down. Certainly Gary Neville thought so!

 

A bit off topic - but as much I despised him as a footballer, and all the reports I got about him from friends in Manchester - he is a very even handed pundit with no other agenda than to be positive about the team playing football. Even though his brother was playing for Everton - he really talked up Saints for all their flowing football. He's not such a knob after all!

 

Yorkie! Old chum, hope you are well 'oop' North in lovely Pocklington? Harry and I normally sit in The Family area but last night we were given tkts from a pal who went to Sweden. Must say, I enjoyed the game and the second half seemed to be only 25 minutes long!

 

As for young H, he was rather shocked at Nigel's sacking, he thought he was the 'dogs dodas'. Still, we are merely paying customers and have to accept how things are done there now.

[mcjwills]

Cannot believe reading on here how some people were questioning Gaston last night IMHO it was his best ever shift in a saints shirt, it was like he was on speed his movement and gameplay was excellent.

[Wes Tender]

I thought that the match was probably not much different to how it would have been had Adkins been on the touchline. Whether the players raised their efforts because they had to impress the new man is a moot point.

 

Personally I'm a little bit disappointed that there weren't more chants for Nigel, but as I had said earlier, one match is enough to register the protest and then get behind the team and the new guy. What was class from Pochettino though, was that when there was a chant of one Nigel Adkins, he acknowledged it and applauded.

 

In terms of how MP saw the game though, I think that he would have been impressed with most of what we gave him. Where we have drawn against some of the top teams recently, we can't be far away from the finished article, although he will soon learn that the substitutes like De Ridder bring very little to the team in terms of quality. In the matches against Arsenal, Stoke, Chelsea and now Everton, they were all matches where we could have gained all three points with the rub of the green and in none of them were we deemed to be particularly lucky to have got the draw.

 

So from now on until the end of the season, the jury is out on whether this change was a good idea or not. IMO opinion, Adkins would have achieved at least the position he left, 15th and 3 points clear of the relegation places. If MP does not at least equal that, then I won't acknowledge that there was any point in making the change.

[St Matty]

Yorkie! Old chum, hope you are well 'oop' North in lovely Pocklington? Harry and I normally sit in The Family area but last night we were given tkts from a pal who went to Sweden. Must say, I enjoyed the game and the second half seemed to be only 25 minutes long!

 

As for young H, he was rather shocked at Nigel's sacking, he thought he was the 'dogs dodas'. Still, we are merely paying customers and have to accept how things are done there now.

No, you don't have to accept that is how things are down there - this is our club not NC's. I will support the teram and the new manager - who seems very good, but i will always protest at the way Nc does things. And will boycott the corporate sales of overpriced beer, shirts, and propaganda known these days as a programme.

[Saints foreva]

Highlights:

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwxq9t_southampton-v-everton_sport#.UP6VcCcy7ng

[Saint Charlie]

Cannot believe reading on here how some people were questioning Gaston last night IMHO it was his best ever shift in a saints shirt, it was like he was on speed his movement and gameplay was excellent.

 

Agree - he won the ball high up the pitch countless times and was strong and purposeful on the ball. Has to play centrally for me every time.

[Chez]

Very much a match of two halves. Sadly we didn't take advantage of brilliant first half display. As is often the case after half time the opposition improves and we couldn't maintain the level. I thought we tired very quickly. The'd done a lot of running, but Gaston, Guly and Puncheon seemed to hit a wall energy and movement wise. Gaston had been outstanding, but as soon as his hamstring tightened our threat went. Likewise Guly. His runs beyond the striker caused real problems. Without them we had little going forward. Reasonably happy with a point. Thank god Jelavic is emulating Torres.

 

Boruc 8 great display although kicking is atrocious

Clyne 8 also very good. He was our only real threat in the second half. Misses Puncheon when he wanders or is subbed.

Yoshida 6 still not convinced. Didn't time his headers all night, but then again its not easy against Fellani. Distribution leaves a lot to be desire too on some occasions.

Jos 6 Did the basics well, but you can see he is struggling a little with confidence. Now he is back in the side I feel less sure of my statement that he would do a job for us. I guess he has, but he looks less assured than before we dropped him.

Shaw 8 still getting better and better. He's becoming a star very very quickly. Did Ashley Cole get a new deal because Shaw couldn't be prised away?

Morgan 8 Brilliant first half, the yellow hampered him, but defensively he was brilliant.

Cork 5 worst game for a long time. Gave the ball away more times yesterday than in all the other games put together

Puncheon 6 decent first half, maybe an 8, but almost nothing in the second, maybe a 4

Gaston 8 best display in a Saints shirt all be it for one half. Massive threat, great turn of pace and real power in his shooting. Tried to beat one too many in the second and then got injured having tired. Hope he plays in the middle. Been saying it for ages that that is the only place to play him. Can't play out wide.

Guly 7 similar to Puncheon. Burnt himself out with a lot of long bursting runs. Kept the ball well.

Lambert 7 Brilliant first half, looked very sharp, but service was poor in the second and he looked a bit heavy and made some wrong choices.

 

I thought the Adkins songs were done well and at the right time. The fans got it spot on and I think you could tell from the way the players really thanked us afterwards that they appreciated the proper support during the match. I thought the club were a bit crafty with the loud pre match music playing right up to kick off. Don't usually do this.

Edited 22 January, 2013 by Chez

[orchardsaint]

what is the surprise? MP played NA's team because he's only been there 3 days. same style and shape, the only difference is there seemed to be a higher level of intensity to the first half as the 'new manager' syndrome kicks in.

was never sure about boruc, but he did well.

yoshida is getting better, but does forren walk into team?

guly has been shown as nowhere near a prem player but put in a bit of effort last night. still not good enough.

morgan amazing and getting better all the time, surprised he isn't talked about more.

ramirez is not justifying £12 million, nowhere near.

cork below par but been very consistant.

need someone to help score goals, Jrod not good enough.

 

let's see who MP turns out from the transfer window and into the team.

[Leicestersaint]

Great first half - Ramirez was outstanding. We should have scored several.

 

Second half - went a bit off the boil - Shaw was outstanding as was Morgan.

 

Cortese just looked smug, arrogant and ridiculous.

[Norm]

No, you don't have to accept that is how things are down there - this is our club not NC's. I will support the teram and the new manager - who seems very good, but i will always protest at the way Nc does things. And will boycott the corporate sales of overpriced beer, shirts, and propaganda known these days as a programme.

 

Whilst I totally understand your feelings (I hope I do), what can I or you do to change things? I either go to games and smile at things I don't like/hear or I stay away. As I've been going since Aug 1956 and seen lots of changes and things I wasn't too happy about, I now go and watch the game and leave all the fighting to the warriors on here.

 

,

[St Matty]

Whilst I totally understand your feelings (I hope I do), what can I or you do to change things? I either go to games and smile at things I don't like/hear or I stay away. As I've been going since Aug 1956 and seen lots of changes and things I wasn't too happy about, I now go and watch the game and leave all the fighting to the warriors on here.

 

,

hi norm, you do understand - my view is that we can all do little things, not buy the programme, not pay a tenner to go in the car park when going on the away coach, not shopping in the megastore. will it make a difference? - probably not - but i feel better,

[up and away]

A good display but not a lot you can firmly judge as yet. This sort of performance would not have surprised me from Adkins, just too early doors. That said no real bloopers from MP and the result was about justified. From everything I have seen from the team I don't feel this is the solution when we bankrupted our stamina in the battle to get on top. I feel a Everton side slightly off their best never made us pay for not scoring when we ran out of steam. To our credit we never let it go on for too long and seized the initiative back at the end. Ramirez struggling with his fitness levels and looks short of a pre-season but absolute class when he was able. One area where I thought Adkins was making headway was not to exhaust ourselves in a first half of 30 minutes flurry and pay for it in the remainder of the game. This problem looks like it will come back to hit MP unless he changes things as per Adkins. Guly made some great penetrating runs but he has to be backed up with numbers to turn those opportunities into goals. But like others, once the stamina went down, so did the performance. Ricky I thought looked dangerous and the whipped ball he put in against the Everton defence will result in a goal most of the time, even if the Everton defence get there first. When the team and Ricky start lacking stamina then you get the idea of the problems this creates. Without the pace this is always going to happen and it will be interesting to see how MP deals with this. As long as we have control of the midfield I don't feel we will go far wrong but I have seen Adkins go from feast to famine here so would not take that as a nailed on. It's always far easier when we have control over the midfield but we can still do an effective job if we don't give it all away and have to play the ball on the back foot. There were times when Everton pushed their back four up and started to cause us all sorts of problems and it was difficult without that pacey forward to keep them honest with any ease.

 

Would be nice to see a really good victory followed by the tributes to Nigel so we can happily draw that blue line that's required.

[Whitey Grandad]

Very much a match of two halves. Sadly we didn't take advantage of brilliant first half display. As is often the case after half time the opposition improves and we couldn't maintain the level. I thought we tired very quickly. The'd done a lot of running, but Gaston, Guly and Puncheon seemed to hit a wall energy and movement wise. Gaston had been outstanding, but as soon as his hamstring tightened our threat went. Likewise Guly. His runs beyond the striker caused real problems. Without them we had little going forward. Reasonably happy with a point. Thank god Jelavic is emulating Torres.

 

Boruc 8 great display although kicking is atrocious

Clyne 8 also very good. He was our only real threat in the second half. Misses Puncheon when he wanders or is subbed.

Yoshida 6 still not convinced. Didn't time his headers all night, but then again its not easy against Fellani. Distribution leaves a lot to be desire too on some occasions.

Jos 6 Did the basics well, but you can see he is struggling a little with confidence. Now he is back in the side I feel less sure of my statement that he would do a job for us. I guess he has, but he looks less assured than before we dropped him.

Shaw 8 still getting better and better. He's becoming a star very very quickly. Did Ashley Cole get a new deal because Shaw couldn't be prised away?

Morgan 8 Brilliant first half, the yellow hampered him, but defensively he was brilliant.

Cork 5 worst game for a long time. Gave the ball away more times yesterday than in all the other games put together

Puncheon 6 decent first half, maybe an 8, but almost nothing in the second, maybe a 4

Gaston 8 best display in a Saints shirt all be it for one half. Massive threat, great turn of pace and real power in his shooting. Tried to beat one too many in the second and then got injured having tired. Hope he plays in the middle. Been saying it for ages that that is the only place to play him. Can't play out wide.

Guly 7 similar to Puncheon. Burnt himself out with a lot of long bursting runs. Kept the ball well.

Lambert 7 Brilliant first half, looked very sharp, but service was poor in the second and he looked a bit heavy and made some wrong choices.

 

I thought the Adkins songs were done well and at the right time. The fans got it spot on and I think you could tell from the way the players really thanked us afterwards that they appreciated the proper support during the match. I thought the club were a bit crafty with the loud pre match music playing right up to kick off. Don't usually do this.

I don't think Gaston had hamstring problems, He had taken off his tie-ups and had his socks round his ankles just before he went off. He seemed to be massaging his shins and calf muscles. Let's hope it was just cramp.

 

I felt it was a good shift from all concerned.

Jos was a bit hoof-upfield at times but they all stuck to their allotted tasks.

Gaston seemed to be really fired up, I don't think I've ever seen him so physical.

I thought Cork did ok, just a couple of loose balls later on.

The pace of Clyne and Shaw got us out of potential trouble a couple of times.

Either side could have won with a bit more composure in front of goal.

Never argue with a clean sheet, a solid defence is the only way that we are going to see this through.

Shame we couldn't win though, we badly need to keep the points ticking up over the next few games. I'd be reasonably happy with beating Wigan.

[Window Cleaner]

Looked through my recording again, don't think the ref got a very good grip on Everton's alehouse football, constant holding and shirt pulling, couple of smacks round the ear for our lads, all unnoticed or seemingly so. Fellaini needs watching he's a filthy bugger

and knows how to hide it from the ref.