Just back from the game thread

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Live 30mins walk away from Old Trafford. Hate losing but we gave it a good go. Really was a game of two halves.

 

First half I wasn't too happy. We played a high line but didn't press them much when they had the ball, it didn't feel like we were giving ourselves much chance. We looked aprehenscious on the ball and as a confidence team it didn't bode well. Got a gift of a goal but all it did was give Man Utd another kick up the arse. Hated seeing Jay-Rod on the wing - he just isn't comfortable there for me. Man Utd were worth the lead at the break, their movement up front was very good and they weren't shy of bombing forward when they had the chance. Got to HT only down by 1 which was good.

 

Second half was something else. I couldn't tell you what formation we played. It looked like it could be Davis behind Lambert with Lallana on the left and Jay-Rod on the right but to be honest the whole thing was so fluid I don't have any idea what was going on. Lambert would press the furthest defender, Lallana and Jay-Rod would sit on the full-backs and Davis would operate like a forward-defender giving grief to whomever had the ball and if the Man Utd defence dare try to get the ball past those four (in their own half) then the rest of the team chased after the ball like a pack of dogs. It was very brave and quite remarkable to see. And it worked bigtime. Man Utd had no answer. They made all sorts of changes to combat it and nothing worked. In basketball terms it was akin to a full court press. You hassle the other team in their own half and challenge them to get near your half. It sounds dangerous but we did it so well. A little more quality and composure in the final third and we would have scored three in the second half but I am not going to moan about that. We need to take advantage when we play well and have good spells and we didn't. But it is potentially a good sign for the future.

 

Finally a good mention for Boruc - his gives the whole defence confidence and played very very well tonight.

 

Saints fans in good voice, but Man Utd fans are so spoilt over the last few decades I think they've lost the whole point of going to a game which is a nit of a shame.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Thanks - good report and sounds like the game I watched.

[JoeShmoe]

wow, if MP has instilled that already we'll be in good shape, my guess though is it only takes one or two to fail at it (Ramirez) and the rest is exposed

[St Chalet]

4 1/2 hours to get back to Reading.

 

Amazing support from Saints fans, Old Trafford rivalled The Emirates in terms of ****e atmosphere.

 

We were OK first half. Undone by a old move for the first goal and a well worked set piece for the second. Personally thought Hooiveld was guilty of losing Rooney for both goals.

 

Second half we looked a different team. We battered them from start to finish. SAF very worried as he stood on the touch line the whole of the second half.

 

special mentions to Cork, Boruc and Lallana for me. Also the best I have seen Steve Davis in a Saints shirt.