Saints 2 Reading 0 - Post Match Reactions

[Crab Lungs]

Nobody is airbrushing NA out of history but as time goes on the penny drops that his achievements were good but not great. We should have won at least 1trophy under him. We have moved to a better level of performance already, Iam hopeful we will do even better when he has 'his' squad next season

 

Jesus Christ.

[Jonnyboy]

Feckin motd. "precious little quality in this game"

Rolls eyes.

[Bucks Saint]

Steve Davis brilliant today.

New he was better as a footballer than snooker player!

Jay was superb.

Gaston was crap....again.

 

You got 2 out of 3 spot on. Need to improve your finishing to be an all round great though

[washsaint]

"Nobody is airbrushing NA out of history but as time goes on the penny drops that his achievements were good but not great. We should have won at least 1trophy under him. We have moved to a better level of performance already, Iam hopeful we will do even better when he has 'his' squad next season"

 

What a prize t$w$a$t................from someone who spends all their time saying the Skates have gotten away with it (despite dropping into the bottom league). NA was fantastic for Saints and appallingly treated. his teams were great to watch and getting back to back promotions was incredible. The new guy is doing a good job but your comments are utterly ridiculous.

[saint_jas]

MOTD rubbish tonight.

 

But cracking result, completely missed it being at the Ice Hockey.

[Jonnyboy]

To think we could've spent the next 10 years struggling in the Championship like Leeds, Leicester, etc etc.

NA is a hero.

[Lazlo78]

Avoided!

 

[Wes Tender]

It was a very nervous start from us today and for 30 minutes Reading were the better team. Where did our high pressing game go? Where did our closing down go? Reading had the greater share of winning the 50/50 balls during that period. But we gradually asserted ourselves and then had Rodriguez to thank for putting us ahead against the run of play. He is a player gaining confidence and improving with each game and forging a good understanding with Lambert. The two of them were too much of a handful for Reading's defence, which began to show why they are where they are through poor defending. Federici did not show the courage and the bravery required to block out Rodriguez, who showed great determination to score.

 

We began the second half much brighter and improved our passing and possession. We improved further when the largely innefectual Ramirez was substituted for Lallana and a brilliant ball into the box by Lambert set him up to stroke it past the keeper. With the two goal cushion we began to relax and play some marvellous possession football and the match was then pretty well a foregone conclusion.

 

There was controversy with a couple of refereeing decisions, which had they gone against us, might have changed the game to give Reading a point, but Hooiveld's penalty box tackle was adjudged to be fair and the linesman also judged correctly that Boruc's save had not taken the whole ball over the goal line. Both were very marginal decisions, but both proved to be correct in replays. Otherwise, Rodriguez hit the bar and Ramirez just put a shot wide. Davis should have done better when he was clean through on goal. He had a solid game, apart from putting Shaw under pressure with a weak back pass. Reading had a couple of good chances which fell mainly to Le Fondre and he should have done better with them. The Gods smiled on us today to a certain extent, but we were overall good value for the 3 points and a clean sheet, two goals off the goals against deficit and three wins in a row in the Premiership for the first time in a decade was all good news.

 

Generally the team played well, but nowhere near as spectacularly as when they recently played Chelsea, Liverpool or City. But at least they managed to win an away game against lower opposition and it was deemed to be a banana skin game against the team managed by our former manager. I'm sure that the media would have loved to have seen an upset, or some rancour between the managers, but neither scenario unfolded today. The meeting of Adkins and Pochettino was civil and polite and it would be good to think that they shared a drink afterwards, which Adkins says is the tradition there with visiting managers.

 

I wish him well with Reading after this match, but it seems an almost impossible task to keep them up this season. But there probably is no better manager that they could have to get them back up.

[Bucks Saint]

MOTD rubbish tonight.

 

But cracking result, completely missed it being at the Ice Hockey.

 

Rubbish highlights yes but afterwards firmly put the "goalkeeping foul" nonsense to bed and highlighted Gaston's brilliant pass to Jay Rod.

[SaintRobbie]

To think we could've spent the next 10 years struggling in the Championship like Leeds, Leicester, etc etc.

NA is a hero.

 

 

Well said. Too many short memories on this site sometimes. Always a hero. And while I'm at it people need to get off Ramirez's back - 22 and outstanding, he'll be a prize asset for us as he beds in to the Premier League. He's the type of player we need to reinforce with not lose patience with because of rumours of a move to Italy and a couple of under par performances. Jay Rod was also being slighted - now look at him! He's heading for an England cap!!

 

I am quite content with MP over NA. Cortese is vindicated, it was the right decision. Saints go marching on.

[corky morris]

Watched online when we were up in Orlando. Looked nervous for the initial period, but you could guess Reading would tire. Just about to go out for some fresh sea food now we are at Anna Marie Island & the 3 lads are decked out in Saints shirts! I know it's a bit Chavy, but I can let the lads indulge a bit!!

Excellent result. What it does show is that Adkins was wrong to leave Jay Rod on the wing!

[shurlock]

It was a very nervous start from us today and for 30 minutes Reading were the better team. Where did our high pressing game go? Where did our closing down go? Reading had the greater share of winning the 50/50 balls during that period. But we gradually asserted ourselves and then had Rodriguez to thank for putting us ahead against the run of play. He is a player gaining confidence and improving with each game and forging a good understanding with Lambert. The two of them were too much of a handful for Reading's defence, which began to show why they are where they are through poor defending. Federici did not show the courage and the bravery required to block out Rodriguez, who showed great determination to score.

 

We began the second half much brighter and improved our passing and possession. We improved further when the largely innefectual Ramirez was substituted for Lallana and a brilliant ball into the box by Lambert set him up to stroke it past the keeper. With the two goal cushion we began to relax and play some marvellous possession football and the match was then pretty well a foregone conclusion.

 

There was controversy with a couple of refereeing decisions, which had they gone against us, might have changed the game to give Reading a point, but Hooiveld's penalty box tackle was adjudged to be fair and the linesman also judged correctly that Boruc's save had not taken the whole ball over the goal line. Both were very marginal decisions, but both proved to be correct in replays. Otherwise, Rodriguez hit the bar and Ramirez just put a shot wide. Davis should have done better when he was clean through on goal. He had a solid game, apart from putting Shaw under pressure with a weak back pass. Reading had a couple of good chances which fell mainly to Le Fondre and he should have done better with them. The Gods smiled on us today to a certain extent, but we were overall good value for the 3 points and a clean sheet, two goals off the goals against deficit and three wins in a row in the Premiership for the first time in a decade was all good news.

 

Generally the team played well, but nowhere near as spectacularly as when they recently played Chelsea, Liverpool or City. But at least they managed to win an away game against lower opposition and it was deemed to be a banana skin game against the team managed by our former manager. I'm sure that the media would have loved to have seen an upset, or some rancour between the managers, but neither scenario unfolded today. The meeting of Adkins and Pochettino was civil and polite and it would be good to think that they shared a drink afterwards, which Adkins says is the tradition there with visiting managers.

 

I wish him well with Reading after this match, but it seems an almost impossible task to keep them up this season. But there probably is no better manager that they could have to get them back up.

 

Very hard to press when the other team is hoofing - no point in midfielders gambling if you the ball's going to bypass them and come back very quickly. Adkins tactics were spot on - stick Le Fondre up front and hit lots of balls down Jos' side for him the Le Fondre to chase. Shaw was targeted quite a bit as well. Much depended on our ability to win second balls -and Cork grew in influence as the game wore on, cleaning things up.

Their tactics ultimately ran into diminishing returns, our quality shone through and, as you say, we were very good value for the three points.

[CanadaSaint]

Very hard to press when the other team is hoofing - no point in midfielders gambling if you the ball's going to bypass them and come back very quickly. Adkins tactics were spot on - stick Le Fondre up front and hit lots of balls down Jos' side for him the Le Fondre to chase. Shaw was targeted quite a bit as well. Much depended on our ability to win second balls -and Cork grew in influence as the game wore on, cleaning things up.

Their tactics ultimately ran into diminishing returns, our quality shone through and, as you say, we were very good value for the three points.

 

That's how I saw it, too.

 

NA had his team playing exactly how they needed to play against us. I wanted us to stay as tight as we could during those opening phases and then let our superior class and fitness take over.

 

What is especially encouraging is that we can - and will - vary our tactics based on the opposition; we're not a high-press, one-trick pony.

 

And exactly the same approach as today should serve us well next week, and against teams like Stoke and Sunderland.

 

But we still need to take our chances better when they come along; we missed three relatively easy chances today. Against a better team that could have been very costly.

[captainchris]

Well said. Too many short memories on this site sometimes. Always a hero. And while I'm at it people need to get off Ramirez's back - 22 and outstanding, he'll be a prize asset for us as he beds in to the Premier League. He's the type of player we need to reinforce with not lose patience with because of rumours of a move to Italy and a couple of under par performances. Jay Rod was also being slighted - now look at him! He's heading for an England cap!!

 

I am quite content with MP over NA. Cortese is vindicated, it was the right decision. Saints go marching on.

You need to stop telling people to get off players backs..... This site is just people chatting about opinions on matches and players - it's not getting on

People's back - it's discussion so let's get that straight. This what this forum is for!!!!!!

So stop getting on people's backs! -)) - got it!

[genuis]

Pretty sure it was J Rod that set up Lallana, not Lambert

[Convict Colony]

woke up early at 4am and started reading the post match reactions thread and thought I'd not seen alpine on the post match threads for a while so decided to do a bearsy esq "investigates".

 

Seems Alp's hasn't posted on any our of our victory threads since 16th march which seems contrary to his last post on one below.

 

So does Alps only come out when negativity is needed ? or will this post elicit some awesomeness

 

16th March

Thread: Saints 3 Liverpool 1 - Post Match Reactions

by alpine_saint Replies

275

Views

18,950

Poll: I agree, but lets try to make sure we dont throw...

I agree, but lets try to make sure we dont throw any more silly points away that may be critical.

 

Btw, win, draw or lose, I post my reaction after EVERY game. Not my fault some of you only look...

Edited 7 April, 2013 by Convict Colony
hungover spelling

[Bucks Saint]

Oh if anyone wants further evidence of the plastic nature of Reading's fans, yesterday's attendance was announced as 24,108. As the capacity is 24,161, this suggests to anyone who has not watched the game that there were just 53 teeny weeny empty seats, tucked away in distant corners of the stadium.

 

Total ****e. Serious numbers of "supporters" had purchased tickets / season tickets but did not show up for this must win game with the new boss. Lets see how many empty seats there are for Liverpool next week.

Edited 7 April, 2013 by Bucks Saint

[rooney]

The empty seats were very noticeable on SKY and the Reading supporters were so quite. The saints fans came across loud and clear though with their singing.

[georgeweahscousin]

Something very pleasing....

 

...a fair amount of Reading fans saying how good we were, yet, I felt like we weren't at our best! Bright future.

 

My report for ESPN for anyone interested. http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/southampton/id/577?cc=5739

[Convict Colony]

Something very pleasing....

 

...a fair amount of Reading fans saying how good we were, yet, I felt like we weren't at our best! Bright future.

 

My report for ESPN for anyone interested. http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/southampton/id/577?cc=5739

 

pity you didn't mention Federici was an aussie in the "lost his bottle" bit, that did make me chuckle.

 

Nice article though.

[Bucks Saint]

04-04-2013,*04:37 AM #167 BlakeySFC

Full Member

 

Join Date

Nov 2006

Location

Surrey,UK

Posts

1,022

 

I guarantee we will lose.

 

 

We look forward to the payout

[pap]

Oh if anyone wants further evidence of the plastic nature of Reading's fans, yesterday's attendance was announced as 24,108. As the capacity is 24,161, this suggests to anyone who has not watched the game that there were just 53 teeny weeny empty seats, tucked away in distant corners of the stadium.

 

Total ****e. Serious numbers of "supporters" had purchased tickets / season tickets but did not show up for this must win game with the new boss. Lets see how many empty seats there are for Liverpool next week.

 

Those seats were NOT empty.

 

In a bid to expand its supporter base, Reading FC has been marketing to the insect kingdom. Those seats were occupied by ants from the Chieveley and Beedon area.

 

Due to the strict rules of stadium seating, only one ant is allowed per seat, giving the appearance (to the layman) of an empty seat.

 

I know. I think the seating restrictions are ridiculous too.

[Ziggy]

J Rod for me. I was critical of him in the first half of the season but he has been superb recently.

[Charlie Wayman]

Poor match and an indifferent performance from Saints. Much too casual and sloppy. Too easy for us and 'yes' "you can only beat what's in front of you" but we should have done much better. Some of the defensive panic was undignified and needs sorting out. This is a poor league and we are becoming one of the better teams so things are looking good for next season especially as Cardiff, Hull & Watford seem ill-equipped to stay at this level assuming they come up from a even poorer nPC. I fancy Saints & Swansea for top eight next season.

[pap]

Poor match and an indifferent performance from Saints. Much too casual and sloppy. Too easy for us and 'yes' "you can only beat what's in front of you" but we should have done much better. Some of the defensive panic was undignified and needs sorting out. This is a poor league and we are becoming one of the better teams so things are looking good for next season especially as Cardiff, Hull & Watford seem ill-equipped to stay at this level assuming they come up from a even poorer nPC. I fancy Saints & Swansea for top eight next season.

 

I'd actually like to see Cardiff come up and stay up. I don't know if they're equipped.

 

One team that may well be equipped for life in the Prem is Watford. They're owned by Giampaolo Pozzo, who also owns Udinese and Granada. They've been propelled up the Championship through some (ahem) very useful loans. My point is that the current Watford FC project looks like a calculated strategy to get into the Prem. Those links into France and Spain aren't too shabby; they may well keep them there.

 

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2013/04/05/cardiff-city-boss-mackay-backs-rule-change-in-wake-of-watford-fc-loan-furore-91466-33122551/

[Shroppie]

The empty seats were very noticeable on SKY and the Reading supporters were so quite. The saints fans came across loud and clear though with their singing.

 

I was with a Reading ST friend sitting as far from the Saints fans as it was possible to be. It was embarrassingly quiet. I couldn't even comment in a pro-Saints whisper as it would have been easily heard. From where I was sitting there were 30 empty seats in just the rows around me.

 

And the noise from the away end was awesome. Well done lads (and lasses!).

 

Oh, and did get a closeup of Artur's basketball skills. Onteresting that my friend, who was a very useful keeper in his day, was actually impressed and commented that, although it looks casual it's actually very skilful and he really is planning to flip the ball over the oppositions' heads before (eventually) catching it. makes some sense - better than a wild punch or failed attempt at a catch.

[supersonic]

Oh if anyone wants further evidence of the plastic nature of Reading's fans, yesterday's attendance was announced as 24,108. As the capacity is 24,161, this suggests to anyone who has not watched the game that there were just 53 teeny weeny empty seats, tucked away in distant corners of the stadium.

 

Total ****e. Serious numbers of "supporters" had purchased tickets / season tickets but did not show up for this must win game with the new boss. Lets see how many empty seats there are for Liverpool next week.

 

 

I thought it was good of the Reading fans to turn up as empty seats and hold a 90 minute silence.

[Wes Tender]

Pretty sure it was J Rod that set up Lallana, not Lambert

Yes you're right. A superb defence splitting through ball. Lambert and Rodriguez are both supplying some really good passes now and playing well off each other, as highlighted on Match of the Day.

[adrian lord]

Massive result out of a frankly dull, poor game. Neutrals on Sky would have turned off in their droves. Well done chaps - these games are tough to win.

[eurosaint]

I don't agree. Easier for Adam to come on. Gaston is losing the ball trying to be creative. Wilkins described his pass to j rod as world class. Why can't we just be happy.

 

That was exactly my point, if he can just be a bit more selective he could be awesome !

Ps. I am happy as a little piglet in sh#t !!

[Saint Without a Halo]

He is a great player and will come good next year!

[Griffo]

Nigel got us the whole way to where we are today and we couldn't even give him a song yesterday. Those of you that said wait until the game was won, and there was still nothing? Disgraceful.

 

Unless something was sung before the game or in the first 2 minutes.. Wasn't in the ground yet.

[Graffito]

Nigel got us the whole way to where we are today and we couldn't even give him a song yesterday. Those of you that said wait until the game was won, and there was still nothing? Disgraceful.

 

Unless something was sung before the game or in the first 2 minutes.. Wasn't in the ground yet.

 

About 15 minutes in. "One Nigel Adkins".

[Griffo]

About 15 minutes in. "One Nigel Adkins".

 

Didn't hear that myself so couldn't have been all that loud.

[Shroppie]

Didn't hear that myself so couldn't have been all that loud.

 

I heard it clearly from the far end. And the Reading applause to appreciate it.

[Turkish]

Didn't hear that myself so couldn't have been all that loud.

 

I heard saints fans signing "nigel Adkins he's too good for you" on the telly about 10 minutes from the end.

[RobM]

I'd actually like to see Cardiff come up and stay up. I don't know if they're equipped.

 

One team that may well be equipped for life in the Prem is Watford. They're owned by Giampaolo Pozzo, who also owns Udinese and Granada. They've been propelled up the Championship through some (ahem) very useful loans. My point is that the current Watford FC project looks like a calculated strategy to get into the Prem. Those links into France and Spain aren't too shabby; they may well keep them there.

 

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2013/04/05/cardiff-city-boss-mackay-backs-rule-change-in-wake-of-watford-fc-loan-furore-91466-33122551/

 

Geography fail. D-, could do better.

[OldNick]

Jesus Christ.

I don't get a box of tissues out every time NA is mentioned. He did well he was not great, there is no way we should not have won the CCC last season not doing so was a failure

[Minsk]

I don't get a box of tissues out every time NA is mentioned. He did well he was not great, there is no way we should not have won the CCC last season not doing so was a failure

 

Really? What makes you say this? Have you forgotten how much Leicester and Wet Spam spent during the summer before last season? We were far from favourites for promotion, let alone winning the title.

Edited 7 April, 2013 by Minsk

[hypochondriac]

I don't get a box of tissues out every time NA is mentioned. He did well he was not great, there is no way we should not have won the CCC last season not doing so was a failure

 

You are a nutter. Two promotions in two seasons is clearly great. He is and always will be a Southampton great.

[Appy]

Nigel got us the whole way to where we are today and we couldn't even give him a song yesterday. Those of you that said wait until the game was won, and there was still nothing? Disgraceful.

 

Unless something was sung before the game or in the first 2 minutes.. Wasn't in the ground yet.

 

His name was sung just as the game kicked off and in the last 15.

 

Seemed fairly loud from where I was.

[benjii]

Didn't think we played well first hald but it was like a cup banana skin when you play a plucky team from a lower league that actually has one or two ok players.

 

Second half we took the **** a bit but Reading looked shot. We should have scored more.

 

I am really impressed with the physical condition of our team - I think Pocche may be a bit of a Strachan in that regard. If oyu have players who are willing to buy into those methods then you can get great results. What please me the most is the way we seem to recruit very few bad eggs. Our transfer committee really has done an exceptional job in moulding a squad full of early twenty somethings and one or two experienced heads with talent, commitment, level-headedness and desire.

 

I think we will look to improve at centre back and add one or two new attacking players. Provided we don't sell anyone we don't want to sell there is no reason why we can't get 50+ points next season.

[Tom8558]

From the Reading forum.

 

'Promising signs that Adkins might get us playing decent football, but this horrendously average squad that McD put together didn't get close to the excellent Southampton players. Just want this season to be over.'

 

Which as the general tone of the thread. Fair play. Nothing if not realistic. Can't see them bouncing back next season though.

[stknowle]

You got 2 out of 3 spot on. Need to improve your finishing to be an all round great though

 

The third being the inaccurate assertion that 'Gaston was crap'. He wasn't amazing, did good and bad but you can see he has class, and if we can train more of the good and less of the bad out of him in the close season we will have a special player on our hands.

[Mowgli]

It was a very nervous start from us today and for 30 minutes Reading were the better team. Where did our high pressing game go? Where did our closing down go? Reading had the greater share of winning the 50/50 balls during that period. But we gradually asserted ourselves and then had Rodriguez to thank for putting us ahead against the run of play. He is a player gaining confidence and improving with each game and forging a good understanding with Lambert. The two of them were too much of a handful for Reading's defence, which began to show why they are where they are through poor defending. Federici did not show the courage and the bravery required to block out Rodriguez, who showed great determination to score.

 

We began the second half much brighter and improved our passing and possession. We improved further when the largely innefectual Ramirez was substituted for Lallana and a brilliant ball into the box by Lambert set him up to stroke it past the keeper. With the two goal cushion we began to relax and play some marvellous possession football and the match was then pretty well a foregone conclusion.

 

There was controversy with a couple of refereeing decisions, which had they gone against us, might have changed the game to give Reading a point, but Hooiveld's penalty box tackle was adjudged to be fair and the linesman also judged correctly that Boruc's save had not taken the whole ball over the goal line. Both were very marginal decisions, but both proved to be correct in replays. Otherwise, Rodriguez hit the bar and Ramirez just put a shot wide. Davis should have done better when he was clean through on goal. He had a solid game, apart from putting Shaw under pressure with a weak back pass. Reading had a couple of good chances which fell mainly to Le Fondre and he should have done better with them. The Gods smiled on us today to a certain extent, but we were overall good value for the 3 points and a clean sheet, two goals off the goals against deficit and three wins in a row in the Premiership for the first time in a decade was all good news.

 

Generally the team played well, but nowhere near as spectacularly as when they recently played Chelsea, Liverpool or City. But at least they managed to win an away game against lower opposition and it was deemed to be a banana skin game against the team managed by our former manager. I'm sure that the media would have loved to have seen an upset, or some rancour between the managers, but neither scenario unfolded today. The meeting of Adkins and Pochettino was civil and polite and it would be good to think that they shared a drink afterwards, which Adkins says is the tradition there with visiting managers.

 

I wish him well with Reading after this match, but it seems an almost impossible task to keep them up this season. But there probably is no better manager that they could have to get them back up.

 

It's called plan B. designed to cope with the long ball game utilised by some the lesser tams in the league. MP's set up was spot on. The criticism about our game only suited to the football playing sides like Chelsea and Liverpool has hopefully been put to bed. Take another look at the stats and you will see we were a class apart.

[Rut]

Here is 11 mins of post-match analysis of the game from USA TV. Includes the goals etc & some good things said about Saints. I especially like when they look at the next 6 games for both teams. 'Southampton will be looking up the table now'

 

[video=youtube;ruAL-XfBqto]

[Puddings and Monkeys]

It's called plan B. designed to cope with the long ball game utilised by some the lesser tams in the league. MP's set up was spot on. The criticism about our game only suited to the football playing sides like Chelsea and Liverpool has hopefully been put to bed. Take another look at the stats and you will see we were a class apart.

 

Spot on Sir.

[Patrick Bateman]

It's called plan B. designed to cope with the long ball game utilised by some the lesser tams in the league. MP's set up was spot on. The criticism about our game only suited to the football playing sides like Chelsea and Liverpool has hopefully been put to bed. Take another look at the stats and you will see we were a class apart.

 

Exactly and this is what I REALLY liked about the match yesterday - the fact that we did something different as we knew Reading would be looking to disrupt us. The first 5 minutes or soworked for Reading and Adkins and they were disrupting the team somewhat and it appeared they were targeting Clyne more.

 

However, once we started to put some pressure on (without playing the normal high pressure) and playing/passing in neat high-tempo triangles, the Reading players' heads dropped.

 

But it was great to see something different from the "high pressure". Things are looking up!!

[Bucks Saint]

Didn't hear that myself so couldn't have been all that loud.

 

Clearly heard it and joined in, while among the Reading fans

Edited 7 April, 2013 by Bucks Saint

[Gingeletiss]

The third being the inaccurate assertion that 'Gaston was crap'. He wasn't amazing, did good and bad but you can see he has class, and if we can train more of the good and less of the bad out of him in the close season we will have a special player on our hands.

 

Whilst I know what you mean, it's not what you wrote!