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SAINTS 1-1 Stoke City // Post-Match Reaction


Saint-Armstrong

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You have to wonder how many of those players will start next year if rumours of money to spend are true

 

Realistically Shaw, Clyne, Morgan and JRod are the only 4 definites for me

 

The rest I think we can upgrade quite easily, harsh though it might seem

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Shame we couldn't win today, but our play in the final third wasn't good enough to break down a Stoke side that defended well. If one of our AM's had the kind of final pass Lambert does, we'd me a much more dangerous side.

 

Davis - 7: Not much to do, didn't do anything wrong Agreed, but 6

 

Clyne - 6 Defended OK, but not his usual self going forward 8 - MoM for me, superb game

Jos: - 5 gave away too many silly free kicks 6 - Fairly solid

Fonte - 5 Struggled physically 6 - Handled Crouch quite intelligently

Shaw - 6 Looked very tired IMO. 7 - Did look tired, but got forward well

 

Cork - 5 Poor by his standards, bullied off the ball a lot. 8 - good game, won the ball a lot, tidied up, always available

Morgan - 7 Usual performance 6 - Bit quieter than usual

 

Rodriguez - 5 passenger today for large parts, still not convinced by him. Agreed - poor game, seemed not to be aware of where he was meant to play. Will come good though

Davis - 6 on the ball often, but lacks quality when it matters Agreed

Lallana - 7 Good cross lead to the goal 5 - Cross was pretty much all he did. Poor end product, got bundled off the ball too often.

 

Lambert - 8 MOM looked more like himself today, got the goal and played some good passes. 6 - Very jaded and off the pace of the game. Would've been 5 without the tap-in

 

Subs:

 

Punch - 6 offered more of a threat for about 5 minutes, then faded 7 - Good movement and passing. Seemed the only one who wanted to run. Didn't fade at all

JWP - 6 Did OK Agreed

Mayuka - 5 Lots of effort, but disappoints when he gets on the ball. 6 - Not on long, but looked as if he was starting to fit the system, nearly scored

 

We must have been at different games, or at least at opposite ends of the ground :?

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So how was NC and the Liebherrs received on the day? It also was said on Sky that Owen was give a great reception by all the fans

 

I couldn't see NC or the Liebherrs from where I was, but Owen got a long standing ovation from all areas of the ground when he came on.

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I'm sure NC won't be happy the way the season has fizzled out - I'm not. Sure, we dominate possession, but we do very little with it. In fact we created more chances under Nigel. Hopefully, MP will be more tactically astute next season, otherwise the axe may be dusted off before Christmas. The real positive for me is that no team bar West Brom has really outplayed us since the turn of the year. We need more quality in the team that's for sure - especially someone who can shoot. I'm afraid the Champions League is still a very wet dream at the moment.

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Shame we couldn't win today, but our play in the final third wasn't good enough to break down a Stoke side that defended well. If one of our AM's had the kind of final pass Lambert does, we'd me a much more dangerous side.

 

Davis - 7: Not much to do, didn't do anything wrong

 

Clyne - 6 Defended OK, but not his usual self going forward

Jos: - 5 gave away too many silly free kicks

Fonte - 5 Struggled physically

Shaw - 6 Looked very tired IMO.

 

Cork - 5 Poor by his standards, bullied off the ball a lot.

Morgan - 7 Usual performance

 

Rodriguez - 5 passenger today for large parts, still not convinced by him.

Davis - 6 on the ball often, but lacks quality when it matters

Lallana - 7 Good cross lead to the goal

 

Lambert - 8 MOM looked more like himself today, got the goal and played some good passes.

 

Subs:

 

Punch - 6 offered more of a threat for about 5 minutes, then faded

JWP - 6 Did OK

Mayuka - 5 Lots of effort, but disappoints when he gets on the ball.

 

Possibly the weirdest set of marks and comments I have ever seen.......

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I'm sure NC won't be happy the way the season has fizzled out - I'm not. Sure, we dominate possession, but we do very little with it. In fact we created more chances under Nigel. Hopefully, MP will be more tactically astute next season, otherwise the axe may be dusted off before Christmas. The real positive for me is that no team bar West Brom has really outplayed us since the turn of the year. We need more quality in the team that's for sure - especially someone who can shoot. I'm afraid the Champions League is still a very wet dream at the moment.

 

despite the fact that we do create loads of chances

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A good day out and it was nice to be relaxed knowing we were safe. Having said that I was disappointed we didn't win but we seem to have lost a bit of edge recently.

 

A brilliant season though and despite any negative comments, I would have bitten your hand off had we been offered 14th at the start of the season. Well done Saints after such a tough start to the season.

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You have to wonder how many of those players will start next year if rumours of money to spend are true

 

Realistically Shaw, Clyne, Morgan and JRod are the only 4 definites for me

 

The rest I think we can upgrade quite easily, harsh though it might seem

 

I agree that those four are the only ones absolutely, 100% guaranteed to be in the XI but it'll only be a couple of the others replaced rather than all 6. Imagine Boruc, Ramirez, Lambert and Cork will all play regularly even if it isn't every single game.

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Shame we couldn't win today, but our play in the final third wasn't good enough to break down a Stoke side that defended well. If one of our AM's had the kind of final pass Lambert does, we'd me a much more dangerous side.

 

Davis - 7: Not much to do, didn't do anything wrong Agreed, but 6

 

Clyne - 6 Defended OK, but not his usual self going forward 8 - MoM for me, superb game

Jos: - 5 gave away too many silly free kicks 6 - Fairly solid

Fonte - 5 Struggled physically 6 - Handled Crouch quite intelligently

Shaw - 6 Looked very tired IMO. 7 - Did look tired, but got forward well

 

Cork - 5 Poor by his standards, bullied off the ball a lot. 8 - good game, won the ball a lot, tidied up, always available

Morgan - 7 Usual performance 6 - Bit quieter than usual

 

Rodriguez - 5 passenger today for large parts, still not convinced by him. Agreed - poor game, seemed not to be aware of where he was meant to play. Will come good though

Davis - 6 on the ball often, but lacks quality when it matters Agreed

Lallana - 7 Good cross lead to the goal 5 - Cross was pretty much all he did. Poor end product, got bundled off the ball too often.

 

Lambert - 8 MOM looked more like himself today, got the goal and played some good passes. 6 - Very jaded and off the pace of the game. Would've been 5 without the tap-in

 

Subs:

 

Punch - 6 offered more of a threat for about 5 minutes, then faded 7 - Good movement and passing. Seemed the only one who wanted to run. Didn't fade at all

JWP - 6 Did OK Agreed

Mayuka - 5 Lots of effort, but disappoints when he gets on the ball. 6 - Not on long, but looked as if he was starting to fit the system, nearly scored

 

I agree with pugwash

Although I think Davis is an unsung hero this season. Should have scored

Fonte and Cork did a fine job on Crouch

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Why no comments about the short ass lino in front of the Itchen first half? 3 awful decisions in the first half, and his flag switching cameo in the second was hilarious! Was the goal really offside?? Begovic touched it onto the post before SRL smacked it in (great finish btw). Some better decisions on the final pass when 2 on 2 on 3 occasions in the first half and we could have been out of sight by half time. Stoke are awful to watch, ugly ugly crew.

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Clyne and Cork were excellent. 8/10 for both. Cork probably MotM.

 

I sort of felt we would have got all 3 points if we'd really needed them and Stoke hadn't.

 

Only slight sour taste for me is that when I first saw the fixture list, I thought the last 6 games wld be 10+ points and keep us up. We took just 4 points.

 

But, overall, 14th is excellent. I think this current squad would get to about 10th-12th next year, but I'm hoping we improve on the present squad. Fair aim is top half. But, tbh, I'd take a comfortable 14th again....

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We started the game so well, and could have been 1-0 up inside the first minute, but then Stoke got imposed their game and we kind of got bullied out of it in certain area's.

 

In terms of possession and total dominance of the ball, we were on top - as we have been for most of the season. But the same old issues came back to haunt us from the last few weeks. We lack a real explosive injection in the final third. Whether that's a winger who is powerful and quick, or a midfielder who is pacey and bursts through the middle. Up until 30 yards out, we're as good as anyone, but we seem to completely lose idea's at this stage and more often than not, we check, turn back and go back to the GK or CB's, thus not penetrating the oppositions back 4 at all.

 

We need to find an answer to attacking teams who put men behind the ball, it's all well and good taking the likes of Liverpool and Man City apart - but they come for the win, they don't necessarily stick as many behind the ball as the likes of Stoke do, so as odd as it sounds...we have more opportunities to get in behind those sides as they're more prone to leaving a little opening. The Stokes of this world don't, and we don't really seem to have an alternative at this present moment who can provide a bit of explosion in the final third.

 

1-1 is a fair reflection in terms of chances I guess, bit of a drab game all in all and a typical end of season showdown. Glad we've not got the uncertainty hanging over us and we can now move forward as a club over the summer. It should be quite exciting as we have a fantastic base to build from.

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A bit end of season, but Begovic kept the score down when we had a 20 minute spell in the middle of the second half.

Agree with comments that we need an attacking midfield player who will get goals. Could also do with some more pace up front / out wide.

Our high pressing game seems to have been blown out over the last few weeks and our very narrow approach meant we couldnt expose Stoke often enough behind their full backs.

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Thought we were average at best today. The game simply showed our weaknesses. When a team come to park the bus we dont know what to do. We lack width on the left handside & that is a direct consequence of playing Davis, Morgan & Cork. We break so slowly I think even I could defend against it at 43 with achilles surgery due in a month.

Our centre halfs are very poor. Did we win a defensive header all match???

I know I go on about it, but why do we keep everyone back for corners??? The ball gets cleared & comes straight back.......pointless IMHO.

I would hate watching Stoke every week.....hoof!!!!!!!!

A very good season, but I just get the feeling it could have been even better!!!!!!

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Did I hear correctly that Yoshida has been struggling for some time with a pelvic injury? If so, that answers the question that I've had for several weeks - why on earth would MP reunite the potentially disastrous Fonte/Jos partnership?

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Did I hear correctly that Yoshida has been struggling for some time with a pelvic injury? If so, that answers the question that I've had for several weeks - why on earth would MP reunite the potentially disastrous Fonte/Jos partnership?

 

That is true. And lambert has been carry an injury for a month.

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Can Pulis afford a suit??

 

Did Owen even get a touch in his "last" professional game...

 

Should have won 4 or 5 0 really, didn't need to do a typical saints and forget to play for a couple of easy minutes then dominate the rest of proceedings for just one game.

 

Hopefully everyone has a good summer and we come back to it properly next year

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Negative post: Lallana needs to seriously improve if he wants to keep his place next season. And get some bloody shooting boots! Give the captaincy to someone else too.

 

He shouldn't be in the team at the moment, given that Puncheon is much better than him nearly every time we play. Not sure why Pocche keeps picking him as he offers very little.

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Yes, quite a few. Lost quite a few as well, but considering there's a high ball every 30 seconds against Stoke I'd say we did absolutely fine.

Crouch won every single header he went for - one of them he scored from!!

Edited by corky morris
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You have to wonder how many of those players will start next year if rumours of money to spend are true

 

Realistically Shaw, Clyne, Morgan and JRod are the only 4 definites for me

 

The rest I think we can upgrade quite easily, harsh though it might seem

 

J rod no way. He's been poor recently.

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Negative post: Lallana needs to seriously improve if he wants to keep his place next season. And get some bloody shooting boots! Give the captaincy to someone else too.

 

Normally I would agree with you but thought he was very good today. Disappointing result against the worst team to visit St Mary's this season. We need a prolific scorer next year. Far too many moves for me with people not prepared to take the shot themselves. Still, only two signing required for me. A goal scoring midfielder with pace and another centre back. Astori and lens will do nicely.

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Normally I would agree with you but thought he was very good today. Disappointing result against the worst team to visit St Mary's this season. We need a prolific scorer next year. Far too many moves for me with people not prepared to take the shot themselves. Still, only two signing required for me. A goal scoring midfielder with pace and another centre back. Astori and lens will do nicely.

 

If we only had two, those would be my choices as well because our inability to goals from midfield (there were some easy chances missed) may well have cost us at least six places. But I think that this week's Cortese shenanigans were about bigger aspirations.

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A better game than I anticipated. Should of taken our chances and too be fair we take too long to get the ball in the box or just shoot rather than elect to pass which has been our downfall this season. I will take the points total and finishing place this season.

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Last few games has shown that we miss Gaston in these games.

 

His linkup play is so important to put JRod and Rickie in better positions, now they come down too deep and too wide.

Not really made any difference has it? He hardly played when available and there has been little difference in results.
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Did I hear correctly that Yoshida has been struggling for some time with a pelvic injury? If so, that answers the question that I've had for several weeks - why on earth would MP reunite the potentially disastrous Fonte/Jos partnership?
Interesting, I assume our defensive record has been a lot worse in recent weeks without Yoshida than when he was playing?
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Thought Lallana had another poor game tbh. Things got a bit more lively once Punch came on - should have started.

 

I can't believe we were watching the same game. Lallana was excellent, although on a couple of occasions he slipped once he had beaten a man. Begovic only made one more save once he came off, although Puncheon wasn't bad at all.

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My abiding moment of the game and probably this season will be singing OWT when the players lined up in front of the Northam on the lap of appreciation, spine tingling moment that moved Saints even closer to my heart plus the players looked to appreciate it in its fullness.

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Can Pulis afford a suit??

 

Did Owen even get a touch in his "last" professional game...

 

Should have won 4 or 5 0 really, didn't need to do a typical saints and forget to play for a couple of easy minutes then dominate the rest of proceedings for just one game.

 

Hopefully everyone has a good summer and we come back to it properly next year

 

When you come from the area of Newport that Pulis comes from, everyone you know who wears a suit only wears it in court.

 

Owen touched the ball twice near the half way line, two five yard passes - and air kicked a cross near the 6 yard box which whoscored.com have listed as a "shot". :D

 

I don't think we were anywhere near 4 goals better than them today, and it's precisely that kind of lack of concentration that gets punished. Allowing Stoke free crosses down the wing was asking for trouble.

Edited by The9
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Davis' kicking is utterly woeful and lead in part to their goal. Wouldnt be suprised if another keeper comes in this summer.

 

I'd be surprised.

 

You're right about KD's kicking, but Kelv and Gaz are on long term contracts. They are fine for no.2 and 3.

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