Saints 2 V 0 Swansea Reaction & MotM thread

[Kingsland Red]

Calming down after getting back now.

Big game today, Boruc and the centre backs were immense.

We can now win matches without seeing the ball, which bodes well for the matches against Barcelona etc next season !

Fortunately Dyer still can't cross a ball although he has pace and a shot on him, but we struggled to show him outside.

Loved Big Victor's rolling around in the corner.

Cracking atmosphere once it became apparent that we had blown Swansea out, and boy they huffed and puffed between the centre circle and our box.

Excellent substitutions again.

MP is building a resilient side.

With all the Sky money I reckon a good manager and a squad like Swansea or us should be threatening the 'top six' in the next couple of years as there are only so many players that can be bought and we certainly won in the last transfer window.

[SaintRobbie]

Great team display. Great goalkeeping performance. Great defending. Great captains performance. Great singing from the Northam in particular. Great managerial decisions. Great that the Itchen staff have started to sell beer at half time quicker. Great weather. Great day...

 

And I can't stop looking at the league table!

[Cabrone]

In what is well nigh forty years of supporting this grand old football club I'm struggling to remember seeing a Saints team that comes close to matching this one in terms of organised defensive solidity. To score against us you first have to battle your way past our two (double hard) central midfielders, then outwit as good a centre half pairing as you'll see in this division ... oh and you still have the minor matter of beating a top class International Goalkeeper too.

 

Yes, they looking granite hard at the moment. Keep up this rate and they could be even better than the miserly defence of 83-84.

 

The defence back then was Shilton, Dennis, Wright, Holmes and Mills - also think Agboola played sweeper in that team. Finished 2nd that season on the back of a lot of 1-0's.

[buctootim]

well, the fact that we are

you dont get to 4th by playing badly with our squad

 

Last year we had a freakishly difficult start, this time easier than average. Bit like last year we wont know where we are until Christmas. Looks promising now that we have started to score without losing the clean sheets though.

[ottery st mary]

Great team performance..

 

Well done Saints...

 

MP and staff....top marks.

 

 

Lallana and Boruc for me re MOM

 

Honourable mentions for Clyne , Davis and particularly Jay Rod.....worked hard when he came on and scored a good goal

 

 

COYS

[Kingsland Red]

It has crossed my mind that an in-form Boruc will be in goal for Poland at Wembley in a couple of weeks.

He wouldn't would he ?

[farawaysaint]

It has crossed my mind that an in-form Boruc will be in goal for Poland at Wembley in a couple of weeks.

He wouldn't would he ?

 

I shall be cheering on the holy goalie and Lambert in equal measure.

[davefizzy14]

Good solid win. Still not playing great but grounded that win out. The Southampton of last season would have conceded in that second half. Lovren is so so good.

 

Adam Lallana was top notch today. Great to see him getting back to his best this season after a pretty poor one last year.

 

4th, an going to Old Trafford knowing that we'll be above them whatever happens! Class

 

Agreed. Lallana was everywhere today, a real captains performance topped off with a class goal. Second for MOM behind Boruc who was just immense.

[trousers]

It has crossed my mind that an in-form Boruc will be in goal for Poland at Wembley in a couple of weeks.

He wouldn't would he ?

 

The game is poised at 1-1 with 15 minutes to go.... Lambert comes on for Lampard.... the game goes into injury time and England get a penalty.... up steps Lambert to face Boruc.... England need to win to qualify for the World Cup Finals...

[Professor]

Fox did very well especially up against Dyer who was a real handful. The crowd could have done more to help him instead of sarcastic cheers when he broke up an attack. Crowd attitude can affect a player's confidence and its time people got off his back.

[Kingsland Red]

The game is poised at 1-1 with 15 minutes to go.... Lambert comes on for Lampard.... the game goes into injury time and England get a penalty.... up steps Lambert to face Boruc.... England need to win to qualify for the World Cup Finals...

 

Rickie doesn't miss penalties, but Gerrard.........

[Sour Mash]

The "Nathan Dyer, he robs from the Skates" song got an airing. Can't see why anyone would boo him.

One of the stupidest songs in football.

[Sour Mash]

I thought Swansea were very good, one of the better sides we've seen here in the last few years, which makes us grinding out a win like that even better, real hardworking team performance. Lallana motm for me.

[dubai_phil]

The game is poised at 1-1 with 15 minutes to go.... Lambert comes on for Lampard.... the game goes into injury time and England get a penalty.... up steps Lambert to face Boruc.... England need to win to qualify for the World Cup Finals...

 

Mrs D_P & I have been dreading this scenario since the Scotland game.

Nice point to add is all her family FINALLY know all about us after 5 years & mentioned the same fears this weekend here in Krakow.

The GOOD news is they are all terrified that SRL will break THEIR hearts now they know him.

[captainchris]

I see eight members of Fox's family read this forum .... -))

[S-Clarke]

A great result - we are still not playing very well but we are getting the points. I felt very sorry for danny Fox today - just not up to it (and didn't really look fit enough). Lallana was back to his old self and Boruc was MoM.

 

Not sure what you expect..?

 

Best defensive record in the league, our best ever start to a PL season and sitting in the top 4 with 7 games gone.

 

I'd say we've had to play pretty damn well to get there.

[trousers]

I see eight members of Fox's family read this forum .... -))

 

Source?

[Saint_clark]

It's no coincidence to me that Rodriguez' best performance of the season came whilst he was actually playing up front. He's a striker, not a winger.

[beatlesaint]

Fox did very well especially up against Dyer who was a real handful. The crowd could have done more to help him instead of sarcastic cheers when he broke up an attack. Crowd attitude can affect a player's confidence and its time people got off his back.

 

Dyer had the beating of him time and time and time again. Bloke behind us had the radio on and Merrington said the same. I really dont know what you were watching.

[sfc4prem]

[sfc4prem]

[Saint_clark]

By the way, we broke our no goals scored in the first half duck, Lallana and Rodriguez both got long overdue goals and Lallana completed a full 90 for the first time this season.

[manji]

both videos a waste of time,

[Foxy]

I see eight members of Fox's family read this forum .... -))

 

If I am one of them we just look at the pictures

[Jonnyboy]

Wtf. hartson keeps calling him Adam Leylana.

[Dark Munster]

Last year we had a freakishly difficult start, this time easier than average. Bit like last year we wont know where we are until Christmas. Looks promising now that we have started to score without losing the clean sheets though.

Last year in the corresponding fixtures against West Ham, Norwich, Liverpool, Sunderland, WBA, and Swansea we got 3 points, this year 11 points.

[Dark Munster]

The game is poised at 1-1 with 15 minutes to go.... Lambert comes on for Lampard.... the game goes into injury time and England get a penalty.... up steps Lambert to face Boruc.... England need to win to qualify for the World Cup Finals...

 

... and he deliberately dives the wrong way (assuming Poland are already out).

[austsaint]

I agree with much of the content of the last 3 posts; although Fox is often like a rabbit in the headlamps often he was given little cover, particularly in the first half. Too often when Dyer received the ball, played it back and then took off like a scalded cat to receive the ball the player to whom he had passed the ball was not closed down - Steven Davis was at fault here though I'm tempted to overlook that factor and focus on the huge shift he put in - he kept going right to the end chasing, harrying and making a nuisance of himself. You can see why we've let in so few goals this season with him and Wanyama playing a key part in protecting the back four

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the game; I was puzzled why Saints changed their game plan after they had scored - or was it that Swansea changed theirs? Up until the goal Saints looked pretty threatening with the front four combining well. Then we scored and seemed to retreat into a more compact shape; did the players feel that they could hold out for a further 70 minutes? Is their belief in their own defensive prowess now so great that they feel they can defend a 1 goal lead for as long as necessary? The ease with which Swansea ripped us apart down the right was embarrassing - I was hoping for JWP to come on at half time to provide cover. When he did come on we seemed to tighten up though I also felt that Swansea changed their shape a bit and removed the emphasis on attacking down their right. I also thought that MP got the Rickie sub. absolutely right; Swansea were pushing up so high at that stage that it was crying out for some pace to exploit the subsequent space.

 

What I did enjoy was for the first time this season that a visiting team came who could play football; the 3 others to date have been dross. Swansea were very good in possession; Bony was good in the air but often a bit isolated and yes - Swansea had several shots on target but most were a bit speculative and reasonably comfortable for Boruc. Shelvey I felt was pretty ordinary; many of his dead ball kicks were poor. Dyer was by far the most potent attacker.

 

My MoM were Adam, Boruc and Davis; Clyne played very well and nullified any threat down the Swansea left though yet again any overlapping was notable for its absence apart from his forward run with about 2 minutes to go (when we were trying to close down the game - weird).

 

Oh and finally one of the funniest sights I've seen at a football match when Wanyama thought he'd scored; slid on his knees facing the corner flag while the game restarted behind him without him being aware of this - I think that he, with most of the crowd (me included) was wondering why he wasn't being mobbed by the other Saints players.

 

A good day out with a slightly flattering score but all credit to MP and the team - they must be in dreamland. Cortese presumably just thinks that this is exactly what he expected and paid out the Liebherr legacy for!

 

Good summary - you should post more often! I too thought that we invited them back into the game after ALs goal by not playing as high up the pitch. Disagree about Swansea's shots on target being mostly speculative and comfortable for AB - the header from Bony and the full stretch save to his right (Bony again?) were top shelf and kept us in the game.

[The9]

well, the fact that we are

you dont get to 4th by playing badly with our squad

 

We didn't play well against either West Ham or Sunderland (the latter only have one point, from St Mary's) but without those two points we're 3 places lower - and had we also not lost at bottom 3 Norwich playing badly we'd probably be top.

 

We've played 2nd (Away Win), 12th (Away Win), 13th (Home Draw), 15th (Home Win) and the bottom 3 (Away Loss, Home Win, and Home Draw), so Liverpool aside, I suspect there's been a bit more wiggle room for poor performances than if we faced the top half and one bottom 3 side at the start of the season like we did last year.

[Appy]

By the way, we broke our no goals scored in the first half duck, Lallana and Rodriguez both got long overdue goals and Lallana completed a full 90 for the first time this season.

 

First goal at the Northam end too.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Very good win against a top side. Boruc was magnificent and Lallana had a fabulous first half. The commentator in Oz said the side couldn't ask for better support from the fans. It was noticeable that most Swansea attacks came down our left side and Fox was horribly exposed time after time after time. Even when they got the ball on our right it was mostly switched over to our left. They just kept shipping it out getting Fox one on one and loading cross after cross after cross into our box. We really need a new left back if Shaw continues to be so unreliable in terms of health and fitness.

[Batman]

We didn't play well against either West Ham or Sunderland (the latter only have one point, from St Mary's) but without those two points we're 3 places lower - and had we also not lost at bottom 3 Norwich playing badly we'd probably be top.

 

We've played 2nd (Away Win), 12th (Away Win), 13th (Home Draw), 15th (Home Win) and the bottom 3 (Away Loss, Home Win, and Home Draw), so Liverpool aside, I suspect there's been a bit more wiggle room for poor performances than if we faced the top half and one bottom 3 side at the start of the season like we did last year.

 

Think you need to re adjust what playing well means.

[JoeShmoe]

Credit to the Northam, they were superb when we were under the cosh second half

[pingwing]

Best team we have played, most tense game of football and probably the best this season.

 

I was so tense from about 30 odd mins when Swansea went ultra offensive because they looked such a threat, we were so lucky with that Dyer shot that curls out of the post as that almost defied logic when I watched it.

 

Steven Davis had one of his best games (despite not really covering Fox especially well who did him self no favours) and I didn't realise set up the first goal with a great little pass in. Boric has to be MOTM this week but Lallana needs a mention for being pretty much unplayable and oozing confidence again, first time in over a year he's looked that good!

 

On a different day we could have lost that one badly, though we could have also gotten proper luck against West Ham and Sunderland so it is nice to see them balance out some times.

[rooney]

Fantastic Performance and tactics spot on from MoPo seconed half.Fox had a poor game but he will know that and disappointed that the crowd jeered him. That will not do his confidence any good. Boric was superb and commanding. His long kick led to Jay's goal. Good to see Adam back to his best.

[alpine_saint]

Best result of the season so far imo, and it appears we are going from strength to strength.

 

Swansea are one of those teams we so often slip up against and under-perform or one of those games where we allow ourselves to be ought-thought and out-fought in tactically.

 

Now comes the biggie, and I for one look towards it with no fear for once.

[Junior Mullet]

We only rode our luck in the second half, when a good Swansea team inevitably threw all they had at us. I thought we were excellent first half and on another day could have been 3-1 up by half time. I thought Lallana in particular was excellent first half. We looked a real threat going forward with soem excellent link-up play and to a large extent that was due to Swansea allowing us to play that way - playijng a high defensive line and not pressing our creative players enough.

 

I thought Osvaldo looked sharp and the understanding between him and the others is coming on. Just wish they'd slipped him through sooner a couple of times when he'd made clever diagonal runs. Lambert was the only one who really looked off the pace to me, but we all know how important he is.

 

Wanyama had an excellent game. His passing still isn't great but he really got stuck in yesterday and broke up a lot of Swansea's play. An absolute wrecking ball of a midfielder. Morgan had his best game for a while too. Perhaps the partnership is starting to get going.

 

Lovren is different class. Can't think of a better in-form central defender in the Prem, nor a better keeper than Mad Artur.

[Scummer]

What did Fonte get booked for? He and Lovren both got booked in the same incident, Lovren for the foul so did Fonte get booked for something he said?

[farawaysaint]

What did Fonte get booked for? He and Lovren both got booked in the same incident, Lovren for the foul so did Fonte get booked for something he said?

 

Dissent?

[The9]

Think you need to re adjust what playing well means.

 

I don't.

 

You said "you dont get to 4th by playing badly with our squad"

 

How does drawing at home to a team that has one point from 7 matches and losing to one of the bottom 3 sit with "not playing badly" then? Did we do really well to lose at Norwich or let a five foot five player score a header from a set-piece against a team who has precisely zero other points this season? Clearly we have played badly at some points, yet we are indeed 4th.

[Jack]

^^Yep, we were crap at Norwich and would've come away with at least a point had we played anything like decent (and maybe been given that blatant penalty). Sunderland was frustrating after an awful first 5 mins, and we lacked end product vs WHU. We've had some good results, but some not so good ones too. We've had a fairly good run in and our next few look good on paper with the exception of United away, which means we'll have some runs of tough fixtures coming up soon.

 

Exciting times whichever way you look at it.

[Olallana]

What did Fonte get booked for? He and Lovren both got booked in the same incident, Lovren for the foul so did Fonte get booked for something he said?

 

It was dissent. Bony touched his heels very lightly when he tried to pass the ball back to Boruc forcing him to miss it so he wanted the freekick and let the ref know it....

Nothing too visible but replays from one angle shows it.

[The9]

It was dissent. Bony touched his heels very lightly when he tried to pass the ball back to Boruc forcing him to miss it so he wanted the freekick and let the ref know it....

Nothing too visible but replays from one angle shows it.

 

Looked like the goal he gave away against Wigan at the start of last season, the difference being Lovren was covering this time and between them they managed to flatten Bony just outside the box, rather than no-one getting near Kone. A quirky illustration of how we've improved in the past 14 months to say the least!

[Olallana]

What did Fonte get booked for? He and Lovren both got booked in the same incident, Lovren for the foul so did Fonte get booked for something he said?

 

It was dissent. Bony touched his heels very lightly when he tried to pass the ball back to Boruc forcing him to miss it so he wanted the freekick and let the ref know it....

Nothing too visible but replays from one angle shows it.

[Mowgli]

We got very lucky with this today. Fox was often left in a 2 vs 1 situation, that didn't stop the idiots moaning though.

 

Agreed but not too sure how that got him 9 MOTM votes!!! Fox can deliver a good cross (and not just from dead balls) and I saw several good tackles os he did his job. Made me smile when the crowd booed after two misplaced passes to JWP. Had it been the other way around I am convenced they would still have blamed Fox for not being in the right place to receive th balll. In the main he does what he is told to do and many fans can't comprehend that. That said, he is only a back up to Shaw and will only get the occassional game. That in itself makes it difficult for him because its games that get you in tune with the rest of the team.

 

And how did Guly get 6 MOTM awards? Me thinks some of you aren't taking this seriously ;~) - but love the fact that he threw his shirt into the crowd at the end.

[The9]

Agreed but not too sure how that got him 9 MOTM votes!!! Fox can deliver a good cross (and not just from dead balls) and I saw several good tackles os he did his job. Made me smile when the crowd booed after two misplaced passes to JWP. Had it been the other way around I am convenced they would still have blamed Fox for not being in the right place to receive th balll. In the main he does what he is told to do and many fans can't comprehend that. That said, he is only a back up to Shaw and will only get the occassional game. That in itself makes it difficult for him because its games that get you in tune with the rest of the team.

 

And how did Guly get 6 MOTM awards? Me thinks some of you aren't taking this seriously ;~) - but love the fact that he threw his shirt into the crowd at the end.

 

It's because there are 9 uninspired sad souls on here who think that voting for Fox is hilarious and will annoy people.

[Whitey Grandad]

Agreed but not too sure how that got him 9 MOTM votes!!! Fox can deliver a good cross (and not just from dead balls) and I saw several good tackles os he did his job. Made me smile when the crowd booed after two misplaced passes to JWP. Had it been the other way around I am convenced they would still have blamed Fox for not being in the right place to receive th balll. In the main he does what he is told to do and many fans can't comprehend that. That said, he is only a back up to Shaw and will only get the occassional game. That in itself makes it difficult for him because its games that get you in tune with the rest of the team.

 

And how did Guly get 6 MOTM awards? Me thinks some of you aren't taking this seriously ;~) - but love the fact that he threw his shirt into the crowd at the end.

 

In the right place to receive the ball? You're supposed to look before you pass it and not just hit it to where you want the receiver to be. To do this twice in quick succession betrays a lack of awareness. Unless he did it deliberately and yes, it does go on in professional football. Many a pass is underhit in order to make the other player look poor.

[ART]

Even Reuters are singing our praises.

 

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/07/uk-soccer-england-idUKBRE9960B120131007

[captainchris]

Source?

 

Man of the match pole ! :-))))

[Mowgli]

In the right place to receive the ball? You're supposed to look before you pass it and not just hit it to where you want the receiver to be.

 

If you honestly believe that you are missing so much of the modern game I wouldn't know where to start.