Post Match Reaction: SAINTS 2-3 Aston Villa

[Winnersaint]

I'm not trolling, if you actually think about it I actually want to protect my team from this crap, I stated the other the day the external comms at the club need to be slapped and I stand by that, the media will turn and this will have a double negative on our players.

 

I just don't understand why that is so important to you or anyone for that matter. It's Saints we win some we lose some. Goes with the territory, has done since I first went in 1963. I was about to say that I do not know why it matters so much but then I realised it used to matter so much more in my teens and twenties, and we were really good then!

[sfc1976]

We're a mid-table team and we're...... mid-table. Still better than most of the dross I've seen from us over the last 20 years.

[badgerx16]

.... Every attack is measured and slow-paced, with the ball being threaded through small gaps or played in tight triangles around the penalty area. Just 'possession' football taken to the extreme......

 

Could part of that, especially tonight, be that with our 'high pressing game' teams are playing deeper and more compact defences ? Maybe we need to drop back a bit occasionally to open them up.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

If we had someone who could finish like the bloke who hit their third we would have won by a hatful tonight. Too much trying to walk the ball into the net and also at the other end too much fiddle faddle. Sometimes we give almost suicidal passes to players facing the wrong way with an attacker breathing down their necks and either concede possession (that's how they got their 2nd) or hoof it into touch.

[Jimmy_D]

Reckon we'd win that 19 times out of 20.

 

Feels like we've finally paid back the karma on THAT Leeds game.

 

Ah well, gutting, but it's results like this that make football interesting.

[S-Clarke]

It was a weird game, because in many ways it brought back memories of last year. Lots of chances at one end, yet gifting goals at the other.

 

But it is a poor result, there's no 2 ways about that. Villa aren't and weren't any great shakes, but we weren't solid or organised at all today. Simple balls straight through the middle cut us open on a few occasions, Shaw is looking very jaded at the moment too, and I have to say that Yoshida looked like a complete calamity out there, well off the pace. Not entirely sure why he started, because he shouldn't have.

 

Lambert is having a bit of a period at the moment. Another absolute mare from him. Wrong passes, bad touch, lost his free kick technique. You name it...he was really off the game tonight, and he has been for a while now.

 

Cork for the 2nd half didn't really improve us, but you can't really complain about having a midfielder of his ability as a squad player. It's not a bad problem to have!

 

Overall though, you have to say that on another day we'd have won that...but we've started to pick up injuries everywhere, and the squad is looking paper thin right now. If we're without Morgan, Wanyama, Boruc and Clyne for the next few games, I don't see much of a change to be honest. The injuries have all hit us at once and we simply don't have the quality in the squad, for a team like Southampton to have a ''magic'' top 6 season, we'd need an injury free campaign. Unfortunately we're not going to get that.

 

But let's be honest, we were always going to have a spell like this. We were not going to carry on the season conceding no goals and winning most weeks, as above - we don't have the squad for that. The frustration for us is that we play all the top sides all at the same time, so a result like tonight's is made to look all the more worse - even though we were always going to have a result like that this year. Heck, we'll probably have another couple before the season is out!

 

At the end of the day, we can all go into meltdown and change absolutely everything, or we can calm down, look at it objectively and actually come to the conclusion that we're in pretty damn good shape.

[Minty]

At the end of the day, we can all go into meltdown and change absolutely everything, or we can calm down, look at it objectively and actually come to the conclusion that we're in pretty damn good shape.

 

This. And that its a good thing that we're a little disappointed with having dropped points in the last three games because it shows how far we've come.

 

We are a work in progress. We learn, we improve and we earn our success in time.

[max_saints]

this game brought back dark and painful memories of the early days of last season, conceding way too many goals mostly as a result of individual errors, and not tight enough at the back. the record of one of europes best defence destroyed in a matter of 3 games. Watching the game, felt we were mugged, however have to admit that we allowed ourselves to be mugged really. Defensive errors plus inability to convert our chances.

 

- Yoshida 1/10: barely had much to do and when called into action, faltered so badly

- Possession: I was rightly corrected in the match thread that having the bulk of it counts for nothing if chances are not converted.

- Jan transfer window: Definitely need some action in the window to shake things up a bit and freshen up the squad. Injuries starting to pile up as well, are the replacements able to step up? (Evidence so far show otherwise)

- Lambert: Loss of form is becoming quite a concern, if he doesn't pick up, he might not stand a chance of making it to Brazil.

[Olallana]

55% possession at the Emirates and we lose!

77% possession @ home to Villa and we lose!

 

Top teams play sh*t and still win, while we play well but lose.

If Villa beat Fulham and we lose to city, we are 11th.

Not panicking, just saying.

 

Feels like the roller coaster ride is coming to an end

Unless Osvaldo & Rickie starts scoring more regularly I can't see this changing.

At least Rickie is providing the assists, but even after today, 2 in 11 is not enough.

And our defence has been world class, but clearly aren't capable of maintaining that form over a season.

Suppose I should just be glad that I haven't looked down once this season........

 

Will Swansea get 4 points if they win their next game?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25115885

[badgerx16]

- Lambert: Loss of form is becoming quite a concern, if he doesn't pick up, he might not stand a chance of making it to Brazil.

 

I don't think he has ever been a serious part of Woy's planning.

[CityRanger]

Been saying since he first played for us that Yoshida is nowhere near a Prem center back. He's a fraud of a defender, almost always costing a goal.

Our fortress like defence has crumbled and with Boruc out its like front doors have been blown wide open.

Center back and decent keeper cover STILL required (Gazza did nothing to hint that he has improved in a year).

Cracking entertainment tonight though!

[OttawaSaint]

I see the usual suspects are pushing people's buttons on here and taking great offense to being called trolls. ****ing playground this place, grow the **** up! It's really sad that people are able to get so much glee out of their own team losing.

[Plumstead_Saint]

Lambert is having a bit of a period at the moment. Another absolute mare from him. Wrong passes, bad touch, lost his free kick technique. You name it...he was really off the game tonight, and he has been for a while now.

Got to disagree. Lambert created our 2nd goal. And the free kick was way too close for getting it over the wall and down, so only option was smash it at the wall and hope they jump or our boys get out of the way.

Agree he's lost his goal scoring sharpness, but he is regularly creating chances for Jrod and Osvaldo. 4 goals and 4 assists in 12 games.

Osvaldo on the other hand - 2 goals and 0 assists in 12 games - REALLY needs to get his sh*t together.

[Plumstead_Saint]

Will Swansea get 4 points if they win their next game?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25115885

My bad.

I stand corrected.

10th instead of 11th will make me feel a lot better ;-)

[Saint_Tony]

Feared this would happen with our line up. I was expecting it, we've had lots of good results and we're going through a tricky period. I think the bottom line is that we have a starting 11 that is good enough to finish 7th to 10th, but beyond that there is a lack of strength in depth. Tonight has further highlighted how far behind we are in terms of trying to get to the next level. Still, I made a few hundred quid, but onwards and upwards for the team hopefully. The next few games look really tough though, we're going to have to stay positive and try and pick up some points

[Roger]

I think we were very good tonight and showed a lot of heart. Yoshida was poor and the goalie was at fault for second goal. Wanyama and Clyne going off really hurt us especially Clyne. Osvaldo warmth great and dickie seems to lost the back of being in the right place. Can't really moan at my team for playing like that though. Prob is with fixtures and injuries coming up we could be in bottom half in January.

[Roger]

Got to disagree. Lambert created our 2nd goal. And the free kick was way too close for getting it over the wall and down, so only option was smash it at the wall and hope they jump or our boys get out of the way.

Agree he's lost his goal scoring sharpness, but he is regularly creating chances for Jrod and Osvaldo. 4 goals and 4 assists in 12 games.

Osvaldo on the other hand - 2 goals and 0 assists in 12 games - REALLY needs to get his sh*t together.

 

Lambert didn't have a mare. Worked hard but lost the back of being in the right place.

[LGTL]

Villa were ****e which makes it even more frustraitng. We were playing football suicide in the second half though. Playing 3 at the back up against their two was asking for trouble and they nearly caught us out twice before the third goal. It was a matter of time.

[Kingsland Red]

Management errors tonight, I reckon.

Why change a solid central defensive partnership and then when they are both on the pitch, leave Fonte at right back.

Poor old Yoshida was an accident waiting to happen, and he did three times:

slipped for the first, got Cork in trouble and then lost his man for the second; and did the old Lundekvam backwards shuffle for the third.

Where was Hooiveld, I didn't think he did badly against Arsenal ?

 

We clearly missed the covering midfield player as well and the game turned from the usual controlled efforts into a lottery.

[warsash saint]

It was a weird game, because in many ways it brought back memories of last year. Lots of chances at one end, yet gifting goals at the other.

 

But it is a poor result, there's no 2 ways about that. Villa aren't and weren't any great shakes, but we weren't solid or organised at all today. Simple balls straight through the middle cut us open on a few occasions, Shaw is looking very jaded at the moment too, and I have to say that Yoshida looked like a complete calamity out there, well off the pace. Not entirely sure why he started, because he shouldn't have.

 

Lambert is having a bit of a period at the moment. Another absolute mare from him. Wrong passes, bad touch, lost his free kick technique. You name it...he was really off the game tonight, and he has been for a while now.

 

Cork for the 2nd half didn't really improve us, but you can't really complain about having a midfielder of his ability as a squad player. It's not a bad problem to have!

 

Overall though, you have to say that on another day we'd have won that...but we've started to pick up injuries everywhere, and the squad is looking paper thin right now. If we're without Morgan, Wanyama, Boruc and Clyne for the next few games, I don't see much of a change to be honest. The injuries have all hit us at once and we simply don't have the quality in the squad, for a team like Southampton to have a ''magic'' top 6 season, we'd need an injury free campaign. Unfortunately we're not going to get that.

 

But let's be honest, we were always going to have a spell like this. We were not going to carry on the season conceding no goals and winning most weeks, as above - we don't have the squad for that. The frustration for us is that we play all the top sides all at the same time, so a result like tonight's is made to look all the more worse - even though we were always going to have a result like that this year. Heck, we'll probably have another couple before the season is out!

 

At the end of the day, we can all go into meltdown and change absolutely everything, or we can calm down, look at it objectively and actually come to the conclusion that we're in pretty damn good shape.

 

Steady on !! Thats a far too sensible post to be on this thread !

[Roger]

Poor result and a poor performance. We monopolised possession but it was all too slow and a number of our players looked hesitant with the ball.

 

Gazzaniga - 4 -Poor distribution and his bungled attempt at a save for the second left a lot to be desired

 

Clyne - 6 - Very quiet, perhaps injured from the start. Didn't get forward much.

Yoshida - 4 - Shocking defending for the first and pretty much let Delph score the winner.

Lovren - 6 - Did OK, clearly plays better with Fonte though.

Shaw - 6 - disappointing going forwards, did plenty of it but his passing and crossing was not what it should be.

 

Wanyama - 6 - Did nothing wrong and IMO would never have let Delph shoot for the winner.

JWP - 6 - Struggle to see what he did wrong either to warrant the early sub, has more quality on the ball than Davis

 

Davis - 5.5 - lacks the quality of pass to break down defensive sides and it really showed tonight

Lallana - 7.5 - Was our best player, tried to drive the team on and create chances.

Rodriguez - 6.5 - Good goal, poor 1st half but at least tries to get beyond the last man

 

Lambert - 5.5 - The more I watch him this season, the more I worry that he's not cut out for this style of football. Can't play 1 up front, if the one is not capable of getting in behind. Second half he played up top with Osvaldo, but apart from the moment for the second, they did not click.

 

Subs: Osvaldo - 6 - Scored a goal, had some neat touches, but also had moments where he made the wrong decision and wasted possession, doesn't look like he can play with Lambert.

Cork - 5 - Poor, helped the ball move a bit quicker at the start of the second half then faded and offered no real difference. Lost the ball for the second, tried to over elaborate and ended up being brushed off the ball, generally offered lousy protection of the back four.

Fonte - 6.5 - Not a right back, but deputised quite well and was probably our best crosser on the night.

 

Rubbish Clyne 7, lambert didn't play upfront second half either.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

Totally dominant but lacked a cutting edge; we need to be more incisive and finish off teams such as Villa. I know it is difficult against a packed defence but we have to get better at shooting and getting behind defenders and not trying to walk the ball through the middle of a crowd of defenders. Poor mistakes at the back cost us and we were mugged. Gazza could have done more with the second goal but was not at fault with any of the three goals. Get behind him for heaven's sake. Yoshida had a bit of a mare but hasn't played for us all season. Why didn't he go to RB when Fonte came on? Fonte did well at RB and crossed well but would have been a better bet at CB. Cork was OK but lost the ball before Villa's second goal. We should have won and 9 times out of 10 would have. But we have been mugged before like this many times and never seem to learn from it. Naive against Chelski and naive again tonight. We have to be sharper all over the pitch to get anything from Citeh on Saturday. But even if we lose that game we shall still have done pretty well to be mid-table. I'm an optimist and I'm still sticking to a prediction of 8th at the end of the season. As ever, supporting Saints is so frustrating. But I'm enjoying it more than ever for over 50 years. COYS.

[Wiseone]

How near is Kelvin to coming back ?

[captainchris]

Well sorry but Cork was superb and always available. We really played well with him sitting in midfield and knitting the team together. Ok he was involved in one of their goals but really it was down to a poor defence and a disaster of a goalkeeper....

God help us if GAzzaniga has to play Sat!

Apart from the awful defending we looked good for long spells I felt. I really do not fancy us when we go with two up

Top but tonight Osvaldo did seem very slightly better.

First half and actually all season the front players do not push up

On their defenders when we have the out wide in a crossing position. What this means is there is nobody to cross to and few chances created.... Second half this seemed to be partially

Corrected but it has been an issue all season....

SRL is looking way off right now which has been the case each time he has been away with England.

Most certainly need a very decent centre foward option in January.

The squad is very thin oh and another goalie on the books looks necessary.. Gazza looks so dodgy....

Without doubt all that possession is pointless without goals and MP needs to look at pushing our front guys right onto their centre backs when we are attacking. The policy/ tactic of keeping them a yard and a half back means we have no one to cross to and so continually cut inside...... Second half was better in this respect but this needs addressing....

Sort the defence out get super Kelvin in if he's ok and keep Cork in for Sat though I do fear for us whoever we put in on Sat...

[Dark Munster]

Said we'd lose before the game.

 

Pub defending, absolutely ridiculous.

 

We'll lose the next 4 games aswell.

What did you say before the ManUre and Liverpool games?

[DT]

Looked from the highlights that Yoshida miscalculated on the first goal and let Delph have too much room for the third. But we were a bit mugged by the looks of things. Oh well. It happens.

[Rebel]

sometimes we just need to keep it simple - we over elaborate in defence when the simple pass or the long ball out is the right thing to do.

 

We seem to keep possession at al costs - even when it means giving the ball away in dangerous areas

 

It's the same up front we lay it off, try the nutmeg, the dribble around or the flick on when the simple through pass or actual shot at goal is called for

 

Villa kept it dimple when it mattered

 

The game reminded me of the one against Reading two season ago when they taught us the same lesson - we don't learn though

 

It's time to get rid of Gaston and Osvaldo and reinvest the money somewhere useful!

 

We should flog Osvaldo too Atletico Madrid - get Adrian Lopez in on loan in return and play him on the right of a front three, JayRod down the middle and Lallana on the left, bench Lambert and bring in Banega to play in the whole with Morgan and Cork behind him

 

We also need a spare left and right back - Bertrand and Trippier would do

 

Oh and Astori for Yoshida and Hooiveld!

[Smirking_Saint]

Rubbish Clyne 7, lambert didn't play upfront second half either.

 

Yup, lets not talk about Lamberts poor displays this season

[trousers]

Just back from the game. Can't believe we lost after the way we dominated the game. We had some decent chances and they scored from their 3 attacks.

Such is life.

 

I thought Cork was decent when he came on, apart from losing possession which led to one of their goals of course.

[Smirking_Saint]

Looked from the highlights that Yoshida miscalculated on the first goal and let Delph have too much room for the third. But we were a bit mugged by the looks of things. Oh well. It happens.

 

Agreed but also for the third too many players seemed to just not track etc and it was a 1/100 strike. Also the second was poor from cork and then nobody stoped what ended up a very good cross.

 

We were mugged, your right, but there were too many little mistakes.

[Saint_clark]

Could say Yoshida was at fault for all 3, first on obvious, second one ball went over his head (unacceptable for a CB to not get involved there), and third one he didn't close down despite having no-one else to mark.

Gazza also should have saved the second and should have closed down quicker for the first.

[DT]

Gazza looked a bit invisible for the first, it's true. No chance with the third.

[Roger]

Yup, lets not talk about Lamberts poor displays this season

 

Grow up mate.

[Saint_clark]

Gazza looked a bit invisible for the first, it's true. No chance with the third.

 

He took himself completely out of the equation, you just know that Boruc would have been straight out making himself as large as possible. I'm a fan of Gazza and think he could come good but that was really poor.

[Smirking_Saint]

Grow up mate.

 

TBF I love the bloke but the defence he gets is rediculous considering the slating others get.

[DT]

Agreed. Hope he comes good v City. He'll get a lot of the game...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Roger]

TBF I love the bloke but the defence he gets is rediculous considering the slating others get.

 

He worked very hard and made second goal. Is struggling to be in right place these days. Step slower. He gets protected as he's the main reason we are in the prem ffs.

[Lazlo78]

A really annoying loss with so many "ifs" and "buts"... Individual errors from Yoshida and Cork cost the two goals and I can't remember how we lost the ball for the third, but the finish itself was just one of those that's impossible to stop.

 

Losing Boruc, Clyne, Morgan and Wanyama was a bit too much, but I thought the different makeshift combinations tried their best - for some it worked and for others it was a frustrating evening. Over the years we've seen managers react too late (e.g. Burley and sometimes Adkins) so it was nice to see MP act early. How was he to know that we would suffer 2 injuries (and so very nearly 3 with Lovren after 70 minutes) - rather unlucky coincidence

 

As others have said: this was much more frustrating than the previous defeats because Villa were very ordinary and the stats showed how much we dominated this game. It could so easily have been a 3-1 victory with half a makeshift team and we would all have been happy. Now? Not so much... Oh well, roll on Man City!

[Saint_clark]

Lambert did nothing wrong today IMO.

 

Positive - that move in the first half of one touch passes which ended with Lambert chipping it over for Lallana (and a Villa defender just cleared it for a corner) was stunning,

[Lazlo78]

It was a weird game, because in many ways it brought back memories of last year. Lots of chances at one end, yet gifting goals at the other.

 

But it is a poor result, there's no 2 ways about that. Villa aren't and weren't any great shakes, but we weren't solid or organised at all today. Simple balls straight through the middle cut us open on a few occasions, Shaw is looking very jaded at the moment too, and I have to say that Yoshida looked like a complete calamity out there, well off the pace. Not entirely sure why he started, because he shouldn't have.

 

Lambert is having a bit of a period at the moment. Another absolute mare from him. Wrong passes, bad touch, lost his free kick technique. You name it...he was really off the game tonight, and he has been for a while now.

 

Cork for the 2nd half didn't really improve us, but you can't really complain about having a midfielder of his ability as a squad player. It's not a bad problem to have!

 

Overall though, you have to say that on another day we'd have won that...but we've started to pick up injuries everywhere, and the squad is looking paper thin right now. If we're without Morgan, Wanyama, Boruc and Clyne for the next few games, I don't see much of a change to be honest. The injuries have all hit us at once and we simply don't have the quality in the squad, for a team like Southampton to have a ''magic'' top 6 season, we'd need an injury free campaign. Unfortunately we're not going to get that.

 

But let's be honest, we were always going to have a spell like this. We were not going to carry on the season conceding no goals and winning most weeks, as above - we don't have the squad for that. The frustration for us is that we play all the top sides all at the same time, so a result like tonight's is made to look all the more worse - even though we were always going to have a result like that this year. Heck, we'll probably have another couple before the season is out!

 

At the end of the day, we can all go into meltdown and change absolutely everything, or we can calm down, look at it objectively and actually come to the conclusion that we're in pretty damn good shape.

 

I should have just written the above instead of that inarticulate crap I posted

[Roger]

Yoshida was poor, Clyne going off killed us. No luck, injuries already hurt us. Goalie should have done better with second. But we played some fab footy and shame we have tough games and injuries. Thought we showed heart and fight and lallana and j rod v good. Think maybe should have spent the 15 million on osvaldo on squad players. However , can't moan at seeing my team play footy like that. Proud of team showing heart .

[John Boy Saint]

Just one of those nights.

We just play too much pit pat slow football around the 18yard box instead of lighting a few speculative smashes (just saw Spurs thread their equaliser through the box from outside) , "1-2-3 touches good 9 players in the box 4th ah good 10 in there now let's walk through the first 3!".

How the dickens did matey who absolutely scythed Luke into air stay on the pitch that looked horrific from the other end of the pitch.

it will be a good test to stop the rot.

[Smirking_Saint]

He worked very hard and made second goal. Is struggling to be in right place these days. Step slower. He gets protected as he's the main reason we are in the prem ffs.

 

Yes, which is why I love him but after that so what ? He doesnt fit the system ? So why the protection ? Make a choice accept we arent as good with him in the side or realise it and ask for changes.

 

I respect what he has done but Davis did as much, and your not asking for his inclusion

 

If we want to improve he isnt the future, same with Davis and Cork unfortunately.

 

He has offered us so little for weeks now

[st alex]

Surprised that the hand ball shout wasn't on the hightlights (on in any match reports), I know it was early on, but it looked like (from the Kingsland North) quite a clear handball from their goalkeeper and should have been a sending off?

 

Referee completely lost control of the match by the end, as bad as Villa were and as bad as we were thought he also deserved a mention.

[Roger]

Yes, which is why I love him but after that so what ? He doesnt fit the system ? So why the protection ? Make a choice accept we arent as good with him in the side or realise it and ask for changes.

 

I respect what he has done but Davis did as much, and your not asking for his inclusion

 

If we want to improve he isnt the future, same with Davis and Cork unfortunately.

 

He has offered us so little for weeks now

 

Seriously pathetic. Everyone was saying we can't play without him after sun. I don't think that was problem, I think the fact that osvaldo for 15 million has done sod all is more crucial. Sure people stick up for him maybe more but don't overdo it with unfair criticism. He wasn't bad tonight I didn't think not great but wasn't bad IMO.

[corky morris]

Interesting read. I thought Cork did well apart from the mistake for the goal, but Lovren had a hand in that too.

Wanyama keeps giving the ball away. Lots more than Cork does, but Wanyama is a better spoiler.

Yoshida was very poor. MP has to take responsibility for that. Lambert was barely in the game.

Shaw looks knackered. He had so much space, but would not take on the full back. Why??

Tackle on Shaw at the end was shocking. Red card every day!!

Osvaldo moans & complains all game. Shut up & get on with it!

Very poor defensively. Gazza didn't even touch the ball, but people blame him. Stupid!

And for all those idiots who say we don't need any pace..... This game proves we do. Imagine what we could do if we broke quickly?

Not good, very disappointed tonight!

[Bearsy]

 

[Roger]

Please don't pretend there weren't a hell of a lot of goof things happening tonight for us.

Showed heart, great football at times just things worked against us. Happens sometimes.

[Rasiak-9-]

I've said this for a long time.

 

For all the talk about us playing good football, passing the ball, keeping possession and so on and so forth, that only lasts up until the opponent's final third.

 

The strike, the weapon, our only successful method of attack is the long ball to Lambert at the back stick for the header back across goal. In the Championship and last season when we were an unknown quantity that worked well, but teams have begun to figure us out.

 

We don't score goals from long range, we don't have players who can beat a man and take them out of the game (apart from Lallana and occasionally Rodriguez), we certainly don't have an attacking midfielder to pick the ball up in his own half and really drive through opponents and in doing so open up the game.

 

Ultimately, the more I think about our team, the more I think that we need to start developing the post-Lambert Southampton, especially in a season like this when we're not going to finish higher than 8th and aren't in any real danger of relegation and can afford to experiment.

 

He'll always be a club legend, but its going to have to happen sooner or later.

[Chewy]

Usual bonkers posts. Dominated, they had three attempts on target and scored three. It happens. Now for some reality and non-scapegoat posting, maya did ok but made one error which cost us a goal. Cork did well making more of our possession than wanyama would have, but made one error which led to a goal, though Fonte lost his man (not maya) and cost us the goal. Gazzaniga not at fault for any. Mopo showed a plan b and c with his subs. We had at least four different formations during the game. Osvaldo played well. Jrod was ok, with three great headers. Lambert was average, so was lallana. And there should have been a red card at the end, not that it would have changed the result.

 

Reasons to be happy? Our team don't play 8 defenders and lump it down the field from the keeper as our one and only tactic. Reasons to worry? Our excellent defence so far has been undone by the tactical addition of a second striker in the last two games. Needs sorting quickly. Would have taken this position now at the start of the season, and would expect some frustrations, but losing tonight was bloody annoying, undeserved, and a touch concerning. Like saints of old I guess.