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Post Match Reaction: SAINTS 1-1 Manchester City

Saint-Armstrong

By Saint-Armstrong,
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MotM vs Manchester City (Home 2013/14)  

406 members have voted

  1. 1. MotM vs Manchester City (Home 2013/14)

    • Gazzaniga
      2
    • Chambers
      49
    • Shaw
      12
    • Lovren
      32
    • Fonte
      1
    • Davis, S
      25
    • Cork
      141
    • Lallana
      81
    • Ward-Prowse
      4
    • Rodriguez
      8
    • Osvaldo
      47
    • Lambert
      0
    • Ramirez
      1
    • Reed
      3

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Cascadia Saint

Cascadia Saint

Posted
Posted
what a performance with so many injuries

 

we are not crap

we are not tired

ossie is good when he finally gets a run of games

we have not been found out

we have a good squad

 

Exactly this. With bells on.

 

Amazing effort, concentration and execution today - a really impressive performance, especially given the injuries and replacement players. It's great knowing we have that in us, but I had faith and patience anyway, something some fans need to develop.

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Wes Tender

Wes Tender

Posted
Posted

Well, I'm pleasantly surprised that despite three key players being absent through injury, we dominated the most expensively assembled team of superstars in English football for the majority of that match and I'm disappointed that we didn't get all 3 points.

 

Having gone behind after just 10 minutes to a soft goal, I suspect that most would have expected that we could take a hammering, but we steadied the ship and didn't let our heads drop and came right back into the game.

 

My biggest worry before the start, was that we might do without either Schneiderlin or Wanyama, as Cork could deputise for one of them and make a half decent pairing with the other. But I had my doubts that with both of them out, we could be effective enough against City to cause them concern. How wrong I was. Cork had a storming game, arguably a better one than Wanyama would have given us. He was like a terrier, relentlessly harrying the City players and then when he gained possession, spraying around a succession of effective passes to keep play moving. For me, it was one of his best games in a Saints shirt.

 

Davis and Ward-Prowse were solid alongside him and Rodriguez' pace gave them some problems down the right flank. But the other two stand out performances came from Shaw and Lallana. Lallana in particular caught the eye with some superb runs at their defence, dribbling past them with the ball seemingly stuck to his feet, he was a real threat. Shaw has grown in maturity so much this season and much of our best play went up the left side through him.

 

Chambers was a capable deputy for Clyne, but not with as much pace or forward momentum as him, but he carried out his defensive duties well enough. City possess World class players capable of running on to delightfully weighted balls over the top and on more than one occasion we could have been punished but for a mix of desperate last ditch defending and some poor finishing. But we also had at least as many opportunities to score and it is surprising that the score was only one apiece. Their keeper was the busier, thank goodness, because Gazzaniga worries me. There were a couple of balls early in the game that he failed to come for, leaving it to our CBs to deal with and apart from poor defending for their goal, Lovren and Fonte were again reliable.

 

The Osvaldo goal was an incredibly skilful strike and must have done his confidence a lot of good, but he also missed a couple of sitters where he would have been expected to do better. Lambert offers something different, but the jury is still out on whether he and Osvaldo can play together in a Pochettino strategy. I think that today Pochettino got it right tactically.

 

It was good to see a little cameo of Harrison Reed in the last few minutes and he showed some good skills and didn't look at all overawed by the calibre of the opposition.

 

A few dodgy decisions by the ref and linesmen, but that is what you come to expect, especially when playing a glory club. But we can be justifiably proud of our team today and it will be an enjoyable watch on Match of the Day. And another point ahead of Manchester United after 15 games. Who would have predicted that at the start of the season?

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trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted

From the match build up thread...

 

Fonte struggling too.

 

Maybe Hooiveld and Lovren at the back - wouldn't play Yoshida again after last game.

 

So thats Boruc, Davis, Clyne, Fonte, Fox, Wanyama, Schneiderlin all missing from our defensive positions.....Noonoe will expect us to not lose tomorrow so might as well just get out there and have a go at them.

 

I know some of my theories are bonkers, and this is up there with the best, but I've got a sneaky feeling that this might work in our favour, especially against the likes of Man City. Ye olde 'backs against the wall' mentality...

 

Now, where did I put my trumpet....?

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Roger

Roger

Posted
Posted
Well, I'm pleasantly surprised that despite three key players being absent through injury, we dominated the most expensively assembled team of superstars in English football for the majority of that match and I'm disappointed that we didn't get all 3 points.

 

Having gone behind after just 10 minutes to a soft goal, I suspect that most would have expected that we could take a hammering, but we steadied the ship and didn't let our heads drop and came right back into the game.

 

My biggest worry before the start, was that we might do without either Schneiderlin or Wanyama, as Cork could deputise for one of them and make a half decent pairing with the other. But I had my doubts that with both of them out, we could be effective enough against City to cause them concern. How wrong I was. Cork had a storming game, arguably a better one than Wanyama would have given us. He was like a terrier, relentlessly harrying the City players and then when he gained possession, spraying around a succession of effective passes to keep play moving. For me, it was one of his best games in a Saints shirt.

 

Davis and Ward-Prowse were solid alongside him and Rodriguez' pace gave them some problems down the right flank. But the other two stand out performances came from Shaw and Lallana. Lallana in particular caught the eye with some superb runs at their defence, dribbling past them with the ball seemingly stuck to his feet, he was a real threat. Shaw has grown in maturity so much this season and much of our best play went up the left side through him.

 

Chambers was a capable deputy for Clyne, but not with as much pace or forward momentum as him, but he carried out his defensive duties well enough. City possess World class players capable of running on to delightfully weighted balls over the top and on more than one occasion we could have been punished but for a mix of desperate last ditch defending and some poor finishing. But we also had at least as many opportunities to score and it is surprising that the score was only one apiece. Their keeper was the busier, thank goodness, because Gazzaniga worries me. There were a couple of balls early in the game that he failed to come for, leaving it to our CBs to deal with and apart from poor defending for their goal, Lovren and Fonte were again reliable.

 

The Osvaldo goal was an incredibly skilful strike and must have done his confidence a lot of good, but he also missed a couple of sitters where he would have been expected to do better. Lambert offers something different, but the jury is still out on whether he and Osvaldo can play together in a Pochettino strategy. I think that today Pochettino got it right tactically.

 

It was good to see a little cameo of Harrison Reed in the last few minutes and he showed some good skills and didn't look at all overawed by the calibre of the opposition.

 

A few dodgy decisions by the ref and linesmen, but that is what you come to expect, especially when playing a glory club. But we can be justifiably proud of our team today and it will be an enjoyable watch on Match of the Day. And another point ahead of Manchester United after 15 games. Who would have predicted that at the start of the season?

 

Absolutely spot on. Completely agree.

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captainchris

captainchris

Posted
Posted
Good performance, we created the better chances and on another day could have won.

 

Gazzaniga - 6 - Was OK, one weird decision second half but wqas generally ok

 

Chambers - 8 - Excellent. Man City got very little down his side and had a good chance to score in the first half that he was unlucky with, best he's played in an attacking sense, seemed more confident in his ability to attack.

Lovren - 8 - Very good game, helped keep City at arms length for most of the match. The cheer when he came back on to the pitch after that knock he took shows how important he is to the team.

Fonte - 8.5 - Was as good as Lovren, and his tackle and pass started off the play for our goal.

Shaw - 7 - Excellent going forwards, caught a few times at the back in the first half though

 

Cork - 8 - Bounced back after a poor Villa performance and showed that he will be an important player for us in the coming weeks

JWP - 8.5 - Looked much better in his preferred position, not afraid to get stuck in and showed signs that he could be that player with the killer pass that we sometimes lack. Set pieces were good as usual.

Davis - 9 - Was my MotM, classic box to box midfield performance, absolutely everywhere.

 

Lallana - 7 - Some good runs and created a few dangerous situations, but I felt he was one player who perhaps did tire second half.

Rodriguez - 7 - Numerous dangerous runs and had a couple of chances he may be disappointed he did not do better with.

 

Osvaldo - 8 - World class goal aside, looks to be coming to terms with the PL. Led from the front and his constant attempts to run behind encouraged the midfield to play it forward quicker.

 

Subs: Lambert - 7 - Held the ball up, played a part in creating a chance for J-Rod.

Ramirez - 6 - some decent touches, but not really on long enough to effect the game

Reed - Not enough time to judge either way.

Could not agree with you about Cork against Villa - he was superb so today he must have been something else!

Not so good as Vic defending perhaps however his passing and awareness are quite a bit better..

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trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted
He (Cork) was like a terrier, relentlessly harrying the City players and then when he gained possession, spraying around a succession of effective passes to keep play moving. For me, it was one of his best games in a Saints shirt.

 

It was his 100th appearance for Saints too (according to Sky). Great performance to mark such a milestone.

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Cascadia Saint

Cascadia Saint

Posted
Posted
Disappointing, only a slight improvement from Wednesday imho.

 

City, call them one of the "big boys", "title challengers", etc., were absolute w@nk and why we were unable to put the game to bed second half is anyone's guess.

 

Cork was solid defensively, Davis looked energetic, JWP okay, Lallana and Ossie threatened sporadically, Jayrod anonymous as always.

 

+1 for atmosphere today though!

 

Haha! Top marks for trying I guess. What a moron if you even slightly believe anything like that.

 

Like most trolls and WUMs, why do you bother? Honestly interested. Do you sit back and feverishly masturbate as the bites come in? What is the rest of your life like if this is the highlight of your day? You post too often for this to be a little throwaway fun on the side, you actually put time and effort into this. Maybe you can record a WUMday uncovered for us and put it on YouTube, might have to put some clothes on and wipe down the computer screen first though.

 

This is the difference between a WUM and a pessimistic misery guts. Alpine, for all his 'quirks', actually believes what he types. He might wind people up, me often included, but I really believe he doesn't do it TO wind people up. He's a hard man to please and has a more negative opinion than most. But it really is his opinion and he stands behind it. Nice post today on this thread too. I respect that.

 

I know the mods just want to encourage free speech and right to opinions, but surely when a poster is as deliberately antagonistic as this obvious WUM they can see it? It's a pointless distraction from an otherwise honest thread.

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Saint in Paradise

Saint in Paradise

Posted
Posted

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini:

 

"It is a good point. I don't feel like we lost two points."

 

"In all the other games away I felt like we deserved more but here this was the result that both teams deserved."

 

I think that is quite a telling remark from a manager of whom maximum points are expected every game by the owners.

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trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini:

 

"It is a good point. I don't feel like we lost two points."

 

"In all the other games away I felt like we deserved more but here this was the result that both teams deserved."

 

I think that is quite a telling remark from a manager of whom maximum points are expected every game by the owners.

 

Says it all really.

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trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted (edited)
Haha! Top marks for trying I guess. What a moron if you even slightly believe anything like that.

 

Like most trolls and WUMs, why do you bother? Honestly interested. Do you sit back and feverishly masturbate as the bites come in? What is the rest of your life like if this is the highlight of your day? You post too often for this to be a little throwaway fun on the side, you actually put time and effort into this. Maybe you can record a WUMday uncovered for us and put it on YouTube, might have to put some clothes on and wipe down the computer screen first though.

 

This is the difference between a WUM and a pessimistic misery guts. Alpine, for all his 'quirks', actually believes what he types. He might wind people up, me often included, but I really believe he doesn't do it TO wind people up. He's a hard man to please and has a more negative opinion than most. But it really is his opinion and he stands behind it. Nice post today on this thread too. I respect that.

 

I know the mods just want to encourage free speech and right to opinions, but surely when a poster is as deliberately antagonistic as this obvious WUM they can see it? It's a pointless distraction from an otherwise honest thread.

 

Pssst..... he was banned this evening.... :)

 

And agree with you re: Alpine Saint. There's an obvious difference between a genuine fan who's naturally pessimistic (albeit to an obsessive level ;) ) and your average *cough* Pompey supporting *cough* WUM...

Edited by trousers
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Toomer

Toomer

Posted
Posted (edited)

Would have taken that before the start, one down after 10 mins I was a little worried sloppy goal that could have been prevented if Gazza had given Fonte a call. Great goal from Ossie we could have and possibly should have gone on and won it.

Edited by Toomer
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austsaint

austsaint

Posted
Posted
I thought that was ****ing outstanding today, absolutely top draw! Who wants to comment on Cork now?

 

Sums it up for me too; inspiring to watch that today. So pleased for Cork - the only player we really missed of those unavailable was Boruc. Great first half from Luke; Chamber looks like he has developed physically since pre-season. Our passing and movement for long periods was outstanding with Davis, Cork and Lallana instrumental. Jay is an x-factor with his speed and directness and Osvaldo's performance probably proved that one up front out of he and Ricky is the way to go. Courage from Lovren and Fonte.

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Cascadia Saint

Cascadia Saint

Posted
Posted
Pssst..... he was banned this evening.... :)

 

And agree with you re: Alpine Saint. There's an obvious difference between a genuine fan who's naturally pessimistic (albeit to an obsessive level ;) ) and your average *cough* Pompey supporting *cough* WUM...

 

I did not see that! That's two great results today then!

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Jack

Jack

Posted
Posted (edited)
Why are you so anti Gazziniga ??

 

Just remember that Kelvin gave our defenders the sh*ts on many many occasions, NEVER commanded his area, and was on more than one occasion very suspect with crosses. Fact. View past performances.

NO Goalkeeper slots in after one game, or two. Only an extended run sorts out if they have what it takes. I reckon he WILL prove the doubters wrong

 

It's not personal, he's just a **** keeper. I think it was at 1-0, an overplayed through ball that he should've been off his line to collect comfortably, he stayed rooted to his line and left it for Lovren (I think) to scramble out, leading to more city pressure. There were a few balls into the box early on that you'd expect a 6 foot 6 keeper to come and claim, but he didn't and you could see the uncertainty in the whole back 4 in that period.

 

I gave him a 4 because the little he did have to do he did badly.

 

I disagree about him becoming a good keeper. His reading of the game and reactions are too slow. He'll never become a prem no. 1 IMO.

Edited by Jack
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austsaint

austsaint

Posted
Posted
I thought that was ****ing outstanding today, absolutely top draw! Who wants to comment on Cork now?

 

Sums it up for me too; inspiring to watch that today. So pleased for Cork - the only player we really missed of those unavailable was Boruc. Great first half from Luke; Chamber looks like he has developed physically since pre-season. Our passing and movement for long periods was outstanding with Davis, Cork and Lallana instrumental. Jay is an x-factor with his speed and directness and Osvaldo's performance probably proved that one up front out of he and Ricky is the way to go. Courage from Lovren and Fonte.

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Dark Munster

Dark Munster

Posted
Posted
The boys done good. Still nervy about the goal keeper situation though.

Agreed. Up until now, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, and he may become a good goalie one day, but at the moment he's not. He seems rooted to the line, hoping shots will come directly at him.

 

Also, their goal was well hit and wasn't easy to save, but it passed close to him. I reckon Artur, and even Kelvin, may have had a good chance of saving it.

 

800px-Bonzini_style_table_goalkeeper.jpg

Gazzaniga

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Dark Munster

Dark Munster

Posted
Posted
It's not personal, he's just a **** keeper. I think it was at 1-0, an overplayed through ball that he should've been off his line to collect comfortably, he stayed rooted to his line and left it for Lovren (I think) to scramble out, leading to more city pressure. There were a few balls into the box early on that you'd expect a 6 foot 6 keeper to come and claim, but he didn't and you could see the uncertainty in the whole back 4 in that period.

 

I gave him a 4 because the little he did have to do he did badly.

 

I disagree about him becoming a good keeper. His reading of the game and reactions are too slow. He'll never become a prem no. 1 IMO.

Not sure I agree with the last paragraph, but I think you're spot on with the rest (especially about him not coming off his line to collect or clear).

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Olallana

Olallana

Posted
Posted
Saints Had SEVEN English players involved in the game ....how many did ****y have ?? None ! They did have a donkey called MILNER playing for a bit but you cant call him a player though:D

 

8 I think even...?

 

Chambers, Shaw, JWP, Cork, Rodriguez, Lallana, Lambert, Reed.

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SNSUN

SNSUN

Posted
Posted

Where were all these talented youngsters when we were relying on the Youth in the Championship relegation season! If only our academy had been as good then as it is now! (Although to be fair to the Academy it was the glut of crap we signed that was more responsible for our fate that season!)

 

A great point today - more than most of us thought we'd get!

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dubai_phil

dubai_phil

Posted
Posted

Arrived at Barasti after spending the day chasing fit young chicks at the Golf (TMS please note I did mention the Thai Porn Star who actually won) :)

 

Guzzled several beers before the game to ease the pain of what I was convinced would be a 3 or 4 goal tonking by Citeh.

 

Had that "oh well here we go" moment when they scored after 9 minutes and we started debating whether Gazza had actually ever saved a shot on target.

 

And then...... We just kept playing, kept the belief and if anything with Cork in the middle we moved the ball a bit quicker, less passes went astray, fewer "Supertanker paced turns into trouble" and - hang on we're playing quite good football. WTF is going on?

 

Suddenly we seem to be tearing them a new one. Hands flying to our heads as we keep missing chances, still expecting to concede another soft goal and yet we didn't. In reality, this morning I am actually disappointed because we REALLY should have won that comfortably again.

 

We REALLY should take our chances better.

 

For me Cork was immense, an absolute bundle of energy, great game and on any other day a shoe in for MoM.

 

But for me it had to be Chambers. When he played at the start of the season he seemed to be Safety first, never quite seemed to push on, never had the confidence to try and get past a player even with a touch and go. Yesterday saw a different side to him and the development is amazing. IF ONLY he had buried that header, but in the slo-mo replays he actually did really well to get to the ball.

 

So having expected a stuffing, I'm sitting here with the feeling that we actually threw two points away yesterday.

 

Oh, and did we actually see Harry Reed pull off some kind of Messi/Ronaldo-esque step-over/drag back near the end?

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dubai_phil

dubai_phil

Posted
Posted

Patrick Collins in The Fail

Their manager, the increasingly impressive Mauricio Pochettino, put it succinctly.

‘We kept believing,’ he said. ‘We played the right way. We had more possession than the team with the best record of possession in the League. We did the right things.’

Again, it was a reasonable assessment of an excellent game. Having lost their previous three League matches, Southampton’s season was in danger of running off the rails.

 

Yet you would never have known it. After a nervous opening and the concession of a mundane goal, they remembered their principles.

 

Possession was prized, movement was subtle, pressing was urgent and enchanting angles were found with thoughtful passing.

To add to that pleasing list, Dani Osvaldo’s goal was something of a classic in this season of classical goals.

 

Small wonder that the entire place was buzzing with excitement, with genuine pleasure at seeing the game played with the respect that it merits.

A season ticket for St Mary’s is one of football’s glittering prizes this season.

 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2519831/Southampton-1-Man-City-1--match-report-Osvaldo-wonder-strike-Agueros-early-opener.html

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trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted
For me our performance of the season. Very proud to be a saints fan yesterday we showed grit and flair in equal measures.

Cork could not have worked harder, he was superb.

And we started and finished with three English teenagers on the pitch.

 

4 at the end? (Shaw, Chambers, JWP, Reed)

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Olallana

Olallana

Posted
Posted

Their goal is really avoidable imo and wouldn´t have happened with Boruc in goal.

 

Not so much because Gazza didn´t save the shot but I think that situation wouldn´t have happened cause Boruc would have commanded Fonte to let the long ball go and picked it up easily in the box. If Fonte doesn´t head it the situation never arise in the first place.

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stknowle

stknowle

Posted
Posted
Pssst..... he was banned this evening.... :)

 

And agree with you re: Alpine Saint. There's an obvious difference between a genuine fan who's naturally pessimistic (albeit to an obsessive level ;) ) and your average *cough* Pompey supporting *cough* WUM...

 

He's been banned!!?oh:mcinnes:

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Saint86

Saint86

Posted
Posted
Just what the doctor ordered.

well done to the players, and especially well done to Mopo.

 

Seems we might have a bit more squad depth than first glance suggests. Good result

 

Good point Alps, i haven't considered what it means for squad depth, still chuffed with watching our u21's beating the most expensive team in england.

 

Personally that game should end the cork vs wanayama thread.... Cork is clearly the better player and as ward prowse showed countless times vs toure, strength is not everything!

 

To consider if we didnt play him and actually sell him to a rival is an option, its just madness!!

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krissyboy31

krissyboy31

Posted
Posted

Just a fantastic game of football. I think apart from the 10 mins or so after they scored we shaded it and were unlucky not to win. I like others, were fearing the worst, with all the injuries but Cork and Davis were sensational in MF. Special mention for Chambers who kept Nasri pretty quiet most of the game.

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