Saint-Armstrong Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Second half goals from Torres, Willian and Oscar win the game for Chelsea. Still 9th. Burnley up next in the FA Cup. Thoughts...?
Turkish Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 (edited) Well beaten by a very good side playing very well, did well first half and well into the game until their lucky first goal. looked very tired second. Edited 1 January, 2014 by Turkish
Baird of the land Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Played a very good team who have been better able to rotate over xmas. Our manager made very poor use of tactical substitutions. Hopefully we can beat Burnley(have an FA cup run) and pick ourselves back up in the league and try and stay top half.
Jonnyboy Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 10 goals conceded in our last 4 home matchs. The 7 home games before that we conceded 2!!! Crazy turnaround since Boruc and Wanyama injuries! conceding almost 10 times more per match minute!!!
CylonKing Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Very disappointing 2nd half indeed. Thought we looked 2nd best in everything today. Gaston kept giving the ball away, but not the only culprit. Chelsea looked very comfortable for the whole game, except for a 10 minute spell in the 1st half, we just did not threaten them at all.
obelisk Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Saints looked knackered 2nd half. Give the 1st team a rest this weekend.
The Kraken Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 January and February sees us play West Brom, Sunderland, Arsenal, Fulham, Stoke, Hull, West Ham. Just need to make the most of those games, if our poor run of results continue against those sides then its a concern, until then its still a decent season so far (albeit in rather stuttering form right now).
buctootim Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Think the scoreline flattered them a bit - though we continue to struggle to turn possession into chances and chances into goals.
TheCholulaKid Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Well between by a very good side playing very well, did well first half and well into the game until their lucky first goal. looked very tired second. This. One of the best teams in Europe playing well - no shame in losing to that lot. Shame we couldn't take one of our 1st half chances - things might have turned out differently.
BotleySaint Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 All fairly even until they brought on the £60m or so talent from the bench. Our cushion from the teams below is deflating though which worries me.
MongoNeil Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Still carrying injuries and looking tired as a result. A run of 'easier' games now should see us do alright.
Minsk Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Didn't deserve to lose by 3. Chambers (Saints) MoM for me. Cup game next, then an easier run of matches (save for Arsenal). Still comfortably in 9th. Hopefully we will get our injured back and put a string of better results together. Now I have had my say I will keep clear of this thread, to avoid the obvious incoming trolling of Glasgow, BS, et al.
DG Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Chelsea better than us, shock. Tough run of fixtures + too many injuries = fail We'll regain the early season form once Boruc and Wanyama return, along with some easier fixtures. Too much dross in the squad to reach any higher than we are now.
BotleySaint Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Didn't deserve to lose by 3. Chambers (Saints) MoM for me. Chambers has really improved and looks good!
Batman Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Just well beaten by a far better team They, like man city have a stupid amount of quality Their goal scorers cost £100m alone Never mind
Rich102 Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Taking Cork off was a mistake, but other than that we got beaten by the probable Champions (or runners up) with a strike force costing £130 million. People need to get a grip.
sad saints fan Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Chelsea were better than us ,no shame in that . Move on
jasonb Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Well, well, beaten. Held our own in the first half just about but we look very tired. Very tired indeed. Compound this with the fact they are quite clearly miles better than our players. Thought the nipper Chambers played well. Lovren and Fonte dodgy and brave in equal measures. Kelvin started well but like the team seemed to lose confidence very fast. Midfield pretty ineffective and the dog tired. Zero energy or dynamism. Worst they've played all season. Up top very hit and miss. One of those early AL chances goes in or Lambert's header goes in the confidence comes back. Jay Rod liked half his normal self. Adam faded and was well marshalled/shackled second half. However, simply beaten by a better side. Fair enough. I won't lose any sleep over it. Happy new year fellow Saints.
View From The Top Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Thought Chelsea were and awesome machine. We were well beaten and that's about it.
Sheaf Saint Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 What has happened to our pressing game? I know we have had a few enforced personnel changes recently but I've seen no sign of the tactic that was working so well for us early in the season. Our forwards got nothing today because Chelsea completely bossed the midfield after Cork went off. I'm really beginning to wonder about MO's subs lately. They always seem to have a negative effect on the team rather than a positive one.
verlaine1979 Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Couldn't get the ball off hazard all game, then same story once the Oscar and willian came on. Of course that's 130m of attacking talent mentioned in the previous sentence.
NewYorkSaint Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Well beaten by a better team, though that lucky first goal helped. Main positive was Chambers. Ramirez had a great chance to shine and blew it. Lovren seemed really off his game today too. The appalling conditions, and scary first 10 minutes can have done nothing for confidence. They came back well in first half, and then... ouch!! We really, really need Wanwayma back and Osvaldo to come good. Meanwhile, Chelsea look a good bet for champions.
redder freak Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 A game too far. Without Boruc, Wanyama and Osvaldo we can't match the depth of a squad like Chelsea's.
Saint Charlie Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Looked very tired. Central midfield v poor especially after Cork went off. Massively miss Wanyama.
washsaint Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Beaten by a much better side...plain and simple. Concerned at a lack of Plan B (Chelsea stifled us) but with a very young team this is all experience. When you consider the age of our team the future is looking very bright although right now we are in a real slump. Very frustrating that for all the possession we rarely look dangerous up front. Despite the trolls views, thought Gaston had a pretty good game and was the only player to look in any way dangerous up front. Jay (and many others) anonymous and AL;s and MS's worst games this season IMO.
Lallana's Left Peg Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Properly beaten by the better team today. One of those days where we needed some luck and something to hold onto. Once Chelsea made those subs in the second half they powered on and we couldn't cope. We obviously never stopped trying but the subs didn't work for me and I don't think they worked for the players either as we were all over the place. I would imagine we'll rest plenty for the Burnley game but very important we get a win and some confidence back.
Killers Knee Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 We were totally outclassed by a far superior machine. They have arguably the best manager in the game and a squad that costs more than everything in the City of Southampton. We put up a valiant fight in the 1st half, Chambers, Lallana and Gaston looked like our creative threats and were unlucky with shots being blocked. Second half, Jose totally anulled the contributions from those three and we didn't look dangerous at all. At our current rate of development we are 2 or 3 years from having squad that can compete in the top 6. Our first team when fit is great, but with our tactics we will need a squad, as SAF implied in his post match interview last year at Old Trafford.
Window Cleaner Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Thought Morgan was absolutely awful, not even interested and he should have been the least tired player on our side (barring Davis and perhaps Gaston) something isn't right with him. Maybe he actually believed in the Top 6 dream.
doubleonothing Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Hoping that we have revised the "no new signings" in January stance. We are lacking depth and this has been our undoing. Today showed the gulf in class between us and the very top when we don't have our 1st 11 available.
monkadill Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 No problem being beaten by a better side but we look tired and in desperate need of a rotation in the Midfield - we need a bigger squad.
Turkish Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Fair play to Jose, said Oscar deserves to be booked and it was a dive, was a good Decision by the ref and yellow cards should be shown more for diving.
M271 Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Unfortunately difficult run of fixtures has coincideded with several injuries. In most matches we have more then matched our opponents, today we showed the effects of 4 games in 11 days against a team with plenty of quality rotation options. Just need to get Saturday match out of the way then take a breather and take stock ready for a hopefully easier period of fixtures and Boruc and Wanyama returning. P.S. are some of the idiotic posters on here actually Saints fans or Wind Up Mer hants with nothing better to do, they certainly don't know much about the football.
Saint Charlie Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Lacking any real attacking options at the moment, still an attack minded player short IMO.
Bewildered Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 We were in it first half could have gone in ahead if our players didn't want that one touch too many in the box. Just didn't turn up second half I'm afraid. Overall the difference in the pace of play made the difference. When Chelsea want the goal it's all one-two touch stuff, driving runs into dangerous positions. When we want the goal we dilly-dally, take to many touches, take too long to decide what to do with it and our attacking players aren't in the same league when it comes to finding space off the ball. Kelvin - wasn't bad, could have done more for the first perhaps. Chambers - was excellent for 60 minutes before tiring Lovren - had problems with Torres' pace Fonte - was the better of the CBs today Shaw - was below par, but it could be put down to injury Cork - was generally very good, Morgan - wasn't his usual self, let Chelsea play through us too often Davis - was professional enough, if lacking in the quality to hurt a side like Chelsea Ramirez - promising for the first half, vanished second half Lallana - OK in flashes, too indecisive in front of goal. Rodriguez - Big chance to stake a claim in his preferred position and he didn't take it Subs Clyne - looked uncomfortable at LB, got in behind more than Shaw though. Lambert - Should have done better with his chance, otherwise did little JWP - Not really on long enough
ART Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Sadly Pochettino is too slow to learn from his mistakes. Once again he removes Cork and the defence falls apart. Haven't enjoyed a match so much in years until the wheels began to fall off. We cannot score goals and lack of goals is why things runs against. First half saves by Davies were top notch and Chambers, who was class is fast leaving Shaw behind with displays like today. We lost but some of our play was far superior to how we played last season. A weakened team and a lost against Burnley on Saturday could really be costly for Pochettino.
egreog Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 The wheels are not off yet, but defeats in the next 2 games could signal a slide. The earlier season momentum has gone, and needs rediscovering quick;y if top half ambitions are realistic.
Pastor Patrón Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Fair play to Jose, said Oscar deserves to be booked and it was a dive, was a good Decision by the ref and yellow cards should be shown more for diving. Easy to say when youve just won 3-0 though
martin_au Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Yes our defence fell apart after Cork went off but we had to chase the game
stknowle Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 January and February sees us play West Brom, Sunderland, Arsenal, Fulham, Stoke, Hull, West Ham. Just need to make the most of those games, if our poor run of results continue against those sides then its a concern, until then its still a decent season so far (albeit in rather stuttering form right now). Exactly this. Disappointing but understandable and grudgingly acceptable run of results over the last 8 or so given the injuries and quality of opposition. Those excuses/reasons don't apply over the next 8, so results better improve (and I expect they will) or it will get just a tad concerning (and potentially embarrassing given the fact we were lauded as the future of football by many in the media just a couple of months ago).
Window Cleaner Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Yes our defence fell apart after Cork went off but we had to chase the game so why didn't Morgan get taken off, he was rubbish, Cork had been booked but even if he'd been sent off it looked like we were playing with 10 men anyway.
Glasgow_Saint Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Yes our defence fell apart after Cork went off but we had to chase the game 18 goals conceded in the last 8! Defence has been poor for weeks Dont understand why Cork keeps being taken off - was our best player today
ART Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Our play, the tiredness, the dejection of our players second half spells a sharp reminder of how things could become as the season progresses. Pochettino's got his work cut out to re-motivate and get the players back to fighting with belief.
david in sweden Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 We were in it first half could have gone in ahead if our players didn't want that one touch too many in the box. Just didn't turn up second half I'm afraid. Overall the difference in the pace of play made the difference. When Chelsea want the goal it's all one-two touch stuff, driving runs into dangerous positions. When we want the goal we dilly-dally, take to many touches, take too long to decide what to do with it and our attacking players aren't in the same league when it comes to finding space off the ball. Kelvin - wasn't bad, could have done more for the first perhaps. Chambers - was excellent for 60 minutes before tiring Lovren - had problems with Torres' pace Fonte - was the better of the CBs today Shaw - was below par, but it could be put down to injury Cork - was generally very good, Morgan - wasn't his usual self, let Chelsea play through us too often Davis - was professional enough, if lacking in the quality to hurt a side like Chelsea Ramirez - promising for the first half, vanished second half Lallana - OK in flashes, too indecisive in front of goal. Rodriguez - Big chance to stake a claim in his preferred position and he didn't take it Subs Clyne - looked uncomfortable at LB, got in behind more than Shaw though. Lambert - Should have done better with his chance, otherwise did little JWP - Not really on long enough Good analysis IMHO.? plus a well-managed game from Jose's side. Clyne looked slow on the ball and def. not happy at LB Cork is tougher in the tackle, but his passing is not good. Morgan looked really out of sorts today. Ramirez looked OK - when on the ball, but drifts in and out of the action too much. Jay Rod disturbingly absent as an attacking threat today. JWP seems to have lost that sharpness / agression he had before Christmas? Stats. OK ...good quality opposition. but EIGHT yellow cards in 2 matches shows some degree of panic has set in. Even assuming Boruc is back soon we still have to wait Wanyama to get himself fit ...March ? ..meanwhile a quick look at the bench doesn't inspire much encouragement does it? , especially when you consider the players we have on contract who aren't there. Has all this double-training gone a bit too far ?
scotty Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Chambers has really improved and looks good! +1, except that awful cockup that nearly gifted them another goal, when he tried to shepherd it out for a corner and got his pocket picked. Other than that bit of naivety, looked a very good player today.
Dark Munster Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Men vs. boys. Chelsea's gazillion pound attack was too much for us. No shame in that. I hope MP doesn't field a too weakened team against Burnley. A cup run is really needed now, for confidence and to keep the season alive.
Colinjb Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Taking off Davis and Cork was suicidal, played into Chelsea's hands. Gaston did ok, Jay looked a shadow of himself. I can cope with losing but to be so charitable is now becoming a horrible habit. Our central midfield is our biggest strength. Why does Poch seem so ready to give it away!?!
Roger Posted 1 January, 2014 Posted 1 January, 2014 Chambers has really improved and looks good! Chambers poor second half for me!
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now