Post Match Reaction: SAINTS 0-3 Chelsea

[Dr Who?]

Thank god that run of games are over...... between now and mid March we should be safe.

[70's Mike]

These would be the same conditions that somehow didn't affect Chelsea's usual fast passing game? And why couldn't we close them down in all the right areas. We've become renowned for it under Pochettino, but we seem to have forgotten that in the second half.

 

think closing down works only if all players do it, as soon as Ramirez is in it goes out of window. Also starting to see why MP did not play Cork

[NickG]

For those who didn't go, I suggest you read some reporters' views as some here, imho, are OTT.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/109439/southampton-vs-chelsea-fc/player-ratings

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/southampton-0-3-chelsea-match-report-2875575

 

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3599741/title/match-report-southampton-0-chelsea-3

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/southampton-0-chelsea-3-match-report-fernando-torres-and-substitutes-oscar-and-willian-inspire-blues-to-victory-9032880.html

 

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1907618-southampton-vs-chelsea-score-grades-and-post-match-reaction

 

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/southampton-0-chelsea-3-torres-on-target-as-ruthless-blues-record-impressive-win-9032827.html

 

A team as young as ours is always going to have games when players go missing. I'm a fan of Jay Rod but, for example, thought he had quietest game for a while, not half the player he has been recently.

 

Our outfield included Shaw 18, Chambers 18, Lovren 24, Clyne 22, Morgan 24, JayRod 24, JWP 19, Cork 24, Lallana 25 - all young (or very young players).

 

We struggled with a few of their top players, as better sides than ours will. Thought Torres looked very sharp from the start and first time Lovren looked stretched.

 

Ramirez was decent considering time since last started, opposition and how game was going (certainly better than Cork looked at start of his first game back).

 

Reading comments above saying how poor we were, slating Ramirez and Schneiderlin it's amazing we matched one of best teams in Europe for so long and had more possession, shots, 8 corners etc.. Maybe we were not totally ****?

 

Chelsea looked comfortably better, faster in midfield, quality players. We looked jaded at times.

 

One of those reports said that Chelsea brought £130m of player back into side after resting in last game!

 

I got soaked. Disappointing game, point possible when ball was bouncing in the goal mouth but best side won.

 

Radio five report said final score flattered Chelsea and we played decent football. They were discussing whether we had been found out - the conclusion was no, just played tough games, playing well but missing out over busy time.

 

As others said, today isn't the game to judge our season, its the next period.

 

Those slating the substitution of Cork - isn't it quite obvious when you need a goal to consider taking off your midfielder who doesn't score or create goals? Of course leaves gaps but no a stupid call surely?

 

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[corsacar saint]

We needed to take our chances when we were on top for 20 minute spell in first half. In the second half, Chelsea replaced 45-50 million worth of talent, with 55-60 million pounds worth of talent and ran out comfortable winners. No disgrace whatsoever to lose, especially if you recall 3 years ago to the day, we beat Dagenham and Redbridge 3-1 in league 1.

[SaintSteve]

We were beaten by a team assembled over the years costing mega bucks... we are not ready yet to match top four teams. Still competed for an hour and then they stepped up a gear.

[Window Cleaner]

We were beaten by a team assembled over the years costing mega bucks... we are not ready yet to match top four teams. Still competed for an hour and then they stepped up a gear.

 

 

which is of course why we beat them last year.

[OldNick]

which is of course why we beat them last year.

their manager and team belief is different

[Window Cleaner]

their manager and team belief is different

 

 

could be that, or it just could be the placing of the match as last year they were up to their ears in the Europa League. We didn't look like the same side as on that day though, probably due to injuries and general fatigue.

[Chez]

Chelsea look a very decent side to me although they look weak as **** at fullback. Chambers took cole apart in the first half, which was excellent viewing. Our problem was that we tried to play through the middle and there simply wasn't any room. A couple of wingers in the window would give us a plan b.

 

Davis 7 some great sweeping in the first half. Good kicking. Massive step up from gazza

Chambers 8 fantastic first half. Looked tired in the second half.

Fonte 7 decent game, but never really got to grips with Torres. got Lovren out of jail a few times.

Lovren 5 sloppy from the start and his worst game of the season.

Shaw 7 usual solid display.

Cork 7 everything you expect of cork. No idea why we keep taking him off.

Morgan 6 no room to play and didn't dominate like he usually does. Brilliant full length tackle to prevent a 4 on 1 breakaway.

Davis 6 neat and tidy but very little effect on the game.

Lallana 6 some great stuff in the first half but disappeared in the second. Not sure why we are moving him out wide when he. Has been great down the middle.

Ramirez 5 one outstanding pass to Rodriguez but overall he wasn't great. Took too long and gave it away cheaply too often. I'd of subbed him. Defensively he is poor so he needs to shine going forward and he didn't.

Rodriguez 4 poor down the middle and disappeared when moving out wide.

 

Clyne 4 touch poor several times but got forward well. Never looked comfortable on the left.

Lambert 5 no impact.

Prowse not on for very long, but prefer cork on a yellow.

[Dalek2003]

Thank god that run of games are over...... between now and mid March we should be safe.

 

 

You would think so. Certainly the next eight games we need to get the points in. If we don't then we will be looking at relegation which would be a major humiliation after all that was said about us in November ! I think we will finish around 14th

[SaintSteve]

their manager and team belief is different

 

Took the words out of my mouth... this forum is going downhill fast.. there are numerous posters on here that shout their mouth off before engaging brain.. that's assuming they have one to start with.

[SaintSteve]

You would think so. Certainly the next eight games we need to get the points in. If we don't then we will be looking at relegation which would be a major humiliation after all that was said about us in November ! I think we will finish around 14th

 

I cannot see any teams currently below us getting more points.. I would think we will finish as we are now as we havea good run of games Feb/March when Boruc/Wanyama should be fit; and we have missed both.

[Saints Warrior]

some of the first half was ok but by god don't Saints waste chances. Why cant players just shoot instinctively rather than taking 2- touches or squaring the ball. The second half was a waste of time we played like an away team for most part with one up front. If you play just one up then at least get the ball to the front man asap on the deck or in the sky rather than possession football. I go bored to death of possession football and passing back to put our keeper in trouble.

 

Roll on the so called easy games.

 

Jan sales wish list

1 x forward who can take the defence on

1 x defender

 

And anyone else who thinks passing back 20 times a game is a stupid risky tactic.

[iansums]

Miserable weather and a disappointing performance. The only enjoyable thing was seeing four Chelsea fans getting thrown out of the Chapel end ATM half time.

[max_saints]

shows what we were up against when chelsea could take off mata and schurle and bring on oscar and willian! anyway, we are feeling slightly disappointed only because of the increased expectations brought on by our impressive start to the season. it has been a tough run of games against the likes of arsenal, chelsea (x2), city, newcastle, spurs and everton since the end of november and this has to be taken into perspective when considering our recent form.

 

overall I wouldn't say we have done very well over that tough set of fixtures but we have done okay, not being overrun by the big clubs and picking up points where we should against cardiff and newcastle (villa game being the only disappointment) However that is now past us and we can now look towards picking up some form from a relatively easier run of games ahead. If we do continue to struggle and not pick up wins in the next two months, then perhaps we should have a right to be worried, but I'm fairly confident from the way our team has played and with key injured players coming back that we should be able to pick up a decent amount of wins from here on.

 

perhaps one or two signings would help to refresh the squad, maybe a top keeper to instil the confidence back into our defence. But we're fine, really. we will finish around 8-10th and rightly so because our squad is good enough, just not good enough to be fighting for european spots. that is all.

[trousers]

We needed to take our chances when we were on top for 20 minute spell in first half. In the second half, Chelsea replaced 45-50 million worth of talent, with 55-60 million pounds worth of talent and ran out comfortable winners. No disgrace whatsoever to lose, especially if you recall 3 years ago to the day, we beat Dagenham and Redbridge 3-1 in league 1.

 

Come now...you know it's against the thought police rules to mention where we were a mere 3 years ago...

[Sour Mash]

But usually we don't have too much problem dealing with those sort of attacks. Don't know what game most of you saw but I thought we looked totally out of sorts everywhere on the pitch. To me it looked like something unpleasant had gone down since Sunday. Why was Shaw subbed ?

Agreed, no problem with getting beat by an excellent Chelsea side, but that 2nd half was horrifically one-sided, we didn't make a game of it at all.

[sandwichsaint]

Come now...you know it's against the thought police rules to mention where we were a mere 3 years ago...

 

Cracking away day, loved the League 1 aways.

[Legod Third Coming]

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!!!

 

And that my friend is the value of a top keeper and a top holding midfielder.

 

We have played more attacking football recently, probably because it is our only option.

 

For all those who think Cork is a replacement/alternative to Victor, he isn't. He's a totally different player and not anywhere near as strong.

 

What we do not have right now is STRENGTH in the centre of the park. Victor's passing may be woeful but people do not simply push him off the ball like they do Cork, Lallana, JWP, even Morgan occasionally.

[Legod Third Coming]

If they are available in the transfer window, we need a left back to give Shaw some competition - he looks tired and nowhere near the same player he was in August.

We need another central defender - Jos and Yoshi are not up to Premier League Standard.

And we could do with another holding midfielder with big cohonas!

(Oh and a new 2nd keeper)...

 

Not much to ask Nico!

[Shanghai Saint]

100's of millions of pounds of talent vs. 10's of millions at the end of the Xmas schedule meant the result was no surprise.

The team continue to work for each other and MP and will come back strong after a well earned break.

[cambsaint]

One of the BT pundits said very sensibly IMO that we were in our correct position in the league.

We were beaten by one of the best teams and managers in Europe today, with a vastly superior squad.

It is unarguable that Arsenal, Man City, and Chelsea are in a different class. Man Ure ought to be but have vastly more squad depth and experience, Spurs have spent about 100 million after selling Bale and injuries excepted are a very good team. Liverpool at full strength are very good, but a bit thin, and Everton are a very good team.

I hope that at the end of the season we are fighting it out for eighth or ninth which I consider to be our true position.

As I think we are better than the ten teams below us I will be very disappointed if we finish tenth or lower.

This is a truly magnificent position to be in, after our recent troubles, and better than any rational person could have hoped for.

However I think we have to try to strengthen our squad this as we are putting too much pressure on a very thin and extremely young and inexperienced squad.

[Sour Mash]

Well the support sounded superb on the BBC radio and the commentators mentioned it !

The support was very subdued, matching our performance.

[monkadill]

Good appraisal

 

For those who didn't go, I suggest you read some reporters' views as some here, imho, are OTT.

 

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/109439/southampton-vs-chelsea-fc/player-ratings

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/southampton-0-3-chelsea-match-report-2875575

 

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3599741/title/match-report-southampton-0-chelsea-3

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/southampton-0-chelsea-3-match-report-fernando-torres-and-substitutes-oscar-and-willian-inspire-blues-to-victory-9032880.html

 

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/1907618-southampton-vs-chelsea-score-grades-and-post-match-reaction

 

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/southampton-0-chelsea-3-torres-on-target-as-ruthless-blues-record-impressive-win-9032827.html

 

A team as young as ours is always going to have games when players go missing. I'm a fan of Jay Rod but, for example, thought he had quietest game for a while, not half the player he has been recently.

 

Our outfield included Shaw 18, Chambers 18, Lovren 24, Clyne 22, Morgan 24, JayRod 24, JWP 19, Cork 24, Lallana 25 - all young (or very young players).

 

We struggled with a few of their top players, as better sides than ours will. Thought Torres looked very sharp from the start and first time Lovren looked stretched.

 

Ramirez was decent considering time since last started, opposition and how game was going (certainly better than Cork looked at start of his first game back).

 

Reading comments above saying how poor we were, slating Ramirez and Schneiderlin it's amazing we matched one of best teams in Europe for so long and had more possession, shots, 8 corners etc.. Maybe we were not totally ****?

 

Chelsea looked comfortably better, faster in midfield, quality players. We looked jaded at times.

 

One of those reports said that Chelsea brought £130m of player back into side after resting in last game!

 

I got soaked. Disappointing game, point possible when ball was bouncing in the goal mouth but best side won.

 

Radio five report said final score flattered Chelsea and we played decent football. They were discussing whether we had been found out - the conclusion was no, just played tough games, playing well but missing out over busy time.

 

As others said, today isn't the game to judge our season, its the next period.

 

Those slating the substitution of Cork - isn't it quite obvious when you need a goal to consider taking off your midfielder who doesn't score or create goals? Of course leaves gaps but no a stupid call surely?

 

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[Saint86]

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.

 

£80m of talent, which is enough to buy our entire 18man match squad... no shame in defeat to be honest. Played well for long periods and passed rings around chelsea at times.

 

Chambers is looking better than shaw based on recent games. Made cole look stupid at times today. Team will only get better, but its some tough candy floos to chew on for the last few weeks. Perfect storm with these injuries and tough matches. We rolled over cardiff when we played them though, so we are better than the "rest" and only narrowly off the teams chasing europe (based on recent matches) and that is with half the team out. Remember than fact! Keeps you sane on our otherwise poor form!

[EastleighSoulBoy]

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.

 

If anything Torres made his own luck by doing what our defenders didn't do in this instance. He got to the second ball, the rebound. I don't think it was lucky at all. A poacher's goal maybe.

[stknowle]

If anything Torres made his own luck by doing what our defenders didn't do in this instance. He got to the second ball, the rebound. I don't think it was lucky at all. A poacher's goal maybe.

 

Sorry but it was lucky. Cross deflects off our defender's boot, flies inches past our keeper's hand, smacks against the foot of our post then pings straight onto their forward's head.

[corky morris]

Just in after a long drive in rain all the way home.

We were poor second half. They were miles better. They came at us from the start & could have scored early. We got better, but too many players had poor games.

Lovren's worst of the season, Morgans worst of the season too. Thought Jay Rod was poor up front. He needs to bulk up. What's wrong with Lambert? Looks fed up & lazy. Shaw is not fit. Said it for weeks. Think Chambers should play LB on Saturday & Clyne RB.

Not sure why MP took Cork off. He was our best player.

Fans were really quiet too.

We break way too slow. Chelsea showed us how to do it at pace. Don't think we won a second ball second half.

Please can we get some pace in the side. Even if it's Sinclair, Rowe or Isgrove.

I know we are not allowed to question MP, but what's plan B??

[Turkish]

If anything Torres made his own luck by doing what our defenders didn't do in this instance. He got to the second ball, the rebound. I don't think it was lucky at all. A poacher's goal maybe.

 

I was referring more to the deflection which could have gone anywhere but looped just out of Davis reach and then the rebound which also could have gone anywhere virtually hit Torres.

[GAS]

If anything Torres made his own luck by doing what our defenders didn't do in this instance. He got to the second ball, the rebound. I don't think it was lucky at all. A poacher's goal maybe.

The deflection was very lucky and the rebound from the post was straight to Torres, even I could have scored that. But saying that I may have been chucking up in the centre circle after running four yards.

[Roger]

Just in after a long drive in rain all the way home.

We were poor second half. They were miles better. They came at us from the start & could have scored early. We got better, but too many players had poor games.

Lovren's worst of the season, Morgans worst of the season too. Thought Jay Rod was poor up front. He needs to bulk up. What's wrong with Lambert? Looks fed up & lazy. Shaw is not fit. Said it for weeks. Think Chambers should play LB on Saturday & Clyne RB.

Not sure why MP took Cork off. He was our best player.

Fans were really quiet too.

We break way too slow. Chelsea showed us how to do it at pace. Don't think we won a second ball second half.

Please can we get some pace in the side. Even if it's Sinclair, Rowe or Isgrove.

I know we are not allowed to question MP, but what's plan B??

 

I'm sorry but how you can say rickie looked fed up and lazy today is beyond me. Thought he looked strong today when he came on.

[Whitey Grandad]

I'm sorry but how you can say rickie looked fed up and lazy today is beyond me. Thought he looked strong today when he came on.

 

Me too. He showed some quality touches at times. I think our best tactic in those conditions would have been the diagonal ball to Rickie out wide on the left. It may not be pure football but we needed to be more direct today.

[GAS]

Just in after a long drive in rain all the way home.

We were poor second half. They were miles better. They came at us from the start & could have scored early. We got better, but too many players had poor games.

Lovren's worst of the season, Morgans worst of the season too. Thought Jay Rod was poor up front. He needs to bulk up. What's wrong with Lambert? Looks fed up & lazy. Shaw is not fit. Said it for weeks. Think Chambers should play LB on Saturday & Clyne RB.

Not sure why MP took Cork off. He was our best player.

Fans were really quiet too.

We break way too slow. Chelsea showed us how to do it at pace. Don't think we won a second ball second half.

Please can we get some pace in the side. Even if it's Sinclair, Rowe or Isgrove.

I know we are not allowed to question MP, but what's plan B??

Agree that pace is needed and it always will be a very needed requirement in the premiership. But not many teams can bring the likes of Oscar off the bench whilst also having Hazzard in the team. It's ok having pace but its what you do with it that counts and in what team set up it is used. My rambling point is who could we get with pace who is at a suitable standard that doesn't cost £35m? Not many I think.

[stknowle]

Agree that pace is needed and it always will be a very needed requirement in the premiership. But not many teams can bring the likes of Oscar off the bench whilst also having Hazzard in the team. It's ok having pace but its what you do with it that counts and in what team set up it is used. My rambling point is who could we get with pace who is at a suitable standard that doesn't cost £35m? Not many I think.

 

Mickey Antonio

[shurlock]

Agree that pace is needed and it always will be a very needed requirement in the premiership. But not many teams can bring the likes of Oscar off the bench whilst also having Hazzard in the team. It's ok having pace but its what you do with it that counts and in what team set up it is used. My rambling point is who could we get with pace who is at a suitable standard that doesn't cost £35m? Not many I think.

 

Plenty - jeremain lens for one when he was available.

 

Another mongboard myth that you have to break the bank for a player with pace and skill.

 

Like everything, there's a spectrum.

[GAS]

Plenty - jeremain lens for one when he was available.

 

Another mongboard myth that you have to break the bank for a player with pace and skill.

 

Like everything, there's a spectrum.

True, but not sure he is as good as Oscar or Hazzard.

[dronskisaint]

Four hour drive in the rain for me too and time to reflect..fortunately there was Manure and darts on R5 so I didn't have to suffer the idiot Savage on 606!

 

My view is pretty much the same as the ones I've skim-read here. We were beaten by a team that had quality running through it and made everything theirs in the 50-50 balls. You can't argue with the touch and finesse of the scorers although Torres was given a New Year present for his.

 

I thought Chambers was outstanding for much of the game, I commented that it would be difficult to bring Clyne in if he plays like this, Fonte and Superkel held it together on a day when Lovren's game, particularly early on, was littered with uncharacteristic errors. He also appeared to hobble straight off without acknowledginfg the crowd as he normally does..anyone else notice this? Cork worked tirelessly and I guess his substitution was more about his yellow.

 

For everyone else it appeared to be one of those games where nothing quite worked, the ball didn't run for us and though Gaston showed some creative linking particularly with Lallana but again, Chelsea were the first to the bounces and deflections.

 

We didn't suddenly become a bad side, you can see the potential there but on the day a very expensive and well-drilled side deservedly beat us. Roll on the games against teams that are less so!

[shurlock]

True, but not sure he is as good as Oscar or Hazzard.

 

Obviously not. But Chelsea aren't really a benchmark.

 

It's about having multiple ways to play and beat teams and whether you can have pace in a team without succumbing to all the lazy clichés about headless chickens.

 

Arguably you can and within budget.

Edited 1 January, 2014 by shurlock

[Leicestersaint]

We were beaten by a better side. Several of our players looked below par - eg, Morgan was poor, JRod was really off colour, and AL made a lot of mistakes. We seemed to want too much time that they didn't allow us. We need more pace.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Better side won...simple and I don't know why some feel the need to state any of our players...they all worked their nuts off

[Kingsbridge Saint]

If we are going to beat teams like Chelsea we need to catch them on days when they metaphorically don't turn up. We did it last season, we've done it against other top 4 sides too - we are good enough to exploit that. However, when a top 4 side gets the right mindset any side from the EPL mid-table down will always struggle. Champions League break didn't help the timing. A run in the cup, and a few wins over the next couple of months should ease the memory of this.

[Lord Duckhunter]

First half was pretty even after an early pounding.

 

Chambers outstanding first half, tired second, but he's getting better and better. On 5 live Monday night club some body said forget clyne for world cup what about chambers. I thought at the time "****ing idiot" but now im not so sure. He certainly doesn't deserve to be dropped. Good player.

 

Kelvin good and steady, seems better than last year. Maybe he put himself under too much presure as number one. Now he knows he's number 2 and is relaxed and confident about it. Seems so much calmer .

 

Don't get the cork love in from some posters, I think he's poor and slows are passing game up too much.

 

At the end of the day, we were pretty competitive until the first goal. Lots of players running on empty and the belief just drained from us. They're a good side, that played well second half . Forget about last year Jose has tightened up the back 4 and they defended well today.

 

I thought the number of supporters that left when the third goal went in was ****ing embarrassing. FFS it makes us look a right noddy club.

[Wes Tender]

Well, let me think.....Oh I've got it, they are a better team than us.

 

Yes, they are a better team than us. Did I dispute that? Of course, that might mean that accordingly they are more capable of playing in poor weather conditions than us, or that they are better at closing us down than we are at closing them down.

 

But frankly I don't see why that should follow, or even that some of our players might be more skillful than theirs at doing either of those things. We seemed to be capable of closing down both Manchester clubs' players, so it must have been the weather to blame, because that wasn't a factor when we played them.

 

Or else our players just lacked the desire for some reason. As I said, their performance in that second half was completely unacceptable.

[Wes Tender]

Better side won...simple and I don't know why some feel the need to state any of our players...they all worked their nuts off

 

First half, yes. Second half, some of them nowhere near it.

[John Boy Saint]

We all know Christmas is a bit of a pain for players with less recovery time between games, as a commentator said the other day in, I think it was the Man City game, that City had a glittering array of individual talent whereas Saints had glittering talent as a unit.

We all know that our style of play takes a lot of effort and aside from Chelsea changing to game with a double substitution, our own work ethic just bit us on the backside yesterday. As others have said we looked tired, certain key players looked tired which going back to Saints sparkling as one, then with parts of the unit stuttering the whole was going to get wobbly against a team like Chelsea.

 

 

Finally Gaston Ramirez really needs to step up to the plate, he has been here 18months now and despite lots of people on here fawning and going all Doe eyed at the mere mention of his name, if he didn't have the price tag to hide behind he would be getting a slagging like that seen handed out to Jermaine Wright and Telfer in the past For a bloke who should be the freshest on the pitch yesterday he spent far too much time as a passenger, losing the ball too easily too often, and showing no peripheral vision. It's a shame really as we obviously saw a very talented player when we went all round the houses to buy him.

[Ekelund24]

Chelsea looked a level above us today and even though we had loads of possesion in the first half the way they defended was the best we have faced this season. There was no space to exploit and if it did open up it was closed very quickly. We did look very tired second half and this is the first time I've ever felt we could do with a mid season break in the Prem and that it would suit teams like us more than those with a deeper squad. Even though Osvaldo is a quality player I think the player that leads the line needs to be a strong pacy player, out of our budget but Lukaku would be perfect!

[Golden Balls]

Finally Gaston Ramirez really needs to step up to the plate, he has been here 18months now and despite lots of people on here fawning and going all Doe eyed at the mere mention of his name, if he didn't have the price tag to hide behind he would be getting a slagging like that seen handed out to Jermaine Wright and Telfer in the past For a bloke who should be the freshest on the pitch yesterday he spent far too much time as a passenger, losing the ball too easily too often, and showing no peripheral vision. It's a shame really as we obviously saw a very talented player when we went all round the houses to buy him.

 

Odd. I thought he played well and has done his last 3 appearances. Thought he looked hungrier and put in far more effort than usual. Always trying to make something happen, even if he doesn't always pull it off (which isn't unusual in an attacking position)

[TheCholulaKid]

Obviously not. But Chelsea aren't really a benchmark.

 

It's about having multiple ways to play and beat teams and whether you can have pace in a team without succumbing to all the lazy clichés about headless chickens.

 

Arguably you can and within budget.

 

Care to name a team in the Prem at the moment who fits that bill?

 

It's OK - I'll save you the trouble - you can't.

 

(This is not aimed at you, Shurlock) People need to stop *****ing. In 2 or 3 years (assuming we keep most of this team together + a couple of additions) we will have a team the likes of which most of us have spent our Saints supporting lives only dreaming of. There will be off days along the way (especially against teams of Chelsea's calibre) but we are going places by playing the 'right way' and it's ****ing great, quite frankly.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Better side won...simple and I don't know why some feel the need to state any of our players...they all worked their nuts off

 

Agreed but that`s the way it has to be on here for some, sadly in lots of cases the criticism is way off the mark

but usually driven by agenda.

 

Certain posters you can expect the content of their posts before you read them..

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Four hour drive in the rain for me too and time to reflect..fortunately there was Manure and darts on R5 so I didn't have to suffer the idiot Savage on 606!

 

My view is pretty much the same as the ones I've skim-read here. We were beaten by a team that had quality running through it and made everything theirs in the 50-50 balls. You can't argue with the touch and finesse of the scorers although Torres was given a New Year present for his.

 

I thought Chambers was outstanding for much of the game, I commented that it would be difficult to bring Clyne in if he plays like this, Fonte and Superkel held it together on a day when Lovren's game, particularly early on, was littered with uncharacteristic errors. He also appeared to hobble straight off without acknowledginfg the crowd as he normally does..anyone else notice this? Cork worked tirelessly and I guess his substitution was more about his yellow.

 

For everyone else it appeared to be one of those games where nothing quite worked, the ball didn't run for us and though Gaston showed some creative linking particularly with Lallana but again, Chelsea were the first to the bounces and deflections.

 

We didn't suddenly become a bad side, you can see the potential there but on the day a very expensive and well-drilled side deservedly beat us. Roll on the games against teams that are less so!

 

Top post pal, sums it up very well...