Saints 4 Norwich 2 Match Reaction

[Delboy Dave]

Was Boruc on drugs?

[Goatboy]

I've never seen a pro footballer do what he done today. He fancied himself injured so he abandoned the game and started sauntering towards the bench, completely oblivious to the fact there was a ****ing football match going on. Shaw had to take a heavy tackle covering when someone tried to pass to the c*nt. Speaks volumes bout his attitude.

 

Agree. I'm a big Ramirez fan but that was wrong. Unless ya f***ing leg is hanging off, watch the ball and make a F***ing effort.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Now home, fed, and have drained myself by bragging about the result to my missus. After a dull first half, though a lovely goal, we nearly threw all our good work away in the second half but ultimately deservedly won. Norwich were poor.

 

my MOTM was Morgan, cracking game. Both full backs, Morgan, Davis and JRod were great, as were Lambert when he came on, and eventually JWP, who was full of running, although he started slow.

 

Agree with everything said about Boruc, his kicking was woeful.

 

Hope Lovren is ok.

 

Ha i did think about you during the game.... Norwich were poor. Guly was there best player today

[ottery st mary]

Classic Saints. Great performance, try to throw it away and break the fans hearts in the process.

 

Thank heavens the script got lost. A great win. Chuffed for our boys in with a shout for Rio, and for Sam Gallagher.

 

 

Go , Alps....you can sit with me on the bus.....we will be next to the driver POCH:D

 

Clap more often and I will nominate you for the happy clappers club.

Edited 15 March, 2014 by ottery st mary

[Goatboy]

What a horrible 5h1t Snotgrass is.

 

agree.

[Goatboy]

Did you ever play much golf oops football Bearsy?

 

He was walking across holding his hamstring. He was subbed because of a hamstring injury.

 

Cork is out for 5 more weeks, Big Vic was out injured, Adam had gone off with lumps kicked out of him and you then pull a hamstring. You don't run those off you simply hope they ain't a tear.

 

Only one thing you can do or it can get worse and you can be out for weeks.

 

Guly came on as we'd run out of other Midfielders. I would expect to see Harry Reed get on the bench soon but with JWP AND Reed in the MF leaves us awful short on experience as well as just very short.

 

Guly was denied by a cracking save by Ruddy but we still scored from the same move. He is a squad player until the rest of our U21 squad are ready to step in

 

Betya Gaston is fine for next week.

[Goatboy]

Did you ever play much golf oops football Bearsy?

 

He was walking across holding his hamstring. He was subbed because of a hamstring injury.

 

Cork is out for 5 more weeks, Big Vic was out injured, Adam had gone off with lumps kicked out of him and you then pull a hamstring. You don't run those off you simply hope they ain't a tear.

 

Only one thing you can do or it can get worse and you can be out for weeks.

 

Guly came on as we'd run out of other Midfielders. I would expect to see Harry Reed get on the bench soon but with JWP AND Reed in the MF leaves us awful short on experience as well as just very short.

 

Guly was denied by a cracking save by Ruddy but we still scored from the same move. He is a squad player until the rest of our U21 squad are ready to step in

 

I tore a hamstring once, in the centre circle. Felt like someone had shot me. No other player anywhere near me and I went down like a sack of s**t. It was f***ing agony and took a fair few weeks to get over. Gaston was tired and needs to shape up or f**k off. And I like him.

[Goatboy]

Now home, fed, and have drained myself by bragging about the result to my missus. After a dull first half, though a lovely goal, we nearly threw all our good work away in the second half but ultimately deservedly won. Norwich were poor.

 

my MOTM was Morgan, cracking game. Both full backs, Morgan, Davis and JRod were great, as were Lambert when he came on, and eventually JWP, who was full of running, although he started slow.

 

Agree with everything said about Boruc, his kicking was woeful.

 

Hope Lovren is ok.

 

Happy for you SNSUN. Make her breakfast in the morning and try not to gloat too much. Happy days.

[Leicestersaint]

That's Saints for you! We gifted them two goals. Boruc's distribution was awful. Why Guly gets picked is beyond me. We scored 4 goals but still made heavy weather of it!

[warsash saint]

Makes the 5th game on MOTD tonight!

[SNSUN]

Happy for you SNSUN. Make her breakfast in the morning and try not to gloat too much. Happy days.

 

Thanks. She got bragging rights over me earlier in the season so it's fair. My favourite since we've been together was the last minute win in the JPT. She usually sits quietly next to me in the Kingsland, but I nearly outed her as a Norwich fan that day I was so elated...

[Lazlo78]

Bizarre game, really. Saints seemed a bit too comfortable when on the ball in our own half - I didn't really notice if their was a main culprit or if they were all sloppy...

 

It was GREAT to see Katharina with Ralph next to her, both chatting and smiling. The camera then panning on to Roy Hodgson just made the picture even more perfect. A lot of good things going on at our 'little' club these days

 

Jay Rod and Ramirez' contribution for the first goal was nothing short of fantastic. It was one of those team moves that tear the opposition apart and Schneiderlin's finish was very cool. The rest of the half didn't really live up to the excellent start - but it was apparent that Norwich offered no threat at all.

 

Second half changed with Lambert's introduction. Simple goal, but we would have been fuming if our defenders had made a similar header and subsequent non-existant tackle to let Lambert through on goal. Cool finish. Shortly after Guly battled his way through to the goal and his shot was blocked. It looped back towards Lambert and..... the stream froze. It was probably no more than 5-6 seconds, but I was looking a a frozen Lambert thinking "Pass it to Jay Rod... pass it to Jay Rod... pass it to Jay Rod"... suddenly Lambert is in motion again, passing it to Jay Rod who slams it home from point blank range. Yeah, I told you so!

 

At 3-0 I summed up proceedings in my head: a bit too comfortable, almost arrogant, but we got away with it because we were better than a very poor Norwich side. And then Fonte decided to make things interesting. Oh well, a clean sheet would have been nice but no problem. Then: problem. And of course it had to be Guly. His role is to come on and offer height and physical presence, and also to add a bit of calmness to our passing when in possession. He usually does this with little fuss - he's no game changer, but he helps us see out difficult games. And then he goes and makes a pass like that adding TNT to the anti-Guly fire... *sigh*...

 

They never looked like equalising though memories of Saints of old kept resurfacing - "we used to **** this up on a regular basis, didn't we?". Then young Sam made the points safe with a nice goal where you could argue they gifted it to us as much as we gifted our goals to them. Slipping up when last man? Ask Vertonghen how that works out...

 

Nice win. I love watching this team, also when they have their little brain fades. Generally, they deliver entertaining football and some good results this season (too!)

[VectisSaint]

Classic Saints. Great performance, try to throw it away and break the fans hearts in the process.

 

Thank heavens the script got lost. A great win. Chuffed for our boys in with a shout for Rio, and for Sam Gallagher.

Alpine, it was not a great performance, it was not even a good performance. It was abysmal, apart from the first 7 minutes and a few minutes in the second half. We were sloppy and looked like we could not give a rat's arse. Norwich were so bad that the team just sauntered around without breaking sweat and thought all they had to do was last out the 90 minutes. Boruc tried his best with some help from Prowse, Fonte, Lovren and Guly to get Norwich back in the game, but even then it took them 85 minutes to work out that we were not trying and would have been quite happy to have them win the game. I have seen us play so much better than that this season and lose. I think Boruc was an utter disgrace today. Yes, we scored 4 goals, and it was great to see Gallagher get his first, but really that was a **** performance. The two goals they scored were appalling. It seems to be a trait that we have that we score a goal and then take our foot off the pedal and invite the opposition on, instead of going for the jugular. There were a few who played OK, but MOTM for me was Davis who kept running and working until literally the end, made the first goal (though Ramirez will get the assist) and was superb and unselfish for the fourth, could easily have scored himself but set up Sam to get his first PL goal (which he nearly fluffed but thats OK, it will do him a power of good). Really missed Cork today, and please Poch don't ever play Prowse as defensive midfielder again.

[mitch01]

Rodriguez's best game in a saints shirt, he was superb.

[derry]

Ramirez had cramp according to Pochettino. JWP needs to stop playing passes without looking. He dropped us in it six or seven times in our own area then did it again for the goal. This young man hasn't really improved since the start of last season unlike Chambers, Shaw and Gallagher. We can't afford him in the middle of the field playing the way he is. Lambert showed class with his goal and pass to Rodriguez. Boruc needs a sharp kick up the backside, his kicking was awful and some of his short pass outs were just stupid. We got away with that today.

[Dr Who?]

Great first 20 minutes, then their heads went up a little after we tried to gift them a goal. 20 minutes to half time were scrappy. 2nd half we controlled up to 84 minutes. Then it all went a little wrong. Only for one of their players to slip to let us in for the 4th.

 

All through the game there were mistakes at the back by both sides and boruc took it upon himself to take up picking our row x with all his kick! Crazy man.

 

We were so in control and for a team fighting for their lives at the bottom, I just did not see it.

 

All in all, great day!

[Saint_clark]

The abuse Guly got, and is getting, compared to the lack of abuse for JWP is disgusting. Why is he being singled out? Consider this - if JWP doesn't give away the first goal, then we're not in a position for Guly to give away the second.

On top of that, Guly had linked up well, chased down well (but got f*ck all recognition for this fact, when other players would have been applauded from all 4 stands for such hard work) and defended INCREDIBLY well when Norwich were putting the pressure on at the end. JWP by comparison had done virtually nothing all game.

 

Totally agree regarding Ramirez, he had an outstanding game but to totally ignore the ball heading in your direction when a Norwich player is heading for it is ridiculous - and yes, he knew it was there. He glanced at it before continuing to walk off.

[Goatboy]

Ramirez had cramp according to Pochettino. JWP needs to stop playing passes without looking. He dropped us in it six or seven times in our own area then did it again for the goal. This young man hasn't really improved since the start of last season unlike Chambers, Shaw and Gallagher. We can't afford him in the middle of the field playing the way he is. Lambert showed class with his goal and pass to Rodriguez. Boruc needs a sharp kick up the backside, his kicking was awful and some of his short pass outs were just stupid. We got away with that today.

Agree about Boruc. He needs not just a Kick up the arse, but serious competition. JWP? Kind of agree. But I will cut him some slack. He hasn't been a regular in the side (more competition for him I feel) and I think he will improve drastically with more experience. When I have watched him play in the England under 21's he has been blinding. When he knows he's the man he lives up to it. Plus his dead ball delivery is sublime.

[Goatboy]

The abuse Guly got, and is getting, compared to the lack of abuse for JWP is disgusting. Why is he being singled out? Consider this - if JWP doesn't give away the first goal, then we're not in a position for Guly to give away the second.

On top of that, Guly had linked up well, chased down well (but got f*ck all recognition for this fact, when other players would have been applauded from all 4 stands for such hard work) and defended INCREDIBLY well when Norwich were putting the pressure on at the end. JWP by comparison had done virtually nothing all game.

 

Totally agree regarding Ramirez, he had an outstanding game but to totally ignore the ball heading in your direction when a Norwich player is heading for it is ridiculous - and yes, he knew it was there. He glanced at it before continuing to walk off.

 

I am quite happy to criticize whoever now, on this forum. In the ground today, and always, I get behind the Saints.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Unbelievable that they got anywhere near us. We played in third gear, but still should have got 6/7. Poorest side to visit SMS this season by a mile.

 

JWP gone backwards, Clyne done well, MS man of match.

[SNSUN]

The abuse Guly got, and is getting, compared to the lack of abuse for JWP is disgusting. Why is he being singled out? Consider this - if JWP doesn't give away the first goal, then we're not in a position for Guly to give away the second.

On top of that, Guly had linked up well, chased down well (but got f*ck all recognition for this fact, when other players would have been applauded from all 4 stands for such hard work) and defended INCREDIBLY well when Norwich were putting the pressure on at the end. JWP by comparison had done virtually nothing all game.

 

Totally agree regarding Ramirez, he had an outstanding game but to totally ignore the ball heading in your direction when a Norwich player is heading for it is ridiculous - and yes, he knew it was there. He glanced at it before continuing to walk off.

 

Agree that despite his poor pass that led to his second goal, Guly didn't do too badly before that, and he was close to scoring before JRod nabbed his. With Lovren hobbling off at the end, him and Lambert basically became makeshift centre backs. Our final goal was a fluke but it calmed my nerves for sure. Well done to young Sam too, though I initially thought he'd fluffed it!

[Lallana's Left Peg]

JWP had an up and down game it is fair to say but hard to come into the team when you haven't started a game for a while. Still plenty more to come from him and it isn't unusual to have bad games at his age. Been around a while but still only 19 remember.

[Monk]

Some of the comments regarding JWP are embarrassing.

 

He hasn't gone backwards, he hasn't gone side-ways either he just hasn't 'excelled' at the speed as the majority of people expected because of the initial hype around him. His development is just fine for somebody in and out of the side, playing in three different ROLES and positions (yes there is a difference), aged 19.

 

Settle down when he plays a stormer and don't squinny when he has a stinker.

[Glasgow_Saint]

JWP takes a superb free kick and corner

[Monk]

One thing I have noticed from todays game (watching on Sky) is the intensity of our pressing in groups has dramatically reduced along with the engaging of the opposition ball carrier in their defensive third.

 

Anybody else notice this? Was today a one off?

[Graffito]

Agree. I'm a big Ramirez fan but that was wrong. Unless ya f***ing leg is hanging off, watch the ball and make a F***ing effort.

 

Apparently his cock fell off.

[Graffito]

I'm sure Boruc kept giving them the ball because he was bored and wanted some action.

[Saint_clark]

Have to say i was wrong earlier, it was fonte at fault for the first goal not JWP, my bad.

[VectisSaint]

Have to say i was wrong earlier, it was fonte at fault for the first goal not JWP, my bad.

Correct, but Prowse could still have prevented the goal, even at the cost of a free kick or even a penalty.

[Whitey Grandad]

Correct, but Prowse could still have prevented the goal, even at the cost of a free kick or even a penalty.

 

JWP was a very lucky boy. If they hadn't scored he'd have been sent off.

[Monk]

JWP was a very lucky boy. If they hadn't scored he'd have been sent off.

 

THE HEAD HIT NAIL ON.

[irene]

Re boruc it seems that him playing with a heavily strapped leg and living on treatment table is preferred to resting him and playing gazza or Davis. His kicking is due to his leg and it isn't good when his legs are fine. Thus today's dodgy kicking

[fanimal]

I cannot remember having such a range of emotions during a game for a long time; thinking after 10 minutes we were going to win 6-0, then by half time so angry with continuous back or side ways passing even from near their goal back to Boruc lazily kicking it into touch!! Then at last SRL gets on and pure class tells, 3-0 up smug satisfaction, then panic at 3-2 more concerned at that point about losing 3-4 FGS!! Finally relief and joy with the last goal.

 

Points to note, if thats how we play without SRL then god forbid; Ramirez should be put on a plane to Uruguay tomorrow; JWP must never play in that position again, but he takes a great free kick/corner; and Steven davis deserves a medal for being able to run the length of the pitch on 94 minutes!

[Roger]

I cannot remember having such a range of emotions during a game for a long time; thinking after 10 minutes we were going to win 6-0, then by half time so angry with continuous back or side ways passing even from near their goal back to Boruc lazily kicking it into touch!! Then at last SRL gets on and pure class tells, 3-0 up smug satisfaction, then panic at 3-2 more concerned at that point about losing 3-4 FGS!! Finally relief and joy with the last goal.

 

Points to note, if thats how we play without SRL then god forbid; Ramirez should be put on a plane to Uruguay tomorrow; JWP must never play in that position again, but he takes a great free kick/corner; and Steven davis deserves a medal for being able to run the length of the pitch on 94 minutes!

 

Ramirez pass for first goal was superb.

[Saint_clark]

JWP was a very lucky boy. If they hadn't scored he'd have been sent off.

 

Why? The bloke didn't go down. If he'd missed, he'd missed.

[Whitey Grandad]

Why? The bloke didn't go down. If he'd missed, he'd missed.

 

He was pulled back so it would have been a foul.

[Jonnyboy]

Agree that despite his poor pass that led to his second goal, Guly didn't do too badly before that, and he was close to scoring before JRod nabbed his. With Lovren hobbling off at the end, him and Lambert basically became makeshift centre backs. Our final goal was a fluke but it calmed my nerves for sure. Well done to young Sam too, though I initially thought he'd fluffed it!

 

Guly made our 4th with a lovely headed clearance.

[GarrettIvo]

He was pulled back so it would have been a foul.

 

Call my cynical, but I say he should have levelled the bloke and taken the red. Free kick outside the box and we could have defended easily for five or six minutes. Would never have given up two goals so poorly. Coulda, shoulda, woulda.

[Jonnyboy]

Re boruc it seems that him playing with a heavily strapped leg and living on treatment table is preferred to resting him and playing gazza or Davis. His kicking is due to his leg and it isn't good when his legs are fine. Thus today's dodgy kicking

 

When will your leg be better Artur?

[Jonnyboy]

Correct, but Prowse could still have prevented the goal, even at the cost of a free kick or even a penalty.

 

and get sent off? glad he didnt.

[waggy]

Despite two key players, JC & VW, being sidelined due to injury this is the first season in over 50 years that I have looked at a Saints team sheet and felt confident that we would get a nailed on three points.

[niceandfriendly]

Some of Gaston's passing yesterday was class. He has the best vision in our team, equal to Lallana. When he starts and plays well as he did it's a joy to watch. Must be pretty difficult as he is hardly starting but he had a great performance yesterday.

[dubai_phil]

Thoughts.

 

First part of the game we looked different. We moved the ball much more positively in their half than of late. Could have had 2 or 3 goals. IMHO that was down to Gaston being more positive than others.

 

Norwich, like many other teams of late made huge efforts to press us and close us down. In many of our recent games we have not had a plan B to playing it around the back but yesterday in that first part Norwich were disconnected and that left gaps for Morgan et al to ping some cracking long balls out from the back (not hoofs but 30+ yard pin point passes.

 

During this period JWP showed a lack of "match sharpness" - simply speed of thought wasn't at the same level as the rest and he got caught a few times or misplaced passes - not a skill thing more like not quite at the same timing. In previous games that press had disrupted us. The out ball in previous games has been from Boruc to the touchline towards AL or JRod where we also have the support of a FB or another MF. (As opposed to the hoof down the middle for a 2 on 1 vs SRL. That out ball totally did not work yesterday, whether because JRod was up front OR Boruc was feeling a knock.

 

After about 20 mins (and a lot of shouting from the touchline we could hear on Telly, Norwich got a better shape closed the gap (maybe held a higher defensive line) and got Pilkington & Snodgrass to stop playing as extra full backs. We started to run out of ideas again.

 

SRL then came on and Norwich showed Hughton's lack of quality coaching OR lack of intelligent footballers as they simply did not react to our change in shape and bang 2-0.

 

His gamble of throwing on 3 attack minded players in one go then gave them fresh legs to press us again and we got sloppy. Last few minutes were like the old days - All hands to the pump with SRL & Guly at CB!

 

Yes we shredded a poor Norwich side. Yes we should have scored a lot more goals. Yes Guly is a good squad player. Yes we should be adding quality in the summer from the Academy or new players. No JWP should NOT have gone for a red card to stop the goal - who the hell else do we have left to play in midfield with Big Vic & Cork out?

 

BUT. The actual biggest concern for me is that we do now seem to be an easy team to "Negate". Our pressing was fantastic at the start of the season and disrupted many teams. Now others are doing it to us and we do NOT have a reliable set of alternate plans. We still try and play it from the back which is good, but we aren't YET Barcelona and we do play ourselves into problems. For me THAT is the key element MP et al must solve during the summer, a reliable alternative tactic when WE get pressed.

 

Really enjoyed the game, wish it had been in the Pub but hey, that's next week

[Sheaf Saint]

Have to say i was wrong earlier, it was fonte at fault for the first goal not JWP, my bad.

 

Which kind of negates the rest of your post then doesn't it

[CB Saint]

I've never seen a pro footballer do what he done today. He fancied himself injured so he abandoned the game and started sauntering towards the bench, completely oblivious to the fact there was a ****ing football match going on. Shaw had to take a heavy tackle covering when someone tried to pass to the c*nt. Speaks volumes bout his attitude.

 

It was stupid. If your injured you go down and stay down. The one of your buddies will put it out. Pillock.

[CB Saint]

It was stupid. If your injured you go down and stay down. The one of your buddies will put it out. Pillock.

 

Rameirez not bearsy

[austsaint]

Hearing of Dejan's injury reminds me of a quote by a similarly injured player to the medical staff....."take the pain away but leave the swelling".

[david in sweden]

Gully is a disgrace ..

 

If you blame (Guly).......then Fonte must be just as ínept, he bears the fault for their first goal).

 

Problem was it was just too easy for us after Lambert's goal, and when leading 3-0 after 84 minutes, we just got complacent and switched off. Lesson learned, but still got 3 points.

[david in sweden]

Betya Gaston is fine for next week.

 

 

HOPEFULLY, we'll need a bit of creativity in midfield, but Gaston clearly isn't a 90 minute player in the rough and tumble of this league.

[david in sweden]

Re boruc it seems that him playing with a heavily strapped leg and living on treatment table is preferred to resting him and playing gazza or Davis.

His kicking is due to his leg and it isn't good when his legs are fine. Thus today's dodgy kicking

 

 

well spotted, Irene.

 

It looked (on TV) as though his left leg was heavily strapped and if it was painful to stand on then it wouldn't have been easy to kick long with either foot..hence so many clearances into the crowd.