Convict Colony Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Exactly. Djuricic was one of the few bright sparks we had and deserves to play in the next game. Pelle....until the Swansea game (I think) he was not scoring but was contributing in other ways. That hasn't been the case since. I really want him to come good but am afraid he doesn't merit a place in the team at the moment. I know Long is not an inspiring alternative, but at least he provides some more movement. Also, Elia has provided little of note in the last 3-4 games. He takes too long on the ball, his crossing is sub-par and he lacks composure when presented with a chance. Wanyama has lost his way, Morgan was also no great shakes. He can't be the main creator of our play if we want to be a top 4 side; that's not his strength. We are getting no penetration from midfield and can't seem to create any space when a team sits back. But, we won! And scored a goal! So, all good for tonight :-) Have to disagree about Vic he's been the bedrock for the defence since he came back into the team after Swansea away, I would put him down as the most improved player this season just ahead of yoshi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 scrappy game with a very disjointed first half. Pelle really needs a rest, now that Shane Long is back, it'll do his confidence a lot of good to give him a run of games. Difficult to say who played really well, but have to give MOM to Yoshida ... yet AGAIN ........he looks a totally different player since he's been in for Alderweireld. Perhaps RK should consider Toby as cover for midfield..... as Yoshida is playing too well to be dropped now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Wins a win, keeps us on course for Europa League, which must be the aim now. Hopefully we will get back on track. I'd certainly start Long against Chelsea, he looked lively, and Pelle won't get a look in against Terry and Cahill. Oh, and JWP was awful when he came on, the whole great player, dead ball specialist thing is a myth. Apart from making the goal. Up there with your match thread comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintSteve Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Don't agree with that tbh, he won a lot in central positions today but he had nobody near him to collect his flick-ons - a role that Shane Long is perfect for. Start Long in Elia's place against Chelski and make sure the forwards get tight to him. Pelle won't improve from the bench Pelle needs a rest... the forward momentum stops with Pelle in a central position; he makes no runs. When Long came on the pitch opened up and that was why we created through the middle for the goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxford_lou Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Jeez, just had a quick skim through the match thread. Glad I went to the game! It was flipping depressing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Very positive performance from Djuricic. Scrappy goal, but who cares. Clyne didn't have his best game for us tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Our next win was always going to be a game like that. The first 30 mins I thought were excellent, we were straight out of the blocks and we pinned them in. There was pace, purpose, movement, zip....we were very good and a goal was coming, but we slowed it down after that and Palace crept into the game. 2nd half was the same, and we never rediscovered that zip we had in the first 30 mins - but we stuck in there, rode our luck, because Palace are pretty smart on the break and we got a lucky goal. It was a messy goal, but to end that sort of run it was always going to be a scrappy little goal. Good run by JWP, good shot (at bloody last) and the finish by Mane, although a poor save initially, was slick. Overall, not a vintage game, bit of a horrible 2nd half - but we dug in and got in the end, and that's all that matters. Now we can have a nice break, work out how we can become more clinical....and take on chelsea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Very positive performance from Djuricic. Scrappy goal, but who cares. Clyne didn't have his best game for us tonight. Clyne hasn't played well for a while, you get the impression that his head is somewhat elsewhere - and may explain why Koeman is keen to resolve his future this week, one way or another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Very positive performance from Djuricic. Scrappy goal, but who cares. Clyne didn't have his best game for us tonight. Yes, I liked Djuricic, looks a slick little customer. Gets stuck in as well, but lacks a bit of physical power. His little run with 2 or 3 pirouettes was class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Also, credit to Morgan - who I felt played like a man possessed, especially in the first half. He drove us on, back to his imperious best I thought. No doubting his focus or commitment what so ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Ash Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 I enjoyed being at the game. Proper end to end and blood and guts from the teams. Palace forward line looked dangerous and the quicker we get Toby back the better. Mane looked good, so did jurchick but he needs to stop falling over so easily! Morgan was classy and Vic was his tank self. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Mané was superb - slippery as an eel. He still can't strike a ball properly but I'll happily take him clubbing the ball into goal for the rest of the season Djuricic looked lively, reminded me a lot of Gastón Ramirez. Forster made a couple of very important saves which kept us in the game. Still too many loose and sloppy passes, almost inviting the opposition to score. Overall, an enormous sense of relief, but I'm not sure what the rest of the season holds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Tony Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Apart from making the goal. Up there with your match thread comments. Hardly, poor effort which Speroni should have saved. He gave the ball away three times after that, Bolasie should have punished the error. Anyways, great persistence from Mane for the goal, as soon as he released the ball he just kept on running into the box and got his rewards. It's not ideal we face Chelsea next, but there's no reason we can't nick a draw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 What SuperMikey doesn't want to do now, Adam, is give away his secret identity... ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HedgeEnder Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Jeez, just had a quick skim through the match thread. Glad I went to the game! Agreed. We were far from perfect and frustrating at times but were nowhere near as bad as some suggest on here. Just watch the highlights currently being shown on Sky. We are far the better team just short on confidence, it's a fine line between success and failure at this level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom28 Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Pretty poor game to be honest. Defended well apart from a dodgy 10 mins at the start of the second half. We aren't clicking up front at all. Pelle is too easy to defend against; he plays right down the middle and never moves and that means the centre halves never get pulled apart. That makes life very difficult to create space. With Long up top, he drags the centre halves across the pitch which opens up gaps for midfielder and wingers to exploit. He has to start for a few games for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 There's 4 statements there bro And all 5 of these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 I also thought JWP was all over the place when he came on. But, he had a go and his lame shot from the edge of the area led to a bit of a mistake from speroni Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Have to disagree about Vic he's been the bedrock for the defence since he came back into the team after Swansea away, I would put him down as the most improved player this season just ahead of yoshi This superb tonight again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Upset my wife and child by refusing to see the latter to bed "because I was watching the footy". I would say it was worth it, but the atmos in here is awful tbh. UP THE SAINTS Ha ha - likewise (for actually going!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 It was flipping depressing!! Not enough nuns;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Not enough nuns;) Six years a member, and I still don't understand these nun references Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 I also thought JWP was all over the place when he came on. But, he had a go and his lame shot from the edge of the area led to a bit of a mistake from speroni Harsh on JWP, he cleverly found space, beat a man and hit an actual shot on the actual target, not wildly over the bar! Amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Harsh on JWP, he cleverly found space, beat a man and hit an actual shot on the actual target, not wildly over the bar! Amazing. MOTM just for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Wanyama has lost his way That is a joke right?? He was excellent tonight IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxford_lou Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Six years a member, and I still don't understand these nun references Me neither. Especially when it's in the forum rules to not show porn! (Tho I did worry I'd jinxed our results by moaning about them... Ack) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Very positive performance from Djuricic. Scrappy goal, but who cares. Clyne didn't have his best game for us tonight. Djuricic was excellent. Very impressed. Does the simple things well and has passion too. Outstanding. Mane was super too, especially in the first half as was big Vic. I agree with you though. Clyne's head has been elsewhere for weeks. Sad, but true. Finally, Koeman got it wrong tonight. Pelle shouldn't have started. He should have come on at 70 mins instead of Long, not the other way round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toussaint Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 My team for the Chelsea game: Forster Clyne - Fonte - Alderweireld - Bertrand Wanyama - Schneiderlin - Davis Mane - Long - Tadic Subs: K.Davis, Targett, Yoshida, JWP, Elia, Djuricic, Pelle At the moment Yoshida is performing better than Fonte, Clyne has been woeful for the last few weeks, but I don't think we have an alternative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 I like Djuricic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRobbie Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 ŶMané was superb - slippery as an eel. He still can't strike a ball properly but I'll happily take him clubbing the ball into goal for the rest of the season Djuricic looked lively, reminded me a lot of Gastón Ramirez. Forster made a couple of very important saves which kept us in the game. Still too many loose and sloppy passes, almost inviting the opposition to score. Overall, an enormous sense of relief, but I'm not sure what the rest of the season holds. Good summary. Manes finish was excellent to be fair, cheeky pint in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coxford_lou Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 I like Djuricic. I like Djuricic and Mane. A lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convict Colony Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 I like Djuricic. Same I like the way he moves and tries to pick a pass, Tadic looks like from that brief interlude like he has turned the **** form corner, big vic has been so much better than last year, do you remember when people said that he shouldn't pass more than 5m, now he sprays it around like the best of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Just reading the match thread, jesus. It wasn't half as bad as that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Clyne hasn't played well for a while, you get the impression that his head is somewhat elsewhere - and may explain why Koeman is keen to resolve his future this week, one way or another. Thought Clyne played well. Bolas ur isn't easy and he kept him quiet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Just reading the match thread, jesus. It wasn't half as bad as that! Victor protects defence so do well. Huge difference to when we played them in cup without him and Morgan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 23 shots, 3 on target..... We need some serious work. No surprise that Pelle went off and we score by my book. Looked much better with Mane Tadic and Long on the pitch. Actually have an end product Wasn't the complaint on here that the team weren't shooting enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.REX Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Scrappy but deserved the win. Seem to have a real problem with tempo rather than systems or tactics, i like the fact we dominate possession but there were so many times we ended up playing three or four passes to build a move when we could have made just the one - "Sometimes the solution that seems the simplest is in fact the most difficult one." When the subs came on we finally begun to pass incisively and move the ball at speed. Had to make do with a stream tonight but sounded like a better atmosphere; obviously expectations have raised massively from the early weeks in the season but there are still a lot of players, particularly in the attacking third, experiencing their first premier league season and they need our support. The premier league can still be a difficult league to adjust to no matter how good you are and we might not see their best until the second season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Same I like the way he moves and tries to pick a pass, Tadic looks like from that brief interlude like he has turned the **** form corner, big vic has been so much better than last year, do you remember when people said that he shouldn't pass more than 5m, now he sprays it around like the best of them. That is a joke right?? He was excellent tonight IMHO Kp I agree with you completely. The guy is immense. Kokakole go to Specsavers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
positivepete Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Clyne hasn't played well for a while, you get the impression that his head is somewhat elsewhere - and may explain why Koeman is keen to resolve his future this week, one way or another. Though to be fair to Clyne tonight when Palace switched Gayle to track him he made it difficult, Gayle worked his socks off ensuring that he denied any space to Clyne. Scrappy win, just what we needed, our luck turned when Zaha hit the post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 Me neither. Especially when it's in the forum rules to not show porn! (Tho I did worry I'd jinxed our results by moaning about them... Ack) They aren't porn! It's not to titillate forum members at all, but more like wearing lucky pants. Those fine ladies have helped propel us up the leagues don't cha know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the boy from saints Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 phew!!!. I couldn't take watching it after Palace hit the post, so I went to work instead (yep, it was THAT bad...lol). Got to work a couple of minutes of Mane had scored and then proceeded to spend the next 7 or 8 minutes pressing F5. That had to be the poorest performance of the season. So many unforced errors, so bereft of ideas. How did the subs play? Was that a turning point? Up until then I couldn't think of one player who stood out in a good way for us. Thank god Palace were equally as bad and that we had a bit of luck on our side. I know they were encouraged to shoot on sight...but 3 out of 23 on target? Some of those efforts were plainly ridiculous. I'm tying tho think of something positive. Oh yes... 3 POINTS!!!! :) I don't think the crowd shouting 'SHOOOOT!' every time we were near the box helped to be fair! A lot of the shots would have benefitted a tidy through pass into the box instead! Plus what has happened to Clyne? Some tidy passing, but he appears a bit disinterested since his England call up - no marauding drives down the wing or crosses into the box... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 It seemed that Pardew's plan was to sit back and stay solid to frustrate us in the first half and then try and sneak a goal on the break the second half. The first half we had most of the possession and were in command of the midfield, winning most of the 50/50 balls. But as usual, the problem was in cutting through a sturdy defence in the final third. There are no easy games at this level nowadays and Crystal Palace are a very reasonable outfit having a solid enough defence and some very quick attacking wide players in Bolasie, Gayle and Saha, with Puncheon a tricky player too, and we were fortunate that Chamakh and Jedinak weren't playing. We on the other hand were pretty well back to full strength, apart from Toby being only on the bench. In the second half, Palace came out with much more intent and for the first time in the match we were a bit on the back foot on occasions. The game was much more end to end, but luckily our defence never really allowed their quick wide players to break through, because Clyne and Bertrand had the pace to contain them. We had as many corners as I can remember in quite some time, but when was the last time we scored from one? Palace gave us a couple of very nervous moments when with more luck they could have scored. Forster dropped a catch and they pounced right next to the post, but thankfully Forster just did enough to keep it out. Then they had a shot that was parried out and the returned shot hit the bar a fraction from the inside of the post and away, much to everybody's relief. Elia had been largely anonymous in the second half and the introduction of Tadic produced an improvement in our approach play near the box. I would have preferred to have kept Pelle on with Long, but Koeman replaced him with Long and Long duly obliged us with his usual passion and commitment to the cause. The third substitution brought on J W-P for Djuricic, who I thought had a good match. He is developing nicely as he gets to know the PL pace and he showed some good dribbling skills and trickery, although for me he goes down too easily. He needs to perfect that craft to fool referees, as he isn't convincing at the moment. Thankfully we finally made the breakthrough with just 7 minutes remaining thanks to a pass from J W-P, a shot and a quick reaction from Mane scoring from the rebound with a lovely dink over the keeper. At last the drought was over and the relief among the crowd and the players was palpable. There were a few very nervous minutes to the end when Palce threw everything forward, but we held firm and not only have the three points, but a clean sheet too. On balance it was well enough deserved and hopefully the confidence boost will enable us to get something from Chelsea before pressing on to a more winnable series of fixtures after that. It would have been terrible going on a 4 day break to Switzerland on the back of a goalless draw or even worse another defeat, but spirits now will be a lot higher and the team should come back more relaxed and rested. As an aside, I thought the referee was excellent for a change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 3 March, 2015 Share Posted 3 March, 2015 I disagree with both of these statements. Learn to count There's 4 statements there bro Like Bearsy. Wasn't the complaint on here that the team weren't shooting enough? Not from the last game. So many shots off target recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musesaint Posted 4 March, 2015 Share Posted 4 March, 2015 Vic MOTM for me by a mile ..quality and hardly put a foot wrong all night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 4 March, 2015 Share Posted 4 March, 2015 Vic MOTM for me by a mile ..quality and hardly put a foot wrong all night Agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch01 Posted 4 March, 2015 Share Posted 4 March, 2015 Been to 4 of the last 5 before tonight and saw zero goals - delighted to check my phone on 85 mins at the pub and see the update. We aren't playing well but it's a massive result - all about the three points. Plenty of games left, hopefully we can go on another good run. COYR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 4 March, 2015 Share Posted 4 March, 2015 It was flipping depressing!! So was being at the game for 83 minutes! Not long back, via a celebratory beer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 4 March, 2015 Share Posted 4 March, 2015 To start with Palace are not the Palace we rolled over on Boxing Day far from it since Pardew stepped in, this was not going to be a walk over even more so since Palace had their tales up from the weekend win. I thought for the first 30 minutes we looked tidy with a lot less of the fannying around as their 18yrd box loomed into view, then it seemed like frustration crept into the team as despite a good long spell of Football they still were not getting anywhere closer to scoring and Saints heads seemed to drop a little. Palace went for the smash and grab after the break but we repelled that. The desperation for that goal was showing with the crowd and the players as they pressed harder for it than we have seen of late, when the goal came you could feel the relief from all round the stadium. Then the players teased us with their Mickey Mouse the ball is a bomb with the fuse lit defending, the refs whistle was a relief. Djuricic looks to be settling down now and looks a bit handy with it, Yoshida is proving that he is a player who with a run of games under his belt keeps on improving, Mané just seems to be a man on a mission and listening to his interview on Solent a happy soul with it, Long when he came on despite being a little rusty added a different twist to our front line as he is so lively. Big Vic was his usual imperious mountain in the middle eager to get stuck in with some deft touches, my MOTM, what made me smile was any other Saint player with the ball being closed down was getting the "man on" shout from the crowd, Big Vic being closed down not a peep as if folks are assured that whoever try's it on will invariably just bounce off him!! Phew a win and a goal at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucks Saint Posted 4 March, 2015 Share Posted 4 March, 2015 Pardew: "We should have had a penalty as well. I think Martin Atkinson should have given a penalty, Jose Fonte was going through the back of people all night." Hmmm, picking on a player he knows well. Cant think why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andoru Posted 4 March, 2015 Share Posted 4 March, 2015 Didn't see the game because of the time difference (hate these mid-week fixtures) but was incredibly relieved to see the score on the BBC website this morning. Liverpool and Spurs still have games in hand on us though, so I expect us to be back in 7th before too long. Still, good to stem the tide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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