WBA 0-0 SAINTS Post Match Misery

[hans gruber]

I'm glad we didn't sign Evans. Good 80's defender but boy vvd looks schmick

[austsaint]

VVD the only bright spot for me; though an away point in not be scoffed at. Surprised that Long or Juanmi didn't make a late second half appearance and once again James Ward-Prowse was totally underwhelming.

[Shance]

To be honest, I thought we were clearly the better side. We were never in any danager and dictated the tempo through the middle. We played through the lines pretty well...until the final third! Frustrating in that sense, but if it's one of those days, then you just need to make sure you don't let it slip at the back.

 

Positive has been our organisation, we're getting back to where we were last season. Very hard to break down, keeping teams at arms length, and you always have chance of nicking something. With Mane, Pelle, Long, Tadic to call on, we will score goals. As long as we're a little more quick once we get into the final third!

 

Final note, Virgil looks like a bit of a Rolls Royce defender. Very, very, very composed on the ball and allowed us to build from the back a hell of a lot more successfully than we have been doing this season.

 

Probably a better point for us than WBA. Not really too upset by the result, there were positives.

 

Spot on mate.

 

Thought VVD looked quality as well.

[Saint Fan CaM]

gunna be last on Match of the day, gunna be last on Match of the day.......

 

if you didnt watch the game and just looked at the stats, you would think we really pushed them hard and should have won

in reality, good on in defence, good on the ball until we hit the final 3rd and then shocking.

 

Stek - so very lucky not to concede when he dropped the ball, fine other than that

Cedric - decent

Target - alright at best. and that is being kind

Fonte and VvD - Solid. VvD looks very very good

Vic - solid

JWP - was terrible.

Davis -was terrible. I know it is hip to say he is really under-rated but he has been very poor for a while

these two offer zero goal threat

Tadic - was decent, provided the tinsy bit of quality. good ball for jrod who should have scored

Jrod - crap. Should have scored

Pelle - shyte. I know he had little service but he offers little movement/rotation up front.

 

 

edit - ron must not like the look of Juanmi at all

 

Thank fook you did that for me - I feel too sleepy to type that lot. If we don't start to find a way to score goals we will be staring bottom three in the face by Christmas - that may sound extreme, but possession doesn't win you points.

[Bobbyboy]

Best moment was that huge diagonal pass from VVD all the way out to Tadic on the far touchline. He's not a Toby replacement, he's a Morgan replacement!

 

Apart from that and the Rickie Lambert song, that was about it. I suppose Victor looked a little more interested this week.

[Saint Billy]

So Romeu plays a blinder last game and we win but does not get a look in this game............strange!

[trousers]

File that one away under "one of those games"

 

It was obvious that Koeman's primary objective was to keep a clean sheet and so it was 'mission accomplished' in that respect.

 

VvD looks like he could well be an upgrade on Alderweireld, so a massive positive to offset the drab overall performance.

 

When Clasie and Bertrand are fit we'll have a significantly better match day squad than last season IMO.

 

Count me in as a founder member of the "What does Juanmi have to do to get a game" club though. Bit of an odd one that.

 

VvD MotM

[WealdSaint]

I don't think any of our players had a terrible game.

Davis had some good runs

Targett stuck to his guns

JRod still lacks sharpness

[Plastic]

When Clasie and Bertrand are fit we'll have a significantly better match day squad than last season IMO.

 

When are they back? Nobody seems to know

[Suhari]

Can't complain too much about an away point against a Pulis team, when we've been out of sorts recently. Looked solid - would rather be defensively solid with improvements needed in the final third, than the other way round.

 

But I just don't get Davis and JWP playing in the team together. Do we not want to score goals from midfield?

[Tractor_Saint]

No need to watch MOTD tonight then!

 

Highlights here

 

Penalty?

vine.co/v/eFJn35bbxh5

 

vine.co/v/eFJHLB329Jl

 

vine.co/v/eFJQaAKMOpX

[hackedoff]

It's bemusing that the creative limitations of the Davis/Ward-Prowse duo were there to see from the first minute - and yet they finished the match.

 

I'd say they cancelled eachother out but they weren't really doing anything to cancel.

These two offer very little creativity and zero goal theat. Hate to say it but for me Lallana has been the greatest loss for us over any of the other players that have gone.

[Latheal]

Take a point there, we normally get very little at WBA anyway. In the context of this game, it was there to be won. Chances like Jay's just have to go in.

 

VVD was quality but didn't have a lot to do - strange decision in midfield to leave Romeu out after last week, especially with Wanyama, Davies and JWP all playing internationals.

 

Stek - 6- heart in mouth moment when he dropped the ball on our line.

Cedric - 7 - some good crosses and link up with Tadic

Fonte - 7 - solid, back to his best

VVD - 7 - solid and flashes of his passing ability. One cross field ball to Tadic was out of this world. Had sweet fa defending to do though.

Targett - 6 - needs minutes and could have given a penalty away. He's fine as a backup leftback and will get better with minutes. Had a difficult opponent in McManaman

Wanyama -7 - Solid, looked up for it as well.

JWP - 6 - nowhere near as good as last week, but nowhere near as bad as some are making out. Didn't have the tempo he played with last week.

Davies - 6 - busy, but lack of quality in final third.

Tadic - 7.5 - thought he was our best player, some great crosses, some lovely footwork. If we were going to score, it would come from him unlocking the defence.

Pelle - 5 - not his best day. Service wasn't great, but when he got it, it didn't stick or his layoffs were unusually off today

Jay Rod - 5 - couple of flashes, has to bury that header, but he needs minutes.

 

Subs

Mane- 6 - added a bit of spark and pace, looked more dangerous with him on the park

Yoshida - 6 - not sure what that sub was all about, especially with Juanmi and Long on the bench but did what he had to.

 

Overall, take the point and move on. 3 clean sheets in 5, Clasie and Bertrand to come in, real competition for (most) of the places in midfield now - just need to take our chances. But them I'm a glass half full kinda guy.

[SuperMikey]

When are they back? Nobody seems to know

 

Ron said in the pre-match build-up that Bertrand will be back in training on Monday, Clasie may be another couple of weeks.

[bilbot79]

Dreadful Today showed up Koeman's limitations - he didn't even use all three subs. We have a right to expect better than that.

 

Thought we'd a chance of a goal the way it was just never came. What game changer could he bring on?

[Batman]

Thought we'd a chance of a goal the way it was just never came. What game changer could he bring on?

 

juanmi or long?

[northam soul]

None of us know if Juanmi will make a difference but for gods sake surely he is worth a try instead of JWP.

He has had his run now let someone else have a go as he is offering little.

[TheCholulaKid]

Who is over reacting?

 

The OP (with the dramatic thread title)

LeicesterSaint (par for the course)

You (with your laughable player ratings)

 

Alpine should be along soon enough too.

[Batman]

The OP (with the dramatic thread title)

LeicesterSaint (par for the course)

You (with your laughable player ratings)

 

Alpine should be along soon enough too.

 

what player ratings have i given that are 'laughable'...cheers

[Manuel]

No need to watch MOTD tonight then!

 

Highlights here

 

Penalty?

vine.co/v/eFJn35bbxh5

 

vine.co/v/eFJHLB329Jl

 

vine.co/v/eFJQaAKMOpX

When I saw it live I thought Targett got the ball. Clearly he didn't but still, the baggies player jumped over Targett, doing himself out of the penalty he probably should have had.

[Toomer]

At least an ex player didn't score against us.

[johnnyboy]

No need to watch MOTD tonight then!

 

Highlights here

 

Penalty?

vine.co/v/eFJn35bbxh5

 

vine.co/v/eFJHLB329Jl

 

vine.co/v/eFJQaAKMOpX

 

Were you using Sportsmania for your stream if not care to share ?

[St Marco]

 

JWP - 6 - nowhere near as good as last week, but nowhere near as bad as some are making out.

Yes he was. Did nothing at all. Deserves the 2.5 rating goal gave him.

[Tractor_Saint]

Were you using Sportsmania for your stream if not care to share ?

 

You're right ... Sportsmania

[saint97]

Tadić very good first half, Van Dijk extremely impressive. Cedric good going forward. JWP shocking in the final third, Davis shocking! Slowed us right down.

Pellè and Rodriguez poor.

Targett... No comment.

[FloridaMarlin]

If Mane had scored at Newcastle, Soares at Watford, and Jay rod today, six more points we would be second now. Just 3 better directed efforts. Fine lines…...

 

You're right, it is down to fine lines, and that's why things need to be put into perspective.

 

We have been beaten just once this season by an in-form team who beat the reigning Champions today by putting three past them.

 

Yet if you remember, in the Everton game, it was only a wonder save by Tim Howard that prevented us taking the lead.

 

Had that gone in, who is to say Everton's heads would not have dropped amid thoughts of "here we go again," at a venue where they had not won since Noah was a boy.

 

And yet they went down the other end and scored, giving Everton a boost and you could argue that Everton's season took off from there.

 

Since then, we haven't conceded a goal in three Premier League matches.

 

Somebody said that Everton defeat has caused us to go into a shell, but the alternative view is that we have learned from it and have tightened up.

 

People on here are moaning about two successive goalless draws on the road. Sure, they were against teams we might have been expected to beat, but if you can't win a game, don't lose it.

 

So there wasn't much creativity on offer today, but if you keep a clean sheet, you only need to convert one half-chance.

 

I would sooner pick up two points from goalless draws on the road, rather than no points from hugely entertaining defeats.

 

Ask the Bournemouth fans how much they enjoyed the defeat at Norwich today, where by all accounts they again played some lovely football, but left empty-handed.

[The Kraken]

Fair play to Tony Pulis about the penalty:

 

I think Callum McManaman dives first before the player touches him. I'll be having a word with him about that. It was a good decision by the referee."

[Convict Colony]

According to Whoscored JWP was the worst player on our team 6.3 and the worst of all the players who played the whole match.

 

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959782/Live

[Saint Fan CaM]

Fair play to Tony Pulis about the penalty:

 

 

Fair play but wrong. It was a pen. The only thing that convinced the officials otherwise is that McManaman toed the ball away in the same direction that Targett was travelling, thus making it look like Targett had touched the ball. He didn't touch it in reality and should have been sent off. It was either genius or utter stupidity from Targett.

[sfc1976]

Does the term VD encompass both gonorrhoea AND chlamydia? Cheers.

[CanadaSaint]

Fair play to Tony Pulis about the penalty:

 

Nice enough guy but I'd rather saw-off my own testicles than follow a team he manages.

[Dellman]

Koeman was a central defender who has always said a team is built from the back. In the summer he lost five of his six at the back through sales or injury. he is building again and in the last three matches we have conceded no goals and gathered five points. Why are people wetting themselves? We are going the right way, onward and upward!

[Diabolus Ex Machina]

Fair play but wrong. It was a pen. The only thing that convinced the officials otherwise is that McManaman toed the ball away in the same direction that Targett was travelling, thus making it look like Targett had touched the ball. He didn't touch it in reality and should have been sent off. It was either genius or utter stupidity from Targett.

 

They give penalties for intent now do they? Because he jumps no contact is made - no contact, no foul, no penalty. The vine in one of the posts above shows pretty clearly that he jumps over the challenge without contact. His own fault for not getting the penalty that would have been nailed on if he hadn't hurdled it.

[CWD]

We were the better side but didn't really create anything. Jay Rod still not sharp enough, but he'll only improve by getting game time.

 

I thought Wanyama and VVD were excellent. Tadic was the only dangerous attacking player, but I wish he'd ****ing shoot sometimes.

[Pass the Dutchie]

A point more than we got last year. First time this season we improve on last year's result.

[The Kraken]

They give penalties for intent now do they? Because he jumps no contact is made - no contact, no foul, no penalty. The vine in one of the posts above shows pretty clearly that he jumps over the challenge without contact. His own fault for not getting the penalty that would have been nailed on if he hadn't hurdled it.

They actually do give penalties for intent, yes. If you have to hurdle a slide then it can be given as a foul.

 

I've not seen it yet so I'll wait to comment. But your premise is wring, if the player has to significantly alter his course to avoid a tackle that doesn't play the ball, it's a foul.

[Diabolus Ex Machina]

They actually do give penalties for intent, yes. If you have to hurdle a slide then it can be given as a foul.

 

I've not seen it yet so I'll wait to comment. But your premise is wring, if the player has to significantly alter his course to avoid a tackle that doesn't play the ball, it's a foul.

 

Fair enough, as said the vine is above somewhere if you want to see it. I can't say I remember an example of it ever being given though (and would be interested to see if anyone could find an example). I would agree that the fact the ball went the direction you'd expect it to if Targett had made contact with the ball helped his cause though and I wouldn't complain had it been given but the fact is it wasn't.

[shurlock]

Fair enough, as said the vine is above somewhere if you want to see it. I can't say I remember an example of it ever being given though (and would be interested to see if anyone could find an example). I would agree that the fact the ball went the direction you'd expect it to if Targett had made contact with the ball helped his cause though and I wouldn't complain had it been given but the fact is it wasn't.

 

Rooney's pen against Preston in last season's FA Cup.

 

HTH

[Whitey Grandad]

Never argue with a clean sheet, especially away.

[Diabolus Ex Machina]

Rooney's pen against Preston in last season's FA Cup.

 

HTH

 

Spot on actually! Forgot about that one. Again wasn't treated as a straight forward case though as from what I remember there was quite a lot of disagreement about it. Anyway like I said I wouldn't have complained if it was given against us as the challenge wasn't very good but i'm not going to make it out to be some travesty of justice.

[Diabolus Ex Machina]

Funnily enough the pen just given in the Pool/Utd game is very similar except he makes sure contact is made as he goes down.

[Special K]

Away point always a good point. Can't quite believe how some are so critical, when we are still integrating new or recently returned players after injuries, into the team. This squad is still evolving and i think it is being done right, even if that means being overly defensive away from home - so we don't fall behind in the league and get put under some early pressure. I'll take 3 clean sheets in a row and a point away to a Pulis team anyday.

[SaintMB]

Funnily enough the pen just given in the Pool/Utd game is very similar except he makes sure contact is made as he goes down.

 

No it wasn't. The only similarity was that it was in the box.

[Pancake]

Stop ****ing with a working team. 3-0 in the last game says Wanyama et al should have had to fight their way back in.

[Diabolus Ex Machina]

No it wasn't. The only similarity was that it was in the box.

 

Only saw the replay once but it looked to me that again it was a reckless tackle and the player went down early - except in this case rather than jumping over the player completely he makes sure he has made contact with him. Guess I need to see it again.

[Sour Mash]

We bossed the game against a team that are no mugs.

 

Van Dijk looked quality.

 

Any point away from home is decent, they'll beat plenty of teams there this season, same as Watford.

 

We still lack creativity going forward, same problem we had a lot last season.

 

I disagree with the decision to drop Romeu for Wanyama, sends a poor message.

 

I'd have started with Mane, if he was knackered, take him off after 65mins.

[Sour Mash]

And I thought the Targett challenge was a definite pen first half, so bit of luck there.

[Diabolus Ex Machina]

I rescind my previous posts about the Man U penalty. Did completely take him out. My mistake.

[trousers]

You're right, it is down to fine lines, and that's why things need to be put into perspective.

 

We have been beaten just once this season by an in-form team who beat the reigning Champions today by putting three past them.

 

Yet if you remember, in the Everton game, it was only a wonder save by Tim Howard that prevented us taking the lead.

 

Had that gone in, who is to say Everton's heads would not have dropped amid thoughts of "here we go again," at a venue where they had not won since Noah was a boy.

 

And yet they went down the other end and scored, giving Everton a boost and you could argue that Everton's season took off from there.

 

Since then, we haven't conceded a goal in three Premier League matches.

 

Somebody said that Everton defeat has caused us to go into a shell, but the alternative view is that we have learned from it and have tightened up.

 

People on here are moaning about two successive goalless draws on the road. Sure, they were against teams we might have been expected to beat, but if you can't win a game, don't lose it.

 

So there wasn't much creativity on offer today, but if you keep a clean sheet, you only need to convert one half-chance.

 

I would sooner pick up two points from goalless draws on the road, rather than no points from hugely entertaining defeats.

 

Ask the Bournemouth fans how much they enjoyed the defeat at Norwich today, where by all accounts they again played some lovely football, but left empty-handed.

This

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

Didn't we lose there last season? If so, then it's a point gained when you compare like for like fixtures.