Saints 0 - 3 Man United Post Match Reaction

[Saint_clark]

United rested Ferdinand, Ronaldo and Tevez so don't come the 'it was Man United' stuff. Nani and Anderson wouldn't trouble most pub sides. Even the players United had out there didn't have to break a sweat. We are a dreadful side, in my opinion currently one of the worst in English football. Administration please

 

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

[Saint_clark]

I thought we played very well personally. Haven't seen any highlights but think Paterson was very unlucky to be sent off, apparently the first goal was offside and I think Vidic should have been off for dragging down McGoldrick after he ran past him to go one on one.

No complaints about the penalty or the third goal - blatant handball and dreadful defending by Skacel respectively.

[Whitey Grandad]

I thought we played very well personally. Haven't seen any highlights but think Paterson was very unlucky to be sent off, apparently the first goal was offside and I think Vidic should have been off for dragging down McGoldrick after he ran past him to go one on one.

No complaints about the penalty or the third goal - blatant handball and dreadful defending by Skacel respectively.

You mean Lancashire, surely?

[Bailey]

The result comes as no surprise and if we're honest it probably should have been more.

 

The ref didn't help us by sending off Paterson but after looking at replays he got it spot on so credit to him for that. HOWEVER, that's where the praise ends as he made a number of poor decisions throughout the game. How he judged Evans' tackle on McGoldrick to only be worthy of a yellow is beyond me, as he would have been clean through on goal.

 

Still, at the end of the day that's academic as United showed their superioty and never needed to get out of 2nd gear. Their touch and movement was second to none, with Berba, Carrick, Anderson and Welbeck all playing very well. Our young players can take alot of heart from this defeat. Despite being down to 10 men, they still worked hard and kept the score respectable.

 

Now this match is out the way, we have to learn from it and focus on the league. We have some massive games coming up against Barnsley, Donny and Norwich and our season may well depend on results over the coming month.

[Saint_clark]

You mean Lancashire, surely?

 

No. When play shifts across, you are still meant to keep the same back four. Skacel for some reason decided to come to the near post instead of covering Gibson, who scored.

[St Landrew]

No. When play shifts across, you are still meant to keep the same back four. Skacel for some reason decided to come to the near post instead of covering Gibson, who scored.

 

I noticed Skacel putting himself about where he could. Clearly, he doesn't trust the youngsters, and he and Perry had to do a lot of covering today for the inexperienced. I was slightly embarrassed for the older players, because they've played in far better teams.

 

EDIT: I see the OS is putting a positive spin on the proceedings. Just who are they kidding..? I've never seen such a blatant clutching at straws as in the last few weeks.

Edited 5 January, 2009 by St Landrew

[ExSt Peter Saint]

How can you criticise Skacel? He was playing as 2 men most of the time covering for all the others and hopelessly outnumbered. Having thought again he was one of 3 for an honourable mention with Perry and Davis. I'd still rather have him in midfield with a specialist LB though.

[Saint_clark]

How can you criticise Skacel? He was playing as 2 men most of the time covering for all the others and hopelessly outnumbered. Having thought again he was one of 3 for an honourable mention with Perry and Davis. I'd still rather have him in midfield with a specialist LB though.

 

I lost count of the amount of times Perry and Lancashire had things covered in the middle and yet Skacel came inside anyway, leaving whoever was on the right for United at that time completely free.

Not just in this game - he does it pretty much every match. Luckily he manages to get in last gasp tackles so it hasn't cost us (yet).

[ART]

Was unable to post after the game but I have to say yesterday's performance and match left me with one thought going through my head.

 

"WE ARE 1 MILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY FROM EVER RETURNING TO THE PREMIERSHIP"

 

United hardly broke into a sweat and had they really turned on the heat the score would have been in double figures. Close up shots of Jan showed him sh*t scared and full of fear till United scored. The decision not to award offside seemed to breathe life into him. Maybe because he'd found an excuse for his inaptitude. I question the team selection. This wasn't your usual league practice match, this was the FA CUP against the Champions of the World.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

An obvious result and it seemed that utd went easy on us although

Rooney seemed desperate to rattle in few more.

 

Why play as mmany youngsters as possible and then when changes were

made they were for more,with 2 experienced players left to get cold.

 

Best players Davis(again), Perry and Scacel all with

experience so what does that tell us,i wonder?

Worst was "I`m going nowhere" Surman,way off premiership class.

 

 

JP just wanted to play his boys and nothing else.

 

Our team was crying out for some experience..

 

Anyway we can just concentrate on getting relegated...

Edited 5 January, 2009 by ALWAYS_SFC

[ALWAYS_SFC]

FAO Kelvin Davis;

 

Over the years, you have received some unjust stick from a lot of fans here but, can I just say, if it wasn't for you this season we would be down already.

 

Your commitment to this club's cause is commendable and it really is a breath of fresh air to see you care for the club. You're not even a Southampton lad but still you pull of save after save and commit your future to the club, even though you are blatantly being coveted by other teams, especially after your performance today.

 

You've been a fantastic servant to the club and, out of every player on the pitch today, you would be the only one I would really be annoyed at seeing go, but I wouldn't blame you. We are shockingly poor and you deserve to at least have one last stint in the Premiership.

 

Also, my younger brother was one of the reasons why he started liking football and supporting the Saints. When you first joined the club, he went down to the stadium with some friends on a schools day or something like that and you were the only player who had a laugh and enjoyed being with the kids. That Christmas, we got him a goalie shirt with Davis on the back and he didn't take it off for months.

 

You thoroughly deserved your MoM award today and I hope, for all our sakes, you stay on for a lot longer. However, I fear, along with all of us, that you will be gone February and that'll be that for this club.

 

Spot on mate,i could not agree more...

 

Kelvin Davis = Top Man.

[Frank's cousin]

The gap is cavernous, and it needn't have been. And that is down to Boardroom decisions and policy, and many millions of pounds inappropriately invested or gone missing.

 

1. cavernous gap - always going to happen witha 150 mil+ differnce in revenue stream dont you think?

 

2. Boardroom decisions and policy - fair enough not turned out as expected

 

3. Many millions of pounds inappropriately invested or gone missing - the point at which your post lost its credibility - FFS you know its bad when the mods have fallen into the same trap - just review the audited accounts..... Sure we felt the station was probaly a waste of a million and 250K a year in underwriting it - but hardly the sort of cash that would have bought the right arm of a decent player - it the decision would have been made after the club did its due dilligence which would have suggested it becomming a revenue generator in future...

[Professor]

Unbelieveable that people claiming to be Saints fans are so constantly negative. Sainbts were well in the game for the whole first half, going behind only to a goal that was scored after an MU player was offside in the goal mouth. The game was then ruined by the sending off - which was not only harsh, since Patterson was on the ball - but was also stupidity by the Ref who had no regard for the consequences of his decision which was to render the rest of the game meaningless. A warning or a yellow would have been perfectly adequate and would have left us with a match from which Saints were quite capable of getting a result.

[NickG]

United rested Ferdinand, Ronaldo and Tevez so don't come the 'it was Man United' stuff. Nani and Anderson wouldn't trouble most pub sides. Even the players United had out there didn't have to break a sweat. We are a dreadful side, in my opinion currently one of the worst in English football. Administration please

 

that was not the performance to judge saints on (not saying we are good apart from that!)

 

Many teams in premiership, specially with 10 men would get stuffed.

 

Nani comment - pub side -you do not have a clue what you are talking about.

 

Nani was the youngest member of the Portugal U-21 squad at the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He made his first appearance for the senior Portugal team on 1 September 2006, and marked his debut with a goal in Portugal's 4-2 friendly defeat to Denmark.[2]

 

Nani was a regular member of the Portuguese squad in qualification for UEFA Euro 2008, and scored one of the goals in the 2–1 away win over Belgium on 2 June 2007.[23] He also provided the assist for Ricardo Quaresma's goal in a friendly against Italy on 6 February 2008.[24] Nani's form for Manchester United during the 2007–08 season ultimately earned him a call-up to Luiz Felipe Scolari's 23-man squad for Euro 2008, alongside club team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. He was only used sparingly during the campaign, but did manage to provide the assist for Hélder Postiga's goal during a 15-minute cameo in the quarter-finals against Germany on 19 June 2008. Portugal eventually lost the match 3-2

[Greenridge]

Unbelieveable that people claiming to be Saints fans are so constantly negative. Sainbts were well in the game for the whole first half, going behind only to a goal that was scored after an MU player was offside in the goal mouth. The game was then ruined by the sending off - which was not only harsh, since Patterson was on the ball - but was also stupidity by the Ref who had no regard for the consequences of his decision which was to render the rest of the game meaningless. A warning or a yellow would have been perfectly adequate and would have left us with a match from which Saints were quite capable of getting a result.

 

You never cease to amaze Prof. Saints were in it for the whole of the first half you say? Righty-ho. The sending-off wasn't? Righty-ho. The Ref rendered the game meaningless by the sending-off? It's not his job to make it a spectacle for the viewing public, it's his job to apply the rules of the games to the best of his ability. It was a clear red-card.

 

As for the offside goal...I agree, and also the penalty was incorrect as was the proceding foul by Lancashire but let's face it Man U could have scored at will and didn't get out of first gear.

[Saint Billy]

Unbelieveable that people claiming to be Saints fans are so constantly negative. Sainbts were well in the game for the whole first half, going behind only to a goal that was scored after an MU player was offside in the goal mouth. The game was then ruined by the sending off - which was not only harsh, since Patterson was on the ball - but was also stupidity by the Ref who had no regard for the consequences of his decision which was to render the rest of the game meaningless. A warning or a yellow would have been perfectly adequate and would have left us with a match from which Saints were quite capable of getting a result.

 

Well cop this prof,

 

I thought our performance was timid and feckin gutless.

 

You would have thought that as we had nothing to lose and that it was Man U that we would at least have a damn good go at them like many of the other lower league sides have this weekend. There are absolutely no excuses for not trying to make game of it.

 

I was actually bored watching that and yet again the management and team produce a display not worthy of the stadium being full.

 

All this damn square passing and poor passing at that achieves absolutely feck all and 9 times out of 10 we end up giving the ball back to the opposition. This is a kids team playing kids football with zero direction and for the life of me I cannot understand anyone that witnessed that making excuses for it.

 

We had the dream draw that all the lower league sides dream of and we went out with a whimper. If you can't raise your game for Man U who are you going to raise it for.

 

And Frank, I have enjoyed your posts in the past, and maybe you are right about the finances maybe not, who knows these days with the bunch of buffoons running our club, but stop defending the indefenceable. You can only use the limited fund excuse for so long. There are many other clubs in dire straights financially who are still managing to produce a competetive side and a side that would of at least made a game of it againts ManU.

Edited 5 January, 2009 by Saint Billy

[krissyboy31]

that was not the performance to judge saints on (not saying we are good apart from that!)

 

Many teams in premiership, specially with 10 men would get stuffed.

 

 

That is not the point, everybody expected Saints to get stuffed (probably by more goals actually). The point is, it was a limp and uninspiring performance. Poor passing, poor control and poor tackling. This team we keep being told, play good incisive passing football. Well we didn't put a string of more than 2 passes together all game. I expected that at least we would give it a good go and give a reasonable account of ourselves and actually enjoy playing against the best team in the world. Our lot couldn't wait to get rid of the ball as if it were a hot potato.

 

Let's be honest, that if it hadn't been for KD, Rudi and CP and some pretty average finishing the score would have been a complete and utter embarrassment.

 

God do we need a PROPER manager and fast!!

Edited 5 January, 2009 by krissyboy31

[Plumstead_Saint]

This wasn't your usual league practice match, this was the FA CUP against the Champions of the World.

 

I am really tired of hearing that phrase.

Still, if Manure could beat those other top teams - Adelaide United, Gamba Osaka, Waitakere United, LDU Quito, Pachuca and Al Ahly - then they must be the best in the world eh?

 

:smt044

[Cabrone]

It felt to me that Man U could have scored as many as they wanted against a neutered SFC.

 

I have read on here that 3-0 wasn't a bad score. The reason why it wasn't a bad score is because it was the scoreline that Man U decided they were happy with.

 

We had no say in it whatsoever, we were helpless bystanders.

 

It would have made a much more interesting spectacle for us to have been awarded a 10 goal start and to see if Man U could have overhauled us.

[Whitey Grandad]

No. When play shifts across, you are still meant to keep the same back four. Skacel for some reason decided to come to the near post instead of covering Gibson, who scored.

Watch the replay again and see Lancashire's movement. Rooney runs right past him, he's slow turning and then ambles towards the goal. He had plenty of time to look around and see who was umarked. it was amateurish defending, and I've done enough of that myself to know it when I see it!

[Charlie Wayman]

Too cold for me so couldn't be arsed to go and freeze my B's off just to see Maunure at 1/5 th strength take the Mick. Two tickets wasted but that's my season

[ottery st mary]

Watch the replay again and see Lancashire's movement. Rooney runs right past him, he's slow turning and then ambles towards the goal. He had plenty of time to look around and see who was umarked. it was amateurish defending, and I've done enough of that myself to know it when I see it!

 

Now, do not put yourself down..I am told you were quite good in your day.(was that Roper, Wayman, Bates, Ellerington..we need experience..God Bless them all)

You might be required for Doncaster and Barnsley...Be positive.

[OldNick]

Fair result, it was just the way they were helped on their way.

I was disappointed that the crowd was diluted in respect the vocal fans were split in all parts.

KD Perry were the standouts. I thought Jan got team selection wrong by playing gobern.

The rest all did ok but never really in it.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

The thing is, there were 4,200 Man U fans directly behind the goal and no cry of 'HAND BALL!!' when the ball deflected of the wall. I would have thought that would have told Riley all he needed to know about whether it was a penalty or not

 

 

Doesn't really matter, does it?

 

We are now so lacking in threat that we are being utterly patronised by Ferguson. "We didn't want to humiliate them..."

 

If all three of their goals had been disallowed they'd just have scored three others, just about whenever they decided to up the pressure.

[SW11_Saint]

Most of my views already represented on here, but some observations:

 

We were never going to win, and I truly feared an embarrasing drubbing, so on paper (and I do hate to admit this) I am actually reasonably 'happy' with a 0-3 result.

 

Thought the red card was harsh at the time, but having now seen in on TV, it wasn't.

The penalty - opinion seems split (Davis clearly thinks it was a pen, but most pundits don't), and I do think it hit his head, although a difficult decision for Riley I think he was rash to award a pen.

The first goal offside? Yes, but you see tons of goals in that area given.

 

Basically, if they hadn't have scored those three, they'd have stepped up a gear and scored 3 or 4 more. United really didn't get out of 2nd gear. As someone commented to me at half-time - it looked like Berbatov was an adult playing in a school playground game...

 

What worried me most was the total lack of opportunities we created. Okay, we're going to get beaten, but give it a go for goodness sake. I thought JP might have played an older head like Euell (whatever you think of him, he does have experience), and his team selection as again somewhat 'odd'.

 

Also, once we were down to 10, and had used our subs, I couldn't work out what system we were playing at all (or if we were). Ian Holloway on R5L made a similar point - even down to 10, keep your shape "two rows of 4, and 1 up front". At times we seemed to have all of the foward players bunched together - again like a schools game. This is concerning, as I am really starting to lose faith in JP's ability to change formations and issue clear instructions to his players. I also suspect he is deficient in that other key facet of any successful manager - being able to motivate and gee up his players. This is absolutely critical in a relegation battle. If he can't rally the troops we have no hope.

 

I don't give a f*ck about the FA Cup this year, but if we (he) cannot turn things around ASAP (and I have question his ability to do so), then we MUST move to a plan B.

 

By the way, what is 'Plan B' Rupert?

[1976_Child]

Well as far as I am concerned Our Lads in Red n White aquitted themselves realy well yesterday. The Ref was a complete retard, and United weren't exactly brilliant but our boys played good football with a lot more zest and passion than we have been used to. Kelvin was absolutely superb again. What a fantastic asset he is to our club. Thought we played excellent football between the boxes but yet again we showed up our huge weakness in front of goal. We just have no natural shot taker. I honestly reckon that we were United's equal with the exception of goal-scoring ability. United have scorers in abundance, we don't. And that is the reason we lost the game, and the reason we are at the bottom of the table. Something which must be addressed. Bringing back Saga will go someway to rectifying it.

 

But all in all, a good game of football which our boys should feel well proud of. The ref was a feeble-arsed mutt and we played most of the game with only 10 men. One of their goals was defo offside and the pen was not a pen - it hit him on the back.

 

Ok, so we are out of the cup but at least the club's finances are a bit better now after a full-house and hopefully the lads can take something from this game and really get motoring. We still have half a season to go. Anything is possible. We have to believe that we can beat relegation.

 

Well done the Saints!

Up the Saints.

[SW11_Saint]

Well as far as I am concerned Our Lads in Red n White aquitted themselves realy well yesterday. The Ref was a complete retard, and United weren't exactly brilliant but our boys played good football with a lot more zest and passion than we have been used to. Kelvin was absolutely superb again. What a fantastic asset he is to our club. Thought we played excellent football between the boxes but yet again we showed up our huge weakness in front of goal. We just have no natural shot taker. I honestly reckon that we were United's equal with the exception of goal-scoring ability. United have scorers in abundance, we don't. And that is the reason we lost the game, and the reason we are at the bottom of the table. Something which must be addressed. Bringing back Saga will go someway to rectifying it.

 

But all in all, a good game of football which our boys should feel well proud of. The ref was a feeble-arsed mutt and we played most of the game with only 10 men. One of their goals was defo offside and the pen was not a pen - it hit him on the back.

 

Ok, so we are out of the cup but at least the club's finances are a bit better now after a full-house and hopefully the lads can take something from this game and really get motoring. We still have half a season to go. Anything is possible. We have to believe that we can beat relegation.

 

Well done the Saints!

Up the Saints.

I hate to criticise anyone for being 'glass half full', but this either has to be tongue in cheek or you're one of Rupes PR moles...!

[OldNick]

I hate to criticise anyone for being 'glass half full', but this either has to be tongue in cheek or you're one of Rupes PR moles...!

an uncalled for swipe at somebody trying to be upbeat.

It may be a rosy view of things but it is easy to say that if United hadnt scored the 3 they had they would have scored another 3.From where i was sitting they were trying to score a lot more but couldnt.

The ref made their day easier after losing his nerve after Ferguson went to the touchline and gave Riley a mouthfull when Pattterson made a tackle early on.

Down to 10 men a goal down a disputed penalty made it a non spectacle.

[gordonToo]

an uncalled for swipe at somebody trying to be upbeat.

It may be a rosy view of things but it is easy to say that if United hadnt scored the 3 they had they would have scored another 3.From where i was sitting they were trying to score a lot more but couldnt.

The ref made their day easier after losing his nerve after Ferguson went to the touchline and gave Riley a mouthfull when Pattterson made a tackle early on.

Down to 10 men a goal down a disputed penalty made it a non spectacle.

 

United might have scored 10 amd even then the scoreline would not have flattered them. It was about the most one sided game I've ever witnessed and against a second string team playing exhibition football.

[sun of spain]

an uncalled for swipe at somebody trying to be upbeat.

It may be a rosy view of things but it is easy to say that if United hadnt scored the 3 they had they would have scored another 3.From where i was sitting they were trying to score a lot more but couldnt.

The ref made their day easier after losing his nerve after Ferguson went to the touchline and gave Riley a mouthfull when Pattterson made a tackle early on.

Down to 10 men a goal down a disputed penalty made it a non spectacle.

 

 

Completely outclassed from what I could see,and the term "men versus boys" comfortably springs to mind ! Man Ure hardly had to move out of third gear, and we had no answer to them.Despite some iffy decisions we were well beaten,and no one I've spoken to could see any real positives for us.

 

Sorry I can't put a positive slant on things,apart from the fact it wasn't 0 - 7 as some people were fearful of before the game.

 

Another bad day at the office I'm afraid,painfully we are now becoming accustomed to it !

[lordswoodsaints]

you have to have hope but tbh it was expected.

losing against the best club team in the world and their ref is nothing to be ashamed of.it would have been nice for the kids to see saints score but the ref ruined the game before we got the chance.

[1976_Child]

I hate to criticise anyone for being 'glass half full', but this either has to be tongue in cheek or you're one of Rupes PR moles...!

 

Not really. From where I was sitting they played a good game. We moved the ball around well and defended well (although not consistently). As I said, we didn't have any real teeth up front which let us down. To say that the game was one sided is to do our lads a disservice. Christ, what's wrong with being a bit more positive about things once in a while? They played well against arguably the best outfit in the world - ok so some of the big guns weren't playing but they hardly had their 'b' team out either. I think some time some people expect miracles from the lads. It all goes back to the assumption that we are still a premiership club. Well we ain't. Live with it.

[CamberwellSaint]

From the Guardian podcast (Kevin McCarra was reporting on the game)

"It was embarrassing, just because Southampton have young players doesn't mean they have good players.."

He's got no reason to sugar coat anything..

[eelpie]

But we looked pathetic

 

Sad, but not pathetic. The lads did provide some nice touches to be fair. It is the coaching which is pathetic, while the whole off-field antics are truly tragic for all of us.

[1976_Child]

From the Guardian podcast (Kevin McCarra was reporting on the game)

"It was embarrassing, just because Southampton have young players doesn't mean they have good players.."

He's got no reason to sugar coat anything..

 

Well Kevin you're wrong. Embarrassing is a performance like we had against forest, losing 0-2. the United game we played with ten men for 60 minutes. The result was a loss but it was far from embarrassing.

[1976_Child]

... while the whole off-field antics are truly tragic for all of us.

 

second that.

[SW11_Saint]

an uncalled for swipe at somebody trying to be upbeat.

It may be a rosy view of things but it is easy to say that if United hadnt scored the 3 they had they would have scored another 3.From where i was sitting they were trying to score a lot more but couldnt.

The ref made their day easier after losing his nerve after Ferguson went to the touchline and gave Riley a mouthfull when Pattterson made a tackle early on.

Down to 10 men a goal down a disputed penalty made it a non spectacle.

Not really, well, not intended that way - more amazement that someone could see the same game I was at in such a light. There's being 'upbeat' and then there's kidding yourself (and there's far too much of that going on at the club for my liking anyway...).

 

I think United coasted it - and from what I saw, hardly broke sweat.

 

You can make all of the excuses you want - and believe me NO ONE expected us to win, me included - but we were outclassed AND outfought with ease. Believe McManaman said something in his commentary along the lines of "... [we] offered less in all departments than any other lower league team who played this weekend.". I hate to say it, but I agree with him, and I think the scoreline flattered us.

[gordonToo]

Well Kevin you're wrong. Embarrassing is a performance like we had against forest, losing 0-2. the United game we played with ten men for 60 minutes. The result was a loss but it was far from embarrassing.

 

If Ferguson can talk openly about not wanting to humiliate us then that, IMO, is as embarrassing as it gets.

[SW11_Saint]

Not really. From where I was sitting they played a good game. We moved the ball around well and defended well (although not consistently). As I said, we didn't have any real teeth up front which let us down. To say that the game was one sided is to do our lads a disservice. Christ, what's wrong with being a bit more positive about things once in a while? They played well against arguably the best outfit in the world - ok so some of the big guns weren't playing but they hardly had their 'b' team out either. I think some time some people expect miracles from the lads. It all goes back to the assumption that we are still a premiership club. Well we ain't. Live with it.

I don't expect miracles, and good God, don't we know we're not a Premiership club - we're so far from it it's stratospheric (as yesterday helped prove). All I wanted was sensible tactics and bit of fight and spirit. We got little of the former, and the latter only in patches. Of course being down to 10 men and some suspect decisions against us didn't help - but I also think they're being used by some as an excuse for the more worrying aspects of our performance.

Edited 5 January, 2009 by SW11_Saint

[SW11_Saint]

If Ferguson can talk openly about not wanting to humiliate us then that, IMO, is as embarrassing as it gets.

Exactly.

[um pahars]

but I also think they're being used by the some as an excuse for the more worrying aspects of our performance.

 

Spot on.

 

We offered nothing, we never hassled them, we never got in their faces, the tactics and line up were poor etc etc etc.

 

The Championship table does not lie, we are poor and going backwards.

 

The sooner some face up to that fact, the sooner we might be able to turn it around. I remember the platitudes and the "we'll turn the corner" comments from the last relegation season.

[NickG]

when you consider opposition and fact we had 10 men there have been other games far more concerning than that.

 

They were a class above us (and most of premiership) but didn't think it looked humiliating up until sending off.

When they attacked their movement was a (painful) pleasure to watch

[Mole]

Having watched the highlights it was a definite sending off. Also the penalty did look like a penalty (even if it did hit mcgoldricks head/shoulder). He should never have had his arms up and if i was the ref giving a split second decision i'd have said penalty.

[BlakeySFC]

Don't care what the score was, it was always only going to be a spectacle; showcase event for the FA Cup...i enjoyed the build up, the day out, the game itself and the feeling of being able to properly enjoy a game for the first time in a while...now back to the serious business.

[Saint Billy]

when you consider opposition and fact we had 10 men there have been other games far more concerning than that.

 

They were a class above us (and most of premiership) but didn't think it looked humiliating up until sending off.

When they attacked their movement was a (painful) pleasure to watch

 

Ok then, if we played Waterlooville in the FA cup, I suspect that they would have a real good go at us despite the fact that they are in a much lower division. I would suspect that they would actually test our goalkeeper on a few occasions. Did that happen with us when playing Man U? Where was the giant killing football that you see every year in the FA cup?.

 

I saw none of the, lets get at them lads, we are going to lose but lets at least have a go attitude. It was not there to be seen.

 

If the pundits can see it, the media see it, the neutrals like my cousin who is gunners through and through can see it and comment that we are a very poor outfit, if a majority of Saints fans can see it, how can some on here not?.

 

There is no excuses, we were timid and too frightened to even attack them. The confidence of the team is at an all time low and basically our players trot out expecting to get beat.

 

That is very sad and just proves to me that the club from top to bottom is dying.

[Thedelldays]

i bet blyth spartans put up more of a fight than us...

[Not On My Watch]

Ruperts wasting our money on a PR company again!!!

 

First of all, I can't stand his smug grin and would like nothing more to see him taken down a peg or two and as far away from our club as possible.

 

Secondly, when you say "our money" that is also my money so don't jump to conclusions because this royally annoys me.

 

Thirdly, it doesn't look like Lowe is going anywhere anytime soon so my comments are based on the team. It's not their fault if they're not good enough yet. I have seen enough, though, to suggest that more than a couple of them have a bright future ahead and if we can somehow avoid relegation then I think next year will be a little easier.

 

Why does every single thread have to come down to Lowe? Sometimes I just want to support the players that play for mine and your team.

[ulstersaint]

A great article in 'The Times' today by Oliver Kay - "United underline class gap" - on yesterday's game.

 

"It was not a question of age. It was one of maturity and, above all, composure."

 

Kay makes the point that United's three goalscorers were 18, 21 and 22 years old. And that the midfield was run for much of the second half by Gibson, Anderson (20) and Possebon (19).

 

For different reasons both Saints and ManU fielded young players - but there was a gulf in class between theirs and ours.

[Mole]

For different reasons both Saints and ManU fielded young players - but there was a gulf in class between theirs and ours.

 

Our current team would not be good enough to win promotion out of League 2 in my honest opinion.

[rocknrollman no2]

A great article in 'The Times' today by Oliver Kay - "United underline class gap" - on yesterday's game.

 

"It was not a question of age. It was one of maturity and, above all, composure."

 

Kay makes the point that United's three goalscorers were 18, 21 and 22 years old. And that the midfield was run for much of the second half by Gibson, Anderson (20) and Possebon (19).

 

For different reasons both Saints and ManU fielded young players - but there was a gulf in class between theirs and ours.

 

Perhaps the reason that Man Utd have a better class of young player (money aside),is because they have a manager and coaching set up that knows how to play football in England?