Window Cleaner Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 We've hit another one of those proverbial brick walls. Not dominating games, poor possession, lack of movement in the final third. It's been such a **** season quality wise across the board, not just for us. The title will probably be won with 70 odd points this year, which says all you need to know about the quality. The title being won with less points than is usual is probably an effect of the increased finances coming into every club in the league. There are no longer any really dominant clubs and an unbeaten season such as Arsenal's in 2004 will probably not be seen again unless for some reason football loses a lot of TV income and goes back to what it was 10 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 The title being won with less points than is usual is probably an effect of the increased finances coming into every club in the league. There are no longer any really dominant clubs and an unbeaten season such as Arsenal's in 2004 will probably not be seen again unless for some reason football loses a lot of TV income and goes back to what it was 10 years ago. That, actually is quite an attractive thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Appy Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 You must have not been watching the game - Mannone did make 3 worldies to keep us out...one of which was from a superb close range drive by Martina, who incidentally had a really good game. Name the 3 worldies, Tadic and Romeu's shots in the first half were decent saves, but straight at him, if they had gone in he would've been criticised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 I thought Tadic's shot, in the centre of the box, was a poor finish to be honest. He made himself a bit of time and should have gone either side - but sent it straight at the keeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millbrook Saint Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 The title being won with less points than is usual is probably an effect of the increased finances coming into every club in the league. There are no longer any really dominant clubs and an unbeaten season such as Arsenal's in 2004 will probably not be seen again unless for some reason football loses a lot of TV income and goes back to what it was 10 years ago. I'm sure the 'big clubs' will think of something to help restore their god given right to be at the top of the league Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 I'm sure the 'big clubs' will think of something to help restore their god given right to be at the top of the league Fans won't like it though, it probably means sacrificing 2 out of 4 competitions in the very early stages. Leicester are doing well for a reason, well several actually, decent players including 2 outrageous goalscorers, good manager, hardly any injuries, few internationals and only one competition to play for in the months beyond January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 Just biting back and seeing how they like a bit of their own treatment!. A right little Oscar Wilde aren't you. Poor little plastic getting in a tiss cos we don't play well. Pathetic little tw at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vectraman Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 I thought yesterday's game was pretty much as I imagined it would be! Sunderland set themselves up to be 'difficult' to break down, I'm sure they would have taken a point before the game started. Saints always seem to struggle to break teams down who want to play in this way. A game of few chances, and bar a 5 minute period in the second half where both teams went end to end with each other, a game of limited excitement. A bit like the Stoke game earlier in the season... We didn't play badly, just played with little threat. I guess you could say Sunderland defended solidly... Some earlier posts berated Martina as being not PL quality, I really don't know what game they were watching? He certainly (IMO) put in a solid display, got down the right channel well, and looked okay. A definite 6.5/10 performance, certainly not awful. Romeu was busy and effective, Davis & Clasie also. The game had 0-0 written all over it at half time, it was a bit of a dull affair. Neither team created much, and to be honest, neither team looked like they would. Our crossing I felt was of poor quality in general, too close to the keeper with corners, or hit too long (Bertrand had a couple of really poor ones in the second half). Generally the wing play wasn't incisive, always had an extra pass in there, which allowed Sunderland to pack the box out. Quick break and Saints are not normally used in the same sentence.... Mane a couple of times wanted the ball played long for him, but no, we always would go sideways, and continue are laboured attacking. He wants the ball played over the top so he can use his pace to get behind the defence. He can't do much if we don't give him the ball. Sometimes I wish we would go direct, cut out the faffing about playing it from one side at the back to the other, and get forward more quickly. We clearly are missing Long, he adds a dimension to our attack that Pelles style doesn't - pace. Different types of forward, we didn't help Pelle yesterday at all, he had little support, which makes him look poor, Mane plays too far away from him. We are not a bad side, we need to realise that no premier league team is going to be a walkover, and you've got to really WANT a win. Our hunger seems lacking in that direction at the moment. Other teams at the bottom and top need the points, we are in that horrible 'comfortable' zone where there are no must wins games. It looks to be showing as well, we seem to be struggling to get really motivated.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WealdSaint Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 A few thoughts from my seat in Northam. Pelle was being continually man handled by the Sunderland Centre Backs but the ref did nothing. Cuco had a good game on the whole and took up some good positions Looked like we should have had a penalty in the first half We went off the boil in the 2nd half until we went 1-0 down I'm guess that because we had the U18 Captain on the bench means that the 1st team squad was down to the bare bones which may well have tied RK's hands formation wise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 I've been watching for over 30 years and I actually still want us to be ambitious. Yes we've had some terrible times but in recent times we've had a massive opportunity to move on. I'd like us to take that chance and do something more special than being acceptably average. I don't see why so many people think ambition is bad. Don't mistake realism for lack of ambition. I'd love us to win the league and cups, as does every fan of every team. However, I can appreciate what a strong position we're in now, having experienced the years of escaping relegation on the last day of the season and the eventual drops down the league and into administration. In hindsight I'm actually glad it all happened as this last 5 years has been one success after another, year on year improvement and some amazing results and memories along the way. To assume it will continue in the same trajectory would necessitate getting top 4, then winning the league, then winning champs league, world club cup etc forever onwards. This will not happen in the next 5 years, but that doesn't mean I don't want it to! Just enjoying the ride, and keeping a bit of perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Billy Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 A right little Oscar Wilde aren't you. Poor little plastic getting in a tiss cos we don't play well. Pathetic little tw at And back into his shell the Whelk disappears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 A disappointing season has become more disappointing Next time we get a manager get him to sign for five years just think three years is too short a time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del boy Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 A disappointing season has become more disappointing Its disappointing after the last three results, having got ourselves on a great little run, but - if you'd have said to most fans at the start of the season that by the first week of March we'd be totally safe from relegation, above Chelsea and within a win of 7th (a possible Europe place) I guess we'd have taken it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 I personally think it was a very mediocre game. When we had possession we moved the ball slowly and there was little movement up front. I thought Mane and Tadic didn't help themselves by playing very narrow. On the positive side I think we might have found the man to play in the middle of the middle three and play up and down once Wanyama is back releasing Romeu to play there. Martina showed that he isn't a bad player but not very switched on. He lacks awareness, he had loads of time to get goal side of Fonte even if he couldn't get a tackle in but he stood watching, not aware that by getting goal side of Fonte who then wouldn't be the last man and yellow carded not red. Not acceptable for a player in the Premier league. The goal was well worked and whilst Pelle wasn't much of a threat himself he had a number of positive touches that resulted in others having a chance including a couple of touches in our goal move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 Its disappointing after the last three results, having got ourselves on a great little run, but - if you'd have said to most fans at the start of the season that by the first week of March we'd be totally safe from relegation, above Chelsea and within a win of 7th (a possible Europe place) I guess we'd have taken it? Well you seem to have very low expectations I never for one moment thought we would be relegated at the start of the season. SFC is not the SFC 0f the 1990s and early 2000s we are supposed to have a top academy financial clout and an aim to get into Europe. This season we will probably finish in the bottom half of the table had a very poor European campaign were knocked out of the FA Cup in the first round got thrashed by Liverpool in the League Cup if that is not disappointing I dont know what is. Of course if we win lots of the remaining games it will be less disappointing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 A disappointing season has become more disappointing Next time we get a manager get him to sign for five years just think three years is too short a time So you say this is a disappointing season but you're also complaining that the manager responsible for that disappointing season hasn't got a longer contract. So you want three more years of disappointment or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 So you say this is a disappointing season but you're also complaining that the manager responsible for that disappointing season hasn't got a longer contract. So you want three more years of disappointment or not? I dont think it is just Koeman who is responsible for for the disappointing season but the situation is not helped because it is possible he will not be here for much longer. I just think we need someone who is committed for sometime like we had with Ted Bates and Lawrie Mac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadpanmatt Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 Tadic and Pelle played well. So did Martina. You shouldn't believe what some of the odd-balls on here write! If constantly running out of position and leaving the defence completely exposed equals 'playing well', then yes, Martina had a blinder! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verlaine1979 Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 A back 3 of Bertrand, Fonte and VVD with width, defensive support and most of all speed from Targett and Cedric. Two fast strikers, two holding players and Davis linking the play at No. 10. Ronald Koeman you found the answer and then decided to ask the question again. This is why you are not yet a world class manager. Consistency brings out the best in players. Player rotation whilst sometimes necessary, largely unsettles and affects cohesion. 6 points lost in the last 3 games. Probably more concerning is that Forster has become uncertain. We did ride our luck in our good run of form. The loss of our leader Fonte because of Martina not doing his job is going to make it hard for us to get into Europe. We Stumble On! Isn't this the exact formation we played against Chelsea when they comprehensively steam-rollered us for about 70 minutes? Playing five at the back with a midfield containing 2 DMs and Davis is just too conservative against sides with decent creative players. No outlet and no central attacking threat invites constant pressure, which is exactly what we saw with Chelsea camped on the edge of our box for the majority of the game (65% possession and more than twice as many shots). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfahaji Posted 6 March, 2016 Share Posted 6 March, 2016 Sunderland set themselves up to be 'difficult' to break down, I'm sure they would have taken a point before the game started. Saints always seem to struggle to break teams down who want to play in this way. Except we also struggle against teams that press us and play with high energy... Basically the teams we do well against are those that play open but pedestrian football... Great. Agree with most of your general comments btw, except Mane wanting the ball over the top, he simply was not interested in running at all and couldn't catch a cold. It was totally strange watching him in front of me, he was either nursing an injury or simply couldn't be bothered. I'm not one to accuse players of not trying just because they play badly, but the effort in Mane's performance was astoundingly bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkeith Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 Mane is really lacking confidence at the moment. From the first minute, he was taking the easy option, or trying to dummy the ball on to someone else, rather than try something himself. This also results in players waiting to see if their pass has arrived at the target player before making a run themselves, which slows the play down, and stops 1-2's. He did seem to get a bit better as the game went on. The problem with a lack of confidence is that it is not improved by not playing. We need to just stick with him until he comes out the other side. There is still a good player in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooney Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 A disappointing season has become more disappointing Next time we get a manager get him to sign for five years just think three years is too short a time The club will never give a manger a 5 year contract as if he fails and they sack him, a considerable amount of compensation may have to be paid. Three years is the norm at best imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lallana's Left Peg Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 It's a very peculiar season in the Premier League so it is hard to appraise anything right now and know if things are a good result or not. But I don't like how Saints continue to be a momentum team and how when there is any element of expectation on us we tend to meekly fold. As for the game itself some players don't look interested enough and some look like they are playing with strangers. I thought Romeu looked good and at first I questioned his signing but I am happy to be proved wrong I think he plays very consistently and very well. Clasie I am not convinced by, I don't like the way games pass him by and how physically he can be overpowered by many players in this league. Anyone know why we didn't play Soares when this game was crying out for our full backs to push on? Thought Bertrand did well but Martina was rubbish on the ball and it cost us at times. A lot of work to be done in the summer to get the right balance on the pitch along with the right balance in the squad as whilst it is nice to have lots of options sometimes when Koeman tinkers its a bit of a car crash. I think we need to settle on a certain way of playing (or at least be able to identify the right way of playing in each game) as it can be really disjointed at times and the quality of football can be awful to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaMarlin Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 That, actually is quite an attractive thought. It is an attractive thought, but one you can pretty much dismiss. The main reason this season has been so open is down to the failure of the traditional top four/five failing to strengthen last summer in the manner they usually do to maintain the differential with the rest of the pack. Manchester City were prime among them and they certainly on't make the same mistake this summer. It's been said elsewhere on this board that this, of all seasons, presented the best window of opportunity for an outsider to win the PL - and I think you can include Spuds among that. We should have been as well set up as any of those outsiders. On paper, we were certainly better set up than Leicester. For that reason, I think we have underachieved this season. It's interesting that the big four/five have purportedly started talks about a European Super League during a season when their hegemony over the PL - and for at least one of them, what they regard as a divine right to a Champions /League spot - is under threat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallagroth Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 I've wondered if Pelle's attitude and personality has a detrimental effect on other members of the team. Seem's our recent period of success coincided with him being out of the team. Think i'd get ****ed off with an immobile striker constantly whining and blaming every one of my teammates when something goes wrong, and constantly demanding ball to feet before flicking it straight to the opposition without looking. There's some other unjustified big ego's in the team who think they are much better than they really are and I hope they get shipped out and replaced . The team spirit and bond that brought us most of our success of recent years seems to be gone, which is a damn shame, because in the modern age it will be the difference that will lift unified teams above those around them on a financial par but full of 'big time charlies' (Leicester this season). I would also not cry if Koeman decided it was time to leave, he has done some great things for us, but truth be told, his style of football just isn't anywhere near as exciting as what Pochettino served us up, and in the end we pay money to watch good football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallagroth Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 It is an attractive thought, but one you can pretty much dismiss. The main reason this season has been so open is down to the failure of the traditional top four/five failing to strengthen last summer in the manner they usually do to maintain the differential with the rest of the pack. Manchester City were prime among them and they certainly on't make the same mistake this summer. It's been said elsewhere on this board that this, of all seasons, presented the best window of opportunity for an outsider to win the PL - and I think you can include Spuds among that. We should have been as well set up as any of those outsiders. On paper, we were certainly better set up than Leicester. For that reason, I think we have underachieved this season. It's interesting that the big four/five have purportedly started talks about a European Super League during a season when their hegemony over the PL - and for at least one of them, what they regard as a divine right to a Champions /League spot - is under threat. Was always going to happen. They will work out some ******** 10 year prem top 6/cup co-efficeient to work out who qualifies to ensure it remains about money more than it is about current football team prowess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 I've wondered if Pelle's attitude and personality has a detrimental effect on other members of the team. Seem's our recent period of success coincided with him being out of the team. Think i'd get ****ed off with an immobile striker constantly whining and blaming every one of my teammates when something goes wrong, and constantly demanding ball to feet before flicking it straight to the opposition without looking. There's some other unjustified big ego's in the team who think they are much better than they really are and I hope they get shipped out and replaced . The team spirit and bond that brought us most of our success of recent years seems to be gone, which is a damn shame, because in the modern age it will be the difference that will lift unified teams above those around them on a financial par but full of 'big time charlies' (Leicester this season). I would also not cry if Koeman decided it was time to leave, he has done some great things for us, but truth be told, his style of football just isn't anywhere near as exciting as what Pochettino served us up, and in the end we pay money to watch good football. Yet Koeman had a more successful season than Poch did for us last season and plenty of people slagged off Poch when he was here for not having a plan B and for his not caring attitude towards the cups. Ah, those rose tinted glasses are wonderful things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 A disappointing season has become more disappointing Next time we get a manager get him to sign for five years just think three years is too short a time So you say this is a disappointing season but you're also complaining that the manager responsible for that disappointing season hasn't got a longer contract. So you want three more years of disappointment or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Kint Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 Yet Koeman had a more successful season than Poch did for us last season and plenty of people slagged off Poch when he was here for not having a plan B and for his not caring attitude towards the cups. Ah, those rose tinted glasses are wonderful things! I've always thought they both play quite dull football. It's all about possession and not necessarily about what you do with it. I thought our most enjoyable performance this season was at home to Arsenal, we battered them and yet only had 35% of the ball. It's all a matter of opinion, but possession based football bores me to tears. Unfortunately for me that seems to be something the club are trying to proactively encourage judging by our last two managers as well as the young players being brought through, JWP being a prime example. The golden boy of the academy that keeps possession but does absolutely nothing with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 7 March, 2016 Share Posted 7 March, 2016 The main reason this season has been so open is down to the failure of the traditional top four/five failing to strengthen last summer in the manner they usually do to maintain the differential with the rest of the pack. Manchester City were prime among them and they certainly won't make the same mistake this summer. Chelsea spent £65m, Liverpool £78m, Spurs £46m, United £103m, City £137m and Arsenal £15m. I have no idea if they are particularly big or small figures these days. I guess its not how much, it's more about `on who?'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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