Saints v Birmingham - Post Match Reaction

[Thedelldays]

what worries me is that we are playing very well (so i am told) and losing...dread to think when we hit a dodgy patch

[mcjwills]

Dissapointed at the result, but was great to see when we scored all the team (with exception of Kelvin) was together celebrating the goal, which hopefully goes to show the team spririt, that WILL get us through this season without being relegated (Yes Alpine you read it hear WE will not be relegated).

 

My only fear is when our youngsters start to perform the vultures will come a calling!!!

[NickG]

Because even though I havent seen them this season, I seem to have a better feeling for where the team is than some of those who have.

 

(psssst, btw, the "your opinion is invalid because you havent seen the team" dig is wearing a bit thin, since I seem to have a better idea how the games will end than some of those who go, buy the programme, drink the beer, eats the pies, pee in the loo, etc...)

 

Dissapointed at the result, but was great to see when we scored all the team (with exception of Kelvin) was together celebrating the goal, which hopefully goes to show the team spririt, that WILL get us through this season without being relegated (Yes Alpine you read it hear WE will not be relegated).

 

My only fear is when our youngsters start to perform the vultures will come a calling!!!

 

no he knows better than anyone who has seen the team, this team -based around the lightweight Schneiderlin will get relegated

[Thedelldays]

no he knows better than anyone who has seen the team, this team -based around the lightweight Schneiderlin will get relegated

to be fair..he is just expressing his opinion...just like you have..how the hell can you be sure we will NOT go down after (like people say) only two games..?

 

no one knows..I have not seen us yet I dont think we will go down!!

 

I have nothing to base that on othe than blind hope and optimism..

 

I see the new board has the same old gutter snipes at the same people...it is like, you are wrong unless you agree with me sort of attitude

[alpine_saint]

to be fair..he is just expressing his opinion...just like you have..how the hell can you be sure we will NOT go down after (like people say) only two games..?

 

 

Thanks for pointing out the double standards......

[Whitey Grandad]

be interesting to seperate the posts from those who saw it (positive and hopeful) to those who didn't (slagging players and manager off)

 

I saw it. Iam not slagging off the players and I never shall. I was not impressed by Poortvliet's handling of the second half or his choice of players to sit on the bench. I say it as I saw it. The first half was good but I felt that the team was playing above itself and that it would find it hard to continue at that pace through the second half. There was some promising football in the middle of the field and we created some very good chances that with a bit more quality up front or with two forwards on the pitch we might have converted into goals. In a lower division it would have been a creditable performance but I fear that it is not going to be enough in this division. I would dearly love to be proved wrong.

[alpine_saint]

be interesting to seperate the posts from those who saw it (positive and hopeful) to those who didn't (slagging players and manager off)

 

What an arrogant post.

 

You claim to speak for everyone who attended the match, do you ?

[NickG]

What an arrogant post.

 

You claim to speak for everyone who attended the match, do you ?

 

that from the most ridulous arrogant poster ever - i know better than anyone who has seen the team!

 

No, they speak for themselves -and are more positive than those who just sit there slagging the team off

[NickG]

Thanks for pointing out the double standards......

 

no double standards -find them?

[alpine_saint]

that from the most ridulous arrogant poster ever - i know better than anyone who has seen the team!

 

No, they speak for themselves -and are more positive than those who just sit there slagging the team off

 

You claimed everyone who has seen the team is positive, and that only people who havent seen the team are negative.

 

As whitey above proves, that's utter ******.

[NickG]

to be fair..he is just expressing his opinion...just like you have..how the hell can you be sure we will NOT go down after (like people say) only two games..?

 

no one knows..I have not seen us yet I dont think we will go down!!

 

I have nothing to base that on othe than blind hope and optimism..

 

I see the new board has the same old gutter snipes at the same people...it is like, you are wrong unless you agree with me sort of attitude

 

I am not sure, I don't think we will.

 

He is not expressing an opinion like me -I am commenting on what I have seen positives and negatives, he is saying things like Schniederlin is too lightweight, basically making things up to dig at the team and club

[alpine_saint]

no double standards -find them?

 

It's clear-as-crystal to all but the most obtuse mentality.

 

You have no right to say "we wont get relegated" after two matches, when you claim the likes of myself have no right to express the believe we will get relegated, also after 2 matches...

[NickG]

You claimed everyone who has seen the team is positive, and that only people who havent seen the team are negative.

 

As whitey above proves, that's utter ******.

 

read them.

[alpine_saint]

read them.

 

I've read enough happy-clappy drivel overnight, thanks.

[Thedelldays]

I am not sure, I don't think we will.

 

He is not expressing an opinion like me -I am commenting on what I have seen positives and negatives, he is saying things like Schniederlin is too lightweight, basically making things up to dig at the team and club

so what?

 

we have yet to see if schneiderlin is lightweight or not..as many people say, you cant tell anything after 2 games...who is to say that come the colder months at some ****ty ground he wont go missing in games etc?

 

we just dont know..

 

im not defending alps really and i the only thing i agree with him om was about burley so I know first hand what it is like sticking to your guns, being called all sorts of crap for an unpopular opinion is like...im sure the baiting of alps will start soon to try and get him banned...

 

for someone who apparently does not know anything he was right on the money last season about the defence issue with burley and the crapness of burley...

 

who is to say he wont be again??

[NickG]

if you slag off every player, every manager, predict defeat every game etc you will have a fair success rate! Doesn't mean opinions are based on considered views!

 

I don't know we won't get relegated, I don't say anyone who does say it is being ridiculous, but I don't think we will.

 

It is a fact to say that most comments from the two league games from those who went are more positive, I accept not all -never said all nor meant to imply it. But vast vast majority.

 

That is not saying we are saying promotion here we come -no-one is saying that.

 

But how can you possibly say players are lightweight and not up to it when nearly every review of him (you know the 6ft midfielder) is saying how well he is doing -when you have never ever seen him kick a ball (and wrongly assumed cos he was young he was little!).

And to have the total arrogance, not to imply but to actually say you know more about how the team is doing than those who have seen them play for 6 odd hours.

[Thedelldays]

i dont want to go round in cirlces..just accept that all of us have an opinion on thinsg we know feck all about..

 

i mean, we seem to have plenty of so called experts on here who have a lot to say about how to run SFC...should we all "shut up" on that one as we dont know anything close to the real facts?

[NickG]

yep;)

[Legod Second Coming]

I see the debate rages but the point is missed.

 

John scores a free header, we win. He misses, they score against the run of play, we lose.

 

We've all seen a thousand times over on MoTD. It happens.

 

It does not detract from the excellent play for the vast majority of the game.

 

It means neither we'll go up nor down, just that right now we have conceded as many goals as and are just 3 points behind the favourites for promotion.

[Saint Martini]

I've read enough happy-clappy drivel overnight, thanks.

 

So you did see that most posters on here were positive in defeat? But then they must be wrong since you decided we're going down already.

 

 

Stupid happy-clappy people not agreeing with you, why don't they just listen to the enigma called Alpine Saint who can judge a team without seeing it......

[Micky]

So you did see that most posters on here were positive in defeat? But then they must be wrong since you decided we're going down already.

 

 

Stupid happy-clappy people not agreeing with you, why don't they just listen to the enigma called Alpine Saint who can judge a team without seeing it......

 

You'll forgive me if I ignore your advice this time round - I'm all for a bit of happy clapping (whatever that may be) with the best part of 40 games to go still. I'll judge the players, manager and board after the event - only fair - dont you think...!!!

 

Come on you happy clappers - get behind the lads.....

[Saint Martini]

I was being ironic you know? Bloody smilies not working properly.

 

Just to make sure, I'm agreeing with Micky.

[Give it to Ron]

My opinion only based on what I saw yesterday was that if we can pull together a few wins we will be flying. I base that on the excellent passing I saw in the first half - in fact far more than I saw the whole of last year.

There were quite a few times we only had one or two in the box and others were holding back...once we have a few points they will get in there more.

We now have a bit of pace and creativity - I thought McGoldrick created 3 chances by actually looking up and picking out players - Gillett could of scored but for a fine save from Taylor, another shot blocked and a John free header all from McGoldricks intelligent play which was far better than Dyers headless chicken blasting crosses.

 

I was impressed by Morgan, Gillett and of course Killer who has lost none of that will to win and was good to see him get pushed forward in the last 5 trying to add a bit up front - just a shame we didn't have another forward on the bench a big mistake I think.

 

I lost it with a right plum on the way out of the ground who asked why everyone was clapping when we lost.....we certainly do have our fair share of them. I think we all should of boo'ed them off fancy losing against Birmingham with their tuppenny bit side I mean Phillips, Owusu, Jerome, Larrson, Carsley, Bent, Ridgewell, Taylor are all pants and wouldn't get in any other CC side would they!

[NickG]

the pass and move energy was great to watch, not heard appreciative spontaneous applause that many times with people admiring Saints playing good football.

[Charlie Wayman]

Running out of steam after 45 mins? Then why are we playing such unfit people. It is all looking a little bit ominous. As a well-known gloom merchant, i did predict only 1 point from our first 6 games and nothing yesterday cahnged my mind.

 

My two sons watched the match and their verdict was that the first half we were exciting but in the second we were total rubbish. They also thought it was a major up-**** to play John with the in-form DM on the right wing. Had the starting line-up been the same as the finishing line-up we may have got the 2 or 3 goals we deserved before HT.

[Saint_clark]

to be fair..he is just expressing his opinion...just like you have..how the hell can you be sure we will NOT go down after (like people say) only two games..?

 

no one knows..I have not seen us yet I dont think we will go down!!

 

I have nothing to base that on othe than blind hope and optimism..

 

I see the new board has the same old gutter snipes at the same people...it is like, you are wrong unless you agree with me sort of attitude

 

Be honest Delldays, even you had a little lol at Alpine saying his opinion is more valid than those who went to the game.

[alpine_saint]

Be honest Delldays, even you had a little lol at Alpine saying his opinion is more valid than those who went to the game.

 

I said nothing about validity of opinion. We are all Saints fans, our opinions are all valid.

 

I think that some people who go to the games think their opinion is more valid than others. Well sorry, more valid it may be, more correct, not necessarily so.

 

And from some of the stuff being written here at the moment, Lowe must be solving the clubs financial crisis with his useful side-line of rose-tinted glasses....

[Legod Second Coming]

I said nothing about validity of opinion. We are all Saints fans, our opinions are all valid.

 

I think that some people who go to the games think their opinion is more valid than others. Well sorry, more valid it may be, more correct, not necessarily so.

 

And from some of the stuff being written here at the moment, Lowe must be solving the clubs financial crisis with his useful side-line of rose-tinted glasses....

 

In a court of law, someone who has WITNESSED something tends to have a touch more credibility I find...

 

Of course, while you are depriving the club of funds by not attending, feel free to dictate how the team plays for the benefit of those of us keeping it afloat...

[Amesbury Saint]

Just back from the game.

 

Upside

 

Make no mistake about it, this Saints team will win more than they lose this season.

 

Good attacking football, good passing, good recovering when the ball is lost.

 

This team wants to play for Southampton. Some of their football was a joy to watch.

 

Suddenly we are getting our moneys worth.

 

We made a good Birminham side look very ordinary for long periods of the game.

 

We were the better side in the first half.

 

I thought the second half was about even

 

Downside

 

We lost!

 

 

I thought we were good first half. Firstly 20 minutes I thgought we were going to win quite easily.

 

Second half we were poor and looked well beaten by the end.

 

Not too disappointed - I thought we would lose 4-0

[Micky]

I was being ironic you know? Bloody smilies not working properly.

 

Just to make sure, I'm agreeing with Micky.

 

Errrr so was I....!!!!

[suewhistle]

I said nothing about validity of opinion. We are all Saints fans, our opinions are all valid.

 

.. unless they're happy-clappy and seeing things through rose-tinted spectacles, you mean...

 

LSG - lol!

 

The problem Alps is that in a world where people see the glass as half full or half empty, you see it and say "I'm not drinking that in case somebody spat in it".

Sure people who went are worried about some aspects of our situation but there are plenty of positive aspects reported too. I hope to form a better opinion by seeing a couple of games in September, but in the meantime the reports of those of you that went are much appreciated.

 

Incidentally, I notice PV's comments about substitutes on the OS. We might disagree with his choice of bench but there was obviously a considered rationale behind it.

[Saint Martini]

Errrr so was I....!!!!

 

Right, so you think we played crap and we're doomed? Just to get things clear.

[Micky]

Right, so you think we played crap and we're doomed? Just to get things clear.

 

Noooooooooo..... I believe we played ok (wasn't there), and after only two games in which I'm led to believe we aquitted ourselves well, I'm optimistic......

[offix]

What a useless debate. Whether or not one has seen the team play, whether or not one is allowed to have an opinion if that opinion differs from the one the poster has...

 

Total BS!

 

Bottom line: I see a lot of comments on here that I also saw in the dark days of Burley:

 

"The team needs time to gel"

"We played well, but were unlucky"

'The ref was a fat bastard"

"They scored against the run of play"

"I'll give them at least until Christmas"

"We must give them time"

"We played pretty football"

and so son and so on....

 

All I can do is hope and pray that we survive. last time we saw all these same "arguments" it didn't end so well

[OldNick]

What a useless debate. Whether or not one has seen the team play, whether or not one is allowed to have an opinion if that opinion differs from the one the poster has...

 

Total BS!

 

Bottom line: I see a lot of comments on here that I also saw in the dark days of Burley:

 

"The team needs time to gel"

"We played well, but were unlucky"

'The ref was a fat bastard"

"They scored against the run of play"

"I'll give them at least until Christmas"

"We must give them time"

"We played pretty football"

and so son and so on....

 

All I can do is hope and pray that we survive. last time we saw all these same "arguments" it didn't end so well

when GB was here we were mid table and so that is fine by me.

[slickmick]

Davies 8: Most confident I have seen him.

James 5: Skinned to often to easy. Very flat footed but is playing out of position. Could be one for next season.

Killer 7: Without him things would have been worse. At fault with Perry for 1st goal.

Perry 7: Played well but his lack of height is a concern.

Surman 8: Best I have seen him at left back.

Holmes 7 : Put some good crosses in the first half and looks a better and fitter prospect than Skacel.

Gillett 8: Reminds me of a young Alan Ball, never gave up and looks to have a good partnership with Morgan.

Morgan 8: Very cool and composed player,excellent passer with good vision.

McGoldrich 8: Superb delivery of a ball from wide positions. We should have scored 3 from his assists. Not so sure when he went up front, not enough movement.

Lallana 8 MOM: Full of energy, gets stuck in and has great skill and movement. Would like to see him swap over with McGoldrich a few times during a game. Think he might work the defence a bit more.

John 7: Missed a glorious chance that could have won the game for us. Held the ball up and layed it off very well all game. Prefer him in that position than McGoldrich.

 

All in all a much better team than this time last year. Had us down for a relegation scrap but not so sure now.

My feeling is, that if we played poopey tommorrow I think we could beat them. Last season we wouldn't of had a chance.

[OldNick]

At this stage of the season you'll only get mindless optimism.

I object, how dare you slur Alpine with such a thing,

[OldNick]

Whatever opinions on the current team, we clearly now have a team, a formation, a way of playing and a squad that will improve together. Who knows where that will have us finishing. The point is, whether we finish top or bottom, we'll likely have a determined squad and manager all doing the best they can. Perhaps that won't be good enough, but I doubt we'll be moaning about certain players not pulling their weight or underperforming.

 

With Burley I can't think of anyone who consistently played to potential. We never had a team, it was chopped and changed every week, loans coming and going all the time and absolutely no stability. Judge managers on the resources they have and what they do with them. They should be able to at least get the most out of the squad they have. Burley never even came close. So sorry, no I wouldn't swap. People must be insane to think we'd be in a better position with Burley. How on earth would he have coped with zero money, a smaller squad and actually having to form a half decent team? He'd have moaned, blamed others and waited for it to sort itself out, just as he always did. God knows if Jan is a good manager, but he's 10 times more up for the job and doing his best, which is a hell of a lot more positive than Burley, and the main reason I'm happier supporting Saints now that I could ever have been under Burley.

Thats not how I saw it then but I do see it as you do now.

[s0108787]

Thats not how I saw it then but I do see it as you do now.

 

ditto.

[AndyNorthernSaints]

Positives from saturday.

great passing display in first half.

Impressed with Schneiderlin.

Great to see Killer back.

Was able to get a beer at half time due to poor attendance.

 

Negatives.

Saints lack the height, physical strength and fitness to survive 90 minutes in this league.

Desperate need for full backs and defensive midfielder. Gillet seems to have plenty of fans on here but i was not impressed.

No threat or anyone to hold ball up once John was subbed.

No forwards on bench???????????? and no plan B.

No atmosphere in the Kingsland. Won't be going there again.

[madruss]

My opinion only based on what I saw yesterday was that if we can pull together a few wins we will be flying. I base that on the excellent passing I saw in the first half - in fact far more than I saw the whole of last year.

There were quite a few times we only had one or two in the box and others were holding back...once we have a few points they will get in there more.

We now have a bit of pace and creativity - I thought McGoldrick created 3 chances by actually looking up and picking out players - Gillett could of scored but for a fine save from Taylor, another shot blocked and a John free header all from McGoldricks intelligent play which was far better than Dyers headless chicken blasting crosses.

 

I was impressed by Morgan, Gillett and of course Killer who has lost none of that will to win and was good to see him get pushed forward in the last 5 trying to add a bit up front - just a shame we didn't have another forward on the bench a big mistake I think.

 

I lost it with a right plum on the way out of the ground who asked why everyone was clapping when we lost.....we certainly do have our fair share of them. I think we all should of boo'ed them off fancy losing against Birmingham with their tuppenny bit side I mean Phillips, Owusu, Jerome, Larrson, Carsley, Bent, Ridgewell, Taylor are all pants and wouldn't get in any other CC side would they!

 

 

Haha. Excellent stuff.

 

So many people seem to be glossing over the fact that the team we lost to has mainly kept its Premiership-standard squad together.

 

Birmingham drew twice with Arsenal last year and over half the players that were involved in those games were in action on Saturday.

 

Face it a lot of teams will get beaten by Birmingham this year, and not many will go to Cardiff and get a result.

 

Fair enough, if we get comfortably beaten by Blackpool, Barnsley and Doncaster in the next month - then we can start getting the razorblades out. Until then, the team is playing well and competed admirably against two top sides.

[PhilB]

Went away from SM disappointed we lost but full of optimism. We played some good football (mainly in the first half) and you could see that we were playing it on the ground, not hoofing it as per usual.

 

We'll certainly not be in the relegation fight we were in last season if we keep this style going...hopefully.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

...We never had a team, it was chopped and changed every week, .... They should be able to at least get the most out of the squad they have. QUOTE]

 

Lowe has found the solution to one of those problems - we won't have enough players to chop and change.

[saint1977]

Davies 8: Most confident I have seen him.

James 5: Skinned to often to easy. Very flat footed but is playing out of position. Could be one for next season.

Killer 7: Without him things would have been worse. At fault with Perry for 1st goal.

Perry 7: Played well but his lack of height is a concern.

Surman 8: Best I have seen him at left back.

Holmes 7 : Put some good crosses in the first half and looks a better and fitter prospect than Skacel.

Gillett 8: Reminds me of a young Alan Ball, never gave up and looks to have a good partnership with Morgan.

Morgan 8: Very cool and composed player,excellent passer with good vision.

McGoldrich 8: Superb delivery of a ball from wide positions. We should have scored 3 from his assists. Not so sure when he went up front, not enough movement.

Lallana 8 MOM: Full of energy, gets stuck in and has great skill and movement. Would like to see him swap over with McGoldrich a few times during a game. Think he might work the defence a bit more.

John 7: Missed a glorious chance that could have won the game for us. Held the ball up and layed it off very well all game. Prefer him in that position than McGoldrich.

 

All in all a much better team than this time last year. Had us down for a relegation scrap but not so sure now.

My feeling is, that if we played poopey tommorrow I think we could beat them. Last season we wouldn't of had a chance.

 

I'd agree with most of your ratings Mick and you confirm what I've been thinking about James, good young midfielder who can push the lads in possession at present BUT not a right-back - we really need a loan full-back if we have any chance of staying up. Not surprised by Gillett at all, he always impressed me as a younger player for the reserves and I'm amazed at some of the rubbish the club has bought in preference to him in the past. Height in central midfield is irrelevant if you are technically and physically strong. JP is right to want another striker (albeit one on less wages than Saga or Rasiak) as we short there but we MUST get a full-back rather than a centre-back. Why doesn't JP also loan out BWP to perhaps Luton or Aldershot in L2, just to get him some games and at that level he might score goals and gain confidence?

 

Sorry Mick, you are dreaming about the Skates, Chavski might have whopped them 4-0 but they are light years ahead of us and it would be embarassing, especially with Redknob in charge of them. I felt sick enough at Phillips scoring Saturday's winner, I think I really would spew if the Skates took us apart, which they would.

[Saint Without a Halo]

The first half performance was outstanding. The trio of Gillett, Schneiderlin and Llallana were combining superbly and the two fullbacks were getting forward and supporting the attack to great effect.

 

We definitely deserved to go in 1-0 up, and there were spells in the first half where Birmingham couldn't get the ball.

 

The turning point for me was John's miss at the beginning of the 2nd half. 2-0 and we could well have gone on to win. Then we conceded a very soft goal - letting Birmingham back into the game in the process.

 

We weren't as threatening in the 2nd half overall, but there were some very promising moves with a lot of passing and intelligent movement.

 

I'm was impressed with Llallana in particular, he really looks at home in the AM role just behind the striker, and he will be a key creative player for us this season if we can get the ball to him in the right areas. Schneiderlin looks a class act too, and well complemented by Gillett.

 

On the downside, surprise surprise, our fullbacks aren't strong enough. Although excellent going forward, they lack defensive strength. James was skinned by Owusu-whatshisface on a fair few occasions, and then later by Jerome.

 

That said, both James and Surman were excellent going forward, so if their defensive game does improve they should be ok.

 

My ratings:

 

Davis - 6 Had very little command of his area, which I'm sure was a factor for their first goal. However he made some awesome saves...same as always for KD I suppose

 

James - 5 Composed on the ball, and a threat going forward but was beaten all-ends-up by the left winger on too many occasions and it was no surprise that most of their chances came from crosses.

 

Surman - 6 Threatening going forward and better defensively than James. However his tackling was often wayward, and on more than one occasion he completely missed his challenge leaving the left flank completely exposed

 

Killer - 7 Very strong in the challenge and in the air, but got turned too easily on a couple of occasions.

 

Perry - 7 Great goal and solid defensively, an excellent partner for Killer

 

Gillett - 7 Full of running and won a lot of the ball, played some good simple passes and linked well with Schneiderlin

 

Schneiderlin - 8 Very classy player, great range and accuracy of passing. Has superb awareness and was strong on the ball throughout.

 

Llallana - 8 MOM for me. Quick, skillful, hard-working and had it not been for a very robust midfield led by Lee Carsley, he could probably have won us the game.

 

Holmes - 6 Some nice touches and good running off the ball. his delivery is also superb, with a great corner for our goal. However he has no pace, and will probably only be a threat if he receives the ball quickly when he gets in a good position.

 

DMG - 6 Looked threatening when he managed to burst down the wing and get the cross in. Dropped too deep when he switched to the lone striker role though and as such wasn't much of a goal threat.

 

John - 6 Should have scored with his header to make it 2-0 at the start of the second half. However he held the ball up well and was involved in some good link-up play with Llallana. He should start every game in the lone striker role IMO

 

Thomson - 6 Some good positive running, lots of pace, but end product was lacking - hopefully won't prove to be another Dyer in that respect

 

 

Overall, there is a lot of promise in this team, and I'm a hell of a lot more positive than I was after the opening home fixture last season. We played a team full of internationals and players with hundreds of Premiership appearances between them and for good periods of the game made them look ordinary. I only hope that the youngsters don't lose their confidence, and bounce back for the next game.

 

 

Agree with every word a very balanced view of the match as it unfolded!