Sheffield Utd 0-2 Saints - Match Thread

[Jeremy]

I've read the posts on here as usual. Not sure why posters criticise players straight after saints won. I'm just enjoying the 3 points for a nice change. The constructive criticisms about personal performances can wait for a while for me.  I think I'll join some of you later today and have a celebratory beer after a more enjoyable Sunday. 

Edited 6 March, 2021 by Jeremy

[Turkish]

23 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Don’t agree about Che after he scored was a real handful battered their defence . He should have done better with second chance but keeper made good save.

He led line really well

 

I agree. Thought he looked a different player after his goal, was a real handful. Let’s hope he goes on a run now, I think there is a good player in there but when his confidence is low he really struggles.

[Toadhall Saint]

32 minutes ago, trousers said:

He's not human, so, yes he can

T1000

[captainchris]

28 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I agree. Thought he looked a different player after his goal, was a real handful. Let’s hope he goes on a run now, I think there is a good player in there but when his confidence is low he really struggles.

Scored a very good instinctive goal. Missed two two golden chances ... 

The hype over the goal must not mask the overall, either today or in in his total contribution. We should aim high with two footed players. 

[Chez]

41 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I agree. Thought he looked a different player after his goal, was a real handful. Let’s hope he goes on a run now, I think there is a good player in there but when his confidence is low he really struggles.

if the two recent offside goals had counted he'd be on a good run right now. If's and buts though I guess. The one-on-one chance didn't look like a man brimming with confidence, despite having already scored. On another day we are really going to need him to score there. He has to step up now. I wonder if the pace fo Tella might open things up a bit more than Ings does.

[THINWHITEDUKE]

Stuart Armstrong immense, pivotal to the win, energy, effort and skill. Very impressed, proper footballer.

Tella, Arsenal’s loss our gain, with proper coaching Tella the Fella will be first pick on team sheet next season.

Che Adams, decent player, very much a ‘confidence’ type of player though.

Back four will get better IF they stay fit, this is the back four that got us to the top of the league remember!

Having Romeu back next season will be an improvement along with the cryo treatment and the psychological consultants.

Stay up is obviously the goal, I’m more hopeful for next season if the ducks are in a row!

 

 

 

[Give it to Ron]

19 minutes ago, captainchris said:

Scored a very good instinctive goal. Missed two two golden chances ... 

The hype over the goal must not mask the overall, either today or in in his total contribution. We should aim high with two footed players. 

Why are you ignoring the rest of his game today? Entrenched in your opinion?

Hype over goal? Why not he only scores scuffers  I thought?

Aim higher we have bugger all money he cost £15m that’s what we sign nowadays.

Criticize when poor today he wasn’t at all.

 

[hypochondriac]

Shame about motd. Virtually unlistenable. 

[woodsaint1]

2 hours ago, captainchris said:

Scored a very good instinctive goal. Missed two two golden chances ... 

The hype over the goal must not mask the overall, either today or in in his total contribution. We should aim high with two footed players. 

Christ. You clearly dont like him, but just take it on the chin that he had a very good game. Yes he missed chances and yes hes frustrating at times, but as I've said previously, hes a second striker and also offers alot to the team in hold up play, passing and workrate. If you look at other lower half PL teams 'second strikers' - the likes of McBurnie, Robinson, Joelinton, Wellbeck, Mitrovic, Wood, Fabio Silva, Ayew, Rodrigo - none of them prolific in front of goal, some dont even offer a hold up option. I'd take Che ahead of all of them and today showed why. Stepped up when Ings got injured. We do need better competition for that spot though. N'Lundulu and Obafemi dont seem to offer that

[woodsaint1]

Good professional job today, could have been alot more but the three points was all that mattered. Armstrong and Tella both excellent. Adams, KWP and JWP played well too. Thought Bertrand put a good shift in today and was notably emotional when Che's goal went in. Dont see that very often, but possibly disproves what some have said on here about him not caring, or just strolling around until his contract runs out. Perhaps he is extending after all but time will tell

[Verbal]

36 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Shame about motd. Virtually unlistenable. 

You prefer a womxn?

[austsaint]

2 hours ago, captainchris said:

Scored a very good instinctive goal. Missed two two golden chances ... 

The hype over the goal must not mask the overall, either today or in in his total contribution. We should aim high with two footed players. 

Come on Captain, take off the blinkers.  Criticise Che if he plays badly but today he showed he's a good player.  Sublime goal; a few good touches and flicks and very good hold up play which showed that against the weaker sides there's a case for the direct route to goal.     Thought the return of KWP, Minamino and Diallo lifted our quality and paved the way for the win.   Probably Minamino's best game in a Saints shirt - may have missed a sitter but much more involved around the ground and against the ball.   Diallo improved after a shaky start and KWP immediately showed the benefit of a mobile, specialist RB.      Armstrong sublime today with his movement and skill.  Well done to Tella for his run and work rate and some recognition for Forster who didn't have a lot to do but looks confident and mobile at the moment - the young goalkeeper at the other end definitely looks the sort of keeper Saints should be looking at.

Finally, a word of praise for the referee - calm, decisive and showed up some of his "celebrity" colleague whistle blowers today.

[Rivers]

So refreshing to enjoy the way an evening feels after claiming an important three points.

They caused us some problems, particularly in the earlier parts of the first half, pressing high and looking to impose a physical style on us, and making it difficult to play out the way we like. Not overly helped by an understandably 'rusty' Ibrahima Diallo. The positive effect this had for us though was in forcing us to revert more towards our earlier preference for mixing up our passing. Nathan Tella was very impressive, and a key part in giving us that out ball we've been missing. Raw pace and directness in behind. The ability to turn teams around.

It's why Ralph has often encouraged us to play this way, in drawing out the oposition, from simply sitting back and forcing us to break them down. And it is very clever in the way we set them up. Laying "traps" as the bossman calls them. We shift the ball to invite the pressure where we want it, so we can load up Vestergaard like a quarter back, to find the runners in the channels and break at pace. It's slow, sloow, slooow, lure them in, strike. And was great fun to watch earlier in the season during our hot spell.

So much easier to do when you have something more like resembling a first team out there to carry out your instructions.

What a massive difference KWP makes. Yes, because he is showing himself to be a cracking player for us, but just as much that he is the only player we have right now who can play there naturally. When the team loses that component, the whole system breaks down. For that reason alone, due to our current squad limitations, that pretty much makes him (at least temporarily) our most important player. Sooo good on the ball too, Kyle. So calm under pressure.

Just behind Nathan Tella though for me as Man of the Match. Tella gives us an option that can totally change the way we play. Back to the far more exciting Saints we saw a few months back when we were mixing up the gameplans nicely.

We never suddenly became a shite side overnight. We were decimated with constant batches of key players out injured, and royally fucked over by abysmal and absurd officiating decisions week after week after week. As players, that is soul destroying, and makes you feel like the deck has been stacked against you. It makes you question the point in busting a gut to put a specific gameplan in place, when you never get the just rewards for your efforts.

We grew into that game, and as the second half wore on, you could start to see the confidence being restored, and belief in the way we are set up to play. We just have a very thin squad as far as depth goes, and when all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are not present, particularly the right back one, the structure all falls apart.

A relatively comfortable win in the end, that probably should have been three, and certainly could have been more.

And a final word for another key difference-maker today. Apart from losing the plot a bit in the last 15 minutes or so, thought the referee Paul Tierney actually had a pretty good game. It cannot be underestimated the difference it makes when you actually get given free kicks for getting the shit kicked out of you all game. Most refs sadly don't seem to bother when it's Saints.

[Singapore Saint]

8 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Tella was a real bright spark today. Caused them loads of problems with his running and won plenty of FKs and got the penalty. His positivity and willingness to drive the ball into the box is something we have been sorely missing recently.

He looks like he's gonna be some player for us.

A very Arsenal-like player, surprised they didn't keep him.

[Convict Colony]

I have enjoyed Tella's play when over the last few games, that directness, the pace is such a welcome option at last and complements what Armstrong offers from the right.

Keep it up and become the best Nathan at this club.

 

[northam soul]

Thought their centre half should of been red carded for the penalty really.

when did that law change then ?

[Shroppie]

55 minutes ago, northam soul said:

Thought their centre half should of been red carded for the penalty really.

when did that law change then ?

It's been discussed many times. Changed a few seasons back. In the box, if it's deemed a genuine attempt to get the ball, it's the penalty plus yellow to avoid "double jeopardy". Only a red in the box if it's deemed cynical with no attempt to get the ball. (as was Bednarek, but overturned). Outside the box, both cases are red if it denies a goal-scoring opportunity.

Edited 7 March, 2021 by Shroppie

[Matthew Le God]

15 minutes ago, northam soul said:

Thought their centre half should of been red carded for the penalty really.

when did that law change then ?

5 years ago

https://www.premierleague.com/news/66192

[northam soul]

5 minutes ago, Shroppie said:

It's been discussed many times. Changed a couple of seasons back. In the box, if it's deemed a genuine attempt to get the ball, it's the penalty plus yellow to avoid "double jeopardy". Only a red in the box if it's deemed cynical with no attempt to get the ball. (as was Bednarek, but overturned). Outside the box, both cases are red if it denies a goal-scoring opportunity.

Damn it Shroppie you have ruined my MLG lure

[Shroppie]

9 minutes ago, northam soul said:

Damn it Shroppie you have ruined my MLG lure

So sorry. Fell into that one. 🤣 But rather smug that I beat MLG by 6 minutes.

Edited 7 March, 2021 by Shroppie

[Crab Lungs]

I’m starting to ever so slightly like this Fraser Forster fella.

[ErwinK1961]

3 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

I’m starting to ever so slightly like this Fraser Forster fella.

Holy shit!

[Matthew Le God]

20 minutes ago, Shroppie said:

So sorry. Fell into that one. 🤣 But rather smug that I beat MLG by 6 minutes.

Not when your answer was incorrect! 😇

The question he asked was 'when did that law change then?'

You answered 'changed a couple of seasons back' which is wrong.

The actual answer is 2016. 😉

Edited 7 March, 2021 by Matthew Le God

[Andy Durman]

What a player Adam’s could be if he had a left foot. Yes he’s finished brilliantly with his right foot today, but watch the highlights he could have finished KWP’s cross at the back post with his left foot from close range. I cannot believe he’s not being coached on his left foot.

Mane arrived with a poor left foot, but within a year of playing for Saints he became a balanced player.

All Adam’s decisions are influenced by his inability to use or trust his left foot. I cannot believe the coaching staff aren’t working on this with him as it is seriously undermining his development.

Will Ferry scored a great goal for the B team with his right because he’s working on being a balanced player.

I just don’t understand why Adam’s is not more developed with his left foot.

I also don’t understand why these type of questions are never asked at pre match interviews.

Edited 7 March, 2021 by Andy Durman

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, Andy Durman said:

What a player Adam’s could be if he had a left foot. Yes he’s finished brilliantly with his right foot today, but watch the highlights he could have finished KWP’s cross at the back post with his left foot from close range. I cannot believe he’s not being coached on his left foot.

Mane arrived with a poor left foot, but within a year of playing for Saints he became a balanced player.

All Adam’s decisions are influenced by his inability to use or trust his left foot. I cannot believe the coaching staff aren’t working on this with him as it is seriously undermining his development.

Will Ferry scored a great goal for the B team with his right because he’s working on being a balanced player.

I just don’t understand why Adam’s is not more developed with his left foot. I also don’t  understand why these type of questions are never asked at pre match interviews.

How do you know they aren’t?

Edited 7 March, 2021 by Turkish

[Andy Durman]

8 minutes ago, Turkish said:

How do you know they aren’t?

We don’t know Turkish, but the reluctance of the player to use his left is costing Southampton.

It’s a question I’d like Ralph to answer, rather than some of the safe questions Ralph is continually asked in interviews.

We’ll talk about the worldie for a long time, but I’d prefer he finished with left foot from 3m at the back post.

Edited 7 March, 2021 by Andy Durman

[Shroppie]

14 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Not when your answer was incorrect! 😇

The question he asked was 'when did that law change then?'

You answered 'changed a couple of seasons back' which is wrong.

The actual answer is 2016. 😉

That's a relief. I hate being right.

[Singapore Saint]

17 hours ago, nta786 said:

Redmond passes backwards there why not try to beat your man??

i’d appreciate if he tried and lost it.

Reverting to form.

[captainchris]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

How do you know they aren’t?

Simply because he only uses his left foot for standing on.... 

Obviously he is not being coached to use it for kicking a ball.. 

[Chapel End]

6 minutes ago, captainchris said:

Simply because he only uses his left foot for standing on.... 

Obviously he is not being coached to use it for kicking a ball.. 

Most people stand on both feet mate😁

[alehouseboys]

11 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Shame about motd. Virtually unlistenable. 

Managed to ignore that 'challenge' right at the end, bit surprised as they made a big thing about it on Final Score suggesting it would certainly be analysed later on MOTD.

Not the toughest opposition but a good performance, particularly second half, 2 great finishes but really the three points were all that mattered yesterday.

[Turkish]

11 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Shame about motd. Virtually unlistenable. 

I said when it came on about how dreadful the commentator was, mrs Turkish said only saying that because it’s a woman, by the end even she agreed how awful And annoying she was. 

[S-Clarke]

11 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I said when it came on about how dreadful the commentator was, mrs Turkish said only saying that because it’s a woman, by the end even she agreed how awful And annoying she was. 

God forbid anyone says anything publicly about her, you are put into the stocks and vilified.

It's nothing to do with them being a woman or a bloke, she is just inept and over excited. I cannot follow commentary when she's on it. It all feels a bit forced and fake.

For what it's worth, just so the 'sexist' brigade don't jump on this, I like Alex Scott as a pundit and feel she offers a lot more compared to some of the non-entity male pundits around.

[Turkish]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

God forbid anyone says anything publicly about her, you are put into the stocks and vilified.

It's nothing to do with them being a woman or a bloke, she is just inept and over excited. I cannot follow commentary when she's on it. It all feels a bit forced and fake.

For what it's worth, just so the 'sexist' brigade don't jump on this, I like Alex Scott as a pundit and feel she offers a lot more compared to some of the non-entity male pundits around.

Agree Alex Scott is very good, Karen Carney is alright as well. Both better than some of the male dross they’ve had over the years

[Totton Saint]

Bring on City!!

I thought Foster looks  a very commanding presence stood between the sticks.  His facial expressions are enough to make strikers hesitate.

[Totton Saint]

18 hours ago, LGTL said:

Honestly some of you need to get a grip about this Redmond stuff. 
 

A win, forgot what that feels like!

I noticed we passed to the opposition several times before Redmond came on. No one called the offenders out on here. The criticism of redmond is hysteria. I know he is off form but ........

[Jonnyboy]

3 hours ago, Crab Lungs said:

I’m starting to ever so slightly like this Fraser Forster fella.

He didn't have a save to make. 

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, Jonnyboy said:

He didn't have a save to make. 

Are saves the only thing keepers do? 

Organising the defence, being comfortable with the ball at your feet, catching crosses etc all reduce the opportunities an opponent has to build an attack resulting in a shot.

[Shroppie]

11 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Are saves the only thing keepers do? 

Organising the defence, being comfortable with the ball at your feet, catching crosses etc all reduce the opportunities an opponent has to build an attack resulting in a shot.

Catching crosses is not his strong point: he flapped at a couple yesterday and I prefer McCarthy in that respect. But otherwise he was sound, although he had little to do.

[John Boy Saint]

2 hours ago, Crab Lungs said:

I’m starting to ever so slightly like this Fraser Forster fella.

Seems this Andrew Sparkes has had a positive influence on Fraser for one his kicking out has been much improved. The other thing with Fraser, the bloke is a unit with an Albatross like wingspan so anyone looking to shoot at our goal has to think a little more about putting it out of his reach which you hope gives the defenders that little bit more of a window to snuff out the chance. 
McGoldrick looked to chip him yesterday without shooting over, Fraser just stood there and picked the ball out of the air.

[LiberalCommunist]

Good to see Fraser getting some praise. He's definitely a confidence player, so that could bode really well going forward. I really enjoyed having KWP back in the side yesterday, he makes such a big difference for us. I lost count of how many times he dribbled out from the back in the first half, and that's so refreshing to see,. He looked shattered after the hour mark, which was to be expected. If we can keep him fit, then we may well have a enjoyable low scoring not conceding too many end to the season. 

[Convict Colony]

yeah fraser was really good with feet and decison making yesterday

[redder freak]

Not sure that McGoldrick was actually offside for the one Forster saved. I think Vestergaard was playing him on. Maybe VAR would have given the goal if it had gone in. Good save.

Several good performances, adding up to a very good team performance, despite the Ings injury. Roll on City!

[itchen]

2 hours ago, Jonnyboy said:

He didn't have a save to make. 

He did and he made it well. Turned out to be offside but it was still a good save.

[Red]

6 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

I have enjoyed Tella's play when over the last few games, that directness, the pace is such a welcome option at last and complements what Armstrong offers from the right.

Keep it up and become the best Nathan at this club.

 

He already is

[Mr X]

2 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

yeah fraser was really good with feet and decison making yesterday

He has to keep his place for now, no reason to be dropped 

[Dark Munster]

8 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Not when your answer was incorrect! 😇

The question he asked was 'when did that law change then?'

You answered 'changed a couple of seasons back' which is wrong.

The actual answer is 2016. 😉

[Matthew Le God]

11 minutes ago, Dark Munster said:

A 'couple of seasons ago' is not 5 years ago!

Do you think you could call this a photo of a man and his couple of wives? 

Edited 7 March, 2021 by Matthew Le God

[Dark Munster]

6 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

A 'couple of seasons ago' is not 5 years ago!

a couple of

1. QUANTIFIER [QUANT of pl-n]

If you refer to a couple of people or things, you mean two or approximately two of them, although the exact number is not important or you are not sure of it. Unless you're MLG, in which case it's definitely less than five.

[benjii]

A couple is definitely less than 5 though.