Sheffield Utd 0-2 Saints - Match Thread

[the boy from saints]

13 hours ago, Chris cooper said:

Who remembers a stern John double against Sheffield Utd to keep us in the championship I  think over 10 years ago now .. last game of season pitch invasion at St Mary’s .

One of my favourite ever games!

[Jeremy Corbyn]

10 hours ago, Minsk said:

------------------------Forster----------------------------

KWP--------Bednarek---------Vestergard-------Bertrand

---------------JWP------------Diallo---------------------

-----Armstrong----------------------Minamino----------

--------------Ings------------Adams--------------------

Subs: McCarthy, Ramsey, Stephens, Salisu, Jankevich, Djnepo, Redmond, Tella, N'Lundulu

2-0 Saints

If we can line up like that, without rushing back KWP and Diallo then I'd feel quite confident, with Djnepo and Tella off the bench.

[Jeremy Corbyn]

7 minutes ago, the boy from saints said:

One of my favourite ever games!

Same.  Cramped in to my tiny uni flat watching pre-tin-foil-hate Le Tissier nearly fall off his chair in delight.  The whole Pearson stint was great craic, such a shame it was only a very temporary reprieve. 

[trousers]

10 hours ago, Minsk said:

------------------------Forster----------------------------

KWP--------Bednarek---------Vestergard-------Bertrand

---------------JWP------------Diallo---------------------

-----Armstrong----------------------Minamino----------

--------------Ings------------Adams--------------------

Subs: McCarthy, Ramsey, Stephens, Salisu, Jankevich, Djnepo, Redmond, Tella, N'Lundulu

2-0 Saints

Pretty much our strongest line-up,even when all players fit*, so, yep, this 100%

(*Yes, one could argue cases for McCarthy, Romeu and Walcott, but it's marginal IMO)

[Turkish]

Saint to win 2-0, Redmond double

[egg]

26 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Saint to win 2-0, Redmond double

Assists by Stephens with storming runs and a killer ball from his midfield role. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

We absolutely have to bin that high line when defending free kicks. Sheffield are quite a big side. Need to go man for man and drop a bit deeper. We can't keep riding our luck on this and hoping VAR will bale us out with marginal offsides.

[DT]

1 hour ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

If Redmond doesn’t play we have every chance of 3 points, if as I suspect he will start I may we’ll go for a long walk on the Common as I simply cannot watch him any more. 

Yep. Same. Seeing his name on the teamsheet is a massive disappointment to all who value keeping hold of the ball and generally not being shite

[Teddeer]

27 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

We absolutely have to bin that high line when defending free kicks. Sheffield are quite a big side. Need to go man for man and drop a bit deeper. We can't keep riding our luck on this and hoping VAR will bale us out with marginal offsides.

I don't recall the high defensive line costing us too many goals. From what I've seen we invariably catch the opposition offside. I might be wrong and stand to be corrected.

[the saint in winchester]

Would Sheff U fans be offended if I called them a physical side?

As such, not sure Salisu is our man for this. And, much as I love Minamino, think he may get crunched and disheartened. And Djenepo can only take so much.

Can't predict a side until we know who is fit for this. Hoping Diallo and KWP are there. Will feel much more confident if they are back.

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, the saint in winchester said:

Would Sheff U fans be offended if I called them a physical side?

As such, not sure Salisu is our man for this.

I'm not sure why you think Salisu isn't suitable for a physical battle.

[Green]

38 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

I'm not sure why you think Salisu isn't suitable for a physical battle.

He does look physically strong but I presume people are thinking he isn't up for it because of the way Calvert-Lewin roughed him up a bit on Monday.

[rudi7s]

2 hours ago, trousers said:

Pretty much our strongest line-up,even when all players fit*, so, yep, this 100%

(*Yes, one could argue cases for McCarthy, Romeu and Walcott, but it's marginal IMO)

agreed

[Matthew Le God]

22 minutes ago, Green said:

He does look physically strong but I presume people are thinking he isn't up for it because of the way Calvert-Lewin roughed him up a bit on Monday.

The commentator said that, but it didn't really happen.

[Saint86]

35 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

The commentator said that, but it didn't really happen.

Disagree, he was poor at managing DCL.

[Teddeer]

Salisu did whinge a bit and, whether he was hurt or not when accidentally slapped, he would do better to hide the fact. You never saw John McGrath letting on that a centre forward had hurt him!

[Convict Colony]

Ok lets start this optimism bandwagon back up again ahead of saturday.

I look at this team from the other day and i see NO ONE who would worry me as a southampton fan, they may say the same for most of our team except for Danny Ings but I'd think they would worry about JWP as well at least.

I see CB's and wing backs who could be flustered by our pressing and I dont see too much pace in midfield so assuming Diallo is back we have that advantage there as well.

For me this is a good looking championship team (hard working, bit of quality) so the question is can our current team beat this lot ?

I'm saying yes as I expect Diallo and KWP at least to provide the positivity and spark to raise the levels.

 

 

[suewhistle]

2 hours ago, Teddeer said:

I don't recall the high defensive line costing us too many goals. From what I've seen we invariably catch the opposition offside. I might be wrong and stand to be corrected.

I agree, I think we've been very disciplined and, let's face it, most offside decisions are marginal at this level. If anything we shouldn't be afraid of big forwards in these situations, but fast ones who have more chance of beating the offside trap.

Putting our fate in the hands of linos and VAR is generally a worry though!

[DT]

2 hours ago, the saint in winchester said:

Would Sheff U fans be offended if I called them a physical side?

As such, not sure Salisu is our man for this. And, much as I love Minamino, think he may get crunched and disheartened. And Djenepo can only take so much.

Can't predict a side until we know who is fit for this. Hoping Diallo and KWP are there. Will feel much more confident if they are back.

I'd have thought playing a pacy 'smaller' but skilful player like Minamino is precisely the way to go against big, slow, lumbering full backs. But it will be a balance. And yes, Diallo will be a big addition, as will KWP. Here's hoping. I'd play them at 80% fit...

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

The commentator said that, but it didn't really happen.

Nonsense. At least twice he was left on the floor needed treatment after losing an dual in the air to him. Calvert Lewin bossed him, so much so he got subbed off and was complaining about being roughed up to the referee. 

[Appy]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

The commentator said that, but it didn't really happen.

It definitely did happen, he was in trouble against him a number of times. 

[SKD]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

The commentator said that, but it didn't really happen.

Apart from the goal and every header after, you’re right. 

[Chez]

3 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

We absolutely have to bin that high line when defending free kicks. Sheffield are quite a big side. Need to go man for man and drop a bit deeper. We can't keep riding our luck on this and hoping VAR will bale us out with marginal offsides.

It's not just a high line, we are actually playing for offside. No one moves and we rely on attackers timing their runs badly. We don't follow runners, we just stand there. We have done it all season. Its a tactic that Ralf must have installed as we do it religiously.  I've moaned about it all season, but to be fair we haven't conceded once (I think) and I wonder if any other team can say that? However I would suggest that not conceding several goals has been down to nothing more than pure luck. There have been some incredibly tight offsides and huge batch of incredibly good chances, many of which I thought the opponent should have scored or done a lot better.

Maybe that has all been factored in to the decision to do this and I guess its hard to argue against stats...

[trousers]

Ralph says it "looks good" for KWP, Diallo and Takumi for this weekend

Edited 4 March, 2021 by trousers

[JRM]

4 hours ago, the boy from saints said:

One of my favourite ever games!

It was a good one, end to end battle, 3-2 win , and the pitch invasion where we celebrated staying up in the Championship!  Think our fan base had more realistic ambitions then . 

[Avenue_Saint]

6 hours ago, trousers said:

Pretty much our strongest line-up,even when all players fit*, so, yep, this 100%

(*Yes, one could argue cases for McCarthy, Romeu and Walcott, but it's marginal IMO)

Have to agree to disagree here.

 

i would have Salisu for Bednarek and Djenepo in as a 10.

I would play Minamino up front alongside Ings.

Just my opinion

[Harold K Steptoe]

2 minutes ago, Avenue_Saint said:

Have to agree to disagree here.

 

i would have Salisu for Bednarek and Djenepo in as a 10.

I would play Minamino up front alongside Ings.

Just my opinion

This....

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, Teddeer said:

Salisu did whinge a bit and, whether he was hurt or not when accidentally slapped, he would do better to hide the fact. You never saw John McGrath letting on that a centre forward had hurt him!

Sadly it has crept into the modern game that whenever a player is touched he has to throw himself to the ground and roll over several times all the while screaming out in agony at the top of his voice.

Yes Richarlison, I’m talking about you. And several others.

[Teddeer]

13 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Sadly it has crept into the modern game that whenever a player is touched he has to throw himself to the ground and roll over several times all the while screaming out in agony at the top of his voice.

Yes Richarlison, I’m talking about you. And several others.

It's embarrassing to hear big strapping footballers screaming like little girls at the merest of contacts. It is even more evident with televised games played with no spectators. These wimps/cheats obviously have no shame.

[Shroppie]

I'm firmly in the Bednarek ahead of Salisu camp.

Armstrong, Djenepo and possibly others won't play Saturday and Tuesday. I'm guessing Ralph will prioritise the first game as theoretically more winnable. I'd like to hope he'll rest Redmond, but he won't.

 

[trousers]

32 minutes ago, Avenue_Saint said:

Have to agree to disagree here.

 

i would have Salisu for Bednarek and Djenepo in as a 10.

I would play Minamino up front alongside Ings.

Just my opinion

Nothing wrong with disagreeing. All part of life's rich tapestry

[CB Fry]

15 minutes ago, trousers said:

Nothing wrong with disagreeing. All part of life's rich tapestry

No it isn't.

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

No it isn't.

Fair point... 

[redder freak]

47 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Sadly it has crept into the modern game that whenever a player is touched he has to throw himself to the ground and roll over several times all the while screaming out in agony at the top of his voice.

Yes Richarlison, I’m talking about you. And several others.

Imagine if you did that if someone touched you in the pub.

[Whitey Grandad]

10 minutes ago, redder freak said:

Imagine if you did that if someone touched you in the pub.

It depends what she looks like

[Whitey Grandad]

43 minutes ago, Shroppie said:

I'm firmly in the Bednarek ahead of Salisu camp.

Armstrong, Djenepo and possibly others won't play Saturday and Tuesday. I'm guessing Ralph will prioritise the first game as theoretically more winnable. I'd like to hope he'll rest Redmond, but he won't.

 

Save Redmond for Man City (Wednesday!) Pep apparently rates him and will be terrified of him

[Toussaint]

1 minute ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Save Redmond for Man City (Wednesday!) Pep apparently rates him and will be terrified of him

We could offer Pep a "buy it now" deal?

[the saint in winchester]

59 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

We could offer Pep a "buy it now" deal?

I'd prefer a "swap it now" deal. Redmond for (any of) their wingers - Mahrez, Silva, Sterling, Foden - I'd probably swap him for a bag of crisps right now.

I hate being critical, but I can't remember the last time I thought "Redders is playing well tonight".

[Lee On Solent Saint]

4 hours ago, Chez said:

It's not just a high line, we are actually playing for offside. No one moves and we rely on attackers timing their runs badly. We don't follow runners, we just stand there. We have done it all season. Its a tactic that Ralf must have installed as we do it religiously.  I've moaned about it all season, but to be fair we haven't conceded once (I think) and I wonder if any other team can say that? However I would suggest that not conceding several goals has been down to nothing more than pure luck. There have been some incredibly tight offsides and huge batch of incredibly good chances, many of which I thought the opponent should have scored or done a lot better.

Maybe that has all been factored in to the decision to do this and I guess its hard to argue against stats...

I agree most of it has been down to luck rather than judgement. Would we still employ it as a tactic if there was no VAR?

[hasper57saint]

Looking at the table its the three points we definitely want on Saturday. We can win 18-0 and stand still because the teams above us are at least four points ahead. Depending on tonight's results, irrespective of what they may be we have to win our next match. I live in hope as I have for many a long year now. Lets be positive and believe we can get out of this current mess. We've done it many times before and we can do it again .COYS 

[Billy the Kidd]

1 hour ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I agree most of it has been down to luck rather than judgement. Would we still employ it as a tactic if there was no VAR?

Not sure it is lucky if that was an effective tactic that hasn't, as yet, been breached. 

I'm sure it will be breached, but isn't luck the point where planning and preparation meet?

[Streaky]

1 hour ago, the saint in winchester said:

I'd prefer a "swap it now" deal. Redmond for (any of) their wingers - Mahrez, Silva, Sterling, Foden - I'd probably swap him for a bag of crisps right now.

I hate being critical, but I can't remember the last time I thought "Redders is playing well tonight".

You could say the same about alot of our players right now unfortunately. Adams, ings, bertrand, maybe even prowsey. Just hope they can raise it for saturday.

[Totton Saint]

Tonight's results have gone in our favour. For goodness sake take advantage on Saturday you Reds!!

I think Ralph is loosing the plot with his team selections and timing of his subs (Redmond last match  comes to mind).

Time is not not our side though.

 

 

[aintforever]

It would be good to put any relegation concerns to bed before the cup game with Bournemouth.

[suewhistle]

57 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

I think Ralph is loosing the plot with his team selections and timing of his subs (Redmond last match  comes to mind).

He didnt' look very happy on the touchline. I assumed Tella would be on a lot sooner for him 9and not Salisu) but i came to the conclusion that Redmond is so lacking in form and confidence at the moment that he left him on longer to avoid making him worse. Ralph can see what we see - he's no mug, so there must be a reason.

[Totton Saint]

10 hours ago, suewhistle said:

He didnt' look very happy on the touchline. I assumed Tella would be on a lot sooner for him 9and not Salisu) but i came to the conclusion that Redmond is so lacking in form and confidence at the moment that he left him on longer to avoid making him worse. Ralph can see what we see - he's no mug, so there must be a reason.

Surely taking steps to avoid relegation takes precedence over Redmond's feelings

[Convict Colony]

43 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

Surely taking steps to avoid relegation takes precedence over Redmond's feelings

Without derailing this into another redmond thread why don't footballers proactively work on how to manage their confidence with a sport psychologist given i hear this excuse again and again "low on confidence".

If I am redmond - I look at myself and realise I need confidence to play my best but my confidence is not robust, crowds can get me down, when its not going my way i retreat into safety first etc. 

Speaking with someone to put things into perspective etc about your job, what makes you happy and giving them techniques to use when needed surely should help them.

Someone on here must be a sports psycholgist or been to one at least and can inform a bit better ?

[JRM]

Have Sheff Utd appealed the red card? Ive read a few comments saying they have a number of defenders injured already, what's the true reflection of that? Reminds me a bit of Palace away first game of the season when they supposedly had no fit first team defenders and beat us 1-0. 

[John Boy Saint]

52 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

Surely taking steps to avoid relegation takes precedence over Redmond's feelings

When Redmond signed his contract extension, Nathan obviously brought his Mum along (His Mum who he lives in fear of "I have no tattoos because my Mum would give me a thick ear" or words to that effect). As Ralph mentioned in the associated interview following the signing that he had met Redders Mum at the same time, "I quite like her" - maybe she told him "my boy won't be signing anything unless you can guarantee he will be on the starting team sheet if he is fit" followed by a stern menacing stare. ☺️

[JRM]

On 03/03/2021 at 22:08, Matthew Le God said:

Nope.

You can get close close to evens for Saints and close to 3/1 for Sheff Utd.

Because even though our form isn't good... we are the better team.

Interesting, those odds seem quite attractive to back Sheff Utd, even if you take a form table over 15 games they are ahead of us so it's not a short term change of fortune.