Man City 0-0 Saints - Match Thread

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:26, austsaint said:

Perhaps someone can tell me why Ralph decided to employ an attacking formation today (and all credit to him) with two up front against the best team in the Country on their home patch in contrast to the more defensive set up against the Hammers last week at St Marys?  

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I suspect it was because he wanted to get the defensive system established before trying to be more expansive.

[Minsk]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:26, austsaint said:

Perhaps someone can tell me why Ralph decided to employ an attacking formation today (and all credit to him) with two up front against the best team in the Country on their home patch in contrast to the more defensive set up against the Hammers last week at St Marys?  

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My thoughts on this: 

Ralph was confident we could shut out West Ham at home with a more defensive side, but that we would have enough going forward to score (as Broja so nearly did, twice). However, if you play defensively away at City you will get picked off at some stage and won't have a chance to get anything in return. Look at their previous home matches this season: 5-0, 5-0, 6-3. They are on fire in front of goal. So might as well adopt the old adage of 'the best form of defence is attack'. To do that you have to be able to keep the ball up the pitch when you have the chance, which means playing with 2 strikers. Whilst we did slightly change formation a few times during the match it was pretty much Ralph's favoured 4-2-2-2 for the most part.

I would expect to see the same 4-2-2-2 next week, for both matches.

[Matthew Le God]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:26, austsaint said:

Perhaps someone can tell me why Ralph decided to employ an attacking formation today (and all credit to him) with two up front against the best team in the Country on their home patch in contrast to the more defensive set up against the Hammers last week at St Marys?  

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I'd guess because West Ham are more likely than Man City to hit the ball long to bypass a 4222 high press.

[Teddeer]

  On 19/09/2021 at 10:48, Charlie Wayman said:

Not doing much for Villa is he. Seemed pretty anonymous yesterday in highlight clips

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Apart from a world class pass with the outside of his foot which he spotted in a nano second and led to Bailey's goal.

[ErwinK1961]

  On 19/09/2021 at 13:00, Teddeer said:

Apart from a world class pass with the outside of his foot which he spotted in a nano second and led to Bailey's goal.

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Bit of an exaggeration.

[cloggy saint]

  On 19/09/2021 at 13:07, ErwinK1961 said:

Bit of an exaggeration.

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Not really, it was superb.

[Mr X]

Surely it won't be long before Redmond gets his England chance with performances like that....

[ErwinK1961]

  On 19/09/2021 at 13:18, cloggy saint said:

Not really, it was superb.

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Was good, wouldn’t have called it world class personally. 

He’s doing pretty well there so far, looks to have a point to prove. 

[Red]

  On 19/09/2021 at 06:32, JibMcdo said:

Jesus Christ. Deserves a permanent ban. 

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For expressing an opinion? I knew there was a reason I loved this place - just couldn't quite figure it out, so thanks for helping.

Democracy is great until you disagree with the majority view 🙂 Enjoy the day, unless that's a double ban comment, but then I'm not sure I would give a monkey's how many bans I got - yes, yes I know I should respect this great establishment much more but f it I live in the rebel country and refreshing to buck the trend at times!

[Chris cooper]

  On 19/09/2021 at 13:45, Red said:

For expressing an opinion? I knew there was a reason I loved this place - just couldn't quite figure it out, so thanks for helping.

Democracy is great until you disagree with the majority view 🙂 Enjoy the day, unless that's a double ban comment, but then I'm not sure I would give a monkey's how many bans I got - yes, yes I know I should respect this great establishment much more but f it I live in the rebel country and refreshing to buck the trend at times!

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Nice 😊👍🏻

[fanimal]

Having just watched MOTD (late back from the T20) that was unabashed big team bias on that VAR review 

can’t wait to read Glens blog on that one!

[Chapel End]

Not seen a mention to the great save from McCarthy from Foden before Sterling's offside effort 

[SFC Forever]

McCarthy has shown slightly improved form which I hope he maintains. That one save kept us in the game. `

Redmond must been playing for a chance Pep might buy him.

Overall I think the defence seems to be growing in confidence but I do not understand why Salisu was on bench. 

[Dellman]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:26, S-Clarke said:

Without doubt, that's my only fear with our start. We look competitive but we look so short up front and in the attacking third in general, moussa, redmond, adams etc.

Armstrong makes the right runs, his movement is good and sharp but I've not seen anything in his game 'yet' to suggest he will hit anywhere near Ings totals at this level. He doesn't seem capable of getting a goal out of nothing like Ings was. He's unfortunate to not have any time to adapt either, it's pretty much sink or swim for him as he was our big striker signing.

Would expect to see a bit more of Broja as we progress through the season though. 

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Give Armstrong a few weeks to adapt to Premier football, this Forum judges too quickly, Mane was written off as rubbish here, now he's got 100 goals for someone else.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:17, S-Clarke said:

I know there's a lot of chatter about Man City being 'shit', and yes, they were slightly below par - otherwise we wouldn't have stood a chance, but....we contributed to the fact they were below par and made sure that they had no easy game to coast through.

Pressure, tenacity, always a threat on the break so they couldn't relax etc. This wasn't a backs to the wall 0-0 by any stretch.

We've shown a different side to ourselves against West Ham, United and City - balls and steal to our game for a change. I think we're benefiting from it being early season and we're still fairly fresh and have full weeks to train etc, but it's still a refreshing approach.

We do need a win soon though, otherwise psychologically that hangs over you and it can become difficult to shake - as Sheff U found last year. We're definitely competitive though, a match of any team, I'm just slightly nervous that we don't seem to be showing the quality or ability to actually win these games.

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We need Stuart Armstrong back. We struggled to win games when he wasn't playing last season. That said, we struggled to win games when he was. 😄
But in all seriousness, he just seems to give us something that's missing at the moment. It would help is Ralph started playing the likes of Broja and Tella too.

 

[captainchris]

  On 19/09/2021 at 06:32, JibMcdo said:

Jesus Christ. Deserves a permanent ban. 

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You are talking out your backside my son. Allow people to have opinions and in this case a very factual and valid opinion and restrict your own opinions to matters of Saints.

Nobody should be banned except those like you who want one sided blind positivity and not great knowledgeable, diverse comment on this forum! 

[Saint Billy]

  On 19/09/2021 at 13:18, Mr X said:

Surely it won't be long before Redmond gets his England chance with performances like that....

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Motd highlighted his poor decision making when releasing his final pass. I noticed that A Armstrong was getting thoroughly pissed off with him. 

[Warriorsaint]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:56, Lord Duckhunter said:

Walkers reaction does it for me. I know the refs can’t go on players reactions but he clearly thought he’d given away a penalty, it was only when the red card was shown that he got upset with that decision. The clear course of action was penalty & a yellow card, with the modern ruling on double jeopardy the red card was a horrendous decision. 
 

Id still have taken 1-1 even against 10 men. Against most sides 1-0 and playing 10 men you’d expect to win, but city fired up with a sense of injustice, and nothing to lose are fucking dangerous, even with 10. 

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Were you at the game? Didn’t see you.

[Warriorsaint]

  On 19/09/2021 at 15:40, Saint Billy said:

Motd highlighted his poor decision making when releasing his final pass. I noticed that A Armstrong was getting thoroughly pissed off with him. 

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Reverse your criticism. Redmond was brilliant yesterday. Armstrong nowhere near this level.

[spyinthesky]

Read the match report in the Sunday Times today.

More or less 100% focussing on Man City and their shortcomings.

Hardly a word about Saints.

Still they did give 9/10 to Romeu who, I thought, had a very good game.

[Sheaf Saint]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:56, Lord Duckhunter said:

Walkers reaction does it for me. I know the refs can’t go on players reactions but he clearly thought he’d given away a penalty, it was only when the red card was shown that he got upset with that decision. 

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Yeah, this. And the look on his face when the decision was overturned was also a giveaway. He looked like a naughty school kid boasting to his mates that he had talked his way out of being given a detention.

[Warriorsaint]

  On 19/09/2021 at 15:23, Dellman said:

Give Armstrong a few weeks to adapt to Premier football, this Forum judges too quickly, Mane was written off as rubbish here, now he's got 100 goals for someone else.

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I know it was one game but he was the only player I didn’t rate. I really hope Im wrong but he seemed to be trying too hard. It didn’t come naturally to him.

 I hope he comes good.

[mikec]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:20, Chez said:

as soon as the ref is asked to review he knows that a colleague thinks he has made an error, so natural inclination is to change the decision.

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True.  How many times has a referee done a pitch-side review and then stuck with his original decision/non-decision?  No doubt, it has happened but it seems to be pretty rare.

[Sheaf Saint]

  On 19/09/2021 at 19:05, mikec said:

How many times has a referee done a pitch-side review and then stuck with his original decision/non-decision?  No doubt, it has happened but it seems to be pretty rare.

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Mike Dean did it at OT last season when he sent Bednarek off, and if he had actually bothered to watch the replay from other angles he would have seen it was a dive from Martial and not even a penalty.

[Saint Billy]

  On 19/09/2021 at 16:29, Warriorsaint said:

Reverse your criticism. Redmond was brilliant yesterday. Armstrong nowhere near this level.

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Um, read it, it was not my criticism. 

[alehouseboys]

  On 19/09/2021 at 17:02, Sheaf Saint said:

Yeah, this. And the look on his face when the decision was overturned was also a giveaway. He looked like a naughty school kid boasting to his mates that he had talked his way out of being given a detention.

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And while the ref was off checking the monitor, Walker who shouldn't have been on the pitch at that point, was in Ward Prowse's face while he was waiting to take the pen. Right decision to over-rule the sending off (for the clear penalty) but should have walked for just being a cunt.

Edited 19 September, 2021 by alehouseboys

[Sarnia Cherie]

  On 19/09/2021 at 19:28, Sheaf Saint said:

Mike Dean did it at OT last season when he sent Bednarek off, and if he had actually bothered to watch the replay from other angles he would have seen it was a dive from Martial and not even a penalty.

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Mike Dean was wetting himself with delight at being able to brandish a second red card in that game and leave us down to 9 men. No way was he going to change his mind. 

[GarrettIvo]

  On 19/09/2021 at 11:26, S-Clarke said:

Armstrong makes the right runs, his movement is good and sharp but I've not seen anything in his game 'yet' to suggest he will hit anywhere near Ings totals at this level.

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I don't think anyone is expecting him to are they? Certainly not the upper levels.

In three seasons Ings score 12, 22, and 7.

If, and yeah it is an if, AA gets to double figures that'll be more than decent.

[Sheaf Saint]

How in the hell is Garth Crooks still employed by the BBC? We just went and nullified the current champions, who had scored 16 goals in their previous 3 home games, and yet he doesn't pick a single Saints player for his team of the week. I thought Romeu would be a shoe in.

[Lighthouse]

  On 20/09/2021 at 08:44, Sheaf Saint said:

How in the hell is Garth Crooks still employed by the BBC? We just went and nullified the current champions, who had scored 16 goals in their previous 3 home games, and yet he doesn't pick a single Saints player for his team of the week. I thought Romeu would be a shoe in.

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Yeah but none of our defenders scored so he has to make room for, I’m guessing, Cash and Rudiger.

[Sheaf Saint]

  On 20/09/2021 at 08:58, Lighthouse said:

Yeah but none of our defenders scored so he has to make room for, I’m guessing, Cash and Rudiger.

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You're right about Cash.

[Lighthouse]

  On 20/09/2021 at 09:00, Sheaf Saint said:

You're right about Cash.

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Thiago Silva? He got one.

[Sheaf Saint]

  On 20/09/2021 at 09:06, Lighthouse said:

Thiago Silva? He got one.

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Yep. It's almost like there's a pattern emerging here 😂

[Saint Garrett]

I just assume it's actually an intern writing those articles, or they just look at who got the most fantasy football points....

[saintwbu]

People writing off Armstrong and saying he’s not as good as Ings, clearly have erased how bad Ings was when he first arrived. I remember both Brighton away at the start of 2018/19 and home to Bournemouth at the end of the season saying to mates I was with that he was finished, ran like an old man etc. Ings after those two games would’ve made Armstrong look like Mbappe. Give him a chance, aye.

[JibMcdo]

  On 19/09/2021 at 06:32, JibMcdo said:

Jesus Christ. Deserves a permanent ban. 

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  On 19/09/2021 at 13:45, Red said:

For expressing an opinion? I knew there was a reason I loved this place - just couldn't quite figure it out, so thanks for helping.

Democracy is great until you disagree with the majority view 🙂 Enjoy the day, unless that's a double ban comment, but then I'm not sure I would give a monkey's how many bans I got - yes, yes I know I should respect this great establishment much more but f it I live in the rebel country and refreshing to buck the trend at times!

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  On 19/09/2021 at 15:32, captainchris said:

You are talking out your backside my son. Allow people to have opinions and in this case a very factual and valid opinion and restrict your own opinions to matters of Saints.

Nobody should be banned except those like you who want one sided blind positivity and not great knowledgeable, diverse comment on this forum! 

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Guys, come on, lighten up a bit

[stevy777_x]

  On 20/09/2021 at 11:16, saintwbu said:

People writing off Armstrong and saying he’s not as good as Ings, clearly have erased how bad Ings was when he first arrived. I remember both Brighton away at the start of 2018/19 and home to Bournemouth at the end of the season saying to mates I was with that he was finished, ran like an old man etc. Ings after those two games would’ve made Armstrong look like Mbappe. Give him a chance, aye.

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I ll say it again. He doesn’t have the height or strength to make it in this league.

[Piran]

  On 20/09/2021 at 11:19, stevy777_x said:

I ll say it again. He doesn’t have the height or strength to make it in this league.

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You're probably right. Like that titch Jimmy Greaves, who never got anywhere due to his height and strength. Or Lionel Messi.

I'll say it again - Armstrong will be a success here. He's got that goal-scorers touch, just a matter of acclimatising.

All just my opinion, of course

[whelk]

Dermot Gallagher - no penalty right decision to overturn 

[Turkish]

  On 20/09/2021 at 11:36, whelk said:

Dermot Gallagher - no penalty right decision to overturn 

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These idiot referee analysts just back up whatever decision the ref has made. Peter Walton is a joke, i've never heard him say the ref got it wrong. 

[Fan The Flames]

  On 19/09/2021 at 19:50, alehouseboys said:

And while the ref was off checking the monitor, Walker who shouldn't have been on the pitch at that point, was in Ward Prowse's face while he was waiting to take the pen. Right decision to over-rule the sending off (for the clear penalty) but should have walked for just being a cunt.

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I don't see why Walker should be off the pitch if VAR are checking the penalty.

[Fan The Flames]

  On 20/09/2021 at 11:42, Turkish said:

These idiot referee analysts just back up whatever decision the ref has made. Peter Walton is a joke, i've never heard him say the ref got it wrong. 

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Totally this, it's a boys club that close rank. More so on decisions that were overturned by VAR.

[Saint Garrett]

Whilst there are still humans making decisions, VAR is questionable at best.

[trousers]

  On 20/09/2021 at 11:19, stevy777_x said:

I ll say it again. He (Adam Armstrong) doesn’t have the height or strength to make it in this league.

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Would it be ok to resurrect this post in 9 months time? I know people often object to people digging up old posts for their comedy value so thought it polite to ask in advance. Cheers

[LuckyNumber7]

Keith Hackett - VAR was wrong and should have been a penalty

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19591346.keith-hackett-says-var-completely-wrong-amid-walker-red-card/

Just shows it's all about a subjective opinion, there's no 100% right or wrong.

[Sheaf Saint]

  On 20/09/2021 at 11:43, Fan The Flames said:

I don't see why Walker should be off the pitch if VAR are checking the penalty.

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And I don't see why he should be allowed to stay on the pitch and enter into a debate with the referee. In that situation, he should be made to leave the field and only then return if and when the original decision is overturned.

Theres no doubt that his remonstrating with Moss influenced him to change his mind. He then went to try and psych out JWP while Moss was checking the monitor. 

He shouldn't be allowed to do either of those things in that scenario.

[stevy777_x]

  On 20/09/2021 at 12:12, trousers said:

Would it be ok to resurrect this post in 9 months time? I know people often object to people digging up old posts for their comedy value so thought it polite to ask in advance. Cheers

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Sure 

[stevy777_x]

  On 20/09/2021 at 12:16, stevy777_x said:

Sure 

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  On 20/09/2021 at 12:12, trousers said:

Would it be ok to resurrect this post in 9 months time? I know people often object to people digging up old posts for their comedy value so thought it polite to ask in advance. Cheers

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Could you also post one saying what you think of him so I can resurrect it too

[trousers]

  On 20/09/2021 at 12:16, stevy777_x said:

Sure 

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Cheers 👍

[trousers]

  On 20/09/2021 at 12:17, stevy777_x said:

 

Could you also post one saying what you think of him so I can resurrect it too

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I think it's too early to make a definitive judgement. I reckon the rational approach would be to judge him after, say, half a season. (FWIW, my gut feel is that he'll come good)

Edited 20 September, 2021 by trousers