Saints 1-1 Man City - Match Thread

[adrian lord]

Salisu was magisterial, nay imperious. Van Dyke on steroids. 

[Appy]

1 hour ago, The Cat said:

Away fan perspective on the pitch invasions and stewarding at the end. Interesting thread if you read it all.

 

 

 

The stewards made things worse but let’s be honest, this whole run on the pitch to get a players shirt thing is too common now, seems to happen at every game, as much as the stewards may have been heavy handed, none of it happens if they don’t go on the pitch. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

They can't win in this instance.  get it wrong (and it will go wrong) and fans/pundits/managers will be going apocalyptic on them for giving a wrong offside.

It does my f**king  head in. The moaning from pundits about “late flags” and stopping the game. If Lino’s don’t keep their flags down and allow play to continue then VAR will only rule out goals the officials thought were onside , it won’t allow goals where officials thought it was offside. 

[Jimmy_D]

31 minutes ago, Chez said:

It's a fair point, but it's much more down to luck than judgement that we haven't been punished far more. Sometimes the offside trap has been beaten and teams have missed the chance when it looked easier to score, others its been down to cm's and under the new VAR methodology wouldn't be offside.

Two goals in two games conceded from similar free kicks because of the ploy. Is it a busted flush?

I'm interested to know why we decided to use it. Is it used because our players simply can't or wont track runners?  did we concede goals when defenders did their jobs?  Are other teams conceding from this type/angle of long range free kick? I always thought that it's hard to score from that angle of cross. 

 

With VAR now, you’re not relying on the lino making the correct call, so playing the offside trap is far more reliable. We probably ran the numbers on it and found it was giving us the best chance of defending free kicks from those areas.

Remains to be seen whether we’ll need to change going forward, but that’s the nature of football that tactics evolve as counters spring up.

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

I was kind of thinking the same, slightly reckless, but to be fair it's a two footed block, not a two footed challenge and he didn't really endanger Broja

Yeah I guess. Would have been interesting if Broja had had the speed of thought to see it coming and nudge the ball away instead of trying to shoot. He'd have been in big trouble then.

[BERMUDASAINT]

My MOTM was the refs! Did a great job keeping city in check. I mentioned before the game the ref could be our 12th man, and they were! Quite a few decisions that would normally punish us were not, some of the big team bias was not there. I laughed at the way the ref ended the game, he was protecting the score. 

But not for our sakes, it was for the PL product that they were protecting. Having a run away leader is not good for the brand, much better to have a tight race for the title. I think this is why PEP was angry, he could see the refs taking 2 point from a game they would normally be handed the win.

The REFS with VAR made our day today, but I will remember it was not for us, It was for the PL.  Their ability to change a game must not be underestimated, and today we benefited from their plan. We had to play well to receive the good fortune, and we did, so the refs obliged us by being on our side just enough to hamper city.

[Singapore Saint]

17 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Lick my boot harder!

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

It does my f**king  head in. The moaning from pundits about “late flags” and stopping the game. If Lino’s don’t keep their flags down and allow play to continue then VAR will only rule out goals the officials thought were onside , it won’t allow goals where officials thought it was offside. 

But there have been situations where the flag has stayed down even though the attacker is clearly offside and then the defenders have conceded a corner for some reason. Shouldn’t the offside take precedence over the corner.

And that’s without the possibility of an injury occurring that could have been avoided.

[Yozzman]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I thought that too at the time but I can understand his uncertainty. Laporte may have been onside but he was supported by a vanguard of offside colleagues who would have made his attempt at claiming the ball more difficult. Technically they were not ‘interfering with an opponent’ under the modern interpretations but they were a distraction and were blocking his possible approach to the ball.

Laporte had it easy because his flanks were protected.

If Forster had come for the ball and then been impeded by one of the offside players they would then be interfering with play and the goal would be disallowed. 

I think it is reasonable tactic for a goalkeeper who comes off his line. With no attackers to impede him and the ball delivered over 30 metres he should be able to punch or catch every time. 

Most teams haven't coped with our high line but I think City may have given them the blueprint. 

[Verbal]

1 hour ago, adrian lord said:

Salisu was magisterial, nay imperious. Van Dyke on steroids. 

Christ that sounds awful.  His cockney accent was bad enough when he was drug-free.

[saintwbu]

25 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

But there have been situations where the flag has stayed down even though the attacker is clearly offside and then the defenders have conceded a corner for some reason. Shouldn’t the offside take precedence over the corner.

And that’s without the possibility of an injury occurring that could have been avoided.

In that circumstance it would suggest the linesman didn’t believe the attacker to be offside. The flag is to go up once the play has died, the ball going out of play is that point. If the linesman didn’t flag, then it wasn’t anything to do with the new rules, it’ll be that he missed the offside. 

[64saint]

46 minutes ago, BERMUDASAINT said:

My MOTM was the refs! Did a great job keeping city in check. I mentioned before the game the ref could be our 12th man, and they were! Quite a few decisions that would normally punish us were not, some of the big team bias was not there. I laughed at the way the ref ended the game, he was protecting the score. 

But not for our sakes, it was for the PL product that they were protecting. Having a run away leader is not good for the brand, much better to have a tight race for the title. I think this is why PEP was angry, he could see the refs taking 2 point from a game they would normally be handed the win.

The REFS with VAR made our day today, but I will remember it was not for us, It was for the PL.  Their ability to change a game must not be underestimated, and today we benefited from their plan. We had to play well to receive the good fortune, and we did, so the refs obliged us by being on our side just enough to hamper city.

Or maybe there was no hidden agenda and the Refs simply got it correct today.   Give them shit when they get it wrong, give them credit when they get it right though.

[The Cat]

Post game in the tunnel was interesting.

Grealish slapped Romeu who didn't react. Other people then jumped in to diffuse it.

Also the away team are meant to separate themselves over 2 dressing rooms because of covid restrictions buy Man City apparently refused and said they'd go into one and take the fine.

One of their fans also got headbutted outside the front afterwards. He was gobbing off and some lad nutted him.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

 

13 minutes ago, The Cat said:

Post game in the tunnel was interesting.

Grealish slapped Romeu who didn't react. Other people then jumped in to diffuse it.

Also the away team are meant to separate themselves over 2 dressing rooms because of covid restrictions buy Man City apparently refused and said they'd go into one and take the fine.

One of their fans also got headbutted outside the front afterwards. He was gobbing off and some lad nutted him.

I hope it's in the ref's report. I then expect the diving man-child will get a suspension and a fine from his club.

[Jimmy_D]

16 minutes ago, The Cat said:

Post game in the tunnel was interesting.

Grealish slapped Romeu who didn't react. Other people then jumped in to diffuse it.

Also the away team are meant to separate themselves over 2 dressing rooms because of covid restrictions buy Man City apparently refused and said they'd go into one and take the fine.

One of their fans also got headbutted outside the front afterwards. He was gobbing off and some lad nutted him.

Romeu probably didn’t even realise Grealish had done anything  

[Toadhall Saint]

24 minutes ago, The Cat said:

Post game in the tunnel was interesting.

Grealish slapped Romeu who didn't react. Other people then jumped in to diffuse it.

Also the away team are meant to separate themselves over 2 dressing rooms because of covid restrictions buy Man City apparently refused and said they'd go into one and take the fine.

One of their fans also got headbutted outside the front afterwards. He was gobbing off and some lad nutted him.

After slapping him did he hit him with his handbag?

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, saintwbu said:

In that circumstance it would suggest the linesman didn’t believe the attacker to be offside. The flag is to go up once the play has died, the ball going out of play is that point. If the linesman didn’t flag, then it wasn’t anything to do with the new rules, it’ll be that he missed the offside. 

That circumstance has already arisen several times this season.

[saintwbu]

Just now, Whitey Grandad said:

That circumstance has already arisen several times this season.

Yeah i’ve no doubt, but is more a reflection of a linesman’s ability than the rules. A linesman shouldn’t be ignoring offside, he should just be waiting for the attack to fizzle out before he raises his flag. 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Yozzman said:

If Forster had come for the ball and then been impeded by one of the offside players they would then be interfering with play and the goal would be disallowed. 

I think it is reasonable tactic for a goalkeeper who comes off his line. With no attackers to impede him and the ball delivered over 30 metres he should be able to punch or catch every time. 

Most teams haven't coped with our high line but I think City may have given them the blueprint. 

Yeah, right. If he had been blocked then that's probably true but a goalkeeper can be impeded without there being any actual physical contact.

There were at least two attackers who were in an offside position and who were moving towards where the ball was going to drop. In my day they would have been flagged offside. Don't they count as 'impeding' the goalkeeper? I view it as a deliberate tactic.

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, saintwbu said:

Yeah i’ve no doubt, but is more a reflection of a linesman’s ability than the rules. A linesman shouldn’t be ignoring offside, he should just be waiting for the attack to fizzle out before he raises his flag. 

These officials know what they are doing and they are doing what they have been told. In some cases the defender has put the ball out for a corner but because the attacker has not interfered the offside has been ignored. Had there been no attacker the defence would have cleaned up.

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

But there have been situations where the flag has stayed down even though the attacker is clearly offside and then the defenders have conceded a corner for some reason. Shouldn’t the offside take precedence over the corner.

 

It does. As soon as the goal threat is over the Lino puts his flag up if he thought it was offside. 
 

 

[JRM]

5 hours ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Read it - stewards in over the top use of force shocker. But if you don’t go on the pitch none of it happens and it’s illegal to enter the field of play - that will be the response of the club. Me? Sounds as if there was an over the top reaction from the stewards been happening for more years than I care to remember 

One of those , kid shouldn't go on the pitch but you can tell some of those stewards are on a power trip and think they're special forces or something, enjoy seeing those stewards get a slap feel sorry for more laid back ones getting drawn into it though 

[Sarnia Cherie]

Good for Romeu not reacting to Grealish, a big girls blouse with a hairband.

[JRM]

2 hours ago, The Cat said:

Post game in the tunnel was interesting.

Grealish slapped Romeu who didn't react. Other people then jumped in to diffuse it.

Also the away team are meant to separate themselves over 2 dressing rooms because of covid restrictions buy Man City apparently refused and said they'd go into one and take the fine.

One of their fans also got headbutted outside the front afterwards. He was gobbing off and some lad nutted him.

Surely Grealish could still get red card for that if any officials saw it? Hopefully Romeu just grinned and said is that all you've got? 

Didn't know we had a spare changing room. 

[OttawaSaint]

Makes me feel all warm and tingly thinking of that petulant little prick getting all wound up by Romeu bossing him all game. 

[Roo1976]

2 hours ago, BERMUDASAINT said:

My MOTM was the refs! Did a great job keeping city in check. I mentioned before the game the ref could be our 12th man, and they were! Quite a few decisions that would normally punish us were not, some of the big team bias was not there. I laughed at the way the ref ended the game, he was protecting the score. 

But not for our sakes, it was for the PL product that they were protecting. Having a run away leader is not good for the brand, much better to have a tight race for the title. I think this is why PEP was angry, he could see the refs taking 2 point from a game they would normally be handed the win.

The REFS with VAR made our day today, but I will remember it was not for us, It was for the PL.  Their ability to change a game must not be underestimated, and today we benefited from their plan. We had to play well to receive the good fortune, and we did, so the refs obliged us by being on our side just enough to hamper city.

Agree about the ref.He seems to be one of the better new ones that weve had on our games. They do seem hamstung on waiting for VAR though, almost as if

VAR is looking for the finer marginal calls to put the ref on the spot it seems. Sometimes it so stops the flow of the game its STILL frustrating. Good game and point .

[CylonKing]

Just seen the highlights, clearly offside for Man City goal. The offside players are interfering with play by drawing attention to themselves, moving towards the ball then stopping. If trophies are to be won by cheating the rules, I'd rather stay as we are to be frank. When we do achieve something, it has to be in the right spirit. If Pep thinks that managing is about thinking your way round the rules, that is not managing, it is a mockery.

[The Cat]

32 minutes ago, JRM said:

Surely Grealish could still get red card for that if any officials saw it? Hopefully Romeu just grinned and said is that all you've got? 

Didn't know we had a spare changing room. 

I guess he could but not sure if the ref saw it. I know someone who was in the tunnel yesterday and he told me this morning. All I know is that Romeu didn't react.

It's not a spare one as such, I think he said they normally use the players lounge as a makeshift second changing room. Strange if they did refuse when all other teams have used it. 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

It does. As soon as the goal threat is over the Lino puts his flag up if he thought it was offside. 
 

 

That hasn't been happening.

[Chris cooper]

If Grealish has slapped him in the tunnel and Turned the other cheek fair play to him..surley his team mates have seen it tho? Nothing else being reported about it .. find it hard to believe oriol has just ignored that !

Edited 23 January, 2022 by Chris cooper

[CylonKing]

3 minutes ago, Chris cooper said:

 .. find it hard to believe oriol has just ignored that !

Probably banked it for next time we play them and been satisfied in a good job well done! 😁

[manji]

4 hours ago, Appy said:

The stewards made things worse but let’s be honest, this whole run on the pitch to get a players shirt thing is too common now, seems to happen at every game, as much as the stewards may have been heavy handed, none of it happens if they don’t go on the pitch. 

The Premier should ban players giving shirts away and make it obvious that any fan running on the pitch or his parents gets a ban.The shirts would go into a draw consisting of fans that have attended the match. 

[Sheaf Saint]

59 minutes ago, Roo1976 said:

Agree about the ref.He seems to be one of the better new ones that weve had on our games. They do seem hamstung on waiting for VAR though, almost as if

VAR is looking for the finer marginal calls to put the ref on the spot it seems. Sometimes it so stops the flow of the game its STILL frustrating. Good game and point .

I think that was probably to our benefit last night though. Both checks came when we were under relentless pressure and they disrupted City's momentum and gave us a chance for a breather.

[manji]

18 minutes ago, Chris cooper said:

If Grealish has slapped him in the tunnel and Turned the other cheek fair play to him..surley his team mates have seen it tho? Nothing else being reported about it .. find it hard to believe oriol has just ignored that !

Best way sometimes, gets slapped by Romeau who then just stares at him. The BBC are reporting on it now.

[hackedoff]

5 hours ago, adrian lord said:

Salisu was magisterial, nay imperious. Van Dyke on steroids. 

And not as ugly.

[Lord Duckhunter]

28 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

That hasn't been happening.

It has. Time and time again Lino’s put the flag up once they know the move won’t result in a goal. If the defensive side have control of the ball, they don’t go back to the offside. However, if the attacking side have the ball, they do. You’re talking pony if you think the Lino thinks it’s offside and they then subsequently allow a corner. It doesn’t happen. 

[hackedoff]

2 hours ago, Toadhall Saint said:

After slapping him did he hit him with his handbag?

Would make a change from hitting the floor.

[spyinthesky]

Great credit to Saints for the way the team has dug in deep over two games against one of the best opponents that I can recollect in my many years of watching Saints.
I thought the way City played, their passing, movement, control etc was exceptional.
Another, often missed, part of their game was pressing and the fact that they chased after every dead ball to return it for goal kicks and throw ins etc to reduce dead time.
What was nice about yesterday's performance was that a lot of 'neutral' supporters from other clubs enjoyed the game and reckoned we are a decent side.

[cloggy saint]

32 minutes ago, manji said:

Best way sometimes, gets slapped by Romeau who then just stares at him. The BBC are reporting on it now.

Got a link? I can't see anything on BBC sport website.

[angelman]

8 minutes ago, cloggy saint said:

Got a link? I can't see anything on BBC sport website.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grealish-romeu-hasenhuttl-man-city-22843240

 

EDIT - looking about, its all over the place about "waiting" for OR. Nothing about a slap.

Edited 23 January, 2022 by angelman

[jemanson]

6 minutes ago, angelman said:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grealish-romeu-hasenhuttl-man-city-22843240

 

EDIT - looking about, its all over the place about "waiting" for OR. Nothing about a slap.

"The 26-year-old was a constant danger throughout proceedings at St Mary's and became a target for the Saints who fouled the England international on three occasions."  Three fouls? Poor lad. 

[Toadhall Saint]

11 minutes ago, jemanson said:

"The 26-year-old was a constant danger throughout proceedings at St Mary's and became a target for the Saints who fouled the England international on three occasions."  Three fouls? Poor lad. 

Didums did the nasty men upend you?

Edited 23 January, 2022 by Toadhall Saint

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

It has. Time and time again Lino’s put the flag up once they know the move won’t result in a goal. If the defensive side have control of the ball, they don’t go back to the offside. However, if the attacking side have the ball, they do. You’re talking pony if you think the Lino thinks it’s offside and they then subsequently allow a corner. It doesn’t happen. 

And and time again they don’t put it up. Which was my point.

If the defensive side have the ball and it was goes out for a corner for any reason the flag doesn’t go up. It happens. Often.

[Saint Keef]

Let's just face it. Grealish is an all round utter tosser and so far, his big move hasn't worked. I remember when we played Villa last year, the whole conversation on the concourse at half-time was about him, and what a wanker he is.

Changing the subject, make the most of Salisu whilst we have him, because if he carries on playing like he is......we ain't gonna have him for long. The man is a beast. He and Lyanco could become a very formidable duo. In saying that I thought Bednarek was very good yesterday, but once he got booked, Ralf did the right thing in hooking him off to protect the defence with Lyanco.

Great performance all round. To have played an "on fire" City team twice this season and not lost is quite something. Bring them on in the FA Cup Final!

[VictiAbNonem]

Grealish is an anagram of He's A Girl

[Lord Duckhunter]

54 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

And and time again they don’t put it up. Which was my point.

If the defensive side have the ball and it was goes out for a corner for any reason the flag doesn’t go up. It happens. Often.

FFS it’s not hard. If the Lino thinks it’s offside he doesn’t raise his flag until the goal opportunity has gone, or the defending side have control of the ball. It’s the same as advantage, if they then give the ball away, that’s their fault.  

You claimed  they never go back to the offside. That’s complete pony.  Broja was offside Sat, the Lino thought he was offside. Had the keeper saved his shot by tipping it round the post  (instead of it going in), there wouldn’t have been a corner, they’d have gone back to the offside . They do that every single time. 

[derry]

 

4 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Yeah, right. If he had been blocked then that's probably true but a goalkeeper can be impeded without there being any actual physical contact.

There were at least two attackers who were in an offside position and who were moving towards where the ball was going to drop. In my day they would have been flagged offside. Don't they count as 'impeding' the goalkeeper? I view it as a deliberate tactic.

 

5 hours ago, Yozzman said:

If Forster had come for the ball and then been impeded by one of the offside players they would then be interfering with play and the goal would be disallowed. 

I think it is reasonable tactic for a goalkeeper who comes off his line. With no attackers to impede him and the ball delivered over 30 metres he should be able to punch or catch every time. 

Most teams haven't coped with our high line but I think City may have given them the blueprint. 

I don't think MC worked it out apart from putting their best headers at the back while our best headers stayed in the middle. If KWP hadn't tried to block Laporte and slowed him down he would probably have been offside with the other two. It was KWP delaying him that kept him onside.

[Micky]

Don't know if it's been posted elsewhere, but a view from the prawn sandwich City / other fans in a box.  Different type of vlog, but some right condescending comments after they only managed a draw. 

 

[CanadaSaint]

What an arrogant, self-entitled collection of fuckwits. God forbid that I ever watch my team through eyes like those.

[Teddeer]

46 minutes ago, Micky said:

Don't know if it's been posted elsewhere, but a view from the prawn sandwich City / other fans in a box.  Different type of vlog, but some right condescending comments after they only managed a draw. 

 

Bunch of twats. They obviously don't remember when Citeh were shite before the Arab money came in and bought them success. We gave them plenty of pastings at the Dell and at Maine Road back in the day.  Remember giving them the run around and their fans singing 'what the f**k is going on.'  They have become so arrogant and for the old guy to say he hates seeing teams play like us was so condescending - without all that Arab money we'd still be beating them plenty of times but he failed to mention that.