Saints 1-4 Man City - Match Thread

[obelisk]

Against City just get rid. Long ball from defence for quick runners is allowed against this lot.

[BotleySaint]

City are vastly superior as expected given the level of investment. We've got to try and ride our luck. Its a long way back though..

[OttawaSaint]

We've only got one decent CB. How do we get another good one. Established ones are too expensive for us so we have to roll the dice each time. 

[SNSUN]

Heads up boys. Wishful thinking - that goal may stop them hitting a higher gear as they’ll think ‘job done’...

[Baird of the land]

Doubly annoying. Bad Mistake by stephens coupled with jammy livramento deflection on sterling shot.

Elyounessi has looked very weak defensively.

 

[bangkoksaint]

We’re anonymous in virtually every department. 

[OttawaSaint]

Maybe Mike Dean will help us get back into it so that he can fuck us over later.

Edited 20 March, 2022 by OttawaSaint

[Chez]

I've always been willing to give Stephens the benefit of the doubt. He's not a first choice, but not bad reserve. This season, whenever I've seen him he's looked slow and far too casual. The game looks too quick for him. Not sure we have better options mind.

[OttawaSaint]

The miss by AA was criminal. Hard to see him ever being EPL level.

[Chez]

Long has fallen over his own feet a couple of times now when receiving the ball.

[Chez]

Thats better. Nice skills and movement Saints.

[Dman]

Just now, OttawaSaint said:

The miss by AA was criminal. Hard to see him ever being EPL level.

Just looks so far below it, doesn’t he. Only been 20 minutes, granted, but I think that scuffed shot has been his only touch? 

[Sheaf Saint]

Just now, Chez said:

I've always been willing to give Stephens the benefit of the doubt. He's not a first choice, but not bad reserve. This season, whenever I've seen him he's looked slow and far too casual. The game looks too quick for him. Not sure we have better options mind.

His form up until getting injured at City was good. Usually when he has a decent run in the side he finds some consistency. But when he comes in every now and again, he always seems to have a mistake in him. 

[CanadaSaint]

1 minute ago, OttawaSaint said:

We've only got one decent CB. How do we get another good one. Established ones are too expensive for us so we have to roll the dice each time. 

Bednarek can defend but not pass, Stephens can pass but not defend. We desperately need someone who can do both adequately. He doesn’t need to be Salisu quality, just not a recurring source of screw-ups.

[Maggie May]

Oh dear.

[Dark Munster]

Mike Dean winning the midfield battle for City. 

[Mr X]

Wrong decision to start AA...... there hopefully he will score now! 

[Sheaf Saint]

Just now, Dman said:

Just looks so far below it, doesn’t he. Only been 20 minutes, granted, but I think that scuffed shot has been his only touch? 

And he snatched at that shot just now after a good build up. 

[Lighthouse]

Armstrong just has no confidence when he shoots. Needs playing time and a goal, badly.

[OttawaSaint]

Ugh, what was that?! Long should have shot. AA's confidence is shot. Left out for Redmond, Smallbone, it's no wonder. He's not doing himself any favours.

[Edmonton Saint]

Shocking again from A.Armstrong

[HKsaint]

Is AA intentional?

[Manuel]

Stephens has forgotten how to kick a football.

[Sarisbury Saint]

Long and AA just not showing enough quality on the ball.

[Dman]

Just now, Lighthouse said:

Adam’s just has no confidence when he shoots. Needs playing time and a goal, badly.

Has he done enough to justify game time? It’s not been a good start for him, can see him getting hooked at half time if the next 20 minutes go the way as the first. 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, OttawaSaint said:

The miss by AA was criminal. Hard to see him ever being EPL level.

Poor strike and poor finish, but criminal?

Now that's a poor finish....there's a pattern emerging.

Technique/confidence is not there. Needs a goal.

 

[Edmonton Saint]

Stephens is terrible. Why are we giving this joker a new contract ?

[SW5 SAINT]

Oscar for Grealish…..

[sydney_saint]

Got two non scoring forwards, and unsurprisingly got two forwards who don't look like scoring. Can't fault workrate, but when the best partnership this season is sitting on the bench, got to ask questions

[obelisk]

Saints with a let off.

[Sheaf Saint]

How is that not a foul on KWP? 

Oh it's Dean isn't it. 

Edited 20 March, 2022 by Sheaf Saint

[OttawaSaint]

Just now, Chez said:

Poor strike and poor finish, but criminal?

Now that's a poor finish....there's a pattern emerging.

Technique/confidence is not there. Needs a goal.

 

Maybe criminal was a poor choice but that kind of chance is bread and butter for most forwards, just guide it past the keeper. An easy chance.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Very nearly going 2 down.

 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, DarrenLeTiss said:

Stephens is terrible. Why are we giving this joker a new contract ?

Is he overweight? He just doesn't look the same player as a year or two ago.

[Jonnyboy]

Embarrassing stuff from the new starters. It's on Ralph. 

[Mr X]

Not sure on RHs thinking we could have been 1-0 up with broja or Adams on the end of those chances then frustrated city for an hour or so before bringing on long and AA to run at them for the last 20 mins 

[OttawaSaint]

We should remind City their bogey team are waiting for them (Palace), might throw them off their game.

[CanadaSaint]

If we can just hang in there, I can see this being a game of two different halves.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, OttawaSaint said:

Maybe criminal was a poor choice but that kind of chance is bread and butter for most forwards, just guide it past the keeper. An easy chance.

I don't think it was bread and butter, but he couldn't have hit it much worse. I honestly don't understand how Broja is not picked ahead of these two. Maybe off the bench he will help us draw level.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

couldn;t really get the ball beyond our box there, with it being eventually hit out of play by the keeper.

[Chez]

Just now, CanadaSaint said:

If we can just hang in there, I can see this being a game of two different halves.

yes CS. That's the spirit. 

[OttawaSaint]

1 minute ago, Mr X said:

Not sure on RHs thinking we could have been 1-0 up with broja or Adams on the end of those chances then frustrated city for an hour or so before bringing on long and AA to run at them for the last 20 mins 

Agree. RH should have access to a time machine for times like this...

Edited 20 March, 2022 by OttawaSaint

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Just now, CanadaSaint said:

If we can just hang in there, I can see this being a game of two different halves.

Hopefully a poor half followed by a great half, rather than a poor half being followed by an appaling one. 🙂

[bangkoksaint]

3 minutes ago, sydney_saint said:

Got two non scoring forwards, and unsurprisingly got two forwards who don't look like scoring. Can't fault workrate, but when the best partnership this season is sitting on the bench, got to ask questions

Absolutely. Appears like another one of Ralph’s freakish team selections with him trying to be too clever. Got away with it v WH but not today. For me this is why we’ll never win anything under him or break the top ten. Also another reason why he won’t be a top top manager.

[HKsaint]

If the two chances were given to Broja or Ings, he would have scored twice easily. 

[Chez]

I know I am preaching the choir here, but KWP, fucking hell.  He seems to do things that impress me every week. Great skills there,.

[Mr X]

We've basically started with our reserve strikers 

[obelisk]

Don't see the point in fannying around with the ball in defence against this lot. It's going to go long in the end, hopefully before making an inevitable mistake.

[Dman]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

I don't think it was bread and butter, but he couldn't have hit it much worse. I honestly don't understand how Broja is not picked ahead of these two. Maybe off the bench he will help us draw level.

Exactly. Regardless of how quiet his last 3 games have been, he’s still much more of a goal threat than these 2. 
 

This game was set up for him at 0-0 to run in behind on the counter attack. 

Edited 20 March, 2022 by Dman

[CB Fry]

That's why Long is in the team.