Saints 0-1 Aston Villa

[The Kraken]

4 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Was that a foul? Never left a stadium feeling this cheated but think Elyounoussi must have stood on his foot from the on screen replay?

It was a harsh call but you can see why it was given, Elmo leant into his back with his elbow, the defender made the most of it. Once it went to var it was always going to be given.

[SaintZamboni]

That was a dire game of football that I had resigned to being 0-0 after about half an hour. Villa were better than us with the ball but I didnt think we were overly troubled. If our goals stands, which I believe it should, I think we hold on to win. 

Bazunu was poor again.

Gap between midfield and forwards was too big today and we lost everything in there.

Referee was appalling. 

[Wade Garrett]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Soooooo Diallo has been absolutely slated on here

yet Micheal Dawson has just said him and Lavia were brilliant breaking things up. 
 

who is right, the former England international or the people thumping away at their keyboards watching it on a stream?

Trouble is, every time he won the ball he gave it straight back to them.

[Maggie May]

Let’s face it, we were never going to beat Villa. 

Aside from a great spell of beating them after our promotion when they were truly shite, it’s inherent in the club’s DNA to lose to them. 

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

What’s the point of posting this? Like did you watch the game?

what do you think the point is? It’s a forum a place for discussion 

No I didn’t. In simply pointing out that an ex England international has said Diallo was brilliant yet every time I looked in this thread during the game people were saying how shit Diallo was. Who is right?

Edited 21 January, 2023 by Turkish

[Saint Matty 76]

Just now, Turkish said:

what do you think the point is?

No I didn’t. In simply pointing out that an ex England international has said Diallo was brilliant yet every time I looked in this thread during the game people were saying how shit Diallo was. Who is right?

Maybe shut up then?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

I missed the five minutes around the goal. So, will have to see that later.

Apart from that...

We had the ball in the net, but it was carelessly offside from Che. He fluffed his shot, but KWP followed up to put it in.

We had the ball in the net again, but VAR was conned into giving the foul. From their perspective, they saw both players looking at the ball. there's an arm, there's contact and the player, still looking at the ball moves forward. From the player's point of view, he feels the contact, makes an exaggerated move forward and then falls over to complete the theatrics.

We didn't create an awful lot, beyond that. But we're not set up to score shedfuls of goals. Any of those 2 would have got us a point. As either would have put us in the lead, we'll never know if we would have caught Villa pushing up.

We did have little spells. Edozie got into good positions early on, before Villa saw the danger and closed that space. We didn't really take advantage of the best parts of his game. He should have been an outlet to pin them back, while AA worked like a terrier on the other side, in an Ely type role.

A forward JWP and KWP work really well together, as they always have done. That's one of the pluses we have in the team.

We looked a bit isolated in attack, and sometimes we had that whole line being taken out by Villa passing through them.

We do look disjointed. Lyanco and Diallo are not first choices. We lack steel in the middle to compliment Lavia and definitely lack a finisher. It's the same problems we've had for a while. The striker in particular. If SR don't want to/ can't address those areas with urgency, and we've waited this long, then we're not going to get the points. Which has been clear to absolutely everyone, since before NJ stepped onto the training ground. If the owners want to faff about for another fortnight and not get in reinforcements, then they should know where the fingers of blame are going to point when we go down.

We looked more than capable of keeping a direct Villa at bay. We were a lot more vulnerable when they started to pass through our centre. Again, a Romeu figure is a massive miss. And a centre forward who can lead that line, is another.

AA works hard and Ely is versatile and can do a job. But it's a job to stop the opponents, rather than offering a genuine creative threat. They ahve their place in the squad, just as Shane Long did. But we have to hope that the new signings can quickly start to make a difference in this side.

We have clear weaknesses in the side, from players who would normally be squad players to the rawness of some of the youngsters. It's tough for the attacking ones in particualr. Edozie's touch and decision making isn;t all it could be. But he's a kid, and that's what you're going to get. Mara's is the same. But I'd not expect anything else at that stage. But, when you need players to make the correct decisions because of where we are, it's very frustrating to see. But there are reasons we are where we are that are well beyond Mara making a poor pass.

[niceandfriendly]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Soooooo Diallo has been absolutely slated on here

yet Micheal Dawson has just said him and Lavia were brilliant breaking things up. 
 

who is right, the former England international or the people thumping away at their keyboards watching it on a stream?

He had some really good moments. And some really dreadful ones. I wouldn’t take Michael fucking Dawsons opinion as gospel regardless. 

[FarehamSaintJames]

Currently at work, saw the score at HT and just seen the final score now.

How did we play? Set up etc? Poor/good performances? Without reading back through ten pages or so.

Preferably someone level headed who isn’t currently throwing their toys out the pram. 👍🏻

[FarehamSaintJames]

1 minute ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I missed the five minutes around the goal. So, will have to see that later.

Apart from that...

We had the ball in the net, but it was carelessly offside from Che. He fluffed his shot, but KWP followed up to put it in.

We had the ball in the net again, but VAR was conned into giving the foul. From their perspective, they saw both players looking at the ball. there's an arm, there's contact and the player, still looking at the ball moves forward. From the player's point of view, he feels the contact, makes an exaggerated move forward and then falls over to complete the theatrics.

We didn't create an awful lot, beyond that. But we're not set up to score shedfuls of goals. Any of those 2 would have got us a point. As either would have put us in the lead, we'll never know if we would have caught Villa pushing up.

We did have little spells. Edozie got into good positions early on, before Villa saw the danger and closed that space. We didn't really take advantage of the best parts of his game. He should have been an outlet to pin them back, while AA worked like a terrier on the other side, in an Ely type role.

A forward JWP and KWP work really well together, as they always have done. That's one of the pluses we have in the team.

We looked a bit isolated in attack, and sometimes we had that whole line being taken out by Villa passing through them.

We do look disjointed. Lyanco and Diallo are not first choices. We lack steel in the middle to compliment Lavia and definitely lack a finisher. It's the same problems we've had for a while. The striker in particular. If SR don't want to/ can't address those areas with urgency, and we've waited this long, then we're not going to get the points. Which has been clear to absolutely everyone, since before NJ stepped onto the training ground. If the owners want to faff about for another fortnight and not get in reinforcements, then they should know where the fingers of blame are going to point when we go down.

We looked more than capable of keeping a direct Villa at bay. We were a lot more vulnerable when they started to pass through our centre. Again, a Romeu figure is a massive miss. And a centre forward who can lead that line, is another.

AA works hard and Ely is versatile and can do a job. But it's a job to stop the opponents, rather than offering a genuine creative threat. They ahve their place in the squad, just as Shane Long did. But we have to hope that the new signings can quickly start to make a difference in this side.

We have clear weaknesses in the side, from players who would normally be squad players to the rawness of some of the youngsters. It's tough for the attacking ones in particualr. Edozie's touch and decision making isn;t all it could be. But he's a kid, and that's what you're going to get. Mara's is the same. But I'd not expect anything else at that stage. But, when you need players to make the correct decisions because of where we are, it's very frustrating to see. But there are reasons we are where we are that are well beyond Mara making a poor pass.

 

Just now, FarehamSaintJames said:

Currently at work, saw the score at HT and just seen the final score now.

How did we play? Set up etc? Poor/good performances? Without reading back through ten pages or so.

Preferably someone level headed who isn’t currently throwing their toys out the pram. 👍🏻

You answered me within a second haha.

Thank you!

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, FarehamSaintJames said:

Currently at work, saw the score at HT and just seen the final score now.

How did we play? Set up etc? Poor/good performances? Without reading back through ten pages or so.

Preferably someone level headed who isn’t currently throwing their toys out the pram. 👍🏻

Lots of huff and puff but Bazunu played shite (goal not necessarily his fault, but his overall game was terrible) and we have nothing going forward

We had a goal ruled out that should never have been though

[niceandfriendly]

2 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Maybe shut up then?

He’s only asking a question to be fair. 

[eurosaint]

The ref was extremely inexperienced (8 PL matches) and it showed ! Clearly never played the game in his life as he blew his whistle every time a player went down and claimed for it…

The disallowed goal was right in front of us and I saw nothing untoward ! The Villa players surrounded the ref and may well have influenced his decision after looking at the monitor !!

A draw would have been fairer !!

[Roo1976]

14 minutes ago, derry said:

There were several standout players for Saints today. Firstly a shoutout for Diallo who managed to produce some of the most dangerous AV attacks by giving the ball away. The prize for stupidity has to go to Elyonoussi for his shove in the players back just before the disallowed goal. The second prize goes to Mara for a succession of stupid pushes especially for the one resulting in Watkin's goal. He wasn't alone Armstrong was doing it all afternoon. Finally Che Adams for doing nothing for an hour including a stupid offside then missing his kick completely. We've just bought a goalscorer in Orsic so why don't we play him. And definitely finally after lining up for the free kick why didn't we hold our line. The whole Villa team would have been offside. Instead we all went backwards and Lyanco's shoulder put Watkins onside.

I dont think ELY shoved the player rather than it was disallowed for standing in his foot , i may be wrong but very bloody harsh. How does he keep getting involved? JUST WATCHED LAST 20 MINS OF THE STREAM AS WE SCORED AND WE ARE WAY WAY OFF THE PACE AND QUALITY NEEDED TO HAUL OURSELVES OUT OF THE MESS. sADLY LIKE MOST I FEAR WERE DOWN BUT HOPE WERE NOT .sORRY caps. bollox anyway

[gammon cheeks]

Tough .physical game....did not deserve to lose ! We need to sign a striker to get us out this mess otherwise we are going down. 

[Saint Matty 76]

4 minutes ago, niceandfriendly said:

He’s only asking a question to be fair. 

No he isn’t. He’s not watched the game and deliberately hopped on here to try and wind people up who have. Quite clearly.

[Saint Matty 76]

10 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

It was a harsh call but you can see why it was given, Elmo leant into his back with his elbow, the defender made the most of it. Once it went to var it was always going to be given.

I don’t think the elbow part is a foul, it looks like Elyounoussi stamps on the Villa players heel.

Bit of a gutting call but I can see why it was given as well, after seeing the replays.

[OttawaSaint]

Worrying.

We just have too many mediocre players in the starting XI. They do some good things like a pass or tackle every now or then but the rest of the time it's fluffing passes, committing silly fouls, losing possession, not shooting etc.

To win we need a bit of luck or a decision to go our way. 

Each game you can see it coming. I lost count of saying "phew, we got away with one there". Eventually even the weaker teams or teams had having an off day will take advantage of one of our mistakes. Rince and repeat nearly every game.

We're fooked unless we somehow pull a rabbit out if the hat in the transfer window. 

Then I read on here that we want to replace one if our 10s with another non scoring 10 and waste $20M that could go towards a decent striker. 

We're fooked!

Edited 21 January, 2023 by OttawaSaint

[Wade Garrett]

3 minutes ago, gammon cheeks said:

Tough .physical game....did not deserve to lose ! We need to sign a striker to get us out this mess otherwise we are going down. 

We certainly didn’t deserve to win.  It was another tepid boring fucking performance.  We are going down with an absolute whimper under a fucking shite manager who thinks the sun shines out of his own arsehole.

[niceandfriendly]

5 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

No he isn’t. He’s not watched the game and deliberately hopped on here to try and wind people up who have. Quite clearly.

Yeh, maybe you’re right. Not a very good attempt at winding people up though, as anyone who watched the game would know that Diallo did break up the game well at times, and gave the ball away terribly an awful lot. So a very mixed bag with more bad than good. 

Edited 21 January, 2023 by niceandfriendly

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, niceandfriendly said:

He had some really good moments. And some really dreadful ones. I wouldn’t take Michael fucking Dawsons opinion as gospel regardless. 

Why? He talks a lot of sense. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Soooooo Diallo has been absolutely slated on here

yet Micheal Dawson has just said him and Lavia were brilliant breaking things up. 
 

who is right, the former England international or the people thumping away at their keyboards watching it on a stream?

Michael Dawson spent much of the last couple of decades repeatedly getting hit on the head, every day. The people here, repeadedly hit their heads on their keyboards  watching the team. But only once a week. 🙂

 

Diallo has strengths to his game. I think he quietly takes up some decent positions. He provided cover when Villa were more direct. They all struggled a lot more when Villa started passing through us.

We're playing some low possession stuff. When he's further back (which we did a bit, just to stop those quick Villa passes, and sees not a lot ahead of him, some of his passing and decision making lands us in trouble. He's just another player not quite good enough to take up a specific role in the team, and who gets caught out by similar weaknesses elsewhere. If I were to put him anywhere, it would be where we put JWP. But there's no comparison between the two. So Diallo gets different duties, and isn't great at all of them.

That's my thought on it, anyway.

[Saint Shady]

Not really surprised we lost this. After 3 wins in a row I half expected this result. I do now think we will just about stay up as we will get points elsewhere. Luckily there is a lot of other shite teams in the league. We have lost against the teams where on paper at least the wins should have come from but after the recent wins I think they could come from anywhere. We are so unpredictable and the players can blow hot and cold from one game to another. Not many are consistant. Also Diallo is shit and plays ok so rarely there is no point in him. Bazunu has potential but is inexperienced and looks nervous and sloppy and he’s not gonna help us at all this season. Surprised the new guys didn’t come on at halftime or by the hour mark. Still the league is still so tight and win the next game and we’re still right in the fight. 

[The Kraken]

3 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

I don’t think the elbow part is a foul, it looks like Elyounoussi stamps on the Villa players heel.

Bit of a gutting call but I can see why it was given as well, after seeing the replays.

Fair enough, didn’t see that. Personally I thought the elbow in itself was enough to convince a ref (harsh, but can understand why it might be given), but if he’s trod on his foot as well and it’s given for that then so be it.

[Crab Lungs]

Probably should have been a draw, just about. Marginal decisions, fine margins during the game. Neither team were notably impressive and like someone said, a lot of huff and puff but not much in terms of quality.

Having said that, if anyone was going to edge it it was Villa, who just have that momentum and that little bit more quality in their side.

Certainly not a performance to ring alarm bells like Forest etc, but an annoying opportunity missed to close the gap.

[niceandfriendly]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

Why? He talks a lot of sense. 

Well I’m glad to hear it. Perhaps I’m being harsh on him. He’s right that Diallo broke up the game at times but if he didn’t mention how sloppy he was in possession in dangerous areas then he should have done. 

[Wade Garrett]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

Why? He talks a lot of sense. 

Honestly, if you watched the game yourself you really wouldn’t be praising Diallo.  He was crap.

I heard Jo Tessem on Solent after the game saying how bad Diallo was and basically how clueless Jones is.  I agree with both his points.

Two ex-pros with vastly different opinions.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

12 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

 

You answered me within a second haha.

Thank you!

My job here is done... rides off into sunset hitting two coconut halves together to make a horse noise... 🙂

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

FA CUP WIN

AND

GO DOWN?

I WOULD TAKE IT!

[Saint Shady]

12 minutes ago, eurosaint said:

The ref was extremely inexperienced (8 PL matches) and it showed ! Clearly never played the game in his life as he blew his whistle every time a player went down and claimed for it…

The disallowed goal was right in front of us and I saw nothing untoward ! The Villa players surrounded the ref and may well have influenced his decision after looking at the monitor !!

A draw would have been fairer !!

There should be a rule stopping players surrounding the ref. Appeal by raising a hand or calling out maybe but players surrounding or hassling the ref should be stopped. Players getting in the refs face like their opinion matters and what they think might change the refs decision is ridiculous. The refs should be confident and trained enough to make the correct decision themselves. You’d think with var they should never be getting so much wrong. 

[The Cat]

Villa were better than us, especially at moving the ball. Emery has got them playing some good football. 

Saying that they didn't create much and we were screwed by the terrible VAR decision which came after we went 5 at the back and got more midfielders in the box.

Weirdly we're still only 3 points off 14th.

[notnowcato]

Both sides created very little. We gave too many free kicks away around our box, then allowed Watkins the freedom of our box for a simple header home. 
Disappointing performance all round. 
Not sure why Bazanu is getting shit. 

[Sunglasses Ron]

3 minutes ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

FA CUP WIN

AND

GO DOWN?

I WOULD TAKE IT!

You make it sound like it’s a choice.

Reality is we’re going down and will remain trophy less. 😐 

 

[cloggy saint]

So glad I stopped caring about football some time ago.

[niceandfriendly]

Just now, cloggy saint said:

So glad I stopped caring about football some time ago.

Can you please provide us a How To? I’d pay decent money to be in your position. 

[AlexLaw76]

Does anyone really deeply care that we are going down?

I was absolutely gutted in 2005...maybe because it was a much more rapid decline and almost a completely wasted opportunity

This time, it has been on the cards for a while and we completely deserve it, and I am very unbothered about it

Edited 21 January, 2023 by AlexLaw76

[cloggy saint]

Just now, niceandfriendly said:

Can you please provide us a How To? I’d pay decent money to be in your position. 

Depends how old you are I think. The modern game and all the bollocks that surrounds it is so far removed from the game that I used to love passionately, for me it was very easy to stop caring.

[SotonianWill]

players aren’t good enough, we’ve bought a bunch of kids who aren’t ready to play premier league football. manager whilst I don’t think today is all his fault, needs to learn 5 at the back is shit. referee was also shit. 

[LeBizzier69]

32 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Trouble is, every time he won the ball he gave it straight back to them.

Exactly this - I counted at least 3 times he gave possession away in really dangerous areas of the pitch, and what were really quite straight forward sideways passes. He needs to have someone running next to him to be effective. That way he can win the ball and someone else can pass it for him. 

[derry]

1 minute ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Exactly this - I counted at least 3 times he gave possession away in really dangerous areas of the pitch, and what were really quite straight forward sideways passes. He needs to have someone running next to him to be effective. That way he can win the ball and someone else can pass it for him. 

Better still don't play him or Adams, Armstrong and Elyonoussi. What's the point in buying players and not playing them.

[JohnS]

Such a dire/disappointing performance throughout whole squad today 😟 Was expecting so much more after recent performances.

Leaves me very worried now!

Thought Villa were also Poor, but clearly better than us in pretty much every department, especially midfield.

Referee certainly didn't help us in any way.

Che Adams needs dropping - absolute waste of space 

 

 

 

 

[niceandfriendly]

6 minutes ago, cloggy saint said:

Depends how old you are I think. The modern game and all the bollocks that surrounds it is so far removed from the game that I used to love passionately, for me it was very easy to stop caring.

I’m in the same position as you. VAR is definitely gnawing away at my love for the game but when something like that happens to us today it makes me even more annoyed. 

[cloggy saint]

7 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Does anyone really deeply care that we are going down?

I was absolutely gutted in 2005...maybe because it was a much more rapid decline and almost a completely wasted opportunity

This time, it has been on the cards for a while and we completely deserve it.

How d you know we're going down? It's not even February yet and we're still well in touch with the teams above us. We've survived much worse predicaments in the past.

[Sarisbury Saint]

38 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Currently at work, saw the score at HT and just seen the final score now.

How did we play? Set up etc? Poor/good performances? Without reading back through ten pages or so.

Preferably someone level headed who isn’t currently throwing their toys out the pram. 👍🏻

Thought we battled hard but Villa were better at pressing and bullying, we did match them more in the second half. Frustratingly the ref didn’t let the game flow and blew up for a free kick every time a Villa player was touched.

All in all not too bad, but glaringly obvious we’re not good enough up front.

[AlexLaw76]

4 minutes ago, cloggy saint said:

How d you know we're going down? It's not even February yet and we're still well in touch with the teams above us. We've survived much worse predicaments in the past.

Because we lack quality in goal and up front...We do not have a world class player like Le Tissier to win points from nothing.

[CB Fry]

12 minutes ago, cloggy saint said:

How d you know we're going down? It's not even February yet and we're still well in touch with the teams above us. We've survived much worse predicaments in the past.

We're shit and we're going down.

We're stone bottom with second worst goal difference already.

We've won one in six, can't keep clean sheets and aren't scoring.

Yes we all remember Marian Pahars and Le Tissier scoring at Selhurst and yeah yeah yeah.

We're down. 

Edited 21 January, 2023 by CB Fry

[Osvaldorama]

45 minutes ago, Turkish said:

what do you think the point is? It’s a forum a place for discussion 

No I didn’t. In simply pointing out that an ex England international has said Diallo was brilliant yet every time I looked in this thread during the game people were saying how shit Diallo was. Who is right?

He was terrible today. Gave it away in dangerous areas and was so lethargic 

[cloggy saint]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Because we lack quality in goal and up front...We do not have a world class player like Le Tissier to win points from nothing.

 

1 minute ago, CB Fry said:

We're shit and we're going down.

We're stone bottom with second worst goal difference already.

We've won one in six, can't keep clean sheets and aren't scoring.

Yes we all remember Marian Pahars and Le Tissier scoring at Palace and yeah yeah yeah.

We're down. 

Ok, so I guess we really are down then.

[Miltonaggro]

15 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Does anyone really deeply care that we are going down?

I was absolutely gutted in 2005...maybe because it was a much more rapid decline and almost a completely wasted opportunity

This time, it has been on the cards for a while and we completely deserve it, and I am very unbothered about it

To be honest I felt a bit of deja vu with 2005 today, scrappy game, one goal in it and limping towards relegation. 

[Wiggles31]

Diallo is a terrible player. He gave it away countless times like he always does in dangerous areas. He should have been hooked and Lavia left on.