Saints 0-1 Aston Villa

[Sarisbury Saint]

1 minute ago, Osvaldorama said:

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

I didn’t think he was terrible,  some dodgy moments but equally some good ones. Latvia also gave it away in dangerous areas at times.

[HarvSFC]

From the stadium I didn't think we were as bad as some are making out. Villa had spells where they had the pressure and we had spells where we had the pressure with neither making it really count until Villa scored their goal. If Edozie had a final ball he'd be a good player, but his runs are pointless when he surrenders possession as soon as he passes.

But, after 18 years of watching the Saints, that refereeing performance is up there with one of the worst. So poor. Not just the big decisions, but the ones that don't get picked up by Match of the Day too. Starting off with Villa making three professional fouls on Armstrong, Edozie and Salisu, all were goal side, albeit Salisu was in our half, but all were done simply to take out the man and stop the game. Okay, it's one of those refs who is going to say it's too early for a booking, we'd expect the same treatment. Wrong, Lyanco gets booked for his first foul, a lunge in the Villa half after losing possession. Villa were buying free kicks from him, we couldn't press them high as on the few occasions we did win the ball up the pitch, their player hit the deck and got a foul, we had a couple of situations where we were clean through, but it was brought back. Unfortunately, our players aren't as well versed in diving to win free-kicks, as would be greatly appreciated with JWP. Then you have our goal. Just watched it back on the Sky Sports highlights and I guess I am bias, I can see why it was disallowed, but that's piss poor and weak. You'll get defenders going down every time a striker goes near them if this is how football is now judged.

Finally, stop signing crap squad players because they're cheap. We need players who are ready to come in from day 1 and improve the 11 straight away. At our best Les Reed's mantra was that we do not sign players unless they improve the starting eleven before he fell up his own arsehole. Nowadays, all our new signings make up the bench. Wood signed for Forest yesterday and started today. Bournemouth's new £20m signing who signed on Thursday got the full 90 minutes today. While ours who have been in for over a week now are an unused substitute and a five minute cameo. We're 20th in the league ffs, if we can't find players who are better than the eleven that have started every week of this season then our recruitment team is one of the worst in the business. (If we didn't already know that). Bet we're going to chuck £20m on Wacko Jacko, who won't be ready to start until Easter.

[woodsaint1]

Typical extreme reactions on here. If we win its delerium, if we lose its devastation.

We didnt deserve to lose the game, but ultimately didnt do enough to win it. Happy to take a tirade of abuse, but I can see why the goal has been ruled out. Its not the nudge, Moi has put his foot down the back of the defenders achilles and he cant get off the ground to contest the cross. Its an accident but also a foul.

Thought we defended well but another set piece, another goal conceded. This cant keep happening.

We need to create a good foundation, which starts by winning home games, otherwise we're down by April. How many left, 9? We need to win 5 of them and hope to pick up the occasional points away as well.

Get Hjulmand in to replace Diallo, a RB and most crucially a startng striker too

[The Kraken]

2 minutes ago, Wiggles31 said:

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.  

Lavia is clearly being closely managed with game time, I think that’s 3 games in a row he’s been subbed on the hour. 

[CB Fry]

People go on about the great escapes of the past but really the comparison should be the team that did go down in 2005. Our current team aren't fit to lace that teams boots and they were gutless and rubbish and relegated. But front to back most of that team would walk into this current squad.

 

[Mixedkebab]

35 minutes ago, Saint Shady said:

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. 

 

36 minutes ago, Saint Shady said:

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. 

We are going to need a “shock” win or 2 if we are going to stay up, as well as beating the lower teams like Bournemouth, Palace and Leicester.

it’s got to the point where draws are not much good 

[stknowle]

I thought that was the most important game of the season today in the context of all that has happened and our recent uptick in form. Had we won it I would have started to believe we might survive. We lost and for me that is it we are down. We have an improving young squad but it ain't going to be enough. 

[OttawaSaint]

2 minutes ago, Wiggles31 said:

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.  

Lavia looked really perplexed to getting hooked. 

Orsic and Alcaraz must be wondering why they bothered coming. 

[Vancouver Saint]

13 minutes ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

FA CUP WIN

AND

GO DOWN?

I WOULD TAKE IT!

No FA Cup or League Cup and stay up much better for me. Given we can't buy a win at home in the league I doubt we can stay up now.

If this Villa game is anything to go by and was the most important of the three this week - as it was for me - then we will be out of both Cups and set firm for relegation. 

Villa were the better team, more crisp in their passing and greater control - but in typical Saints fashion we fail to get the point we probably just about deserved and that would have given us some upward momentum. Didn't you just know they were going to over-rule our goal - and that they'd score shortly after and get a close call go their way. 

You need a bit of luck to stay up and get something out of games even when you don't play well - we got absolutely none. That said, we were crap - lots of individual errors, Dialo better than Alcaraz? Mara cost us the game. Ely, Mara, Perraud triple substitution before bringing Orsic on? Edozie should be someone we bring on with 30 minutes to go to run tired defences ragged, not a hold-up player. DCC poor today. JWP taken out of the game. Bazunu really needs a rest - the difference between the keepers was apparent for all to see. Bazunu doesn't command six-feet in front of him, Martinez commanded their defensive third of the pitch!

I think (and honestly don't mind much) that we get knocked out of the Cup competitions this week - Newcastle way too good for us over two legs.

Then there is no excuse about training schedules, injuries, distractions etc. Knowing us, we'll play a blinder and win in the competitions I don't really care about at this juncture.

[Viking Saint]

Just back in the door after a chilly walk home. Some thoughts below:

- Bazunu needs dropping. Some absolute howlers with his distribution and when he's anywhere near the ball, you can feel the nervousness in both the crowd and the team. Caballero or McCarthy, don't care, but get the lad out of the firing line.

- KWP is our best RB, so FFS play him there. With him and AA on the left, there is zero creativity as neither of them can use their left foot. The whole stadium knows they're going to cut back in. We looked far better balanced and more dangerous when Perraud came on.

- Lyanco is a liability. Three stupid challenges from the off and deservedly yellow carded in the 12th minute. Keep him on the bench till he grows a brain, no matter how 'passionate' he is.

- Diallo wasn't as bad as some on here are making in. He was much better at breaking up play and making tackles today. Where he was appalling was his distribution, but you could level that accusation at most of the team. We gave the ball away so cheaply today and kept inviting pressure back on ourselves.

- Cut out the tippy-tappy playing it out from the back shit. We get the ball, play it around the back four, then pass it back to Bazunu who hoofs it long which we then lose. All it does is give the opposition time to reorganise and get their shape back.

- We were second to every second ball today. JWP was up for the fight and felt sorry for him. He put himself about and felt like he was doing other players work.

- Difficult to comment on the disallowed goals as you only get to see it once. Couldn't tell if our first goal or theirs were offside. It looked like KWP handled the ball before crossing it in but certainly didn't see a foul from Elyounoussi, who was otherwise a waste of a shirt. 

- We seem slightly less pleasant to play against but the Villa players were a pack of cheats today, chucking themselves on the ground and conning the (fucking awful) officials over and over again. Weak as piss and so easily influenced.

- Still no clear attacking strategy from NJ other than hoof it and let Adams chase it.

-As others have posted, what's the point in buying players who don't improve us as a starting XI?

- Not convinced buying a new striker is even the solution, as we create very little. Djenepo's effort at the end was the best effort. 

- Today's subs were generally shit. Ralph-esque in their senselessness.

It seems our turned corner was a false dawn. I'm sadly fairly resigned to our going down unless we get two significant signings.

Edited 21 January, 2023 by Viking Saint

[Mixedkebab]

3 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

People go on about the great escapes of the past but really the comparison should be the team that did go down in 2005. Our current team aren't fit to lace that teams boots and they were gutless and rubbish and relegated. But front to back most of that team would walk into this current squad.

 

Niemi, Crouch and Phillips absolutely, not many of the other cunts 

[Micky]

16 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've just finished a run of 6 'winnable' games, remind me, how many points did we manage to muster?

[cloggy saint]

Just now, Micky said:

We've just finished a run of 6 'winnable' games, remind me, how many points did we manage to muster?

No idea, I would guess at not many?

[BotleySaint]

Adam Armstrong tried hard today. But he's just not fast enough, not skilful enough, not strong enough for the Premier League.

Will be great for Championship I think, if his confidence isn't completely shot by then.

[The Kraken]

3 minutes ago, Mixedkebab said:

Niemi, Crouch and Phillips absolutely, not many of the other cunts 

Le Saux, Oakley, A Svensson, Prutton, Kenwyne. And even Henri Camara is better than the shit we’ve got up top this season.

[Dragon_man]

Not sure why we are clamouring for striker. If we get one in they may not get a start until April.

[OttawaSaint]

Just now, BotleySaint said:

Adam Armstrong tried hard today. But he's just not fast enough, not skilful enough, not strong enough for the Premier League.

Will be great for Championship I think, if his confidence isn't completely shot by then.

True of so many of our players. Try hard but lack any real quality. Only JWP actually looks capable of scoring. We need to be lucky to win. Doesn't bode well for the rest of the season. 

[HarvSFC]

7 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

People go on about the great escapes of the past but really the comparison should be the team that did go down in 2005. Our current team aren't fit to lace that teams boots and they were gutless and rubbish and relegated. But front to back most of that team would walk into this current squad.

 

It's pretty crazy how in 2005 we went down with having Beattie for half a season, Phillips, Crouch, Camara for the second half and Ormerod (Pahars was out for the entire season). While Blackstock was playing the Mara role with a substitute hat-trick against Colchester and a goal vs Pompey. Unfortunately we don't have any Beattie's, Phillips', Crouch's or Camara's this time around, who would walk into this team.

[OttawaSaint]

Saints are like that friend that many of us had at college. A mess of a person who just couldn't get out of his own way to get his shit together. Would be struggling for cash and then arrive home with a games console because his parents sent him money for food and books. Then he'd have to borrow cash for food but didn't actually use the console because the games were too expensive and it didn't come with one. 

[aintforever]

Close game but we were not great. Neither were Villa though so it’s another winnable game pissed up the wall by Jones. 

What’s the point in buying these players if we’re not going to start them? 

Edited 21 January, 2023 by aintforever

[The Juice]

Im not a Jones fan. But lack of quality is the real issue. New players sat on the bench whilst AA, Diallo and Che run about is a concern. But Pep wouldnt be able to keep us up. We do not have the players to compete in this league 

[JRM]

Villa haven't looked great in either match against us this season and have taken 6 points, depressing stuff 

[Micky]

1 minute ago, JRM said:

Villa haven't looked great in either match against us this season and have taken 6 points, depressing stuff 

The real depressing thing is lots of teams will take 6 points from us this season - easily. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

38 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.

But then we didn't have Jones in charge 

[JWade]

Today was a reality check. The board simply have to sign a competent striker or we are screwed. Yes, it’s going to cost money, but I bet it will still be cheaper than relegation and a clinical goalscorer is our only hope at survival.

Today was gutting, but not surprising, we’ve had the same frailties for a very long time and we’ve only won one game at home all season. That’s unacceptable and nobody could complain if we go down!

There’s still time and there’s still hope, but the board must act now before that disappears. 

[SotonianWill]

19 minutes ago, Dragon_man said:

Not sure why we are clamouring for striker. If we get one in they may not get a start until April.

makes you think these new signings must be pretty shit if they can’t get a start. imagine if we signed a proven premier league player we could start him straight away. 

[Pamplemousse]

Referee was disgusting

We need to sign a striker and the fact we haven't is poor management 

I remain unconvinced that Nathan Jones is a good manager

We March On

[SotonianWill]

 

 

[wild-saint]

18 minutes ago, The Juice said:

Im not a Jones fan. But lack of quality is the real issue. New players sat on the bench whilst AA, Diallo and Che run about is a concern. But Pep wouldnt be able to keep us up. We do not have the players to compete in this league 

Exactly this championship attack at best. Adams is fucking garbage. Yes again scuffs a great chance. Im convinced he closes his eyes when he makes contact with  the ball or maybe he needs to. 
 

a striker is an absolute must if we are to have a chance

[woodsaint1]

The same folk who have been shouting from the rooftops that you dont change a winning team, are now demanding to know why Orsic and Alcaraz arent starting 😂. Make your mind up fs

[madge]

Difference today between 2 poor teams was that one was well coached and set up, one was a mess. The mess lost. 
We are fooked

 

[The Kraken]

2 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

The same folk who have been shouting from the rooftops that you dont change a winning team, are now demanding to know why Orsic and Alcaraz arent starting 😂. Make your mind up fs

Which same folk are these? I don’t think I’ve seen a single post saying “don’t change a winning team” but I guess there must be loads of them to elicit this response.

[SotonianWill]

Just now, madge said:

Difference today between 2 poor teams was that one was well coached and set up, one was a mess. The mess lost. 
We are fooked

 

villa weren’t “well coached and set up” they were absolute shit. 

[OttawaSaint]

3 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

The same folk who have been shouting from the rooftops that you dont change a winning team, are now demanding to know why Orsic and Alcaraz arent starting 😂. Make your mind up fs

Could it be that the ones saying don't change it are different to those saying put in the new boys?

[AlexLaw76]

5 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

The same folk who have been shouting from the rooftops that you dont change a winning team, are now demanding to know why Orsic and Alcaraz arent starting 😂. Make your mind up fs

who are these folk?

[Dragon_man]

14 minutes ago, SotonianWill said:

 

 

Was the highlight of the afternoon. Plenty of time for an extra pint.

[Dragon_man]

2 hours ago, Saint NL said:

The officials have absolutely done us today. The players have been poor, but we're playing against 13.

Oh c'mon. They weren't great, but 'done us' ???

[CB Fry]

31 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

But then we didn't have Jones in charge 

Well, we did in 97.

[spyinthesky]

I didnt think it was a bad game.
Villa had the better players and better use of the ball.
That said Martinez pulled off two worldlies, especially the shot into the top corner from Djneppo near the end
I was right behind it and it was heading for the top corner.
Absolutely terrific save and the one from Adam Armstrong was top drawer too.
I thought after the last three games, particularly Palace and Everton that we benfitted from a couple of pieces of good fortune.
That wasnt the case today and having a poor Referee didnt help.
I am afraid we are down and have to start making provisions, both on and off the field, for next year in the Championship.
 

[woodsaint1]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

who are these folk?

They know who they are, just love a moan for the sake of it. Alcaraz was never starting that game as JWP is in that central AM spot and yes Orsic could have started, but you can understand why NJ opted for Edozie

[The Kraken]

Well I’m glad ‘they’ know who they are. Genuinely not seen a single person say Edozie must start instead of Orsic. 

Hands up, Saintweb.  Who said “don’t change a winning team” then moaned that Orsic and Edozie didn’t start? There must be a few, apparently.

[Badger]

7 minutes ago, Dragon_man said:

Was the highlight of the afternoon. Plenty of time for an extra pint.

I vote Drone as MOTM for Saints.

[SotonianWill]

Just now, The Kraken said:

Hands up, Saintweb.  Who said “don’t change a winning team” then moaned that Orsic and Edozie didn’t start? There must be a few, apparently.

[Give it to Ron]

1 minute ago, woodsaint1 said:

They know who they are, just love a moan for the sake of it. Alcaraz was never starting that game as JWP is in that central AM spot and yes Orsic could have started, but you can understand why NJ opted for Edozie

So why did Armstrong stay on?

what did bringing on Elynoussi do in recent games to get us a goal?

Why take off the one player with pace?

why sign 2 players if in a home game you can’t trust either of them when you are playing shite?

I get some are so red&white glasses and gullible they believe all the bull that comes out of Rasmussen and Semmens gob but wake up. 
A striker has to be better than Adams, Armstrong and Mara and not one in whole of Europe since last summer!

[OttawaSaint]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

I vote Drone as MOTM for Saints.

Looked good in the air, speedy, good vision...sign him up!

[woodsaint1]

6 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

Well I’m glad ‘they’ know who they are. Genuinely not seen a single person say Edozie must start instead of Orsic. 

Hands up, Saintweb.  Who said “don’t change a winning team” then moaned that Orsic and Edozie didn’t start? There must be a few, apparently.

Edozie did start you wab

[Whitey Grandad]

10 minutes ago, Dragon_man said:

Oh c'mon. They weren't great, but 'done us' ???

According to the referee we committed 19 fouls.
Villa only committed 9.

We got nothing, they got everything.

Very one-sided and I’m normally supportive of referees.

 

[Cabrone]

Can the team that beat City please come back? I know they are there somewhere.

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, Vancouver Saint said:

No FA Cup or League Cup and stay up much better for me. Given we can't buy a win at home in the league I doubt we can stay up now.

If this Villa game is anything to go by and was the most important of the three this week - as it was for me - then we will be out of both Cups and set firm for relegation. 

Villa were the better team, more crisp in their passing and greater control - but in typical Saints fashion we fail to get the point we probably just about deserved and that would have given us some upward momentum. Didn't you just know they were going to over-rule our goal - and that they'd score shortly after and get a close call go their way. 

You need a bit of luck to stay up and get something out of games even when you don't play well - we got absolutely none. That said, we were crap - lots of individual errors, Dialo better than Alcaraz? Mara cost us the game. Ely, Mara, Perraud triple substitution before bringing Orsic on? Edozie should be someone we bring on with 30 minutes to go to run tired defences ragged, not a hold-up player. DCC poor today. JWP taken out of the game. Bazunu really needs a rest - the difference between the keepers was apparent for all to see. Bazunu doesn't command six-feet in front of him, Martinez commanded their defensive third of the pitch!

I think (and honestly don't mind much) that we get knocked out of the Cup competitions this week - Newcastle way too good for us over two legs.

Then there is no excuse about training schedules, injuries, distractions etc. Knowing us, we'll play a blinder and win in the competitions I don't really care about at this juncture.

Obviously you didn’t go to the match

[The Kraken]

13 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

Edozie did start you wab

Sorry, I didn’t realise I had to explain it.

You had a whinge about people who said we shouldn’t change a winning team. Edozie started against Everton, he was in that winning team you spoke of. As I said, I’ve not seen one post that says, since the Everton game, that Edozie must start and we shouldn’t change the team. Let alone anyone that did do that, then moaned we didn’t start Orsic or Alcatraz.

Maybe I don’t read the forum as much as you, so perhaps you can help out a wab like me, and just point me in the direction of just one post that says we shouldn’t change a winning side. It seems to have got you a bit rattled, hence your post about it, so there must be a few to choose from. Thanks.

Edited 21 January, 2023 by The Kraken