Saints 0-1 Ipswich - Match Thread

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

1 hour ago, vectraman said:

I can’t remember who said the quote, but it is a wise one :-

“football is a simple game made complicated by managers”

Seems to sum up RM if it is such a wildly amazingly complicated ‘process’ that it takes months for the players to learn it.

 

Here is mine - play with a recognisable defensive formation, keep midfield tight, and allow you forwards to run into space and pass the ball to them quickly. 

Vaguely recall Micky Channon said something like that.

Totally agree. THB & Bednerek at the back. Midfield shored up with Shea in a defensive midfield role and Alcaraz/Smallbone/AA looking for quick passes through to Edozie/Fraser and we're on to something. 

[madge]

I think the worry is that although we’ve won a few games they could easily have been lost.. we’ve not dominated enough to win any games comfortably.. 

with this squad we should be doing much better, also the ineptness of our formations and the confusion this causes in a massive worry. To play out from the back you need  players technically good enough to do it, I don’t think we do. 

[HarvSFC]

Two light shows in a matter of days? What a treat.

If we’re going to stay wedded to this formation:

Bazunu

KWP - Bednarek - THB - Manning

Charles

Smallbone - Alcaraz

Edozie - Adams - Sulemana

For me. If Edozie isn’t fit, A. Armstrong out wide. Although, I reckon with A. Armstrong being named captain he’s an undroppable in the midfield position for Martin. Despite, Alcaraz being a better footballer, attacker and he does work off the ball too, he certainly isn’t a luxury player. Could swap Smallbone out for A. Armstrong, but fear that would be too attacking. Alcaraz didn’t have the best of starts to the season, but he’s still done more in a Saints shirt than a lot of this squad and he has only been here since January.

[Andrew Watson]

1 - 3,no confidence at all in the manager setting us up properly,very sad really.

[CSA96]

https://x.com/liamtribb/status/1703840092433867169?s=46&t=f0hgNyKSvvOD5qjGLJhsXQ

[notnowcato]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

The table we’re ninth in? Yep, that’s the one. Ninth isn’t an automatic promotion spot, is it. 

And it’s weird that you don’t mention the L column - that won’t make it go away btw. 

Awesome maths skills. The L column is less than the W column, not bad considering the stench from the bed sheets. 
 

I’m repeating myself but if we stay in touch till Christmas we’ll be in a good place to kick on. I’m not writing us off after 2 poor performances. 

[saintant]

Before the season started I would have looked at this fixture as one which we should win without too much trouble. After how we've played so far particularly in the last two games I'd probably take a point if offered it now. The annoying thing is that we have a good enough squad to be going into games full of confidence whoever we are facing - sadly that expectation level and confidence is draining away game by game. Hoping RM has something unexpected up his sleeve but it's no more than a feint hope.

[hypochondriac]

If Manning and KWP have mares once again, the Northam should start a chant going: 

"you can shove your inverted fullbacks up your arse" 

"right back! You should just play him right back!" 

"cheer up KWP oh what can it mean when you're in midfield and we're a shit football teeeeam"

Glad all over - "cos we've got (clap clap) zero fullbacks yes we've got (clap clap) zero fullbacks."

"can you hear the left back sing no no can you hear the left back sing? I can't hear a fucking thing because he's halfway up the pitch" 

[StrangelyBrown]

7 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Awesome maths skills. The L column is less than the W column, not bad considering the stench from the bed sheets. 
 

I’m repeating myself but if we stay in touch till Christmas we’ll be in a good place to kick on. I’m not writing us off after 2 poor performances. 

It's not 2 poor performances though is it? It's 2 losses and only one good performance so far against the league's whipping boys.

We have good players and are somehow contriving to mess things up with incredibly naive tactics and RM has the blinkers on. I can't see how this doesn't get worse from here.

[Morse]

I keep reading post saying "we've got one of the strongest squads in the league" , and similar. REALLY? Defensively it's not great, goalkeepers are questionable and defensive midfielders are thin on the ground. A Strong squad it is not. I'm calling it a 1-2 result tonight. 

[Toussaint]

I still don’t want to go, despite having a season ticket. I missed the first two home games through holiday and illness respectively, so I haven’t witnessed any of the “feel-good”. So my first experience of this season, Leicester,  felt like a continuation of last season, dreadful football, a heavy defeat (although I don’t recall many heavy defeats last season), crowd negativity and booing, people leaving early. If it doesn’t go well tonight it’s going to start getting towards Nathan Jones levels of hostility. 

[Toussaint]

40 minutes ago, Morse said:

I keep reading post saying "we've got one of the strongest squads in the league" , and similar. REALLY? Defensively it's not great, goalkeepers are questionable and defensive midfielders are thin on the ground. A Strong squad it is not. I'm calling it a 1-2 result tonight. 

The defence is pretty good when one or both of Bednarek and Stephens are fit (we’ve missed Stephens especially imo), and Charles can play DM. But agreed, we seem generally slower, less athletic  and smaller (again) than the majority of the league. 

[hypochondriac]

Just reading the opinions of a few Ipswich fans. The summary is they have a lot of pace up top and are set up as a counter attacking team. If we do the same thing we've done the last few games then we will get soundly beaten. You'd like to think the manager would recognise this prior to the match like everyone else and adapt accordingly. 

[tdmickey3]

Brace yourselves for  lot of these moments 🤬 🤬🤬

[DT]

As per previous prediction, another home loss. We're too leaky. Easy money at the bookies

[Suhari]

Guessing the best viewing option for this will be iFollow.

It was okay the last time I used it.

[east-stand-nic]

I am not sure why, but I think we will get something out of this. 2-2 Draw I think. Maybe because a third defeat on the trot is so unthinkable.

[malcolm waldron]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Just reading the opinions of a few Ipswich fans. The summary is they have a lot of pace up top and are set up as a counter attacking team. If we do the same thing we've done the last few games then we will get soundly beaten. You'd like to think the manager would recognise this prior to the match like everyone else and adapt accordingly. 

Martin will simply say "we don't worry about how other teams play, we're only concerned about how we play' won't he?!  Kick off will be interesting.  If Ipswich win the toss then I know what I'd do - let us kick off with the knowledge that there'll be a strong chance of us conceding a goal within the next 60 seconds.  God - I started the season full of positivity, but Friday was so draining.   And if Smallbone is the only cover when we have a corner then it's clear we're learnt nothing.  QPR cottoned on to this last month, and since then we've conceded at least two from the same approach.  Madness.....

 

3-1 to Saints.  💪 

[trousers]

Just checked the TV listings here in Croatia and the only Championship game they're showing tonight is Sheff Wed Vs Middlesbrough... Result! The thought of having to sit in a bar here watching us play again was filling me with dread!

Edited 19 September, 2023 by trousers

[CB Fry]

I'm hoping they'll be a full minutes applause across the whole stadium after 11 minutes.

Just to make the away fans think we are commemorating the death of an former beloved winger, or marking a fundraising drive for an poorly 11 year old.

Nah, we're just delighted we've made it this far without conceding.

[The Curse of St Mary's]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Just reading the opinions of a few Ipswich fans. The summary is they have a lot of pace up top and are set up as a counter attacking team. If we do the same thing we've done the last few games then we will get soundly beaten. You'd like to think the manager would recognise this prior to the match like everyone else and adapt accordingly. 

Logically speaking bednarek and harwood-bellis would be the chosen pairing but if RM persists with playing KWP and Manning in these "inverted fullback" roles then any team with pace would kill us on the counter as both CBs are slow and will get totally exposed. Holgate is a liability with the ball and just isn't very good in general. He has to play Charles at CDM even if Downes is fit. Id go with this line up.

Bazuna

KWP (actually at RB)

Bednarek

THB

Manning or Larios (left back)

Charles (CDM)

Stu

Charly

Edozie

Fraser

Adams 

[revolution saint]

I'll go stupidly optimistic and go for a 3-2 win.  If Bednarek is back and Charles moves into midfield then it might make a difference.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, The Curse of St Mary's said:

Logically speaking bednarek and harwood-bellis would be the chosen pairing but if RM persists with playing KWP and Manning in these "inverted fullback" roles then any team with pace would kill us on the counter as both CBs are slow and will get totally exposed. Holgate is a liability with the ball and just isn't very good in general. He has to play Charles at CDM even if Downes is fit. Id go with this line up.

Bazuna

KWP (actually at RB)

Bednarek

THB

Manning or Larios (left back)

Charles (CDM)

Stu

Charly

Edozie

Fraser

Adams 

Agree except I'd maybe try Ameyew instead of Fraser. Other than first game I think he's been poor. 

[goodymatt]

Bazunu

KWP Bednarek THB Manning

Charles Smallbone

Fraser Alcaraz Edozie

Adams

Sulemana, Stu, Armstrong to all come off the bench when the time is right.

This game is all about showing we can actually defend. I’m really not too confident about this one but surely we will show improvement? 1-2 and a much closer game would be my guess.

[The Curse of St Mary's]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Agree except I'd maybe try Ameyew instead of Fraser. Other than first game I think he's been poor. 

Yeah maybe but SAA was poor v QPR. Tbf that QPR left back was excellent and did a number on Edozie in the second half as well. I though Sullemana was awful the other night so I don't think he's ready to start yet. 

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, The Curse of St Mary's said:

Yeah maybe but SAA was poor v QPR. Tbf that QPR left back was excellent and did a number on Edozie in the second half as well. I though Sullemana was awful the other night so I don't think he's ready to start yet. 

I thought he had a promising first few minutes trying to make things happen, but I'd rather have him coming off the bench for now. He has been out for a while and it takes time to adjust. 

[disconnect]

2 minutes ago, The Curse of St Mary's said:

Yeah maybe but SAA was poor v QPR. Tbf that QPR left back was excellent and did a number on Edozie in the second half as well. I though Sullemana was awful the other night so I don't think he's ready to start yet. 

Really? I was watching with a couple of neutrals and they said he looked like easily our most dangerous player. He outdid Justin for pace (who is a very quick full back) a couple of times, knocking it past players and still getting the ball where he shouldnt have been anywhere near getting! 

[Wurzel]

8 minutes ago, disconnect said:

Really? I was watching with a couple of neutrals and they said he looked like easily our most dangerous player. He outdid Justin for pace (who is a very quick full back) a couple of times, knocking it past players and still getting the ball where he shouldnt have been anywhere near getting! 

But what did he do once he'd passed them/got there?

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

After correctly predicting a 4-1 win for Leicester I'm going for 3-1 to Ipswich. 😩

If we want to get out of this league then Neil Warnock is available. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

6 minutes ago, Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd said:

After correctly predicting a 4-1 win for Leicester I'm going for 3-1 to Ipswich. 😩

If we want to get out of this league then Neil Warnock is available. 

If Warnock comes anywhere near the club I’m out. Can’t stand the tw@t.

[gammon cheeks]

Saints 3 Ipswich 0.   First clean sheet of the season ! Got to come sometime surely 🥴

[adrian lord]

Form book says away win. 

[Osvaldorama]

Problem is we let our best attacking player go. Tella was our best/most productive attacker and the reason we looked dangerous the first couple of games.  I still think it was an awful decision to cash in on him personally.  He was so productive and worked very hard defensively. 

 

I like Fraser, at least he can actually cross the ball, I think he will come good.
Edozie I worry about the physical & defensive side but he’s looked OK going forward so far. 

[goodymatt]

11 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Problem is we let our best attacking player go. Tella was our best/most productive attacker and the reason we looked dangerous the first couple of games.  I still think it was an awful decision to cash in on him personally.  He was so productive and worked very hard defensively. 

 

I like Fraser, at least he can actually cross the ball, I think he will come good.
Edozie I worry about the physical & defensive side but he’s looked OK going forward so far. 

Edozie stat mentioned during the Leicester game that he had completed the most dribbles in the league so far. He beats players so easily and it’s good to see him getting some goals now. If he can give us some consistent end product he will be a key player for us. High ceiling IMO, think he will come good.

[Micky]

1 hour ago, Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd said:

After correctly predicting a 4-1 win for Leicester I'm going for 3-1 to Ipswich. 😩

If we want to get out of this league then Neil Warnock is available. 

Which way do you want to get out.....!?

[niceandfriendly]

Is there likely to be a stream for tonight (not SaintsPlay)?

[Hatch]

0-0

 

[manji]

8 minutes ago, niceandfriendly said:

Is there likely to be a stream for tonight (not SaintsPlay)?

It’s on SKY ( red button ) 

[manji]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12105601/championship-football-live-how-to-watch-games-live-on-sky-sports-and-free-match-highlights

[Wade Garrett]

Martin will prove me and plenty of others wrong tonight.

A display of total football, defensive solidity, and a tactical masterclass will easily be too much for Ipswich.

4-0 win.

[niceandfriendly]

55 minutes ago, manji said:

It’s on SKY ( red button ) 

Cheers, I’m abroad so will need a dodgy link. I suppose that’s more likely if it’s on Sky 👍

[Patches O Houlihan]

23 hours ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

I really want to like Martin and I'm sure he's not happy with how the past few weeks have been, but the fact he's publicly stating he's happy with the Leicester performance over and over again is really worrying.

> After watching the press conference I think it is the player's attitude he is praising not the play/positioning necessarily. In fairness when we got back to 1-2 we were definitely in the game. If we hadn't continued with the suicidal tactics and scored the next we could have been OK - This is an improvement on Sunderland when heads dropped at 2-0 and never improved.

The shape was absolutely disgusting, we didn't even create a handful of chances and Leicester could've had 8. If we keep playing like this, any team with a bit of attacking quality will take the piss just like Sunderland/Leicester/Norwich have. Plymouth had plenty of chances to as well but just didn't have the quality.

> I agree

Bednarek back.

> Good

Sulemana red overturned

> Excellent

and Downes late call for tomorrow, in case anybody isn't listening.

🤞

[Saint Garrett]

I'm definitely surprised to see people putting Stuart Armstrong and Alcaraz in midfield. 2 players who give the ball away so ridiculously cheaply.

With our current squad, I think it's probably got to be Charles + 1 of Smallbone or Downes, + one of Stu/Charly.

The concerning thing about the last few games if we've played 1 "6" in there (Downes who has been nowhere near good enough so far) alongside 1 full back, normally KWP. but sometimes Manning depending on where the ball is. This shifts us into a 3-2-4-1 or 2-3-4-1 when we have the ball.It's not a surprise we are getting killed with the turnover when there is so much space. This system only works if we keep the ball and grind down opposition. We did it against Sheff Weds, and to an extent Plymouth, but we certainly haven't done it enough against Norwich/QPR/Sunderland or Leicester.

It's a ballsy tactic, but I can't see us putting in a midfield 3 including Stu and Alcaraz when we have to keep possession.

[Saint NL]

Apparently this game is showing on Saintsplay in the UK.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/watch-saints-vs-ipswich-from-anywhere-with-saints-play

 

 

I'll be watching on iFollow 💪

Edited 19 September, 2023 by Saint NL

[Osvaldorama]

Adams

Fraser Alcaraz Edozie

Charles Downes

manning THB Bednarek Kwp

Baz

 

4-0 saints 

 

E I E I E I O 

[Appy]

12 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Apparently this game is showing on Saintsplay in the UK.

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/watch-saints-vs-ipswich-from-anywhere-with-saints-play

 

 

I'll be watching on iFollow 💪

It’s on the red button on sky sports football from 7:40pm too. 

[Chez]

21 hours ago, RedArmy said:

Is he off his head? 
 

Yeah it was nervousness that caused our entire outfield 10 to be in the opponents half, often on the edge of their box and then get caught out with a sloppy pace and counter attacked with ease, definitely not the tactics. 

to be fair, I think he was referring to the early goal(s) rather than the cluster fuck of a fourth. 

[Simon3737]

I’ve recently subscribed to Sky Sports via Now TV. Does anyone know if I’ll be able to access this Red Button match via the iOS Now TV app (on my iPad) I’ve tried investigating whether Red Button access is available via the iOS Now TV app but I got contradictory answers.

Alternatively, is there a Windows Now TV app that will let me watch on my laptop? [My TV doesn’t have a Now TV app (it’s too old I guess).]

I’ll obviously find out for certain at 7.45 whether Red Button options appear, but it would be good to find out sooner.

Thanks.

[badgerx16]

8 minutes ago, Simon3737 said:

I’ve recently subscribed to Sky Sports via Now TV. Does anyone know if I’ll be able to access this Red Button match via the iOS Now TV app (on my iPad) I’ve tried investigating whether Red Button access is available via the iOS Now TV app but I got contradictory answers.

Alternatively, is there a Windows Now TV app that will let me watch on my laptop? [My TV doesn’t have a Now TV app (it’s too old I guess).]

I’ll obviously find out for certain at 7.45 whether Red Button options appear, but it would be good to find out sooner.

Thanks.

There is a Now TV app for Windows.

[Doctoroncall]

Just a question of timing when the players become familiar enough with Martin’s tactics and fully buy into it to be able to beat the opposition. I don’t think it will be tonight or the next few games.