Saints 4-0 Walsall - Match Thread

[Saint Fan CaM]

Alcarez is having a bit of a mare.

[Saint NL]

Alcarez has a dopey few seconds, giving it away and then a foul

[Bad Wolf]

How many missed passes is that now from Alcaraz?! Baffling how anyone thinks he's anything other than "alright"

[Long Shot]

Our finishing is dreadful 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Alcaraz with the three runner, instead plays the pass to his right. And it's not a complete pass, and he then gives away the foul. Just one of many examples where we would create a lot more actual cahnces, with the right decision making.

[OldNick]

Alcaraz really is not a class player. He is just middling imo 

[Baz Fl]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Should we get in a striker who can't score?

No, we have plenty of them 

[Bad Wolf]

2 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

Go back, doesn't say "score", says "finish".

Is there a difference? Non-innuendo wise?

[VectisSaint]

Alcaraz is having a mare. He should be bossing this, he has the ability, but just doing nothing, giving the ball away.

[Challenger]

4 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Should we get in a striker who can't score?

We've do that on many occasions.

[OttawaSaint]

Just now, Bad Wolf said:

Is there a difference? Non-innuendo wise?

Yes.

AArm could have 10 goals from 50 chances, he can "score", he has 10. But if another striker has 10 from 17 chances he'd be a better "finisher".

[Holmes_and_Watson]

As Mara had the better chance to pass to Fraser earler. Alcaraz had a better pass out into Fraser in space. However, he went for the shot. This time the keeper couldn;t hold it and Mara wasn't far away. Sometimes, it;s worth having the effort. And having the confidence to do so.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

SAA takes a yellow for the team there. It was his running into players, depserate to get a shot away that gave the ball away. Good he was tracking back. They got more space than they should have done on the break.

[OttawaSaint]

A few surprise HT scorelines so far.

BHA losing 1-0 to Stoke.

QPR 2-0 Bournemouth 

Watford 0-1 Chesterfield

[Sheaf Saint]

SAA slightly unfortunate to get booked there. Don't think it was intentional at all - was just trying to get the other side of the player and caught him accidentally.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Nice and direct there, to shake things up. Stephens out to Fraser and then across the area.

[AlexLaw76]

HT 1-0

After a brilliant 15 mins or so, it has been pretty dull. Poor from a few players, decent from others and great from fraser.

Massive drop-off in quality in our side, kind of a nod to next season if we fail to go up this time.

[Saint NL]

Half time.

Winning, but very wasteful.

Could do with scoring early to kill the game, then get a few subs on.

 

Not a classic by any means.

[obelisk]

Well at least Fraser looks like he wants to win the game. Most of the rest showing varying levels of indifference and incompetence since the goal went in.

[the saint in winchester]

We should be 3-0 up and out of sight.

Do we get pleasure in keeping the game open for the opposition to score? Unless we get the second soon, we run the risk of conceding and losing confidence.

[washsaint]

Great first 30 minutes then very poor end to the half.

Alcaraz, Smallbone and Mara have been atrocious.  Fraser, THB, Stephens and Lumley excellent with some bright spots from the 2 youngsters.

Mara could/should have had a hat trick but is terrible in front of goal.

[Toussaint]

22 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Mara spoons over from 6 yards

Mara is a spoon 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Really need to put this to bed early in the 2nd half otherwise it’ll get chaotic and panicked later in the game. Alcarez increasing his pass rate over 20% would be nice too. I’d be tempted to play Fraser through the middle!

[saintant]

We have been incredibly sloppy in our finishing and misplacing simple passes. We started very well then allowed complacency to set in.  Charley has been very poor so far and on this evidence wouldn't get in their side. Mara also - he missed a simple chance and also ignored our young full back on his outside for a simple pass. Smallbone missed an absolute sitter.We should be 3 up but have given them chances. Lumley has been excellent and is very vocal. Need to put this game to bed early in the second half and that will require better concentration and less complacency. This should be a very easy game for us and we've made hard work of it so far.

[The Cat]

Should be a few up really, finishing poor.

Fraser bossing the game. Alcaraz playing like he's trying to get his stats up on FIFA career mode, taking players on or shooting when a pass would be better. 

Meghoma has done pretty well although not had much in the way of defending to do. 

Would like to see Dibling on soon, the kid is class.

[Saint NL]

Only 58% possession, Martin out 

[Charlie Wayman]

14 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Alcaraz is having a mare. He should be bossing this, he has the ability, but just doing nothing, giving the ball away.

He' s far too uptight with himself and trying too hard, poor attitude written all over him. He's finished here.

[Elmore Saint]

Watching this one live at Saint Mary’s again. Totally dominating the game but with little end product. Wee man ruining their right back every time. Either no-one or six players trying to get on the end of his crosses. You can tell it’s a bit of a scratch team today. We also seem to be playing like we are 3 up, but need to be simpler and more go forward in our play. Even RM is telling the team to get it forward faster than they are!!!

A good talking to and an orange and let’s see if we can be a bit more ruthless in the second half…

[Toussaint]

Just now, Charlie Wayman said:

He' s far too uptight with himself and trying too hard, poor attitude written all over him. He's finished here.

Poor attitude my arse

[obelisk]

Is Tall Paul really worse than Mara at finishing? Find it hard to believe really.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Charlie Wayman said:

He' s far too uptight with himself and trying too hard, poor attitude written all over him. He's finished here.

LOLOLOLOL

[OttawaSaint]

2 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

He' s far too uptight with himself and trying too hard, poor attitude written all over him. He's finished here.

Have you tried just enjoying his play instead of slagging him off?

[Baz Fl]

Our inability to put teams away when we are having our best spells is a major worry. Looked like the ball was filled with helium judging by our shooting.

[badgerx16]

20 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

We look a bit shaky all of a sudden

Always do once we take the lead.

 

Lumley looks confident

Mara perhaps trying too hard

Meghoma not good enough defensively

Fraser outstanding

Smallbone wearing somebody else's boots

Harwood-Bellis and Stephens very solid

Alcaraz keeps looking for the wrong pass

Hopefully can get another 2 goals at least to reflect our dominance

 

[Yozzman]

3 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

He' s far too uptight with himself and trying too hard, poor attitude written all over him. He's finished here.

Since when has trying hard poor attitude? What do want him to do, not try hard?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Lower possession, as Wallsall had a little more of the ball as the half went on.

As noted, lots of balls that we could have made better passes from. Of the chances we did create, well, we're going to need a lot more, to be putting many of them in the net.

Lots of positives though. Meghoma started brightly and SAA looked fine. Pleased to see him get minutes again, and he'll improve with more.

A thing I've notied with Stephens' return is that he'll push the team up the park. Charles holds a lot. But Smallbone is having to revert to a couple of different roles, as he's no longer required so much to link everything up, with more direct passes going past him. We've seen him get a few shooting opportunities today. It's an area where's he'll be improving over time. While he lost his man for their effort on goal, he's been willing to pick up passes, get into positions to shoot and put in a good shift.

Decision making just letting us down a bit. But no hiding or heads going down as a result. Alcaraz and Mara both eager to attack. Just need that bit of awareness and composure.

[tdmickey3]

Need to put this game to bed early in 2nd half or it will get silly and we will concede

[adrian lord]

Pretty satisfactory so far considering that this is our second team with a couple of first teamers in it to anchor things. Can’t expect miracles.

Edited 6 January, 2024 by adrian lord

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Nice stuff to start off the half. Lots of players in their box. Mara quite physical in there. Smallbone laying off a good pass too.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Oh dear, Stephens completely having a brain fart moment.

[Saint NL]

Lovely stuff by Stephens 🤦

Edited 6 January, 2024 by Saint NL

[Jack]

Nice example of why Holgate and Stephens should be nowhere near the starting XI

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Interesting, that their keeper thumpes it up to where we'd normally have a gap at full-back. Our eleven today a little different, and Holgate there to deal with it.

Stephens kindly gives them an opportunity for a shot. It will take us shooting ourselves in the foot to give this away. But a reminder a second would allow that to happen without changing the outcome.

[Saint Fan CaM]

SAA needs to be careful - looking at a second yellow the way he’s going.

Edited 6 January, 2024 by Saint Fan CaM

[Saint NL]

Jesus, we are desperate to throw this away 👀

[obelisk]

This is awful from Saints.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Fuck me - defence is falling apart and it’s the CBs making all the mistakes.

[AlexLaw76]

This is funny

[trousers]

A Holgate trademark brain fart there 

[tdmickey3]

Turning into an absolute shambles, awful 

Equaliser incoming