Saints 1-1 Ipswich - Match Thread

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

We went 1 up and I said to my colleague in work, 'you just know Ipswich will equaliser or score two in injury time. They did it so many times last season.' 

Approaching 90 mins he said, 'you're hanging on.....'

A few minutes later he looked at me and said 'what did you say? You should have had money on that'.

 

[Andy Hill]

At least that’s one of the points we need to beat Derbys record. But very difficult to see where the next one is going to come from.

[verlaine1979]

We got battered first half and we're lucky to be ahead. Second half was better, but we hardly dominated. Got what we deserved.

[stknowle]

15 minutes ago, egg said:

7 mins for them and us. They managed them better than us. 

Yes, which was kind of my point (as well as 7 minutes being an unjustified amount of e.t).  Utterly gutting whatever.

[hypochondriac]

Worth pointing out again how special Dibling is. He must have been by far the most fouled player today. It was almost constant. 

[Sheaf Saint]

5 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Can someone tell me how we spent £22m on two attackers who are actually worse than Adams who we let leave on a free? Absolute negligence from the club yet again

 

We didn't 'let' Adams leave. We offered him a new contract and he chose not to sign it because he wanted to move on.

[Patches O Houlihan]

6 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Tall Paul is miles better than Ross Stewart.

Nessie does seem to be missing a little sharpness right now, which to be fair seems reasonable after the best part of two years out and no pre-season. What he does give us is the big target man to hold it up, which we were all calling for at the end of the transfer window. 

It is really frustrating though; it feels like there is a glass ceiling for strikers when you are a club of our stature.

• SR went all out for Gakpo and missed out - fan base pissed off (quite reasonably) felt like he was probably out of our league
• SR have tried to hold onto and promote a promising young forward (Dibling - doing OK so far, and signed a new contract in December)
• SR tried to sign an injured player who would be out of our league if fit (Stewart, similar to Ings)
• SR tried to sign Championship strikers who seem like they might make the grade (Archer, BBD - also Arma and Che previously)
• SR tried to bring in a high scoring experienced foreign striker from an unsexy league (Tall Paul)

When you're our size it feels like you have to get promoted with a Lambert or Vardy in your team, because you are unlikely to sign a James Beattie, Son Heung Min or Richarlison nowadays

[Saint NL]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Worth pointing out again how special Dibling is. He must have been by far the most fouled player today. It was almost constant. 

And he still doesn't wear shinpads. Has anyone mentioned that yet?

[Harry_SFC]

Just now, Sheaf Saint said:

We didn't 'let' Adams leave. We offered him a new contract and he chose not to sign it because he wanted to move on.

My point was more in terms of we spent £22m and recouped nothing yet our attack has got worse..

[Galway saint]

shame - three points would have given some hope.

feels very bleak as we clearly aren’t going to score enough goals to survive or even give ourselves a fighting chance. we have one goal from our forwards in 5 games and that’s from an 18 year old.

for the last quarter we had AA, Stewart and BBD as a front three which speaks volumes. The Club haven’t bought enough quality up front and that’s been a mess for a few years now.  Not sure what RM can do about that really, as there just isn’t enough quality.

For me that game was a must win and we didn’t manage it because we didn’t take our chances. Not sure where the first win will come from at the moment 

 

[stknowle]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I thought bbd did OK when he came on. People on here thought he was shite but I disagree. The concerning thing is they were the worst team we have played this year and we still couldn't win. 

Agree, he did alright. Ultimately I think we are improving quite rapidly but this league is so mercilessly difficult that I remain firmly of the opinion we won’t have anywhere near enough sadly. 

[Mr X]

1 minute ago, stknowle said:

Agree, he did alright. Ultimately I think we are improving quite rapidly but this league is so mercilessly difficult that I remain firmly of the opinion we won’t have anywhere near enough sadly. 

Which begs the question what is the point in sticking with Martin when we go down? 

[FarehamSaintJames]

Forest, Brentford and Ipswich.

Three teams in theory we should be competing with in the bottom half as a minimum. Only turned up for one of those games and even then we left with a point.

BBD is very poor. 

[saintant]

Just now, FarehamSaintJames said:

Forest, Brentford and Ipswich.

Three teams in theory we should be competing with in the bottom half as a minimum. Only turned up for one of those games and even then we left with a point.

BBD is very poor. 

Yes, that is a very poor return from those three games. Plus we gifted 10 men Newcastle 3 points. It can't all be down to bad luck - we must be doing lots of things radically wrong.

[Gloucester Saint]

13 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

It isn't Martin's fault the player's on the bench are sub par (the ones on the pitch are too tbf). Who on Earth could have come on and stopped that?

The manager got the selection and tactics right today. Small detail around protecting the D for their goal but what’s been costly, as it was for Ralph onwards, is the dreadful striker recruitment. With Cornet able to play up front, we didn’t need BBD and Archer, especially when we don’t play the former through the middle. More effective to get a £25-30m striker who has a bit of the power, hold up and composure required. 

[goodymatt]

Ipswich caused us problems first half but we dealt with it. We created enough chances to win this game and second half limited them to very little until Ross gives away a pointless free kick and after a fine save we end up conceding a very unfortunate deflection right into the top corner.

i know it doesn’t suit the Martin out agenda but come on, his tactics nullified Ipswich to no big chances and we created a few big chances to score, Archer should have scored at least 2. Our xG was double theirs (1.5 vs 0.75).

It’s nothing more than an incredibly lucky point for Ipswich from what I watched. Their best chance first half was even offside and wouldn’t have counted had Szmodics not shouldered the ball to Ramsdale and actually scored.

So my question is how was that Martin’s fault? I thought tactically he got it spot on.

[egg]

13 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

We didn't 'let' Adams leave. We offered him a new contract and he chose not to sign it because he wanted to move on.

Hmm. It depends what we offered him. If it was derisory or for too short a term, then we essentially did 'let' him leave. 

[Micky]

38 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

A point that feels like an awful defeat. 

That was the point that I predicted from our next three, Ipswich, Bournemouth and Arsenal so it's going to be a shit two weeks.  Then we've got Leicester away and City at home... we are so f%$cked.

[Winnersaint]

6 minutes ago, stknowle said:

 Ultimately I think we are improving quite rapidly but this league is so mercilessly difficult that I remain firmly of the opinion we won’t have anywhere near enough sadly. 

I think this is not far off the mark. It begs the question why? Its not like we're a Huddersfield, Burnley, Blackpool, Luton, Sheffield Utd, Bournemouth even, we do have pedigree in this league. This league is all about scoring goals and having 2/3 of Sheffield Utd's relegated forward line isn't going to get you very far.

[Stu Man Do]

BBD and Archer as your first and 2nd choice strikers stinks of relegation. How BBD didn’t even hit the target with his late chance I do not know.

Dibling again excellent and we seem to have the start of playing ok but the divving about at the back and lack of quality up front will kill us.

[hypochondriac]

6 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Forest, Brentford and Ipswich.

Three teams in theory we should be competing with in the bottom half as a minimum. Only turned up for one of those games and even then we left with a point.

BBD is very poor. 

I'd say wolves and Everton look more likely to be down there at the moment. 

[goodymatt]

1 minute ago, egg said:

Hmm. It depends what we offered him. If it was derisory or for too short a term, then we essentially did 'let' him leave. 

He tried to leave for several windows in a row, he was never signing an extension. KWP appears to be doing the same, running his contract to get maximum financial benefit when he leaves.

[stknowle]

11 minutes ago, stknowle said:

Agree, he did alright. Ultimately I think we are improving quite rapidly but this league is so mercilessly difficult that I remain firmly of the opinion we won’t have anywhere near enough sadly. 

 

9 minutes ago, Mr X said:

Which begs the question what is the point in sticking with Martin when we go down? 

TBF I don’t think what I said begs that question whatsoever. 

[hypochondriac]

Just now, goodymatt said:

He tried to leave for several windows in a row, he was never signing an extension. KWP appears to be doing the same, running his contract to get maximum financial benefit when he leaves.

Which is fair enough. Can't say he doesn't deserve it. Not sure we need him though to be honest. 

[Galway saint]

Just now, Winnersaint said:

I think this is not far off the mark. It begs the question why? Its not like we're a Huddersfield, Burnley, Blackpool, Luton, Sheffield Utd, Bournemouth even, we do have pedigree in this league. This league is all about scoring goals and having 2/3 of Sheffield Utd's relegated forward line isn't going to get you very far.

We have a poor track record in recent seasons of signing a CF but the decision to sign 2/3 of the blades forward line beggars belief really, unless they already have one eye on next season. frankly feels like the season is already slippping away after the 5th game 

[goodymatt]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Which is fair enough. Can't say he doesn't deserve it. Not sure we need him though to be honest. 

Absolutely, KWP has earned the right to leave with our blessing but it will be a shame to not receive any compensation for one of our highest valued players. Doesn’t really help our financial model when we lose starters in this way but it is becoming more common in the game atm.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Absolutely, KWP has earned the right to leave with our blessing but it will be a shame to not receive any compensation for one of our highest valued players. Doesn’t really help our financial model when we lose starters in this way but it is becoming more common in the game atm.

Could sell him in Jan for 7 million or something tbf. 

[Whitey Grandad]

8 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Ipswich caused us problems first half but we dealt with it. We created enough chances to win this game and second half limited them to very little until Ross gives away a pointless free kick and after a fine save we end up conceding a very unfortunate deflection right into the top corner.

i know it doesn’t suit the Martin out agenda but come on, his tactics nullified Ipswich to no big chances and we created a few big chances to score, Archer should have scored at least 2. Our xG was double theirs (1.5 vs 0.75).

It’s nothing more than an incredibly lucky point for Ipswich from what I watched. Their best chance first half was even offside and wouldn’t have counted had Szmodics not shouldered the ball to Ramsdale and actually scored.

So my question is how was that Martin’s fault? I thought tactically he got it spot on.

I don't know how you worked that out. They had plenty of good chances, 15 to 20 or so. The only surprise was that they didn't score earlier 

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

We can stay here all night trying to analyse this. The fact remains.... 

We are fucking shite. 

[Badger]

52 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Cunts cunts cunts cunts cunts cunts cunts cunts

Realise Ramsdale and Dibling are excluded from that but you need another cunt in your line up to make the team sheet

Subs: Cunt, x 9

Manager : Bearded Cunt

[Saint_Jonny]

Enjoyed everything about today until the screamer at the end. Thought we were well worth the win given how controlled we were in the second half. Absolute gut punch to concede to that rat cunt Morsey at the death. 

Northam was decent today. Promise. Reckon we can beat ballmouth next week. 

[goodymatt]

3 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I don't know how you worked that out. They had plenty of good chances, 15 to 20 or so. The only surprise was that they didn't score earlier 

They had pressure on us, especially first half but how many of their chances can you look back and say how haven’t they scored? The one that sticks in my mind was the Szmodics offside one. Hutchinson good effort from distance was a decent effort but well saved. They huffed and puffed (mostly in the first half) and didn’t score.

Meanwhile we are rounding the keeper and hitting the post or shooting straight at the keeper from 8 yards out. Chances you look back and say, we ‘should’ score. Based on the chances created today, we have to win this game, incredibly unlucky to not do so.

[Saint Matty 76]

Same as before. Ramsdale, Sugawara, Fernandes and Dibling are good players… that’s it.

Archer just a thinner Che Adams who can’t trap a football.

[Sheaf Saint]

Well it's obviously hugely disappointing not to win that, but I saw plenty of positives today. 

Dibling is undoubtedly going to be a superstar.

Lallana was excellent and the ball he played to TD for the goal was exquisite.

Fernandes is really adapting to this league and looking good, as is Sugawara.

I feel a bit for Archer. I actually think he got a bit unlucky with his two chances today. For the first one, their keeper did really well to close down the angles to prevent a first time shot and force Archer wide. And for the second, the ball bounced just too far in front of him to allow him to get any power or accuracy in the shot. He will get goals though cos his movement is good and he's shown he has a good finish on him. 

[Lighthouse]

Probably a fair result in the end, we had the better clear cut chances but they had more of the ball in better areas, especially first half. I like the look of Fernandes, Suga and Dibling but f**k me BBD looks a right donkey. Clearly not a wide player and glacially slow.

Today was a step in the right direction but we need more, longer strides if we’re going to stay up.

[bpsaint]

From this thread and the things I’ve read on social media it baffles me how many people still don’t understand how injury time works. There were 9 second half subs, that’s 4 and a half minutes alone, plus the game was stopped for 2 minutes for that melee.

We didn’t defend well enough at the end when it mattered, can’t believe how much time and space they had on the edge of our box.

[macca155]

Some improvement I guess we got a point but the striker situation is desperate. BBD, Archer, Armstrong, and Ross are bog standard Championship strikers. They will never score goals in this league regularly. Maybe Stewart when he is fitter but nobody knows that ATM

Dibling, Downes, and Fernandes set up some excellent chances, all wasted.

Bringing on BBD was madness. Bring on KWP to support Taylor. I'm not sure Aribo added a great deal either.

Point is a point, Saints are still in the game. Just have to keep chipping away.

Oh yes and play ABK, KWP, and Onauchu.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Same as before. Ramsdale, Sugawara, Fernandes and Dibling are good players… that’s it.

Archer just a thinner Che Adams who can’t trap a football.

Lallana was pretty good too so that's half a team. 

[hypochondriac]

6 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

They had pressure on us, especially first half but how many of their chances can you look back and say how haven’t they scored? The one that sticks in my mind was the Szmodics offside one. Hutchinson good effort from distance was a decent effort but well saved. They huffed and puffed (mostly in the first half) and didn’t score.

Meanwhile we are rounding the keeper and hitting the post or shooting straight at the keeper from 8 yards out. Chances you look back and say, we ‘should’ score. Based on the chances created today, we have to win this game, incredibly unlucky to not do so.

Their unmarked header in the first half. No idea why they didn't do better with that. 

[Saint Matty 76]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Lallana was pretty good too so that's half a team. 

Lallana looks good on the ball but he’s a training cone off of it, not sure about him really.

Better than the alternatives though I guess.

[Winnersaint]

20 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

He tried to leave for several windows in a row, he was never signing an extension. KWP appears to be doing the same, running his contract to get maximum financial benefit when he leaves.

I don't begrudge him that after sticking around last season.

[Peter Douglas]

40 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Worth pointing out again how special Dibling is. He must have been by far the most fouled player today. It was almost constant. 

No, Delap was.

[goodymatt]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Their unmarked header in the first half. No idea why they didn't do better with that. 

Wasn’t that the offside Szmodics chance?

[Mixedkebab]

12 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Same as before. Ramsdale, Sugawara, Fernandes and Dibling are good players… that’s it.

Archer just a thinner Che Adams who can’t trap a football.

Add Lallana and THB to this, Downes also played well today and I think against the bigger teams Lesley will support him in midfield. Taylor doesn’t do much wrong either.

The rest of the forwards on the other hand do look fucking shite

One thing is certain we are better without Stephens.

Edited September 21 by Mixedkebab

[saintstowin]

We played well. From my seat anyway. It was an engrossing game. Mentions for Sugawara, Fernandes, Dibling, Lallana. Downes grew into the game. 

Lovely goal.

I'd say the back 4 and GK all played very well,  under pressure in the 1st half especially. I liked the line up albeit KWP a surprise.

I felt for Archer with those low hard passes to him on half way, tough to control and not sure of the point. When we played him through he was unlucky, never quite in control of the 2 chances. 

We were the better team but didn't get that vital 2nd. Unlucky. 

Edited September 21 by saintstowin

[SonicBoom]

This isn't a step in the right direction. It might have been had they been a top 10 side, but it's another promoted side at home. We won't get many better chances and again we failed. These games are absolutely critical.

[aintforever]

47 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

We didn't 'let' Adams leave. We offered him a new contract and he chose not to sign it because he wanted to move on.

Surely if we offered him enough he would have stayed. 

[gallaghert366@yahoo.com]

38 minutes ago, saintant said:

    ..... we must be doing lots of things radically wrong.

Yes, not scoring goals for starters   -  three shots on target today!

[saintant]

13 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Lallana looks good on the ball but he’s a training cone off of it, not sure about him really.

Better than the alternatives though I guess.

Lallana is not a ball winner - never has been. However, you can afford a luxury like him if you play a two man pivot in front of the back four like the best teams do. Shame RM is too stubborn to give it a try.

[Galway saint]

Be interesting to ask the recruitment team how on earth they thought our forward recruitment was going to score enough goals to keep us up. arguably we have a no better forward line than last season.

seems weird that they can pick out a really good player like fernandes but get is so badly wrong when it comes to strikers

RM is not without his faults but he deserves better than he has been given in the forward department