Saints 1-2 Liverpool - Match Thread

[coalman]

Just now, Turkish said:

What’s the linesman there for? He can see across 

He's there to flag the Saints player offside.

[Chez]

Horrific first half. Better second. 

[beatlesaint]

I have to say I was quite impressed by the second half. It’s like the players suddenly realised they had the straitjacket taken off them. Good to see hardly no fucking about at the back, forward passes, a bit of pace. 
 

Pity they hadn’t sacked the twat 6 weeks ago !

[BotleySaint]

Just now, Turkish said:

But absolute dog shit in front of goal 🤣🤣

Deserves more chances. He clearly can score goals as evidenced by his record elsewhere. But today.. yes. Awful.

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

What’s the linesman there for? He can see across 

That Lino was never going to give us anything - nearly all 50-50 decisions went their way.

[Saint_clark]

[Saint Billy]

Much better in the second half which is encouraging. 

[Sheaf Saint]

Well I really enjoyed that second half. A great goal from Archer, some good positive attacking team intent, and generally looked much less apathetic.

Awful refereeing, from the ref and linos. 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

What’s the linesman there for? He can see across 

No argument from me, but the camera angle showing the refs view explained to me why the ref didn't give it.

 

[the colonel]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

But absolute dog shit in front of goal 🤣🤣

Still not as shite as Diaz.

[ChrisPY]

3 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Now it's on to the championship, and I sincerely hope you can keep up!

If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was a Brighton fan taking the piss.

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

Yeah not a foul, can't you see Fernandes obstructing their defender?

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

That Lino was never going to give us anything - nearly all 50-50 decisions went their way.

And at least one 100-0 decision there.

[Vancouver Saint]

So much better everything. Saints fans still in their seats right until the end with the team competing until the end. Same players, different energy, mentality and approach. 

Relegation pretty much a certainty as a consequence of hanging on to Martin for too long - but at least some optimism we'll salvage some pride in what remains of the season.

[SWLondon Saint]

We should have gone to 4 at the back soon after the Archer goal, I honestly don't know what the management 'team' are thinking there, we lost so much momentum after the goal. Archer looked like he still had plenty left in the tank, they should have taken off Dibling who looked knackered frankly. But so much better after the goal.

[Sarnia Cherie]

A glimmer of hope for better times ahead, providing SR do a proper job this time. Shame Mike Dean's best mate was the ref. 

[Saint Gifford]

Just now, saintant said:

That last 35 minutes was all we ask from our side and it was brilliant. At last we showed fight and aggression and got in their faces. We got the ball forward quickly and gave it a right go. The podgy little “CNUT” in blue bottled that decision and he's a “F!!!???” cheat!

Their corrected for you, your welcome.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Just now, Chez said:

No argument from me, but the camera angle showing the refs view explained to me why the ref didn't give it.

 

Unless you’re a ‘big’ team, then the ball holding attacker gets the benefit and it’s a pen or at the very least a freekick.

[ChristopheVAFC]

1 minute ago, ChrisPY said:

If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was a Brighton fan taking the piss.

I'm not mocking you, I know the challenges are going to be complicated, but I think it's still possible to change the situation, I really do.

[SWLondon Saint]

Also, why is BBD coming on at all when you could bring on Sam AA who can actually control the ball?

[hypochondriac]

Loads of positives from that second half which is really all you can ask for with three days since the last game. Fair bit to build on there. 

Edited Wednesday at 22:26 by hypochondriac

[Chez]

4 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

Tall Paul really good at holding up ball and bringing others into play.

Not sure I agree. I saw a fair few mis controls and when the space was tight he lost it every time. His finishing was woeful. Can't fault his effort and desire though...and we need some of that up front

[Chez]

1 minute ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Also, why is BBD coming on at all when you could bring on Sam AA who can actually control the ball?

I guess if his powerful header had gone in - it was a good save by Kehler - then that would have been justification.

[saintant]

I wonder if Hooper would have given that as a foul if it was done to Jotta at Anfield. Hmmmmmmm.

[chiknsmack]

2 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

I'm not mocking you, I know the challenges are going to be complicated, but I think it's still possible to change the situation, I really do.

Your post translated to "Now it's on to the championship", but "the Championship" is the 2nd division (the one we're trying to avoid being relegated to).

[Dark Munster]

8 minutes ago, Chez said:

Horrific first half. Better second. 

Scar tissue from the previous manager.

[Lighthouse]

Dreadful first half, much better second. I said I’d settle for a result which wasn’t embarrassing so can’t have too many complaints.

[Saint_clark]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

Not sure I agree. I saw a fair few mis controls and when the space was tight he lost it every time. His finishing was woeful. Can't fault his effort and desire though...and we need some of that up front

Against one of the best sides he kept the ball more often than he lost it. He needs to be starting the next 10 games to see what he can do for us.

[ChristopheVAFC]

2 minutes ago, chiknsmack said:

Your post translated to "Now it's on to the championship", but "the Championship" is the 2nd division (the one we're trying to avoid being relegated to).

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, but I obviously want you to stay in the Premier League this season. 

[saintant]

Lovely assist from Fernandes for Archer's goal. 🙂

[John Boy Saint]

3 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, but I obviously want you to stay in the Premier League this season. 

Don’t worry I knew what you meant 😁

[whelk]

I hate these bald fucking refs. Should be requirement to have some hair. Bent bald cunts

 

[david in sweden]

all-out attack and long ball in the second half, and " Russball"  came to good use when we were attacking and not time-wasting.

I bet McCarthy enjoyed pumping a long balls upfield instead of giving suicide passes to his defenders.

Arm-lock on Fernandes was a clear foul in front of goal,  but with no VAR in this competition , we got sc*ewed again. 

[Turkish]

6 minutes ago, saintant said:

I wonder if Hooper would have given that as a foul if it was done to Jotta at Anfield. Hmmmmmmm.

He’d have given it if it was Jotta at st Mary’s 

[Saint Fan CaM]

I think if we play like that second half, get the players 10% fitter and provide the team better coaching in key areas…we MAY have a chance to get some points on the board. The catalyst to this will be who we appoint as manager…it’s so crucial. 

[do i not like fizzy pop]

The more I see it the more I'm astounded the ref - looking directly at it - didn't give a free kick and red card to Quansah.  He's leading his challenge with his arm desperately to try and block off Fernandes and could only have been pulling him down.

Hooper is a cheat and a disgrace 

[Turkish]

10 minutes ago, Chez said:

Not sure I agree. I saw a fair few mis controls and when the space was tight he lost it every time. His finishing was woeful. Can't fault his effort and desire though...and we need some of that up front

It made me laugh when he tried to control it near the touch line with the sole of his foot and it rolled under it out for a throw in

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I think if we play like that second half, get the players 10% fitter and provide the team better coaching in key areas…we MAY have a chance to get some points on the board. The catalyst to this will be who we appoint as manager…it’s so crucial. 

Get it forward quick wide and get crosses in, amazing how simple a philosophy can be

[a1ex2001]

Much better we still lost but at least we went out and tried to win the game Martin would have had us recycling the ball around the back four for the last ten minutes to make sure we won the vital possession stat and to keep Jan top of the touches league!

[HarvSFC]

Negative result, but a lot of positives from tonight. There was a bigger picture to tonight also. An embarrassing performance and result may have put off any prospective manager's and after the first half I feared the worst. However, the second half was much improved and may have helped convince some that there is actually something to work with. I know a lot have written off this season and it is looking bleak, but isn't mathematically over yet and Hasenhuttl took over with one win in 15 and kept us up, so it isn't entirely impossible having played one game extra and any manager worth their salt may feel they can get a tune out of this side. Even so, the players showed they have fight tonight and there is a good mentality still within the side, rather than a broken one that you would expect from a side rooted to the bottom.

Regarding the play in the second half, it was nice to see us put in early crosses to try and catch the opposition defence out. Too often over the past year we've avoided this tactic and attempted to pass it through the back line. KWP's a poor crosser, but Sugawara isn't and we need to utilise that skill, which we haven't as of yet. Football is also largely about momentum and the momentum is constantly changing in a game. Too often this season I've seen us fail to take advantage of a momentum shift, we don't keep the tempo up, we kill the game with slow passing between our defence and goalkeeper and instead invite pressure unnecessarily on our defence. Tonight, when the momentum was on our side, it was good to see us keep the tempo up and take the game to Liverpool, causing them issues, specifically with the good save from Kelleher after Archer's shot, the air shot from Onuachu in the box after an early Sulemana cross and the potential red card from Quansah. Many games this season we've failed to create chances and been feeding off scraps. Tonight we created at least three good chances with Archer adding to that with his well taken goal, which he did all by himself.

If we go down, go down with performances like tonight, rather than the shit slow ball we've seen up till now.

[SWLondon Saint]

12 minutes ago, Chez said:

I guess if his powerful header had gone in - it was a good save by Kehler - then that would have been justification.

He was miles offside...

[Wade Garrett]

Much better than that boring tippy tappy shit.

Bellis was very good.

[Roger]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

It made me laugh when he tried to control it near the touch line with the sole of his foot and it rolled under it out for a throw in

He obviously can finish if you look at his goal scoring record and he caused havoc when he’s on. But feel free to point out everything negative he does. He needs a run of games for me. 

[obelisk]

It was refreshing to see Saints crossing the ball when in the attacking third rather than recycling it endlessly back to the 'keeper. Of course that requires attackers in the box. Maybe Tall Paul will get one go in off his arse to get him underway.

[saintant]

Tall Paul and Sulemana look to me like two players who might have something about them but they've needed more game time which RM never gave them. Nothing to lose now - give them more minutes on the pitch and see what they can do - we're not blessed with forwards anyway.

[saintant]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He’d have given it if it was Jotta at st Mary’s 

Very good point 🙂

[Matty's Caddy]

I’m afraid to say, dibling is too much of a luxury to be starting. 
we need to be a lot tighter in midfield going forward 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

It made me laugh when he tried to control it near the touch line with the sole of his foot and it rolled under it out for a throw in

He's pure cinema. Despite his crapness tonight, he must have had a dozen touches in as many minutes and things happen with him. Still think Archer and TP would be a good up front combo.

[ChrisPY]

10 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

I'm not mocking you, I know the challenges are going to be complicated, but I think it's still possible to change the situation, I really do.

No offence taken. It was your choice of words (mainly ‘keeping up’ and ‘championship’) that brought back memories of our time in League 1.

’When Adkins was asked whether he thought it would be Saints and Brighton fighting it out for the title at the end of the season he started his answer by saying: “Well, if they can keep with us, maybe.”’

They went onto win the League 1 title so could rightfully throw back the question of if we would be able to keep up in the championship. We did, they didn’t.

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Get it forward quick wide and get crosses in, amazing how simple a philosophy can be

Well I’d say just get it forward quick any which way…we’ve got players that can make it happen…just need some selection consistency so some partnerships can start to gel. I’d leave BBD and Manning back at Staplewood ready to ship ‘em out - the squad is just too bloated with mediocrity.