Man Utd 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[StrangelyBrown]

6 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

He's literally just jogged about doing fuck all. Total waste of a shirt.

And to think RM claimed he was only ever happy when he was on the pitch. Dear oh dear.

What's new? I really don't think anything has changed...

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Subs have to be made, and apparently Juric made the wrong ones, so it is a valid question.

Why do they have to be made?

[obelisk]

Did Smallbone do anything other than lose the ball for their equaliser? Seemed pretty anonymous. Manager will learn something from that.

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, West end Saints said:

Nonsense.

Not sure what he is like currently at this level due to injury, last season he was decent.

I don't get the hate.

Our best midfielder during play offs. The championship podcast had him as the player of the 5 play off games.

In a championship team that dominates the ball and has generally better quality all over the pitch than the opposition where he doesn't have to do any defending, sure he'll look half decent.

Putting him on against a PL team and expecting him to shore up the midfield and protect a lead, however, and he's completely out of his depth. He's so lightweight it's untrue. Doesn't tackle, gets beaten far too easily and generally just watches the game pass him by.

He's not, and never will be a PL quality player. 

[trousers]

6 minutes ago, aintforever said:

Manager fucked us with the subs.

Given the whole bench is mediocre, the alternative was to run the starting 11 into the ground, and Juric would've then been criticised for not taking off tired players soon enough...

[captainchris]

Great performance until the subs who are not good enough in particular AA and Smallbone. Also thank you Martin for ensuring we are now catching up with player fitness… Martin was criminally bad …. 

[Hawkswood]

3 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Lots and lots of positives there. We were the better team for 60 mins. Pitt we couldn’t of held on for a point but good signs.

Yeah I'm with you. Of course I'm pissed off - like everyone else on here  - that we didn't hold on for  something  and the game has just finished so it feels raw, but that first 60 minutes was the best I've enjoyed all season. There was a lot to like about that performance and we all know we're going down but I'd like to think from what we've seen from the last few games we can reach the magic, almighty total of 12 points. That's the dream.

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, davefizzy14 said:

Dibling, Sulemana, Fernandes, Aribo, Ugochukwu, KWP all excellent tonight.

Only half of them on the pitch at the end and Juric wanted to take another one off. That's the problem. He wanted to sub off all the top performers.

[manji]

1 minute ago, bangkoksaint said:

I’m gutted for the 2500 that were there. I’m fed up chucking my money at them currently. Safe journey home to you all you deserve medals 

They are giving the team a standing ovation . Thank fvck this forum is only a minority Pissed off about the result as anyone but get some perspective we are down . Our team next season will look significantly different and for the better .

[Saint NL]

Generally, much better.

But the wheels really fell off at the end. Some reasons to be optimistic though, Sulemana was superb for the first hour, Dibling and Fernandes are really starting to gel. 

But the subs killed us, with the higher intensity the subs will become more important but every week they seem to have the opposite effect.

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Game was lost when smallbone came on. No presses made, no useful passes or tackles. just an absolute waste of space. Was a terrible sub. If the striker was tired, we should be using someone like Onuachu or Archer, with Smallbone playing in midfield if he absolutely has to come on... and to bring him on before downes was just mental.

It's not all on Smallbone, but I agree, Archer or Armstrong was the sub at that point. Onuachu was shite when he came on.

[Colinjb]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

Only half of them on the pitch at the end and Juric wanted to take another one off. That's the problem. He wanted to sub off all the top performers.

Shades of Adkins doing the same at home v Utd in 2012.

[BotleySaint]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

They do based on their performances at that level. Armtrong is a prolific goalscorer in that league, Smallbone a top player in that league. Sure, they aren't up to it in the PL, but we don't need them for that next season. Replacements can be signed after any future potential promotion.

I agree with you. Despite the high emotions of tonight both were solid players at Championship level. 

We always knew the Prem was going to be a step too far for them. Was obvious to everyone except Russel and the rest of the leadership at the club. 

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Given the whole bench is mediocre, the alternative was to run the starting 11 into the ground, and Juric would've then been criticised for not taking off tired players soon enough...

I didn't see anyone showing signs of tiredness tbh.

[Saint_Jonny]

United got away with one there. Shame we didn't take our chances and give ourselves more of a chance to hold onto something.

The drop in quality when Dibling, Fernandez and, surprisingly, Aribo went off was clear for all to see. 

Hopefully the team take heart from the performance.

[woodsaint1]

Smallbone - good player in the Championship, pish poor in the PL. The problem is that you could say the same about 6/7 of our players.

Any new DoF has their work cut out

[Mr X]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They do based on their performances at that level. Armtrong is a prolific goalscorer in that league, Smallbone a top player in that league. Sure, they aren't up to it in the PL, but we don't need them for that next season. Replacements can be signed after any future potential promotion.

What like we did after our promotion? we basically let the same championship level players play in the premier league and this is the result !

[Matthew Le God]

5 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

We should be aiming for automatic ergo we should be aiming for better. 

Armstrong was the 2nd top scorer in the league with 24 goals. Why would you let that go ahead of another Championship season a mere year later?

Edited January 16 by Matthew Le God

[manji]

1 minute ago, Hawkswood said:

Yeah I'm with you. Of course I'm pissed off - like everyone else on here  - that we didn't hold on for  something  and the game has just finished so it feels raw, but that first 60 minutes was the best I've enjoyed all season. There was a lot to like about that performance and we all know we're going down but I'd like to think from what we've seen from the last few games we can reach the magic, almighty total of 12 points. That's the dream.

Please post more often.what you said there is the reality.

[Whitey Grandad]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

They do based on their performances at that level. Armtrong is a prolific goalscorer in that league, Smallbone a top player in that league. Sure, they aren't up to it in the PL, but we don't need them for that next season. Replacements can be signed after any future potential promotion.

Smallbone is not actor player in that league. He just strolls through games.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Given the whole bench is mediocre, the alternative was to run the starting 11 into the ground, and Juric would've then been criticised for not taking off tired players soon enough...

This. Subs had to be made. Players were visibly tiring. We worked very hard to press them in first half. We suffered because of that. Sulemana should have come off after abut 75 minutes. 

[aintforever]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Given the whole bench is mediocre, the alternative was to run the starting 11 into the ground, and Juric would've then been criticised for not taking off tired players soon enough...

They looked fine to me.

[Obstacle1]

Let's be honest, with Juric managing since the start of the season we'd be in and around the 15 to 20 point zone now probably and with a chance of staying up. 

Looking at the bigger picture tonight for 70 mins we were the better side and have a way of playing that creates chances to score goals, which is something Martin never achieved in the premiership.

[Chris cooper]

Come on you know the script by now .. awful subs after bossing the entire game .. when dibbers pulled up & Fernandes went off .. my gut wrenched & I knew that awful feeling was on the horizon!

[verlaine1979]

Anyone got a clue why Archer never seems to get much of a look in at the moment? I can't think of a single instance where I'd want Armstrong on the pitch of he was available to come in instead.

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, Mr X said:

What like we did after our promotion? we basically let the same championship level players play in the premier league and this is the result !

We didn't... that has been the problem! I'm suggesting what we should do next time we get a promotion! We don't need to shift players like Arsmrong now. They are good enough to do very well in the Championship next season. He scored 24 league goals! What we should do is shift them after the promotion!

Edited January 16 by Matthew Le God

[Disco Stu]

There's still that familiar deflating feeling after yet another loss  but there were moments during todays game I actually enjoyed our performance which is something I haven't felt for several months. I would like to see Archer in this team though. I don't know what his fitness situation is like but I see him as our best finisher and I feel the way we play could really suit him.

[stknowle]

3 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

No hate - just speaking the truth about a player who is a non-entity in midfield. Totally out of his depth.

Indeed. I don’t hate him at all but he just offers nothing at this level and him coming on is like having a man sent off. Contrast his input and influence on the game to Fernandes’ and you see why we’re in the shit we’re in having players like him in the squad. 

[Baird of the land]

Definite some shoots of optimism, though th collapse was depressing predictable

You do wonder about the fitness levels. Hoping Charles returning can add something to the midfield depth.

[Micky]

Our annus horribilis continues unabated.  No chance of points from the next two games, and then Ipswitch - we're really going to struggle to beat Derbys record unless we get some points soon. This horrible shitty nightmare can't end soon enough for me. 

Edited January 16 by Micky

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

Given the whole bench is mediocre, the alternative was to run the starting 11 into the ground, and Juric would've then been criticised for not taking off tired players soon enough...

Then you run the game down by multiple little stoppages.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

I didn't see anyone showing signs of tiredness tbh.

Could not disagree more. United were on getting on top, we weren't closing them down anywhere near as quick. Sulemana for example didn't do a ting for the last 20 minutes. Players did tire. Whether the players that came off were the ones most tired, I don't know.

[Patrick Bateman]

Such a good performance, night and day compared to a few matches ago and the players look fitter and faster, challenging hard, chasing down, loved it.  Gutted we couldn't hold on for a draw, but that performance was so much better.

But I enjoyed that, for once this season. I enjoyed it, despite the defeat. Everything we've been missing was there. 

[notnowcato]

One of our better 80 minutes of the season. Rode our luck a bit. Created plenty. Really wish Sully, who made Yoro look like a a decimal point error on his price, would just stick his laces through it when clean through. 

[Convict Colony]

My feelings from from the match.

I'm never watching the woman's ashes one dayer no matter how often they mention it.

The team and manager did bloody well today we just need a finisher, something we've been lacking for years.

Enjoy sullemana skinning Yoro all game and thought the front 3 combined well and aribo and big les in midfield great.

Man u have wasted even more money on shit players than us it just so happens their shit expensive subs were miles better than ours.

Am not mad at Diallo getting the goals he was their best player.

Smallbone cannot play as a false 9, not fair on him and man u's first goal came from him not being able to hold the ball leading to the break.

Hope Dibbling injury not too bad.

THB having a russball moment, he played great all game, such is life.

Dare I say our best performance this season, we just need a finisher and it wouldnt of been close.

Chin up guys we see progress.

 

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

They do based on their performances at that level. Armtrong is a prolific goalscorer in that league, Smallbone a top player in that league. Sure, they aren't up to it in the PL, but we don't need them for that next season. Replacements can be signed after any future potential promotion.

Smallbone is just ok for a team passing around slowly with little purpose like Russell fucking Martin wanted

In a team trying to play quick attacking, high press football he is utter useless and most know it and now hopefully Juric does too

[captainchris]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Armstrong was the 2nd top scorer in the league with 24 goals. Why would you let that goal ahead of another Championship season a year later?

Because he is really crap??? 

[Sarnia Cherie]

When will we stop playing out from the back!!! How many goals have we gifted with that this season? 

[Disco Stu]

8 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Yeah I'm with you. Of course I'm pissed off - like everyone else on here  - that we didn't hold on for  something  and the game has just finished so it feels raw, but that first 60 minutes was the best I've enjoyed all season. There was a lot to like about that performance and we all know we're going down but I'd like to think from what we've seen from the last few games we can reach the magic, almighty total of 12 points. That's the dream.

This team is definitely good enough to exceed 12 points. Need to keep Smallbone away from it though.

Edited January 16 by Disco Stu

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

As soon as Smallbone come on I knew we would get beat. He is shite.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Such a good performance, night and day compared to a few matches ago and the players look fitter and faster, challenging hard, chasing down, loved it.  Gutted we couldn't hold on for a draw, but that performance was so much better.

But I enjoyed that, for once this season. I enjoyed it, despite the defeat. Everything we've been missing was there. 

Thanks for posting that. Exactly how I feel. Proud of how the side went about it today. Hope we can replicate and get a result next time.

[Jonnyboy]

7 minutes ago, trousers said:

Given the whole bench is mediocre, the alternative was to run the starting 11 into the ground, and Juric would've then been criticised for not taking off tired players soon enough...

Not if we'd won...

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

As soon as Smallbone come on I knew we would get beat. He is shite.

[Obstacle1]

2 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

There's still that familiar deflating feeling after yet another loss  but there were moments during todays game I actually enjoyed our performance which is something I haven't felt for several months. I would like to see Archer in this team though. I don't know what his fitness situation is like but I see him as our best finisher and I feel the way we play could really suit him.

I agree he is our best finisher and there's a role for him to play. A front 3 of sulemana, Dibling and Fernandes looked really positive tonight though, so I don't know where you fit Archer in.

[Turkish]

16 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

Still on course for a record breaking season. 

Lowest points total 

Least goals scored 

Most goals conceded 

Earliest relegation. 

Most defeats

Hard to see anything else happening really. 

Every cloud and all that 

[Fozzybear]

24 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

Always looks like he has leukemia, no wonder oppo players just brush him aside.

It’s football, there’s no need to be a fucking prick about it. Hope the mods take action on this undignified comment. Shameful way to publicly represent yourself. 

[trousers]

6 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

I didn't see anyone showing signs of tiredness tbh.

Yep, not on 60 minutes when the subs started, but tiredness would've started to rear it's head not long after I'd venture. 

[Convict Colony]

2 minutes ago, captainchris said:

Because he is really crap??? 

I would also add Armstrong scored those goals in the russball system, can he do it in the juric formation.

[Dusic]

Whatever the manager has done on the training ground recently is clearly working...very well setup and great attacking fluidity.

Depth wise we don't have it, but think he has pretty quickly sussed out the best way to play with these players.

Will be quite interesting to see who comes in for Fernandes because he is top but obviously a bit under rhw radar because we have been so poor and Dibling gets the attention. Wouldnt be suprised if almost all the top PL clubs want him.

[Matthew Le God]

5 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Armstrong was the 2nd top scorer in the league with 24 goals. Why would you let that go ahead of another Championship season a mere year later?

 

1 minute ago, captainchris said:

Because he is really crap??? 

Can you honestly keep a straight face and say a player who scored 24 Championship goals last season is 'really crap' when playing in the Championship? Because that is utter nonsense! We do not need him to be PL quality next season. We need top level Championship quality... which he demonstrably is... over multiple seasons. Similar applies to many other players in our squad.