Saints 0-3 Villa - Match Thread

[die Mannyschaft]

First half ok, after all those subs never in the game. I now don't think we will score another goal this season. No point putting some players on ! 

Still doing a lot of Russball.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, Maggie May said:

Very worrying. Yes, we’re already down but we don’t look good enough for the Championship. I can’t see us returning to the Prem anytime soon. Call me a pessimist but so much damage has been caused to this club this season. 

Most of it caused by your hero Russell Martin

[Chez]

14 minutes ago, Galway saint said:

Does anyone know why Tessem wasn't on solent ?

bbc south have come to their senses?

[HarvSFC]

Shocking. Everything I hate about the current Saints team on show today.

Okay, starting with the positives, we did manage to keep it to 0-0 for 70 minutes and we were defending okay up until that point, but everything after that was a disaster.

Firstly, the Smallbone for Sulemana substitution killed us. I know Sulemana can't do anything with the ball, but he was providing an out ball, he was giving us some width and he was still occupying Cash. He skied a chance moments before coming off. I thought we were too narrow in the first half and that Rusk brought Dibling on for Onuachu to give us some width, but that was silly of me, as said we brought on a hopeless midfielder for a wide attacker. We didn't look like scoring before Smallbone and Stewart came on and we had even less of a threat after they came on and were weaker with them on. I know we talk a lot about a lack of athleticism and physicality in the Saints side and Smallbone and Stewart are the epitome of it. Two players you wouldn't be surprised if the wind picked them up and blew them out of the stadium.

Dibling also put in another horror show. He's just far too casual on the ball and a luxury player who provides little protection off the ball. I don't know if he's just fallen for the hype of being the best thing ever, as his agent, family and the media are telling him, if he's just having a bad spell, or if he's gone all Van Dijk and just going through the motions. I guess we'll find out in the summer, but either way I'm not going to be too disappointed to see him leave.

He played a huge part in us conceding the first goal, but again I do not understand what our players are doing off the ball. Villa forced us into mistakes across the 90, they gave us little time on the ball and we surrendered possession easily. Us, on the other hand, we give the opposition players all the time and space they could possibly want. Look at first two goals back. All our players are in our own half when Mings has the ball, he can do what he wants with it. He goes to Tielemans, in the centre circle, he's able to take touch and release the ball and Stewart is still nowhere near him, as the closest player to him. Tielemans, a Premier League player can play a ball over the top, if given space, as we did and we're 1-0 down. The second, again Onana is on the halfway line unchallenged, he plays the ball to Rogers, and for some reason Smallbone and Ugochukwu get taken out of the game by that pass. They both amble back, given the defence no protection. Bednarek doesn't know what to do, Stephens actually runs away from Malen and Manning is doing his usual defensive act, 2-0.

On individuals, as already mentioned - Dibling too casual, Smallbone and Stewart hopeless and out of the game, Sulemana no final ball, Ugochukwu also hopeless. Manning has all of the weaknesses of Danny Fox, but none of the strengths, never takes on the opposition, always turns back and rarely puts in a cross, never a good one. Bednarek, Stephens and Harwood-Bellis were okay before shitting the bed and two of them decided to give away silly penalties that you never see another Premier League defender give. Onuachu and Archer also poor, neither are good in open play. I don't know why Onuachu has so many supporters. He's scored a handful of goals, and really Henderson should have saved his most recent goal, but his open play game is so poor. We've seen some proper target men in recent years in Lambert and Pelle and he's not good enough to lace their boots.

Only two to come out with any credit again are Fernandes and Ramsdale, neither of them deserve to be in the worst Premier League team of all time.

One other positive should be at least Spors should be looking at this team's performances in detail and thinking he needs a bigger clear out. A lot of these players stunk out the Premier League a couple of years back, and they're still here. If Stephens starts next season as our captain, we'll have gone wrong somewhere.

Rusk has taken charge of two Premier League matches now and we haven't looked like scoring in either. Here's to the next six and then we can hopefully put this all behind us.

 

 

 

[Charlie Wayman]

51 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Next season will be a fresh start with a new manager, new signings and - most importantly - new, much worse opponents. There’s no reason not to think we’ll be solidly in playoff contention at the very least. We had all this hysteria about dropping straight through to League 1 two years ago, nothing of the sort happened.

Not sure about worse opponents. There will be Ipswich, Leicester and three of the current top six in the Championship all better than us for starters.

[SaintTex]

2 hours ago, Saint NL said:

17% possession. Russell Martin must be turning in his grave

 

2 hours ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Better than 70% and 3 goals down.

 

well that didnt age well.

[macca155]

Not sure why there is all the moaning. It was just the same as every other match. They aren't good enough to play in this league and every game reinforces that.

Until the pen Stephens had actually had a good game. Put in some crunching tackles and was fighting hard.

The moment the subs came on the side lost cohesion and the ball. Villa took advantage of that pretty clinically.

They are a good side, not overly bothered about the result. It is what it is

No way the likes of Hull cause us that much trouble. No need to start wobbling. It will be a new season, the usual reset.

Hopefully the new manager can bring whatever players we have together, into a effective unit.

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, Maggie May said:

Very worrying. Yes, we’re already down but we don’t look good enough for the Championship. I can’t see us returning to the Prem anytime soon. Call me a pessimist but so much damage has been caused to this club this season. 

Jesus wept.

[Lighthouse]

10 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Not sure about worse opponents. There will be Ipswich, Leicester and three of the current top six in the Championship all better than us for starters.

Good f**king gravy. 

[Galway saint]

22 minutes ago, Chez said:

bbc south have come to their senses?

I quite like Tessem and prefer him to Merrington but each to their own 

[Sarnia Cherie]

I try to be an optimist by nature and Christ Almighty, you have to be supporting this lot but I am not worrying about next season yet. First up I want us to scrape 2 points from somewhere, anywhere, to swerve Derby County's title. 

I will wait to see who the new manager is and who our team consists of before worrying. There's been far too much of that this season and I'm not going to spend the summer in the same frame of mind. 

Edited 18 hours ago by Sarnia Cherie
Add words

[Saint_clark]

How do people have such short memories that they ALREADY have forgotten how good our shit team looked in the Championship last season? 

[beatlesaint]

Stupidly (and as it turned out like Dave Merrington did) I thought with absolutely nothing to lose the Rusk/Lallana combo would put out a team that would give it a real go. Hopes dashed with the teamsheet and 3 central defenders but two up front? At fkin last…..but no……Villa barely had to break sweat first half, it was like a training session.

The pissing around at the back and sideways passing reared its ugly head yet again and it was pretty obvious Rusk was looking for a Fulham result and 0-0 scoreline. That was undone by ridiculous subs and Villa scoring, it all went to shit pretty quickly after that.

Needless to say Rusk/Lallana blew their first audition if they did have designs on the job full time.

All in all a thoroughly depressing 90 mins……well 85 for me.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

I was quite content with the first half tbh, half time pint in the sunshine outside the KIngsland was pleasant and had us looking forwards with a bit of hope for the second half but never happened. No ambition, they were just happy to continue defending a 0-0, Villa were never letting us get away with that. Subs didn't help.

[Barton Saint]

I would much rather we had a go for the last four home games and lose 4-2 than surrender and lose 3-0 like today

Just entertain us for a month not rob us blind.

Oh and yet another shit referee!!

[Appy]

27 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

How do people have such short memories that they ALREADY have forgotten how good our shit team looked in the Championship last season? 

I think the optimism is killed off by how bad those players are when they go up to be honest. 

[Pamplemousse]

Wasn't a 3-0 game.

Ref was terrible. Villa a better team than us.

We will beat West Ham, Fulham and Leicester.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

46 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Not sure why there is all the moaning. It was just the same as every other match. They aren't good enough to play in this league and every game reinforces that.

Until the pen Stephens had actually had a good game. Put in some crunching tackles and was fighting hard.

The moment the subs came on the side lost cohesion and the ball. Villa took advantage of that pretty clinically.

They are a good side, not overly bothered about the result. It is what it is

No way the likes of Hull cause us that much trouble. No need to start wobbling. It will be a new season, the usual reset.

Hopefully the new manager can bring whatever players we have together, into a effective unit.

I also thought Jack was ok for much of the game.

When Sulemana was on the pitch, he gave us an out. Not a good one, but it was something. Bring on Dibling, whose value is decreasing by the week, and Smallbone and the game is lost. Watch their second goal and in midfield there's a massive Smallbone-sized hole and then look for Smallbone and you'll see him jogging back. Even among our team he looks really really shit.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

Wasn't a 3-0 game.

Ref was terrible. Villa a better team than us.

We will beat West Ham, Fulham and Leicester.

Read the above. Consider our season. Your response would be:-

a) That's the spirit!

b) That's too many spirits!

[vectraman]

Just got back from the game. My take:

 

First half we defended with some passion for a change, couple of bodies thrown in front of decent shots to make blocks. Stephen’s played decently, effort made up for lack of skill, more than can be said for some. 
Sulemana offered an outlet, kept their right back occupied and was a threat. If only we could pick and play a ball over/through to him to use his pace to run onto. Still far too much sideways backwards going nowhere tippy tappy crap on show. 
Whilst defensively better, attack wise was a barren wasteland. We are so slow playing forwards. Almost mechanical in our build up. No flair or gusto, just meh. No wonder we have scored the least goals in the top 4 football leagues. 
no support for Archer or TP, because there is no midfield. 4-4-2 has to be a better option than 5-3-2 surely?

Once again Fernandes and Ramsdale showed they are the only 2 proper PL quality players we have. 
 

Second half - TP being replaced by Dibling was I think injury related, but Christ alive Tyler you were dog shit. Absolutely lazy, uninterested and playing too deep. Don’t think you made a forward run into space all half. Taking Sulemana off was bizarre - he offered an outlet that Smallbone would never offer - pace. As usual our subs just made us worse. Every single Villa sub would be a first team regular for us. Our subs are bottom half championship at best. 
 

Inevitably Villa got their goals, despite Ramsdale trying single handed to save us. Yet again, our ultimately championship at best defence let us down. Just no consistency. All have a mistake a match in them, and no way is THB worth the £20 million we wasted on him. 
Man City have well and truly pulled our pants down with the overrated players we have signed from them. Lavia excellent, THB, Edozie, Charles, Larios, Bazunu all variable in quality, most not worth half what we paid. 
 

Who knows who we will be left with for next season, undoubtedly the dross will still be here, the decent will go. 
 

I can’t see anyone wanting Stephens/Bednarek/Wood/Smallbone/ Manning/Larios/Bazunu/Stewart/ etc when we really need to get rid and get some new blood in who are at least fitter, more athletic and (a bit) talented. 
 

Hey ho - our hopes rest on Leicester and Fulham as our only chances of the required 2 points to avoid immortality for the wrong reasons…

[Cabrone]

It's just about getting past the 11 points now. 

Defend like your lives depend on it and see if we can scrape a couple of draws. 

How about a 10-0-0 formation?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

It's just about getting past the 11 points now. 

Defend like your lives depend on it and see if we can scrape a couple of draws. 

How about a 10-0-0 formation?

Saints bloated squad size revealed as they practice their new formation...

[beatlesaint]

7 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

It's just about getting past the 11 points now. 

Defend like your lives depend on it and see if we can scrape a couple of draws. 

 

That’s what they tried today…..didn’t work out too well did it?

[Lord Duckhunter]

Club is soft as shite and has been since the club sacked a manager because the nods wanted to be entertained, right up to the earliest relegated players receiving applause .

2 regimes, countless managers but we’re still soft as shite. Even when we stayed up we had the manager crying because we won 1-0 home to Liverpool, plus two 9-0. There’s a reason there’s not many 9-0’s and there’s a reason managers don’t suffer two of the fucking things. Even after promotion, the manager wanted to give the promoted players “a chance”, and was surprised how competitive the premier league is…Soft, fucking noddy soft. 

Today summed that softness right up. Archer playing against his former club, fuck me. It’s hard to think of a more disgrace performance. Mincing about trying not to get hurt, fucking going through the motions. 
 

The first goal. Cue ball head & one of our “stars”, played chuckle brothers football, you to me, before giving it away. Hit the fucking channel man. Second goal, wtf was TB doing, and why weren’t senior pros shouting for him to knock it out, or fucking go for the jugular. 
 

Where were the bollockings. They’ve spent all week telling us how determined they are, then melt under the slightest pressure. 
 

Contrast the first penalty with the second. 0-0 our players were on their toes, first to the loose ball. Second one, nowhere to be seen. Stood still feeling sorry for themselves. 
 

Ability wise, this isn’t the worst premier league side, attitude wise it is. When you throw in 2 of the most tactically inept managers it’s a miracle we’ve even got 10 fucking points….

Edited 17 hours ago by Lord Duckhunter

[miserableoldgit]

Just listened to Rusks post match interview.....sadly sounds like the others....full of positives......

[saintant]

1 hour ago, miserableoldgit said:

Just listened to Rusks post match interview.....sadly sounds like the others....full of positives......

Time to cut the sugar coating and give these losers a few solid home truths. They've had it far too easy for far too long.

[rallyboy]

Staggered by that interview.

Wholehearted commitment? No lack of effort?

Sorry mate, I know you've been dropped right in it and you have to say something positive but you were clearly at a different fucking match.

[austsaint]

1 hour ago, miserableoldgit said:

Just listened to Rusks post match interview.....sadly sounds like the others....full of positives......

I like him, but a lot of gloss came off with those subs today.  Smallbone for Sulemana shredded a lot of Rusk’s credibility.    Archer, who showed some quality, being replaced by Stewart also weakened us.  I’m trusting/hoping that Spors and his managerial appointment will realise that players like Smallbone and Stewart are not good enough to be first choice in the Championship next season.

[Dr Who?]

Went out for a hike with the family up High Pike. After 65 minutes I checked and it was 0-0. I looked at stats and could see we were getting battered on possession and shots on and off target. I said once we go one down, we will collapse and lose 0-3. We are fecking terrible and my Villa fan neighbour did not even register it I don’t think. Nothing to him with their champions league quarter final, FA Cup semi final and chasing the champions league place in the league. Beating us was a given. I heard some Saints fans saying they fancied 3 points today, now that is dulusion, Villa are a class side and way above our level, and to think we were pretty even when Gerrard left and we sacked Ralph and look at the directions of our clubs since. That is the owners! 

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, miserableoldgit said:

Just listened to Rusks post match interview.....sadly sounds like the others....full of positives......

You don’t get an hour into a game against a team as good as Villa without conceding unless you’re putting a decent effort in. The players are trying, they’re just hopelessly outclassed and devoid of confidence.

[saintstowin]

What a sad season. I don't think I've seen us this bad ever. Going to games since 82 and there have been low points of course, but never so consistently 2nd best in every meaningful aspect of the game, every single match. Can't wait for next season, not because I think we'll be brilliant but anything is better than this.

[Ralph Fastenbüttl]

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

Can’t be arsed having this argument. I can only assume this kind of dramatic hyperbole is cathartic to some people because there’s no way you think the same thing about Leicester and Ipswich. 

People are just despairing, mate, after what has been a season far worse than any of us could have ever imagined. Unsurprisingly that leads people down a dark and hopeless path.

But as others have said, people all too quickly forget how godawful we were when last relegated. Not as shit as we are now, of course, but plenty shit nonetheless. Yet look how things turned out. And despite the epic clusterfuck that is Sports Republic, they're clearly invested in sorting this bullshit out.

The one fortunate thing for us is that turning a middling Prem team into top half or even European contenders is a gargantuan undertaking, requiring untold resources. Turning a terrible Prem team into Championship contenders is nowhere near as big a job, demanding resources that are well within our means. We might not bounce straight back, but I doubt it'll be long. And I really can't see us going down.

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

I also thought Jack was ok for much of the game.

When Sulemana was on the pitch, he gave us an out. Not a good one, but it was something. Bring on Dibling, whose value is decreasing by the week, and Smallbone and the game is lost. Watch their second goal and in midfield there's a massive Smallbone-sized hole and then look for Smallbone and you'll see him jogging back. Even among our team he looks really really shit.

Spot on.  Smallbone is a master of jogging about and doing fuck all.

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

24 minutes ago, Ralph Fastenbüttl said:

People are just despairing, mate, after what has been a season far worse than any of us could have ever imagined. Unsurprisingly that leads people down a dark and hopeless path.

But as others have said, people all too quickly forget how godawful we were when last relegated. Not as shit as we are now, of course, but plenty shit nonetheless. Yet look how things turned out. And despite the epic clusterfuck that is Sports Republic, they're clearly invested in sorting this bullshit out.

The one fortunate thing for us is that turning a middling Prem team into top half or even European contenders is a gargantuan undertaking, requiring untold resources. Turning a terrible Prem team into Championship contenders is nowhere near as big a job, demanding resources that are well within our means. We might not bounce straight back, but I doubt it'll be long. And I really can't see us going down.

I wouldn't say Bournemouth and Brighton have untold resources, yet they are making a decent effort of finishing in the top 10. 

[Barton Saint]

We had so many chances to put Archer in behind their defence in the first half and a few more in the second but just didn’t take them; he is only in the team for his pace; I think he had our only shot on target when he got put in??

[musesaint]

Sadly we’ll be left with a pile of utter shite in terms of players for next season.

Anyone decent will be on the first flight out of this shit show. And who can blame them? 

[Morse]

Please God let this season end. 

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, musesaint said:

Sadly we’ll be left with a pile of utter shite in terms of players for next season.

Anyone decent will be on the first flight out of this shit show. And who can blame them? 

Bree - Bednarek - Stephens - Manning

Charles - Downes - Smallbone

Armstrong - BBD - Edozie

Is a perfectly ‘decent’ Championship team, even after all the expected departures and without signing anyone (I’m not going into GKs again on another thread) We’d still have McC, Archer, Edwards, Aribo and a couple of others on the bench.

[beatlesaint]

28 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Bree - Bednarek - Stephens - Manning

Charles - Downes - Smallbone

Armstrong - BBD - Edozie

Is a perfectly ‘decent’ Championship team, even after all the expected departures and without signing anyone (I’m not going into GKs again on another thread) We’d still have McC, Archer, Edwards, Aribo and a couple of others on the bench.

Christ almighty, if your aim was to spread positivity you’ve failed, reading that line-up I feel more depressed than before. 

[beatlesaint]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

You don’t get an hour into a game against a team as good as Villa without conceding unless you’re putting a decent effort in. The players are trying, they’re just hopelessly outclassed and devoid of confidence.

You do when said team barely break sweat in the first half, they treated it like a training session, barely over walking pace for much of it. 

[Wade Garrett]

30 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Bree - Bednarek - Stephens - Manning

Charles - Downes - Smallbone

Armstrong - BBD - Edozie

Is a perfectly ‘decent’ Championship team, even after all the expected departures and without signing anyone (I’m not going into GKs again on another thread) We’d still have McC, Archer, Edwards, Aribo and a couple of others on the bench.

We should hopefully beat our 10 point season next year in the Championship with that lineup.

[StrangelyBrown]

28 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Bree - Bednarek - Stephens - Manning

Charles - Downes - Smallbone

Armstrong - BBD - Edozie

Is a perfectly ‘decent’ Championship team, even after all the expected departures and without signing anyone (I’m not going into GKs again on another thread) We’d still have McC, Archer, Edwards, Aribo and a couple of others on the bench.

Bednarek and Stephens have been at the heart of this shit show for far too long. They are a big part of the problem.

Today Stephens didn't do anything much for the most of the first half, but got away with it.

Bednarek continues to be at the heart of most of our shit defending alongside Harwood-Bellis.

I'm hoping we ditch all three next season and try and establish some proper solidity for the first time in years.

[qwertyell]

2 hours ago, Cabrone said:

It's just about getting past the 11 points now. 

Honestly, who really cares at this stage? Whether we scrape to 12 points or not, we are the worst team in Premier League history - and should carry around that well-deserved branding as a constant reminder to everyone at the club that has overseen this absolute farce of a season. It should have to be the opening line on every one of their CVs.

Derby County spent around £20m (adjusted for inflation) to be as bad as they were. We've spent around £100m to get relegated earlier than anyone has ever done. I don't think one point here or there makes this season any less embarrassing. We're not exactly fighting for bragging rights, here.

[beatlesaint]

1 minute ago, StrangelyBrown said:

Bednarek and Stephens have been at the heart of this shit show for far too long. They are a big part of the problem.

Today Stephens didn't do anything much for the most of the first half, but got away with it.

Bednarek continues to be at the heart of most of our shit defending alongside Harwood-Bellis.

I'm hoping we ditch all three next season and try and establish some proper solidity for the first time in years.

A low point today for me was after Stephens made a successful and decent tackle to be fair a guy two rows in front of me started singing “Super, Super Jack……” 🤦🏻

Give me strength 

[Lighthouse]

3 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

We should hopefully beat our 10 point season next year in the Championship with that lineup.

It’s almost exactly the same team that got promoted but without THB and with BBD in for Adams up front. I’ve no idea why people are pretending we don’t have good Championship players and are ignoring the fact that all the teams we play next year will be worse than all the teams we’ve played this season.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

6 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

It’s almost exactly the same team that got promoted but without THB and with BBD in for Adams up front. I’ve no idea why people are pretending we don’t have good Championship players and are ignoring the fact that all the teams we play next year will be worse than all the teams we’ve played this season.

Seriously, you need to stop floating this shit. Charles and Edoize were bit part players last season. BBD is struggling in a Sheffield United team that have imploded in recent weeks. Manning hardly got a game toward the end of last season, Bree I wouldn't have near the starting 11, he is so limited. Armstrong has been dropped in a pretty shit West Brom team. Smalbone is a nothing player. 

[Andrew Watson]

How the hell does Rusk take positives from another total shit show, no wonder the club is in such a massive hole.

[pimpin4rizeal]

For what it’s worth I think rusks approach is the closest to right approach  we have had this season .. he’s basically saying we have to defend first and try and make games tight .. when you are at a obvious disadvantage quality wise this seems to make a lot of sense .. result didn’t go to plan today but at least he gets it 

[chivvy]

Let's face it. Our players man for man are alot worse than are oppositions.. no matter whose in charge... The previous managers may  have picked the wrong selections but the squad isn't premier league.

Edited 13 hours ago by chivvy

[Andy Hill]

We have such a pathetically poor unmotivated squad that is milking the club. Enough said.