Saints 1 - 1 Derby - Post Match Reaction

[CB Fry]

 

P.S. The ref was from Leicestershire. No conflict of interest there then...

 

No, IMO of course. I think having a ref that probably lives within 30 minutes of Pride Park is going to generate a conflict of interests. I'm not saying he's a Derby fan, but I think it would be in the back of his mind if there was a tough decision to be made.

 

 

Yeah, because Leicester just love Derby don't they?

 

Are you saying you would want a ref from Portsmouth to ref all our remaining games?

 

Or that a ref from Lancashire would favour a Yorkshire side?

 

What about a ref from Bristol favouring Cardiff - after all they're really close ain't they?

 

At the end of the day didn't the ref bottle a stone wall Derby penalty at the end of the game which would have taken some guts to give at SMS last night? (I wasn't there, I live in the East Midlands where everyone from Leicester wants Derby to win every game, but it sounded like a pen to me )

Edited 11 March, 2009 by CB Fry

[INFLUENCED.COM]

Disappointed last night, took a pal with me and made the mistake of bigging us up(in relative terms) before hand believing we had turnt the corner, that said, did say I would take the draw, we just didn't look up for it with an opposition player in the twilight of his career imo being the man of the match, Perry & Size are worth a mention but as a team performance you'd of thought it was a mid table 'clash' going through the very basic motions, we need a rocket as those that were around us have found form, others will fall into the relegation fight but we have got to have fight, just wonder why the commitment of some was blatantly absent

[Charlie Wayman]

Last night was a reality check. Derby are a mid-table side of the CCC yet substantially outplayed us all evening, we were always forced back into defending. We could not match them and it is evident that the CCC is a much stronger league now than four years ago. Whilst others have progressed we have not.

 

It is no longer an excuse that we 'play football' and the others don't. There was very little to choose between Derby's game and style and that of Liverpool last night, it is just skill levels that decide outcomes.

 

WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH to stay up and if we ever doubted it, last night was proof positive. We are going down with a whimper, which is what is so sad.

 

Surman couldn't deliver when all of us depended upon him coming good and McGold***** is just plain awful and LAZY.

 

Thank goodness for our back four at least they are keeping our goal difference under control but they must be absolutely fed up with our front midfield men and strikers. How could Sagnowski run himself into the ground and never ever get near the ball, is he short-sighted or what?

 

Can we stay up. How can we! Saints need 14 points for safety from 9 remaining, a haul of 1.56 pts/game against our season long average (now) of 1.03. This is the world of sci-fi and play-offs - Cardiff have that average.

 

We are once again left in peril at the mercy of fate and the inconsistencies of the teams around us BUT they are above us so on a seasonal basis must be better than us. So why would they go down and we would not????

 

It ain't logical and it ain't going to happen and if the coffin lid is not yet airtight, the way this is gong it'll be nailed down and embalmed by Saturday night.

 

All one can hope is that Batman & Robin are inside when it happens.

[northam soul]

Have to say we were poor and lacked any creativity, i thought the atmosphere was also poor and am surprised that there were not more people there considering the cheap tickets.

We need to improve big style on saturday as 3 points is a must.

There keeper could have got his deckchair out for most of the game with only a couple of tame efforts straight at him to deal with.

[monosaint]

Not good enough. We're going down without a doubt.

 

I bet you'll say at the end of the season "I told you so". What ever the outcome it's as much your attitude that will fulfil the prophecy as any incompetence from the players or staff.

[Tom28]

Did anyone else notice last night that the front two got away from what they've been doing the past few games? In the last few games, when long balls have been played up front, Euell has gone up for them, and Saga was always 5-10 yeards away looking for the second ball, and it meant that the ball was sticking up there. Last night, everytime the ball went forward they were 30-40 yards apart, Euell would get the touch and no-one would be there.

 

Last night seriously exposed our lack of pace all over the pitch. We have no pace in any position. Now, normally we combat that by moving the ball around, but that wasn't happening. We were crying out for someone on the bench with a bit of pace, but there was no-one there either. I know most of you dont like him, but Smith has to be on the bench with McLaggon out injured.

[Mole]

I bet you'll say at the end of the season "I told you so".

 

I may just mention it once or twice.

[Whitey Grandad]

Not having Saga (and others) may have saved us -10 points. 10/15 points in the last 5 games does not suggest the barn door has shut....

But having Saga might have given us an extra 10 points. So that's 10 points dropped, either way.

[sidthesquid]

But having Saga might have given us an extra 10 points. So that's 10 points dropped, either way.

 

Not on last night's performance unless you think ten extra goal-less draws

[LostBoys]

Very poor performance against a depleted equally poor Derby side. The two pints dropped could be decisive.

[Give it to Ron]

Poor tactics cost us, trying to thread needle passes through haystack of 14 players through the middle was never going to work.

We did not have a wide man on the bench so Lallana was just like for like with Morgan.

We need width every now and then as a plan B.

Did anyone of our midfielders or forwards tackle Savage at any time of the game?

He just strolled around picking good passes to teammates.

No creativity from the midfield and full backs crossing from far to deep gave their defenders time to head the ball away.

[Whitey Grandad]

Not on last night's performance unless you think ten extra goal-less draws

ok, I''ll take Rasiak or John instead.

[Bailey]

Saeijs or Perry for MOTM.

 

Derby came for a point and got what they wanted.

 

To let in another late goal is a blow but it's not the end of the world, providing we get all 3 points against QPR!

 

Surman could have wrapped the game up for us, but then Davies almost stole the points for Derby with his curling left-footed shot.

 

On the whole, I think a point was a fair result, but in our situation we don't want fair results, we just want 3 points, however they come.

[OldNick]

the team were nervous and Derby packed the midfield. AS had an off night. Yes the players were tired the same could be said for Derby. they have a good squad that is underperforming until now. They like us kept the manager too long and that is a mistake we may regret.Their squad and bench are superior and looked bigger more athletic and physically stronger. Saying that they had an enormous stroke of luck with their players mi**** shot which fell kindly. I was happy to take a pont beofre the game and at the end.We are still alive and whilst we didnt catch up on my teams we ddint fall back much either.

There are going to be masny more twists and turns.Saga also was non existant and I dearly hope his first few games were not another flash in the pan. he was not chasing like he normally does but he like Surman cant do it every game. Size and Perry were great.james was unable to burst forward as much as Teale was always a threat and so nullified that side.

[SoccerMom]

Did anyone else notice last night that the front two got away from what they've been doing the past few games? In the last few games, when long balls have been played up front, Euell has gone up for them, and Saga was always 5-10 yeards away looking for the second ball, and it meant that the ball was sticking up there. Last night, everytime the ball went forward they were 30-40 yards apart, Euell would get the touch and no-one would be there.

 

Last night seriously exposed our lack of pace all over the pitch. We have no pace in any position. Now, normally we combat that by moving the ball around, but that wasn't happening. We were crying out for someone on the bench with a bit of pace, but there was no-one there either. I know most of you dont like him, but Smith has to be on the bench with McLaggon out injured.

 

Rather have Thomson than Smith. His crosses are more accurate.

[Victor]

Yeah amongst our rivals. Not having Saga early in the season cut us adrift and did the damage. Now we've simply shut the barn door with horse already bolted.

 

Fortunately, you are too stupid to look in the stable where the horse is kept. It is still there and ready for the battle, which is neither lost nor won as yet.

[Whitey Grandad]

Fortunately, you are too stupid to look in the stable where the horse is kept. It is still there and ready for the battle, which is neither lost nor won as yet.

I would say that the horse is geed up and ready to go and is halfway out of the door.

[Wes Tender]

I bet you'll say at the end of the season "I told you so". What ever the outcome it's as much your attitude that will fulfil the prophecy as any incompetence from the players or staff.

 

What a bizarre conclusion to arrive at. So if we go down this season, Stanley's attitude will be as much to blame as the staff and players?

 

I would be much obliged if you would kindly walk me through the thought processes that lead you to arrive at such a conclusion, because as far as I'm aware, Stanley has no direct influence on the choosing of the team, the way they play, who is fit or injured, etc.

 

And I presume that the board are included in your definition of staff? If so, I'm sure that Stanley will be overwhelmed to know that he has as much influence on matters as them too.

[VectisSaint]

I would say that the horse is geed up and ready to go and is halfway out of the door.

I suspect Lowe is planning to flog the horse who is currently not looking too well

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I am surprised at how many who have said they would have taken a point before the game to be frank. We needed 3 - any less is a disappointment in my book.

[Mole]

I am surprised at how many who have said they would have taken a point before the game to be frank. We needed 3 - any less is a disappointment in my book.

 

The Luvvies have been instructed to paint a positive picture.

[trousers]

I am surprised at how many who have said they would have taken a point before the game to be frank

 

Was just about to post the same.

 

To be content with a draw at home against an average, depleted, lower half of the CCC table team just about sums up where we've come to.

[SaintRobbie]

Shame. This game was for the taking. Oh dear - prognosis not good.

[The Fat Controller]

50/1 for the First Goal ........ Chris Perry MOM thanks very much Kerching!!!

[Ponty]

Skacel firing up the crowd - 'tell you what Rudi, we are doing our bit, how about YOU do yours?'

Poor atmosphere I thought, though I was sat in the silence that is Kingsland centre last night where all is serene and you only stand up when the picnic hampers come out.

And where was everyone, I thought the fiver deal would bring people out.

 

Where was the atmosphere, passion and belief of the Cardiff game?

 

Without being picky, isn't that all slightly contradictory?

 

Apologies if someone's already said this btw. I got bored and skipped a lot.

[sperm_john]

haha win a game, were staying up, lose a game, were doomed for all eternity...

 

win a game...we are the best fans in the world, lose a game, fans post about wanting to be cut lose from sfc like some unwanted relative in the family ...its silly

 

imo i didnt think we would win this game so a point is something ...and we are not over till the fat lady sings! just sit back and enjoy the ride peeps, theres a fair few games left yet and anything can happen

[Scummer]

50/1 for the First Goal ........ Chris Perry MOM thanks very much Kerching!!!

 

Should have gone down as an OG, therefore their bloke was the first goalscorer (the one who scored their goal).

[trousers]

imo i didnt think we would win this game

 

Why not :confused:

[Scummer]

Why not :confused:

 

Maybe because Derby had won 6 and drawn 1 of their previous 7 games.

[Whitey Grandad]

I suspect Lowe is planning to flog the horse who is currently not looking too well

Or lend it to another stable.

[hypochondriac]

Ridiculous to say we are already down. There's a long way to go and if we win Saturday things will look a lot better.

[trousers]

Maybe because Derby had won 6 and drawn 1 of their previous 7 games.

 

Looks like we had probability on our side then....

[Saint Richard of Woolston]

I am surprised at how many who have said they would have taken a point before the game to be frank. We needed 3 - any less is a disappointment in my book.

 

Of course it is disappointing, Duncan. But in my great 'route to survival' plan, I had budgeted 4 points from last might and Saturday.

 

Three last night would, of course, be brilliant but last night's 'one' will only become a real disaster if we draw or lose on Saturday.

 

TBH, the way we were played off of the pitch for the first half, I would have taken a point at half time. I really thought Derby played much more like the home team in the first half.

[70's Mike]

Ridiculous to say we are already down. There's a long way to go and if we win Saturday things will look a lot better.

 

Agreed but it would be nice for the others to lose once when we win

[hypochondriac]

Agreed but it would be nice for the others to lose once when we win

 

Bit rubbish that Norwich won but Plymouth and Forest lost. I don't normally comment on this but it is rather silly saying we are already down.

[OldNick]

I am surprised at how many who have said they would have taken a point before the game to be frank. We needed 3 - any less is a disappointment in my book.

Well I was one of those Duncan. I dont go to games expecting all to fall under our spell. Derby came on the back of some decent form, they knew that if they didnt lose they were nearly safe and showed the will and quality to get what they wished for.

Add that to the fact they had some useful players in their team who would probably get into our team with out too much trouble.

A draw was OK could have been better or a lot worse. if we keep accumalting points we will be fine.This was after a poor result saturday at brum. Lets not be too down hearted yet after all there are many who thouhght we were down 5 games ago.

They might be right but we still have some big games far greater than last night.

[rallyboy]

Without being picky, isn't that all slightly contradictory?

 

yeah your not wrong Ponty, I was ranting about so many things I didn't know where to start!

The point I was trying to make is that I saw Rudi do that against Forest too when the crowd was really up for it and he wasn't, he did the same last night towards the Itchen when they were doing better than he was.

Pump the crowd up when you are buzzing, not when you are letting them down, if you look like Terry Butcher with a bandage around your head it is inspiring, if you are dancing about on the wing and getting beaten for pace every time it comes across differently.

It would be like kissing the badge the same week you ask for a transfer.

A hollow gesture.

[Leicestersaint]

very disappointing

[chi saint]

We should have won, if we had the stats i'm sure it would show we had the majority of the posession.

 

The defence is coping well in the main and Kelvin despite the odd scary moment does more than is required.

 

We certainly competed well in midfield, some nice passing as usual but precious little movement, this and the fact that we seem to be looking for the perfect set up before going for goal, these are our weaknesses.

 

So often we went forward and despite being in a position were we could have had a shot or attempt on goal all too often, in fact almost every time, we would try just one more pass in an attempt to get the perfect position to launch a strike.

 

That and the fact that our crossing was and has been all season, woeful, in fact embarrassing wouldn't be too strong a word.

 

I still think it's all to play before but what we need is a win and others at the same time to drop points to see us make significant progress.

[SoccerMom]

Marginal on possession:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/live_text/default.stm

 

That "one more pass" thing is the story of the whole season. I have to sit there with an eight-year-old shouting, "Shoot, shoot!!" and knowing that whoever it is who has the ball and a clear shot on goal....just won't. It's a confidence thing. Blimey, if we've got that worked out in the U9's surely it's not beyond the staff at SFC as well.

 

Surely?

[benjii]

Surprised so many people have voted for Gillet, his passing was awful. Granted he tried hard and made some good tackles though.

 

Saiejs was quality.

 

Along with Davis, our most important player by a mile now IMO.

[NickG]

Last night was a reality check. Derby are a mid-table side of the CCC yet substantially outplayed us all evening, would disagree, we didn't play well, but they just huffed and puffedwe were always forced back into defending. We could not match them and it is evident that the CCC is a much stronger league now than four years ago. Whilst others have progressed we have not.

 

It is no longer an excuse that we 'play football' and the others don't. There was very little to choose between Derby's game not even worth arguing with!and style and that of Liverpool last night, it is just skill levels that decide outcomes.

 

WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH to stay up maybeand if we ever doubted it, last night was proof positive.why more proof than the last 6 games? We are going down with a whimper,the whimper being some of the best form in the division and 3 straight wins! which is what is so sad.

 

Surman couldn't deliver he was much better in last few but didn't play well last nightwhen all of us depended upon him coming good and McGold***** is just plain awful and LAZY.ott by far

 

Thank goodness for our back four at least they are keeping our goal difference under control but they must be absolutely fed up with our front midfield men and strikers. How could Sagnowski run himself into the ground and never ever get near the ball, is he short-sighted or what?yep been very poor for us since back!

 

Can we stay up. How can we! Saints need 14 points for safety from 9 remaining, a haul of 1.56 pts/game against our season long average (now) of 1.03. and idiot can see that if we gain points at the same rate as we have all season we will go down -that is kind of what the league table shows, but we have better points per game recently than CardiffThis is the world of sci-fi and play-offs - Cardiff have that average.

 

We are once again left in peril at the mercy of fatenot so as playing them and have games in hand and the inconsistencies of the teams around us BUT they are above us so on a seasonal basis must be better than us. So why would they go down and we would not????

 

It ain't logical and it ain't going to happen and if the coffin lid is not yet airtight, the way this is gong it'll be nailed down and embalmed by Saturday night.lose on saturday and it gets harder but still not impossible

 

All one can hope is that Batman & Robin are inside when it happens.

 

as bold

[Channon's Sideburns]

Well I was one of those Duncan. I dont go to games expecting all to fall under our spell. Derby came on the back of some decent form, they knew that if they didnt lose they were nearly safe and showed the will and quality to get what they wished for.

Add that to the fact they had some useful players in their team who would probably get into our team with out too much trouble.

A draw was OK could have been better or a lot worse. if we keep accumalting points we will be fine.This was after a poor result saturday at brum. Lets not be too down hearted yet after all there are many who thouhght we were down 5 games ago.

They might be right but we still have some big games far greater than last night.

 

'Under our spell' Nick?? What's that one then - delivered by Grotbags???

 

The problem we have is that we are not accumulating enough points and we don't look like doing so - we are still second from bottom...and with Rasiak again scoring for Watford, it looks like one of Rupey's Mindfoooks is going to cost us our place.

 

I thought we were going to turn the corner, but it looks like we've gone down a one way street.

[OldNick]

'Under our spell' Nick?? What's that one then - delivered by Grotbags???

 

The problem we have is that we are not accumulating enough points and we don't look like doing so - we are still second from bottom...and with Rasiak again scoring for Watford, it looks like one of Rupey's Mindfoooks is going to cost us our place.

 

I thought we were going to turn the corner, but it looks like we've gone down a one way street.

Well some think we only have to kick off and the opposition will lay back and let us walk over them.Yes we need to win but our chances of staying up has improved.

Only a fgew weeks back we had fans on here in abundance sayinbg we were down.Patently we are not....yet

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Derby were top of the current form table before kick off so it was never an easy game. A point is more than I thought we'd get. We're not known as struggling Southampton for nothing. Long way to go yet, but I don't think we've got it in us. I still refuse to hope.