Saints 0-0 QPR - Match Reaction

[NickG]

Thought Gillett and Saeijs played pretty well, Perry not far behind -rest much of a par

 

The high rating for DMG above surprised me as well but would say he worked marginally harder than Saga, Surman or Euell

[Arizona]

You clearly don't watch him every week. He is a very average CCC player with little pace and average touch. I want to rate the guy but he really is mediocre

 

Skacel - Nobody scored more goals OR assists from midfield than him in the playoff season. By far the best player on the park in his 2 appearances in midfield last season.

 

McGoalkick - Couldn't hit a cows a*se with a barn door.

 

Surman - Not happening for him at the mo.

 

Lallana - Has contributed the square root of f**k all, to the power of 2, since about September.

 

Schneiderlin - Injury-prone, goal-shy fairy

 

 

Not even worth a try?

[SaintRobbie]

Can't be bothered to start a thread on todays game. The team's performance must have rubbed off on me. I have posted before that I have watched Swindon Town a couple of times recently (local team nothing more), swindon are looking like they might relegate from League 1... both times I watched them they were honestly better than I witnessed today and have at SMS for most of the season and today was no exception. We are not going down to League 1, we are going down to League 2. Sounds dramatic doesnt it? If so its the most dramatic thing we've collectively witnessed today.

 

This was my first game in a while, I was genuinely open minded and prepared to give Wotte a chance, despite my postings recently. I really did go into SMS open mindedly with a view to generating some badly needed optimism. I felt I needed to support the team in this critical match - one of few winnable games left that might, just might, have given us some hope for survival IF battled for.

 

I left wondering whether the team were 'tired' or just 'uninspired'. Then I saw a player leave with a spring in his step and thought about the lack of real dedication to the cause on the pitch for such an important game. With the exception of Gillett and Davis as well as Sagga charging after a few lost causes I just saw nothing that inspired me... or the players from the sidelines (though at least Wotte makes it to the technical area unlike his robotic predecessor.)

 

Tired, uninspired I am home now in Oxfordshire and off to down a decent glass of red wine. Well at least I am both tired and uninspired. The team I watched was... well... just uninspired.

 

I hope we sack you at the end of the season along with your Chairman Mr Wotte.

 

What I'd give now for a gutsy British MANAGER who could induce fight and some spine, just to make my post match glass of red wine a satisfactory thirst qencher rather than an anaesthetic that frankly the numbness I am already filled with doesnt really need.

Edited 14 March, 2009 by SaintRobbie

[sidthesquid]

Skacel - Nobody scored more goals OR assists from midfield than him in the playoff season. By far the best player on the park in his 2 appearances in midfield last season.

 

McGoalkick - Couldn't hit a cows a*se with a barn door.

 

Surman - Not happening for him at the mo.

 

Lallana - Has contributed the square root of f**k all, to the power of 2, since about September.

 

Schneiderlin - Injury-prone, goal-shy fairy

 

 

Not even worth a try?

 

Not true - Surman 5 & Viafara 4 goals ahead of his 3, don't know about assists. But it is ancient history anyway

[Amesbury Saint]

very boring

wish I had not bothered.

[brightspark]

Bad result. Other teams have been beating QPR recently... a win would have given us a huge boost, seeing us out the bottom 3. But its not over, we must beat Blackpool, or form me we are bust. Going 4 games without a win would certainly have the high feeling GONE and we would probably step back into our old form.

 

I am left dissappointed and annoyed I have to wait another week for the next installment!!!

[Arizona]

Not true - Surman 5 & Viafara 4 goals ahead of his 3, don't know about assists. But it is ancient history anyway

 

Skacel had 4. I thought Surman had too, but I've just check and you're right I missed out his playoff goal. One of them was a penalty though, which he'd never have taken if he wasn't on a hattrick against Barnsley.

[offix]

From playing chess under JP, with pretty passing, but no end result, we have now gone to hoofing under Chocolate man, also without any end result.

Such is progress.

[AlfredKo]

Today must be the poorest performance in this season. We were bad against a quite poor QPR side. However if Surman and Euell scored that "must score" goal, then no one will care too much about how we played at this late crucial stage. 2 points dropped due to individual mistake by Euell and Surman, who were both awesome two games ago. Once Saganowski, Euell and Surman wake up, we will stay up. Those players should look at themselves carefully now and find out why their form can drop from the highest to the lowest in a couples of days.

[Plumstead_Saint]

Skacel - Nobody scored more goals OR assists from midfield than him in the playoff season. By far the best player on the park in his 2 appearances in midfield last season.

You and Skacel are like Dalek and Hoddle.

Are you related?

I think he sometimes plays well, but can't share your rose tinted glasses.

[Plumstead_Saint]

just to make my post match glass of red wine a satisfactory thirst qencher

Try water - red wine is not for quenching thirst

 

Been out all day and was gutted to see that we failed to score and failed to get 3 points at home.

Still hoping we can pull it off, but can't see us winning 5 out of 8 "must win" games.

maybe on the last day........oh no, don't want to go there again, it brings it all back

Edited 14 March, 2009 by Plumstead_Saint

[Saint_clark]

Not true - Surman 5 & Viafara 4 goals ahead of his 3, don't know about assists. But it is ancient history anyway

 

Bale also had more assists than Skacel.

[Whitey Grandad]

Total Hoofball - totally boring. No passion or desire from the players and that needed to come from the manager.

[Docker Walker6]

Another gutless performance, same as Tuesdays game!

[L1Minus10]

Davis 7 - had nothing to do

James 5 - Out of sorts today

Saeijs 7 - If we'd had him at the start of the season we'd have been fine

Perry 7 - Rock solid again

Skacel 6 - Shaky start but improved

Gillett 8 - MoM for me

lallana, Surman, McGoldrick 6 in total. Garbage, Surman's finiahing was appalling and the other two may as well not have been there.

Saga 6 - Felt sorry for him, no service whatsoever.

Euell 6 - had some possession de to fighting off QPR defenders to control a ball that came down with snow on it.

 

BWP 0 - This guy's just a **** really. Worst footballer I've ever seen.

Thomson 7 - Thought he did well when he came on.

[Rory]

Hi all, just testing out my new camera:

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Hi all, just testing out my new camera:

 

Rory - can you get up to Blackpool next weekend? I reckon you could do a job up front for us. At least you know how to shoot and looking at your physique you must be at least as mobile as Mcgoldrick.

[rooney]

Unfortunately we simply lack quality and that cannot be improved upon, but somebody please somebody, teach Lallana how to get some power behind kicking a ball.

[instinct]

they didn't look up for it yesterday, where was the relegation battle fight?? have to question the passion and the manager

[instinct]

Davis 7 - had nothing to do

James 5 - Out of sorts today

Saeijs 7 - If we'd had him at the start of the season we'd have been fine

Perry 7 - Rock solid again

Skacel 6 - Shaky start but improved

Gillett 8 - MoM for me

lallana, Surman, McGoldrick 6 in total. Garbage, Surman's finiahing was appalling and the other two may as well not have been there.

Saga 6 - Felt sorry for him, no service whatsoever.

Euell 6 - had some possession de to fighting off QPR defenders to control a ball that came down with snow on it.

 

BWP 0 - This guy's just a **** really. Worst footballer I've ever seen.

Thomson 7 - Thought he did well when he came on.

 

BWP was brilliant when he came on, did more that lallana had all match, got to the byline, got crosses in... we looked a lot better when him and thomson came on

[sidthesquid]

Skacel had 4. I thought Surman had too, but I've just check and you're right I missed out his playoff goal. One of them was a penalty though, which he'd never have taken if he wasn't on a hattrick against Barnsley.

 

I'm assuming (maybe unfairly) that living in Ayrshire you don't see Saints too often & that maybe his legend at Hearts still lives on up there. Your adoration of him can't possibly be founded on his performances at SMS

[SoccerMom]

BWP was brilliant when he came on, did more that lallana had all match, got to the byline, got crosses in... we looked a lot better when him and thomson came on

 

I'd agree with that, oddly, as I don't normally have a lot of time for him. He and Thomson created the chance that Surman missed, for instance.

[Arizona]

Bale also had more assists than Skacel.

 

I did say from midfield.

 

You and Skacel are like Dalek and Hoddle.

Are you related?

I think he sometimes plays well, but can't share your rose tinted glasses.

 

I'm assuming (maybe unfairly) that living in Ayrshire you don't see Saints too often & that maybe his legend at Hearts still lives on up there. Your adoration of him can't possibly be founded on his performances at SMS

 

Jesus, I am not saying he is our saviour. Just that whenever he has played a lot better in midfield in the past than our current shower.

 

Still, why risk something which might not work. Much safer to stick with something which definitely isn't.

[Wes Tender]

I couldn't really be arsed to go to the match since the last home disappointment, so went over to St Malo on the Ferry from Friday night until getting back this morning. I was totally out of touch all that time and have only just read the result and match reports on here. Didn't miss much, did I? And I must say that the £48 contributed to much more enjoyment over there than the entertainment value that it would have provided over here.

 

I'll have to have serious think about whether I bother to go to any other home games this season as patently if the lads can't to arsed to perform to the best of their ability, I don't see why I ought to contribute to the club's coffers to watch such dross.

[Norm]

I managed to get tickets for our last two home games for a pal, home from Canada for a holiday. Not sure he thanked me for doing so! Two very poor games of hooooofball.

[OldNick]

I couldn't really be arsed to go to the match since the last home disappointment, so went over to St Malo on the Ferry from Friday night until getting back this morning. I was totally out of touch all that time and have only just read the result and match reports on here. Didn't miss much, did I? And I must say that the £48 contributed to much more enjoyment over there than the entertainment value that it would have provided over here.

 

I'll have to have serious think about whether I bother to go to any other home games this season as patently if the lads can't to arsed to perform to the best of their ability, I don't see why I ought to contribute to the club's coffers to watch such dross.

nothing like a die hard is there?

You of course can do as you wish but I dont believe that the players can't be arsed as you put it.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

I couldn't really be arsed to go to the match since the last home disappointment, so went over to St Malo on the Ferry from Friday night until getting back this morning. I was totally out of touch all that time and have only just read the result and match reports on here. Didn't miss much, did I? And I must say that the £48 contributed to much more enjoyment over there than the entertainment value that it would have provided over here.

 

I'll have to have serious think about whether I bother to go to any other home games this season as patently if the lads can't to arsed to perform to the best of their ability, I don't see why I ought to contribute to the club's coffers to watch such dross.

 

Surely not £48 to watch the Saints these days? Jeez I just paid about the same for nearly the best tickets for me AND my two teenagers to be part of a 45,000 crowd at the Suncorp watching the Broncos beat the Cowboys 19-18. Whatever you think of NRL it was value and a cracking night.

[NickG]

Surely not £48 to watch the Saints these days? Jeez I just paid about the same for nearly the best tickets for me AND my two teenagers to be part of a 45,000 crowd at the Suncorp watching the Broncos beat the Cowboys 19-18. Whatever you think of NRL it was value and a cracking night.

 

adult £22 to £28

children about £20 I think -

 

few offers on tho

[SaintRobbie]

they didn't look up for it yesterday, where was the relegation battle fight?? have to question the passion and the manager

 

I think thats just so true. The players werent tired... there we no lunges or late challenges or players with cramp... they all seem to have trotted off from SMS with a spring in their step.

 

Mentality is wrong for a relegation fight. I would be worried if I hadnt predicted relegation back in August... its given me time to weigh up the League 1 opposition... and that's making me more concerned. Its not whether we'll stay up this season - its whether we will next... in League 1!

[Wes Tender]

Surely not £48 to watch the Saints these days?

 

I usually pay for my son to go with me.

 

Nickh :-

nothing like a die hard is there?

You of course can do as you wish but I dont believe that the players can't be arsed as you put it.

 

Just going on a fairly widespread view expressed here. I don't read much comment along the lines of we were all over them, or even that the match was very entertaining. The long and short of it is that draws are simply not good enough if we are to survive in this division.

 

I just know that had I gone to the match I would have been walking away from it thinking that firstly it was a waste of money and secondly that there was still only one victory that I had witnessed at St. Marys all season. There is only so much that one can stand and I'm past my limit.

 

When Lowe and the Quisling go, then I will come back and re-establish my diehard credentials, regardless of which division we are in, but at the moment supporting the continuation of their regime isn't diehard, it is crass stupidity and I've had enough of them.

[Legod Third Coming]

I just know that had I gone to the match I would have been walking away from it thinking that firstly it was a waste of money and secondly that there was still only one victory that I had witnessed at St. Marys all season. There is only so much that one can stand and I'm past my limit.

 

When Lowe and the Quisling go, then I will come back and re-establish my diehard credentials, regardless of which division we are in, but at the moment supporting the continuation of their regime isn't diehard, it is crass stupidity and I've had enough of them.

 

 

Yep, that's how I felt... only I have actually seen three wins... But the general impression was one of wondering why I put more effort into going than was expended during the game...

[Wes Tender]

nothing like a die hard is there?

You of course can do as you wish but I dont believe that the players can't be arsed as you put it.

 

I read that you weren't there either, Nick. Now although you don't believe that the players couldn't be arsed, you don't know for sure, do you?

[team-saint]

does anyone know why Morgan didn't play yesterday?

[jasonbenali]

Real problem is that midfield diamond. It's just not working. Lallana/Drew out of form, McG out of position and Gillett trying to make up for their deficiencies. I'd consider moving Euell back but then there's no one to win the ball up front. Maybe time to give Gobern another run from the subs bench to shake things up or put Schneiderlin in there with a rocket up his proverbial.

 

Unsung hero for me was Rudi who had a really tough job against Routledge who was quick, pacy and skillful. Meant he couldn't get forward but he shackled him well and sacrificed himself for the team.

 

Defence and Gillett aside the rest of them were unforgivably lethargic, where was the closing down?

[Give it to Ron]

does anyone know why Morgan didn't play yesterday?

 

According to Radio Hampshire it was due to form.

I did not understand why Paterson was left out he was on a high after scoring against Ipswich and offers a different option than we have up front.

[Charlie Wayman]

Another Day, more points away. So why am I so disappointed when it was odds on they would not rise to the occasion?

 

2 from 6 at home, even worse than our worst nightmare. Now need 1.63 points from every game left.

 

The quicker this whole bloody fiasco is over the better. Surely it can be only a matter of days, when all hope of survival is lost (in my view it is already) that Rupert will announce Administration. Bet the delay in making an announcement was purely to see if we could stay up. Sadly we can't.

 

Now the numbers using the forum has dried up, down to 40 right now, what does that tell you. It must be a record low?

[saintwarwick]

does anyone know why Morgan didn't play yesterday?

 

You might want to ask that question about some of the players actually on the pitch. I spent the usual two hours to get to SMS only to wait another 80 minutes after kick off before the team started playing. :sad:

[Northant Saint]

Of course we are down. We are rubbish.

 

Excuse me, but how many times in the last 20 years have we came out the better in relegation fight.

 

I agree with Arizona, you are a **** and worse than Alpine.

[Greenridge]

Not true - I accept that he is not the greatest player, but he is playing a difficult role that doesn't win rave reviews...

 

So we've established that DMG can't really play up front, he's certainly no right-sided midfielder as he has demonstrated and now you seem to be suggesting that he struggles to play the 'in-the-hole' role. Any ideas where else we could shoe-horn him in? He'd better hurry up if he's to score the 20+ goals so many forecast on here....and before anyone get's too excited I'm saying this in jest...not that yesterday's performance was very funny.

[Dark Munster]

We're gonna walk League One. I just know it!!

 

.... provided we can get Nige back as manager. :cool:

[sadoldgit]

I'll have £50 with you. I bet we will go down. You bet we will stay up. Do you accept the bet?

 

For goodness sake, give it a rest Tris. It is almost as if you are wanting us to get relegated.

If we go down then by all means knock yourself out and have a field day on here about all the dreadful people that brought about our demise - but until then why don't you try and get behind the club?

 

Ever heard of the phrase "The Enemy Within?"

[hughieslastminutegoal]

We're gonna walk League One. I just know it!!

 

Yes, it's keep trying to walk the ball into the opposition's goal that is the problem.

[Chez]

I find it straneg that people are suggesting Saturday was out "worst performance" and "gutless". We've played far worse this season - Blackpool at home for starters and I never thought we showed a lack of grit, passion and effort. A lack of `quality' is what I would point to and the reason we are where we are. Throughout the squad we have average players and that is why over the course of the season we let in goals and don't score enough of our own.

 

The plus points from the game were that we looked much more solid (4-4-2 is certainly helping there along with Seijs), Gillett has found a role in the side, and...er struggling really as it was a boring game if I'm honest. The big negatives were Surman, Saga, McGoldrick and Lallana's performances - dreadful the lot of them. Lets hope for better at Blackpool.

 

Davis 7 not a great deal to do.

James 5 dreadful passing

Seijs 9 playing very well, wins everything in the air

Perry 7 doesn't win enough in the air but positional play was top class

Skacel 5 did next to nothing going forward

Gillett 9 was everywhere and didn't give the ball away or miscontrol much

McGoldrick 5 doesn;t work hard enough fo a midfielder and not creative enough either

Surman 2 as bad as Tuesday

Lallana 2 as bad as Tuesday - get him in the middle

Saga 2 as bad as Tuesday, no worse. Did nothing. Why was Patterson not on the bench?

Euell 6 worked very hard and put himself abotu a lot but we needed that little extra bit of quality when the two chances came and went

 

Thomson 5 pacey and beat his man but lacks the pysical strength needed and failed to compete for a single tackle.

BWP 7 nice bright cameo.

[Legod Third Coming]

I find it straneg that people are suggesting Saturday was out "worst performance" and "gutless". We've played far worse this season - Blackpool at home for starters and I never thought we showed a lack of grit, passion and effort. A lack of `quality' is what I would point to and the reason we are where we are. Throughout the squad we have average players and that is why over the course of the season we let in goals and don't score enough of our own.

 

The plus points from the game were that we looked much more solid (4-4-2 is certainly helping there along with Seijs), Gillett has found a role in the side, and...er struggling really as it was a boring game if I'm honest. The big negatives were Surman, Saga, McGoldrick and Lallana's performances - dreadful the lot of them. Lets hope for better at Blackpool.

 

Davis 7 not a great deal to do.

James 5 dreadful passing

Seijs 9 playing very well, wins everything in the air

Perry 7 doesn't win enough in the air but positional play was top class

Skacel 5 did next to nothing going forward

Gillett 9 was everywhere and didn't give the ball away or miscontrol much

McGoldrick 5 doesn;t work hard enough fo a midfielder and not creative enough either

Surman 2 as bad as Tuesday

Lallana 2 as bad as Tuesday - get him in the middle

Saga 2 as bad as Tuesday, no worse. Did nothing. Why was Patterson not on the bench?

Euell 6 worked very hard and put himself abotu a lot but we needed that little extra bit of quality when the two chances came and went

 

Thomson 5 pacey and beat his man but lacks the pysical strength needed and failed to compete for a single tackle.

BWP 7 nice bright cameo.

 

 

Kinda contradicted your first statement with your evaluations of the way players played. I can't believe anyone who saw that game thinks we played with anywhere near the urgency or tempo that we did against Cardiff and Preston??

 

There was too much ambling around from the front players and when they did get the ball, no real control. It seemed to bounce of us most of the time.

 

It was soooo boring. Frenetic but in slow motion is how I would describe it. Every time a player got forward there was precious little support and when we got into crossing areas either there was no-one in the box or a cross went sailing past everyone...

 

I agree we lack quality, but Saturday was too pedestrian for me. We never created any real pressure and allowed QPR to have the midfield to themselves - that could be poor tactics admittedly.

 

But for a team teetering on the brink, I'd like to see more sweat coming off my players... We certainly played with more energy and passion in the two games we won at home recently... I wonder if the two are linked...

[Whitey Grandad]

Kinda contradicted your first statement with your evaluations of the way players played. I can't believe anyone who saw that game thinks we played with anywhere near the urgency or tempo that we did against Cardiff and Preston??

 

There was too much ambling around from the front players and when they did get the ball, no real control. It seemed to bounce of us most of the time.

 

It was soooo boring. Frenetic but in slow motion is how I would describe it. Every time a player got forward there was precious little support and when we got into crossing areas either there was no-one in the box or a cross went sailing past everyone...

 

I agree we lack quality, but Saturday was too pedestrian for me. We never created any real pressure and allowed QPR to have the midfield to themselves - that could be poor tactics admittedly.

 

But for a team teetering on the brink, I'd like to see more sweat coming off my players... We certainly played with more energy and passion in the two games we won at home recently... I wonder if the two are linked...

I agree totally. In the last 5 minutes Gillett couldn't have been any slower when he went to take a corner. Where on earth was the urgency and desire? And what was Wotte thinking of when he was going to bring on a substitute in injury time?

[Legod Third Coming]

I agree totally. In the last 5 minutes Gillett couldn't have been any slower when he went to take a corner. Where on earth was the urgency and desire? And what was Wotte thinking of when he was going to bring on a substitute in injury time?

 

I know, was he holding out for the draw??? And who was he bringing off to bring Wotton on???!!!! If he wants to throw an additional man up for the last five minutes great, but bizarre tactics for me on Saturday - just when I'd started to think he knew what he was doing!!!

[saint1977]

Mate, you need glasses. Euell actually put himself about well but his finishing was woeful. McGoaldrought played like a drain. Mind you, they all did.

 

A woeful example of the worst kind of boll0x awful football that is driving away fans in their droves.

 

I'd rather remove my own spleen than watch another game like that.

 

In fact, just bottle that game and sell it as an anaesthetic...

 

McGoldrick is appalling, no-one one here can deny that without being ironic. League 2 dross in the CCC. Euell has at least given us a physical presence. Surman played better I thought even his his radar is switched off for goals at the moment. Lallana needs a kick up the arse though, lazy little git. With his ability he ought to be far better. I'm not sure Lallana is as fit as he should be.

[Legod Third Coming]

McGoldrick is appalling, no-one one here can deny that without being ironic. League 2 dross in the CCC. Euell has at least given us a physical presence. Surman played better I thought even his his radar is switched off for goals at the moment. Lallana needs a kick up the arse though, lazy little git. With his ability he ought to be far better. I'm not sure Lallana is as fit as he should be.

 

I agree. Not sure he's been the same since his injury lay-off. Before that he was sharp and the goal at QPR was just majestic. Since he came back he's jumping over tackles and not putting it all in.

[saint1977]

Real problem is that midfield diamond. It's just not working. Lallana/Drew out of form, McG out of position and Gillett trying to make up for their deficiencies. I'd consider moving Euell back but then there's no one to win the ball up front. Maybe time to give Gobern another run from the subs bench to shake things up or put Schneiderlin in there with a rocket up his proverbial.

 

Unsung hero for me was Rudi who had a really tough job against Routledge who was quick, pacy and skillful. Meant he couldn't get forward but he shackled him well and sacrificed himself for the team.

 

Defence and Gillett aside the rest of them were unforgivably lethargic, where was the closing down?

 

Totally agree, Rudi did well with Routledge's pace and Gillett gave 100%. At least Surman seemed to be giving it more of a go than the Derby game although still not his best. Some of the others, not least Lallana and McG, needed putting behind a screen and shooting. McG would feature in most people's Saints worst ever XI, he really is on a par with the likes of David Lee, Lee Todd, Scott Marshall and rubbish like that.

 

Thankfully I'm now overseas for most of our remaining home games.

[saint1977]

I agree. Not sure he's been the same since his injury lay-off. Before that he was sharp and the goal at QPR was just majestic. Since he came back he's jumping over tackles and not putting it all in.

 

Yes and a few people around me at Saturday's game were commenting on this as well. I'd drop him which is a shame given his natural ability but we can't play teams with passengers in our league position and that goes for McG as well. Paterson is very raw but at least he looks vaguely like an athlete and will work hard and make the opposition uncomfortable which is where Euell has helped us since coming back in the side.