Saints 2-3 Charlton - Match Reaction

[rallyboy]

No big deal today, just a reality check for the maths experts who keep telling us everything is fine.

 

I am beyond disappointing now, and certainly beyond being surprised at such a performance, I can confidently say that nothing that the team produces could upset me more than, leaving the Dell, dropping down in 2005, or watching Lowe's final suicidal train wreck.

 

So we lost three points to the worst team in Europe, but hey, it's our club again and wherever we end up, it's a fresh start, survival of the club as a club is key.

 

But one little point, assuming the players are well paid and come in to work during the week, have they thought about practicing things like corners or shooting, rather than sitting on their fat arses comparing bling and convictions?

It's not total football I know but it might be worth looking into....we could call it 'training'.

[captainchris]

Wotte needs to go. The team preparation was hopeless.

 

Back down below 20,000 attendance next home match too..

 

Well said Wotte is not even good enough for a tyro team fact.

 

First half we had no one at all in two fifthsof the pitch, I am refering to our right hand side - what right hand side!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

All our players were bunched around the ball like team of eight year olds it was laughable !!!!!!!!!!

 

When ever they got the ball they spread it to our right - hello, we had no one there !!

 

We are not coherant and have little or no strategy except lump it....!!!!!!

 

Lst few minutes we have width and HELLO, we start to play some football and give ourselves time on the ball because we could pass to players in some space !!!!

 

I'm Sorry but Wotte is CLUELESS AND MUST BE SACKED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. PEOPLE ALL AROUND US WERE SCREAMING WE HAVE NO RIGHT SIDE. IS WOTTE BLIND OR STUPID?

 

OK Wotton, as we know is not up to this league however whether it's Wottes dreadful tactics or his own lack of form - positional sense, he is anonymous and lacking form. Surman is also suffering from a loss of form.

 

Jake Thompson played well but had no one to help him - infact no one within 50 yards of him most of the match!!!!!!

 

Our tactics were abysmal and that is management GET RID NOW.

[Channon's Sideburns]

Can someone...anyone! - please tell me exactly WHAT Lallana brings to the side?

 

I know he's young, he's "raw", he's yadda yadda yadda - but every week he flatters to decieve. It's not as if he creates many chances for the frontmen either ffs.

 

Lallana? Don't believe the hype!

 

Would be better if he, Surman and Pulis weren't out on the **** every Thursday night in Bournemouth....

 

Just what I have been told...

[captainchris]

FWIW, couldn't believe how crap the "experienced" players were today (Kelvin aside). Euell and Saga - what was that about? back to where they were last season. Tough when they both decide to leave brains at home on the same day. Skacel seems to have left his balls behind, too - I've seen plenty of 8 and 9 year-olds more willing and able to tackle. But what galls me most is that all season key players in this team have just rolled/bent over when the opposition has got a little bit physical - Saga and Lallana the worst, with Surman not far behind. At least Euell gives as good as he gets, and most of the time gets away with it, too.

 

But what was going on with Size and the big forward? There were clearly words once or twice, and I looked over to see them head to head and shoving at one point. Then Size took his arm around the bloke's shoulder as if to calm him down, and I really thought he was going to get decked good and proper. And Size just wasn't cutting it today - such a disappointment.

 

 

 

I've seen this so many times this season - tough boy tactics that look more like the Eastleigh and District Mini Soccer League than they do Championship football. Respect campaign? You're havin' a laugh. But the real shame is that they work against Saints - they must come here thinking that if they rough them up a bit, they will implode. And they do.

 

Again a very good point. Lallana is just devoid of form or lacks coaching or same as the team has no tactical preparation - Wotte's mistake. Surman is in a very similar place though does have spacial awareness at least which Wotte obviously does not have.

 

Did I say Wotton is not up to this standard of football?

[Badger]

Well said Wotte is not even good enough for a tyro team fact.

 

I'm Sorry but Wotte is CLUELESS AND MUST BE SACKED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. PEOPLE ALL AROUND US WERE SCREAMING WE HAVE NO RIGHT SIDE. IS WOTTE BLIND OR STUPID?

 

 

Our tactics were abysmal and that is management GET RID NOW.

 

I have been mulling this over since this weeks developments.Wotte, I think we would accept is an improvement on JP.

 

A month or so ago,when Crouch's plans for an experienced English or British manager were first heard of,many thought Dowie might have been an option.As he is now with Shearer he is probably off the list of alternatives available to us.

 

So for the remaining matches,who ? And who is to make such a decision ?

 

Would someone like Cotterill realy make a difference to us for the remainder of the season ?

[Ponty]

Seems the idiot section of our fan base extends to certain back-water boring US states..

Yeah, with Austria being the most exciting country in Europe an' all.

[derry]

I have been mulling this over since this weeks developments.Wotte, I think we would accept is an improvement on JP.

 

A month or so ago,when Crouch's plans for an experienced English or British manager were first heard of,many thought Dowie might have been an option.As he is now with Shearer he is probably off the list of alternatives available to us.

 

So for the remaining matches,who ? And who is to make such a decision ?

 

Would someone like Cotterill realy make a difference to us for the remainder of the season ?

 

He was in the reception at 2.30

[Stu Man Do]

The effort was there, I think the occasion got the better of the players.

 

Charlton, supposedly the worst team in the league, came to SMS and passed well, moved well and showed no signs that they are virtually relegated. Their midfield piddled all over ours.

 

On the other hand we huffed and puffed, hoofed and hoofed, played head tennis but had no width or guile to give them enough problems.

 

If that is the Dutch way, then they learned their football from Branfoot.

 

Wotte seems to have no game plan and if we get taken over I sincerely hope he isn't in charge next season.

 

Sorry mate if you're happy with that level of effort no wonder we're on the way to league 1 apart from the last 15 minutes the effort of our lot was dire.

[Badger]

He was in the reception at 2.30

 

Who ?

[saint lard]

Who ?

 

Steve Cotterill.

[mario_licka]

So we will be starting League One on -10 points. At least we will win more games and easily have the best stadium in League Two.

 

if we were in League Two, we would of sold St Marys

[stthrobber]

Sorry mate if you're happy with that level of effort no wonder we're on the way to league 1 apart from the last 15 minutes the effort of our lot was dire.

 

I do think the effort was there, it's just that the team was clueless, couldn't pass to each other, had no width, in fact whatever makes a team, we didn't have, but they did try.

 

In the first half, Saggers was running around like a young gazelle, but to no particular purpose.

 

Euell certainly worked hard, but when clear through on goal, he only had to get it on target to put us ahead.

 

I did remember criticising JP when he was out of position during a Charlton attack, yet he was only gently sauntering back into position, but otherwise with no apparent game plan, it becomes difficult to turn effort into a team performance.

[aintforever]

Complete ****, we're down and we deserve it.

[Badger]

Steve Cotterill.

 

Bit of a mystery as I understand he has been attending for some months now, even before Christmas ,so why ? Is he a summariser for a radio station,is he merely an interested onlooker,or is it in hope-or expectation - of a vacancy ?

[Smirking_Saint]

Now is not the time for a new manager, now is the time for a commited performance, problem is we have not got the sort of player to put the boot in, nuff said.

[Marchwood_Saint]

How can the fans be to blame? There was 27,000 there! The 2nd highest in the Championship

[Kingsbridge Saint]

We are in a better place than this time last week as we have, at last, been relieved of Lowe. He was never going to walk so it had to be administration. And it's not Class War. I say that as a Chartered Accountant in my mid forties. It's not over yet this season - but I have thought for a while we are going down. So yesterday changes little in that respect. As was said somewhere else, despite the new found optinimism following Lowe's departure, you can't polish a turd. A rebuild from League 1 looks very achievable with a new investor - and we must be a bargain right now.

[dubai_phil]

After a game like yesterday's one woulld expect the DoF or even Chairman to "ask the manager into his office" for a "chat"

 

So I assume Dave Jones is going to be asking Wotte the Eff he thinks he is doing later on today, or maybe that master tactician Mark Fry can have a go at him...

 

great...

[SaintRobbie]

Losing Lowe and watching 14000 fans return as a result is consolation, but if the team cannot demonstrate courage and desire to stay in this league fans may drift away again.

 

Truly terrible performance that underlies the problems still beneath the surface for any potential buyer. Quite simply... you cant win anything with kids.

 

I left yesterday thinking, 'I hope the new buyers have enough money to buy 7-8 men (in almost every position) and a new manager who can motivate'. And if they can only afford a couple of men, we need to SELL 70% of our young players IMHO to finance some courage and desire to wear the shirt.

 

Not an entire surprise, I still expect us to go down (always have), the damage done this season by Lowe's unnecessary youth playing policies and managerial selections were always going to lead to this.

 

At least we can now rebuild this club with some optimism, removal of the kids and fundamentally removal of the manager.

 

We have a team of limited talent that is nervous, getting worse game by game not better, that is phased by big days, that lacks courage, lacks determination and fundamentally maturity on both the sidelines Mr Wotte and on the pitch.

 

I hope we keep Davis and build a team from the back in League 1.

 

Long way to go, but at least the fans are back.

[Chez]

Can someone nominate the worst players to leave out of the MOTM poll.

 

Have no idea who played well.

 

Euell worked tirelessly and won numerous headers. Sadly he just lacked that class when he had the one on won. Davis made a few crucial saves plus the penalty. He wasn't without faul though as his distribution was appauling, at times putting our fullbacks under real pressure. BWP and Smith did OK when they came on, the rest were ****.

[new_zealand_saint]

I thought we got exactly what we deserved to be honest.

 

We defended like schoolboys, and that goes for all 4 defenders, Saeijs and Perry won probably 2 headers against Kandol in the whole game, i counted he won 11 in the first half. That is pathetic

 

We also look as if we have forgotten how to mark players over the international period, and like I said, the defending was probably the worst defensive performance I have EVER witnessed as a saints fan. If you can't defend, you won't win anything, simple as. TBH, if they had scored 5 or 6 I wouldn't have been suprised.

 

Davis: 7 - Our MOM, The only one who looked like he wanted it.

Thompson: 3 - Out of his depth at right back

Saeijs: 2: - His worst performance to date, won sweet FA in the air all day

Perry: 3 - Good pro and all that, unfortunately past it.

Skacel: 3 - Same old Skacel, get the ball, HOOF! Looks clueless at left-back

Wotton: 4 - Can't pass, Can't run, Very poor.

Surman: 3 - Offers nothing to the team, very very over-rated

Lallana: 3 - (See Surman)

McGoldrick: 6 - Cracking goal, showed fight by not giving up. If not for his goals and Davis we'd be down already

Euell: 4 - Had THAT chance when it was 2-1 which he fluffed as usuall.

Saganowski: 3 - He has got it in him somewhere, but what has he done in the past 6 games - NOTHING. Needs to be dropped in my opinion.

 

Liptak: 3 - Can't even remember him touching the ball.

BWP: 6 - Good goal, looked quite lively when came on. Needs to start next game instead of Saganowski.

Smith: 5 - Does something none of out other players seem to do - Take players on, should have been put on the left as he would have been able to take the player on and cross the ball easier

 

Wotte: 0 - Completely clueless. We had holes in our defence bigger than the Grand Canyon and he failed to spot it, I also would have started Morgan instead of Wotton. Why put Smith on the Right? He has the pace to play on the left, so then he can take the defender on and cross easier, simple.

[John Boy Saint]

I have total apathy to the feeling of disappointment Saints performances leave me with when I walk away from St Marys after the final whistle. Yesterdays game was nothing unexpected in reality. As I have said many times on a post match Sunday since the Blackburn Match in the relegation season it has been like the longest slow motion car crash ever.................................... And still it goes on.

 

What went on after the game in the Northam car park, was to be frank pathetic, what happened mummy wouldn't them go to London this week? We are on our backsides hoping someone will come and rescue us and a bunch of idiots decide it will be fun to have a kick off that dilutes the big issue at hand.

 

Ah well the sweetener of the day was winning a ton on the Grand National, and before anyone suggests a home for my winnings, My family will enjoy the benefit; as they normally have to put up with "kick the cat" Dad when I get home from a game.

[OldNick]

Losing Lowe and watching 14000 fans return as a result is consolation, but if the team cannot demonstrate courage and desire to stay in this league fans may drift away again.

 

Truly terrible performance that underlies the problems still beneath the surface for any potential buyer. Quite simply... you cant win anything with kids.

 

I left yesterday thinking, 'I hope the new buyers have enough money to buy 7-8 men (in almost every position) and a new manager who can motivate'. And if they can only afford a couple of men, we need to SELL 70% of our young players IMHO to finance some courage and desire to wear the shirt.

 

Not an entire surprise, I still expect us to go down (always have), the damage done this season by Lowe's unnecessary youth playing policies and managerial selections were always going to lead to this.

 

At least we can now rebuild this club with some optimism, removal of the kids and fundamentally removal of the manager.

 

We have a team of limited talent that is nervous, getting worse game by game not better, that is phased by big days, that lacks courage, lacks determination and fundamentally maturity on both the sidelines Mr Wotte and on the pitch.

 

I hope we keep Davis and build a team from the back in League 1.

 

Long way to go, but at least the fans are back.

Yep you will never win anything with kids like

Saga, Size Davis Perry Euell Wotton Rudi BWP Surman and not play 4-4-2

[Chez]

What a terrible game, some of ugliest long ball ****e I have ever witnessed. Reminded me of thr Brantfort days. Its no wonder Surman and Lallana look terrible, the ball is hoofed oer their heads all day. I hate our style and don't want to be watching Wotton hoofing it anywhere all day long next season.

 

Davis 7 - Great pen save, decent with crosses, no chance for goals, terrible distribution

Thomson 2 - totally out of his depth, unbelievably lightweight, never a fullback in a million years. At fault for at least one goal. Shows the complete folly of not haing two right backs at the club.

Saeijs 0 - terrible from start to finish. I simply don't understand how he went from being a regular 9 out of 10 to that load of cack. Poor decisions, weak, slow, didn't win enough in the air, clueless

Perry 3 - I've been saying it all season that his lack of height costs us and it did today. Past it IMO.

Skacel 4 - thumping your heart/badge to get the crowd going don't impress me. Stop blaming everyone else and do your job.

Surman 3 - not helped by long ball style but playing poorly.

Lallana 1 - stop playing him right midfield, get him in the middle or drop him.

Wotton 0 - ****e and lucky to be on the pitch after that tackle. Mr Hoof is out of his depth at this level. So slow he could not catch a cold.

McGoldrick 4 - started well but dissapeared totally. Why the hell we are playing a man in the hole leaving just one central midfielder is beyond me. Gillet performed miracles to keep us in games but Wotton is ****e and can't do his own job never mind two midfielders jobs.

Euell 7 - terrific effort but just when we needed that touch of quality in front of goal he came up short.

Saga 3 - good finisher but very average all round game.

[SaintRobbie]

Yep you will never win anything with kids like

Saga, Size Davis Perry Euell Wotton Rudi BWP Surman and not play 4-4-2

 

Indeed Nick. But sticking by my comment mate, and the new one that we need to clear out the majority of our youth players this summer.

 

We need 1-2 young players - generally on the bench - competing for places. You dont win anything with kids. Still too many on that pitch.

 

As for the Surman, very poor - almost looked as if he wasnt up for it IMHO. Inclined to sell him. BWP, best he's played in a while but out of position and needs regular games, Rudi started playing in the last 10 mins, Wotton has never been good enough, Euell was OK, Perry steady but muscled out too much, I've mention Davis as being key and Saga was trying but slow in the first half because I suspect the manager had held them back to try and play the game over 2 halves in the conditions.

 

The men we have are quality, you dont just lose that, but they need a manager. The kids? Out of their depth. 1-2 on the bench COMPETING for a place and determined to prove themselves is all we require in the 1st team. So, we need to buy 7 men at least and a decent manager... and I hope the new owners now realise that. (I suspect they do).

[dubai_phil]

I thought we got exactly what we deserved to be honest.

 

We defended like schoolboys, and that goes for all 4 defenders, Saeijs and Perry won probably 2 headers against Kandol in the whole game, i counted he won 11 in the first half. That is pathetic

 

We also look as if we have forgotten how to mark players over the international period, and like I said, the defending was probably the worst defensive performance I have EVER witnessed as a saints fan. If you can't defend, you won't win anything, simple as. TBH, if they had scored 5 or 6 I wouldn't have been suprised.

 

Davis: 7 - Our MOM, The only one who looked like he wanted it.

Thompson: 3 - Out of his depth at right back

Saeijs: 2: - His worst performance to date, won sweet FA in the air all day

Perry: 3 - Good pro and all that, unfortunately past it.

Skacel: 3 - Same old Skacel, get the ball, HOOF! Looks clueless at left-back

Wotton: 4 - Can't pass, Can't run, Very poor.

Surman: 3 - Offers nothing to the team, very very over-rated

Lallana: 3 - (See Surman)

McGoldrick: 6 - Cracking goal, showed fight by not giving up. If not for his goals and Davis we'd be down already

Euell: 4 - Had THAT chance when it was 2-1 which he fluffed as usuall.

Saganowski: 3 - He has got it in him somewhere, but what has he done in the past 6 games - NOTHING. Needs to be dropped in my opinion.

 

Liptak: 3 - Can't even remember him touching the ball.

BWP: 6 - Good goal, looked quite lively when came on. Needs to start next game instead of Saganowski.

Smith: 5 - Does something none of out other players seem to do - Take players on, should have been put on the left as he would have been able to take the player on and cross the ball easier

 

Wotte: 0 - Completely clueless. We had holes in our defence bigger than the Grand Canyon and he failed to spot it, I also would have started Morgan instead of Wotton. Why put Smith on the Right? He has the pace to play on the left, so then he can take the defender on and cross easier, simple.

 

To be fair Morgan returned from International Duty with flu.

If you then look at the bench, you wonder why if he wasn't fit enough to start he was selected. It was clear in the first half things were wrong, but all he had for midfiled was Smith (or BWP) I expect that meant he couldn't expect MS to last even 45 minutes from HT...

 

Back to selection & set-up again

[OldNick]

Indeed Nick. But sticking by my comment mate, and the new one that we need to clear out the majority of our youth players this summer.

 

We need 1-2 young players - generally on the bench - competing for places. You dont win anything with kids. Still too many on that pitch.

 

As for the Surman, very poor - almost looked as if he wasnt up for it IMHO. Inclined to sell him. BWP, best he's played in a while but out of position and needs regular games, Rudi started playing in the last 10 mins, Wotton has never been good enough, Euell was OK, Perry steady but muscled out too much, I've mention Davis as being key and Saga was trying but slow in the first half because I suspect the manager had held them back to try and play the game over 2 halves in the conditions.

 

The men we have are quality, you dont just lose that, but they need a manager. The kids? Out of their depth. 1-2 on the bench COMPETING for a place and determined to prove themselves is all we require in the 1st team.

You underline the problem that saints fans have and what the broadsheets are reported to be saying today in articles.We cant afford and havent been able to for a long time but have carried on regardless.Having 3 or 4 young players is not unusual and the ones who are counted as young are now in their early 20's except Thompson who really should be in the reserves.

Edited 5 April, 2009 by OldNick

[SaintRobbie]

What a terrible game, some of ugliest long ball ****e I have ever witnessed. Reminded me of thr Brantfort days. Its no wonder Surman and Lallana look terrible, the ball is hoofed oer their heads all day. I hate our style and don't want to be watching Wotton hoofing it anywhere all day long next season.

 

Davis 7 - Great pen save, decent with crosses, no chance for goals, terrible distribution

Thomson 2 - totally out of his depth, unbelievably lightweight, never a fullback in a million years. At fault for at least one goal. Shows the complete folly of not haing two right backs at the club.

Saeijs 0 - terrible from start to finish. I simply don't understand how he went from being a regular 9 out of 10 to that load of cack. Poor decisions, weak, slow, didn't win enough in the air, clueless

Perry 3 - I've been saying it all season that his lack of height costs us and it did today. Past it IMO.

Skacel 4 - thumping your heart/badge to get the crowd going don't impress me. Stop blaming everyone else and do your job.

Surman 3 - not helped by long ball style but playing poorly.

Lallana 1 - stop playing him right midfield, get him in the middle or drop him.

Wotton 0 - ****e and lucky to be on the pitch after that tackle. Mr Hoof is out of his depth at this level. So slow he could not catch a cold.

McGoldrick 4 - started well but dissapeared totally. Why the hell we are playing a man in the hole leaving just one central midfielder is beyond me. Gillet performed miracles to keep us in games but Wotton is ****e and can't do his own job never mind two midfielders jobs.

Euell 7 - terrific effort but just when we needed that touch of quality in front of goal he came up short.

Saga 3 - good finisher but very average all round game.

 

Good summary for me that. Saga perhaps a 4-5. Wotton a 2-3. Size was a 3 for me. But comments are fair. Alot of the reason the players looked shocking was indeed long ball tactics from Wotte as well as players being out of position in midfield. New manager needed next season.

[OldNick]

I have total apathy to the feeling of disappointment Saints performances leave me with when I walk away from St Marys after the final whistle. Yesterdays game was nothing unexpected in reality. As I have said many times on a post match Sunday since the Blackburn Match in the relegation season it has been like the longest slow motion car crash ever.................................... And still it goes on.

 

What went on after the game in the Northam car park, was to be frank pathetic, what happened mummy wouldn't them go to London this week? We are on our backsides hoping someone will come and rescue us and a bunch of idiots decide it will be fun to have a kick off that dilutes the big issue at hand.

 

Ah well the sweetener of the day was winning a ton on the Grand National, and before anyone suggests a home for my winnings, My family will enjoy the benefit; as they normally have to put up with "kick the cat" Dad when I get home from a game.

You spend it on your famiy they deserve it as if you are of the same mindset like Iam after another defeat they deserve that and a lot more.

I must say though yesterday I was very calm and have not had a sleepless night,very odd indeed

[Chez]

I have been saying it for two weeks now that without Gillet covering the entire midfield we can't afford to play McGoldrick in the hole. Losing Gillett meant we needed to change the entire central midfield because Wotton is ****ing ****e and no good enough to do the same job. Wotte's hands are tied a little as he has no right back, no midfield and not much up front either.

[SaintRobbie]

ou underline the problem that saints fans have and what the broadsheets are reported to be saying today in articles.We cant afford and havent been able to for a long time but have carried on regardless.Having 3 or 4 young players is not unusual and the ones who are counted as yung are now in their early 20's except Thompson who really should be in the reserves.

 

Nick. We've been playing kids and paying men to sit on the bench or in the stands for 75% of the season. The strategy is flawed as is the argument - we've screwed our whole season up using kids. Thats why we're going down. We see a minor turnaround why? Because Wotte introduces some men. We slip again why? Wotte hasnt got a clue/other teams have cottoned on to our new team which - as was so clear yesterday - is playing like a team that doesnt know each other due to change, lack of rehearsal and maturity.

 

We couldve sold this club to a plethora of potential buyers had Lowe not insisted on trying to make the plc survive for several years now.

 

I am sorry, but we couldve afforded it. We only lost x4 men to loans, we paid the rest to sit in the stands.

 

You not only dont win anything with kids Nick... you go down with kids.

[Chez]

Good summary for me that. Saga perhaps a 4-5. Wotton a 2-3. Size was a 3 for me. But comments are fair. Alot of the reason the players looked shocking was indeed long ball tactics from Wotte as well as players being out of position in midfield. New manager needed next season.

 

If you can tell me one good thing Wotton did in that game I will be surprised.

Saga is the most overated player ever. He can finish but his all round game is woeful.

I'm a massive fan of Size but he was appauling. His showing reminded me of the Jacobsson displays.

[yorkie]

Cant be bothered reading all of the previous posts but here's my view after getting in about 10.45 last night.

 

We are awful on the right side! They always outnumbered Jake at RB as there was none stopping Primus going forward - he looked quite good with all that space! Young Jake was left exposed time after time, and no one wanted to tackle anyone once they got in the area. Especially after getting that penalty.

 

Gutted after yesterdays performance, and that bloody stand-of in the car park was pathetic! I came out of the Itchen North to head through the car park to be greeted by scenes from yesteryear! All I wanted to do was to get to the bridge - I was pushed and shoved by stewards and just avoided a swipe from an over zealous young copper - who was clearly getting very charged up! What made me laugh was the copper with dogs just stood back! Should have let the brutes go!!!

 

Charlton fans I spoke wuith afterwards were fine about it - well they had won!

 

As for the rest of the performance - we were overcome by the crowd again. Mark Dennis sujmmed it up we have no big game players - they all are shrinking violets. We are threee players away from having a team - and why do we always resort to hoofing it Euell? Why don't we mix it up a bit? Charlton bottom of the league - they didn't l;ook that bad to me - but we were dire!

 

My firsat game and I was discusted about the mnass exodus form Itchen North 1 & 2when they scored their third.

 

The result does matter - but yesterday was about the celebration of removing Lowe. He has however broken the spirit of Block 1 & 2. It was soleless - well done Block 4 who looked to have been there all season.

 

Never thought when the Northam chanted We're The Northam - we didn't respond in numbers.

 

Great show, great weather, crap result! Mark Dennis reckoned 51 points would see us safe. Can't see us winning 3 and drawing 2 of our remaining games - and with 58-points (if we won all our games) less the 10 leaves us with 48 max. Face guys yesterday was a must win and we blew it!

 

Going down with The Charlton - never a truer chant!

[sandwichsaint]

Wotte a shambles, I thought the forum match was at the end of the season? Looking at that clueless, unorganised and downright unfit shower we were served up yesterday it looked like half our team were paying £100 to 'live the dream'. Honestly if they had put out TSF's A or B teams for the second half would anybody have noticed the difference?

 

Wotte did they do for the last two weeks at training? It certainly wasn't fitness work, nor was it corners (beyond shocking) or set pieces (they were more threatening to the pigeons than the oppo goalkeeper).

 

A real kick in the teeth for all those that made the effort to turn out, and for those that didn't (?), you've got to wonder if they deserve a club at all? I changed my weekend around and went the extra mile (in fact 300 miles) to be there, you have to be seriously worried if we can't sell out a game of that significance at £15/£5 ticket?

 

To the game: Saints just didn't turn up, whether that was the 'events'. the break, the big crowd, the weather, or general 'resignation' we'll never know but when we needed our biggest performance we got nothing.

 

Comedy goal down in the first five minutes, rescued by an excellent equaliser from DMG. Surely if we could hold out till halftime (I'll repeat that 'if we could hold out till halftime', that's against the bottom team in the league, at home, in front of 27,500 passionate fans playing for our survival in this league and as a footbal club with 124 years of proud history). Concede a ridiculous penalty, which KD saves with one of his more straightfd saves this season, and get to half time at 1-1.

 

Perhaps Wotte's noticed that Jake Thomson isn't a RB? or that Lallana is having a complete mare, or that their LB is shi7 but we are not playing with any width down the right? Or that our route one hoof ball is creating next to nothing? Or that Rudi has already started his summer holidays (he should have gone the whole hog and bought a deck chair out second half).

 

Wotte chooses to ignore the charms of BWP (at least he has pace) and Morgan (he must watch and weep how he can't get into a side containing JT, AL and Ryan Smith FFS!) and soldiers on with PLAN A! (where have we heard that before? and where has it got us??) with predictable consequences, Saints huff and puff, Charlton play intelligently on the break and give Saints a finishing lesson with two excellent goals. It's then all too little too late as Wotte makes subs and changes it around. We actually get up a decent head of steam in the last 15 minutes (why not the first 15 minutes?) and score a great BWP goal to reduce the deficit. Fans now screaming for a point (!) in a game that in the context of the league table should have been a gimme. Wasn't to be, the fans gave the players a decent (and undeserved) cheer off and no booing at all, tho there probably should have been.

 

Davis 8; did what he's done all season

JT 2; not his fault, not a right back and I quite rate him as a Div 1 R Midfielder which is what he will be next season

Size 5; nerves (?) or just a bad day at the office?

Perry 6; did his best but the whole of the back had a shocker

Skacel 3; got forward once or twice in the first half but you would expect a lot more

Lallana 1; absolute gash, last season he looked the real deal at West Brom and again at home against Sheff Utd. He has had his career blighted and potentially ruined by the events of the last 12 months, he needs to get out now and start again if he can.

Wotton 4; would struggle in the league below

DMG 7; he's grown on me (I'll go to the doctor first thing Monday) since Wotte came in. Works hard, excellent asset defensively in open play and at set pieces, and he scored a classic 'midfielder's goal' yesterday. He could do well in Lge 1.

Surman 4; couple of strong runs in the first half, took two heavy challenges and I assume he was taken off at 1-3 to rest him for Watford. Still a big player for us.

Euell 6; wholehearted and led from the front but nothing really came off for him today. Strong second half but very little evidence of a partnership with Saga and didn't ever look like scoring.

Saga 4; nil service and a couple of decent snap shots but you would expect more from a current international wouldn't you?

 

Subs. BWP 7, looked lively and interested and got a well-deserved and very good goal, should start RW on Tuesday.

Smith 2, held his wide position well, then continually stopped the ball when we needed momentum. Poor delivery, poor player

Liptak, thrown up front but predictably nill impact.

 

Wotte 2; got it all wrong today, started with a decent side on paper (bar right back) but failed to react to the game in front of him till it was far to late. Rowing with the oppo's technical area shows 'passion' but he needs to commit that to the players.

 

Charlton: came with no pressure and made the most of it. Keeper played well, the 2 brick CH's gave little away, they put their foot in when they had to and played football when they could (the Chinese number 5 was one of the best players I've seen this season), they took their chances well. On this evidence they are much better equipped for Lge 1 than we will be!

 

Onwards to Watford and Wolves, we will need to improve 100% to get anything out of those games.

 

Long way to go, but at least the fans are back.

 

After yesterday, I wouldn't bet on it.

[SaintRobbie]

I have been saying it for two weeks now that without Gillet covering the entire midfield we can't afford to play McGoldrick in the hole. Losing Gillett meant we needed to change the entire central midfield because Wotton is ****ing ****e and no good enough to do the same job. Wotte's hands are tied a little as he has no right back, no midfield and not much up front either.

 

I agree with that - Gillett would be one of the few young players I'd have on my retain list competing for a bench place.

 

Size - Gillett - Lallana - DMG - possibly Holmes

 

The rest? See ya.

[um pahars]

Yep you will never win anything with kids like

Saga, Size Davis Perry Euell Wotton Rudi BWP Surman and not play 4-4-2

 

That wasn't 4-4-2 with the midfiled formation displayed yesterday looking nothing like a traditional 4 in the middle.

 

No width, no centre midfielders, Wotton too far back, DMG too far forward.

 

Alot of yesterday has to be laid at the door of Wotte, who is failing to deliver at the crunch end of the season. He still has a chance to change it round, so he has to show us he is not Poortvliet Mk II.

 

As for lack of money etc, we had choices (Pearson, Scheiderlin, all the loans etc etc etc), we just made the wrong ones, so let's not go down that route again.

[Chez]

You not only dont win anything with kids Nick... you go down with kids.

 

you go down when you have a lack of quality

[SaintRobbie]

you go down when you have a lack of quality

 

Yep, and even faster with lack of quality kids.

 

Edit: Also it depends how you define 'quality'. For me there's no better quality than experience. But, I take your point as if you're Arsenal and have the quality young players you can overcome that. Part of the reason this farce was never ever going to work was that we always sell our quality youth players and whilst we are a non-Premiership club we always will. You can only become a young man side if you are able to buy the quality youth in and attract them in the first place. We have a good youth set up but cannot whilst a CCC/League 1 team expect youth to work.

 

Time to clear the youngsters out and rebuild. But first we need a manager.

Edited 5 April, 2009 by SaintRobbie

[new_zealand_saint]

 

We are awful on the right side! They always outnumbered Jake at RB as there was none stopping Primus going forward - he looked quite good with all that space! Young Jake was left exposed time after time, and no one wanted to tackle anyone once they got in the area. Especially after getting that penalty.

 

 

for **** sake, how retard is everyone!! It wasn't ****ing Primus you ****.

 

Primus has retired due to injury. If you have a programme from yesterday, look at the Charlton squad and tell me where exactly it says "Linvoy Primus" on there.

 

For your information, the player was Kelly Youga.

[OldNick]

That wasn't 4-4-2 with the midfiled formation displayed yesterday looking nothing like a traditional 4 in the middle.

 

No width, no centre midfielders, Wotton too far back, DMG too far forward.

 

Alot of yesterday has to be laid at the door of Wotte, who is failing to deliver at the crunch end of the season. He still has a chance to change it round, so he has to show us he is not Poortvliet Mk II.

 

As for lack of money etc, we had choices (Pearson, Scheiderlin, all the loans etc etc etc), we just made the wrong ones, so let's not go down that route again.

Will the clubs finances and mismanagement etc be able to be seen now? It will be interesting reading and perhaps we all could become clearer where and why all thesae things happened.

[SaintRobbie]

Will the clubs finances and mismanagement etc be able to be seen now? It will be interesting reading and perhaps we all could become clearer where and why all thesae things happened.

 

What difference does it make - we loan out 4 players this season to save wages (one of which returns), pay the experienced players to sit in the stands and bring them back at the end of the season when the folly is exposed? How much more evidence of mismangement do you need to see by viewing bank slips?

 

New hope is round the corner, too late for this team team though, which will - defeated and points deduction - move into League 1 and will need to be cleared out and rebuilt.

[um pahars]

Will the clubs finances and mismanagement etc be able to be seen now? It will be interesting reading and perhaps we all could become clearer where and why all thesae things happened.

 

The finances will not tell us why Pearson was booted out and why Poortvliet was appointed.

[OldNick]

The finances will not tell us why Pearson was booted out and why Poortvliet was appointed.

Thats fair, but perhaps the packages may be a clue although I do fully conceed that Lowe had made his mind up that NP was a goner.It is something that i was agfainst as you know.

Bad decision made and then we had to get on with it.Keeping Jan 5 games too long was my biggest gripe. I know Im mad but I still cannot accept we are down and hope something will happen.Foolish i know but... i will still be there next season Iam sceptical that 40% of those there yesterday will be.

I was a little surprised that only 27k turned up my expectations and hopes were higher.

[The Godfather]

Thats fair, but perhaps the packages may be a clue although I do fully conceed that Lowe had made his mind up that NP was a goner.It is something that i was agfainst as you know.

Bad decision made and then we had to get on with it.Keeping Jan 5 games too long was my biggest gripe. I know Im mad but I still cannot accept we are down and hope something will happen.Foolish i know but... i will still be there next season Iam sceptical that 40% of those there yesterday will be.

I was a little surprised that only 27k turned up my expectations and hopes were higher.

 

 

Charlton only brought 886 fans today which had an effect on the attendance (would have had close to 30000 otherwise), also I think with it been only on Wednesday that we went into admin I thought the crowd was good.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Poor!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bolo]

I flew 6000+ miles for that crap....

 

Right my honest assessment. I haven't seen size play yet but the defence was poor today. You could get a bus though the centre! Thompson to be far isn't a right back. Rudi's positioning was terrible.

 

Wotton is $hit!!!!! i could have done a better job then him. He was too deep couldn't tackle and slow as ****! Lallana, Surman were both rubbish. No tactical awareness, and gave the fullbacks no cover whatsoever. DMG tried hard but had no support from the rest of the midfield. We were so narrow! Sag tried but wasn't so good. I didn't think Euell did that bad, he tried, but again had no support.

 

Sticking Smith and BWP on opposite wings was flipping stupid given how narrow we were. I have lost hope!!! we are as good as down...

[SaintBobby]

I flew 6000+ miles for that crap....

 

Right my honest assessment. I haven't seen size play yet but the defence was poor today. You could get a bus though the centre! Thompson to be far isn't a right back. Rudi's positioning was terrible.

 

Wotton is $hit!!!!! i could have done a better job then him. He was too deep couldn't tackle and slow as ****! Lallana, Surman were both rubbish. No tactical awareness, and gave the fullbacks no cover whatsoever. DMG tried hard but had no support from the rest of the midfield. We were so narrow! Sag tried but wasn't so good. I didn't think Euell did that bad, he tried, but again had no support.

 

Sticking Smith and BWP on opposite wings was flipping stupid given how narrow we were. I have lost hope!!! we are as good as down...

 

Amazing commitment to have flown in for that - what a disappointing day, but I'm holding on the fact that we still have a sizeable and committed fan base.

 

My won view is that we're now screwed - report here: http://www.southampton-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=441324

[.comsaint]

6 games left - and 4 of those are away. Maybe (...just maybe) that's not such a bad thing as we are completely sheite at home and have been all season. I'm hoping that playing away from SMS means less pressure (of sorts) on the kids & that we'll grab a couple of "unexpected" wins here or there. We're gonna need to win at Sheffield Wednesday I think and pick something up at either Watford or Wolves beforehand. We simply must win both our remaining home games (hoho) against Palace & Burnley too - which is a big ask considering we're pants at our own place.

 

I hope - at the very least - that by the time we go to Forest on the final day of the season - our destiny is still in our own hands. It's not looking good granted - but needing a win on the final day to definitely stay up...I'd take that right now!

 

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=11151

[LGTL]

If we keep DMG, he could well be a top scorer in League 1, has certainly grown on me under Wotte. Smith and BWP looked bright when they came on, but apart from that, not much to shout about. I felt sorry for Jake Thomson, he is not a right back, yet due to seasons of incompetence, we are left with just the 1 RB.

[red&white56]

I don't normally post after games but just wanted to express my feelings and thoughts for once.

 

The crowd turned up, we had the call for support from Leon and Lawrie, the Northam end gave it all they could before the start of the game and then we kicked off..................................

 

The team was poor and deserved to lose - we gave them all the room they needed in midfield to exploit our defense. They came down the right, they came the left and through the middle. Nobody tracked back but somehow whenever we hoofed the ball out of defence they won !

 

The long ball to Jason was overused and they always had enough players in defense to pick up any ball he did mange to win.

 

I don't want to dwell on any particular player but rather the complete lack of cohesion and understanding within the team. Charlton played as a team and always looked like scoring when they came forward - whereas I saw Kelvin scream at the team at least twice after near misses.

 

Yesterday I left the ground and for the first time felt that we're going down (even if we're not docked 10 points by the FA).

 

My worry is that we'll struggle next season. in Div. 1