Just watched Sky highlights. Liverpool had more possession but in general shot from distance...most of Forster's saves (i.e. came up as shots on target) were the type any alert keeper would save. Not saying he didn't have a good game, because he did, but he wasn't diving left, right and centre....in other words, we stopped Liverpool being effective. Saints played well....defence is also a skill.
Better than the Hull game last week. I watched the highlights on footballorgin. There were two of them and it took 20 seconds. Pretty sure they were taking the piss. At least the highlights at Liverpool took a couple of minutes and most of them were Fraser Forster having a blinder at last.
Really can't understand why we did not play 2-3-5 and win 6-0. They have been struggling and we should have done them (takes tongue out of cheek)
I think you'll find that 'French' is a nationality not a race. But The Mirror probably didn't know that
That is a very good question. In hind sight no not at all, but did Cortese know he was getting the real deal, even his expectations must have been surpassed. And of Nigel, where would we be had he stayed, any different to where we are now?. No cup final, no Europe. But maybe lower mid table, now that is the quandary. I think you can only really judge a manager after 2 or 3 seasons for a club like us, unfortunately Mr Clough does not come around very often
That's one of your more compromising posts Ian. Let's take note of one thing. Claude has taken a French side to the Champions League and done well in it. That means his managerial style isn't a fluke because it has to work over two seasons. Personally, I think he has been hamstrung by a board who allowed key players to leave and didn't sufficiently replace them. That may have been down to keeping the finances in proper order, but one Charlie Austin does not equate to losing Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane. And then Charlie became injured himself. Overall, Saints are a stronger squad, but we can't put out as strong a starting first eleven this season. That has been the issue that has hamstrung Puel. He has, far better than Koeman, integrated academy players, possibly due to in-depth squad injuries, but then he's rotated the squad and competed well in the Europa League, League Cup and arguably, the PL. Yes, I'm disappointed that we are not not competing for the Top 6, but I'm realistic that if you can't score goals you can't win games. Then we've had our out-n-out best defender taken away from us in January. That doesn't help, because he's the equivalent of 2-3 players on his own, so he leaves a massive gap, being out injured. Personally, I think Puel has coped well, on the whole.
People sometimes confuse descriptions with racism. I would have no problem with someone referring to me as an Englishwoman.....that's what I am.
Ian, it was a tactic. Stifle them and then hit them on the break. It's worked for us (and others) already this season at Anfield. It worked again today, to a lesser extent. Sadly we couldn't put the right passes together up top to finish the job, but bar the penalty we were never seriously threatened either. Why would we not do that?
Don't know what the consensus is on here....but Stephens did give away a penalty as far as I could see. His arm went up...therefore redirecting the ball.
Despite many fans wanting success yesterday, I genuinely think it's worth playing the long ball game with Puell. As mentioned many times by previous posters, he's had both ups, downs, injuries, lack of investment and moving to a very tough league/being from a different country and not speaking the lingo to cope with. As Uncle Les stated at Xmas, due to Europa and Cup commitments, Puell didn't have a chance to coach the team till mid January, it was just play/prep/play whilst coping with lots of niggly injuries. We bought a striker too late, have had key players off form and injured. If we replace with someone else, they either do the same job as Claude (no point replacing), worse (no point replacing) or better (they leave and we're back to square one again) A lot of people predict a quieter summer, but I see a lot of activity on the horizon plus the takeover..!!
If you're being insulted(not that I imagine you ever have) would you rather just the insult or have it suffixed with Englishwoman?
Different matter I played ninety minutes in a charity game to raise funds for the youth academy in a North Dorset town. I am now lying crocked with a knackered knee. Let us not forget his bloody hard it is to be good at this game - I had my reminder today - so maybe a little patience
Another example of an incredibly dull game. In some ways it sums up our season - a good result, a good defensive performance but so bloody boring!
We were a slightly softer left footed dink from Tadic away from a Long goal and another 1-0 snatch and win at Anfield.
I don't agree that was boring. It was boring for a highlights reel, but it was thoroughly gripping as an unfolding spectacle.
