Match Day Thread Saints V Stoke City Sunday 21st May 3pm

Very surprised he didn't try Charlie & Gabbi together today. Also, after subbing Charlie, we had no additional offensive options on the bench which in our eyes was a mistake. Not sure where JRod was but surely he needed Josh there at the very least?

 

Christ. I'm surprised you called them "people". The scum who started that should be banned from St Mary's for life. Or catapulted across the channel.

 

I was expecting to see something more up-lifting as the closing game of the home season and anticipated a win.

It is interesting to read some of the comments on this board from people who have been habitually supporters of Claude Puel and quick to point out the fact recognised by all reasonable fans that he was dealt a poor hand at the beginning of the season and was unfortunate with injuries. I think that the form-post Wembley has shown to aspects of his ability as a coach. There are elements of the game where we have looked solid and difficult to score against and a number of matches where Puel has analysed difficult opposition in order to instill tactics which have ground out results.

Today's game was so typical of much of the football Claude Puel has given us this season. We played very well in the first twenty -five minutes without creating any sort of goal scoring opportunity. The way we attacked and passed the ball around during that period renders any negative criticism of the whole performance as a bit stupid. Had we scored in the first 45 minutes and the goal tally reflected our possession, we should have gone in ahead albeit Stoke had opportunities too, However, going in to the second half at 0-0, all the historic problems that have been a feature of this season returned and notwithstanding a superb performance by man of the match Jack Butland, all our efforts on goal failed to reverse the deficit.

I have been intrigued by the comments made on this board regarding an expectancy that , with the return of injured players, our fortunes would improve next season under Puel. Some comments on here were suggestive that we were akin to a team of sleeping giants. Whilst I agree that Puel was been unlucky, the recent performances have not really been down to luck. It has been possible to see that Puel has technical ability as a coach in the recent matches against Arsenal and Man Utd where both performances deserved better results. For me, the problem is that when things are not working, it is quite clear that Puel seems incapable of making the changes to either tactics , formation or players to make a difference. Yet again he has been out thought my a mediocre manager like Mark Hughes. This has continually happened this season. I am struggling to think of any substitutions he has made other than the recent Middlesbrough game that have changed the result.

Granted that I have not seen the best of the performances because these have all be away matches, it is disappointing to go through a fifth successive home game without a goal. Whilst we made may finished 8th, we are only 6 points above Watford who finished 17th. I was hoping that the close of the season would see Puel's teams start to come together and appreciate his vision. Whilst I cannot say that we have been poor from a technical point of view and the defensive performances deserve praise, I am unable to see how a man without a Plan B and who seems unable to unlock the opposition's tactics when things go wrong is going to retain his job. There is not enough being shown to suggest that the football will be any different in 2017 / 18.

 

Jesus ****ing wept

Glad I didn't go, I'd probably be sat in a cell awaiting a banning order.

 

I did not stay for the lap of appreciation for two reasons firstly I couldn't stand to see some players waving and smiling at me while planning a rapid and lucrative exit but more importantly I did not want to be associated with the ill mannered and in-bred buffoons who were booing Claude Puel.

I am not sure what will happen over the next few days but I would like to say thanks to Claude for a great day out at Wembley. I was proud to be a Saint that day. Sadly many of the fans who enjoyed that day turned on him this afternoon. I would also like to thank him for the way he has brought on our younger players and improved some of the older ones. It has been a difficult and challenging season in which given the circumstances he has done well.

The thing that most surprised me today was not that some of the miserable sods who sit me booed but that the Northam End who are meant to be the bastion of Saints support behaved absolutely despicably.

Today I really was ashamed to be both with and to be a Saints supporter. Our supporters' standards of good manners and decency have sunk to an all time low.

 

Charlie was never going to play 90 minutes whatever the situation. He played well though despite not scoring (obviously). I think he and Gabbi could be interesting next season.

 

Maybe but if that was the case then CP could / should have started with Gabbi & then would have the option to play both. Once he swapped them out we had no other offensive option. Pied for JWP was never gonna work was it?

 

I would say so. Anyone who thinks that finishing 8th and getting to a cup final isn't good enough (especially after losing your top players and your manager) is either very young or frankly, delusional. The great Lawrie Mac got us relegated in his first year and we were comfortably 6th when he took over. The last 2 games we have played, the goalkeeper has been man of the match. That doesn't say it all but we are at least creating chances now.

 

Why is the word Cuco censored?

 

Just got back.

Bought a random ticket last minute from the OS, ended up sitting next to two 'supporters' who were just shouting insults all match, said absolutely nothing supportive at all. He swore at Stephens for not shooting when he drove the ball up from midfield, then couldn't believe when a few minutes later Stephens had a go from Prowsie's corner, fluffed it and the guy yelled more insults. what do you want him to do? he's a CB ffs.

My enjoyment was ruined far more by negative supporters than from negative tactics. and thats not even mentioning all the shouts to the female lino.

 

I see your point. But I actually feel that it is the Puel-haters that are making the assumption Saints are sleeping giants. It's as if sacking Puel would have improved the team by 15 points and losing Mane wouldn't have made a difference.

I personally do not see Saints making a massive improvement next year, Puel or no Puel. Even if we did improve 15 points, it might not be enough to get us into Europe.

It's also partly to do with realistic expectations. I do not think that Puel is one of the top twenty managers in the world. He has some flaws, and I think his critics are fairly accurate about what they have pointed out, though they may over-exaggerate them. But I doubt that we could hire any of the top twenty managers in the world. For the size club we are, can we do better than Puel? Possibly. But we could do worse as well. I will leave it up to the board. We are the type of club that has to take some chances, but we have to be smart about it and now go shooting for the moon just because some position or person is not a world-beater. I just feel like the "Puel HAS to go" is over-the-top. He was by no means awful or anywhere close to it.

 

Hardly anyone left in the ground. Van Dijk got a song, Romeu got a song, I think Bertrand did as well which he didn't really deserve. Claude walked round with with just Eric Black (I think). Got a few boos I think, might actually have imagined that because they were pretty muted.

Didn't know Bertrand had 4 kids, obviously works harder in the bedroom than he does on the pitch.

 

I know what you mean. I had to put my earphones in on Wednesday (listening to the Championship play off) and try and blank out some of the morons around me. The strange thing today was Stephens was one of the highlights in an otherwise disappointing game.

Sian Massey has been around a while now and one of the better assistant referees around. With top referees retiring or going off the boil I wonder whether we will see her in the middle next season. She's definitely earned the role.

 

Just made a very similar point on PL thread.

 

To be honest not even just other fans like you mention, but I generally find the general matchday experience at St Marys appalling nowadays.

I was thinking about gettimg a ST next season but decided against it mainly due to the above, the fact I work shifts just completely made my mind up for me.

Reckon I'll pick and choose the odd home game next season and try to do more away. Much more fun.

 

What was the score? Can you put the score on the thread title please? Save me reading the thread or loading BBC up.

 

We battered them 0-0

 

We came 8th. Thats all that matters.

 

There is a funny saying here (something will be lost in translation though) about defensively minded team, something in the lines of that they play primarily not to concede and if they manage to scrape a goal somehow, even better.
Then there are those teams that play primarily not to score and if they manage to scrape a clean sheet somehow, even better. I guess we are one of those teams.

 

Poor game, and a disappointing way to finish the season, but I'm happy with it. 8th place, European football, and a great day at Wembley - we should be thanking you Claude, not dismissing you.

And again, the abuse that some gave him today was absolutely disgraceful. Look at yourselves, you pillocks (not that any on here would act in such a way