Match Day Thread Saints v Newcastle Sunday 15th October 16:00

I just don't get why he's not on the left.

105 PL
Games
15 goals
26 assists


Or something like that.

 

Eh?

Firstly it’s hardly one bad game, he hasn’t looked convincing for a while.

VVD is getting a lot of stick (I personally think way too much. I’m rewatching the game on TV now and it looks worse, but I thought he had a decent game). I’d be more annoyed if I were Wesley than Jack.

Remind, yeah I agree. The most static fast man i’ve ever seen.

 

Yeah that’s perpetually confusing.

 

5

 

Re VVD - I think understandably people are angry with him, so a desperately looking for things he’s doing wrong.

Re Forster - I really like the bloke, and think he has a terrific attitude, but this isn’t a ‘one bad game’ thing. I’d suggest people jump on it when he has one good game as a reason as to why he’s still first choice. I really hope he turns it round, but it’s feeling too familiar now.

 

Just seen the second yellow incident on tv. Thought it was obvious at the time, but wow, that is a terrible, terrible decision.

 

It's not just 'for a while' though... I know I bang this drum all the time but he's simply an average PL goalkeeper.

I've said it since we signed him, good shot stopper yes- every keeper at this level is- but he simply doesn't dominate his box as well as a guy his size should and he's too slow getting down and just in general.

He looked good due to how good our defence was under Ron, remember the stat in those seasons about least shots on target faced? Explains a lot now doesn't it?

He's bang average at PL level and to be frank, I'm still ****ing baffled that he got a new contract in the summer - likely one of our top earners now so we're stuck with him either way.

If he's fit I'd give Alex a run out.

 

He's not even bang average in my view, I genuinely can't think of another teams keeper who I wouldn't have over him, maybe the bloke at Huddersfield but that is because I haven't seen much of him. I'm not as impressed with his shot stopping ability either, yes it is decent but not as good as a lot make out. I also have no clue why we offered him a new deal, but there we are, it is what it is now.

 

Agree with that 100% mate, because he's pissed people off they're looking for the bad without noticing the bad.

Similar thing happened with Guly and at the other end of the scale for favourites people see the good and ignore the bad... Romeu and Fonte (even Rickie going further back) being recent examples.

Not really blaming fans for this as such as it's an emotional game so emotion will always play a part... It's important to remain objective where possible though imo.

 

Interesting watching it back on TV - I can see VVD having a couple of slow wanders, but he broke up *so* many attacks and wins every ball in the air. Also the stuff you don’t see on TV (he’s constantly organising things) is key.

I wouldn’t worry if we dropped him, as I think Wesley is excellent, but I do think those people insisting on calling him “Van Dick” might just be looking too hard for negatives...

 

This is also only his third (?) game in 10 months, might just be feeling the pace a little bit.

 

Also very true.

 

VVD was fine today, not great but I had no issues with his overall play.
As others have said he's only played a handful of games in 10 months so is still not quite match fit.

 

Despite being knackered, I dragged myself to SMS.
Once inside the stadium, I’m walking towards the stairs for block 33, when the woman in front of me just stops.
I wait a moment to see if she will carry on walking, then realise she had stopped for a reason, and I was now standing at the end of the queue for the ladies toilet.
I was tired, ok? I’m not a perv.
Anyway, the game. Pretty much what we have become used to. Lots of possession, lots of sideways, backwards and slow build up, with not a lot of real attacking threat.
Romeu seemed off the pace, so I am wondering if he is ill, or under the weather, especially with him being subbed off.
Boufal gave us a boost, and worked really hard at getting the ball back, when we lost it. He was scaring the life out their right side defenders, when running at them, but all too often it came to nothing, not due to a fault on his part, but because the movement from other players was so poor, he wasn’t getting any passing options. He needs to realise that he doesn’t have to do a trick every time he is in possession, although I do enjoy some of them.
Redmond is due a rest.
Gabbiadini has to be first striker on the team sheet each game.

 

5 hours on, I still don't know if I'm disappointed or relieved. I don't think the sending off would have helped us. The 10 would have shut up shop. At least it was an open game.

Let's have a week of practicing one touch forward passing football, off the ball running creating space and getting shots away.

Anyone passing backwards when a forward pass is on, is fined... or made to watch the full 90 mins of the next England match.

 

To be fair, I've over looked that it's his second start so maybe off the pace, but I don't think he was good.

As for winning every ball in the air... I reckon even I might against Perez

 

If your going to aim something at me, tag me so I don't miss it

Not looking too hard for negatives, it pains me to criticise a Saints player in this way, but I'm saying it how I saw it today. He genuinely looked like he couldn't be bothered, everything he did was half-arsed in my opinion, and indeed, neutral opinions I've heard today as well.

 

I'm not looking for things. I wanted him back because I felt we needed his presence. I genuinely didn't like what I saw of him today a few times.

 

Yep, was not impressed with Virgil today, rusty perhaps, but thought he looked a little half arsed at times, maybe tell him the L'pool scout is here next match.
Manny & Mario were superb. Boufal worked really hard when he came on, that is a big encouragement, hope he forces his way in the starting line up.

 

It’s aimed at most of the people criticising but your use of ‘Van Dick’ kinda made the best example of the point.

Maybe i’m doing the opposite and willing him to be what he can be too hard, and forgiving the slow wanders. It’s not often I disagree with Fats on footballing matters, but I genuinely walked out of the ground today thinking he made a positive difference.

Edit - nobody around me moaned about him at all, and they moan about most things! I think it just must have looked very different live? Who knows.