Match Day Thread Southampton v QPR,26/08/23,15:00 KO

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I saw my first game today and it was good to finally see Saints win.

Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser looked very good acquisitions. Ryan Fraser changed the game for us in the second half.

If Che goes then we need a quality striker because our only goal scorer will be Adam Armstrong.

Most of QPR's chances today were caused by Saints being careless in position and they counterattacked. They really were a pretty poor side in general. Their goal was well taken but it was still soft.

Each time Saints scored they became complacent like they thought QPR would just roll over. Also after each goal they just passed the ball around without seeming to want to create anything. I don't know if they were told to do that but that is the impression I got.

Despite the good start to the season I don't think the players are totally playing how Russell Martin wants. It looks like they are still trying to figure it out.

A win is a win though. Even when QPR were through on goal my only fear was Saints ballsing it up rather than QPR doing anything of quality.
 
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SoriaSaints said:
I saw my first game today and it was good to finally see Saints win.

Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser looked very good acquisitions. Ryan Fraser changed the game for us in the second half.

If Che goes then we need a quality striker because our only goal scorer will be Adam Armstrong.

Most of QPR's chances today were caused by Saints being careless in position and they counterattacked. They really were a pretty poor side in general. Their goal was well taken but it was still soft.

Each time Saints scored they became complacent like they thought QPR would just roll over. Also after each goal they just passed the ball around without seeming to want to create anything. I don't know if they were told to do that but that is the impression I got.

Despite the good start to the season I don't think the players are totally playing how Russell Martin wants. It looks like they are still trying to figure it out.

A win is a win though. Even when QPR were through on goal my only fear was Saints ballsing it up rather than QPR doing anything of quality.
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This sums up my impression exactly. I thought Armstrong's goal was incredible and feel that Russell has done for him was Ralph initially did for JWP. Good to see JWP scpring today. I felt that he might struggle at West Ham but hopefully the transfer will see him acheive his potential

As for Saints' performance, my overriding impression is that the standard of football in the Championship has been really poor from what have seen. We have put in performances which have been far more professional than last season but I still think that we are relying on players who are not ready for first team football. I am more confident than I was three weeks ago but I still think we are not good enough for promotion. Leicester will win this league by a country mile and I feel Leeds will go up too. Maybe too early for Saints given the re0build that is necessary ???
 
Ian Thumwood said:
This sums up my impression exactly. I thought Armstrong's goal was incredible and feel that Russell has done for him was Ralph initially did for JWP. Good to see JWP scpring today. I felt that he might struggle at West Ham but hopefully the transfer will see him acheive his potential

As for Saints' performance, my overriding impression is that the standard of football in the Championship has been really poor from what have seen. We have put in performances which have been far more professional than last season but I still think that we are relying on players who are not ready for first team football. I am more confident than I was three weeks ago but I still think we are not good enough for promotion. Leicester will win this league by a country mile and I feel Leeds will go up too. Maybe too early for Saints given the re0build that is necessary ???
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I agree that the championship has been poor. My concern is less about us going up as i cn see us sneaking through the play offs but as good as our results have been I feel we would be torn apart playing like this in the prem.
 
SootySaint said:
Player ratings
Baz - thought he looked good today. Some great saves and good calls. Not seen the replay but looked like the first goals was a peach of a shot against the post which he couldn't reach.

Kwp- better today then the first few matches where he would often try to dribble past one to many players and get tackled. Like how he joins the cm when we are in possession but limits are attack down the right with SAA alone.

Bednarek - handled the tall Armstrong well and some clever tackles. Good to have him back ti his best

Stephens - unlucky to go off injured early as he was looking good at bringing the ball out of defence

Manning - not his best game.outpaced on the left numerous times. Some.good passes to release frazer and Edozie but looked uncomfortable when on the ball outside the other teams box unable to find an attacking pass. He does not seem to work well defensively with edozie with them both complaining to each other on marking numerous times. EDIT I have just seen he got both our assists so maybe he deserves more credit.

Charles - cracking signing and the sort of player we have missed since romeu, wanyama. Strong on the ball good tackler and happy to ping the ball about. Played well in defence but felt we lost a lot of control in midfield when we moved him into defence.

Downes- looked very comfortable on the ball and looks like a great addition but unsure if he a⁶nd Armstrong are the right pairing in CM. Would much prefer one of them playong alongside Charles .

S Armstrong - similar to Downes, silly booking but nice to have someone in the middle who can quickly transition defence into attack

SAA - Lools an exciting talent but quiet game. Not sure if it's due to KWP going more central or if we mainly targeted the left side with edozie. Think he will be a great impact sub this season using his trickery and speed against tired legs

Edozie. Looked a lot better outclassed their right back numerous times and some good balls in. Was just saying it's a pity he does not have a strong shot just before he scored which show how much I know. Only complaint for him is his tracking back. He goes through the motions of tracking back but never seems to complete a tackle and saw numerous times he turned his back allowing them to cross rather then trying to stop it with his foot. Not sure if he is worried he will get injured in doing so but we are being targeted that side every time. Please take notes from Adam Armstrong on how to track back.

Alcaraz - not his greatest game. Got into positive areas but often displaced and got himself another silly yellow for talking to the ref. Hope we can hold onto him as he will be another level when he gets used to this system.

Mara - impressed today. Held his own and gave us a bit more strength. Often a bit too confident in his ability of having to control every ball which is not ideal when we are trying to clear from an opposition attack

Fraser - changed the game for us when he came on. Cracking runs. Brilliant low crosses for our team (exactly what Adam Armstrong needs) and even some good headers for such a short player. Would happily have him starting the next game.

Aribo - still looks slow as hell but impressed with how he kept possession. Great sub to have when we are defending a lead as great to have a bit of height up front.

Adam Armstrong - MOTM quiet first half as we struggled to find him but came alive with the introduction of Frazer and Mara. Great tracking back and tackling and a superb goal.

Manager - very impressed with what I have seen so far. Enjoy the possession style football and great to see his 3 subs changing the game. Only questionable thing is have ABK on the bench but choosing to move Charles to cb when Stephens went off. Hope we see Chalres playing cm every week.
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I think this is a very good assessment of the players today.

I will just heap a bit more praise on Bedders. Fought for every ball and done very well against a physical QPR strick force.

Whatever happened in that period he went to Villa, he is back with a point to prove
 
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Ian Thumwood said:
This sums up my impression exactly. I thought Armstrong's goal was incredible and feel that Russell has done for him was Ralph initially did for JWP. Good to see JWP scpring today. I felt that he might struggle at West Ham but hopefully the transfer will see him acheive his potential

As for Saints' performance, my overriding impression is that the standard of football in the Championship has been really poor from what have seen. We have put in performances which have been far more professional than last season but I still think that we are relying on players who are not ready for first team football. I am more confident than I was three weeks ago but I still think we are not good enough for promotion. Leicester will win this league by a country mile and I feel Leeds will go up too. Maybe too early for Saints given the re0build that is necessary ???
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I find this a rather strange comment, given that we seem to be outplaying every tram. Yes, we are still weak at the back, but I think that will improve. Let's see how we go against Leicester before we award them the title in August<laugh>
 
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SootySaint said:
I agree that the championship has been poor. My concern is less about us going up as i cn see us sneaking through the play offs but as good as our results have been I feel we would be torn apart playing like this in the prem.
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I agree, but the majority of our PL level players have left.

I do tend to agree about Martin’s style so far would be very naïve in the PL for a promoted team but let’s worry about that if we get there.

Fraser reminded me of A Armstrong, small fast and quite direct but looks like a “proper” winger who could do with a striker with a bit of presence about him for him to be effective.
 
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Saintmagic said:
I agree, but the majority of our PL level players have left.

I do tend to agree about Martin’s style so far would be very naïve in the PL for a promoted team but let’s worry about that if we get there.

Fraser reminded me of A Armstrong, small fast and quite direct but looks like a “proper” winger who could do with a striker with a bit of presence about him for him to be effective.
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Would love to see Tall Paul up front with AA playing behind him like he did when Mara came on.
Frazer and edozie as wingers
Downes and Charles in CM.
The only issue with this is I can't find a place for Alcaraz which is mad considering his talent unless he rotates with our top scorer AA.
I am in the minority but I really feel tall Paul would boss this league and would give us that extra option rather then teams expecting a low cross every time.
 
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......loading...... said:
So, what did people think of Mara today? He looked pretty good. Best I can remember from him. He doesn’t drive into the box hard enough for crosses but he has a good physical presence and a neat touch.

I wouldn’t want him as main striker but, on this showing, he could do with more minutes?
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I felt that he gets pushed off the ball too easily and sometimes looks like he has problems controlling the ball. That said, I felt he was marginally better than SAA who does not strike me as being ready for first team football. The younger players such as Edosie, Charles, SAA and Mara do not strike me as being first time players at the moment. Manning is better than i expected but feel he would be moved on net season if we went up. The team seems to be morphing in to a squad that believes in the manager and has a winning mentality but the technical quality of the squad is now more presentative of the quality of football in this league. I feel the older and wiser players are the ones more likelyto get us promoted that unproven youth.
 
Ian Thumwood said:
I felt that he gets pushed off the ball too easily and sometimes looks like he has problems controlling the ball. That said, I felt he was marginally better than SAA who does not strike me as being ready for first team football. The younger players such as Edosie, Charles, SAA and Mara do not strike me as being first time players at the moment. Manning is better than i expected but feel he would be moved on net season if we went up. The team seems to be morphing in to a squad that believes in the manager and has a winning mentality but the technical quality of the squad is now more presentative of the quality of football in this league. I feel the older and wiser players are the ones more likelyto get us promoted that unproven youth.
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:huh::huh::huh::huh::huh:
 
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Ian Thumwood said:
I felt that he gets pushed off the ball too easily and sometimes looks like he has problems controlling the ball. That said, I felt he was marginally better than SAA who does not strike me as being ready for first team football. The younger players such as Edosie, Charles, SAA and Mara do not strike me as being first time players at the moment. Manning is better than i expected but feel he would be moved on net season if we went up. The team seems to be morphing in to a squad that believes in the manager and has a winning mentality but the technical quality of the squad is now more presentative of the quality of football in this league. I feel the older and wiser players are the ones more likelyto get us promoted that unproven youth.
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I would agree with the above except for Charles playing as a cdm. We look a lot more confortable when he plays that role to when the other first teamers (stu downes) are playing it. He is definitely not a first team cb
 
Ian Thumwood said:
I felt that he gets pushed off the ball too easily and sometimes looks like he has problems controlling the ball. That said, I felt he was marginally better than SAA who does not strike me as being ready for first team football. The younger players such as Edosie, Charles, SAA and Mara do not strike me as being first time players at the moment. Manning is better than i expected but feel he would be moved on net season if we went up. The team seems to be morphing in to a squad that believes in the manager and has a winning mentality but the technical quality of the squad is now more presentative of the quality of football in this league. I feel the older and wiser players are the ones more likelyto get us promoted that unproven youth.
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You aren't serious about Charles surely? He's been excellent.
 
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ABK seemed quite invested at full time, one of the first to walk around clapping the fans. Maybe I’m reading too much into not much, probably! And why would we need Holgate & Wood if ABK stays unless Bednarek goes? I’m assuming we will shift Lyanco by the end of the window. Maybe we do now need both if Stephens injury is bad.
 
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Bwood_Ranger said:
Obviously. I’m very attractive.
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I actually thought your lot were pretty good today. Very stubborn defence, and some effective turnovers. I mean, it's very 'park-the-bus-and-hoof-it-to-the big-man', but for what it's worth, it was effective (at times). The fact that you created just as many, if not more, clear-cut chances as the fancy passy passy team, speaks volumes.

Like the look of your Armstrong, plus Smyth and Colback. Think you've got enough decent players be a solid mid-table team.
 
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