Dorch won, Havant & Waterlooville (AKA the Non-League Skates) drew Dorch replace them in play-off positions
We will be lucky to stay up next year unless we get a strong midfield. Hard to score when you forwards are parked in their own half most of the game.
For about an hour, I thought Stephens was brilliant. Looked like a top PL defender. But then he showed why he's miles away from being a PL defender. He just can't perform for the full 90.
It's not often that I have KWP as one of my worst performers. But he was really poor today. Maybe the third worst person on the pitch, after Onuachu and the referee.
Though the atmosphere at Villa Park in December was dreadful too. Considerably worse than today which I found odd as it was loud on my previous visit. Tbh poor atmosphere is a league problem rather than specifically a Saints problem and it's been getting steadily worse for years. Been to 11 grounds this season and am struggling to think of any I was impressed by atmosphere wise and at least half were basically morgues. Anyway I thought the first half atmosphere was one of our better ones this season, my throat is certainly ****ed. Second half never got going though.
Feel bad for our defenders. No midfield at all. No tackles. Villa invited all the way into our box without a challenge, all game. At one point, Mings, the CB, had about 5 seconds to line up a shot from 25 yards. Absolutely shocking lack of fight from the front five players (bar Fernandes).
Been saying all season how much of a problem it is that we constantly stand off teams, it's absurd. You can't do that against good teams as they always find ways to punish you.
Just seemed today to be ultra deep. I mean, fair play keeping it 0-0 til half time. But second half we somehow got even more defensive. Like, what's the point in even turning up? Just training practice for Villa's attack.
Well I'm glad I didn't go and had my arm twisted for a family day out instead. There's no ****ing way these mugs are getting anywhere near the play offs/autos next season. Gutless ****ing pussies. **** SR
It's how we played at Fulham too under Rusk which was fine but he can't really do it for another 6 games I feel. I do feel we could take points potentially off West Ham and Leicester playing like that though.
Having Downes back will hopefully help. But it really was an awful decision to go into this with only him and Lesley. And I've got no idea what Rusk will do about up front. Onuachu is one of the worst players I've seen for us in the PL, Stewart is made of glass, and Archer doesn't have any of the qualities required to play as a lone striker.
That is me finished for the season. I never want to see any of this lot in a Saints' shirt ever again except Fernandes.
I know it's hardly news but some of our fans are really weird. A few people booed the Onuachu for Dibling sub and somebody actually started shouting "Dibling, you're a ****, Dibling Dibling you're a ****"
I was led to believe that relegation being sorted would mean the pressure was off and that free flowing, unencumbered football would appear. That was **** on the whole.
By the way how on earth was the Villa player not booked for the foul on Fernandes leading up to the goal? Was much worse than one Matty got booked for himself.
