First game for ages and what a game I got. There was a huge gulf between our players and theirs as individuals, never mind as a team. They had a small spell in first half and again at the beginning of second but apart from that we were all over them. Lambert was playing his usual three roles, which is probably why he didn't score. Not sure about Sharp...not a patch on Lambert..and couldn't seem to get in the game, perhaps just not his type of match. Kelvin had a good game and did everything you could ask...especially stopping a shot coming through a crowd of players at 1.0. Aaron Martin made a few mistakes at first and sold Davis short a couple of times, but settled down and got the important second goal. Great goal from Lee who then did his Archer celebration...looks very promising. Everyone else worked hard and looked good. Back to form for Saints.
my one gripe would be that when a situation with both frazer and butter are injured, its an ideal time to play a youth like stephens, dont play someone out of position (esp harding who has had shyte games before at right back)
Today's Goals: (apols for crap quality) [video=youtube;UoKaUDfarWc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoKaUDfarWc&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Cheers DTLW for that. Nice to see, plus the goals are good enough to bother to tune into TFLS later. Tad's was a cracker. Oh, and I'm going to start referring to him as Chung, because he apparently prefers that and the Lads call him that.
Not really needed though. If we are serious about pushing for promotion and both Frazer and Danny are out injured, then I'd rather Harding played RB, even though he's left footed. Adkins has absolute confidence in him, so that's good enough for me. He also mentioned during his post-match interview with Adam Blackmore that Dennis Irwin used to play RB for ManU and he was fine. So being left-footed is sometimes not a problem, providing the player is good enough. Harding is good enough.
Anyone seen this? CHELSEA 1 SOUTHAMPTON 3 Posted on: Sat 18 Feb 2012 Chelsea's Under 18s were beaten 3-1 at home by Southampton at Cobham in a game which saw us fail to recover from a devastating opening ten minute spell in which we conceded three times, and while our performance improved as the game wore on, we had given ourselves too much of a mountain to climb. Following 120 minutes of action against West Ham United in the midweek FA Youth Cup clash, and with one eye on Wednesday's quarter-final tie against Nottingham Forest, Adi Viveash made ten changes to the side which started the victory against the Hammers, with only Anjur Osmanovic retaining his place. Southampton took the lead in the fifth minute when an inswinging free-kick from the right-hand side was headed home following some sloppy defensive play. Two minutes later and the visitors doubled their advantage when we conceded a free-kick on the edge of our own box. Luke Shaw stepped up and, to his credit, bent a sublime strike beyond the despairing dive of Beeney to leave the home side stunned. A dreadful start by the Blues turned into a nightmare a minute later when the Saints poured forward looking to put the game out of reach, and as the ball broke to Calum Chambers inside the box he fired past Beeney to send the visiting supporters into dreamland. It was a time for cool Chelsea heads as we looked to recompose and steady the ship, and gradually we began to get a foothold in the match. Ismail Seremba had what looked like a legitimate penalty appeal waved away, while Archange Nkumu blazed over from the just outside the penalty area when he should really have at least tested Will Britt in the Saints' goal. The Blues dominated the remainder of the first half in terms of possession without looking like scoring, although Seremba wasted our best chance shortly before the break when he shot straight at Britt when clean through on goal. Osmanovic was replaced at half time by Fankaty Dabo, while both George Cole and Walter Figueira were given a taste of the action with over half-an-hour remaining, at the expense of Nortey Nortei and Seremba respectively. We were handed a lifeline in the 74th minute when Reece Mitchell worked his way into the Southampton penalty area with some neat footwork before being brought down by Britt, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Tom Howard was the man entrusted with taking the kick, and he confidently sent the keeper the wrong way to set up a tense finish. After such a disappointing start to the game, Viveash's side, to their credit, responded well, particularly given the change in personnel, and their attitude and desire certainly couldn't be called into question. As we pressed forward in the closing stages looking to score a second, there were inevitably gaps left open at the back, and Joe Curtis almost put the game to bed for the visitors but he could only direct his header straight into the arms of Beeney, before the referee sounded the final whistle to cap a disappointing day. Chelsea (4-3-3): Mitchel Beeney; Samuel Bangura, Jordan Houghton, Dion Conroy, Nortei Nortey (George Cole 50); Tom Howard, Alistair Gordon, Archange Nkumu (c); Anjur Osmanovic (Fankaty Dabo h/t), Ismail Seremba (Walter Figueira 60), Reece Mitchell
Apparently Clough said there wasn't much between the two sides....even a Derby fan said on fans forum that he was deluded.
....and not one complaint about the officials, credit where it is due, they were anonymous, and that's how it should be, well done Mr Scott.
Didn't notice the officials which is always a good sign. Ricky still seems to get pulled about without winning too many free kicks...I suppose they reckon he's big enough to take it.
We're nearly entering March....the business end of the season and squeaky bum time as Sir Fergie would say. Great win today and importantly Saints are gaining the momentum we had earlier in the season, our away form is going to be crucial.......gonna be an interesting couple of months but I think we can gain promotion and we the fans need to give the team the same level of support as they got today
Just watched TFLS including Pompey's game. Have to say, when Maniche introduced Claridge as Portsmouth born and played, who laid into Portsmouth FC, the club, it surprised me, with Steve's disapointment in his home side. The next match was Saints v Derby, which Claridge attended today, and he was glowing in his praise of Saints. I checked my mouth to make sure it wasn't open. It wasn't, but I was still surprised by Claridge's candour. Credit to the guy for being so.
Why did they interview such oddballs outside St Mary's? Loved Puncheon trying to get on camera Great strike from Tadanari and great celebration to boot.
Would seem Claridge has attended quite a few of our games, has spoken very highly of us all season. Must admit he has gone up in my estimation with his comments about us this season....but he's still a skate.
Claridge is a saint! Never too late to see the light Also Stuart Pearce was at Reading; is he stalking Burnley or what?
