Come guys and gals lets just settle down a bit.......lets all take a deep breath......and a moments breather. We are all disappointed with to days loss. It shouldn't have happened but it did. We shouldn't blame the defeat on the referee or a wonder goal. As the fact is we didn't score enough to win it. It really is no good in getting upset with each other or even disagreeing. We have another game to make sure so lets get behind the lads next week........and stop quarreling amongst ourselves......
I though that Hammond and Cork were uninspiring. They more or less did their job, but they rarely made an attacking run or got forward to support attacking moves. Too often Lambert flick ons went to nobody or Lambert held the ball up only to be crowded out because no-one was near him. Two sitting midfielders is fine in a 4231 when the man in the hole is supporting the striker, but in a 442, one of the CMs has to take that initiative. They have done it in previous games and the pressure could have something to do with neither of them wanting to take a risk. Our CMs have only scored 4 goals between them this season (3 if you don't count JWP in the cup) but all of them have shown in previous seasons that they have goals in them. Flat 4s will at best keep us solid, but it won't take us to the next level, which is where we want to be.
That's a fair point, but playing away from home you want to set up quite defensively, and Lallana and Chaplow provided attacking options from midfield. I can't believe we didn't score more, but Middlesbrough defended pretty well and took their chances, that's why we lost.
I knew as soon as Fonte gave away that needless freekick that it would be in. Said as much to the man to my left, who replied "I ****ing hope not, or i'll be sending Fonte a strongly worded letter" or words to that effect. Bang - Goal. Beer glass = thrown on the floor. Bartender = pissed off with me.
Just back from the match, it was almost perfect except for one Referee who bottled out when he needed to make the most important decision in the game, it should have been a red whichever way you look at it, either a straight, or a second yellow, I haven't seen the footage yet but it may even have been a Penalty. The Saints crowd were beyond belief compared to the Borough fans, who were lacking in passion and only made a bit of noise after they scored. If there are criticisms to be made, and hindsight is a wonderful thing, it is the wastefulness of the finishing, and there were plenty of opportunities, De Ridder would have been useful in the second half but wasn't available, Spider may have been brought on earlier I guess, I made Hoover my Man of the Match but he was caught for pace towards the end of the second half on a couple of occasions. The highlight of the day was the news of Pompey finally dropping over the Abyss. As I say it could almost been a perfect day, it was a long way to go for nowt, just have to finish the job on Saturday, Sky TV or not, but maybe Leicester will do it for us instead?
Definitely not a penalty and probably not a straight red but as you say, it should have been a red either way because it was without a doubt a bookable challenge.
During the week Big Sam had already written off WHU chances of the Auto's and their Club have already started arrangements for the Play-offs, maybe that is what they want to make a few Bob, todays result may have changed that attitude, but perhaps we are just teasing!
I didn't want to say before the match, but we seem to have alternate good and bad results, so were due to lose to Boro. So disappointing after the early goal, but the opposition were always in the game. Just hoped to hang onto a draw. I'd like to think we were just teasing West Ham, but think the team are just torturing us. Cannot hope for the Hammers to do us any favours, so suspect we will have to win it for ourselves on the last day. That was pressure we have just brought upon ourselves...this should have been dead and buried a few matches ago. Still in our own hands, but now a bit worried. Courage, mon braves.
Lallana still provides the odd killer touch trick or pass which often does create a goal or chance but he is begining to get a lot more closeup and personal treatment from defenders now so i think his overall infuence has waned slightly to what it was early season and for me I would be happier with Chaplow central he is as combative as Cork or Deano but likes to run the channels and link up higher it seems when Cork and Deano are linked good as they are you have players who tend to sit and i feel this sometimes passes initiative to tho opposition.Chaplow i would suggest is not at his best wide as crossing is not his strength and he does'nt have out and out pace like De Ridder. I also feel that unlike Reading who arrived late on the scene we are tiring mentally and physically from being at the top all season not a slur on the boys because they have resisted the chasing pack for months but we look like a bus that it just staring to run out of fuel but i am sure we have enough in the tank to just about get home
Jeez, our TalkSport West-Ham supporting friend is seriously a bitter and jealous man. His latest offering (apologies if this has already been posted, I've only just come across it): "Fonte and Hooiveld will get ripped to shreds in the Prem. They're lumps, not footballers #southampton"
My apologies, that's from a different TalkSport presenter. Not the usual guy. This one is a Posh fan it appears. Maybe just the whole station has it in for then? (I've no idea. I never listen to the thing.)
Don't know why everyone is near on suicidal, we will still go up, if we can't beat Coventry at home then we don't deserve it to be honest! I was just a bit disappointed as Reading had blown the title race open and we didn't take advantage, but life goes on, we WILL get promoted.
