We were not that good. Taking far too long on the ball. Shaw hardly used his pace, but then Sunderland closed us down very well giving us no time or width. Lallana was absent first half, yet when he really started mixing it up in the second half was subbed? Osvaldo is the big beans. His aggression and touches, he really is a class apart. In the end a point was fair, and balanced with possibly a lucky three points last week. Can see more games like this this season.
Pochettino: "It's my responsibility, we were asleep in the first 3 minutes. It's not acceptable & I take responsibility for it."
He's being a bit harsh on himself there, the players should take responsibility for allowing one of the smaller players on the pitch to head in a corner.
The passing was a little sloppy in the first half. Both Schneiderlin and Lambert were a bit off their games, though neither was awful. It was really the soft goal on that set piece that cost us the three points. Not just in the scoreline, but it allowed Sunderland to sit back a little. If that goal doesn't go in, or if the equalizer had stood I think we would have won that going away. At first I thought it was a rookie mistake by Chambers, but looking at the replay I think he had a man. Someone should have been at the far post and/or someone should have picked up Giaccherini but not sure that was Chambers job.
To be fair, he's so short that if they swiveled to look behind them, he'd have been a good eight inches below the gaze of any of our midfielders or defenders. See, that's why Clyne needs to start...he can see the people too small to catch the eye of the rest. Both, I think. Someone should have had Giaccherini, and Chambers probably should have been able to challenge for the header anyway.
I thought we played very well. We really are enjoyable to watch and we dictate how games are played. Victor Wanyama is a huge presence and so calm but I agree with others - the true midfield performance today came from Ward-Prowse. People keep making the Paul Scholes link. I've been dubious about that before but today I think I could see what they mean. He's dynamic, hard working, aggressive, excellent technical ability (his cheeky chip over his own head on the corner of our box comes to mind) and he delivers truly great set pieces. Osvaldo is going to get the "mercurial" tag this year but boy is he exciting. What an odd day when your worst player is your player of the season...
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see/listen/have news of any of the match bar the goal and the disallowed equaliser, and I'm finding it very difficult to shake off the feeling like it is a loss. Truthfully, that's two points dropped that shouldn't be. Well done Jose for stopping it from being three.
Pochettino's post-match reaction: - It was disappointing to concede that goal so early on - My team seemed to be in shock - We have to learn from this situation - We need to be aware that you cannot give anything away - We can look at the future positively, because we know we can create - It's all about the small details and we need to be fully focused on the small details - Sometimes the small details cost us points - See this as a wake-up call - I don't really have to talk about Sunderland - They scored the one real chance they got - They continued playing their game - We have to win the match, it's ninety-five or more minutes - Osvaldo is well-established, but needs more of a run - He needs to learn his team-mates - We hope he enjoys his time at Southampton and plays well *refused to comment on whether Osvaldo would start against Barnsley*
Ha, thanks! You're right about the ref, I wasn't too impressed by him either. I thought Chambers was picking someone else up as well but I'd have to see it again to tell you who. It didn't look like anyone was marking Giaccherini. Maybe should have had someone on the post as well. I'm not sure why that's gone out of fashion.
We were better in the second half than then first. Shaw disappointed me as it looked like he had gone back to when he first started; he just didn't want to take anyone on. The first time he took the player on was after 30 minutes. Each time our midfield had it he was in the LB spot and not pushing to et behind their full back. When Clyne came on, he pushed further up in their FB and we looked better. Chambers did well and a very accomplished performance. Victor was excellent Lovren wins MOM for me (unless he was at fault for the goal; I couldn't see) JWP did ok although he'll never go past a FB. Adam and Luke were disappointing for me. Osvaldo looks like he'll be an asset and when he gets used to the team he'll cause a lot of problems. Overall, it was more positive than negative and we didn't lose. We need to be able to unpick these teams that stick 2 buses across the pitch and for me you either go round the full backs or you have someone who can find that special pass.
Oh and before Downthe36 comes on here giving out.... I held off for 83 minutes before telling the ref he was embarrassing!
Not prepared to be despondent...we dominated a game and got a point after falling behind. We should have won, but, for team confidence, important not to lose. We will do well playing like that, but, like a chunk of last season, our scoring isn't good enough...which is amazing for such an attacking side.
Dunno Beefy. I write my little input whilst going up The Avenue so didn't elaborate too much. If you thought we were good then I'd be mightily surprised! We created little, actual, real, threat. It was one of those games that as it went on I was sure we would not lose. In the first half we seemed to miss a forward looking midfield player too many times:Wanyama and Schneiderin level with each other. That coupled with no width made us a toothless tiger. To concur with others, the ref was crap - although in no way his ineptness influenced the result.
I'll take a point seeing as the smallest guy on the pitch got a free header so early. Lovren is a beast at the back and Wanyama was very impressive.
Well it did effect the result as if he was good we would have had two pens. I'm not saying we were amazing but I think we were better then you say.
