If Osvaldo had lifted his shot, if Lambert's header had gone in off the post, Schneiderlin's volley had gone in... ...Saints fans would be going crazy over a super performance against a tough side away from home. Football is a funny old game.
To be fair everyone's first touch was poor today, I don't think the conditions allowed for a good first touch.
1-0 would have been no less than we deserved, but we didn't get it. You can't blame bad luck all the time, good teams make their own luck and we're not doing that currently.
Football is about what ACTUALLY happened instead of what MIGHT have happened. We didn't score... again. We played slowly... again. We lacked options on the bench... again. Terrible display today, no other way to describe it.
I thought that was a very good considering the dross that West Ham put out yet again. Given that their keeper was MOTM sums up how well we played, including Lambert's header against the post, we were very dominant and fluid. We look solid at the back which is great to see, Lovren is a class above and having conceded just 2 goals in 4 games is promising. You could see our front 4 are starting to click, keep the back tight, the more we get the new guys playing with the team, the goals will start to come. The weather was appalling again today which played into West Ham's hands a little bit, but overall it was a good performance that on another day we would have won 2 or 3 nil.
I wasn't blaming bad luck as far as I am aware. Stop putting words in people's mouths. You're right, we didn't get it but we did deserve it. I was simply highlighting how football so often falls on a knife-edge, as it did today.
Do me a favour, the pitch is perfect. If a professional earning more than £1m a year can't bloody trap a wet ball, he should quit the game
I'll make it very simple: Today Saints not score. Last Season Saints concede many goals. Last Season Saints Lose if can't score.
It's a team learning to play together in competitive games - 2 key partnerships in Wanyama/Schneiderlin and Lambert/Osvaldo are working out each others games. Today I thought the striking partnership looked as though it was beginning to click more than it was against Norwich, and that clearly the midfielders need a little more time. Fortunately the other key new partnership in Lovren/Fonte seems to have worked straight away. It's going to take a little time, but there are signs of progress. Once it gels we have a very strong team. Put the razor blades and nooses away for a couple of minutes, please.
Draw a football match 0-0, proceed to start thread criticising goalkeeper. The mind of a football fan...
I thought it was common knowledge that when it rains heavily water gets trapped on the pitch and cannot drain enough, which leads to a very slippery surface which is difficult to adjust to. The physics of the situation has nothing to do with how much they earn.
Yes we conceded more, but the games were much more fun. People who get excited about clean sheets have not the point of football.
I'd like to see Gaston get a full game, or at least 60-70 minutes as a starter. The knock on him is that while he produces the occasional moment of quality, he's generally inconsistent. Well, right now we're very consistent, but lacking moments of quality. I don't think that anyone would deny that. The point is simply that we're on relatively stable footing even with the rather dire lack of quality football on display, whereas last season a sudden goal shortage would have seen us plummeting to the foot of the table.
And once the team have an extended run of playing with each other, instead of these interminable early season international breaks, and we play some teams willing to play against us, then the goals will come again.
First half was certainly a little shaky from Wanyama and Schneiderlin. But I felt they got on the same wavelength and were both impressive in the second half. I am not terribly worried about the defensive midfield combo. They'll get it together. Offense is frustrating. Neither Rodriguez or Lallana could be said to be truly awful. Rodriguez's speed always gets him a chance or two, and Lallana makes some nice dribbles. But overall, they're just not getting it done. They have their strengths and are capable of stretches of good play but I feel like overall neither of them is a complete enough player for the kind of offense Saints play. I think it's up to Ramirez as he is the better fit for Lambert/Osvaldo and the skills are certainly there. But he's got to win Pochettino's confidence and start playing better than he's shown.
Terrible game of football. Both sides were poor on the day but both had the chances to win it. Southampton edged it but that is to be expected with West Hams attack so depleted by injury. A fair result all things considered and a solid if unspectacular start to the season for both clubs. Neither side will have relegation concerns and a decent mid table finish for both is my prediction. Good luck for the rest of the season. COYI.
Why doesn't it? The higher the paid professional in any job in the world, the more you'd expect them to cope with all situations thrown at them.
I generally agree with you but I cannot see how you can say Wanyama and Schneiderlin were decent whereas Rodriguez and Lallana were poor. I thought all of them had heavy touches, mind you Lallana did take a number of clattering. Cork must be disappointed not to get a look in. Not disappointed because I think we may create more against more attacking teams such as our upcoming opponents.
