I agree completely. Ramires should have been off for two yellows before the break at Stamford Bridge. During the 90 minutes he must have committed six or seven cynical fouls. He even got penalised for four cynical fouls and a deliberate handball. He somehow escaped getting booked for any of them or for persistent fouling. Michael Oliver's brain was in another galaxy during that match.
I agree. Everyone harped on about Chelsea's tactics beating us in the second half but it was more injuries during the match and the fact Ramires should've been sent off in the first half that did for us. After all Ramires was instrumental in their goals. Good feeling about this 2-0 Saints
I disagree. I thought we were average at best v Chelsea away. Blaming injuries and a non-sending off seems to me like your lenses are a little red tinted. All through the first half I felt that we weren't on our normal game and Chelsea weren't up to much. We had a five minute spell after half time when we pressured them really well, but after that, we just didn't do it. If a player goes off injured, then the team don't give up the game plan. If you say that Boruc going off weakened the confidence of the defense, then that is the defenders fault, not the injury. They should still do their job. The injuries didn't help, but they weren't the reason we lost. We lost because Chelsea exploited us much better in the second half and we had no answer.
you agree with my disagree, or agree with Impsaints's agree that disagrees with the comment of mine that you agree with?
Some of us stayed up past midnight last night you know Didn't Schneiderin come off in that game too. In my experience of watching Saints recently that's never a good thing
Just driven past St Mary's and they are out watering the pitch already. I'm lying of course but it is what we would all expect.
I am not going to get too down about this match. Whatever happens, we then go into 2 months with generally 'easier' matches. This will give us a chance to pick up points and consolidate our position. Will be very hard for us to go up any places and we are virtually safe, so I propose to enjoy the victories we get. I agree that we seem to have trouble when good sides go two up front...this is something Mauricio has to sort out (remember he's learning as well)...perhaps by new players in the summer.
Obviously don't like losing games, but playing a Chelsea side that have come off a good win against Liverpool will be hard work, especially given the conditions as well. I wouldn't be too disappointed if we lost to Chelsea, as Fran mentioned we have more "winnable" games coming up in the weeks ahead. Happy New Year everyone!
I disagree with what is being agreed with. Losing our best defensive midfielder/playmaker/calming influence as well as our only decent goalkeeper is a massive reason why we lost the game. Yes we weren't that good in the first half or second half but neither were Chelsea. And if Ramires' is allowed to continually make yellow card fouls without getting a yellow card thus not getting a second yellow and red card then that is an unfair advantage to them. Like the Arsenal game we weren't that good but neither were Arsenal or Chelsea. Both disappointing results for that reason but Ramires' not getting sent a single yellow in that game was key as well as us losing our best player in the area that Ramires plays was also key. Ramires was quiet in the first half. Second half he wasn't. First half Schneiderlin was on top of him. Second half Cork and Wanyama struggled with him. Still we will beat them today. Lets hope we get a homer this time who reacts to the 'vociferous' calls of the Saints crowd every time there is a tackle on one of our players.
I was certain that this was a Sky match but now it's on BT sport. Has it been changed or am I simply mistaken?
Always been BT...I shall be watching it up until the first goal, especially if we score...find that the most nerve racking.
