Although it was a pretty crap ame it's still 2 points dropped against a team I would say we should be beating. Games we should've won in my opinion and dropped points include: - Sunderland away (2pts) - Arsenal home (2pts) - Villa home (3pts) Anyone else...
We DID counter attack. The first half was very end-to-end. It resulted in us scoring two, but also conceding two. The second half we controlled possession and Stoke never really threatened. But couldn't break down their defense. It was two entirely different halves.
We 'counter' by moving forward but then we stop just outside the area and play side to side... Would just for once like to see a player belt it.
I agree. All in all, not too dissappointed. I don't think the conditions helped, plus Stoke are well drilled and will always make it difficult. They seemed to have two bodies following Lallana round the whole time. Plus Shawcross is a beast at the back. If any gripe, I just felt we lacked a little bit of bite, tried to pass into it the box too often without hardly ever testing Begovic from range. Slippery wet pitch, should have had a few more digs. Thought Davis and Cork were our best players. Also thought the atmosphere was decent compared to recent games. Although some morons near me booed at the final whistle! If you read this thread, whoever you are, we can't play Fulham every week!
I haven't noticed that myself but Beefy has said a couple of times that Lambert's back is a mess. Assuming you're right I guess that could be why.
Last two home league games ended 2-2. Don't think you could have a bigger difference in entertainment & creativity between those games. I thought Stoke played ok. They had a plan and stuck to it. Can't say they were anymore physical than other teams this season, can only remember one bad foul when Shaw was tripped from behind. Still amazed that players of Lambert & Jay Rod's experience & quality didn't take advantage of a centre-half making his debut today. I focused on Rickie for a few mins in the 2nd half and it wasn't a case of Shawcross finding him to mark, Rickie kept on being alongside him. Bit lazy in the mind & body from him and a few saints players today. Really hard to pick out who was our best player today. All a bit, meh. But credit to Yoshida for taking on Crouch & not shirking from any challenges.
He's been with a specialist for the best part of two years now and still has regular sessions for his back.
disagree with the 3 points lost against Villa, maybe on paper, but they had a better game plan that night and deserved to win. Agree more so with Sunderland result. In the end of the day the position we are in we can afford to drop a few points!
a good game of football, I though Stoke were the better team first half and Southampton were better the second half, are Stoke crap as a lot of you said earlier?, the answer is NO, good luck for the rest of the season.
Makes me laugh when people moan that we don't take enough shots from outside the box like the way to solve our problems with stubborn defensive teams is just to repeatedly tee up and drive the ball straight at a massive crowd of players usually whilst being closed down, with really only one player in the team with a proven record of scoring from outside the box who is usually playing back to goal.
Thought stoke outmuscled us first half so not unhappy with 2-2 at half time. Second half we manned up and pretty much controlled but you just felt it needed a big of magic from someone like Lallana or gaston to unlock it. LLlNa had one of his quieter days I thought. All in all a fair result but please let Stoke get relegated so we don't gave yo endure that next season.
IMHO there is not a whole lot wrong with Yoshida, just seems to be the epitome of a 'confidence player'. I also don't think his distribution is a hellish as a lot of people on here like to make out.
If anything, we took too many long shots today. The majority of our shots were from outside the penalty box and they were mostly poor. Rodriguez took at least 3 that were nowhere near the goal. In the first half, we were getting into dangerous positions on the counter but we were also giving up too many opportunities on the other end. In the second half, we never really had to counter because we dominated possession. That was when we couldn't break down their defense.
Stoke well organised and in the second half particularly they had a wall if 5 in front of a wall of 4. I don't like they style, but fair play to them it worked. We need a little more creativity. First half I thought we wanted to make Charlie Adam look like a footballing god the time and space we gave him! I drove down expecting that sort of game and got it. Horrible conditions didn't help either but a point is ok; not great but no disaster. As for players performance, no-one had a shocker and no-one excelled.
One person said you were crap. I said Utd aren't a very good team anymore so no one can be judged if they beat them.
what the **** you on about?, we passed the ball around you first half even the commentators and im sure motd tonight will say the same tonight, please have a mind of your own instead of following like a sheep!!
