Two excellent first half saves from Marshall and then in the second half from Clyne and Gallagher. So yes, he was the difference today otherwise it would have been a score like the Newcastle game. Pretty much perfect first half for saints apart from lack of goals. With Gaston playing like that it's like having two Lallanas on the pitch! Very impressed. He was all over the place and was not knocked off the ball easily. Second half was boring and I would have been disapponted by that irrespective of the result. We just ran out of ideas. Lambert Lallana and Shaw all poor. Credit to Cardiff. That is exactly the sort of game we played away from home when we were battling for premier league survival so if we dish it out, we have to be prepared to take it now and again. Marshall as a saints player would be nice!
Don't think MP has reached his limit at all. We are struggling with a small squad and have been most of the season. Our best 11 (with a few subs) got us off to a good start, before injuries set in. We have had Boruc missing for two periods with injury, which probably cost us a few points (especially as we lost Davis as well). We now have one striker (who prefers to play behind A. N Other) and a youngster. Luckily, it will result in a disappointing end of the season rather than a catastrophic one. We need class back ups/first choices for GK, striker and CB. See no reason why next season won't be as good or better than this season (depending on players brought in and fitness of present side). I think Mauricio is still learning in the EPL, but also needs a team with greater depth. He has no doubt told the board this or will do so.
Agree it's about opinions LTL, think Man Utd likely to get 66-67 this season with Moyes, but under Ferguson would have got about 10-12 more. They wouldn't have won the title, but would've beaten Arsenal and Everton to top 4. My point regards MP is that he may meet that 60 point expectation next season (given the resources we discussed) but he definitely won't exceed it. I'd rather (if possible) have a manager that had more 'upside potential' to exceed expectations.
Didn't create enough good chances beefy, simple as that. Fair enough it's a game of opinions. What do you think a fair score was today based on actual chances created (and not just numbers of potshots)? I'd say 1-1.
You don't think he's exceeded expectations this season? The main three players brought in post Adkins (where we were in SEVERE danger of relegation) have been Lovren (excellent), Wanyama (injured much of the season), Osvaldo (not here). So in many ways we're the same team, and yet we're heading for our best ever finish in the premiership, playing football (coached) that is the envy of many and has led to many of our players becoming recognised for international duty. That's not doing well? I'd hate to have you as a boss!
Very good question LTL, like it. This year's team under: Ferguson: 62-64 Martinez: 56-57 Pochettino: 52-53
I think Mauricio suits our players and vice versa. We are snapping at the heels of teams that cost millions more than ours because MP has them playing above themselves. Don't know every manager in the world, but I think we would struggle to get a significantly better one to come to Saints. And would they get our team performing or would they bring in some of their old players (upsetting fan favourites in the process). I suspect that a few years down the line we would see these years as a golden memory. I don't want to be ordinary again.
For what it's worth I think Mauricio is one of the two stand out young managers in the Premier League who has done as well, if not better than, anybody could expect with the players at his disposal. If there's been a disappointment, it's been that two of the three major signings made (for different reasons) haven't worked out this season. But he's got players that could well look ordinary under other managers playing a brand of exciting, skilful football that I personally feel hugely proud of as a supporter. Wouldn't swap the bugger for the world right now, I really wouldn't.
I didn't actually say he hadn't done well. I think he has. I think he's done well to take us from a point where Adkins maxed out his potential to a point where he's very close to maxing out his own. Gotta plan for the future though. That's why I said I wouldn't be too bothered either way, but it does depend on who you replace him with and/or the impact on losing key players if he doesn't stay.
Gallagher and Gaston both got through one on one and couldn't score, Sam through a poor finish and Gaston through a poor control, Rickie had the ball fall to him with the goal gaping at the back post but somehow couldn't adjust for it. Adam had a couple of very reasonable chances from the edge of the box that if we're really going to start consider him world class he needs to be doing better with, plus we hit the post and had what looked a pretty decent penalty shout turned down. Rickie and Clyne also forced Marshall into good but fairly comfortable saves from range. Cardiff had one of their centre-backs scored a screamer and other than that only had the Zaha one on one after we truly were overcommitted. That's just off the top of my head, all in a game where our crossing was even by our standards dire and we frequently dawdled on the edge of the box.
I'd say he'd done well as he would certainly have exceeded my expectations for this season and for those games in particular in that case. My pre-season expectation was pretty much bang on what we're about to deliver (52-53pts), so I'm not saying he's not done well overall, just that as with anything that's grows there's a point it stops growing and you have to plan for the next phase if you want to continue. I don't expect him to get 4 wins from the last 4 though, and will happily contribute to a charity of your choice should we do it if you will do the same should we not? If the board say that they're happy and aren't putting any more money in come the summer then all of those expectations would yet again change for all of us, and having Pochettino as manager would be a comparative godsend for a club with that level of resource and aspiration.
60 points? you're in for a shock if you think you'll be anywhere near that. you've punched well above your weight this season and will get about 50-52 points. edit: i know he's talking about next season…...don't get ahead of yourselves you still need to lay the foundations and not get carried away……….
Swamp, just out of interest how many points do you think we will get next season? If it's 50-52 then I'd love the opportunity to 'buy' at 52 for £20 a point please. We can do it as a charity thing if you like? Please note Chilco, LTL, Mikey, DTLW, this is me sticking to my guns. I may have said that I'm not convinced about Pochettino in the next phase should we continue to grow, but even despite that I believe Swamp's expectations for us next year (I'm aware he's a Cardiff fan) are definitely on the low side. My quote would be 56-58 for next season on the basis of what we currently know (and subject to a small increase if we keep do keep key players/sign another 2-3 £10m+ ones).
