We seemed to run out of ideas as the second half progressed, and Ramirez went off. The long diagonal to Rickie got a bit predictable after a few tries. I didn`t think Chambers had a bad game, but Clyne was good when he came on. Guly was anonymous however, and it shows our lack of a game changing option from the bench.
I think you're slightly overplaying the impact a manager has on results. Having watched Munich at Old Trafford the other week would you have suggested they sacked Guardiola? Notice how often Saints got caught offside today compared to other games? It's very difficult when a team sticks men behind the ball. They're not simply going to part for you. Our tactics were sound to use the full backs to add width and get behind their defence. It's not Pochettino's fault that the players didn't capitalise on good opportunities. This was quality problem, not a tactical problem.
Coverage on the stream I was watching didn't show particularly good replays and it was stuttering anyway, from what I saw it travelled a fair distance and Caulker leaned into it, but I never got a view of whether it hit his arm or chest, which would be the deciding factor. Doubt MotD will show it.
Don't try and subtly deflect the truth of the situation Lamby. We lost because you made the match thread!
Because we played poorly... at the wrong tempo... with not enough desire... and no real alternatives on the bench.
I don't think anyone has hit on the real reason for our defeat today. We approach every game the same way, and it's great that we have such positive intent, but our opponents know exactly what we're going to do. The Newcastle game is a perfect example of an opponent completely failing to deal with our attacking threats. The Cardiff game is a perfect example of an opponent setting up to defend against those threats and doing so successfully. Credit should go to their back line for cutting out most of our crosses at the source (full backs) and being well positioned to deal with the few that did make it into the box. Once you get that right, all you have to do is ensure we can't play it into the box through the middle of the pitch, which is something we often struggle with anyway, and they did that by simply holding a deep line and playing Medel in an anchoring position. I say fair enough, they got it right. They got lucky with their goal, but they earned the clean sheet. Next season we need some extra options for games like this.
Can't agree that we played poorly in the first half. We didn't take our chances and maybe tried to walk it in during the first half, but we weren't poor. I'll agree with the last two.
