Match Day Thread Southampton vs Everton 15/08/2015 12.45 pm

Talking about relegation? Jesus wept. We've lost one game. One game. Ok, we may have won that game last season but we had an off day.
We defended poorly and were punished. Get VVD in soon, and everything will seem better.

 

PLUS Everton were brilliant. It was the perfect counter-attacking away performance. They'll beat many better teams like that if they're able to do it consistently (which I don't think they are - they just did today).

 

I'm not trying to blame this performance on Yoshida. But, what I will say is that since I watched his debut against Arsenal in our first PL season (yes that game ). I've seen a player who lacks next to all the basic components of being a good defender. Don't get me wrong, with a more protective midfield he is just about ok. However, for us to be a force he should be fourth choice at absolute best.

He causes so much panic in our defence and frankly makes the defenders around him look worse as they have to cover him. The number of times fonte was running around clearing up his errors today was astonishing.

He is my personal favourite scapegoat though, so I'm probably completely wrong

 

Exactly, Kone was good, and Lukaku was on form - and when he is on form, he is hard to stop.

They deserved it, we didn't, and we lost 3-0. It's football, but it is game 2 of 38 - and the window is still open.

 

Ok, it's disappointing.
We didn't press them in their half.
Our forward passes always seemed to be to our forwards with their backs to goal. We seemed really sluggish in our movement compared to Everton, but!
The window is still open. We have players out injured. And most importantly, the first two games tell us almost nothing about how the season will pan out.

 

My thoughts. Every time we got the ball forward it was lumped into the penalty box hoping for Pelle. He was well handled by thier CBS and rarely got a sniff, when he did win the ball he had no support around him. Our build up play was too slow allowing thier defence to reorganise. Mane, Long and JRod are quick players but we do no break with speed, Everton did though. Looked much better with 2dmf. Not sure why Juanmi has not been given a go, putting JWP on when 2 down is not going to win the game, Juanmi has the style that can play in a congested area

 

The sooner RK realises that you need more than two midfielders on the pitch, at the same time, the better. You may get away with that in Holland but you won't get away with it here, against a half decent team.
Get our shape sorted out, with the right players in the right positions, and the defence might start to look as if they know what they are doing, but at the moment they are being horribly exposed, in almost every attack.
Oh, and if we persist with just two midfielders, please don't let Davis take the corners, with Wanyama and the CBs in the area, whilst Tadic patrols the 18 yard line, acting as our first line of defence when the ball is headed clear. That is just so wrong on so many levels.

 

Everton bullied us, were much more physical and the ref was poor (he booked Pelle - and I agree it was a booking, a stupid booking for him - but missed the clean-out from behind on Long a few minutes earlier). Everton played to him, knowing he was letting a lot of niggles and worse (Barry's elbow on Cedric?) go and we let them.
What we have to remember is that they more or less have the England defence (Jagielka, Stones and Coleman) and a solid midfield. We couldn't cope in the first half and were overrun. I thought Maya played reasonably well, but he, Jose and Targett had no cover as has been mentioned and we gave up possession. Everyone ran out worthy winners, but we've got 36 games to go and this will help Ron sort things out I believe. We looked much more solid I the second half, but, when you're chasing the game you are always likely to get caught on the counter and their 3rd goal was very well taken, unfortunately.
Disappointing? Yes, absolutely. Meltdown time? Come on! We're Saints supporters. We know these things happen.
As Nigel would say "we put this behind us. Learn from it and march on". Let's concentrate on beating Watford next week.

 

Ok, just got back from the game. Disappointing but we are only two games into the season. People can worry if they want to but there really is no need. At least we have the game on thursday to get this result out of our heads asap.

Thought Romeu looked good and would like him to start soon. Targett was poor.

On to the next one!

Edit: Also want to just say to the four men sat in front of me in the chapel today. I hope I never have to sit near you ever again. I have been to many games over the last 10 years and today you were the worst fans of the lot. Even at 0-0 you were the most miserably negative people I have ever had the displeasure to sit near. Glad I will be in the Kingsland on Thursday.

 

Didn't see the game but it doesn't sound too good. That starting line-up does look very attacking considering the current state of our defence.

As much as we've brought in quite a few players this summer we're still a bit short of quality in key areas (partly down to bad luck to be fair). Mitigating circumstances include:

- Bertrand is injured
- We haven't replaced Alderweireld yet
- Clasie is injured
- Romeu has only been here a few days

Things will get better and by the end of August I suspect the squad will look okay. The next two league games are definitely winnable so despite the disappointment there's no major problems just yet.

 

Also just got back. Everton outplayed us and did not fade as others have. We had to keep chasing back, especially after they scored and we had to chase the game. Everybody worked hard. Romeu looked very steady right from when he came on and looked promising. Cedric kept trying. Couldn't point my finger at anyone particularly....we just lacked our usual cohesion.

 

Well played Everton, an excellent performance. We had some decent play and got into some good positions in the first 20 mins and started the 2nd half reasonably well, but Saints were second best to Everton all over today. Big Vic was about the only Saints player to come out with any merit in my opinion.

 

Sod off with your positive comments !

 

We al need to calm down its only one game ffs! Smash Watford and we will all feel a lot better.

 

I was reminded of that 6-1 defeat, but not of Yoshida, but Steven Davis.
As a defensive midfielder he is not good enough. Just too weak in the tackle and too passive(jockeying and not putting his foot in).

Romeu was an instant upgrade. Balanced the side straight away. I feel Ron should have put him straight in or at least played JWP or Reed. I expect Tadic and a front three to be no more from this point on.

 

That is exactly what I was saying before and during the first half!! Both Davis and Yoshida combined offering "cover" for poor Matty Targett means that he was completely devoid of any confidence. And this resulted in poor performances from him in both games so far.

I was shocked Ron went for the 4-2-4 again after Newcastle.

 

Recovered from depressing trudge back to car with these thoughts:

Agree with all those who have stated all the mitigating circumstances and hidden positives (players out injured, squad not completed, Everton playing a worldy etc) but....

really disappointed that Ron was so naive again with selection - screamingly obvious. Everton may have played well but we handed it to them on a plate with our lack of numbers and bit in midfield. Schoolboy defending from attacking positions - just as at Newcastle. We have so many options to strengthen the middle - Romeu looked very good second half and remember how well Reed played in this fixture last year.

So, I'm not going to get too dramatic about it and feel that we have many options and reasons to be optimistic. I'm just annoyed that we threw away a good chance of a solid display and result with poor tactics and selections with the players we had available.

 

I thought Romeu was very good when he came on, we settled down much more when we have two true CDM on the pitch. We lost the game in the first half, one of the few times Koeman got his tactics wrong I thought.

Much better Second Half. When Bertrand is fit, and VVD is in, it will be much better. Also thought Stekelenburg kicked well, made a few good saves, and was helpless for all 3 of their goals.

 

Pretty much as I saw it. Everton were on fire today rather than us playing that badly. The stats show a well balanced game but you will always be punished for the defensive mistakes we made. Not just at the back too. Tadic just seemed to give up when the ball went past him en route to the first goal.

Of course we need to remind ourselves that this is a brand new team at the back with Cedric, Yoshida, Stekelenburg, Targett and Davis replacing Clyne, Toby, Forster, Bertrand and Morgan. The new guys need a bit of time to develop the same understanding. Bertrand and Forster will be back in due course and Romeu for me is the perfect replacement for Morgan. That was the real highlight of the day.

Ronald has some work to do this week but I'm sure he will come through this.

Look on the bright side - at least we're not Sunderland or Tottenham....

 

One nice positive was Spurs dropping two points...starting from a pen after Toby strangled an opponent. Not that I'm bitter.