Match Day Thread Southampton v Sunderland Saturday 5 March 15:00

Yeah, makes you sick don't it!

 

Probably best. Come for a beer next time you come to a game and then you can judge for yourself. You may be surprised.

It is a shame though that you can't join in the conversation. It would be really interesting to know why you only come here when we are having a not so good time. I just find it strange when people seem to revel in the club they support doing poorly and just don't appear when things are good. I guess that I won't know now that I'm on your ignore list.

 

As someone who has met him I can tell you that isn't the case. FLT can sound a bit condescending on here at times but when I've met him face to face he's always seemed a good bloke. And that's coming from someone who gets into arguments with him on a weekly basis.

 

The game was as dour as I expected it to be, so not reaching for the razor blades.
Definitely we are lacking in flair, and are pretty much a steady Eddie type of team at the moment, but we weren't worse than them and didn't deserve to lose.

What a lot of our game lacked, was urgency. For most of the game we played at a pedestrian pace, occasionally going up a gear, but with no end result.
Yet, for the last 10 minutes, or so, we were buzzing, getting players forward, pushing Sunderland deeper, and started to play "instinctive" football rather than the previous safety first stuff.
Maybe we are becoming too regimented, worrying too much about formation with no player looking to make those runs into areas where he's not expected to be, that could open teams up and make us less predictable.

 

Out of interest who would you promote from the U21s in who's place and how would you set the team up?

 

I was disappointed with our team today, no flair and little positive attacking football at home against a poor side. I really enjoyed the Chelsea game last w/e even though we lost it in the end. I didnt enjoy todays game. Sunderland looked a bottom of the table side but at least they grafted and were well organised at the back for the most part. We can play much better, but we are a real boom or bust team this season.
Saints were chronic today imo - whatever spin FLT might put on it !

 

Strewth guys, some of you really need some happy pills!
We should know by now how fat Sam plays against us. Pack the defence and hope for a breakaway. His guys are fighting for survival so will raise their game accordingly.
Some of our older fans will remember what that is like. After all we did it for nigh on twenty odd years ourselves. Someone mentioned they have never seen a Saints side so inconsistent.
When we were fighting to stay in the premier league for all those years trust me we were a damn site worse then than now. We would loose to the bottom team one week then go and beat a top 4 team the next. That is how we survived.
The game against Sunderland should have been no surprise.
I have said it before and will say it again we just don't have enough real quality players because Saints will neither pay the price wanted for them or will not/ can not pay the decent wage they claim today.

 

As I said elsewhere, we have played a lot better and lost, in the end I settled for a draw considering what went on, not that I am happy with the contribution of certain over paid professionals that are capable of giving us a much more honest performance. We can do better and I am hoping that we will. RonKo has his work cut out to get these misfits playing as a team again, I wish him well in the attempt.

 

Couldn't disagree any of your post Saintalfie we seemed so flat today, especially the front 3, been supporting Saints for many, many years, but today really got my miserable juices flowing, wife gone to bed, beer not working and the cat is covering in the corner. I'm not happy

 

Fair enough, although I don't think you've really read what I've said, just what's been said about me. I didn't think we were great and I wasn't happy, but it really wasn't that bad. We've been a lot lot worse than that and this season.

Did you not think Tadic and Bertrand had a little of the old magic down the left in the first half today?

 

Oh ive read what you said alright ! Actually i quite like a lot of what you write, but i dont agree with you today. Yes i thought Bertrand & Tadic had a few decent moments and Bertrand put a couple of really juicy balls into the box 1st half - but it was fleeting moments and no sustained attack, attack, attack which it should be at home against a poor, if well organised, bottom side. I just wasnt excited at all by our general play, apart from the last 4 minutes ! I thought our best player today was Romeu, at least he drove forward with purpose whenever he could. van Dijk and Bertrand were ok too, but as a team Saints were uninspiring.
Yes we have been worse - on Tues at Dean Court for instance when Saints were worse than hopeless, tactically and performance wise - but im talking about todays game.

 

"Chronic" is what I would describe our performance on Tuesday, today we were mediocre at worst. 16 goal attempts 5 on target, 12 corners to 2, 65% possession and without their GK being on top form we would've won the match easily, it's all about perspective I think.

 

Yeah well you know what they say about statistics ! Whatever i just wasnt excited by us today, and im not alone. Anyway roll on Stoke and hopefully we change back from bust to boom.

 

Agree Romeu had a very good game today, think he could be a big player for us next season especially if Vic departs.

 

You know I actually enjoyed todays game - much better performance all round from the Bournemouth game. It would have been a travesty had we lost and the late goal almost made it feel like a win.! Mane and Pelle a bit toothless in front of goal but like Tadic they have not played a great deal recently. There were signs with all three that they are coming back to form so I'm looking forward to Stoke already (another physical battle). Bertrand was my MOTM though I am probably heavily influence by the turns and nutmegs he performed in front of me first half. Close second was Romeu who was always looking for the ball. Martine looked good too.

Need to see the penalty again but I thought it was a harsh decision. The referee was at least consistent - every contact was penalised!! Jeez, its getting a right soft game this Premier League.

Two complaints from me. 1. Bloody awful corners - either failed to beat the first man or went too far. 2. As against Chelsea we allow teams to wind us up and that affects our all round game. Should be more professional than that.

 

What they do tell you is that we controlled the match generally and created chances and you can't deny that their GK made some great saves.

 

I'm with FLT on this one. We played ok, but not brilliantly, against a typical Big Sam team - packed defence and midfield, hoping for the breakaway. Virgil MOTM by miles, Davis (who said he was negative?) ran bloody miles and closed them down more than anyone else. Romeu played well, came to the fore after Clasie (who was poor by his usual standard) went off. Pelle finally held the ball up and I only saw one or two of his flicks. Bertrand and Tadic ok down the flank, but we allowed ourselves to be muscled off the ball too many times.
Martina poor, Cedric a much better option - don't know if he was injured - we lacked penetration on the right. Fonte is beginning to look a bit of a liability to be honest - that's the 3rd or 4th time this season I've seen him rashly lose the ball and we're going to have to see how the defence manages without him. Mane - what can I say? I don't understand him. He seems to have lost his pace and looks lethargic. Worrying I think.
Even Fraser looked hesitant - especially when he missed their free kick which hit the post - but he came good later with a great save.
But, we got a point and we fought the last 10 minutes for that - we need that attitude in the game. If it hadn't been for Mannone making up for last season we'd have won by 3 at least.
It's not the disaster some are making it out to be - I knew it would be tough. Let's move on and stop the name calling. Get behind the team!

 

I've not been too excited by us this season too many times at all, to be honest.

*ducks for cover*

 

Can't believe no one's talking about THAT BLOODY GOAL. It didn't happen by accident either, VVD was basically playing up front for ten minutes, with 10 men on the pitch. Despite all the gloom, the sun really came out for a bit there.

 

Anyone know who took on the captaincy after Fonte was sent off? The previous suspects (Davis, Davis and Wanyama) weren't on the pitch. I know JWP was considered by Koeman before, but didn't notice today!