Match Day Thread +++++Saints v Man City 1st May 2016 4:30pm+++++

So proud to be a saints supporter, what a performance, what a team. Some incredible play.

It's not just once in a 'blue moon' we beat clubs like City these days.

Maybe now this day should be known as the May Day Manc holiday.

COYR

 

Its okay. Le Tiss has asked Rickie to wear a Liverpool shirt, so that should even things up again.

 

http://wall.saintsfc.co.uk/Article/1951536-60-SECOND-HIGHLIGHTS-Southampton-4-2-Manchester-City

 

.http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/arti...2-manchester-city-premier-league-3091446.aspx

 

So anyway, if City win on Wednesday, that makes us better than Real Madrid, right?

 

Like we're better than Barcelona because we beat Arsenal 4-0.

 

I've just realised what yesterday's win means: if we beat Spuds next week we'll have beaten every team in the top half of the Premier League. I think that might possibly be a first for us! Certainly a fantastic achievement, well done Ron and the lads.

 

Please can the club spend a bit of money before next season on a decent tannoy system?? Can't hear a word from my seat!!

 

Obviously

This has been the cry ever since SMS was built. Must be a major problem or surely they'd have corrected it by now. Any acoustic engineers on here? Perhaps they could get the fans in the Itchen to start a game of Chinese whispers to pass the information round the ground....though the message may get a little garbled by the time it gets to the Kingsland.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/arti...-southampton-4-2-manchester-city-3091364.aspx

Shane talking about what a pleasure it is to play in attack for Saints.

 

What a pleasure it is to have him playing in attack!

 

When the team was announced I had my doubts about the lack of a Centre Forward, I thought we would struggle if we were to rely on the the long hoof up field, but with Long you have a different dimension, pace and aggression at pitch level, which the standard centre half has problems with. Citeh were generous with giving us the space we needed and we used it to good effect. Without Long it probably wouldn't have worked. Hope Pelle gets his act together, I am sure that like when Dusan faltered, RonKo sorted him out, and with any luck he will educate Pelle on how he should react to his current problem, he has to accept that he has competition and has to work on being the first pick, slacking on the training ground won't help him.

 

I'm afraid you're forgetting the boys in Blue at the top.

Spurs are however the only team that Ron has failed to beat in his two seasons. Ironically they're probably the team we would have most wanted to beat when he took charge

 

Why did you have your doubts, when our best run of the season was playing with Long as the centre forward, back in Jan/Feb? This was when we looked a solid team. That and the Arsenal game.

I keep saying, it but Long holds it up to feet better than Pelle and has more mobility. Long at Villa tried too many flicks, but yesterday he got his body in front the CB and held it up before laying it off simply. He is also very strong in the air. If he was more consistent with his shooting and touch when dribbling, he'd be really awesome, but may then not be here. This makes us look more of a threat. Shame Pelle didn't pull his weight in training as he is a great option off the bench.

 

I didn't. I was surprised that Pelle wasn't in the squad but I was licking my lips in anticipation of Long and Mane causing chaos. Although I admit, I did underestimate how terrified the City defence were of Long and Mane's pace.

 

There'll be no Chinese whispers without a proper bonafide link!!

 

It was when the squad was announced, dispelled almost instantly after kick off, and completely shelved when we scored, I think Otamendi finally worked Long out in the second half, with some class defending, it was too late by then, the damage had been done.

 

A was listening to the live commentary track on my phone last night, and there was quite a bit of comment prior to the match. I've mentioned that Pelle's knee was causing him problems, but Adam Blackmore mentioned that Graziano's current badly inflamed knee [his words] was the one he's been carrying all season. This was during a discussion of the striker options Saints have. They know now that neither Pelle, Austin or [surprised me ->] Rodriguez are capable of a whole season of games, which leaves Shane Long as the one out-and-out striker they can depend upon. [Blackmore's words again]. Austin is therefore not seen as a Pelle replacement, because of his known injury history, although Graziano may well go back to Italy next season.

 

I think Marriner was great yesterday. Not so much his performance, although he had a decent game. More what he did before and after the game. It was really good to see him shake hands with several of the 1976 FA Cup winners while he was warming up. It shows that referees aren't robots, programmed to referee but not caring about anything else. He also has a good sense of humour.

 

I have to agree, he got all of the important decisions right, his bookings were all correct, he kept the game flowing and the little cameo at the end was superb. No complaints this time.