They did announce it on the speaker system, though I think it was just the once. The trouble is (as you say) it's practically inaudible in the Kingsland.
Agreed. Despite the goal, if Charlie was not designated penalty taker, he should be bollocked for that. Looked awful and unprofessional. However, great goal, he's a striker, probably got himself the duty now, he's Red and White and hates Pompey... Apparently.
I noticed exactly the same thing, FLT. Radio Solent had finished their coverage by the time I was in the car, the BBC were majoring on the Paralympics, and Talk Sport only covered the Man U game. I'm cynical enough to think that Talk Sport generates income from their premium rate phone in lines, and generating a discussion about one of the perceived 'big' teams means that a lot more people phone in than they would if the discussion was about Saints. This is especially true of Man U fans, who phone in from London and Cornwall, obviously having just got back from the match
Great result, i will admit i was a little concerned when i saw the back 4 but am very pleased to be proved wrong. Lets hope this is the kick start we need to some positive results. Lets diamond the **** out of Swansea!!!!!
I thought the referee was the best I have seen for a very long time. Ignoring the penalty as I haven't seen that on TV yet, I felt his ability to let play go and then call it back a few seconds later when things hadn't panned out, was excellent. There was one moment when Long was fouled coming back into our half and he kept the ball but ended up running with it deeper into our half, going nowhere but still in possession, when the ref then blew up seeing as there was no advantage even though we had the ball. He was very good. He didn't flash the cards about either. I wonder what he is doing on Sunday?
Good result, pleasing to get our first win and hopefully it will bring some confidence back to the team. But (and you knew it was coming) Sparta were dross. I was genuinely shocked at how poor they were. I would like to think it was because Saints were so dominant, but just 5 shots on target does tend to say we, again, had lots of possession, but didn't create too many chances in open play. So my delight at a victory, is somewhat tempered by the fact we appeared to beat a side of "League 1 Quality". But, as dull football supporters say, a win's a win is a win which wins the win for the winner, or summat.
As with everyone else, I am so stoked by that result, but (and it's a big BUT - but enough about Kim Kardashian ) the game on Sunday will be totally different. I was surprised that Sparta didn't come to shut up shop, but, I guess, the early penalty (and my first impression was that the defender had his arms up and the ball hit the arm which prevented it going across the area where a Saints player (Long?) was coming in and would have had a chance - that's a penalty to me and, like FLT, I thought the ref was absolutely excellent. Wish we could have someone like that in the Prem) ...... where was I? Oh yes, the early penalty probably knocked them out of their stride and they had to come at us. But Euro football is not the same as the PL. They were slower on the build up and gave us time to play, look up and move the ball. Thought, generally, our possession and distribution were excellent, but we'll be harried and harassed on Sunday by a team desperate not to lose, so we'll have to play differently. VVD magnificent. Romeu superb until he started to lose his head a bit (perhaps showing off to his granny?). Pierre is sublime with his touches and MOTM for me was Maya (yes, I know), but, apart from his one little error (he has to do one just to give the Yoshida bashers something to moan about), his covering play and a couple of blocks were amazing. He got Cuco out of trouble a few times. I don't agree that Cuco was magnificent. Certainly his crosses were brilliant (I reckon Charlie was onside for the one disallowed and slightly off for the one he scored), but his defensive play needs a lot of work - he got the wrong side of players a couple of times and was guilty of ball-watching a few more. Tadic didn't control the game - needs to do more on Sunday, but it was good to see that we DO have a striker capable of hitting the net with the few chances he got. Didn't like the issue with the pen - someone needs to sort that out. I'm not keen on Dusan taking them, but the manager needs to put a stop to bickering in public about it. Can't say any player had a poor game - hopefully this will stop the moaners, but I bet if we don't smash Swansea on Sunday (and that game will be a lot more difficult than last night in my opinion) they'll be back. Just hope we get a decent ref .....................
Have to say, I agree with the above posts; the referee was fantastic. Talk sport and the media have been a joke, I was listening all the way from Southampton back to Fleet hoping for some interviews or at least a mention of Saints, but nothing! I still don't think Tadic is combative enough for #10 role. We looked very good as soon as Redmond went in the hole. I would also add that Austin looked very impressive as soon anytime he was occupying the #9 areas of the pitch. Our system of making him chase around at full back is really not getting the best out of the guy that is quite clearly our best striker. His aerial and hold up play is great. I would base my system ensuring Tadic left and Austin as the focal point, were I manager
I was expecting hime to be a bit card careless looking at past games, but he got it about right. Re the penalty, did anyone notice a reaction from the linesman as I suspect he may have swung the decision. I think the ref did look for help to the extra official running the goal line, bloody useless as always. Do they have radio contact between all officials now or are they just keeping up with the athletics on R5.
I was sat right next to the penalty incident. The line-o definitely intervened, the ref originally gave a corner. I also think the crowd reaction helped hugely, we were all going mental. It did honestly look stonewall from where I was sat (although highlights showed it to be a harsh one)
Indeed. Oh when the Spurs go marching in ??? Sad ... Sing your own song ... #Two One to the Monaco, Two One to the Monaco#
Completely agree, though the penalty Was very harsh I thought but that was the goal line refs call. One moment I really want to highlight, and the blokes around me all said in one way or another "fantastic refereeing", was when, late on, JWP got an elbow in the face or something from one of their strikers, and before the two had even squared up, the ref had sprinted about 10-15 yards to get in between them immidiately. For me Adam, using a merringtonism there, that was a clear display of having complete control of the game.
Another thing I want to mention is Maya. I'm sure it's been mentioned but just wanted to have a little input. For a guy who is now in his fifth season at the club, having been very much a squad player, he deserves a great amount of credit and would be worthy of a honourable mention in a list of all recent great saints. He never complains about his role, always puts his heart into his performances, and, although susceptible to a crap back pass or two, does do a solid job when needed. Thought he was great last night.
Do they publish that info? Thought it was just within the team. If he is the taker then yep, Austin is at fault.
Ref was excellent. I would like to see him in an EPL game to see if his control and decision making was as good in a more intense environment. It was interesting how the formation worked in a slower Europa game. Strangely Tadic was quieter in this game and yet it was less combative. Redmond in the hole worried the hell out of them, but the game was won by then. JWP didn't get bullied out of the game. I agree, Charlie was able to defend in this game but at EPL pace you want him using his energy up front. I think this showed how the diamond CAN work, in Europe, but can that be translated to EPL? I'm always concerned to see Tadic is our highest player up the field when we haven't got the ball, he can't hold up the ball like Charlie, JRod, Shane & maybe Nathan and he's got no pace, so we need a No9 for that job. What a great night, we loved it. Re: The previous Chapel-slagging We should extend the Northam for home fans like last night and give the away fans the Itchen Corner extension not the Northam. The atmos was great and the whole ground was louder because the Northam was.
Still we won 3-0 with two of our strikers scoring goals, with 7 changes to the first team, including a lot of "back ups". Not bad.
Pretty much everything to be said has been said in the previous pages, but was delighted to have been able not to hear anything of what had happened and watched the game this morning! Just a couple of points - thought JWP was excellent. Also really great that CP decided to replace our two worst players this season for this game, and we got two excellent performances out of Cuco Maradona and the ever dependable Maya as a result. I wouldn't have an issue with those two starting on Sunday at all. Cuco's crossing should be played and replayed on a video to Cedric. Great stuff. Yes, Sparta were surprisingly lacklustre, but a really positive showing. Hopefully Charlie starts the next match too. Now I really want to go on Twitter and have a word with the LOADS of tweets from idiots when the team sheet was released saying "****ing ridiculous team....we'll never win with that defence....worst defence ever...." etc etc.
There were several announcements but it was as intelligible in English as it was in the Czech language in the crap tannoy system. They were asking the Sparta fans to remain until we had dispersed, but few took any notice of that.
