To me it seemed that the booing was the fact it was Prowsey coming off rather than booing Boufal. Thought Boufal did quite well when he came on to be fair but wouldn't have taken Prowsey off myself. Very odd game to be honest, thought we were much better 2nd half than first. Wonder how it would have went had Gabbis pen gone in. I'd like to have seen Prowsey take it personally... and although I have no complaints about Gabbi getting the nod, a pet hate of mine for years has been players who do a ****ty stuttering run up .... really winds me up and would like to see it banned. Thought Redmond was our best player attacking wise while thinking Stephens was very good too. So comfortable on the ball and him bringing it out from the back going forward was a big reason for our early second half pressure. Thought Tadic was very poor, as much as I think he brings something else we don't really have, I'm starting to wonder if his odd brilliant game is worth his countless anonymous ones. Couple of things for me that Puel got wrong... wasn't sure on subs. Ignoring Cedric one as was injury/precaution related... as I've said thought Boufal done very well when he came wrong but JWP definitely shouldn't have come off. Thought he was having much more impact on game than Davis/Tadic. Also, despite me thinking Jay held it up pretty well and showed a few nice touches... can anyone tell me why Austin was on the bench? If you're not gonna bring him on when we're searching for goal then seems pointless having him on the bench imo. Another thing which has to come from Claude for me, is the slow/patient build up and attacks. I understand it more when we're under the cosh a bit and we need to keep the ball (ala City at home)... but tonight United were happy for us to have possession. A few times - mainly in first half - we won the ball back when they were pushed up a bit, and instead of breaking quickly we just went sideways/backwards losing momentum and giving them the chance to regroup. Admittedly we improved in that respect in the second half, but in the first I found it ****ing infuriating. Now, I'm not fully convinced by Puel, but I've made it clear before that I feel he's done enough to earn next season. As I said to Vin earlier, if you're disappointed by upper mid-table and a cup final then quite frankly you're supporting the wrong club. But I do feel it's kind of inevitable that we'll part ways now. A large group of fans aren't happy - and say what you want about them but that is match going fans rather than internet trolls too - and team spirit seems low with players arguing alot throughout the season. He doesn't seem all that happy either to me tbh, may be best for both parties... I just hope if it happens it's done quickly and we get it all sorted without wasting too much of the Summer. Oh and wanna say cheers to Vin for the drink... pleasure as always Up the ****ing Saints
Oh and one more thing, Thought the United fans were superb as always. A real demonstration on how you support your team. Great variety of songs too, though not sure about 'Jose got united playing like United should'. To be frank, if that's the 'United way', then I'm the ****ing pope. Understand it more at the Emirates and Anfield etc. But for the biggest club in the land to come to a pretty average Saints side and play like that is embarrasing in my book. Certainly not the United I grew up to strongly dislike but respect. Guess their fans are as fickle as everyone else...
JWP was substituted because Man U changed formation to two up front and pulled Rooney back into midfield. Both teams had been playing an identical game up until then. Puel could then afford to bring on another striker which was the right thing to do. Overall the first half was cat and mouse but for the last twenty minutes it became more open and could have gone either way. I do agree though that their Keeper kept them in the game with four superb saves. If people have been watching Saints for some time then their analysis of what is happening on the pitch should be better and they should understand what is going on and why. I despair at the moronic booing which is appallingly ignorant and boorish behaviour and most unsaintly. If this witch hunt for Puel's sacking succeeds I will be ashamed to be a Saints fan.
Well that was a very entertaining game, second half being much better than the first. We were much more effective when on the break and there was some good football-shame their reserve keeper chooses to play a blinder. First hall, United were the better team due to their higher tempo. We do seem to have problems going through the gears this season, bearing in mind the pace we have in the squad. Such a different style than at Anfield recently yet the same score line. A point against United I would take any day, but as for booing a substitution?
Thanks, Godders. Anyone booing like that deserves (to paraphrase Vin) to be horse-whipped. I'm embarrassed to be a supporter amongst them and, again, I nearly got into verbals with the section of ****ers who sit behind me in the Kingsland and think that hoofing the ball forward is the only way to play "exciting" football. Honestly, I think Claude deserves more respect and we're only one or two players away from a very good team. A bit more movement up front and some good crosses and we'd have slaughtered them. I hope he stays and the club don't give in to moronic fan pressure. To LLs point if United are playing the way they should, I'd be upset as a fan - they won't win the EL or the Prem that way and they'll always be second best to Citeh. And did I hear a hint of praise for us from Jose?
That game confirmed so much about Saints and modern football. Apart from a 7 minute spell at the start of the second half, it was mostly sideways, ineffective football from both teams. Not much pride in taking a point from the worst Man Utd side that I've ever seen. Saw this morning that they've won less this season than any other United team in Prem times and not surprised. They appeared to be playing at 70% ahead of the Europa Final, they even played Phil Jones. PHIL JONES! Mourinho was gifting us the 3 points. Good penalty save and the one from JWP, but the other shots were straight at him. We are so starved of excitement at St Mary's, that a shot straight at the keeper is deemed as thrilling. Gabbiadini arrived at Saints with instinct, movement & confidence, but a couple of months being coached by Puel has put him straight. Once again, in fact, every single time this season, after Puel made the subs, we got worse. For a "big game" it felt like the St Mary's crowd was watching a friendly. Atmosphere is appalling now. United fans tried their best, even they got a bit bored towards the end as there was nothing in response from the Northam. So what if some people boo'd a substitution, I didn't, I just sighed quite loudly, but fans can do or say whatever they want. Rather have some noise, any noise, than the 15 minute spells of complete silence at St Mary's. I fully expect that most of those moaning about the moaning, either sit on their hands at games or weren't even there. Wasn't a great swell of passion from the "happy clappers" Most people around me last night looked bored. Fans going through the motions, as are the players. But you know, a point against Man United. Woohoo.
I thought we were excellent really. For once we got shots on target as well. Stephens was superb without a big target man to mark. Taggart also considering he hasn't played, excellent. Everyone was good. Shame JWP came off but at least it was Puel trying to win the game. And, by the way, why on earth isn't he taking penalties?
I think the booing was really aimed at JWP, to let him know that his play had been appreciated and that he shouldn't have been the one coming off. Or maybe I am reading too much into it!
I don't think he's that bad. Mind you I never really thought he was as good as many people were suggesting. He was very lucky to play alongside Lambert who was both extremely generous and also very good with his assists. I'd love to know what percentage of JRod's goals came from Lambert assists.
I thought it was more at who was being taken off. Sorry late on here this morning & just read this has been covered. [EDIT]
Agree with everything you've stated there SH, especially the highlight. We're just a tad away from being much better but our quality isn't just there & really requires a / some serious investment to compete at a higher level & I'm not saying top 4 - just to get us, dare I say it, up to "Everton's" level & away from the mid table scramble.
That second choice keeper has been keeping De Gea out of the team on merit I believe? The booing - don't care what it was for, it's ****ing pathetic. Never heard it in League 1, never heard it in the Championship.Never heard it when we got relegated either. If that's the modern fan, then god help us all. I'm 56 years old and I'm genuinely concerned that I'm going to end up in a punching match one day, except that thankfully most of the people round me have been coming for years and are not like that. Vs City when I gave my seat to my son and sat further down, I had to endure 90 minutes of vociferous whinging and bellyaching from the 5 clueless berks in the row behind. Infelt so sorry for my neighbours that day, who probably had to endure a whole season of that. Last point. If we ever get another pen, I don't care who takes it or even if they score it, so long as they a) smash it, and b) get it on target.
Now I know a few of you will have a go at CBK but if you look through the sarcasm, he raises some valid points. We're certainly not playing to Gabbi's strength's & that worries me & yes, I agree 100%, every time CP makes substitutions, we get worse. You could argue it's the quality of who's coming on but a good manager will make things work, if only occasionally.
If fans can say and do as they want then I can certainly tell you exactly what I think of booing fans but you might find it excessively offensive and the moderators would delete it. At its simplest level booing is just bad manners and crass in the extreme. I have been trying to get my head around what sort of people boo and have concluded that they are totally ineffectual individuals.
You are correct. I have only supported Saints home & away for 40 years to indulge my love of being miserable. I was fuming when we won the cup in 1976. FUMING!
Why don't you then? So you never recall the Dell crowd, slow hand clapping or singing "what a load of rubbish" ? I certainly do. Many times. Even when we were bloody good. In fact, I recall a 0-0 against Brighton where if we had won, we would have gone top of the 1st Division (the REAL 1st division) and many that night booed the final whistle. So really, park the indignation at a bit of booing. I'm sure with our state of the art coaching & training facilities, all our players & management undertake "negative crowd response therapy" from a highly trained set of former boo-ers who subject them to 90 minutes of abuse and negative vibes, to man them up for a game at St Mary's. In fact, I get paid quite well to do that training.
