The fear of making a mistake stems from our failure to score....a vicious circle. Cast your mind back a few years, we didn't worry if the other team scored first because we knew we'd score two. Happy days.
We desperately need a manager who instils the concept of trusting yourself, playing your own game and going out there and having fun expressing yourself. I actually think MP2 is waaaaay over structured in his coaching and it confuses and constrains the players.
We had an amazing 19 shots yesterday (3 on target) and I suspect (but don't know) from other games that few were completely wayward. Now that can happen in a game or two, but we are consistently like that. The opposition defence cannot be superb every match....I find it inexplicable. Are we shooting from too far out or are we trying to get so close that we give them time to organise. Now I don't know, but a manager should.
You mean you are going to bother to buy one next season. I am an old git with not a lot of time left so should I be wasting it watching this appalling dross?
You know you will. And you know that when they put you in the ground, there'll be a Saints scarf in the box with you. Anyone listening closely will probably still hear you grumbling as they lower you in.
We can flip and flop all day long as to who should get who going and normally I empathise with that view, but right now we are in the ****. I believe fans need to put every angst and thought about who gets who going aside, then get behind this team to try and drag us over the line. Alternatively, we can go down with a whimper and argue at the end who should have done what. This point of view is a little bit like working with someone who won’t clear the aisles in a factory because, “It’s not my job,” even though they know it’s damgerous and needs clearing. Let’s help ourselves here before it’s too late.
Its hard enough watching us struggling in every department at the moment, but to see the other teams at the bottom putting up such good fights is making this even more depressing. Some clever recruitment by Newcastle & Swansea, giving some backing to the managers at crucial times. And what are our lot doing? Making snow angels in the mud outside presumably.
From my memory nearly all of those shots were from outside of the box by our midfielders. We had a few free headers from the middle of the box from prowse set pieces that went nowhere near target and that's about it other than the goal. Neither us or Brighton had many chances of note. Felt like nobody had the confidence or desire to try and create the space to shoot when in the box. Completely different from the spurs match where we were just missing sitters.
Yes, Laces and I commented last night that you could see the fear in the players from the very start.
I’m going to have everyone in Saints shirts when my time is up. That’ll teach my Manure supporting mate when he was born and bred in ‘ampshire. Muppet. The bastard will probably beat me down there now
I agree with both sides that the fans need to support and the players need give us a reason to cheer, the major problem is when you pick that starting 11 against a relegation rival at home then there is only ever going to be one outcome, and that outcome is negativity on the pitch and in the stands. I get MP picks the team but surely all the coaching staff have an input and surely even the senior players would have looked at that 11 and thought what the ****. I blame MP for the starting 11 but i also blame the whole coaching team and even the players for not questioning it, and if they did then they didn't push it hard enough.
We are unbeaten in five matches (desperately looking for positives)! Still considering whether to renew, only renewed last year because Puel got sacked. He may be good tactically (was at the Liverpool away league game, and he got it spot on) but the football was so boring post the Cup final.
I said it last year, Puel was a bad appointment because he always has played fast attacking football, and we sold our only 2 players who would've suited that before he arrived and didn't really replace them. He is a very good manager tactically as he quickly identified that the way to get results with last years squad was to lean on a solid defensive base and hope one of our **** forwards would fluke a goal. Sacking Puel because of his defensive "philosophy" was bullshit, as that is not his philosophy at all. Leicester had a squad already almost perfectly set up to play his brand of football, we did not and the board did **** all to help mould the squad into one that Puel would like. Then hiring an actual defence first manager in Pellegrino was another master stroke by the board in getting fans back onside who had been moaning all year about ****ty defensive football. Oh and signing a centre back and a box to box midfielder and no attacking players in the summer was also brilliant.
I agree. Does the black box identify replacement Board members? Presumably Gao would make the decision but does he have enough footballing knowledge to make a good appointment at that level?
Watched the game We were nervy. Settled after 20min and looked composed but toothless. I thought we were playing a lot more first time crosses, quicker one-touch approach play which was encouraging but ..Shane Long. Has no place starting our games any more. We need goals and he plays like he doesn't believe he will score. He hardly moved in the box, mistimed his jumps and just chased the wrong bits of the game. Put him on the bench where he should have been all season. what must it do to the team mentality starting a striker that nobody thinks will score. Beggars belief. Romeu doesnt look up for a battle, he's been flat and played within himself all season, get the feeling he was Puels man and not been happy this year Hojberg is a trooper, exactly the type of terrier like display we needed. Chasing that backpass to the keeper should have earned a goal and it would have if Shane Long had made the effort to give any support. If he'd followed the run into the box he would have had a tap in on an open goal but Long didnt bother until it had hit the cross bar. Davo in the first half showed absolutely no attacking intent. He broke up our forward moves better than Brighton did. A bit better in the 2nd perhaps but should never have started in place of Lemina on the bench. JWP will save our season assisted by jack Stephens. They care : ) I thought Carrillo put in a good shift. Didn't get get any clear chances but pressed well, won some important tackles and I will look forward to seeing what kind of rapport gabbiadini and Carrillo can create - wishfull thinking. It was a pretty dour affair at the end of the day. No confidence on show and no real leadership once again. We are so predictable these days attacking down the wings and reluctant/incapable to run through the middle as a team.
Anyone else really under awed by Hoedt's performances this season. Hasn't looked like a top class defender. I know he's playing in a poor team under a poor manager but I feel he won't get anywhere near to living up to expectations. Most of ye would see more of him than me, what do ye think
Agree. Thought this at the game. He looks all legs and only really seems to clear it long. He doesn't really fill me with confidence when the opposition are on the attack or running at him. Who knows whether that's down to his ability or how the team's set up.
Not posted in years but would just like to stick up for blocks 38.5-40.5 on the Kingsland corner last night. Almost every chant starts from row Z-ish back and 90% of the grounds home atmosphere is coming from 2% of the fans. It was pretty loud at points, particularly when Carillo came on and we actually had a player who looked like he wanted to win a game or make a tackle in the final 3rd. The Northam have lost their voice which I believe is down to the club selling 1000+ seats to non-vocal supporters each week which does not help as the football being played is terrible. I personally think the clappers going round to the Chapel are most to blame though, never really contributed to the atmosphere when it was going well - barre diluting the chanting with excessive clapping - as far as I can recall and the groan to chant ratio of the Kingsland/ Chapel is terrible. If the whole stadium contributed like 1/4 of 2 blocks do it could be like Selhurst. On a side note - I actually thought Brighton fans were awful considering the proximity to Brighton, it being an evening game and they were kicking towards their own fans in the second half. Huddersfield were louder with half the people.
