He has a very good eye for a pass. The through ball for Ings was brilliant and he followed that up with another that just cleared the centre back, I think catching Ings out, as he failed to control it well enough and have a second one on one with the keeper. Pace is good,especially if playing wing back, but there have been many good defenders who weren’t that quick on the ground but quick in the head. Yeah I know it’s Matty and he doesn’t present as being too bright, but if he can see to hit good early passes,perhaps he can improve his reading of the game and his overall effectiveness at the back. Not that I think he is a terrible defender.
My thought is that the ref didn't give the second yellow as he realised, based on the reaction, that he got the call wrong and didn't want to get the call wrong and have to send someone off because of it. It is completely the wrong way to referee a game, but I can understand from a logical human perspective why he did it.
Yep. Barnes had an extremely long leash because the ref knew he ****ed up, and turning what should have been a Palace pen + McCarthy yellow into a Palace red would have made him the top attraction on MOTD.
We all know it was a penalty, but it is still not understandable to react like that. He should be done. Completely unacceptable. If he is not done, then by lack of action, the league are once again condoning the behaviour and sticking two fingers up to their own RESPECT campaign. If they want referees and officials respected, they must act.
He’d have really fecked up if he’d given Palace a penalty. Just our luck that he’d give someone we’re not even playing a penalty. Sean Dyche and Burnley would have gone ballistic too
Fact of the matter is: When everyone's fit (& available) for selection, then neither Stepehens or Targett would/will make the starting XI or even the bench!
Rubbish. So you'd have Alfie Jones & Kayne Ramsay on the bench ahead of them then? Both are good enough for our team, in my opinion.
Did I dream it or did someone say they that Burnley had not had a penalty awarded in the previous 67 games or something? If that is the case while it doesn’t excuse the player it was perhaps understandable though. We were lucky........but a fair result in the end. Definitely would have been an injustice to come home with all 3 points. Although had that happened I wouldn’t have complained
The latest Total Saints Podcast deals with this very well. As Fats says above why should someone give up their time for token remuneration to referee a bunch of kids on a wet Saturday or Sunday morning when the signal has been given that it’s OK to get in a professional official’s face and verbally abuse them? The other thing on the Podcast that most of us haven’t noticed was the ironic situation when Shane Long had the opportunity to run the ball into the corner late in the game but instead gave the ball away, with the result that Crouch was waiting in the box for it, with his hand wrapped in Jack Stephens’ shirt. History repeats to take the piss once again...
I agree. Don't pretend to know what Ralph thinks, but can't see Stephens and Targett not at least making the bench.
Sorry, guys. I know this is out of the box stuff, but how would it be if we chose NOT TO HAVE A SCAPEGOAT? I know, I know. Woolly bloody thinking, but I hold the view that I support anyone in our shirt unless I think they are taking the piss. I don't think we have any player who doesn't play to the limit of his ability. We have some players where this bar may be a bit low, but that's what you get when you support Southampton and not Real Madrid.
That bit about Shane Long. I was shouting at the screen for him to run it to the corner flag. With his pace you would back him to be quicker than the defender and potentially draw a foul, keeping us in possession, the ball in their half and a chance to run the clock down whilst taking a free kick.
