Match Day Thread Ralph’s Marauders (aka Plucky Little Saints) vs Norwich City. Fri. 25 Feb. 20.00

I'm one of Hooper's biggest critics. But that's twice now in recent times that he's surprisingly impressed me at SMS.

Granted, it seemed a fairly easy game to referee. But in times gone past, Hooper would usually find a way to even mess up those games.

 

I enjoyed the anti Putin/Russia songs around 70 mins. That's him ****ed.

 

Back.

Love Oriel.

 

Just don't make Mason his VAR.

 

Just got home! I thought we were very comfortable throughout the game and were simply better than Norwich in every department, I don’t think they ever really looked like scoring!
I only have the one criticism and that is Fraser’s distribution from his feet, a couple of times tonight he gave the ball directly to Norwich and a better team would probably have capitalised.
I was worried when Ori was lining up his volley as I was in row NN with my boy and didn’t want to be hit with a ball…delighted he scored it, the man has been a warrior as of late!

 

I forgot to shut the captioning off before watching highlights, and apparently our left winger is Elliott New Scene. Which might be the most hipster-ass name ever conjured.

He should wear a scarf from now on and have strong opinions about recycling.

 

Got to admit it…….that was sweet.

 

I found us a touch frustrating. Passed around and probed well, even though a bit slowly at times but it felt like we were shooting whilst either wearing toe caps or flip flops as we either punted it down Gunns throat or totally scuffed it.

Minus Ori’s goal!

 

Statue incoming at this rate.

 

I don't think anyone but them ever did tbh.

Still bemused by the attitude towards kwp by their forum fans, insistent he'd never be good enough for a top team like them.

 

It was another controlled and confident performance, and one that we would have struggled to win a few months ago. Norwich were pretty well organised and resolute and didn’t lay down and roll over like Everton did. Thought we did well to create as many good chances as we did, and could have easily been a far greater scoreline if we didn’t hit it straight as Gunn every time A massive shock and relief when Oriol smashed it in, albeit, probably just a relief because I’m a Saints fan rather than because we were actually likely to concede an equaliser. Great, hard fought win. COYR

My only real negative is that Tino seems very short of confidence, and chose to turn back and pass 95% of the time even if he had space in front of him. Stark contrast to how he was in the first few months of the season marauding forward at pace. Even when he moved forward with the ball it was ponderous and hesitant. Not sure if related to his injury, if he’s short on confidence or being instructed to take less risks going forward. Not bashing him, he still created the first goal! Just an observation and wondered if others thought the same?

 

It's nerves. If he'd have carried on like he did at the start with all the hype around him, Garth Crooks would have him sold to Liverpool before you could blink.

 

Loved the goal, but the picture is slightly embarassing for one Norwich defender. We like defenders to 'put their bodies on the line' and the one on the right looks like he's saying "I'm not getting in the way of that - it'll hurt!"

Having seen the game I'm sure that is unfair. As others have said, they didn't roll over and my anxious oh-God-we're-only-one-up-we're-going-to-lose Saints head needed this goal.

 

I feel Saints should have won by more, I'll agree with that. For all the hype around Broja and Adams current form we haven't replaced Ings as a natural goal scorer. But they're rare beasts, and seen very infrequently at SFC. The legendary Ron Davies was one, Steve Moran for a while, the Great Rickie of course and aforementioned Ings. Any one of those playing in their pomp would have scored a bucketful last night, But that's our fate. We are Southampton and have to create a huge number of chances to score twice.

As our most capped England international once remarked when questioned about the fact that he'd had chances to score more in a game 'You have to miss 'em to score 'em.'

 

I 100% agree with this post.

The match did not live up to my expectation as I had a feeling that Norwich would have been brushed away and was predciting something like 6-0 which married the unorthodox nature of a Friday evening kick-off. The number of corners we earned should have generated more goals but I think it was a good performance - Elyounoussi and KWP being stand outs for me.

I would have to say that I live watchng the match whilst listenng to Dave Merrington and Adam Blackmore's commentary and find Merrington's observations really insightful. I will miss him when DM retires at the end of the season.

 

They weren’t bad actually. And Carra really is just a general scouser one (not that it is knock on him because it is what he is)

 

Very little …. Other than “oh bugger - I have to do another match thread ….”

 

Villa could see the end, but I’m always optimistic!

 

Highlights with Adam and Dave:
https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/...-southampton-norwich-city-premier-league-2022