The diamond is being polished, things will only get better. Massive away support well done all that travelled.
Little mention of Smallbone on here.....I thought he was superb. Think I'm going to enjoy this league in preference to the Premiership. Enjoyed the pocession football to a degree but don't enjoy procession footie, want to see the build up result in more shots (even if they aren't on target) 7/10 for me, room for improvement but signs that is possible. Nice not to be perplexed by the starting line-up. COYS
Good point. If we have the ball, then the opposition don`t, so they can`t do anything with it. BTW, I`m lying bed having a mug of tea with Mrs AS. I told her Saints won last night - she asked what my Saints chums are saying about it - I told her some are complaining that we didn`t create enough chances from all our possession - she said `FFS, they were getting beat 9-0 not long ago - get a grip!`. Very wise, that woman.
The possession for the last 12/15 minutes was superb, game management at its best. Jack at the back for skipper if (not when) JWP goes.
Congratulations on your first league win. Given the stats it would have been a travesty if you didn't win (also, Sheffield, you're supposed to be at home???) Though for the sake of I guess competitive balance of the championship I would not really want any of the relegated teams to get promoted this season, sorry guys... But still, I'm sure you'll have a good season and I wish no ill upon you. We're playing Bristol rovers today. You gotta be rooting for us against a Joey Barton side. Heck, I might even support Man £ity against a Joey Barton side.
Enjoyed it. Love the identity and the keep ball. Obviously need to sharpen up and add striking options but a good start. Let’s get Piroe in! Think Russell is decent and transparent. COYRs.
**** VAR That's the biggest victory in my eyes. How nice to watch an actual football match again. Buzzing for next week.
This. A proper striker and it could have been ugly. I know that is easier said than done. Or even if Sulemana and Che had been able to both play from the start for that matter
Whilst that's true it has to have purpose and carry a threat otherwise it becomes predictable and easy to play against. There'll be plenty of teams willing to sit back and let us have the ball without chasing it. Whether or not we can learn to deal with those situations will be season defining. I think if Alcaraz goes we definitely need a replacement or we won't get anywhere near the top of the league.
Why does anyone discussing a point of view that the majority don't agree with always equate to 'complaining' or 'moaning' or 'negativity'? It's ridiculous and really devalues the forum. I was not complaining in the slightest but merely having a conversation about an aspect of a football match, which is literally what this place exists for. Note that for everyone saying I'm wrong etc nobody has actually pointed out why I'm wrong by referencing chances we created.
RM said last night that we weren’t perfect…then added….but we never will be. Wise man…something we have to bear in mind. There will always be areas to criticise…the important thing is the final result. Not just today but over the whole season.
There were a lot of little half chances and one-twos that nearly came off. It wasn’t just pointless possession, there was a thrust and an attempt to break the lines and draw Wednesday out. All my non-saints mates that watched it thought we looked fantastic.
Woken up and reflected on the game, still maintain we weren’t very good. We definitely did some things well, keeping the ball, triangles were good, looked well organised in that respect. But I can’t remember a single “chance” we created outside of Adams’ goal. We got to 30 yards out then nothing every time. Was very slow pedestrian build up which Wednesday dealt with easily, and they won’t be the only team to play like that against us. S Armstrong when he came on played with more intensity and actually ran at players rather than playing sideways and backwards and it showed immediately and the build up to Adams’ goal was the quickest we played all evening. I’m not moaning and a win away against a newly promoted side on the opening day is very good, but there is still lots to work on in the attacking department.
There were good bits and bad bits. Season opener, away, nabbed all the points. That'll do me for starters.
Yeah agree there was a lot of nearly moments, where we got into good position to create a chance but the decision making or final ball let us down. The worry is that that's how this group of players have been for a long time. I thought we looked excellent for spells (first 30 minutes mainly) but think given the amount of possession we had against one of the worst squads in the league then the lack of chances is a concern. Early days though as I said last night and hopefully that improves as time goes on, Alcaraz is the key here I think. I'm hoping that Martin can improve us defensively on set pieces too as that'd go a long way to improving our chances.
First game of season. We controlled most of the game and won. That will do as a starter for me, lads and lasses.
I kind of agree here, but Edozie tried and regularly succeeded in beating his man. His final ball needs works and hopefully that comes, but he literally did what SA did the whole time he was on. Manning looks good also. And it is the first competitive game of a new regime - will take time to click, and we defo need a new striker, I see RM said if Che goes we need another on, I think if he stays we still need one. I’d keep AA, but get rid of Onuachu if we can. All the triangles and flicks near their goal will start to come off more and more. I didn’t think Tella was so great last night btw, bar his shot I didn’t think he was driving at his man time and time again like Edozie did, but maybe that was the link up play with KWP, JWP and him that was the tactic that side, didn’t think we had the same balance on the other side in the same way. I think from Oct onwards we could really click, if not before.
