Just got home so my more detailed views: We're going to score lots of goals if we keep all our attacking players. Charly in particular. He was actually off it for large parts today but really came alive in the last 20 mins or so. Thought he'd won it with his shot at the death. Championship teams won't be able to deal with him. Che will score plenty at this level although his future is still up in the air. Adam took those penalties really well. He was so much better today then he was last week. Definitely keep him. Charles needs to start going forwards. A midfield trio of Stu, Smallbone and Charly is far too attack minded. It leaves us wide open to be counter attacked. We've also got to defend set pieces a lot better as well. All in all, a decent point considering we fell behind 3 times. Atmosphere was fantastic as well today although not a huge fan of bringing goal music back.
4 times we came back. When did we last do that? Absolutely a rollercoaster but, defence matters aside, can't get over the total commitment to get something out of this game. Also really enjoyed............ NO VAR!!
Today was one of those days where anyone who loves football has to come away happy. Way too many people around me in the ground had forgotten that football is about entertainment and spent the whole game moaning about our weaknesses. What is the point if you can't see our strengths? And people need to lay off Bazunu. Jesus the guy behind me never shut up about him the whole game. I don't think he could have saved any of their efforts and he made a couple of cracking stops. I thought we looked like an exciting work in progress up against a very exciting and powerful Norwich team. We should probably have won if not for our weakness to crosses. I thought we looked defensively more solid without Edozie and Stuart Armstrong second half. Not knocking either as they both looked good in attack, but we were unbalanced with those two. The rest of the team were great and I agree with Tom that the last 20 Charly looked incredible. His ranged shooting is superb. But my main comment is about Sam Amo-Ameyaw. His energy the last ten absolutely changed the game and it was his clever dinked pass that led to the penalty. He threw his hands up in disappointment when the final whistle went - because he had total belief he could beat his man and make a difference. That kid is going to be huge for us.
Welcome back to the Championship! What a palate cleanser that was after being served nothing but **** for 18 months. Slightly disappointed not to win but it was a game of big positives and negatives. We look way more dangerous going forward and improved as the game went on. That defence is critically poor though and absolutely requires extreme and immediate improvement if we are to get promoted. Early doors though, 4 points from 6 with a squad currently in a state of transfer window flux. If only Alcaraz last minute rocket was every so slightly further to the left.
Too early to say how season will turn out, but if you can score goals you will win some games. That’s what we struggled to do last season.
In addition the Stone Island badge quota in Chapel/Itchen corner has increased by about 500%. Cheapest seats, plus former Block 1s finding a new home?
Oh God, I just read this thread back. Some of you need to give your heads a wobble. It’s like reading about a funeral when I was at a disco…
More entertainment this afternoon in 2 hours of football than in the whole of the last two seasons. In my opinion it will be entertaining watching Russell Martin's sides playing football. A number of points cross my mind during the game. We were hopeless at defending and if the goals dry up the other end, I think we will struggle if this is not addressed. I do not feel Bazunu is good enough but was surprised hw good Smallbone was and can appreciate why he has suitors. The other point is that Charlie Alcaraz was incredile and got better in the second half. Hate to say it but he is way too good for the Championship. I also thought manning was good and disappointed that he was at faul for the fourth goal as he had played well up until then. Someone berrated me in this forum last for suggesting that Saints would not get automatically promoted. I must admit that I was surprised by the number of goals we scored today but after the match, I would tend to stand by my conviction that we are likely to finish mid-table . I think both Saints and Norwich showed that they both have a soft under-belly and I cannot see us finishing the season with the same back for. The football played by Russell is exciting and very entertaining to watch. I love it. However, I do not think it is anywhere near ruthless or consolidated enough to even book us a play off space. Expect to be thrilled by the saw-saw nature of the football whilst not setting expectations too high. I think alot of people in here will have more realistic expectations after today's performance.
I said on the Wednesday thread that we'll concede/ lose some but also score a lot more. Obviously there's a lot of work to do at the back, but, give me performances and commitment like today's over the last couple of seasons any time. The more this team gels the better we'll get. Hopefully we can get a couple of decent signings in too; today's display should benefit that as well. Lots of positives to take for me. I'm looking forward to this season, hopefully the neigh sayers will fade away and this forum will be an enjoyable place to catch up on Saints news!
I think it is still quite hard to tell how this season will go, but my initial feeling is that if we shore up the defence we will go up or be very close. I thought we looked sufficiently strong going forward for promotion, but that defence is so poor that it will prevent it if not addressed.
Btw, we won or lost 7-4 on yellows. Gonna need a squad this year especially playing 105mins each game as well! Ps. Defending was a bit off as well!
