Match Day Thread Saints vs Middlesbrough, Sat 27th Sept, 1500

I'm sorry but football is about results. Always has been, always will be. Today was absolutely fine by all accounts. It's the **** that came before it that's the issue. IMO, a 6 game winless run is piss poor with the squad we have. Even with the settling in period, we should be winning at least 2 of those games.

 

Also forgot to mention but my initial thought is that Alex should have done better with the goal but will watch it again inabit.

 

A deflection at very close range done him, he had no time to react.

 

And down into the ground then up and over.


I think it looks worse because he barely waved at it, but I think if any GK saves it everyone calls it a wonder save

 

Not for me. I think the deflection totally did for him. I'm not going to criticise Wood, because he had a good game and generally that block takes it out for a corner. I think diving in was correct - it's just that if he had stayed on his feet, it's probably a simple save for McCarthy.

 

I'm largely content at the start of a new manager's tenure if I can see progress on the pitch, it's a very long season in the Championship with loads of points to play for, I think we'll be in the mix at the end.

 

Sorry another also, and maybe this would be better on the championship fred, but I remember saying pre season that I thought as a whole the division would be a lot more competitive this season compared to the last two, with less of a gap between the top 2-4 and the rest.

Early days of course but it very much feels that way to me so far. Don't feel like there's a huge gap between teams.

Which is good news for us obviously given we have ground to make up.

 

Was hard to tell from my perspective just how big the deflection was. As I said I'll have another look shortly.

 

The ball just about skims McCarthy's forehead, but he didn't even attempt to get his arms up as a reaction. Would have been a difficult save, but McCarthy looked like he thought he had it covered, until he didn't.

 

Yeah that was a bit of a freak their goal. Bigger concern is how the striker got in between the two CBs so easily.

 

I have been banging Quarshie’s drum all season and so glad others are seeing it now. He has the physical profile to be a top centre back. In this league, that profile matters.

 

Exactly how I saw it

 

I think it is something that will come with experience. That is a new defensive line.

 

That's something that seemed to happen a few times in the match but largely we recovered pretty well.

Hopefully will improve the more they play together. Definitely would be keeping this back 3 together now.

 

In double vision?...

 

He defends excellently. He played the simple ball today and if he does that he will be fine

 

He was great today. Massive improvement from Ipswich.

Edwards was the pick of the defenders imo though.

 

Yeah mate,six pints in, definitely double vision

 

If the referee had bothered to use his yellow card in the first half in the same was as he did in the second half, I doubt Boro would have survived with eleven men. They certainly weren't afraid to commit fouls.

When you throw in the amount of handballs he missed, he was dreadful.