The one thing that struck me was the difference in power in midfield. Sissoko and Tiote in particular seemed to have a bit of a field day at times IMO. You're a good side though and will definitely stay up
Step forward Sir Rickie Lambert! 100 goals and counting, you are a true saints LEGEND (and currently the most prolific English striker in the Premier League). Hopefully also saving his next hat-trick for Harry's Hoops!
I've made it clear on here a number of times that I'm not a fan of Tiote, but Sissoko is on way to becoming one of my favourite non-Saints PL players. Small sample size I know, but christ it looks like you a have a good player on your hands there!
I think the negatives are rather obvious so let focus on the positives. Rickie 100 goals is a mammoth achievement particularly in the time he's done it. We didn't have an awful lot of sustained pressure but in our spell where we did Lallana showed us his quallity again and his return will certainly improve us. Finally Punch was very effective when he came on and if we hadn't of just conceded we may well have got back in it.
Wow, that's a stupid post. Really, really stupid and with now conception at all of what's happened since we changed manager. Well done. Go get a biscuit.
Yep very true! Cork and Schneiderlin (our holding midfield players) have been our top performers all season. They have consistently bossed the midfield battles. However when we have come against really strong and combative CM's like your's today, we have struggled. Mulumbu comes to mind. Cork and Schneiderlin are not physically as strong, but are normally good at hassling, winning 50-50's, good tacklers and some of the top players in the league at interceptions. Today however, your boys in the middle out hassled them and imposed themselves on our midfield. Well played today. The January window has done you wonders. I'm sure you will go on to have another really good season next time round if you can stay injury free this time!
Hooifeld had no chance with og.....Fox at fault. We started both halfs well by scoring and thought we would get a result. But at the end of the day Newcastle were the better side and deserved the 3 points. They did a job on us today with our high pressing game, hit long diagonal balls exposing our unprotected full backs. Reminscent of our early season defending which is a concern, hopefully just a blip. QPR is now a massive game!!
He has either assisted or scored in each of the 5 games he's played since he's joined. 3 of each. ****ing quality player
Cheers. I think we'll do well next year too, we need another striker though but we have the strongest squad we've had since Sir Bobby at the minute IMO
It didn't feel as though our pressing game had quite the intensity of the last few performances today. Arguably you can't expect that every game, but as has been said, this might be due to the power and size of the Newcastle midfield. Fantastic achievement from Rickie - had he put that header away to make it 3-2 I think we'd have gone on to win. Still have the utmost confidence in the team and genuinely believe we'll continue to look up rather than worrying about what's below. Let's go smash satchel-face and his motley crew now......
Haha, yes, granted. It's just frustrating to read daft comments like that after your team has just been beaten.
Well im not too fussed we lost. We played well and i have enjoyed my trip. Delighted for Rickie to get his 100th goal v Pardew.
don't quote ollysaints. I have him on my ignore list following his constant drivel of the past couple of months
I think that one of the main reasons for dissapointment here is that it's been a long wait for this game , a long build up and a performance that didnt really justify our optimism . Credit to newcastle they played their game well . Congratulations to rickie , he is truly a saints legend . But, as Adkins used to say, we draw a blue line under it and look forward to a massive game next week .
Not too fussed, shame to lose it with the final two goals the way we did, but QPR is a huge game and we'd have taken 3 from City/Toon.
Glad you still had a good away day and got to witness first hand only the 8th Southampton player to score 100 goals for the club. Safe journey back!
