Match Day Thread Southampton vs Everton 15/08/2015 12.45 pm

And with Bertrand out, Clasie injured too. The team will only get better by playing games together, simple really!

 

5 goals conceded in 2 games. So what's missing? Hmmm... how about Clyne, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Schneiderlin... 4 out of 5 of our first choice (fabulous) defence from Spring.
In particular, I think we really missed Morgan today.

 

Targett did had an awful match. Was really surprised to see him come out for the second half, especially with a yellow and he had picked up a knock.

 

A shame that the team couldn't get a result on the day we remembered Markus. I found that very touching today...it's a sign that Katharina has moved on somewhat as the flag came out...when previously she found it too upsetting. Have to win on Thursday and forget today.

 

Well I've just got back in and have caught up with the goings on this afternoon (I'll post what I've been doing on Koeman's later 'cos some of you might be interested). Reading between the lines it does all sound very similar to the woes of early last season, when we couldn't score or defend very well. I know that doesn't guarantee that things will turn out as well as last season but it does leave me with some hope. Romeu is probably the key player in solidifying the holes in our midfield, and a new CB will certainly help as well. We have players to come back from injury and I'm not convinced Ron knows what is our best starting XI yet. As someone else said, the Europa games will be useful to get some of these issues out of the way. I'm not happy this evening, but I am not completely devastated either.

 

This. Spot on.

 

Must avoid knee jerk reactions....one game isn't a season. Every game provides the manager and players with information, but we could easily play Everton next week and beat them with the same team. A ball misses instead of going in, a player brought down in the area, opposition player goes off injured....all these things change games. All we know for sure is that Everton were better than us today...although we still had our moments.

 

Look around at the rest of the league. Look at other squads and look at ours. Look at who we are likely to bring in. Look at who is back at the end of the month. Jay is going to get better and better. We haven't been that bad for a long time. One game. It happens.

 

Forgot to say, after that defeat it is time to let someone else have a go at the match threads. Thanks for letting me do them.

 

Are you going to fall on your sword? Thanks for doing them.

 

Just got in from the game, not sure what has already been said but what surprised me was the way we were over-ran in midfield and also the way we ran out of idea's going forward. Service to Pelle was no existant and Tadic and Targett were awful, but I thought Romeu looked a good buy and slotted in well.
Just off to kick the cat.

 

I always borrow a cat...it's cheaper.

 

Now I'm really upset. What did the cats do????

 

Well owned today , What went wrong ? At home as well,

 

Did they prevent any of the three goals...no! Did they score....no. Stop trying to defend them.

 

I love my cat

 

Well, we'll let him off if he apologises.

 

True. My comparison was only about our weakness that side, not comparing fox to targett. All stems from CDM. Or lack of it.

I want to see a defensive midfield of Vic romeu and classie. Too many new faces.

I think the jist of my post was fair though

 

If only. I dont know how we are expected to cope with only pelle. I know J-rod and long are strikers but both are used as attacking mids. Jrod jas never led the line and is long enough up top?

 

Mmm. Here's my view.

For 25 minutes we looked pretty good, making some good patterns and taking the game to them (apart for the corner flurry they had early on) and then we got done on the break with an identical goal to the Newcastle game; from our corner again! Someone needs to be having a look at that.

Once they scored that was it for me the players suddenly seemed void of ideas and the control they showed early on.

Ron needs to real sue that we can't play 4 attackers sadly ( I wish we could but it has undone us now in two games against mid table teams), and we need the two DM playing. Get a new CB in and have Maya as reasonable back-up and get a magic sponge on Bertrands fitness regime.

The saddest thing for me today was yet again watching a great centre forward display from a big, tall, strong beast of a man who held the ball up, fended defenders off and bullied opposing defenders. Yet again it wasn't our beast of a centre forward. Sorry folks if you're a big fan, but Pelle just hasn't got what it takes to be a good centre forward in this league. Yes, he'll score goals, but FFS when will he learn how to hold the ball up, stop playing everything first time and get his body between the ball and the CB. He laid off a couple of first time balls today and that was about it. The rest we lost possession. It got to me when the crowd roared when he did the back heel in the box. It went to Mane, but he needs to stop trying those all the time. I'd have taken him off today for JayRod. I'll also point the finger at him and partly Mane for allowing Gareth Barry to get the ball of their keeper several times in the first half and drive forward. The pair of them turned their backs and weren't switched on. Each time Long made a run from left to right, Pelle wasn't aware of it and their keeper three the ball out to the RB and off they went. He was too busy moaning at someone to think about covering Long.

Defensively poor. Massive holes in midfield until Oriol came on and he looks good.

Shame. Plenty of work for Rom to do on the training ground.