Match Day Thread Saints V Stoke City Sunday 21st May 3pm

[St. Luigi Scrosoppi]

If May wins the election I will probably lose my winter fuel allowance and my free TV licence which will cause me problems. Given the behaviour of the worst of our fan base over the last few weeks I am inclined to claim impoverishment and ask for my season ticket money to be refunded. Do you think I will get a sympathetic hearing?

 

[ImpSaint]

Not always, no.

He was happy enough to switch to 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2, whatever you call it).

And actually, if I recall correctly, ending the season with Mane and Long up front together (with Pelle finally sidelined - and yes, sometimes there were complaints when it was him up top alone) coincided with a great end to the season for us, and Long's "purple patch". Shock horror, Long performs better when played through the middle with a partner.

I seem to remember Koeman's "one man up top" period was the one where many of us "non happy clappers" were up in arms because we went through streaks of dire hoof football. I seem to remember after the 8-0 v Sunderland we suddenly went 1 up top and started scraping results (bar a good game at home to Newcastle) which resulted in that 10 game? period of "Koeman out" stuff?

I'm all for 1 up top when in a fluid formation (Lambert with Lallana, Rodriguez, Davis behind) because that is really not 1 up top like the hoof teams but when it was Pelle on his own miles ahead of the midfield it is quite different and not really like 1 up top in a 4-2-3-1 formation as previous or even Adkins 4-4-2 which was still fluid.

You could easily argue we were playing a Chris Nicholl 4-2-4 in those Adkins/early Pochetino years. Akin to the Rideout up top with Le Tiss, Rodney and Shearer which is basically all 4 takng their turn at each position and the others filling in the space.

 

[SAINTDON13]

You really that sad?

Couldn't get stoked, it went as I anticipated it would go, not often I get predictions right, sad to say I was never in doubt about this one, especially when I saw the line up, I was praying for a two man strike force, didn't get it. Jack Stephens showed how to beat Stoke, by going head long through the middle, no one else tried it. Never mind I will get over it and look forward to what happens in the Summer and then get stoked up for the new Season whatever it brings.

 

[Le Tissier's Laces]

Problem wasn't a lack of tools, problem was that all the tools were in the stands.

The booing, and 'don't know what you're doing' chants were unbearably pathetic. And in no way going to help persuade players they'd rather stay here at this nice family friendly club than go to a big club where they get paid more to sit on the bench. And prospective new managers - it's hardly going to entice them either?!

Every sub made sense.

Gabbi for Austin we could all have known before the match. I predicted 60 mins rather than 65 here.

Boufal for Tadic - something had to be tried. Boufal was only ever going to come on for JWP, Tadic or Redmond....I was happy enough for it to be Tadic.

And Pied for JWP - why not give something a go at the end. Bit of pace and crossing, might have worked.



I will not be disappointed if Puel goes, I have found myself so frustrated by some of the football I've watched over the past months. However I will not celebrate his leaving either, I loved the Cup Final day and the Europa League nights. Let's not forget we played at Wembley this season, we beat Inter Milan this season.

If this is the last game, then thanks Claude for your efforts. You had an incredibly hard job, did a reasonably good job of it with some fantastic moments, and hopefully you are aware of the quiet but grateful majority rather than the loud, abusive and ignorant minority.

^^^this

100% how I feel too.

 

[Le Saint]

I know what you mean. I had to put my earphones in on Wednesday (listening to the Championship play off) and try and blank out some of the morons around me. The strange thing today was Stephens was one of the highlights in an otherwise disappointing game.

Sian Massey has been around a while now and one of the better assistant referees around. With top referees retiring or going off the boil I wonder whether we will see her in the middle next season. She's definitely earned the role.

You pissed yeah?

 

[Saints Fan4Life]

You pissed yeah?

Speaks sense to me

 

[Lff]

If May wins the election I will probably lose my winter fuel allowance and my free TV licence which will cause me problems. Given the behaviour of the worst of our fan base over the last few weeks I am inclined to claim impoverishment and ask for my season ticket money to be refunded. Do you think I will get a sympathetic hearing?

Financially, do you need a winter fuel allowance and a free TV license? As a socialist you should be praising these policies. Re. the season ticket, were you not around in most of the 1970's? This has been glorious by comparison.

 

[Le Saint]

Speaks sense to me

I didn't realise it was Sian Massey as I always thought she was pretty good. But I'm sorry. The first half was the most inept display I've ever seen. The funniest highlight was when we were trying to take a free kick and it hit the guy who refused to retreat and went out of play she flagged for a throw!

 

[St. Luigi Scrosoppi]

What I have found surprising is that some posters on here seem to believe that people who boo and sing offensive chants actually think about what they are doing when in fact the truth is that it is doubtful that they have the capacity to think at all.

 

[St. Luigi Scrosoppi]

Financially, do you need a winter fuel allowance and a free TV license? As a socialist you should be praising these policies. Re. the season ticket, were you not around in most of the 1970's? This has been glorious by comparison.

My comments were made because I am afraid I don't want to be associated with a great many foolish people who claim they support Southampton FC.

 

[tomw24]

I know what you mean. I had to put my earphones in on Wednesday (listening to the Championship play off) and try and blank out some of the morons around me. The strange thing today was Stephens was one of the highlights in an otherwise disappointing game.

Sian Massey has been around a while now and one of the better assistant referees around. With top referees retiring or going off the boil I wonder whether we will see her in the middle next season. She's definitely earned the role.

Sian Massey isn't at a high enough level to referee PL games. She referees at Conference level I believe.

 

[Archers Road]

Couldn't get stoked, it went as I anticipated it would go, not often I get predictions right, sad to say I was never in doubt about this one, especially when I saw the line up, I was praying for a two man strike force, didn't get it. Jack Stephens showed how to beat Stoke, by going head long through the middle, no one else tried it. Never mind I will get over it and look forward to what happens in the Summer and then get stoked up for the new Season whatever it brings.

I must admit I was continually shouting for us to play through the middle. The irony is that we did get some joy going wide, but the crossing wasn't great. In fact it was poor.

I didn't think we'd lose today, & I don't think we deserved to. Not sure we deserved to win either though. It actually wasn't a bad game imo. Just ****ing frustrating, again.

 

[tiggermaster]

PLEASE, I've only read the last hour of comment, but if you think Saints were good today then you are deluded! Add to this that when 1-0 down our 'coach' replaced like with like to play the same system, this beggars belief. Get you head round no goals at home for months, no plan 2, no idea.. good players.. hamstrung. Ask yourselves where the problem is... There are thousands who can see it .... that's why there are negative vibes.. I'm sat in the Guide Dog at 7.00pm tonight and I can't find anyone who disagrees with this analysis....

 

[Saints Fan4Life]

PLEASE, I've only read the last hour of comment, but if you think Saints were good today then you are deluded! Add to this that when 1-0 down our 'coach' replaced like with like to play the same system, this beggars belief. Get you head round no goals at home for months, no plan 2, no idea.. good players.. hamstrung. Ask yourselves where the problem is... There are thousands who can see it .... that's why there are negative vibes.. I'm sat in the Guide Dog at 7.00pm tonight and I can't find anyone who disagrees with this analysis....

What would you have done, with the options on the bench (yes, he could have selected others on the bench, but wasnt an option at that point)? And don't say Gabbi-Austin up front cos there was no way Austin was playing 90min.

 

[saintlyhero]

PLEASE, I've only read the last hour of comment, but if you think Saints were good today then you are deluded! Add to this that when 1-0 down our 'coach' replaced like with like to play the same system, this beggars belief. Get you head round no goals at home for months, no plan 2, no idea.. good players.. hamstrung. Ask yourselves where the problem is... There are thousands who can see it .... that's why there are negative vibes.. I'm sat in the Guide Dog at 7.00pm tonight and I can't find anyone who disagrees with this analysis....

It's always best to just agree with drunk people

 

[st_brendy]

What would you have done, with the options on the bench (yes, he could have selected others on the bench, but wasnt an option at that point)? And don't say Gabbi-Austin up front cos there was no way Austin was playing 90min.

Which is the number one reason why we needed another option on the bench. We were always going to use Gabbi up on replacing Austin, so effectively Puel was leaving himself with Boufal as his only option to change things.

You can't just sweep that under the carpet, and ignore that.

 

[fatletiss]

Which is the number one reason why we needed another option on the bench. We were always going to use Gabbi up on replacing Austin, so effectively Puel was leaving himself with Boufal as his only option to change things.

You can't just sweep that under the carpet, and ignore that.

You can if the bloke is pissed off and is just counting down the days.

 

[Paddy Podped]

Which is the number one reason why we needed another option on the bench. We were always going to use Gabbi up on replacing Austin, so effectively Puel was leaving himself with Boufal as his only option to change things.

You can't just sweep that under the carpet, and ignore that.

How about Redmond as a striker? Maybe a diamond formation in midfield?

 

[Archers Road]

Which is the number one reason why we needed another option on the bench. We were always going to use Gabbi up on replacing Austin, so effectively Puel was leaving himself with Boufal as his only option to change things.

You can't just sweep that under the carpet, and ignore that.

Well here's a thought - howabout Tadic should have been getting in the box at every opportunity, but couldn't be arsed? so Boufal was brought on to try and change things..

What other options should we have had on the bench, given that Long is injured? J Rod? Ha ****ing ha.

And a quick note for the muppets who booed Pied being brought on for JWP, presumably because Pied is a RB. Gareth ****ing Bale was a LB at this club, would those same dickheads have booed if we'd brought him on?

 

[San Tejón]

Were predictable in our play and apart from one or two frantic goalmouth incidents, we played too deep leaving the striker isolated up front.
I wouldn't mind if we had players like Redmond and Tadic buzzing around like spitfires but they consistently isolate themselves on the wings so it really doesn't work.

.

Just taken a small part of your post.
The question that needs to be asked is whether or not they are rigidly sticking to a formation or just choosing not to rove.
Part of the reason for us being easy to defend against is because we are often too structured, with the same players making the same runs, in the same areas, with little variation, allowing the opposition to set up to cancel us out.
One moment, during the Utd game comes to mind.
Mata had the ball near the Utd right touch line.
He played a simple ball inside, then as the ball was processed over to the opposite touch line, he made a diagonal run across the pitch, giving Utd an extra man on that side of the pitch, that caused us a bit of panic.
We don't seem to have any players prepared to run into areas you don't expect them to be in, which helps makes us so predictable.