Credit to Bristol Rovers

[Bailey]

Despite all the negativity on here tonight, you have got to give Paul Trollope and his Bristol Rovers side a bit of credit.

They're a decent side who play good, attacking football and they'll do well this season.

Although they didn't deserve all three points IMO, they would have had every right to feel aggrieved if they had left empty handed.

Fair play to the fans as well. I know it's not too far but they brought a lot down and made plenty of noise.

[aintforever]

I thought they were ****, we should have put the game to bed at least twice.

I cant believe they are 3rd in this league, it shows how poor the league is IMO.

[Um Bongo]

Draw would have been fair. But they got the three points. Not a bad side, wont go up but might make the play offs. Which will be better then us!

[saint_stevo]

We stole there best player, and they still beat us.

Sounds like they play with width, probably why Lambo got so many for them last season?

[OldNick]

I cant believe fans who say they are cr##. they were useful all over the pitch and one thing for sure they would not have let their player the time and space to have a shot on goal like they did last kick. We just dont tackle and let them run

[S-Clarke]

I'd take their wide players right now, and also Dickson who was excellent i thought.

[Spudgun]

Amazed me how many times we had three or four players all going for one of theirs with the ball, yet they still managed to retain possession!

[positivepete]

Their number 17 was a very decent player

[ringwood]

well the keeper made two cracking saves in second half and the winning goal was a scorcher, however all tonights goals came from the same side, with Harding exposed each time, first two by Melias being woefully out of postiton subbed straight after the second, the third should of been shown outside not allowed to turn inside.

good game though, Lallana had best 20 minutes i've seen from him, so yes disappointed but we really should off been clear of them before the 2nd equaliser.

[docker-p]

****inell my fellow Saints fans p!sss me off sometimes. One win in ten, another lead lost and someone starts a thread congratulating a Bristol side punching way above their weight.
If you found someone ****ging your misses would you stand back and admire their technique?

[Um Bongo]

Bit out of order for them to throw things though. If your going to throw a bottle in my direction then at least leave the Lid on so I can have a swig.

[saintsforlife7]

Yeah lad in front of me got hit by a coin after the first equaliser no need really.

Kuffour, Dickson and their right hand side were very good, especially Kuffour, ran his socks off and very intelligent footballer, as shown with his flick for the second.

[trousers]

We stole there best player, and they still beat us.

Sounds like they play with width, probably why Lambo got so many for them last season?

This is the crux for me....it would appear we (Pardew/Cortese) went for last year's top scorer in League One without analysing the reasons behind why Lambert was scoring a bucket load. I've mentioned it once or twice on here before but why didn't we look at Lambert's supply chain last season and go for a double or treble swoop...i.e. Lambert + one or two of the players that fed his goal fest?

I'm assuming that the guys who provided him with the assists would have been significantly cheaper to buy than Lambert cost us.

Yours foresightedly,
Trousers

[trousers]

If you found someone ****ging your misses would you stand back and admire their technic?

I'd admire their hi-fi system more if it was a Panasonic.

[alpine_saint]

****inell my fellow Saints fans p!sss me off sometimes. One win in ten, another lead lost and someone starts a thread congratulating a Bristol side punching way above their weight.
If you found someone ****ging your misses would you stand back and admire their technic?

Agreed. Its pathetic.

I find it difficult to understand posters who froth about the way we've played and the entertainment value of the game when we've lost too..

[docker-p]

well the keeper made two cracking saves in second half and the winning goal was a scorcher, however all tonights goals came from the same side, with Harding exposed each time, first two by Melias being woefully out of postiton subbed straight after the second, the third should of been shown outside not allowed to turn inside.

good game though, Lallana had best 20 minutes i've seen from him, so yes disappointed but we really should off been clear of them before the 2nd equaliser.

Exactly.
And thats what bothers me about Pardew, because we had other options than Melias, and he didn't act until the damage was done.

[alpine_saint]

Exactly.
And thats what bothers me about Pardew, because we had other options than Melias, and he didn't act until the damage was done.

Melis has obviously got a "McGoldrick" contract......

[pilsburydoughboy]

We stole there best player, and they still beat us.

Sounds like they play with width, probably why Lambo got so many for them last season?

Their best player did not give **** tonight and he was in red and white.
Jogged round like the rest of the pampered *****s.

[chip]

thought they were awful.. smash and grab. Be luck if they finish anywhere near the top 6

[Genk]

****inell my fellow Saints fans p!sss me off sometimes. One win in ten, another lead lost and someone starts a thread congratulating a Bristol side punching way above their weight.
If you found someone ****ging your misses would you stand back and admire their technique?

Every thread doesn't have to be down in the dumps. Yes we are clearly ****ed off that we lost but a fan is also allowed to take a step back and say the opposition played well. Come on.

[tonibell]

I cant believe fans who say they are cr##. they were useful all over the pitch and one thing for sure they would not have let their player the time and space to have a shot on goal like they did last kick. We just dont tackle and let them run


Well said even when they were behind they always looked liked they would get the next goal and the winner was a super goal.

[OldNick]

Agreed. Its pathetic.

I find it difficult to understand posters who froth about the way we've played and the entertainment value of the game when we've lost too..
Well here we go again.People who ATTENDED and paid enjoy to watch good football as well as hoping for a good result can enthuse about the entertainment provided.Fans watching it on teletext only get enjoyment from the score.
Football was the winner last night, the game was very good and standard above normal for this league.

[shurlock]

We stole there best player, and they still beat us.

Sounds like they play with width, probably why Lambo got so many for them last season?

Actually, they've changed their style considerably since Lambert left (going for pace with Dickson etc). By the same token Lambert is being asked to do things with us -playing less deep, being used as a target man- that he wasn't at rovers.

[chocco boxo]

I do wonder sometimes if Managers/Clubs sign a player then try to get him to change their game to suit the team instead of the other way round?? Especially in the case of renowned goalscorers?

[xerox]

I do wonder sometimes if Managers/Clubs sign a player then try to get him to change their game to suit the team instead of the other way round?? Especially in the case of renowned goalscorers?

yes i know they seem to, esp england managers but thats another thread for the summer no doubt.

[Legod Third Coming]

Er, the people who think Mellis played left midfield and left Harding exposed probably need to watch a recording of the game. Both he and Papa were swapping all night while they were both on the pitch.

Obviously a ploy by Pardew. HTH.

[.comsaint]

I do wonder sometimes if Managers/Clubs sign a player then try to get him to change their game to suit the team instead of the other way round?? Especially in the case of renowned goalscorers?

Funny you should say that. Here's a quote from Pardew (OS) as recent as Monday - regarding Lambert:

"We've worked hard on Rickie because we felt that he needed some more conditioning. He's been trying to do that whilst playing games so it has taken a little bit away from him, but we think that we're going to see the benefits of that this week particularly with two home games. He's an honest player and technically better than I thought he was going to be..."

???

[oxfordshire_saint]

I still can't believe that we still have fans who expect us to beat everyone in this league based on the fact that we used to be a big club. I take it they're the sort of people who've not been to a game at this level yet?

We're a League One club now, same as everyone else in this division. The history and the big stadium count for f**k all.

Anyone who has watched a few games this season will realise that we are at this level for a reason, most of the teams we have played so far have looked better organised than us and usually posed more of a threat going forward, as when we attack we just look devoid of ideas.

Unless rapid improvements are made, get used to teams like Bristol Rovers coming and taking points off us, it's a sad fact.

[ericofarabia]

well the keeper made two cracking saves in second half and the winning goal was a scorcher, however all tonights goals came from the same side, with Harding exposed each time, first two by Melias being woefully out of postiton subbed straight after the second, the third should of been shown outside not allowed to turn inside.

good game though, Lallana had best 20 minutes i've seen from him, so yes disappointed but we really should off been clear of them before the 2nd equaliser.

LOL ... give the 70 odd year old Jimmy Melia a break FFS :p

[Kingsland Red]

Well here we go again.People who ATTENDED and paid enjoy to watch good football as well as hoping for a good result can enthuse about the entertainment provided.Fans watching it on teletext only get enjoyment from the score.
Football was the winner last night, the game was very good and standard above normal for this league.

Totally agree Nick. I was also surprised by the fantastic away support Rovers brought. I didn't realise they had that sort of backing, better than most in the Championship.

[Paul Chuckle]

Their number 3 Wright I think his name is was outstanding. Amazed they took him off. We didn't get near him and he seemed to have so much time and space whenever he got the ball plus all their main plays seemed to go through him

[Legod Third Coming]

Their number 3 Wright I think his name is was outstanding. Amazed they took him off. We didn't get near him and he seemed to have so much time and space whenever he got the ball plus all their main plays seemed to go through him

That's what I thought Paul - I was well chuffed when he went off!! And then they got better!!! Feck me! What I wouldn't give for impact subs...

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Exactly.
And thats what bothers me about Pardew, because we had other options than Melias, and he didn't act until the damage was done.

Don't agree, we got poorer when he MADE the changes to us. Mills was brought on to give some protection to Harding and was just out of position ALL the time. We had no width from Harding last night as he was constantly being pinned back by their right hand side, which impressed me with their pace and direct play.

[Legod Third Coming]

Don't agree, we got poorer when he MADE the changes to us. Mills was brought on to give some protection to Harding and was just out of position ALL the time. We had no width from Harding last night as he was constantly being pinned back by their right hand side, which impressed me with their pace and direct play.

Agreed, people are having a pop at Mellis who actually played well!!! Sure he put a few passes away, find me someone at our level who doesn't. But we got noticeably worse quickly when both he and Morgan went off!

[The Godfather]

They should of been down to ten men in the first half after that bad challenge on Hammond. Rovers were good in the final third, far better than we were. That and our missed chances at 2-1 won them the game.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Agreed, people are having a pop at Mellis who actually played well!!! Sure he put a few passes away, find me someone at our level who doesn't. But we got noticeably worse quickly when both he and Morgan went off!

Mellis was ok, but also didn't protect Harding enough. We needed Holmes in there for sure.

[Legod Third Coming]

Mellis was ok, but also didn't protect Harding enough. We needed Holmes in there for sure.

As I said somewhere else, I am pretty sure either Pardew had briefed him to have a more fluid role or he and Papa were swapping for fun, because they both seemed to be on opposite sides of the pitch for spells...

agree about Holmes though. I thnk if he's fit he has to start.

[Griffo]

Only because it's not far for them, and a lot of them wanted to go for Lambert reasons. Must have been a cup final for them. That's certainly how they treated it when they scored every goal.

[70's Mike]

LOL ... give the 70 odd year old Jimmy Melia a break FFS :p

never got one whilst playing for saints
always a loud cheer if he headed ball

[Twentytwentvision]

Jimmy Melia scored for Saints against Newcastle in 1967