City 3 - 1 Saints Reaction.

So we set up our team to allow a team reeling from a hammering in the last home game to attack us from the off plus we played a suicide right back.

Stupid, stupid today, we could of won this with City having their keeper and no 1 CB out.

Guh...

Wish we'd played from the start like we played in the second half

City looked beatable today, CBs,Keeper and Touré all pretty poor, unfortunately so were we in the main.

Guh...

 

Wish we'd played from the start like we played in the second half

This

Atrocious management by Koeman. Setting the team out to get battered. Only after we'd already thrown the game did we actually try and come out and give them a game. Guess what they were missing their first choice keeper and their star centre back and it showed. Once we got at them we looked like scoring. Adding one of our best players Tadic who should have started helped and we scored and gave them a scare. If Tadic had taken the chance at 2-1 the game might have been different. As it was we were caught on the break trying to push for the equaliser.

The other extremely annoying thing is playing an out of position centre back at right back. Why was Martina bought if he is considered so useless as to be third in line.

Best thing of Pochettino was that we didn't overly respect teams and played the same way all the time.

Today we picked a weird team to sit deep against the best attacking team in the league but who had iffy centre backs and keeper playing.

We had no Pelle so why drop Tadic who has been having a good season? Especially when just to fit powderpuff JWP in. What has he done to deserve a recall?

The Yoshida thing is done to death but he isnt a good enough RB for PL football and if Martina is that ****e then its a squad gap.

You expect to be beaten away at City. But give it a go at least and try and build momentum into the Liverpool game.

Slight concern re Cedric, Tadic and Clasie and their inability to play every week or play midweek and weekend. We know the PL in intense but you need to sign players who can handle it because we dont have good enough options to leave starting players out unless they are injured.

Pretty much as expected really even an injury hit citeh squad is still full of quality.

Much improved second-half performance but if people seriously think that we'd have won or drawn against City away if it weren't for Koeman they need their heads examined.

Didn't expect anything tbh second half showing wasn't too bad move on to the next game !

Meh

we started all wrong

Liverpool showed last week that you need to have a go at them. We did the complete opposite for the first 25-30 mins. We could have been more than 2-0 and davis should have been sent off. Our passing today was pretty poor. Just gave the ball away too much and at times, under little pressure

The 2nd half was miles better and we were the best side for large parts of it

Tadic has to score when through like that. Mane needs to be far less selfish.

JWP was poor, again

Vic was terrible and must be in cloud cuckoo land if he think he would play in a 1st team of a top 4 side.

but yoshida was utterly abysmal. He does it nearly every single game. He gives up a a golden chance all the time and we paid for it again today.

Martina is an utterly wasted signing. Stephen/McCArthy must be shyte if martina is better than them and equally, martine must be shyte if he is never going to play ahead of a terrible yoshida at RB. We really need another RB in january to give Cedric real competition.

Tadic my saints MoM with a shout to Long

Ridiculous line up, Romeu and Yoshida were atrocious first half.

Do not understand team selection. And not just Yoshi at RB; more like why do we set up so defensively despite the fact Liverpool ripped City apart last week playing a pressing game? The minute we go 3 up top it actually starts pay off and we look much better.

Yoshida is not a right back - Cedric must be injured? Thought second half we were more like it, should have scored through Tadic who I thought was very good. Overall, not a hugely surprising result but just a shame that first half, or rather first 30 minutes, performance put us on a back foot.

8 times as many shots on target as last week.

Needed Tadic to put his foot through it rather than dink it

1) Starting Yoshi at RB away to such a side was simply inviting trouble.

2) JWP is NOT a 'dead ball specialist'.

3) Vic's distribution and control nullified any defensive strength he brought to the team.

4) Too many poor decisions in placing or attempting passes.

On a postive note, we at least created chances, and the 2nd half finished even. ( And we can still LOL at Newcastle ).

Defeat is entirely Koeman's fault today setting up with such a negative starting eleven. He seems way too concerned about the opposition at times. Just play the best team and play to our strengths. City were not that great but we handed them the game. Every time Yoshida gets played at right back he offers nothing going forward and is prone to mistakes at the back. Yet it seems like Koeman never learns from this and persists with the same selection policy. Hopefully he will learn this time that a left footed CB is not ideally suited to that role. Need a response on Wednesday to stop the season turning a bit flat.

Do not understand team selection. And not just Yoshi at RB; more like why do we set up so defensively despite the fact Liverpool ripped City apart last week playing a pressing game?

Because we have the most negative manager in the league

Played well the second half but **** Yoshida. Championship standard.

Anyone can replace yohsida at RB？

I think RK's game plan seemed reasonable before kick off.

Yoshida is a good loyal servant but he can't play RB in the Prem

If we had gone on 0-0 or 1-0 down at half time then we might well have got a result.

Big Vic's passing is terrible. Like others I can't see his top 4 move happening

Shane Long ran his heart out & took his chance well

Caulker came on & did what was required

Mane grew into the game, but was selfish late on taking a shot when Long could have had a tap in

JWP still dosn't do enough for me

Steve Davis Mr Dependable

Bertrand not a bad game

Driving rain away from home at the start prob didn't help. They looked beleaguered. I love Maya, but that may be his last game at RB. We were exciting to watch second half. Just didn't quite run for us. If that VVD shot goes in, it's a whole different result.

Not going to say anything about the performance but have noticed JWP has been dropped from free kicks and corners when Tadic is on. Which raises the question if he isn't considered as good as someone else at that why is he in the team at all? Starting to really think he is there because of the whole 'have to bring someone through the academy' thing.

Yoshida mistake and Tadic unable to pull the trigger....nothing new here

Hoping for a positive reaction Wednesday

Not going to say anything about the performance but have noticed JWP has been dropped from free kicks and corners when Tadic is on. Which raises the question if he isn't considered as good as someone else at that why is he in the team at all? Starting to really think he is there because of the whole 'have to bring someone through the academy' thing.

He definitely seems to need to do less than others to earn continuous recalls to the starting XI.

Tadic made such a difference, as would a reserve right back.

We need to practice being pressed before Wednesday, as we couldn't cope in the first half hour.

Bad day at the office for Roger the Ref though.

Has Koeman ever explained why he plays Yoshida at right back?

Starting to get a little concerned with some of Koeman's team selections and tactics at times.

Has Koeman ever explained why he plays Yoshida at right back?

Didn't he say a couple of weeks ago that it makes it easier to switch to 3 at the back if we need to change formation ?

Has Koeman ever explained why he plays Yoshida at right back?

yep. Better at defending than cedric (and presumably, alternatives)

Ugh. Was worried about the team when I saw it & then basically handed them the first 20 minutes and 2 goals.

Any news on Jose yet?

Thought we played bloody well in the most part to be honest. Just a couple of individual errors cost us

I got slagged off a couple of weeks ago for daring to suggest that VW needs lots of passing practice.I've changed my position,he needs shed loads of passing practice as he appears to get worse.If he thinks he's top four then I'll come out of retirement and play for City.

Thought we played bloody well in the most part to be honest. Just a couple of individual errors cost us

Yep

Could have won that if it weren't for Yo****a. Surely that's the last time.

Starting to get a little concerned with some of Koeman's team selections and tactics at times.

Me too

Played well the second half but **** Yoshida. Championship standard.

Can't blame Yoshida - he does his best, the question should be asked why RK persists in picking him out of position ahead of Soares and Martina

Tadic was appalling last week, I would have dropped him.

Yoshida makes a mistake every solitary game he plays. He isn't a right back (or a left back).

You have to question the signing of Martina.

I would send JWP out on loan. Reed deserves his chance as JWP has had many.

RK has to take some responsibility for today too.

BUT, what do we expect? A bit of reality would be handy for some Saints fans.

Let's focus on Liverpool!!!!

It could have been worse. More disappointed with the result against Stoke last week.

Do not understand team selection. And not just Yoshi at RB; more like why do we set up so defensively despite the fact Liverpool ripped City apart last week playing a pressing game? The minute we go 3 up top it actually starts pay off and we look much better.

Yoshida is not a right back - Cedric must be injured? Thought second half we were more like it, should have scored through Tadic who I thought was very good. Overall, not a hugely surprising result but just a shame that first half, or rather first 30 minutes, performance put us on a back foot.

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport

#saintsfc skipper Jose Fonte will be ok for @CapitalOne_Cup Q-F v Villa - has a cut knee. Cedric was dropped from squad today, not injured

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport

#saintsfc skipper Jose Fonte will be ok for @CapitalOne_Cup Q-F v Villa - has a cut knee. Cedric was dropped from squad today, not injured

even more bizarre

Didn't he say a couple of weeks ago that it makes it easier to switch to 3 at the back if we need to change formation ?

He could do that via a substitution. Using up a sub to do it would be less risky than starting him at right back.

Koeman said Cedric not playing because we have lots of games (surely a 24yr old Intl can play Saturday then Wednesday?) and that Cuco Martini (he said that then corrected himself) deserved a go on the bench.

How many of our leagues games has Cedric actually played 90mins in?

Can't blame Yoshida - he does his best, the question should be asked why RK persists in picking him out of position ahead of Soares and Martina

OK so can't blame him for handing them the first goal.

On a side note, Yaya Toure is a weak *****.

Koeman frustrates the hell out of me. City are a very very good side and they showed at times today how good they are in the final third, but under Pellegrini they have always been suspect defensively, and without Hart and Kompany we really could have gone there and had a go at them. Instead our manager put the most defensive team out he possibly could. A CB playing at right back, no midfielder in the team capable or willing to pass forwards and our most creative player this season left on the bench. We lost the game in the first 20 minutes because the players heads were all over the place, because the mindset is totally determined by the team selection. As a result we sat back and invited them onto us, and then individual errors start creeping in.

If Cedric is fit he should start (how will he get better defensively unless he gets tested)

If Mane is fit he should start (I didn't see nay other teams resting key players last weekend after the international break)

If Tadic is fit he should start (him and Gaston are our ONLY creative players)

If Clasie is fit he should start (been one of the better players recently, we paid a lot for him, and he won't get match fitness unless he plays)

I can obviously cope with losing away to City or at home to United, or even Stoke, but not in the manner that we do when we routinely give them the momentum and advantage from the second the team sheet is handed in.

Well played Tadic and Long in particular who showed he IS capable if given chances to play up front. Let's use him more often in that position when Pelle isn't firing.

Wanyama was abysmal. Horrendous control on multiple occasions and can't pass for toffee. Drop him for now and give Romeu/Reed chances to stake their claim for that role, because we know Wanyama is off soon anyway

Koeman said Cedric not playing because we have lots of games (surely a 24yr old Intl can play Saturday then Wednesday?) and that Cuco Martini (he said that then corrected himself) deserved a go on the bench.

 

How many of our leagues games has Cedric actually played 90mins in?

He may have been dropped but dam sure itd due to his on going eye injuries. Every game the same injury keeps getting opened up and does not get time to heal.

Well that worked didn't it? What a negative line up. Only two forwards. How many chances does JWP need to show his inability to defend, tackle, run with the ball and play penetrating passes. I thought there was more to being a Premier midfielder than passing meaninglessly sideways and backwards.

Mane and Long, great cameo for the goal. Now we get to the real issue. Yoshida is not a full back. Brought in for his alleged defensive strength he again made a Horlicks of possession, beaten in the tackle by Sterling for God's sake, goal no 1. At fault for goal no 3 because he forgot he was right back reverted to centre back mode and failed to even look behind him as Kolarov ran thirty yards to receive the ball and unmarked lined up a shot into the far corner that virtually killed the game. To cap it all he under hit a back pass to Stekelenberg similar to the Man Utd cock up and was bailed out by Stekelenberg coming well out of the area to clear.

Koeman has this chicken**** team selection problem which has cost us dearly at times this season. Our best team is obvious and it doesn't include Yoshida, JWP or Romeu. As an aside Caulker filled in well.

As much as I like the guy, there's a stubbornness about Koeman that infuriates me.

I'm okay with Yoshida as cover in central defence, but how many more chances does Koeman need before he realizes that his lack of pace kills us when Maya's played wide? City must have been salivating at the thought of a Sterling/Maya match-up.

JWP blew his marking assignment a number of times today - mainly with ball-watching, and compounded a poor performance with several bad midfield giveaways. He's going to be fine but for a smart kid he seems to be learning very slowly.

Mané is what he's always been and probably always will be - a tremendous instinct player whose game falls apart if he needs to think before he does something.

Koeman should have addressed the "silly bookings" issue long ago because it's been a problem for some time. We don't have the squad to be able to lose players like Pelle, Mane, Wanyama and Romeu.

Thank god we signed VvD. I just wish we'd signed Vardy when we should have done, back in 2012.

Welp.

Wish we had a right back.

Originally Posted by SuperSAINT

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport

#saintsfc skipper Jose Fonte will be ok for @CapitalOne_Cup Q-F v Villa - has a cut knee. Cedric was dropped from squad today, not injured

even more bizarre

 

Equally bizarre is us playing Aston Villa in The Cup QF

People are bemoaning that Koeman didn't pick our strongest available line up, but isn't that because he/we want to play our best team on Wednesday?

If he'd played our strongest 11 today and then gone out of the cup on Wednesday (due to lack of freshness, injury, etc) then the post match thread on Wednesday would be full of people slagging Koeman off for not resting players vs Man City.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't....?

Originally Posted by SuperSAINT

 

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport

#saintsfc skipper Jose Fonte will be ok for @CapitalOne_Cup Q-F v Villa - has a cut knee. Cedric was dropped from squad today, not injured

 

 

 

Equally bizarre is us playing Aston Villa in The Cup QF