gio1saints

Did you see how many shots they had? 0-3 at halftime would not have been unfair. They were way better than most of the teams we played at home last season - by a margin. Maybe they still makes them fucki g shite but well it’s your opinion. Before the match I thought we’d win comfortably. I thought forest were relegation fodder. We did look better second half so not sure I subscribe to your theory.

Exactly so. As for “why” our allotted players did not get into attacking areas I suggest it was a combination of : 1. Forest were very aggressive very fast and very progressive with and without the ball in that time. It should not have but I think that high intensity took Saints by surprise. And they/ RM felt prudent / safer not over committing in attack in the early part of the game. With our MF essentially much further away from the danger zones than envisaged and the two forwards super wide that U -shape comes as no surprise. It could be called lack of bravery but I think that’s a disservice to the players. Forest essentially bullied us away from those areas very effectively using EPL nous. We ain’t got that yet nor the experience of playing vs that intensity and knowing how to counter it - yet. In the circumstances our essentially “ holding exercise” was the best of a bad situation. 2. Having weathered the storm so to speak, and seemingly, eventually, appearing to be able to work out how to counter their tactics ( and formation) to in turn concede from a set piece was v disappointing - as it appeared at the time that the game momentum was finally swinging in our favour. If we had got to last ten at 0-0 it would likely be them holding on for the draw..even so in the last quarter our players still seemed slow or reluctant or inhibited about attacking the penalty area ( except for Tyler). Even Sam E’s dribbling efforts seemed halfhearted. Perhaps still in shock the lot of them at how powerfully Forest played us off the park at start. Big lessons learned I trust and hope.

I’d like to see us NOT play a back three for this ( supposedly) winnable one. But I think I may be disappointed - at least for first half. Would love to see if Tyler has got 90 minutes in him and would give him a start if was me. Can’t see RM starting Les and Mateus AND Tyler all at same time - but I want to see them play and get decent minutes all the same. Archer should start for AA imo and SAA should get some minutes ahead of Edozie this match - for me.

Agree- but I also think that the MF are actually meant to attack those “ dangerous” areas more than they currently do. And hence why, possibly, we look toothless to date. IF they were busting a gut to get into the box - or had more know how about timing runs a conventional CF would not be such an obvious requirement. There was no “ false #9” that I could discern on Saturday which points to an over defensively cautious set up at home in a match we all expected attacking!

Absolutely - unlike any other winger we have on the books, he actually crosses the ball and he accelerates the game in the crucial areas - unfortunately, and not statistically very successfully to warrant it being our go-to tactic every time, Sam Edozie seems to have been told to hold the ball and slow it down then try beat your man into the penalty area - which even if he has managed to do so the opposition have had that extra bit of time to regroup and his final pass or shot ineffective. One split second Saturday Sam had a clear shooting chance- and declined it. So frustrating. NB : also relevant that our most dangerous moment Saturday came from a new player( Charlie Taylor who presumably does not know yet that we don’t usually do crosses) doing the unthinkable- crossing the ball across the six yard box - but there was no one there!

Think your first point is very true. Perhaps, and there’s some evidence from two matches already, this season we will see that some players have reached the upper levels of there technical ability- and more importantly there ability to improve. Having said that, Saints players have been used to playing championship level for a year and upgrading to EPL ( MUCH higher) levels of power, speed and movement, it’s reasonable to expect there to be some acclimatisation time. It’s unrealistic to expect that from match day one or two. Or to go batty because it’s not happened. We’ve all seen that Tyler does NOT subscribe to “only play the way you’re facing “ for example and he’s been the breakout star of the team so far. Hopefully an inspiration to both the new incoming and the existing squad members. Some WON’T make the grade and we can all point at who we think - but at this point I’m sanguine that our recruitment sees those possible issues and the right calls will be made.

Who is talking last relegation season? Not me. Think you are answering wrong thread. I was discussing @Lord Duckhunter undisguised contempt for our Club, our manager and currently AA. Im happy to criticise the club the manager and players and the style - my posting history shows it - but equally I will argue the case if criticism is unfair or frankly just being negative for the sake of it. Dont know about you but anyone bad mouths my club unfairly I question it. My point is with supporters like @Lord Duckhunterwho the hell needs enemies! Cannot say a positive word about the club- at all. Ever. Refute his crap as I have and now I’ve become part of the problem also! Oh - and you mistake red and white glasses for having an objective pov. Call it bad when it’s bad but ffs don’t go on and on and on about it in 199 times

Thanks for your condescending remark. No need to “ make it easy for me” because your opinion of who is a championship player is only yours and it’s not relevant to the discussion. However - I know a negative person when I see non stop threads putting Saints down from them. As is the case with the OP. If it’s not RM it’s now AA and if neither of them it’s Jack or no doubt Will or others. Try finding any post remotely positive and supportive of our team from him especially in bad times - but I don’t hold your breath. So called fans who stay away but then pile in with the negative stuff the minute it does not look so rosy are rather contemptible in my book. Exactly the sort of person you would never want to have in the trenches with you. Faint hearts bailing out minute it gets tough and the fastest to bitch about it too - eager to make themselves look clever as they diss the team the manager and the players - and those who support them frankly. Free country criticise at will. I will take umbrage at people taking cheap skate-like shots at the team I support.,

Bit early in season for you to get your childish name calling digs at RM, the club, and any saints player you dislike to isn’t it? The last six months must have been hell for you watching us get promoted . No wonder you hardly posted. Well, the good news for you is that in this league we are likely to get beaten a lot more than last year, and probably by some cricket scores at times. My what laughs and fun you will have badmouthing the club. and telling us the good news about how shot this or that player or our manager is. It’s going to be such a laugh with your Lego head this and that. Whats quite unusual though is that the kind of belittling of our club stuff you exclusively post is usually only the preserve of skates masquerading as saints on here. Any defeat or misfortune for SFC and you are on in a flash. Sadly for me it’s going to be a lovely year for you and no doubt you will be posting gallons of your very funny, entertaining and oh so very clever negative poison after every defeat. Or if there is a Lord, you will stfu if we win and go back to the PFC forum where you can feel at home with your fish friends and still dis Saints, the club and its loyal support to your hearts content.

Literally his last proper match at SMS he played brilliantly and scored a vital goal v WBA. He played well in the Final. Integral part of getting us up and “ one of our own”. He may well not be good enough and we will know after a fair number of gages - but 2?? You’re entitled to your option but claims of prophetic level foresight in the telling of is Will going to be good or not before a ball is kicked at this level for him or even after two matches are still laughable all the same. incidentally : what did BBD and AA achieve all game except run a lot? How many shots did they Flynn and Joe manage - and on target ? How many defensive headers did THB win? Has AM turned into an EPL goalie cos he can actually save shots? Why doesn’t Sam Edozie shoot when he sees the goal? Why is KWP still the only player can run with the ball ( apart from Tyler) - are the rest still not up to EPL standard at doing this basic skill? You can pick on a lot of areas to criticise but to claim you chose Will as your fall guy BEFORE the season starts - and despite one meh and one very bad performance is still very strange - and very funny.🤣

Based on two games? 😂. By that reckoning none of the first team are good enough and none should be starting next week. hysterical knee jerk stuff Hypo 🤣

I thought Matheus fitted in very well. Tyler was excellent. KWP very good. Yuki was good. Both our CB’s ok. AA ran so much but no end result today. Probably disappointing. BBD just hugged his wing mostly and did a few things but he certainly as not got the legs/ cannot run past and around his RB. Always pops inside. Will very poor. Joe and Flynn tried but bettered by opposite numbers. None of our MF could do an astute type surge apart from when Tyler came on. Overall I’d give us a 5.5/10 and Forest a 6.5. RM tactically outfought by his opposite number and that was the main difference imo. That and the extra athleticism and physicality of forest v us.,

Who scored a vital goal at SMS last time we played? And yes he had a very bad game today and I’d drop him for Cardiff - but you cannot, without expecting derisory laughter, claim him starting was the reason we would lose ahead of the match. It was obvious he was playing badly first half and ideally should have been hooked at ht. but before the match- you’re just being opportunistically OTT on him because it’s an easy target.

Tyler- massive difference

Unlucky again. Could easily be 1-1.

Cmon mateus lad score on your debut!

Fuck fuckfuck. 0-1

I’m at the match singing and cheering much as I can. Thanks for your support.

Looks like Sam and others warming up

Still got weakness in MF. Good run by bbd. basically we need to steal a 1-0 out of this match…

Another forest corner …and another…🫣

Cheer up

4th yellow….forest player hacks kwp..still 30 to go.

All saints second half