Saint Fan CaM

I said in the build-up thread - "WBA will set-up to play a tight ship and hit us on the break. 10 men behind the ball and all that. It'll be another 0-0 or even a 1-0 loss. Seriously, we just don't look like scoring at the moment as (a) the front line is not cohesive and (b) we seem to want to walk the ball into the net. Add to that a sh!t ref and hey presto, another wasted game and opportunity as we slip another place or two down the table. Yes, that is a pessimistic view I guess - or it could be just good observation of how the team has performed over the last 10 or so games.".... YUP!

We are utter, utter rubbish in attack - very slow, no ideas, no movement off-ball, same old thing trying to walk the ball into the net. I can see this ending 3-0. Pelle, Mane, Tadic - not good enough. Elia is trying to get into the game but is getting nowhere fast. Honestly do not know where we're going to get a goal from.

WBA will set-up to play a tight ship and hit us on the break. 10 men behind the ball and all that. It'll be another 0-0 or even a 1-0 loss. Seriously, we just don't look like scoring at the moment as (a) the front line is not cohesive and (b) we seem to want to walk the ball into the net. Add to that a sh!t ref and hey presto, another wasted game and opportunity as we slip another place or two down the table. Yes, that is a pessimistic view I guess - or it could be just good observation of how the team has performed over the last 10 or so games.

I think the most of it is that the front men (and supporting midfielders) have no system - no concrete ideas or routines. They are individual players that are being swapped around too much to gain a clear understanding. Oh for JRod to be available...we can but hope he comes back as good as before...Pelle needs to be dropped so he can get his head right.

The front three are not co-ordinating well at all and I don't think Mane starting would make the blindest difference. Pelle needs to be dropped to help him. JWP is pretty ineffectual apart from corners and attacking free-kicks. Davis and JWP together douse any form of attack through midfield - no vision and couldn't hit a barn door from 10 paces out...we need better. Wanyama ran defensive midfield today - was superb and even added to some attacks with some nice touches. My MOTM. I thought generally the defence was sound, but it was a big ask to expect Targett to come off error-free all afternoon when most attacks came down that flank. I predicted 1-3...but thought we would get something. Didn't count on another diabolical ref though.

SRL - not a problem - he was at the end of his career. Lovren - couldn't give a toss...mercenary journeyman. Lallana - completely without an ounce of class...didn't understand what being a Captain is about and showed how shallow he really is...no respect for his position, SFC or the fans. His mate Gerrard could teach him a few things about loyalty and respect.

I would like to see him played central behind Pelle just for spells during the game when we're on the front foot. I think he could be the key to unlocking defences, but he needs to work on his offside trap awareness.

No. We've earned the right to be here...we battle on and get that 3rd or 4th place - it's completely within our grasp with some of our better players coming back from injury.

The atmosphere will be rubbish from a Saints fan POV largely because our most vocal support will be spread across other parts of the ground while Pools away supporters will be grouped as one. If we score first, then we might experience some noise and passion - if they score first I suspect SMS from a Saints perspective will turn somewhat quiet...it's what happens.

Can see us losing this one - disliking the 'Pool and everything they stand for is not enough - we've got to score goals to beat a team like them and we're not doing that. It's going to be 1-3 and a really big wake-up call...the start of the slide down to 7th? Maybe.

Well I would play that video back to Mane and tell what a plonker he is for not going down in agony when Adrian kicks his leg. THAT would have been a stonewall penalty decision and we would have scored and gone home with all three points! The Ref killed the entire game with poor decisions frankly and showing that red was one of them in hindsight.

It was a point so not a complete disaster. Ref was probably the worst I've seen all season - truly shockingly bad. Pelle appears tired and out of ideas - he tries, but he's just not getting there and we need another option. Build-up play is generally slow and predictable - shooting is pathetically poor...17 shots, 7 on target and no goals. In the final third the off ball movement of the whole front line is awful - very static. On the plus side, I thought Reed was fantastic - my MOTM.

My feeling is that we will fall on the way due to injury or just bottle. Saints don't do this...this winning consistently thing...this staying focussed thing. Something will break us. Surely? If we finished 6th it would an incredible season and no mistake. Anything higher quite frankly would be a stellar achievement that would leave English football gasping. Once again, we can say...strap up and enjoy the ride!

Can see a draw... 2-2. I don't think we're untouchable and invulnerable to teams like West Ham in particular. In fact I am less certain of a positive result than if we were playing Manure. It really will depend on whether we're able to get the ball moving quickly to Mane and Elia...Wetsham do have the midfield to catch us in possession, but worse still I really hope it doesn't slide into a hoofing match so our midfield gets bypassed. On another note, anyone know when our new striker can play?

Pelle is just making up the numbers and I fail to see why Tadic gets his name sung - very poor. Thank goodness we've got some goal threat in Mane and Elia. If we do reach Europe it will be a massive achievement based on these last few performances. And the Ref was shocking.

Should have got a better striker than Pelle in the window. Simple as.

Playing awfully - Pelle looks disinterested - they will score on the break. We just do not look like a threat in front of goal at all. So poor now.

Who manages the u18s? Could be furthering his career elsewhere soon then.

If we're to maintain any hope of CL then this is a must win game. Otherwise its like any other...anything could happen. Basically, we score first we will win and possibly by a large margin. Can see a midfield selection headache for Koeman...Davis has to start, Morgan in for Reed. I would then put Tadic behind Pelle and Mane and Elia out wide. 1-3 Saints if we find a way to score...1-0 QPR if not.

I am starting to have serious doubts about Tadic...think he faltters to deceive a lot of the time. Hardly ever comes deep to collect the ball. Hardly ever puts a foot in and generally provides Clyne little support. His crossing is largely poor. And worst of all he can't shoot. Iwould start Mane and Elia over him every time.

Not a straight red. Yellow possibly but not definately. Both players went into the challenge full blooded...the other guy lost out, but he was not seriously hurt atall...Ryan hardly touched him actually. Ref was so inconsistent...he has done a good job protecting the big clubs advantage...hope he got paid well.

Clever.

Of course, but if the player doesn't want to stay on improved terms then they'll leave and the black box will find a replacement. In the case of Cork, as he's not a regular starter and a little injury prone, it will not take too much to find a better player. In the case of Clyne and Morgan, it will be more a case of finding as best a fit as possible. Remember Shaw - the best LB in history? Bertrand made us forget him pretty quick, but would anyone claim before the transfer he was better than Shaw? No is the honest answer, but the lad has done as good a job IMO.

I liked Cork, but if there's one thing we've learnt it's when a good player leaves Saints now, a better one replaces him. Be patient.

Oh no - another player who wants to walk the ball into the back of the net FFS! When will we sign a striker who can drill a decent shot from 20 yards and make the keeper work for a change?