TijuanaTim

Do we have a problem conceding goals through the first hour of games, simple question? Do we have a problem conceding goals after the first hour?

Sort of quality we all expect from you mush...none so blind as those that cannot see.

Reeeeeeeally, have we conceded goals in the 67, 50, 68, 82, 83, 77, 80, 90, 69, 65, 90, 65, 56, 73, 90, 66, 55, 77, 90, 90, 83, 50, 66, 75, 82 and 85 minutes just to name the odd 26 times so far this season, going back to the very first game...oh and by the way the majority of the very few 1st half goals we have let in have not cost us points... So what's the answer?

You do not need an equalizer when you are 1-1 with 15 mins left either do you mate?

Fantastic reply mate....that is an extremely reasonable response and a valid explanation, with no playground insults, thank you. Maybe I am being too harsh tbf!! Just think, as a manager, maybe the last thing AP should say before they leave the dressing (especially at HT) is something like "Lads you have been great all season, we do however sometimes show vulnerability in the last quarter. Now we know you are GOOD enough and SMART enough to be aware and not let this happen today. Put yourselves between the opponent/ball and our goal and do not over-commit from the back later on!"

Huh, we were level...last time I looked we were at 1-1 (after equalizing another LATE goal) then we went ahead let in another three LATE goals, just like we have all too often in August, September, October, November, December and January in the league, in the LC, in the JPT and in (or should I say out?) the FA Cup. Tell me I'm wrong??

Thank you, well, firstly I ain't on the coaching staff, so don't know the players on a daily basis. However I really think we have some great players, even without the new signings. We had enough to beat these hated skates. And surely enough, at least not to throw it away. What we have is a major problem conceding goals from about 65 minutes onwards...so you talk about on the training ground and in the player 'debriefing' (I assume AP debriefs the team). After 40 games you should be discovering why it happens...stamina, lack of confidence, over-zealous attacking, lack of awareness. If the players are not fit enough you do a WGS. If they are not confident enough then youpositively reinforce them and if they are not aware then damn well make them aware...I think thw problem is probably and quite unbelievably AP is not aware!! If you catch us once and try us again then and do not, more fool you, if you catch us out once and then catch us out again then more fool us huh?

Vectis...get your point, I am not denying that we played well. Yes, we definitely could have won - guess what tho'? We did not and because yet again we were sucker punched with late goals, a problem that has been gnawing at us all year!!

Fair enough Wes, I respect what you're saying yes I am now watching the game for the second time!! The players were great, I agree!! The STRATEGY however, was not - we were beaten yet again but not one but four late goals, just like we have altogether too many times this season. If there is a blatant problem resolve it...if not look no further than the mirror Mr Pardew.

Another person with nothing to say but insults, I have played competetively for well over 40 years and still play Saturdays and Sundays with men half my age. I do drink, smoke, I am a vegetarian and (semi) fast on Mondays to maximize my fitness, stamina and fatigue recovery. I have played for and with this very site's team...ask Steve, Rabbit and the rest how I performed as it not for me to say. Gained my first FA coaching credentials at 24 years old and was a Hants Div I first team manager/head coach by 27, with one of the biggest clubs in Hants/Wessex scene. After emigrating to the US I have continued to top up my coaching certifications. What about you Donny, just asking? Played a bit in the pub league once or at junior school...get a few beers down you and watch the Saints occassionally when sober enough? Tell me I am not far wrong.

I watched it, I am watching again, I have seen numerous replays and guess what? We still fall foul to not one but four LATE sucker punches, what about you?

"We WERE the better team, we did NOT deserve to lose. We were the team showing PASSION and we were the team who playing as a TEAM." Agree!! But lost to 4 late goals, late goals!! Just like every other game or point we've dropped in the past 40 games...come on people it is transparent!!

Yes....absolutely, it is the time!! Nothing else, week-in-week-out we lose/draw game through conceding goals during a certain period of the game. Is it fitness?? Is it lack of concentration?? What is it...It is the coaching staff failing to be aware or addressing it, that is what it is. Should have been addressed in September when couldnl't buy a win, or when we were knocked out the LC then through Fall as we continued to allow it to happen...now we've lost to the one team we least want to because of it!!

Another poster with nothing to say, so just revert to insults mush.

It's better to catch them on the break than have them do it to us FOUR LATE TIMES, that is the point tbf. We desperately need coaching, or at the very minimum a strategy that makes us aware of this problem.

It is not the defence - it is when we concede goals, even with the new defence. Take a look, then tell me there is not a glaring pattern that goes back to September or even before?

Sue - do some research, look at when we concede (probably) 80% of our goals and you'll understand what I have been posting about ALL SEASON!!

That is what people who have no valid argument do - resort to wacky smileys and insults. With all due respect, there are none so blind as those that cannot see mate.

Wrong - this is a season long problem FACT!! It should be JPT - post match and on the open threads FFS. With all due respect if you cannot see the enormity of this problem, then talk to someone that has coached/managed decent side or just wake up (no insult intended).

Everything negative that has happened to us this year is because of one reason... and it is not the 10 points - not injuries - not lack of money or backing - not having to play nippers - not lack of fantastic support, but because AP has failed to address a problem that has been slapping him in the face for almost six months or about 40 games. Believe it, if we now go to Wembley and fail to win against a very average Carlisle, it will be because AP is strategically failing to address a major malfunction and they will score critically after the hour mark.

I am sorry, but I for one will never forgive Pardew for this!! And before any of you think I'm being too harsh, are you going to tell me we couldn't have won, or at least not lost that (and many other) game(s). The writing was on the wall as early as September - it was still there with goals in this particular period of games later and it's still glaringly apparent now. This is an absolutely massive strategic/tactical problem and the problem falls firmly at the feet of the manager!! This is 100% unnacceptable and 100% avoidable - okay we, in FACT, should I say 'he' did not learn and we let in soft, late goal to say, Millwall or whatever, but this was pompee FFS Does he not realise the enormity of the situation and the consequence to the egos, psyches, pride etc to us - Southampton people. Haven't we eaten enough excrement already? We have had what? About 40 games this year to learn to shut up shop at the hour mark. These late goals are the singlemost important reason or factor that we will not be PROMOTED, that we were ELIMINATED from the League Cup, KNOCKED OUT of the FA Cup and may lose in the JPT!! If you don't believe me then do some research. Your support has been beyond belief, our new ownership is the best, we have a powerful, good footballing set of players...and a coaching staff that need to get a clue!! Yet again we had a team by the balls and could not squeeze. Enough already, must do better. Don't look at the skates - Don't look at the refs - Don't even look at the players - Look firmly at Pardew and maybe Wilkens etc. The buck stops there. If you're feeling as bad as I am right now, sorry Alan, but you're the only reason why!!

Mate, that was a great night in Santa Monica!! I should have called you. However there was a lot of negative on here about me not deserving a ticket, so that made me determined to do it all above board so that as few Saints fans as possible would have their noses put out of joint...ran out of time basically. I will have no such 'ethical' issue with the JPT as we have never had 35,000 + ever at any game. So to say there are 35,000 more deserving just would not be true.

Yes mate...I am working EXTREMELY hard to work the possibilities of Ron coming back for JPT/or later game...all I'm saying is 'don't hold y'breath at the moment!'

Firstly Big Ron wishes the team luck tomorrow and even more the fans - his heart is totally with you. He says that even tho' pomps should rightly be favourites, Saints, with your passionate backing, may have enough to cause the upset. I speak with him pretty well every day and sometimes more than once. He never, I repeat never, fails to mention his love for the Saints fans and in what high esteem he holds them. Believe me, he wants us to win this one. Ron's health has taken a real downward turn in the last week or so. The Big Fella is having difficulty breathing and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, they wanted to keep him, however he refused to stay. He wanted to be at home and be with his cats (no mocking, he is a widower and they are his company). The doctors issued Ron breathing equipment, including a ventilator and a small, portable oxygen mask. This has been a great help. Ron has finished the pictures he was working on and now has a lot of idle time without much to keep him occupied. It is a good time if you were looking for him to do you a picture.

This week has been agonising for me. Several wonderful people on here offered to try and help and you have no idea how much I appreciate that. Then I eventually heard back from the club, so that (maybe) I could do this correctly and legitimately so not upsetting any of my fellow Saints fans....each day I was having to put business/business schedule on hold and each day flights were becoming rarer and waaay more expensive. Eventually, I heard back from the club on Thursday saying 'I could call in some number and go on hold, they have a few tickets left'...FFS, too little - too late. I even had people (like LV Saint) using his ability to secure the cheapest flights. Wanna hear something sick? It will be easier for me to get a ticket from the skates for a replay, they have a system in place for fans attending games from far away!!