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Positives to take from todays match


PaulSaint
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Just got back, here's mine:

 

A feeling of "Togetherness" amongst the crowd (been sadly missed)

 

One point off the infamous minus 10

 

Defence starting to look like a working unit already

 

:)

 

Another positive (a huge positive for me) was Dan hardings performance.

 

Best defensive LB we have had for aaaages.

 

Also looking up to the directors box and seeing WGS there.

 

....Morgans 2 long range efforts (so unlucky with the first)

 

...Pattersons performance - looks like he can do a very good job for us (we shouldn't rely on him though...still need a couple more forwards).

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Fullbacks - Two great aquisitions there. Harding especially was excellent.

 

Morgan - Had more impact on the game today than any I've seen from him last year.

 

Saga - Looked half decent today and anyone singling him out as lazy is just looking for reasons to hate him.

 

Super Kel - Saving penalties again :D

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He actually won some headers! ;)

 

Lol, I remember seeing him going up for a header, which must have been for the first time ever. Clearly the experience was a shock to the system as he was out-cold on the floor for about 5 minutes afterwards.

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Just got back, here's mine:

 

A feeling of "Togetherness" amongst the crowd (been sadly missed)

 

One point off the infamous minus 10

 

Defence starting to look like a working unit already

 

:)

 

Murty and Harding... both looked excellent.

 

Paterson... Looked a much, much better prospect than last year when I was distinctly uninpressed with him.

 

Schneiderlin... Looked terrific with great vision.

 

The defence overall looking much more stable.

 

Saganowski ... Looked lively, albeit a few loose passes.

 

All in all, considering Millwall are considered to be favourites for promotion and we're a makeshift side, bloody good.

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The biggest positive for me is that despite our well documented weaknesses, we still gave an excellent account of ourselves.

 

As the squad is only gonna get stronger I am a happy man this afternoon

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Fullbacks - Two great aquisitions there. Harding especially was excellent.

 

Morgan - Had more impact on the game today than any I've seen from him last year.

 

Saga - Looked half decent today and anyone singling him out as lazy is just looking for reasons to hate him.

 

Super Kel - Saving penalties again :D

 

 

Patterson was the big plus for me today and we ought to extend that three year deal to five right now.

 

evening Arizona. How on earth you can single out Saga ahead of Patterson is beyond me. I've been singing Patterson's praises since Reading away and today he showed exactly hat he is all about. He won everything in the air, showed strength, a little pace, confidence to run with the ball and caused their back problems throughout. Forget the goal, that was a bonus, when he went off injured and perhaps just a little tired as well we fell to peices.

 

If we'd played him with BWP last season we would have stayed up IMO.

 

I know you are big fan of Saga, and as you know he's not my own favourite, but despite these obvious differences in opinion I still don't see how you could see Saga as better than Patterson on todays showing.

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I was very impressed with Harding defensively.

I thought Lallana looked up for it and was industrious, although did better work covering than creating chances.

Paterson looked very good and hope he's not injured.

Murty was as solid as I was hoping.

Schneiderlin had a very good first half.

Saga was giving his all and not shirking anything.

Pardew understands that we need to add to the squad and we got a point against one of the better teams with a side which is work in progress.

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Patterson was the big plus for me today and we ought to extend that three year deal to five right now.

 

evening Arizona. How on earth you can single out Saga ahead of Patterson is beyond me. I've been singing Patterson's praises since Reading away and today he showed exactly hat he is all about. He won everything in the air, showed strength, a little pace, confidence to run with the ball and caused their back problems throughout. Forget the goal, that was a bonus, when he went off injured and perhaps just a little tired as well we fell to peices.

 

If we'd played him with BWP last season we would have stayed up IMO.

 

I know you are big fan of Saga, and as you know he's not my own favourite, but despite these obvious differences in opinion I still don't see how you could see Saga as better than Patterson on todays showing.

 

Sorry, think you've got the wrong end of the stick. I think Paterson was the better player today (see my my post at the top of page 2 on the reactions thread). I was just pointing out that we were all afraid he wouldn't put any effort in, but today he showed otherwise.

 

Forgot to mention Pato in that post, sorry, but yes he was the better striker overall today. Didn't mention Thomas either, but he was ferkin good too.

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Posatives for me were the defense, both full backs were excellent and whilst Thomas is agricultural he did it well, it did for me highlight how much we need a backup "big bruising CB". Schniederlin I thought was good but it was a his lazy pass which gave them possesion for the penalty and ultimately the goal. I was impressed with Patterson and really pleased to see he scored but I was dissapointed with Saga - he didn't play badly but I would not have tagged him as a current international.

All in all not a bad start - I am doing my test to obey what the gaffer has been saying and be patient, hopefully the first team will only get stronger from here (apart from Tuesday when I suspect a few youngsters will be blooded).

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One other bonus, no sorry two, first we were on sky and did not loose, so there is the first signs of improvement.

Secondly ours was the first goal in any senior league this season;)

 

Unfortunately not, Gillingham beat us to it :(

 

Nearly 21,000 attendance yesterday, fantastic considering we were on sky! bodes well for the rest of the season!

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For me the biggest positive were the comments AP made at the end of the OS article

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1747758,00.html

 

where he says we have to get stronger and FITTER.

 

It has been a bugbear of mine for ages from listening and watching and reading that our teams have really not been FIT enough for a while now. Lots of science and stats were offered in defence but as was seen yesterday, too many ran out of steam.

 

AP mentioned it when he arrived, he said they were heavy legged for QPR because of the extra work, and mentioned it again yesterday...

 

Nice guys though the old coaching staff may well have been, while it could be used as a pretty damming indictmentor WTF were they doing argument, I am just REALLY pleased that it has been noticed and that it is being dealt with.

 

Players fit enough to compete for a change and some additions to the squad coming...

 

hell a very positive start

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For me the biggest positive were the comments AP made at the end of the OS article

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1747758,00.html

 

where he says we have to get stronger and FITTER.

 

It has been a bugbear of mine for ages from listening and watching and reading that our teams have really not been FIT enough for a while now. Lots of science and stats were offered in defence but as was seen yesterday, too many ran out of steam.

 

AP mentioned it when he arrived, he said they were heavy legged for QPR because of the extra work, and mentioned it again yesterday...

 

Nice guys though the old coaching staff may well have been, while it could be used as a pretty damming indictmentor WTF were they doing argument, I am just REALLY pleased that it has been noticed and that it is being dealt with.

 

Players fit enough to compete for a change and some additions to the squad coming...

 

hell a very positive start

 

I agree and all that nonsense about getting fit with the ball, we had from JP last season, was time and time again proved to be bollix. Stamina is built up doing the hard yards. In the old days sprinting up and down the terraces or at the Army barracks. A kick about and a few shuttle runs are not going to make up for that. When WGS was our manager, our squad was not the most talented (with the exception of the odd player) but we competed for 90 minutes because we were one of the fittest, if not fittest in the division. Last season, teams with less talented players, overran us in the last 20 minutes because we couldn't stay with them. Now AP has seen this (after we had been back 10 days longer than most teams) and is going to address it, TFFT!

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Originally Posted by Arizona viewpost.gif

Fullbacks - Two great aquisitions there. Harding especially was excellent.

 

Morgan - Had more impact on the game today than any I've seen from him last year.

 

Saga - Looked half decent today and anyone singling him out as lazy is just looking for reasons to hate him.

 

Super Kel - Saving penalties again :biggrin:

Patterson was the big plus for me today and we ought to extend that three year deal to five right now.

 

evening Arizona. How on earth you can single out Saga ahead of Patterson is beyond me. I've been singing Patterson's praises since Reading away and today he showed exactly hat he is all about. He won everything in the air, showed strength, a little pace, confidence to run with the ball and caused their back problems throughout. Forget the goal, that was a bonus, when he went off injured and perhaps just a little tired as well we fell to peices.

 

If we'd played him with BWP last season we would have stayed up IMO.

 

I know you are big fan of Saga, and as you know he's not my own favourite, but despite these obvious differences in opinion I still don't see how you could see Saga as better than Patterson on todays showing.

 

As you say, I cannot understand Saga getting a mention in comparison to Patterson. Always looks the part but from a brief scoring flurry years ago, nothing of note. Can't even give him away!

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Murty and Harding... both looked excellent.

 

Paterson... Looked a much, much better prospect than last year when I was distinctly uninpressed with him.

 

Schneiderlin... Looked terrific with great vision.

 

The defence overall looking much more stable.

 

Saganowski ... Looked lively, albeit a few loose passes.

 

All in all, considering Millwall are considered to be favourites for promotion and we're a makeshift side, bloody good.

 

I would agree with all of that also thought Thomas had a good game the team seem much better organised than last season a performance worthy of the shirt 1st half but we did run out of steam second half 2 or 3 signings and if we can hang on to all that played Saturday and I am optimistic for the season I really enjoyed the game we looked solid well done AP also thought full backs were ace Murty and Harding look very good signings

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Positives -

had most of the possession and got a point from last season play off finalists (and tipped by some pundits to win the league)

 

after only a short preseason with new manager and before signings completed.

 

Looks like we will be very competitive

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I was pleasantly surprised at how competitive we were against a side widely tipped for top spot, until we ran out of legs 70-mins(which AP has stated he will sort out). Patterson was very good, I was impressed with his tackling back & he worked there defence all the time he was on the pitch. He also took his goal very well. The two new full backs were a big plus giving us a more solid look for once.

Couple more signings & we will be climbing this league before to long.

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I would agree with all of that also thought Thomas had a good game the team seem much better organised than last season a performance worthy of the shirt 1st half but we did run out of steam second half 2 or 3 signings and if we can hang on to all that played Saturday and I am optimistic for the season I really enjoyed the game we looked solid well done AP also thought full backs were ace Murty and Harding look very good signings

 

+ 1 on Thomas. I thought he looked good at the back

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For me the biggest positive were the comments AP made at the end of the OS article

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1747758,00.html

 

where he says we have to get stronger and FITTER.

 

It has been a bugbear of mine for ages from listening and watching and reading that our teams have really not been FIT enough for a while now. Lots of science and stats were offered in defence but as was seen yesterday, too many ran out of steam.

 

AP mentioned it when he arrived, he said they were heavy legged for QPR because of the extra work, and mentioned it again yesterday...

 

Nice guys though the old coaching staff may well have been, while it could be used as a pretty damming indictmentor WTF were they doing argument, I am just REALLY pleased that it has been noticed and that it is being dealt with.

 

Players fit enough to compete for a change and some additions to the squad coming...

 

hell a very positive start

Yes, so many of us have been complaining of Saints inability to stay the course. All teams knew we weakened towards the end of matches and profited from it. Even when we had a team full of internationals.

 

Wotte's soft early pre-season training is going to cost us, and we don't have much time to build up physical strengths without that dead leg feeling during matches. But at least the diagnosis is spot on.

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Yes, so many of us have been complaining of Saints inability to stay the course. All teams knew we weakened towards the end of matches and profited from it. Even when we had a team full of internationals.

 

Wotte's soft early pre-season training is going to cost us, and we don't have much time to build up physical strengths without that dead leg feeling during matches. But at least the diagnosis is spot on.

 

That's the main thing. It might take a while, but at least AP knows where we need to improve. Under the useless showers we've had since Strachan (with the exception of Pearson), they've not had a clue about what the weaknesses even are, let alone solving them. The appointment of Dean Wilkins is a masterstroke with regard to the fitness issue, and both he and AP will get us there, I've no doubt! At last we've got a boss who knows what he's doing!

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I was pleasantly surprised at how competitive we were against a side widely tipped for top spot..........

 

This was one of the most positive aspects of the game. for me too. As UWS said, Millwall have been tipped by a lot of press/pundits for automatic promotion. They came on really strongly at the end of last season and have managed to keep most of the side together - and it showed. I thought millwall looked a really useful team at times on Saturday and had a couple of spells where we were constantly on the back foot. They had a couple of really useful players too.

 

I don't think we will play too many teams of Millwalls' calibre and I won't be surprised if Millwall are up at the top for most of the season. So this was a really good starter for us and as many people have posted, it was almost a shock to see us defend well.

 

huddersfield will be a tough one too - again tipped by many to do well, so a point there will be a really good result.

 

then we've got Swindon, Brentford and Stockport. Of these I think Brentford will be the toughest, but I think we could well have cleared more than our current -9 after this round of matches.

 

Going back to saturday, Morgan impressed me more than anyone - although clearly unfit and lacking pace his first touch and layoffs reminded me of a young MLT. I reckon he will do really well in the 3rd tier.

 

It makes a change to be very (well almost) optimistic after only one game of the season!

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Anyone else unimpressed with Pardew's substitutions today? Taking off the best player on the pitch in Schneiderlin was ridiculous.

 

After the mistake that lead to the penalty and eventually the goal, it looked like his confidence was shot. Right decision IMO.

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Anyone else unimpressed with Pardew's substitutions today? Taking off the best player on the pitch in Schneiderlin was ridiculous.

 

he did fade in the second half to be fair.

 

Sub wise I did think he got it wrong, When patterson went off I'd have liked to have seen Gobern chucked up the front to help Saga rather than the move to 5 in midfield. He could've moved Lallana into the middle or even played Thomson up front and got him running down the channels. Saga is **** on his won and the ball never sticks.

 

Instead he played Thomson in the hole and he was totally uneffective there. Lightweight is an understatement, but if you are lacking strength you've got to be sharper, quicker and better than your oponent. He was Smith like poor for me but Pardew played him in the wrong position. Lallana in the hole Thomson out wide. Simple.

 

Another thing that worried me was our total ineffectivness to combat the three strikers. On a number of ocasions last season sides losing to us would chuck an extra man up front and we fell to peices. Nothing has changed. I hoped Hardings extra height might help but this is when Perry's lack of height - and even Thomas' starts to cause us problems. Not sure Pardew can be blamed for this though.

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I think the 1 thing that stood out for me on Saturday was the ATMOSPHERE!

 

WOW, the Bobby Robson tribuate, when Le-Tissier walked past... a real togetherness at last, I felt like I could finally put the past 4 years in the past and move on.

 

Dan Harding & Murty looked solid (even if Murty still has some way to go get fitness up) Lallana showed flashes of brilliance but was by far the most unfit player on the pitch!

 

Not losing on Saturday and now signing Lambert will start to give the players a bit of a buzz... we're at the begining of exciting times and I think the crowd sensed that on Saturday... lets star building some real momentium!

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