Saints 2-1 Coventry - Match Thread

[Lighthouse]

The start of a home triple header. COYR etc.

[gammon cheeks]

Coventry are a decent side with a decent manager that play front footed decent football ......cant wait .

[beatlesaint]

This will be the toughest of the three home games and after Blackburn they need to put in a performance otherwise apathy will set in amongst the crowd. 

Tbf whatever the score isnt gonna make a great deal of difference to us re- playoffs.......but it will to Coventry ! 

[The Cat]

6 minutes ago, gammon cheeks said:

Coventry are a decent side with a decent manager that play front footed decent football ......cant wait .

They are good which shows that there's more depth to this league than just the top 4.

Was impressed by them at their place and it will be a tough game.

[trousers]

Play. Our. Best. Players. In. Their. Natural. Positions.

K.I.S.S.

 

[AlexLaw76]

they are bang on form, and getting a tune out of Ellis Simms, who has been appalling prior to his arrival at Cov

[Pamplemousse]

If we win, we'll be a point away from mathematically securing a play-off spot.

I think we have enough points anyway but would rather we did win a few games before the end of the season.

[Turkish]

Looking forward to Stephens further development as our Trent-Arnold in his hybrid role. Baz will be full of confidence after a clean sheet. The midfield will be confident at the confidence seeping out of every pore of our defence which should free up our attackers for a masterclass. I can’t see anything other than 70% possession minimum 

[gammon cheeks]

Baz

KWP THB JB RM

ARIBO  DOWNES  S ARMSTRONG 

FRAZER  ADAMS  A ARMSTRONG         Best and most balanced team in my opinion .

 

[Fabrice29]

47 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

they are bang on form, and getting a tune out of Ellis Simms, who has been appalling prior to his arrival at Cov

This is not the place for an Ellis Simms debate but that's a mad opinion  

Edited April 7 by Fabrice29

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

18 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Looking forward to Stephens further development as our Trent-Arnold in his hybrid role. Baz will be full of confidence after a clean sheet. The midfield will be confident at the confidence seeping out of every pore of our defence which should free up our attackers for a masterclass. I can’t see anything other than 70% possession minimum 

Exactly - and the score will be irrelevant!

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Should be a decent game. They need to win to keep the pressure on Norwich. 

[Toadhall Saint]

31 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Should be a decent game. They need to win to keep the pressure on Norwich. 

I can see cov winning this.

[LGTL]

Comfortable away win. 1-3

[Turkish]

So all of you lot whinging about Martin not having a plan B, are you now saying that his plan B is shit and want to go back to plan A which got us 25 unbeaten?

[Pamplemousse]

With Stuart Armstrong back and hopefully Adams up front with AA and Fraser on the wings, from an attacking sense we should be much improved from Saturday. And hopefully Manning on the left!

[Whitey Grandad]

27 minutes ago, Turkish said:

So all of you lot whinging about Martin not having a plan B, are you now saying that his plan B is shit and want to go back to plan A which got us 25 unbeaten?

We were unbeaten yesterday.

[ErwinK1961]

Bazunu, Manning, Bednarek, THB, KWP, Downes, Aribo, Armstrong, Armstrong, Adams, Fraser.

Lumley, Stephens, Bree, Charles, Smallbone, Edozie, Brooks, SAA, Mara

[Turkish]

30 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

With Stuart Armstrong back and hopefully Adams up front with AA and Fraser on the wings, from an attacking sense we should be much improved from Saturday. And hopefully Manning on the left!

People now wanting Manning to be back in the starting line up, seen it all now 

[Jack]

Can’t see us winning this based on recent performances, Cov are a good side 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Baz

KWP, THB, Bedders, Manning

Smallbone, Downes, Stu

AA, Adams, Fraser

Plenty of bench options available depending on what's needed. Bree, Stephens, Brooks, Charles, Aribo, Sule, Edozie, Lumley, Rothwell

Yup. Manning. Smallbone is picking up the Stephens duties first half. Manning just giving Stu some needed support higher up and centrally, as Stu supports the attackers. Just more balanced.

[Dr Who?]

I got the feeling yesterday that the players on the pitch and even the Saints supporters in the stand were just drifting and now waiting for the playoffs. Weird really as even though unlikely we were still in with a shout if we put a really good run together. Also even the Blackburn fans and they are still in a relegation battle, no matter how unlikely that they will drop. 

It all had a rather last day of the season feel. If we go into a game against Coventry with the same mentality, we will come away with no points. Coventry are fighting for that playoff slot and I think we will come undone in this games. 1-2. If we attack and play like we can going forward we could nick it 3-2 or something like that. 

I have no idea and neither does our manager, players or supports. 🎢 

[Wade Garrett]

More of the same RussBall bullshit and a home defeat.

Had all the enthusiasm knocked out of me.  Thanks a lot SR and the rest of the useless cunts in charge.  Fucking onions, the lot of you.

[FarehamSaintJames]

Play our best players in their natural positions and we’ll get a point. Yes, a point.

Coventry are pumped for this run in, something we certainly don’t look like.

[Andrew Watson]

We need decent form going into the play offs,2 points out of 9 going into the game is shocking,be very surprised if we get more than 4 - 5 points from these 3 games.  1 -3 to Coventry,we will not handle Wright or Simms [ who up to a few weeks ago was a total donkey ].

[Turkish]

37 minutes ago, Andrew Watson said:

We need decent form going into the play offs,2 points out of 9 going into the game is shocking,be very surprised if we get more than 4 - 5 points from these 3 games.  1 -3 to Coventry,we will not handle Wright or Simms [ who up to a few weeks ago was a total donkey ].

This isn’t boding too well for the play offs is it. Crap form, can’t beat a top half side and most people predicting we’re going to struggle at home against a play off contender. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

6 hours ago, Turkish said:

So all of you lot whinging about Martin not having a plan B, are you now saying that his plan B is shit and want to go back to plan A which got us 25 unbeaten?

I don’t think using a multitude of different players in unfamiliar positions constitutes a plan B. It just serves to amplify the Managers need to over complicate team selection.

As far as Tuesdays game is concerned, I can see another shitshow being served up. I wouldn’t be surprised if the senior players are starting to doubt the system and the younger decent players are starting to grow restless at their lack of a chance in the team even when injuries happen. There’s a lack of sharpness and accuracy now and we’re often relying on Jack Stephens to dictate the flow of the game through midfield, mainly because our actual midfield three are playing like strangers.

Will not be surprised at a 1-3 result. Coventry need a win whilst our lot can amble through these last few games thinking a few points will get a playoff place.

[Morse]

0-1

All momentum has gone.

Roll on next season under new management. 

[Saint Billy]

12 hours ago, Turkish said:

So all of you lot whinging about Martin not having a plan B, are you now saying that his plan B is shit and want to go back to plan A which got us 25 unbeaten?

Plan A and B look very similar. After the 25 run plan A was sussed, plan B was very similar but involved dropping the best players, plan C surely must be to drop plan A and B and come up with plan D.

[musesaint]

My heart says glorious win. My head says another tedious 70% performance capped by a lack of Saints goals and a late capitulation. 

[east-stand-nic]

21 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

This will be the toughest of the three home games and after Blackburn they need to put in a performance otherwise apathy will set in amongst the crowd. 

Tbf whatever the score isnt gonna make a great deal of difference to us re- playoffs.......but it will to Coventry ! 

Hence we will not win this game. MR is a good manager and I suspect had we employed him we would be top 3 now. He will have them up for this; they have to win. We don't. And we won't.

[JRM]

You'd hope Cov would start to have one eye on the FA Cup semi but they do look like a decent side at the moment. 

An insight from their end 

https://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/southampton-coventry-city-match-thread-tuesday-9th-apr.158325/

[coalman]

The Saints-y thing to do would be to implode and miss the playoffs entirely. I have a horrible feeling that we'll wind up being relieved to crawl over the line into the playoffs at the end of the season. Which is quite a change from a month or so ago where we were in the automatic promotion spots.

Martin doesn't seem to know what his best side looks like and is trying to fit too many players into too few positions. Every game seems to be about juggling our attackers and shoe horning Jack Stephens into central defence. Substitutions seem to be about that rather than game management. Our strikers can't put the ball in the net. Our keeper can't keep the ball out of our net. We're wide open on the counter. The loanees we brought in in January were in positions we didn't need and have unsettled the squad.

There's a lot to be down about. But, this is the same group of players that went 20 games unbeaten playing some of the best football I've seen for many years at Southampton. Some of the attacking play has been scintillating. When we up our intensity then nobody in this division can live with us. Whether we can maintain that for 90 minutes is another matter as we seem to get more complacent the more possession we have over the course of each half.

I'd like to see Aribo, Downes and Stu in midfield (assuming Stu's concussion has cleared up) as Aribo brings more bite than Smallbone and can turn his man. I'd like to see Mara given a run as our focal point because he can actually finish. I'd like to see Adam Armstrong on the right just because he's our best chance of scoring. I'd like either Edozie or Fraser (ideally one half of each) on the left. In defence please god play THB and Bednarek in the middle. Stephens should be on the bench in favour of a specialist full back - even if that means Manning on the left (with Bree out). It's got to be getting to the point where Lumley gets a go in goal over Baz. You know - stick with the people who were key to our record unbeaten run.

While Brooks and Rothwell have scored some goals I don't see them working so well in our system. I would honestly rather be giving Dibling and Amo-Ameyaw minutes right now if we wanted to bring on attacking midfielders. We've really missed a chance to support their development this season. Plus trying to juggle them into the squad has upset our attacking play and ability to defend from the front.

Despite all this negativity I'm still going for us to win 3-2. Can't see Coventry not scoring with the way they play and the way we defend. Which means we need our attack to fire which it is perfectly capable of doing. We could easily be 3-0 up after 20 minutes if we keep up the intensity and put away our chances. By the same token we could easily be 3-0 down if we gift Coventry space to break into and get too cute trying to play through their press.

[Turkish]

limp over the line completely out of form, play well in the semi finals but lose narrowly with us all bemoaning a poor ref decision or lucky goal. It's how we do it.

[4nd7]

Saints win 2-0. 

[AlexLaw76]

Pre match prezzer

My take, the players are maybe very deflated that autos are all but gone. Russell on the defensive, but suggested that if/when he leaves the club will continue to grow. Now is the time for a reset and get this right. some of the points raised makes you think he knows his job is under real threat if we do not get promoted.

• Stu Armstrong and Breezy back in the squad, this is a really good thing
• 1 or 2 will be left out of the squad, which will be difficult
• we have to get a reaction after Sat
• The only thing I am happy about from Sat was the clean sheet, nothing else
• I am not happy about anything else to be honest
• When we were 25 unbeaten we made changes and it did not matter
• now, we make changes, and people question it, probably because the results are not great
• Now, we have to build momentum for the playoffs
• 7 games to prepare and be ready to be part of the starting 11 for the playoffs
• There is not a best team as we have simply not won enough games, it is simple
• The players who are desperate to be in the team are the one who play
• We should have beaten Boro 4 nil, no one complained about our play
• We just do not run enough, it is not tiredness and it is a problem if they do not want to do it
• The break was not all great, 1 week with the players due to internationals
• How we only took 1 point from Boro and Ipswich is beyond me
• Ipswich desperation to fight and defend each box was something else
• we are not doing that, we need to get back to doing that
• We have to convince the players to do it, that is our job
• I do not care what people say about styles, it is about running hard, which we must get back to
• The club we walked into is very different, the healing took time, the players are in a different place compared to the start of the season
• If we do not go up, there will be questions, no one will question us, me, jack's role in the team if we go up
• there will be changes over the next 4 weeks, it is about finding the best team for the playoffs
• The relationship between the fans and the players is great, the players really need the fans now
• the players are so brave, the bravest players I have worked with, but we have to match that with aggression and intensity
• We have 4 weeks till the end of the season, 7 with the playoffs
• We have to be at Wembley, I understand the frustration, but the end goal is still there
• if I leave after, the club will continue the journey, and the foundations are really strong now compared to the start of the season
• we have a massive opportunity to get this right, 3 home games to start the momentum for the playoffs
• we are desperate to get to the premier league
• I love Mark Robbins, they have grown that club. They stuck with them and it works
• The players believe in them, the club believes in them, they recruit well
• It will be a tough game, they have done a brilliant job again
• This will be exciting, they need to know we are feeling hurt and they should be worried facing us
• As a group we have been honest with the players in what has hurt us and what has been brilliant
• we need to show real desire to run, we had 70% of the ball, but we need to be harder in the last moments
• It is not quiet where it was, too many times we are taking the easy option to pass to feet instead of going behind
• we are fighting for the players, showing them where they can do it, it is my fault if we do not do it
• I have to prepare the players for the most realistic option, which is the playoffs
• We will have to win 7 games, simple as that
• The players need to want to be part of the team in the playoffs, it will be an amazing way to do it
• we have to be ready, and that starts playing Coventry

Edited April 8 by AlexLaw76

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Usual pile of shit then. If he thinks these players are brave then he is even more deluded than I thought.

[Osvaldorama]

Really wish he would just go back to basics and keep it simple. 
 

Che has to play. As bad as his finishing is, without a target man, we go to shit every single time. 
 

Play THB and Janny B at centre back, and full backs at full back. 
 

Find his best team and keep a settled 11 where possible. 
 

If he starts doing these simple things then I do really like him and a lot of what he’s done since he came in. 

[chownie20]

6 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Really wish he would just go back to basics and keep it simple. 
 

Che has to play. As bad as his finishing is, without a target man, we go to shit every single time. 
 

Play THB and Janny B at centre back, and full backs at full back. 
 

Find his best team and keep a settled 11 where possible. 
 

If he starts doing these simple things then I do really like him and a lot of what he’s done since he came in. 

Exactly this. We have so many options on the wings to refresh and scare defences. Get a solid spine THB / Jan / Flynn / Che clicking and we can do some damage.

[SNSUN]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

 

• We will have to win 7 games, simple as that
•  

And the rest.

I hope we win tomorrow. Need to get some form back. 

[Jack]

Outcome isn’t important really, so long as we remain top of the possession and bravery tables 

[John Boy Saint]

Thanks @AlexLaw76

This jumped out at me

• We just do not run enough, it is not tiredness and it is a problem if they do not want to do it

Really?

I don’t want to get up in the morning and go to work - but if I don’t we’re buggered in our house.

[Micky]

Don't think Coventry will be too  bothered about coming to fortress SMS at all.   Most teams now probably see us as a bit of a test, ex prem side but easily beatable.   They are actually pretty decent and their need is greater than ours, so I can see them doing us.   That said if we play the right players, in the right positions, start fast, and most importantly, keep our foot on the gas once we are on top, who knows, our winning form may return.   Unfortunately Russ picks the team and decides the tactics, so it's unlikely that any of those things will happen.  Doing it my way 3 - 1 win, Russ's way 1 - 2 loss...!

[notnowcato]

Fuck me this place was happier last season. 
 

Luckily Micky Pep has thrown his hat into the ring to lead us to glory. 

[Alanh]

23 hours ago, Turkish said:

So all of you lot whinging about Martin not having a plan B, are you now saying that his plan B is shit and want to go back to plan A which got us 25 unbeaten?

No idea who is saying this but if Plan B is better than Plan A, surely it becomes Plan A by default.

[Whitey Grandad]

Running would be good. I'd like to see some running some day.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Thanks, as always, for that
@AlexLaw76

Lots of interesting points.

As aware as we are, that Autos are gone, with far too many games available. 7 games to prepare for another 3, if we do well. Ended up the weakest in that race out of the 4.

Hopefully, his "if I leave" comments were honest ones, based on our position and the cub's expectation. If he's looking for any "oh no, don't leave!" responses he's kidding himself. The expectation is to go up. Without Wilcox, and returning players who can play different systems, the button might get pushed. If it doesn't, the squad he gets next season is very likely to be his last stab at taking us up. That's the cold reality for managers.

He's wrong about there being no criticism during the run. There were plenty of eyebrows raised at some of the draws.

Lots of the same things. Cites the possession but can't understand how we can't transfer that into wins. Well, that's sort of the point of his system. So, if he can't figure it out...

Odd that he says it's not about styles, when he is welded to his, and it has a definite impact on all the things he highlights as issues.

Martin mentions fight and momentum, when those are the things he trains the squad out of. We have work rate and a desire to win. But we play a style that clearly stops players taking risks, and Martin has chucked those crisp, short passing moves in recent times. Yes, running would help, but it's going to take more than that.

I'll take the picking the desperate to play players, as a call to arms from them. Otherwise, he's basically put Stephens on the teamsheet in permanent marker.

While the foundations of the club might be better than at the start of the season, that just underlines the utter shambles SR made of it last season.

And I typed all that having seen the benefits for his approach; aware of the games we've had efforts in and even appreciating what Stephens brings to the squad. And it's not over yet, with the play offs to come.

Edited April 8 by Holmes_and_Watson

[Fitzhugh Fella]

4 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Really wish he would just go back to basics and keep it simple. 
 

Che has to play. As bad as his finishing is, without a target man, we go to shit every single time. 
 

Play THB and Janny B at centre back, and full backs at full back. 
 

Find his best team and keep a settled 11 where possible. 
 

If he starts doing these simple things then I do really like him and a lot of what he’s done since he came in. 

We really are up Schitt's Creek if we are still relying on Che Adams.

[notnowcato]

Another clean sheet would be good to see, tougher ask this time against a strong Coventry team. 
Expect we’ll create plenty of chances, not as confident that we’ll convert as many as we should. Could be a game for Sekou to start. 

[Osvaldorama]

55 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

We really are up Schitt's Creek if we are still relying on Che Adams.

Hopefully the lock ness ghost will be fit and can come in for a fairytale Wembley winner. 
 

But if he isn’t, we have to play Che the majority of the time. As soon as he goes off we lack a focal point. Arma is not the answer as a 9 and he won’t ever be, no matter how many times the club want to try him there.