Saints 0-0 Man City - Match Thread

[stknowle]

Surprised we did it and pleased to avoid the humiliation of equal lowest ever. Er……..UTS!!?

[OneMrsWallace]

13 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Calm down FFS and stop getting so entitled 😉

Sorry, just so excited today 😅

[Galway saint]

well done saints

[Danbert]

Harwood Belis is no good at passing

Welington deserves more game time

Stewart will be an asset next season

[Jimmy_D]

Having sat through this season can only make me wonder how it was possible for Derby to be so monumentally terrible that they did worse.

[suewhistle]

31 minutes ago, Andrew Watson said:

If the opposition have 26 shots they should win the game,as for getting excited for reaching 12 points. 

They didn't win. What a crap side..

[Andrew Watson]

suewhistle by their standards they have been ordinary all season and were obviously poor today. I will never understand why so many on here are so happy to beat Derbys record,all we have is 12 points from 36 games,which however you look at it is beyond disgraceful. I do also get that some of the reactions are tinged with a deal of sarcasm,the same as your reply.😉

[gio1saints]

I literally was in tears at full time. Thank you saints. 

[saints-til-i-die]

Missed chant opportunity “can we play you every week” 

[Convict Colony]

Good to see Dias taking it well, he's so self involved he doesnt realise its good for us.

“They didn’t even try anything. They just sit and they don't even want to win the game. They just want to be there. It's not good for the show. It's not good for themselves. It's not good for anyone."

Wanker

[saints-til-i-die]

Man City tears are the icing on the cake!

[suewhistle]

Did he realise the significance of a point to us?

Does he not realise they had an unused player on their bench that cost about the same as our whole team?

[Micky]

I have no idea what happened, I've been avoiding the game all day and have only just found out the score.  Not going to go overboard about getting a point at home, or 'beating' the record.  Whichever way you cut it, this season has been a complete car crash and this club is still going to take a lot of turning around.  Some very important manager and player decisions need to be made to get us in any shape for next season.  So, no, no 'well dones' from me at all. 

[Football Special]

54 minutes ago, farawaysaint said:

I celebrated a draw. In 20th. Already relegated. 

Team has broken me 😅

It felt like a win. Bloke next to me looked like he was going to cry celebrating 🍾 

[hypochondriac]

18 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Good to see Dias taking it well, he's so self involved he doesnt realise its good for us.

“They didn’t even try anything. They just sit and they don't even want to win the game. They just want to be there. It's not good for the show. It's not good for themselves. It's not good for anyone."

Wanker

I think I can speak for all saints fans when I say I much prefer this sort of bitter, sore loser type reaction to the pats on the head from Pep about what a brave team we are as we crash to a defeat. 

Edited Saturday at 17:10 by hypochondriac

[Verbal]

One word: catenaccio. How's goal difference looking now?

[Give it to Ron]

49 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Not surprised - hardly played despite being our best LB and then puts in what I thought was a man of the match performance - hardly put a foot wrong.

Exactly right Wellington(Bertrand’s double) was my MOTM and have to say Bree defended really well to . Doku is so hard to play against and considering neither full back have played much did brilliant.

Edited Saturday at 17:03 by Give it to Ron

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, Micky said:

I have no idea what happened, I've been avoiding the game all day and have only just found out the score.  Not going to go overboard about getting a point at home, or 'beating' the record.  Whichever way you cut it, this season has been a complete car crash and this club is still going to take a lot of turning around.  Some very important manager and player decisions need to be made to get us in any shape for next season.  So, no, no 'well dones' from me at all. 

Bore off mate. The season has been horrible so it's healthy to celebrate the small wins and the positives. A battling point to prevent us from entering the history books is something worth celebrating under the circumstances. If you can't do that then you're better off wallowing in misery in private. 

[hypochondriac]

I wonder how long it will be before we take any points from city again? Potentially a very long time. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I wonder how long it will be before we take any points from city again? Potentially a very long time. 

Could be. We just don't know how many divisions the cheating club, and their whiny players, will get relegated when the guilty verdict comes in. 🙂 

[Streaky]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I think I can speak for all saints fans when I say I much prefer this sort of bitter, sore loser type reaction to the oats on the head from Pep about what a brave team we are as we crash to a defeat. 

Poor man city maybe they can go buy a few more players for 100m each and break more ffp rules. We can't all try and play attractive football like you as we don't have the money to buy the players that play that way.

[hypochondriac]

Martin would have despised today and would have preferred to have lost playing his style which sort of tells you where a large part of the problem was at the start of the season. 

[spyinthesky]

My thoughts on today.
On the way to St Marys the feeling was similar to a visit to the dentist expecting treatment with no pain control.
First half we just sat back and tried to absorb Man City pressure which they exerted in the expectation that one goal would open the floodgates.
Second half we were in the game a bit more and actually got over the half way line a couple of times..
Panic defending was the order of the day and the tactic of relieving pressure by kicking into touch was often the only option.
Fair play to the team, particularly the defenders who put their bodies in the way on several occasions.
Ramsdale and Fernandes did their bit, as ever, and I thought Welington deserves mention as do Downes and also Bree who is an average Championship full back but did OK against talented players on this flank.
I thought Aribo contributed a bit when he came on.
As a team we were completely non existent as a forward threat and this is a big worry.
I think we all left the ground with a bit of a smile on our collective faces but, apart from the players showing a good deal of commitment, the team were miles away from being a reasonably decent Premiership team.
Well done to the Saints fans for turning up in numbers and getting behind one of the worst performing teams that I can remember.

[Miltonaggro]

To me that felt like one of the old Dave Jones sides out there today - all hands to the pumps for 90 minutes against 14 men.  Battling for each other. Thought our support was terrific also. Ramsdale totally competent all bar a few loose kicks which were more to do with us having horribly slow and dim forwards. Bednarek was niggling Haaland throughout which was nice to see. Be good to see this saints side show up against Everton and Arsenal. 

[macca155]

4 hours ago, BotleySaint said:

How does Stephens get in yet again despite week in week out terrible performances. I'd rather play Ross Stewart at CB. 

Solid today, you need to look at THB he has been way worse.

The bar is very low though

[HarvSFC]

Well, that was as good as we could have hoped for. As we learned a few times last season, a low block is kryptonite to these possession at all costs tactics as you're needing to pass it through two banks of players and then having to beat the goalkeeper, all of which have had enough time to get organised and setup their structure. Therefore, it needs a perfect pass/individual brilliance to break it. Rotherham at home and Norwich away were the two standouts to my mind that were similar last year for us. Fulham and Aston Villa broke through us with a quick pass into the box, Manchester City didn't try that today.

The first half was an attack vs defence drill. The second half we had a fair bit more space and there was one opportunity to snatch the victory, but Archer couldn't get his shot away.

Individual performances, Ramsdale stood up when needed, but his kicking is poor. That will be the one thing that stops him from going to one of the top 10. Bednarek got right under Haaland's skin, because he pocketed him today. Welington, so much better than Manning. He put in and won tackles and stopped the cross from coming in on numerous occasions. Fernandes good again. But, Dibling showed why he needs to play out wide, where there is more space, rather than the central position. Aribo came on, and played his part well, as well. A few times he helped us to retain possession.

I think the Derby record is the worst record in the Premier League, because it's stood for so long and is the one that gets brought up the most. The 9-0s were mentioned for a year, but other teams have lost 9-0 since. Whereas, whoever's beating that Derby record, if it ever does, is getting a permanent stain on their club because nobody's doing worse from that.

And, as predicted the Manchester City press conferences aren't blowing smoke up our arses, because we didn't give them an easy game today, while Martin is still dining out on those comments.

The officials were horrific today. The supporters were great, heard nothing from the City end.

[The Kraken]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Grinding out results with mediocre players... Who'd have thought that would ever work...?

Only took 36 games for a manager  to fathom it out... 

To be fair to him, that’s kind of what Rusk has been doing since he got the gig.

[Cabrone]

Have some of that Derby 😃 (our only rivals all season).

Well I have to take something out of this pathetic campaign.

[Wiggles31]

I enjoyed that more than the Everton win way back in November. There was pride in that performance and we got over the line (12 points). No one will remember that points total now. Psychologically that is huge for the club and us fans. 
 

Also the fans were fucking brilliant. 
 

Special mention to the ref who was the most corrupt of the season. That’s how they do it, the 50/50 fouls they lean one way. Not obvious but clear as crystal today. Fuck the Premier League. 

[Teamsaint1]

So many times this season, after well over 50 years since my first game,  I have wished that I didn’t care any more. That Saturday afternoons didn’t give me three hours of shredded nerves, more lows than highs ( it seems) .

Can’t give it up though. And yep, today, despite all of it, despite the crapness of achieving only  being the second worst PL team ever ( can we yet be the third worst ?)  that point was really worth celebrating. Not like we celebrated in May ( and the pain of this season has been worth the joy of Wembley) , but still a good day.

I’m starting to look forward to a decent campaign next season. Could be the year we win a league. You never know. 
Just can’t give it up…..

[Harry_SFC]

40 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Martin would have despised today and would have preferred to have lost playing his style which sort of tells you where a large part of the problem was at the start of the season. 

Totally agree. 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Totally agree. 

Playing like that you'd like to think we would have got a lot closer to Ipswich. Would have still gone down of course but it would have been a lot closer. 

[LuckyNumber7]

Celebrated like we'd won the cup at full time and don't care if it's tinpot! We've had F all to cheer about this season.

Usually would despise the tactics but understand them today, and it worked. We needed a point and we got it. We have so little quality in forward areas. Dias is a prick.

Credit where it's due for the team, they all battled really well today when it would have been easy to be on the beach. Bree is not a PL player but had a good game. Sule put a real shift in. Welington was good and should be starting, think he'll be an asset next season.

Support was brilliant again, especially considering what we've been served up all season.

Happy with that and avoiding the record, now onto next season.

[Vancouver Saint]

Well happy to admit my 0-6 forecast was way off. Happy with the point and the pride in the performance.

But reality check here - let's not kid ourselves that fortune favours those who play the low block in an incredibly negative approach and pray to the gods we get lucky.

Rusk is not the answer!

[Baird of the land]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

Good to see Dias taking it well, he's so self involved he doesnt realise its good for us.

“They didn’t even try anything. They just sit and they don't even want to win the game. They just want to be there. It's not good for the show. It's not good for themselves. It's not good for anyone."

Wanker

Just delusional, team with massive financial advantage complaining that we didn’t approach game as it was a level playing field 

 

[coalman]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

Good to see Dias taking it well, he's so self involved he doesnt realise its good for us.

“They didn’t even try anything. They just sit and they don't even want to win the game. They just want to be there. It's not good for the show. It's not good for themselves. It's not good for anyone."

Wanker

Like being financed by a middle east prince and cheating on FFP is good for the game?

Y'all failed to score against Saints, suck it up.

[sockeye]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

Good to see Dias taking it well, he's so self involved he doesnt realise its good for us.

“They didn’t even try anything. They just sit and they don't even want to win the game. They just want to be there. It's not good for the show. It's not good for themselves. It's not good for anyone."

Wanker

Rattling the chosen ones of the Sky Six will never not feel good

[Give it to Ron]

13 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

Well happy to admit my 0-6 forecast was way off. Happy with the point and the pride in the performance.

But reality check here - let's not kid ourselves that fortune favours those who play the low block in an incredibly negative approach and pray to the gods we get lucky.

Rusk is not the answer!

I don’t think anyone thinks that at all just we have had literally nothing to cheer all season the players showed up and put in a performance let us just enjoy that tonight.

[DT]

Our one game unbeaten run continues

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

It felt like a win. Bloke next to me looked like he was going to cry celebrating 🍾 

@Football Special meet the guy you sit next to

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

I literally was in tears at full time. Thank you saints. 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, HarvSFC said:

Well, that was as good as we could have hoped for. As we learned a few times last season, a low block is kryptonite to these possession at all costs tactics as you're needing to pass it through two banks of players and then having to beat the goalkeeper, all of which have had enough time to get organised and setup their structure. Therefore, it needs a perfect pass/individual brilliance to break it. Rotherham at home and Norwich away were the two standouts to my mind that were similar last year for us. Fulham and Aston Villa broke through us with a quick pass into the box, Manchester City didn't try that today.

The first half was an attack vs defence drill. The second half we had a fair bit more space and there was one opportunity to snatch the victory, but Archer couldn't get his shot away.

Individual performances, Ramsdale stood up when needed, but his kicking is poor. That will be the one thing that stops him from going to one of the top 10. Bednarek got right under Haaland's skin, because he pocketed him today. Welington, so much better than Manning. He put in and won tackles and stopped the cross from coming in on numerous occasions. Fernandes good again. But, Dibling showed why he needs to play out wide, where there is more space, rather than the central position. Aribo came on, and played his part well, as well. A few times he helped us to retain possession.

I think the Derby record is the worst record in the Premier League, because it's stood for so long and is the one that gets brought up the most. The 9-0s were mentioned for a year, but other teams have lost 9-0 since. Whereas, whoever's beating that Derby record, if it ever does, is getting a permanent stain on their club because nobody's doing worse from that.

And, as predicted the Manchester City press conferences aren't blowing smoke up our arses, because we didn't give them an easy game today, while Martin is still dining out on those comments.

The officials were horrific today. The supporters were great, heard nothing from the City end.

Great summary. Thanks for that.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

4 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

@Football Special meet the guy you sit next to

 

Got in before me!

Raises fists to the heavens..."Wessssstooooonnnn!" 🙂

[Saint86]

Feared a drubbing today, very pleasantly surprised when taking a break from the family BBQ to see we'd got a point and surpassed derby.

Just how bad were derby? 😆

Edited Saturday at 18:36 by Saint86

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

Good to see Dias taking it well, he's so self involved he doesnt realise its good for us.

“They didn’t even try anything. They just sit and they don't even want to win the game"

Wanker

If City had scored at any stage, this forum would be full of similar quotes, just as most of the ground was for an hour before people started buying into it.

[LGTL]

Looking forward to a weekend in Liverpool next week now, without giving one shiny shit about the result. 

[madge]

Thought bednarek had a great game today… would be an asset in the championship. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Southampton are back, hello, hello.

A masterclass in defending,  well done Saints. I'm looking for a point on trip to Goodison!

[beatlesaint]

2 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Good to see Dias taking it well, he's so self involved he doesnt realise its good for us.

“They didn’t even try anything. They just sit and they don't even want to win the game. They just want to be there. It's not good for the show. It's not good for themselves. It's not good for anyone."

Wanker

Good to see Pep shut him down straight away saying he didn’t agree. Fair play for that.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

A few years ago, the club produced a calendar with some of its memorable moments. The 5-1 thrashing of Derby, the promotion game against Walsall and I remember ticking off about five of six of the games.

Well, today I can say - I was there when we didn't become the worst team ever in the premier league. We're only the second worst!

Don't think the match will make any future calendars! It was awful and City looked pretty second rate.

[Nordic Saint]

4 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Good to see Pep shut him down straight away saying he didn’t agree. Fair play for that.

Pep went on the pitch after the game and patted Jack Stephens and a few other Saints players on the back. That was good sportsmanship from him.

 

Edited Saturday at 19:08 by Nordic Saint