Norwich 0-3 Saints - Match Thread

[TheSoundman]

1 minute ago, Osvaldorama said:

Macca

Mads THB Stephens Taylor

Fraser Downes Charles Robinson

Archer Stewart

 

4-4-fucking-2 

Where does Fernandes fit in?

[Totton Saint]

15 minutes ago, trousers said:

After a crap start, which stronger teams than Norwich's second string would have punished us for, that was a decent performance. Here's hoping Still is now starting to see who his best players are and where to play them. Need to get some momentum going now and get a settled starting 11 nailed down.

 Bloody international break permitting

[Osvaldorama]

Just now, TheSoundman said:

Where does Fernandes fit in?

West Ham 

[SNSUN]

10 minutes ago, danjosaint said:

Pompey already out

[saintant]

6 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Would a back four of:

 

Mads THB Stephens Taylor 

 

Be pretty good at champ level? Or am I imagining things? 

I thought the 3 centre backs tonight all looked better than Stephens or THB.

[gio1saints]

I thought Mads looked premiership class tonight. He will start every match if he is fit from now on, ironically he might be dropped for the next round as a rest to let Bree have a kick about if fit but he’s 100% a league starter. Bloke looks like he knows what he’s doing and improves us both defensively and offensively. And he’s got quite some engine on him. 

[SWLondon Saint]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

How we play, there are massive amount of space in the middle of the park when we lose the ball high up the pitch. 
Charles drifts left, with Fraser drifting right...huge gaps, leaving Downes, on this occasion, to have players running at him.

I think the problem is that usually when you play with 3 CBs, one of them can step up - either into central midfield like a classic sweeper, or a CB/FB pushing up in the wide positions. There was one semi-break by Norwich late on which if Wood's starting position had been 5 yards further forward, he'd have pretty much closed all the space down in the centre behind Charles and Downes.

I reckon the problem is none of our CBs has much confidence right now so they don't dare be more aggressive and instead we get this V shape with the central player very deep when we're on the ball. Ideally the central CB should be ahead of the wide CBs and you use the keeper as the extra man.

[Midfield_General]

West Ham, Bournemouth, Leeds out with the Skates.

Calvert-Lewin had an absolute mare on his Leeds debut. Missed two sitters and then blazed his penalty. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Midfield_General

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, saintant said:

I thought the 3 centre backs tonight all looked better than Stephens or THB.

Thought they looked dreadful in the first half.

[Colinjb]

Just now, Midfield_General said:

West Ham, Bournemouth, Leeds out. 

Calvert-Lewin had an absolute mare on his Leeds debut. Missed two sitters and then blazed his penalty. 

#JusticeforBamford

[John Boy Saint]

Wow Leeds just lost 3-0 on penalties at Wednesday!! 
 

The Wow is the 3 pens to Nil

Edited 6 hours ago by John Boy Saint

[Give it to Ron]

1 minute ago, Midfield_General said:

West Ham, Bournemouth, Leeds out. 

Calvert-Lewin had an absolute mare on his Leeds debut. Missed two sitters and then blazed his penalty. 

lol Calvert Lewin penalty just landed on Mars

[CSA96]

6 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He hasn't been infected by Russball, so he's free of all that pass back nonsense. It shows.

You don't need to be an amazing player to move forward, but if you do have a tiny bit of quality when you do so it can make a huge difference.

Yeah, you can certainly tell he spent last season having a good crack with Goztepe rather than being coached by RM and drained of all independent thinking

[Dr Who?]

I think we are all forgetting the first 42 minutes until the goal out of the blue, but perhaps just perhaps that winning games gives us our mojo. Let’s face it we have only been in the lead against a team in the championship for less than a minute. 

I think we are still very fragile from our bruising Premier League campaign, but we just got better and better in this game, you could see the confidence returning. Downes and Wood were terrible, and Downes has been terrible all season, so Laboured and seems not bothered. 

Oh well, we will see how we line up on Saturday and then the real test will start again. 

[benjii]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

I thought the 3 centre backs tonight all looked better than Stephens or THB.

Apart from Wood and Edwards, I agree.

[Dr Who?]

2 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

Wow Leeds just lost 3-0 on penalties at Wednesday!! 
 

The Wow is the 3 pens to Nil

Good job this was not womens football as it would be all over social media how poor it is! All in slow motion. 

[Toussaint]

Charlie Taylor always looks classy and composed, and yet rarely gets a game and is apparently leaving? Bit puzzling.

[dsrdorset]

Flynn Downes can fuck off. Clearly doesn't want to be here. Disgraceful. Get out of my club

[saintant]

Just now, Toussaint said:

Charlie Taylor always looks classy and composed, and yet rarely gets a game and is apparently leaving? Bit puzzling.

Never been given a proper run in the side. Would prefer if we keep him.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, dsrdorset said:

Flynn Downes can fuck off. Clearly doesn't want to be here. Disgraceful. Get out of my club

He put in a right shift. He is pretty much holding a wide area on his own when teams break....no chance in this set up

[SWLondon Saint]

1 minute ago, Toussaint said:

Charlie Taylor always looks classy and composed, and yet rarely gets a game and is apparently leaving? Bit puzzling.

If Welington is going to be out for a while, hopefully he stays, think he's better defensively than Manning to be honest.

[Toussaint]

22 minutes ago, saintstowin said:

Matsuki must have a foot like a traction engine.

A forty tonne foot? That would surely affect his mobility?

[dsrdorset]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

He put in a right shift. He is pretty much holding a wide area on his own when teams break....no chance in this set up

Maybe I am being a bit harsh lol 

Great result tonight

[skintsaint]

https://www.skysports.com/football/video/16514/13418979/norwich-0-3-southampton-carabao-cup-highlights

[BARCELONASAINT]

4 minutes ago, dsrdorset said:

Flynn Downes can fuck off. Clearly doesn't want to be here. Disgraceful. Get out of my club

I was saying to a friend before the game the FD is a quality player at this level BUT i seriously question his mental attitude and his desire to be here. Really hope he knuckles down and embraces the challenge this season.

[SWLondon Saint]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

He put in a right shift. He is pretty much holding a wide area on his own when teams break....no chance in this set up

Downes is a funny one, at times I think he looks good enough for the Prem, at others he commits stupid fouls, and then sometimes he plays the most infuriating passes backwards or sideways into danger or completely stopping our forward momentum.

I absolutely think Martin was bad for his development as a player, encouraging him to play safe negative passes instead of improving his awareness of what's around him enough to take it on the half turn sometimes, which he pretty much never does.

[SW11_Saint]

Not out of the question that Matsuki will be loaned out this week and BBD retained…

[dsrdorset]

Downes was brilliant for us in the promotion season, but he's gone right off now. His whole body language looks off, he doesn't look happy. Worrying. 

Edited 6 hours ago by dsrdorset
...

[saintstowin]

6 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

A forty tonne foot? That would surely affect his mobility?

Joining in with some earlier Partridge quotes!

 

[Colinjb]

2 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

Not out of the question that Matsuki will be loaned out this week and BBD retained…

I mean, you are right....

 

But why say that right now!?

[saintant]

24 minutes ago, TheSoundman said:

Where does Fernandes fit in?

Is he still here?

[Harry_SFC]

5 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

Not out of the question that Matsuki will be loaned out this week and BBD retained…

Tbh reading Stills quotes tonight it doesn't sound like he is going to be loaned out. 

[saintant]

7 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

Not out of the question that Matsuki will be loaned out this week and BBD retained…

Would be a criminal decision but nothing we do surprises me.

[madge]

McCarthy was very good and certainly fills me with more confidence than baz but BBD was shocking… by playing him tonight has drastically reduced any chance we have of shifting him.

[saintstowin]

I missed the first twenty (my son reliably informed me how bad we were at times). I thought from half an hour in we played well. I'm sure Norwich were bad but it was nice to see some movement and thoughtful forward play, incisive, and well rewarded. Really wanted a goal for Stewart and Downs. We won!

[Hawkswood]

Crap first half so not going to bother about that, other than, obviously Archers finish. I was quite impressed with his all round play for most of the night. I was particularly pleased for Quarshie, who definitely grew into the game and likewise you could see his confidence grow. Must've nipped the ball off the forwards  feet a good half dozen times in the last twenty. He actually looked very competent in the one on ones. 

When the game is this scrappy you can tell that someone like Fraser has prem league experience. Generally better first touch and knowing when to move the ball. Solid performance.

Loved the cameo from Matsuki. Blimey, cant remember the last time I saw a saints player take it in the turn in the middle.of the pitch and lash it at goal. Loved that.

Think people might be being a bit harsh on Downs. He couldn't do too much to influence the game but played a perfect thru ball to BBD and, well, we know the rest.  Wood is a thug 😂😂.

Anyway, good for morale and lovely to keep a clean sheet.

 

 

[TheSoundman]

After about 30minutes we started to play the ball ahead of the man instead of behind him. Amazing what a difference that can make. I even saw some fast one touch football later on.

RM has got a lot to answer for.

[Harry_SFC]

3 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Crap first half so not going to bother about that, other than, obviously Archers finish. I was quite impressed with his all round play for most of the night. I was particularly pleased for Quarshie, who definitely grew into the game and likewise you could see his confidence grow. Must've nipped the ball off the forwards  feet a good half dozen times in the last twenty. He actually looked very competent in the one on ones. 

When the game is this scrappy you can tell that someone like Fraser has prem league experience. Generally better first touch and knowing when to move the ball. Solid performance.

Loved the cameo from Matsuki. Blimey, cant remember the last time I saw a saints player take it in the turn in the middle.of the pitch and lash it at goal. Loved that.

Think people might be being a bit harsh on Downs. He couldn't do too much to influence the game but played a perfect thru ball to BBD and, well, we know the rest.  Wood is a thug 😂😂.

Anyway, good for morale and lovely to keep a clean sheet.

 

 

Don't think anyone can knock Downs. Wasn't involved a great deal but didn't do anything wrong. As you say, should've had an assist. 

[macca155]

I think Wood and Taylor have been very harshly dealt with. Both tough seasoned Championship players. Exactly what we need for this season. 

Crucially it gives time for THB to rediscover his game. 

Absolutely need some creativity in this team. Robinson can't do it all on his own.

[adrian lord]

"Michael, Sue Cook's cancelled - can you take her out?"

Edited 5 hours ago by adrian lord

[saintant]

34 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Thought they looked dreadful in the first half.

In some ways but I don't think they've played together. I thought they got better as the game went on.

[Colinjb]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

In some ways but I don't think they've played together. I thought they got better as the game went on.

Arguably an emerging theme in the side. See Wrexham.

We have no confidence, but are fit and buying into a new manager.

[maysie]

31 minutes ago, dsrdorset said:

Maybe I am being a bit harsh lol 

Great result tonight

 

[Charlie Wayman]

See what happens without Shoehorn or Armstrong Will. 

Tidy performance in the end, shows what a couple of well taken open play goals can do for team morale and confidence.

Will has earned a couple of weeks grace from us lot as well.

[ErwinK1961]

Still think Archer is our best striker. Just got to find a way to play to his strengths (and he needs to show some interest more regularly too).

[saintant]

Just now, ErwinK1961 said:

Still think Archer is our best striker. Just got to find a way to play to his strengths (and he needs to show some interest more regularly too).

He clearly needs someone like Stewart as a strike partner that he can feed off. Otherwise he just wanders around aimlessly. Get those two playing close together and they'll soon develop an understanding. His goal tonight came from just such a moment and he took it instinctively. If we are not to sign a new striker (highly unlikely) then I think a developing partnership of Stewart and Archer is our best option.

[skintsaint]

Still mentions once we stopped playing short balls sideways and backwards, and started to move the ball forward we looked more relaxed and comfortable.

[suewhistle]

4 hours ago, suewhistle said:

Blow it, last of the lovely evenings so I'm going: if Saints win you can thank me later.. 

Some Goodens Gold and a pint of Deuchars IPA, I'll give you the link to my GoFundMe page later..

That should help the confidence no end, Stewart's physicality was a welcome change and... will we see more of Matsuki? Even the neutrals in the pub were impressed.

 

[maysie]

3 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Still mentions once we stopped playing short balls sideways and backwards, and started to move the ball forward we looked more relaxed and comfortable.

He’s not wrong, he’s had a few digs at the players default being this.

Martin was one hell of a salesman.

[CSA96]