Saints 0-0 Skates - Match Thread

[OttawaSaint]

We're so slow and clueless in the final 3rd. With a bit more pace and awareness there were quite a few killer balls that could have been played but we play like robots, get it wide, swing in cross, hope something decent happens...

Not good enough.

[saintant]

21 minutes ago, Chez said:

Maybe the whole midfield needed to work harder to find space.  There wasn't a lot of it though, so the next option was to go longer and play off the striker, at least until the space opened up, but not sure Archer can do that. Tough for any striker. We need a way of countering the press

Agree to an extent but also Pompey did a good job with their high press and we were forced to continually go long - appreciate there should have been far more movement from the midfielders to make themselves available.

[SambaMaverick]

3 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

What were literally my first words in that post!

I was agreeing with you

[VectisSaint]

10 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Some harsh comments on here. 
 

They came to kill the game, fouling, time wasting and diving. And unfortunately we aren’t savvy enough and let them get away with it. 
 

This game came at the wrong time for us, you can see some quality but they looked like a group of strangers really. 
 

My only big concern is our central midfield. We just don’t seem to impose or control a game with Downes and Charles. The game seems to pass them buy. 

Downes yes, Charles no, thought he was probably our MOTM, though that's not saying a great deal. The problem we have at the moment is as Still said in his Sky interview (I watched on ITV, but caught the end of Sky coverage), in the first half our players were still playing and thinking like they did last season, so obviously calling out THB, Stephens and Downes, possibly Manning. Their first thought was to play it back or sideways, even when there are clear forward balls on. Unfortunately with our big turnover of players we did not freshen up the back/centre to any extent. He obviously gave them a bit of a bollocking at half time and it showed, completely different 2nd half, of course then showed up our lack of penetration. Needs to get those 4 sorted out and looking more positive (even Baz was knocking balls forward today to an extent). THB and Downes are the worst culprits, Stephens has always tried to play forward more, sometimes calamitously. Fairly sure if Still sorts that out we will be much.more effective.

Anyway today was extremely depressing, but glad the derby is out of the way now and we can get back to playing football.

[RedArmy]

10 minutes ago, Scummer said:

He was right in front of me first half and had Murphy in his pocket. 

Name me a single cross that he stopped. Both full backs were fucking hopeless. 

 

[sambosa75]

44 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

I was quite positive about him but his first half kick it long strategy was ridiculous.
Their Manager had his team better sorted than us but then again he was ridiculed at Fratton Park when he first joined Pompey
Their left winger and Bishop, the sort of aggressive CF, we have longed for were standouts for them.
We should have the squad quality to improve but the team, as it stands, is nowhere near Prem standard.

First half tactics were ridiculous.  Constant long balls to a 5’9 forward against two complete lumps at centre half without a fellow team mate within 30 yards of him.  Finally started getting a foothold on the game midway through the 2nd half and he changes half the team.

His go-to strategy when we go behind of just slinging on as many forwards as possible leaves a lot to be desired too.

[OttawaSaint]

And Downes needs some time out of the team. He's killing us.

-Almost always passes backwards 

-Forwards passes straight to opposition 

-Gets really stupid yellows

-Constantly gets turned by a player when trying to challenge

[RedArmy]

Just now, OttawaSaint said:

And Downes needs some time out of the team. He's killing us.

-Almost always passes backwards 

-Forwards passes straight to opposition 

-Gets really stupid yellows

-Constantly gets turned by a player when trying to challenge

Downes needs some time out of the club. Preferably forever. 

[Lighthouse]

2 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Name me a single cross that he stopped. Both full backs were fucking hopeless. 

 

You want people to name an incident that didn’t happen? What was it Maldini said, ‘if I have to make a tackle, I’ve ready f**ked up’?

[SambaMaverick]

Just now, RedArmy said:

Downes needs some time out of the club. Preferably forever. 

Boils my piss watching the cunt jog about kicking people

[OttawaSaint]

1 minute ago, RedArmy said:

Downes needs some time out of the club. Preferably forever. 

Agreed. I was trying to be constructive 😆 

[Patches O Houlihan]

4 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Name me a single cross that he stopped. Both full backs were fucking hopeless. 

 

He completely robbed Murphy a few times before he was even level with the edge of the area - didn't;t even get a chance to play a cross

[saintant]

14 minutes ago, Chez said:

what's your solution when the opponents press is excellent?

Midfielders need to drop a little deeper and find space to receive from the defenders on the deck. There are always plenty of pockets of space and even the best press cannot cover all angles but the players have to take responsibility. It almost felt today like the midfield heard Still say he wanted the ball hit long so they took the lazy option of watching long balls and consequently didn't influence the game particularly in the first half.

[LGTL]

His subs were baffling today. We finally got a foothold on the game and he makes a load of subs that totally ruined our momentum.

He just seems to chuck everyone on when we need a goal. Any sort of plan goes out the window. 

[Baird of the land]

Makes me smile that Downs is so bad that Jo has forgotten we signed him.

Also Still was apparently disappointed there were lots of free kicks, throw ins and goal kicks. What a clown

Edited 4 hours ago by Baird of the land

[skintsaint]

Can we guess who the forum member was that ran onto the pitch?

[Chez]

4 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

And Downes needs some time out of the team. He's killing us.

-Almost always passes backwards 

-Forwards passes straight to opposition 

-Gets really stupid yellows

-Constantly gets turned by a player when trying to challenge

Hard to argue. The safe one touch backwards pass is a killer if you want to get between the lines. Whether Jander can step up and offer enough defensive quality is to be seen.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Fellows put in a couple of crosses but aside from that he was very weak and slowed play down.

Azaz was invisible.

Roerslav looked nervy.

Downes does what Downes does, gobby prick getting booked every game. Handed was miles better when he came on.

The tactics looked so stagnant today, half the team looked knackered. We certainly won’t be winning at Fratton Park, so that’s a few points we’ve dropped to the blue few already.

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, LGTL said:

His subs were baffling today. We finally got a foothold on the game and he makes a load of subs that totally ruined our momentum.

He just seems to chuck everyone on when we need a goal. Any sort of plan goes out the window. 

thought the first set of subs came at about the right time personally. We needed some height in the box and fresh legs. Didn't think it effected our momentum.

[saintant]

11 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Name me a single cross that he stopped. Both full backs were fucking hopeless. 

 

Well there was at least one a couple of minutes from time when he blocked the ball for a corner and Murphy crashed into the hoardings.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

We certainly won’t be winning at Fratton Park, so that’s a few points we’ve dropped to the blue few already.

What a load of fucking bollocks. By the time that game comes around we could be flying. 

[Mr Saints]

We’ve looked like an average Championship side since the first kick of the season, worrying. Pressure ramps up now to string some wins together.

[Charlie Wayman]

Clueless bloody rubbish, if Still has a plan and a way of playing we've yet to see it. Today it looked like Sunday League kick and rush, awful and I'm surprised the booing wasn't louder at HT and FT. If this shapeless mess goes on he'll be under pressure before Christmas.

For all his fauts and failures, Martin at least taught our players how to pass to one another accurately and they became quite good at. Today in the first half we seemed like a team of strangers, how in hell's name we couldn't differentiate between red shirts and blue is beyond me.

Don't get me started about team selection. Robinson has been our stand-out creative player so far this season, yet he gets benched for all but ten minutes. Make sense of that if you will.

Wood and Edwards cannot be worse than Stephens and Harwood Bellis on today's showing and Downes should have been hooked long before HT.

Charles didn't put a foot wrong all afternoon and Fraser played his heart out. At least they rose to the occasion. Manning was Manning, busy but largely ineffective.

[LGTL]

6 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Fellows put in a couple of crosses but aside from that he was very weak and slowed play down.

Azaz was invisible.

Roerslav looked nervy.

Downes does what Downes does, gobby prick getting booked every game. Handed was miles better when he came on.

The tactics looked so stagnant today, half the team looked knackered. We certainly won’t be winning at Fratton Park, so that’s a few points we’ve dropped to the blue few already.

You can’t possibly say that. We can’t be much worse in January then we were today, and that’s their max.

I’d still bet good money that we’ll comfortably finish well above them.

[Andrew Watson]

Outplayed in the first half and although better in the second [ which was impossible not to be ], It galls me to say it,but if any team deserved to win it was them. We paid 15  odd million for Downes [ more than double the cost of their team ] and he has to be one of the worst players I have ever seen,but as bad as he was,most of the others were not that much better.

A total shambles of a club,I predicted 6th place,but on that showing it will be 15 th to 20 th. I suppose we have to be pleased with a lucky clean sheet. Furious.

[skintsaint]

9 minutes ago, saintant said:

Midfielders need to drop a little deeper and find space to receive from the defenders on the deck. There are always plenty of pockets of space and even the best press cannot cover all angles but the players have to take responsibility. It almost felt today like the midfield heard Still say he wanted the ball hit long so they took the lazy option of watching long balls and consequently didn't influence the game particularly in the first half.

Portsmouth showed how to do it 2nd half the only time they didnt go long. 4 passes and they were in our box.

[bangkoksaint]

2 points from Watford, Stoke and Pompey - two of which were at home. I’m sorry, I’m not womping but that’s not good enough 

[die Mannyschaft]

0-0 Derby.Another home game set for a draw, no intention to win in 1st half. How Pompey didn't score at least 3 is a mystery. Bring back Russell Martin he is the original possession master. 1st derby in over 40 years completely bored. We need a keeper and 2 goal scorers its not difficult Saints just get some players in who at Championship level at minimum.

[Gloucester Saint]

16 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Can we guess who the forum member was that ran onto the pitch?

I’m amazed with such a poor match that anyone could get that worked up.

Comes to something when even the derby game was boring and drab. Fans made a great atmosphere at the start but nothing to sustain it and their fans went quiet for large patches of the second half when we put them under some slight pressure.

Very difficult to get any excitement going around SFC these days.
#DrabFC 

Edited 4 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[die Mannyschaft]

Just now, bangkoksaint said:

2 points from Watford, Stoke and Pompey - two of which were at home. I’m sorry, I’m not womping but that’s not good enough 

Complete crap, league 1 standard.

[Wade Garrett]

Thought Charles and Fraser were our best players.

I wonder if we would have been better playing 4-4-2 with Stewart and Archer starting.

Manager has to get his way of playing over quickly.  We have to start picking up wins soon.

[OttawaSaint]

Trying to feel optimistic. If we keep the back 4 formation, get Jalert in for Downes. Scienza looks lively, Azaz and Fellowes should settle in but our forwards, wow, they all look so blunt. 

Was hoping Archer could catch some form but he doesn't really make much of the crumbs he's given. 

[die Mannyschaft]

3 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

I’m amazed with such a poor match that anyone could get that worked up.

Comes to something when even the derby game was boring and drab. Fans made a great atmosphere at the start but nothing to sustain it and their fans went quiet for large patches of the second half when we put them under some slight pressure.

God if was poor football,  lack of passion, creativity we were just out played by Pompey and thier football which was supposed to be worse than ours but ended up miles better. Flat drab negative relegation style walking football. Do all modern managers only understand negative football.  Crazy subs and format.

[rallyboy]

Sorry ITV, that was dreadful, we promised a thriller and delivered Midsomer Murders. 

That might have been their best chance, and they didn't take it.

So....15 years, still unbeaten.

[die Mannyschaft]

2 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

Trying to feel optimistic. If we keep the back 4 formation, get Jalert in for Downes. Scienza looks lively, Azaz and Fellowes should settle in but our forwards, wow, they all look so blunt. 

Was hoping Archer could catch some form but he doesn't really make much of the crumbs he's given. 

He's not a natural goal scorer nor are the others. 

[madge]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

Disappointed the full backs didnt get up the pitch a bit more, think manning is not direct enough either passing or running for this team.

Disjointed with the new players but i can see hope, expect the next 5 games to be a real improvement.

Also shout out to armstrong showing archer exactly what was needed as a nusiance harrying CF.

If you play a 4 that’s the downside… they won’t get forward and if you noticed Murphy’s position he hung out high and wide..

[whelk]

4 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

Sorry ITV, that was dreadful, we promised a thriller and delivered Midsomer Murders. 

That might have been their best chance, and they didn't take it.

So....15 years, still unbeaten.

I thought Matterface did a decent job and never thought I’d ever type that

[Swaythling Saint]

Back from the game... overall we played like we didn't want to lose.  Second half was better, subs took too long to get involved, especially the last set. Ref was abysmal mind, their 12th man.

[dave.taylor555]

Very weird game. First half I have absolutely no idea what we were doing. Played like Wimbledon in the 90’s without the right players. We made them look good. The amount of long ball’s were ridiculous, the whole half….. 2nd half a bit better but I don’t think any team had a shot on target. Maybe one or two. I like what Will Still has to say. Not sure if the players are Mutton Geoff or he tells them something else.

[OttawaSaint]

Another thing that troubles me is the subs. Yes, make subs to change the game but at one point we had far too many attacking players on, getting in each other's way and very vulnerable to a quick break because THB and JS were creeping up the pitch too. 

Each game they seem haphazard and desparate. We've had a few recent managers do this. Just throw players on, bugger the formation, tactics, balance, plan etc. Sure if you are chasing the game late on but at 65, 70, 75 minutes? Feels extremely amateur.

Edited 3 hours ago by OttawaSaint

[die Mannyschaft]

42 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

We're so slow and clueless in the final 3rd. With a bit more pace and awareness there were quite a few killer balls that could have been played but we play like robots, get it wide, swing in cross, hope something decent happens...

Not good enough.

Fans got more coins on target than tge players shots on goal. If any of our players bothered the pass to the Saints fan who ran on the pitch we would have scored. How can a fan run faster than a professional player??

[die Mannyschaft]

1 minute ago, OttawaSaint said:

Another thing that troubles me is the subs. Yes, make subs to change the game but at one point we had far too many attacking players on, getting in each other's way and very vulnerable to a quick break because THB and JS were creeping up the pitch too. 

Each game they seem haphazard and desparate. We've had a few recent mamagers do this. Just throw players on, bugger the formation, tactics, balance, plan etc. Sure if you are chasing the game late on but at 65, 70, 75 minutes? Feels extremely amateur.

Totally confusing, why not play all the best players in for 1st and 2nd half.  

[Roo1976]

1 hour ago, adrian lord said:

Collectively, the subs haven't worked. 

Collectively, the whole squad hasn't worked.All the hype of thinking were going to smash the league is so way off ATM i don't think were good enough. Will Still dosent seem fill me and many more i suspect with confidence going forward that were capable of moving on from previous seasons of abject robotic slow meaningless tactics . Crosses were going in but without the presence of Stewart as an aerial threat and Fraser being the last free body at times in an area where you'd want Stewart to be, but he didn't come on till last 15 mins.Fellows looks like hes going to be a bright prospect.

Far too many slow meaningless sideways passes again today,and towards the end of the match there was that dreaded feeling of coking that pass up. Listen we didn't turn up and perform like it was a local derby just another match in fact ,that was the feeling i took from the game.Ref was dodgy,but thankfully no contentious VAR..............😁 

[Baird of the land]

3 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

Another thing that troubles me is the subs. Yes, make subs to change the game but at one point we had far too many attacking players on, getting in each other's way and very vulnerable to a quick break because THB and JS were creeping up the pitch too. 

Each game they seem haphazard and desparate. We've had a few recent managers do this. Just throw players on, bugger the formation, tactics, balance, plan etc. Sure if you are chasing the game late on but at 65, 70, 75 minutes? Feels extremely amateur.

Maybe it works on championship manager

[Morse]

Their support was very poor. The occasion too much for them. 

[ErwinK1961]

Crap game and mediocre result. In hindsight probably the worst time for us to play them.

Lack of any style still is a concern, though that isn’t going to come until we have a settled team (of at least 9 or 10) and formation. Still got things to sort with the attacking personnel - is Archer the right striker? I don’t think so.

Hoping Jander can be the player to help us play through the lines. Downes (and Charles) just aren’t that player.

[bangkoksaint]

I’d like to have seen us sacrifice one of the wide players at 75 minutes and go 2 up top. I think that would have given Pompey more to think about 

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, bangkoksaint said:

I’d like to have seen us sacrifice one of the wide players at 75 minutes and go 2 up top. I think that would have given Pompey more to think about 

We did….. 

[Roo1976]

46 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Name me a single cross that he stopped. Both full backs were fucking hopeless. 

 

The wrong full backs,Manning only there IMO because of the worldly free kicks, and i suspect  the right back was only  playing there because we have no one better?.

[saintant]

We are long suffering and I'm bored of it but is it too much to ask to see a Southampton team play simple pass and move football and get forward with pace and support. It surely is not that difficult. Had enough of watching simple passes go to our opponents and lack of any movement or urgency. Was hoping Still had some fresh ideas but yet to see them although admit it's early days but he's not inspiring me yet.