Saints 0-0 Skates - Match Thread

[Chez]

16 minutes ago, whelk said:

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

yeah he reigned it in, only mentioning Norris' goal about 4 times. 

[bangkoksaint]

2 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

We did….. 

sorry I meant to add ‘with Archer’

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Roo1976 said:

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?.

Thought Manning did OK. I've never been his biggest fan, but there wasn't much threat down his side.

[Dr. Kucho]

Missed the first 15 minutes but wish I had missed the full 90. It was so frustrating watching us and seeing the lame attacks.

I like Still and really hope it’s works out, but he made some crucial mistakes today. Should have changed the formation in the first half as it was obvious it wasn’t working. Brought the subs on to late for them to make a impact and playing this way he should have started with Stewart as a target point. 

Let’s hope next match will be better when all players have trained together as Jander and Scienza look like good additions. 

[OttawaSaint]

4 minutes ago, saintant said:

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. 

My thoughts too. I'm sick of watching Saints. We are just so damn slow, clueless, and mediocre. Brief respite for the promotion season, but much of that was average and frustrating too.

Edited 2 hours ago by OttawaSaint

[Lord Duckhunter]

Poor game.

Poor atmosphere.

Poor performance.

First half particularly poor. They looked more organised and seemed to have a game plan. We were just a mess, too slow in possession and our passing was atrocious. Got better second half and they faded a bit, so probably a fair result, but fuck me it was pretty dire.

Charles our best player by a mile. Downes the worst, the sooner he fucks off the better. Complete fraud of a player, blagger.
 

Baz and the 2 centre halves were competent, but Murphy had the full back on toast, particularly first half. The rest were just average, although Archer worked hard and battled away. 
 

Not convinced by the Manager yet, we needed some old fashioned up and at em today, and he sent us out way too passive. 
 

Overall feeling is one of relief, we could have easily got beat playing like that…

[HarvSFC]

They certainly didn't do us proud today. It was like the players didn't know how big the occasion is and it didn't play like a heated derby game. Not one wanted to grab a hold of the ball and dictate the play. The first half was full of aimless and hopeful punts which their defence coped with easily. While the second half was better, but I can't remember us having any clear cut chances.

With that said, they came here playing for the 0-0 draw. They were wasting time from the very first minute when Still got told off for running onto the pitch for their first throw. The ref was also shite and gave them a foul every time we breathed on them. I also can't remember Bazunu being called into action too many times, which is good for us.

Roerslev had a poor game. No composure on the ball and struggled at times with Murphy. Downes has been poor since his strop more than half a year ago. Fraser, as we know puts in a professional performance, but he doesn't have the pace or skill anymore to pose problems to defences at this level. Archer isn't up for a fight, like Bishop was for them. 

They had their second choice goalkeeper, who couldn't kick a ball in the net for most of the game. It was a great opportunity and we should have been peppering their goal with shots, but we just didn't do anything with the ball. The one time Archer did round their goalkeeper, there wasn't anyone else in the box.

[Miltonaggro]

A team of poor players raising their game against a group of better players performing well below par and playing like strangers! Jander and Leo looked good once on, but far too late for real impact, flashes of creativity from Fellows as his obvious frustration with our forwards grew. Toothless and clueless anywhere near the 18 yard box - focal point Archer lazy and a yard behind first half and Stewart with concrete boots in the second - abysmal. I reckon its going to take another month to gel this lot into an actual team.

[SaintNate]

Woeful. 

[warsash saint]

53 minutes ago, Andrew Watson said:

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.

Ahh bless ... you only been following Saints since 2024??

[derry]

I'm surprised everybody is disappointed at what  the game was like. Almost 100% of the membership here have been working themselves into a lather about the importance of not losing this match. The idiot management buy into that and import LeTissier and Benali to emphasise the importance of the game to the players. I bet most of them had the mindset any result except a loss. 

So Portsmouth played well, bollocks, from the kick off their main tactic was launch the ball into our area, very occasionly Murphy had a run but about half the times played the ball into the box from about thirty yards out. Most times it was the keeper launching the ball. We played four at the back and looked better for it, making the full backs more defensive was correct.

The two midfielders weren't positive enough mostly sitting back whilst playing Archer on his own was counter productive. The two wingers really had no target. If Archer really wanted to help he could have marked the keeper because that would have stymied Portsmouth's back passing and then a launched ball . He'd have caused them a lot more problems than he did up between two big centre backs.

That result was the predictable outcome of an overhyped game. Now we need to get these players incorporated and move up the table.

[Hopper]

Frustrating but not wholey unexpected with the new players bedding in and the skates up for it. I thought we looked slow and plodding, passes back and across seem to still be the default setting for some reason.

Downes was woeful for me. The balance isn't right with both him and Charles in there together and I think Charles offers far more.

The team looked much better with Jander on and I thought his calmness on the ball was pretty evident straight away, could end up being a big player for us and ideally I'd like to see him in with Charles from the start.

Tough to judge Azaz or Archer because they got fed so little. I did think Fellows showed glimpses of what he can offer but all in all a pretty dower affair.

[RedArmy]

3 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Not one wanted to grab a hold of the ball and dictate the play.

Probably because the one player who’s meant to do that is a fucking charlatan and still misses his lego head boyfriend. 

[BotleySaint]

Just now, Miltonaggro said:

Stewart with concrete boots in the second - abysmal. 

I thought Stewart did fairly well. Dropped back to win the ball a few times. Worked hard. But he's barely played for years so needs a run.. 

[Miltonaggro]

Just now, BotleySaint said:

I thought Stewart did fairly well. Dropped back to win the ball a few times. Worked hard. But he's barely played for years so needs a run.. 

Tallest man on the pitch and didn’t win a header or control any of the balls from crosses or 50/50s today - right in front of me second half. Him and Armstrong should be tearing up that skate defence.,

[Lord Duckhunter]

You know what really fucked me off. It’s only a little thing, but it shows the mindset of the modern player & these play station coaches. We clearly wanted a right footer taking corners on the right and a left footer on the left. Outswingers, every one. They have a reserve keeper coming on and about 10 mins later, we get a corner. Why not swap, swing it in under his bar and test his mettle. No, we stick to the “game plan”. Bloke had hardly touched the ball, was small for a keeper and we don’t pile in on him. Fucking joke….

[Football Special]

16 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Poor game.

Poor atmosphere.

Poor performance.

First half particularly poor. They looked more organised and seemed to have a game plan. We were just a mess, too slow in possession and our passing was atrocious. Got better second half and they faded a bit, so probably a fair result, but fuck me it was pretty dire.

Charles our best player by a mile. Downes the worst, the sooner he fucks off the better. Complete fraud of a player, blagger.
 

Baz and the 2 centre halves were competent, but Murphy had the full back on toast, particularly first half. The rest were just average, although Archer worked hard and battled away. 
 

Not convinced by the Manager yet, we needed some old fashioned up and at em today, and he sent us out way too passive. 
 

Overall feeling is one of relief, we could have easily got beat playing like that…

Got to agree with all of that. It was a very poor performance and so far this season  Will Still looks very naive tactically 

Skates had reserve keeper in, no idea if he's any good as we never actually had a shot on target at him 

[OttawaSaint]

Stewart. Tall as fuck but jumps way too soon and wins very few headers.  

[Hawkswood]

That first half was awful but fair play to them. They were well organised and pressed us really well so all we could do was hoof it to Archer who had no chance of making it stick. Hes just not that sort of number 9. It shouldn't take the manager to tell all 3 centre mids to come short for the ball to play out of the  press. I found that really frustrating but who knows what instructions they're given. I think it's only a matter of time until Downes loses his place, he's just not really good enough for what we want to do.

Im not worried as I think that this team will start gelling at some point but I'd actually like to give a shout out to Baz as I've been a bit annoyed over his lack of dominance coming for the ball but he did that to great effect today and relieved pressure a number of times.

Other than that Im struggling to pick a MoM. Maybe Manning but its slim pickings.

[S-Clarke]

That was horrific, truly horrific. One of the worst games of football we'll ever have to sit through.

It was hyped up as expected, but it was as flat as a pancake.

Passive

Tepid

Timid.

Everything about it was summed up in those 3 words, both atmosphere wise and performance on the pitch.

It was an entirley waste of 90 mins, they've just wasted a game of football really. We didn't move it quick enough, we didn't move forward quickly enough, we didn't use the width, we didn't have shots, we didn't win anything in the air. There was nothing good about us.

The second half had to be a bit better as it simply couldn't have been worse, but even that's stretching. There's really nothing much to say on the performance as there simply wasn't one, not from any player on the pitch.

It was the biggest non-game you'll ever get to see in your life. We might as well have spent it at home watching paint dry.

[Hawkswood]

19 minutes ago, Hopper said:

Frustrating but not wholey unexpected with the new players bedding in and the skates up for it. I thought we looked slow and plodding, passes back and across seem to still be the default setting for some reason.

Downes was woeful for me. The balance isn't right with both him and Charles in there together and I think Charles offers far more.

The team looked much better with Jander on and I thought his calmness on the ball was pretty evident straight away, could end up being a big player for us and ideally I'd like to see him in with Charles from the start.

Tough to judge Azaz or Archer because they got fed so little. I did think Fellows showed glimpses of what he can offer but all in all a pretty dower affair.

Agree regarding Downes. Surely only a matter of time until we see Jander and charles in the middle.

[rallyboy]

1 hour ago, whelk said:

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

I'm sure he did, it was Saints and Pompey who delivered a pile of crap - that's why we owe ITV an apology.

[Swaythling Saint]

Jander and Scienza looked good in their cameos, think Jander is more what Will is looking for in midfield, Downes will lose his place, he was awful today.

[Football Special]

Just now, OttawaSaint said:

Stewart. Tall as fuck but jumps way too soon and wins very few headers.  

Let's be honest, any ball above head height going forward is an absolute waste of time for us, felt sorry for Archer stranded up front with no one getting near him, so so fucking easy to defend against. 

Good lesson for some of the knobjockeys on here going on pre match about us having "better players" so rightly favourites- bullshit,  still no sign of us being a cohesive TEAM , forget the transfer fees, until they evidence we've actually put a team together there's zero reason for us to have any confidence in them 

But but look how much money we spent..... means fuck all 

 

Other moan today, old bill as usual on our side of the divide, final whistle skates giving it the big one chucking coins etc, couple of Saints react and get pulled by the cunts desperate to make an arrest, we get fucked over all the time

 

Overall our fans were massive disappointment today, sing all the time about hating Pompey, actually play them and let's be honest atmosphere was shit most of the game 

[Convict Colony]

2 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Last time I will say it.

Kieffer Moore would thrive in this shite way Will Still has us playing 

saved

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

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

Move it quick, much, much quicker. Stretch the play, much, much quicker.

We played into their press by being so passive on the ball. I had more fun on the way back home in the rain.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Swaythling Saint said:

Jander and Scienza looked good in their cameos, think Jander is more what Will is looking for in midfield, Downes will lose his place, he was awful today.

Jander was good but I didn't see enough to judge Scienza who was only on for a short time - he did draw three fouls though.

[Football Special]

5 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

That first half was awful but fair play to them. They were well organised and pressed us really well so all we could do was hoof it to Archer who had no chance of making it stick. Hes just not that sort of number 9. It shouldn't take the manager to tell all 3 centre mids to come short for the ball to play out of the  press. I found that really frustrating but who knows what instructions they're given. I think it's only a matter of time until Downes loses his place, he's just not really good enough for what we want to do.

Im not worried as I think that this team will start gelling at some point but I'd actually like to give a shout out to Baz as I've been a bit annoyed over his lack of dominance coming for the ball but he did that to great effect today and relieved pressure a number of times.

Other than that Im struggling to pick a MoM. Maybe Manning but its slim pickings.

I'm sorry not fair play to them. That's exactly how we knew they'd play or should have known if we'd watched any of their games, looked completely  unprepared and fucking clueless how to break them down, no excuses STILL 

[Osvaldorama]

Just now, Football Special said:

Let's be honest, any ball above head height going forward is an absolute waste of time for us, felt sorry for Archer stranded up front with no one getting near him, so so fucking easy to defend against. 

Good lesson for some of the knobjockeys on here going on pre match about us having "better players" so rightly favourites- bullshit,  still no sign of us being a cohesive TEAM , forget the transfer fees, until they evidence we've actually put a team together there's zero reason for us to have any confidence in them 

But but look how much money we spent..... means fuck all 

 

Other moan today, old bill as usual on our side of the divide, final whistle skates giving it the big one chucking coins etc, couple of Saints react and get pulled by the cunts desperate to make an arrest, we get fucked over all the time

 

Overall our fans were massive disappointment today, sing all the time about hating Pompey, actually play them and let's be honest atmosphere was shit most of the game 

Mate some old man told be to shut up and be quieter 😂

 

I was like it’s a fucking derby you melt. Pathetic fans now. Genuinely couldn’t believe it from us 

[Toussaint]

1 hour 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. 

I think Archer could be good, but only if we create a bit of havoc in and around the box, but we don’t, such ponderous build up play we end up trying to pick our way through packed penalty areas. 

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Let's be honest, any ball above head height going forward is an absolute waste of time for us, felt sorry for Archer stranded up front with no one getting near him, so so fucking easy to defend against. 

Good lesson for some of the knobjockeys on here going on pre match about us having "better players" so rightly favourites- bullshit,  still no sign of us being a cohesive TEAM , forget the transfer fees, until they evidence we've actually put a team together there's zero reason for us to have any confidence in them 

But but look how much money we spent..... means fuck all 

 

Other moan today, old bill as usual on our side of the divide, final whistle skates giving it the big one chucking coins etc, couple of Saints react and get pulled by the cunts desperate to make an arrest, we get fucked over all the time

 

Overall our fans were massive disappointment today, sing all the time about hating Pompey, actually play them and let's be honest atmosphere was shit most of the game 

Unfortunately we were so poor from the first minute the fans enthusiasm was gradually dampened. People simply won't cheer and singing watching the shit that was served up. Still and the side should have gone at it in the right way from minute one and the crowd would have stayed buoyant - instead it was long ball crap.

[Osvaldorama]

1 hour 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

Yeah. Dreadful today. Shambles of a performance. He looked absolutely knackered when he came off as well. Wondering if he’s unfit. 

[VectisSaint]

5 minutes ago, Swaythling Saint said:

Jander and Scienza looked good in their cameos, think Jander is more what Will is looking for in midfield, Downes will lose his place, he was awful today.

Only needs 1 more yellow and he'll lose his place anyway, hopefully. Two things certain in life, death and Downes getting a yellow.

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, Osvaldorama said:

Mate some old man told be to shut up and be quieter 😂

 

I was like it’s a fucking derby you melt. Pathetic fans now. Genuinely couldn’t believe it from us 

We have so many fans who seems scared of their own shadow, fuck sake , sit down, clap politely, leave early, beat the traffic, get to fuck for games like this 

[Saint Fan CaM]

That was very, very poor - from the team yes, but also Still - he was out-classed by his oppo manager until he made subs. He’s said it was like the players were still playing like last season - well don’t play a majority of the players that played so fucking badly and leave our most creative player (Robinson) on the fucking bench for 70 + minutes!!!

Starters today… Baz - the worst keeper in our last Championship season. Defence - Stephens, THB, Manning - substandard. Midfield - Downes, Charles, Fraser. Striker - Archer (can’t work alone). That’s 8 of 11 players that we know are not going to work well as a team. Charles is better, however he doesn’t do well with Downes. Fraser and Manning don't work that well together. Mads was OK but to be honest no better than Bree. Azaz and Fellowes didn’t get to see enough of the ball, but that didn’t matter because those feeding them were in slow motion mode and lost the ball too many times.

In the first half we seemed to play like a team with 5 at the back rather than the 4. Too slow in transition and so many times the ball was recycled across the back and played forward along a very narrow corridor along the wings. Absolutely played into their hands with their high press. The only way out was to hoof it to the two smallest players on the pitch.

I really thought my prediction of a 15th position in the table would not come true with the new signings Spors made, but based on the starting team selection today I’m not so sure. Promotion is a pipe dream right now.

[Football Special]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Unfortunately we were so poor from the first minute the fans enthusiasm was gradually dampened. People simply won't cheer and singing watching the shit that was served up. Still and the side should have gone at it in the right way from minute one and the crowd would have stayed buoyant - instead it was long ball crap.

I understand what you're saying, but that's not how it works in derby games , hardly a peep out of people near me who couldn't wait to head off on 89th minute , big let down 

Edited 2 hours ago by Football Special

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, VectisSaint said:

Only needs 1 more yellow and he'll lose his place anyway, hopefully. Two things certain in life, death and Downes getting a yellow.

He always gets a yellow because he's constantly a yard or two behind the play. As I've said before he's only good in a side that has the ball 80% of the time. Charles is the much better all round player. 

[Pamplemousse]

Burnley drew at home to Blackburn very early on last season; they got promoted with 90+ points and won the away game...

[RedArmy]

4 minutes ago, saintant said:

Unfortunately we were so poor from the first minute the fans enthusiasm was gradually dampened.

Irrelevant. It’s a derby. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Pamplemousse said:

Burnley drew at home to Blackburn very early on last season; they got promoted with 90+ points and won the away game...

That’s what Still has to achieve now. Hull away next Saturday is must-win, no excuses acceptable. 

[Convict Colony]

Fairplay portsmouth did the job  on us today but as has already been mentioned, our team new, disjointed and couldnt be worse time to face them.

Charles was my MOM for us.

Thought the CB's werent "brave" enough in the first half to play that tight ball into CM's to try and break the press and always went over the top, that seemed to change in the 2nd half.

Strikers still a concern, would prefer stewart starting.

Like what i saw from Jander, outches and he was significantly advance of charles, way more than downes does and i like Leo going down like bonnie blue.

[Football Special]

4 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

I think Archer could be good, but only if we create a bit of havoc in and around the box, but we don’t, such ponderous build up play we end up trying to pick our way through packed penalty areas. 

Archer tried making lots of runs but we had no one near him to create space or pick out a decent pass, Still is looking more like a Championship Manager kid blagging his way in the professional game every time I see us. He's inexperienced no matter what people say about Belgium and France, it's not the same! 

[S-Clarke]

10 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Fairplay portsmouth did the job  on us today but as has already been mentioned, our team new, disjointed and couldnt be worse time to face them.

Charles was my MOM for us.

Thought the CB's werent "brave" enough in the first half to play that tight ball into CM's to try and break the press and always went over the top, that seemed to change in the 2nd half.

Strikers still a concern, would prefer stewart starting.

Like what i saw from Jander, outches and he was significantly advance of charles, way more than downes does and i like Leo going down like bonnie blue.

It's a seriously sad state of affairs if we want Stewart starting.

The bloke barely resembles a footballer tbh.

[die Mannyschaft]

51 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

My thoughts too. I'm sick of watching Saints. We are just so damn slow, clueless, and mediocre. Brief respite for the promotion season, but much of that was average and frustrating 

How can we win games if there is no intent or purpose in trying to win games. No one at the club has spotted this flaw in our football which is a big worry.

[Costa del Solent]

Call me an eternal optimist but my feeling is that this game came a little too soon for us. The mentality and tactics of the team was absolutely crippled last year. You don’t come off an embarrassing season like that without a lot of scars and Still has a big job on his hands. Not just improving the quality of the football but of the mentality of players who really took a kick-in last season. 

can’t use that excuse forever but I believe that the ins and outs of the summer took us in the right direction overall. We had three debuts and a home debut today. Any reasonable fan would understand that this takes time.

last time we came down, we held on to some good players but also loaned in a lot of our team, then spunked our summer transfer budget resigning the same team. We can’t make that mistake again. Club needed a total overhaul and a total rebuild. Squad, tactics, culture, all of it. That takes time. The fish fuckers coming off the back of a full season in the championship, good start to the season and had a game plan. Circumstances dictate that we are in transition, off the back of an international break was a new look team and a new shape. 
 

first half was utter crap, total shit show. Still and the players have to answer for that. But I don’t think we’d give that performance in 4 months time, honestly. 

[die Mannyschaft]

20 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

That was very, very poor - from the team yes, but also Still - he was out-classed by his oppo manager until he made subs. He’s said it was like the players were still playing like last season - well don’t play a majority of the players that played so fucking badly and leave our most creative player (Robinson) on the fucking bench for 70 + minutes!!!

Starters today… Baz - the worst keeper in our last Championship season. Defence - Stephens, THB, Manning - substandard. Midfield - Downes, Charles, Fraser. Striker - Archer (can’t work alone). That’s 8 of 11 players that we know are not going to work well as a team. Charles is better, however he doesn’t do well with Downes. Fraser and Manning don't work that well together. Mads was OK but to be honest no better than Bree. Azaz and Fellowes didn’t get to see enough of the ball, but that didn’t matter because those feeding them were in slow motion mode and lost the ball too many times.

In the first half we seemed to play like a team with 5 at the back rather than the 4. Too slow in transition and so many times the ball was recycled across the back and played forward along a very narrow corridor along the wings. Absolutely played into their hands with their high press. The only way out was to hoof it to the two smallest players on the pitch.

I really thought my prediction of a 15th position in the table would not come true with the new signings Spors made, but based on the starting team selection today I’m not so sure. Promotion is a pipe dream right now.

We need to focus on avoiding relegation, no where near top end. Its the same football as last season. 

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, Costa del Solent said:

Call me an eternal optimist but my feeling is that this game came a little too soon for us. The mentality and tactics of the team was absolutely crippled last year. You don’t come off an embarrassing season like that without a lot of scars and Still has a big job on his hands. Not just improving the quality of the football but of the mentality of players who really took a kick-in last season. 

can’t use that excuse forever but I believe that the ins and outs of the summer took us in the right direction overall. We had three debuts and a home debut today. Any reasonable fan would understand that this takes time.

last time we came down, we held on to some good players but also loaned in a lot of our team, then spunked our summer transfer budget resigning the same team. We can’t make that mistake again. Club needed a total overhaul and a total rebuild. Squad, tactics, culture, all of it. That takes time. The fish fuckers coming off the back of a full season in the championship, good start to the season and had a game plan. Circumstances dictate that we are in transition, off the back of an international break was a new look team and a new shape. 
 

first half was utter crap, total shit show. Still and the players have to answer for that. But I don’t think we’d give that performance in 4 months time, honestly. 

If we are, he will be long gone by that stage. Hull next week is must-win or the pressure will start to pile on. Over the next 3-4 games it has to be 8-10 points and a much clearer identity. 

[Harry_SFC]

9 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It's a seriously sad state of affairs if we want Stewart starting.

The bloke barely resembles a footballer tbh.

I'd stick with Archer but get us playing more to his strengths. Need to get him in behind more often like when he went round the keeper.

[benjii]

27 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Yeah. Dreadful today. Shambles of a performance. He looked absolutely knackered when he came off as well. Wondering if he’s unfit. 

He's always got the shits.

Takes it out of you.

[gio1saints]

My match review :

First half: We were much weaker and half a yard slower too. They were stronger. The occasion put lead in our boots. But our tactics were asking for it.  I stopped counting the high hoofs mainly to archer but frankly it was shockingly bad offensive play. 
 

Second half. Better - but only because they tired and basically got resigned to keeping a point - it was not because we worked out what they were doing and countered it. 
 

As for our players : Charles did alright, Manning ditto, Bazunu too and Fraser did what he always does - works hard - but fuck it he is a limited player so if we had any ambition to win Jay or Leo should be on sooner. Stephens and THB were ok but still too keen to pass to each other instead of to forwards or mf. 
The rest : Aziz did a few touches but did not command the game. Neither did Fellowes. Both go down as disappointing performances for me. Downes - bad game. Archer as usual anonymous - this time because hitting 65yard balls at 9ft to him is simply stupid stupid stupid. I wouldn’t mind but there’s never anyone even close to him to fight for second ball - stupid stupid stupid. Mads was toothless today. 
The subs- Leo got fouled 3 times in 10 minutes Casper did a few decent things. Jay did nothing. Ross and Adam also did not change much.
Overall our best attacker was the bloke who ran on the pitch and I give the manager a 4/10 for absence of initiative to change tactics. A better manager would have worked it out on the hoof versus that limited pfc side. Will did not/could not. They were not a top team but we made them look it in first half. 

Edited 1 hour ago by gio1saints