Hull 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Pamplemousse]

2 minutes ago, Appy said:

Can’t make up my mind if it’s basically down to the players as no one can get a tune out of these losers or if Still has made us worse, could be both I guess. 

Definitely both. The perfect storm

[Ekelund]

It’s such an unlikeable team atm. Downes x2 and THB blaming every, far too often, misplaced pass on someone else. 

[Wiggles31]

The fuck is going on. Feels like we’re becoming Utd with all the toxicity surrounding the club. All due to SR. 

I like Still and want him to work. But he needs to pull off a winning streak asap otherwise it’s curtains. 

And not signing a CF is criminal. 

[notnowcato]

Firstly, fair fucking dos to all who travelled to that today. 
 

The question I have that hasn’t even been close to being answered this season so far is how we intend to score goals. Totally dominate the midfield and yet no fucking clue how we create decent chances. 

[saintant]

39 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

Hull manager: "At the end it succeeded because we scored three beautiful goals, especially with crosses, because when we analysed Southampton they struggled with controlling the players in the box."

So... what the fuck were our much vaunted analysts up to in the build up to the game? Certainly not noting that we can't defend crosses for shit. 

Nor noting that we can't score many goals from our own crosses.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

Good question.

Which leads me to wonder “how many Sports Republic management structure does it need to change a lightbulb?”.

I’ve calculated 8 although may have missed someone 

Presumably:

Dragan to pay for it.

Spors, Lederer and a software bloke formerly of Barclays Bank , to scour the market for the best one available, probably a prototype that’s still in the early stages of development and not widely known to the rest of the market.

A technician to give it a check up, but if it doesn’t work now it’s not an issue as it may be okay in about two years, even if it doesn’t shine as brightly ever again 

Then, another one, the person to implement it functioning , if it was Martin he’d  make sure it was a eco friendly, or Still to check how it would function on FM or his X-box. And he’d be assisted in this pursuit by a bloke from Luton, because they’ve dealt with light bulbs before. And Nivea, because he’s there. 

I admire your optimism that SR would get a lightbulb anywhere near the club. 🙂

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Pamplemousse said:

One positive - Adam Armstrong. Actively involved and was trying to make things happen. Need him in the team.

I thought he was harshly treated on here and by Still after the first game. He had some chances and didn't take them, but the way he got into positions and was positive was encouraging. The trouble we have is not having a striker that can play on his own. How do we solve that issue?

[Paul_B]

My 1-0 loss prediction was a little optimistic it seems. To some on here this game will just be a little bump in the road, "the manager needs time", "the players need time", "we've got an amazing squad blah blah blah".

No. The club is a shambolic shower of shit and rotten to the core. Has been for ages. We are only going one way. At least maybe when we're in League 1, whether that's next season or the season after, we might get our own Netflix series. To show what a failure a club can become despite spending hundreds of millions of pounds! Although we'd probably fuck that up as well and it would completely flop!

Maybe the more positive/in denial/deluded lot will start to wake up and realise just how much of a cluster this club is now.......

[WALK DMC]

5 minutes ago, Chez said:

I thought he was harshly treated on here and by Still after the first game. He had some chances and didn't take them, but the way he got into positions and was positive was encouraging. The trouble we have is not having a striker that can play on his own. How do we solve that issue?

Play two up top ?

[SWLondon Saint]

4 minutes ago, Chez said:

I thought he was harshly treated on here and by Still after the first game. He had some chances and didn't take them, but the way he got into positions and was positive was encouraging. The trouble we have is not having a striker that can play on his own. How do we solve that issue?

I said it after the Norwich game, I think we should be playing 2 up top. Stewart and Archer looked good together that game. Part of our problem is that with 1 up we never seem to have anyone near enough to them.

[so22saint]

3 minutes ago, WALK DMC said:

Play two up top ?

Your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter

[Baird of the land]

3 minutes ago, WALK DMC said:

Play two up top ?

Given we seem to have invested in traditional wingers you.’d think 2 up top would be the natural option.

[lambtiss]

2 hours ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Matsuki, Robinson... two players that have shown a forward intent are nowhere near the team.

There just didn't seem to be any direction today. No urgency and no real purpose. Really think in a couple of games we'll be heading for mid table obscurity unless something changes.

Mid table would be an improvement 

[saintant]

34 minutes ago, madge said:

In this league we needed strength, size and power and the last few signings have been anything but… Murphy was down the road, a winger on the up, decent on the ball, has pace and can deliver. SR go and buy unknowns who’ve no idea what the championship is all about. SR are destroying this club and the owner needs to go and sell up. 
fans need to get off the players backs and tear the directors box apart if things get worse.

 

In a nutshell and we continue not to address this and then seem surprised when we look like a team of weaklings and roll over under the slightest pressure.

[saintant]

35 minutes ago, Chez said:

Simple solution. Pick Quarshie.  That's what we bought him to do (nullify the likes of McBurnie), wasn't it?

I am fed up of having centre backs that don't win the majority of headers in favour of lightweight ball players...and that's from someone that preaches constantly how important keeping the ball is (and thus the need for ball playing CBs) if you want to win games of football. You have to do the basics. Just look at the top sides. They have monsters at CB. Even Liverpool sacrifice a little skill on the ball in favour of power.

Yeah, he's fast, strong, big and powerful, everything we lack. I'm sure he can't do worse than Stephens and THB.

[Football Special]

24 minutes ago, saintant said:

Anyone else absolutely sick and tired of football? Being a Saints fan brings no enjoyment whatsoever and this club just lurches from crisis to crisis with no sign that it'll ever get out of this downward spiral.

I think you just need to look at how many league games we've won in last 13 months,  it's been bloody tough time to be a Saints fan 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Football Special said:

I think you just need to look at how many league games we've won in last 13 months,  it's been bloody tough time to be a Saints fan 

Hampshire CCC just blew a second cup final within a week to cap it off as well. And this was blown by idiot tactics, Somerset won last week’s. Whoever took the left arm spinner Neil off deserves the same P45 as Still, Stephens and Bazunu.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Not sure how today gets much much. Saints outplayed by a bang average team, Hampshire lose the cricket after some pretty shit decsion making and fuckin Strictly is on the TV. 

[Greedyfly]

2 hours ago, Chez said:

he's scored some goals at this level. But that doesn't automatically mean he's a great championship player. Whatever his level, we need to get more from him (and others). For me, not having a solitary striker that can be a focal point and play off is an issue. None of Downs, Stewart, Armstrong and Archer have so far shown they are that player.

He's got a goal or assist every other game the last two seasons from AM/LM. It's not his job to score hat fulls and yet he does and assists as well. 

 

I agree with the rest but like I said the problem doesn't appear to be him, it's the fucking set up, whatever that is. 

 

Certainly agree with the striker part too. Which is why I don't understand why we don't start with the biggest and stronger of the 4 we have. He's still meh but in this set up I think he'd be less meh than the other 3 shitters

[captainchris]

24 minutes ago, derry said:

Personally our back four was a clusterfuck. Apart from giving the ball away and for all three goals getting nowhere near the crosses THB looked negative and off the paceand along with Stephens and Manning need to be stood down. Give Roerslev another go and bring in Jelert, Quarshie and Wood. Charles and Jander in the middle with Fellows, Armstrong, Archer and Scienza.

Azaz needs to step up his tempo and physicality. Cut out the sideways and backwards possession crap and get the ball out wide and up front quickly. I lost count of the times today a positive thirty yard pass into space was spurned and the ball rotated backwards or sideways. There has to be consequences. Playing the same garbage doesn't cut it. Players make runs, the ball goes square, players stop making runs.

Well Jander was was very unimpressive today, Roslav is bloody dreadful but definitely agree with some of the rest.. 

Robinson needs to play, God he was our best player until the transfer window and then was discarded ….

Matsuki is a good player and deserves a run. 
Oh and drop Bazuno who is not good enough but seems to be favoured for no particular reason. Overall Mcarthy is the better choice … 

A strategy of play would be a bonus too….

[OttawaSaint]

32 minutes ago, saintant said:

Anyone else absolutely sick and tired of football? Being a Saints fan brings no enjoyment whatsoever and this club just lurches from crisis to crisis with no sign that it'll ever get out of this downward spiral.

Yep. We are still top of that "fans who have suffered the most in the last 5 seasons" table. Even with a promotion season in there. 

Abject. I don't even look forward to games anymore. Sad.

[die Mannyschaft]

25 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Firstly, fair fucking dos to all who travelled to that today. 
 

The question I have that hasn’t even been close to being answered this season so far is how we intend to score goals. Totally dominate the midfield and yet no fucking clue how we create decent chances. 

We don't score many goals due to negative football. Combined with no goal scorer we are relying on luck, mistakes and act of God. I don't think we will get more than 12 points this season. We play to lose not win!!!

[Patches O Houlihan]

21 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

The question I have that hasn’t even been close to being answered this season so far is how we intend to score goals. Totally dominate the midfield and yet no fucking clue how we create decent chances. 

According to Will all three/four of our attacking players like to play on the shoulder with balls played ahead of them into space. Quite how we have ended up with four of the same player seems pretty short sighted but lets go with it. 

When we are Championship Favourites™ most teams are going to be defensive against us. So on the occasions that they do attack us and get forward in numbers we need to be clear headed when we win the ball back, play two or three forward balls so that they can be played in.

But somewhere between Russball and Will's 'don't fucking piss about with it at the back' we're now in a situation where whoever finds a ball dropping at the feet on the edge of our area either:

1) Plays the ball backwards to someone in a far worse position 

2) Lumps it to no-one well past the half way line

3) Fires it off the nearest opposition player and into touch

4) Dithers and loses it in a really shit way to enable the attack to continue

At no point do they look up and play a calm, well judged ball to someone in midfield who might be able to do something creative with it when they have much more space to work with. 

[obelisk]

Well if we carry on with our current form of a point a game we should at least be safe from relegation. So there is that.

[Chez]

7 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

I don't think we will get more than 12 points this season. We play to lose not win!!!

what a load of bollocks

[OttawaSaint]

We've won 35 of the last 128 league games. 27.3%

26 of those were in one season

3 league wins in the last 44. 6.8%

Miserable

[Morse]

If you can see what a manager is trying to achieve then it's usually worth giving them time,  but I challenge anyone to tell me what it is Still is trying to do, and to be honest I don't think even he knows. 

The only thing you can say in his defence is Spors failed to buy him a striker, a keeper, or a decent cb or any sort of leader. 

[Jack]

7 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

According to Will all three/four of our attacking players like to play on the shoulder with balls played ahead of them into space. Quite how we have ended up with four of the same player seems pretty short sighted but lets go with it. 

When we are Championship Favourites™ most teams are going to be defensive against us. So on the occasions that they do attack us and get forward in numbers we need to be clear headed when we win the ball back, play two or three forward balls so that they can be played in.

But somewhere between Russball and Will's 'don't fucking piss about with it at the back' we're now in a situation where whoever finds a ball dropping at the feet on the edge of our area either:

1) Plays the ball backwards to someone in a far worse position 

2) Lumps it to no-one well past the half way line

3) Fires it off the nearest opposition player and into touch

4) Dithers and loses it in a really shit way to enable the attack to continue

At no point do they look up and play a calm, well judged ball to someone in midfield who might be able to do something creative with it when they have much more space to work with. 

Someone needs to tell Will that if you spend 3 working days walking up to halfway before trying to find your front 4, or you’re playing shit teams who want to sit in a low block, there’s not going to be any space in behind. 
 

We can’t keep sacking managers for being shit, but he is shit and needs to learn fast. 

[Sheaf Saint]

15 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

According to Will all three/four of our attacking players like to play on the shoulder with balls played ahead of them into space. Quite how we have ended up with four of the same player seems pretty short sighted but lets go with it. 

When we are Championship Favourites™ most teams are going to be defensive against us. So on the occasions that they do attack us and get forward in numbers we need to be clear headed when we win the ball back, play two or three forward balls so that they can be played in.

But somewhere between Russball and Will's 'don't fucking piss about with it at the back' we're now in a situation where whoever finds a ball dropping at the feet on the edge of our area either:

1) Plays the ball backwards to someone in a far worse position 

2) Lumps it to no-one well past the half way line

3) Fires it off the nearest opposition player and into touch

4) Dithers and loses it in a really shit way to enable the attack to continue

At no point do they look up and play a calm, well judged ball to someone in midfield who might be able to do something creative with it when they have much more space to work with. 

Spot on analysis. There's no coherent transition from defence to attack. Nobody is taking the responsibility to get us up the pitch and when we do have it in our own half with opposition attacking players behind the ball, nobody is making intelligent forward runs to receive a pass. So the man on the ball dithers about while he decides what to do with it, which allows the other team to regroup and get numbers back.

Every. Fucking. Time.

There was a moment in the second half today when we did find ourselves on a bit of a counter because Hull had committed a few players forward. We got it to the RW position and all it needed was someone to play a clever defence splitting pass because we had players in the middle who were well placed to run on, but Roerslev (I think it was him) just stopped, waited, and then played the same predictable pass back infield while the Hull defenders got back into position.

We're never going to score if we keep doing that over and over. It's infuriating to watch.

Edited 3 hours ago by Sheaf Saint

[derry]

For a start stop playing out from the back, just hit the corners and attack the ball. We're just contributing to our own failures allowing teams to defend deep and break. 

[sfc4prem]

11 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

There was a moment in the second half today when we did find ourselves on a bit of a counter because Hull had committed a few players forward. We got it to the RW position and all it needed was someone to play a clever defence splitting pass because we had players in the middle who were well placed to run on, but Roerslev (I think it was him) just stopped, waited, and then played the same predictable pass back infield while the Hull defenders got back into position.

We're never going to score if we keep doing that over and over. It's infuriating to watch.

A really succinct and well substantiated point. A perfect example of our inept transitions and 'attacks' that peter out. We are so easy to defend against.

We are also very easy to score against!

A sublime combination.

[bangkoksaint]

1 hour ago, goodymatt said:

Wow, we are not in a good place at the moment. Last weekend I left the house at 4:30am for the derby, driving down from Cheshire and was thoroughly disappointed with how poor we were. 11 hours round trip in the car for a nothing performance.

This weekend you’re thinking this is the type of fixture to go out and get 3 points and kick start the season, but like with the Stoke game, we just look like conceding on every counter attack the opponent has.

Weather made the pitch very slow, it was like playing through treacle at times but somehow we didn’t look any slower than the rest of the games. It’s all been too passive and littered with poor mistakes that lead to goals. Still has shown very little in all 8 games to suggest he’s any good. I’m feeling very disheartened and concerned for the season ahead at this point.  

Feel your pain. Just back in Cheshire from Hull. Awful day and I’ve had a few watching Saints 

[macca155]

The toxicity around the club atm is not good. Some gruesome performances, zero identity or cohesion. The manager looks out of his depth, and that is not a good look.

No way are SR sacking Still this early, so we have to hope he can get a grip on things.

Pompey did their HW and pressed the game out of Saints. Hull analysed Saints and ruthlessly targeted THB. Robins knew just how to handle Saints when Stoke dispatched us.

Saints need to get on the front foor in games. Expose the oppositions weaknesses as ruthlessly as they do ours.

THB needs a rest, Stephens so far has been solid but he needs someone next to him, pulling their weight.Wood would have cut out those crosses. He is very underrated imo.

Downs and Stewart clearly aren't at the races. Focus on the assets we have Archer, Armstrong, and Robinson.

None of he above is great but something has to give.

 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

31 minutes ago, Morse said:

If you can see what a manager is trying to achieve then it's usually worth giving them time,  but I challenge anyone to tell me what it is Still is trying to do, and to be honest I don't think even he knows. 

The only thing you can say in his defence is Spors failed to buy him a striker, a keeper, or a decent cb or any sort of leader. 

I think this sort of hits the nail

[Harry_SFC]

51 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yeah, he's fast, strong, big and powerful, everything we lack. I'm sure he can't do worse than Stephens and THB.

He's behind them because he supposedly can't pass the ball. 

The thing is neither can THB or Stephens. All I see them doing is passing it straight to the opposition.

Quarshie needs a proper chance and I wouldn't be adversed to playing him next to Wood for a few games. Two players who will win headers and put themselves on the line. 

 

[Jack]

Just now, Harry_SFC said:

He's behind them because he supposedly can't pass the ball. 

The thing is neither can THB or Stephens. All I see them doing is passing it straight to the opposition.

Quarshie needs a proper chance and I wouldn't be adversed to playing him next to Wood for a few games. Two players who will win headers and put themselves on the line. 

 

Quarshie - headers yes, but will also pass straight to the opposition. He was shaky as hell on the ball 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

He's behind them because he supposedly can't pass the ball. 

The thing is neither can THB or Stephens. All I see them doing is passing it straight to the opposition.

Quarshie needs a proper chance and I wouldn't be adversed to playing him next to Wood for a few games. Two players who will win headers and put themselves on the line. 

 

Quarshie has 50p feet

[Gloucester Saint]

26 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Spot on analysis. There's no coherent transition from defence to attack. Nobody is taking the responsibility to get us up the pitch and when we do have it in our own half with opposition attacking players behind the ball, nobody is making intelligent forward runs to receive a pass. So the man on the ball dithers about while he decides what to do with it, which allows the other team to regroup and get numbers back.

Every. Fucking. Time.

There was a moment in the second half today when we did find ourselves on a bit of a counter because Hull had committed a few players forward. We got it to the RW position and all it needed was someone to play a clever defence splitting pass because we had players in the middle who were well placed to run on, but Roerslev (I think it was him) just stopped, waited, and then played the same predictable pass back infield while the Hull defenders got back into position.

We're never going to score if we keep doing that over and over. It's infuriating to watch.

And he wasn’t even at the club when Martin was here, so why the hell is he doing that?

Needs to be a bollocking from the bench and stands when the players check back like that needlessly, snap them out of it through pure fear if nothing else works. Frustrated groans aren’t cutting it 

[Harry_SFC]

Just now, Jack said:

Quarshie - headers yes, but will also pass straight to the opposition. He was shaky as hell on the ball 

THB passed the ball straight to the Hull player today and Stephens does it on numerous occasions. Maybe we need to stop thinking about players who are supposedly great on the ball and start thinking about actual defending. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

He's behind them because he supposedly can't pass the ball. 

The thing is neither can THB or Stephens. All I see them doing is passing it straight to the opposition.

Quarshie needs a proper chance and I wouldn't be adversed to playing him next to Wood for a few games. Two players who will win headers and put themselves on the line. 

 

Central defenders just need to defend, we shoudn't be looking at them to start attacks. Long as they can pass five or ten yards in field or up the wing, thats all we should be looking for them to do.

[Football Special]

53 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Hampshire CCC just blew a second cup final within a week to cap it off as well. And this was blown by idiot tactics, Somerset won last week’s. Whoever took the left arm spinner Neil off deserves the same P45 as Still, Stephens and Bazunu.

Yeah followed that,  they've completed ruined the one day cup, final used to be at Lords big day out,  full house, meant something, idiots in charge of cricket abandoned it in favour of foolish Hundred franchise, ruining the game 

[Wade Garrett]

37 minutes ago, Morse said:

If you can see what a manager is trying to achieve then it's usually worth giving them time,  but I challenge anyone to tell me what it is Still is trying to do, and to be honest I don't think even he knows. 

The only thing you can say in his defence is Spors failed to buy him a striker, a keeper, or a decent cb or any sort of leader. 

I agree.  There is no discernible style of play, it’s a total shitshow.

And the fact that we didn’t sign a keeper in no way excuses Still for playing Bazunu.  McCarthy isn’t perfect but he is clearly better.  Fuck me, go and watch the Southern League and you’ll see better keepers.

[Jack]

3 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

THB passed the ball straight to the Hull player today and Stephens does it on numerous occasions. Maybe we need to stop thinking about players who are supposedly great on the ball and start thinking about actual defending. 

I’m by no means defending THB, he’s been fucking awful since promotion. Was just pointing out that Quarshie isn’t good on the ball from what I’ve seen 

[derry]

1 minute ago, Jack said:

I’m by no means defending THB, he’s been fucking awful since promotion. Was just pointing out that Quarshie isn’t good on the ball from what I’ve seen 

All he has to do is attack the high balls, and in possession hit the ball up the line and leave the forwards to press it. I'm sick of smartasses giving the ball away. Basic defending and a get out plan default.

 

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Wiggles31 said:

The fuck is going on. Feels like we’re becoming Utd with all the toxicity surrounding the club. All due to SR. 

I like Still and want him to work. But he needs to pull off a winning streak asap otherwise it’s curtains. 

And not signing a CF is criminal. 

We did sign a CF the problem is he’s absolutely shit 

[Turkish]

9 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

THB passed the ball straight to the Hull player today and Stephens does it on numerous occasions. Maybe we need to stop thinking about players who are supposedly great on the ball and start thinking about actual defending. 

What about the one where a switch ball was on early to Manning, he delayed and delayed when he finally did hit it it went about 40 foot over Mannings head out for a throw in, just awful 

[Saint_clark]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

I thought he was harshly treated on here and by Still after the first game. He had some chances and didn't take them, but the way he got into positions and was positive was encouraging. The trouble we have is not having a striker that can play on his own. How do we solve that issue?

Four four fucking two.

[derry]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

We did sign a CF the problem is he’s absolutely shit 

He plays like a pussy. Needs to knock a few over. 

[danjosaint]

Funny thing or worrying thing Will said in his presser, of course he's not lumping it upto Archer but for a weird 10mins 45-55 we literally banged everything into Downs ignoring any central runs and immediately put the ball out wide. Now I know Downs isn't Archer but wtf, Downs is far worse than Archer and also not likely to win a header, not really down to his height but he's seems to have no idea about positioning and when to make your run, he is one of the worst strikers I've seen here

[SambaMaverick]

I can understand why some people, and the club, may be torn about bringing Aribo and Edozie back in - but surely it's a no brainer at this point? Fraser can't play 90 minutes every week and our midfield is currently dog shit. Get them playing 60 on Tuesday and go from there.