Sheff Utd 1-2 Saints - Match Thread

[trousers]

11 hours ago, trousers said:

If Ings doesn't score I'll run around the village naked

 

27 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Have I missed it ?

 

[Captain Jack]

Questions over why Fellows was taken off. Could it be due to the complete change of approach second half? Did anyone else notice that very time McCarthy got the ball it was a long ball up to Stewart to nod down. Keeping the ball in utds half enavled us to pressure them and score two quick goals. Maybe Fellows had to be sacrificed for this. Of course when Stewart went off we should have changed tactic again as suddenly every long ball came straight back. Overall good to see Still change at half time. Something previous managers have failed to do! 

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

I saw enough of it and they replayed bits too, but the "negative posters" are mostly the ones who are always negative so I'll stand by my opinion, thanks.

The self righteous posters are the ones who are always self righteous so I guess some of us will stand by ours too 👍

[trousers]

Just now, Captain Jack said:

Questions over why Fellows was taken off. Could it be due to the complete change of approach second half? Did anyone else notice that very time McCarthy got the ball it was a long ball up to Stewart to nod down. Keeping the ball in utds half enavled us to pressure them and score two quick goals. Maybe Fellows had to be sacrificed for this. Of course when Stewart went off we should have changed tactic again as suddenly every long ball came straight back. Overall good to see Still change at half time. Something previous managers have failed to do! 

Still did explain his decision to take Fellows off in one of his post match interviews... He mentioned about wanting to be more direct but that it was largely done "on instinct" (or words to that effect)

[tdmickey3]

9 hours ago, Andrew Watson said:

That was a tough watch for the last 20 minutes,however a win is all that matters in the end. I think we were a bit lucky with the disallowed goal,there was contact on Macarthy but it was very minimal. Pleased for Stewart [ hopefully he can start to score on a regular basis now ] and really like Jander and for all his messing around Macarthy made a brilliant save from O Hare at 0 - 1, a save Bazunu would  have very unlikely made.

Need to win at Derby and kick on,we went 25 games unbeaten 2 years ago from this point.

🤣 Minimal, he had his arm round him and was holding him down 

[badgerx16]

18 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

I saw enough of it ......

You clearly didn't.

[AlexLaw76]

Still, post match..

Ross deserved that tonight. More than a lot of people

I was aware of his physical status when I arrived, we had a long sit down with all to make sure we got it right

It is a question of getting him 100% fit and happy with himself

I am delighted for him

It was not just the goals, it was the commitment and desire to press and run and defend

He was problem for them, and he deserves it

Overall it was a deserved 3 points, we were in control for large parts

We conceded yet another one of those annoying goals

You think it is going to happen again, but we have not let it

We made a few tweaks at HT, and managed to turn it around 

It was tough, but we never felt sorry for ourselves and it was a brilliant winner

It was a proper championship game – I am delighted for the players and fans

It has been frustrating lately but we stood up and we were rewarded

We made the changes at HT to bring on more energy

We wanted Arma close to Ross, Jake I thought would give Tancanga problems

Fraser would bring us energy, he is relentless

I knew people would question the HT subs, but it was just pure instinct

Nathan Wood is a big and powerful personality, and charming

He is top class, one his touches in the 2^nd half I thought that was brave

But that is what we need. We must have brave and committed players and Woody is that

He probably did not deserve to come out of the team when he did but he is back now

Jander is a top player, top quality and he has so much energy – pushes 12k every game

He reads the game really well, calm in possession and opens it up well

Flynn is unlucky and deserves to play, but we are getting there and they are pushing each other

Stephens blocked a shot in training and twisted his ankle a little, which was very annoying

I love Stephens so why do people think we have fallen out, Don’t get it

Honestly, not see a reply yet of their disallowed goal. The 4^th official said their player had his arms around Mac

Mac is pretty big so he must have been seen

[macca155]

10 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Quarshie made some errors tonight it's true. Watching back the highlights confirmed what I thought when I saw it for their goal - he tried to put his foot in to poke the ball away but realised he had to pull out of it otherwise he'd have conceded a pen. What he should have done is just keep up and stay tight and then they don't score. But he'll learn.

But that aside, what really struck me was his pace and power. He's got an immense burst of pace which allows him to snuff out danger in a way that Stephens and THB just can't. And despite his errors he also had some really good moments tonight as well.

Good post and totally agree re Quarshie. He looks like a real talent but has a lot of learning to do. He is exactly the sort of talent we can hopefully take into the Premier League.

Stephens is experienced and competent, particularly when he has a solid defender like Wood next to him. He can be used to take the pressure off Quarshie as and when required, that's all I meant.

THB for the time being is Edward's understudy. Who would have thought.

[AlexLaw76]

Thought Ronnie Edwards brought another good game, bar the corner he gave away.

 

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, Galway saint said:

Nice to win a game.

Pleased to see Still has had the gumption and balls to drop Baz and Stephens and good to see Stewart scoring.

Still looks very disjointed abut there doesn’t look to be a stand out side in the division so maybe there is time to gel.

All that said does anyone really want to spend next season in the PL with this team or one anything like it as it would be carnage again 

Every one near me at Sheffield and on our coach said the same about the game.

1. The existing players and the new players play far too much of the game in automatic mode. Attack then stop, check, put foot on ball tgen start tge side to side.

2. One half of the match us allways a free hit for opponents.

3. Some of the players who can and did creative football need to start or ar least increase the time on pitch. Robinson for one.

4. Why are players stopped from shooting at edge box, they practice shooting in warm up. A great goal by Stewart shows robotic packaged football is not needed,  just shoot, its simple and worked.

5. Short corners, none of us understand this stupid tactic ans wastes valuable opportunity.  

6. There is some pattern and style Saints play but confusingly not all the time in small blocks within the game. 

7. Wood is a contender for captain,  needs to be full back or midfielder not a forward.

8. Brilliant result,  a confidence boosting win. Derby needs to a 3 points or very min a draw. Players staying at England camp until after Derby game shiukd help build and fine this elusive style of play and grt rid of preprogrammed side to side which has got to stop as we give ball away too often.

9. Its going to take until new year to eventually start paying real football so top 2 place out of the question unless a miracle happens.

10. 5th or 6th place playoff but if promotion then who ever runs the club must learn from last promotion and relegation otherwise its a cycle of bottom 6. Need to get back to producing academy players who want to stay at club.

11. VAR is corrupt

12. Agents have ruined football and we must be careful of just buying players who are not interested in staying at club otherwise need lots of dosh to by players to keep in Premier League,  but don't think Saints have the money for this gamble which Forrest etc have done.

 

[SNSUN]

33 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

You can't be Welsh, you're running away from the sheep.

 

[31cc]

6 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

You can't be Welsh, you're running away from the sheep.

 

No, he's rushing off to get an engagement ring 😁

[VectisSaint]

10 hours ago, CylonKing said:

Think people are being harsh on Quarshie. For me, he's better than THB and Stephens and thought their goal was hit so well in the only place it could go for a goal, giving their player some credit. Came from losing the ball further up the pitch, and Quarshie forcing the player wide, which is what you'd expect. But, I've not seen it back. Shout out to Wee man who came on, looked great up front on the right and then dropped to LB and was tenacious in everything he did. Superb performance! Wood MoM for me by a mile. Just good to be heading home with 3 points (& 4 pints tucked away). Obviously pleased for Ross as well, first looked scrappy (who cares) but the second in real time looked class! Stills decision to take off Fellows and Azaz at HT were questioned in the stadium, but...it worked! Maybe, just maybe...

Up the Saints

Stewart's first was far from scrappy, it was a brilliantly place, controlled shot. The build up may have been scrappy but it was a class finish. Quarshie is far far better than he was at the start of the season (he was an utter liability) but he still has a clanger in him, he even acknowledged the big mistake he made to his teammates, he was also fortunate that their goal was disallowed otherwise he would have been largely responsible.

[VectisSaint]

42 minutes ago, Captain Jack said:

Questions over why Fellows was taken off. Could it be due to the complete change of approach second half? Did anyone else notice that very time McCarthy got the ball it was a long ball up to Stewart to nod down. Keeping the ball in utds half enavled us to pressure them and score two quick goals. Maybe Fellows had to be sacrificed for this. Of course when Stewart went off we should have changed tactic again as suddenly every long ball came straight back. Overall good to see Still change at half time. Something previous managers have failed to do! 

Looked absolutely shattered just before half-time. He ran his socks off in the first half. No reason he shouldn't have recovered and gone again 2nd half, unless of course he took a knock or is not fully fit.  

[SNSUN]

My ratings (seeing as I went to sleep the second the final whistle blew)

 

McCarthy - 8 - Ok, he's not the best at playing with his feet and he does have a mistake in him (as we nearly saw once last night when under pressure from their attacker). But he made some excellent saves last night and rightly keeps Baz out of the team for me. I still hope we revisit the keeper spot in January though.

Edwards - 6 - Some of his passing wasn't great and I don't remember him getting forward too much but he is a centre back playing on the right and I didn't have issue with him. I have issues with the formation really, I'm glad we dropped the 3CBs but Will has almost snuck it back in - just lopsided.

Wood - 9 - Excellent. Best I've seen him play, he was first to everything, strong, his passing was good (and there was a lot of it between the defence in the first half). He currently deserves his place and deserves to stay there.

Quarshie - 6 - as I said last night, I want to like him. But to put in the half arsed attempt to stop their striker for their goal was abysmal. I did like the strength he showed in the second half though to bully their player off the ball. I'd probably persevere with him, he will get better with more Championship experience.

Manning - 6 - Not his best game, stupid booking, crosses meh. He's been improved this season since Welington's injury but I'd still like to see Jelert given a run out. 

Jander - 7 -  First time I'd seen him play. What I liked most was his willingness to turn and run into space. Not the best first few minutes but he grew into the game - he looks a player and we'll see better performances I'm sure.

Charles - 7 - He hustled and harried as usual. 

Fellows - 8 - I thought he was having an excellent game on the right, then Will hooks him at half time. He's pacy, dribbles, his crosses are decent, I think he'll go on to be an excellent signing for us. Not sure why he was hooked but luckily for Will it worked out.

Azaz - 6 - I didn't think he played badly, I thought he offered himself up well, perhaps could have done better with the shot in the first half. The least confusing of the half time subs but even so, I think AA was having a worse game than him... at the time.

AA - 6 - Poor in the first half, I didn't notice him for half and hour then he skies his penalty. He was much better in the second half, winning headers (including the one that hit the bar for Stewart's first) and his defensive work shouldn't go unnoticed, he stopped one of their attacks through sheer determination.

Stewart - 9 MOTM - I mean, MOTM is either him or Wood but Stewart's moment of magic edges it. Best game for us, worked his balls off, created the penalty with his experience, had some headed chances, took his first coolly and his second was superb. Please God stay fit and keep banging them in!

Subs: 

Fraser: 7 - He works hard and seems to want to well for us. I thought he was OK when he came on.

Robinson - 6 - Did some defensive work which I applaud him for, didn't make much of an attacking impact that I remember

Roerslev - 5 - I can't say I noticed him much, bar a couple of touches so I can't score him higher than that.

Downes - 5 - Another one I didn't notice much of, but he didn't get booked. Which is something.

Archer - 5 - no real impact - we were defending the lead by the time he got on.

 

Overall it wasn't the best win but it was a much needed win. The first half there was too much passing around, a lack of ideas in attack, and when we lost the ball we looked vulnerable on the counter. It got better early on in the second half with a bit more directness but even so, we ended up going for containment, which nearly cost us with the disallowed goal. Still, Saints fans should be happy this morning, I am and another win against Derby will really kick start the season.

 

[Saint86]

37 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

9. Its going to take until new year to eventually start paying real football so top 2 place out of the question unless a miracle happens.

10. 5th or 6th place playoff but if promotion then who ever runs the club must learn from last promotion and relegation otherwise its a cycle of bottom 6

FML.

We are 4 points of 2nd with 38 games to play. Stoke are 2nd, they won't finish 2nd. Which means we're at most 3 points off a potential 2nd place rival, so 1 game... Saints fans - "automatics are done" 😄😄😄 

Edited 1 hour ago by Saint86

[Mboto Gorge]

Overall a good win and encouraging to show a bit of resilience to come back from a goal down , helped by a piece of individual brilliance from Stewart, hopefully we are finally going to see the best of him now. I thought we just about  deserved to win over the 90. The penalty was soft to say the least but it was definitely a foul on McCarthy, those types nearly always get given so not sure what the comms were moaning about so much on sky, was painful to listen to. 
Only slight negative was the way we went into our shell in the last 20 minutes and invited pressure, but you could say that was down to nerves and the fact we aren’t used to winning, so confidence is still a little fragile but this should do us the world of good heading into a very winnable match on Saturday. 

[saintant]

52 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Stewart's first was far from scrappy, it was a brilliantly place, controlled shot. The build up may have been scrappy but it was a class finish. Quarshie is far far better than he was at the start of the season (he was an utter liability) but he still has a clanger in him, he even acknowledged the big mistake he made to his teammates, he was also fortunate that their goal was disallowed otherwise he would have been largely responsible.

What was scrappy about the build up? From what I saw it was a decently delivered corner, Arma jumped well and headed against the bar with Stewart on hand to slot in the rebound. Nothing scrappy about that in my book.

Edited 58 minutes ago by saintant

[Jack]

Bit of a weird game. Thought we were absolutely rubbish in spells, slowing it down at every opportunity, more boring crab football. Really subdued away end because of it. And some rubbish defending from Quarshie to let Campbell walk round him for a shot on goal.

But we also managed to create quite a few decent chances, they couldn’t handle Stewart which was great to finally see. First away win in what felt like years for me, worth the long trip 

[SWLondon Saint]

Yes Quarshie was at fault yesterday for their goal but he was excellent against both Liverpool and Boro. He's 20 and relatively inexperienced, he is going to make mistakes. He has to realize at this level players are technical enough you can't just lunge in and nick it, they will go past you - but when they try to push it past to open up space to shoot, that's when he can use his speed and power to get the ball. He did that against Ekitike and Isak, just needs to treat every opponent like that.

But if he was getting all that right already, we would never have got him, he'd have been £15M+ and gone straight to B'muff or somewhere in the Prem. He has the potential to be an absolute beast, unfortunately there's also a learning curve and he's on it with us. Keep him in, I think he's learning and building a partnership with Wood.

Edited 1 hour ago by SWLondon Saint

[malcolm waldron]

17 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

My ratings (seeing as I went to sleep the second the final whistle blew)

 

McCarthy - 8 - Ok, he's not the best at playing with his feet and he does have a mistake in him (as we nearly saw once last night when under pressure from their attacker). But he made some excellent saves last night and rightly keeps Baz out of the team for me. I still hope we revisit the keeper spot in January though.

Edwards - 6 - Some of his passing wasn't great and I don't remember him getting forward too much but he is a centre back playing on the right and I didn't have issue with him. I have issues with the formation really, I'm glad we dropped the 3CBs but Will has almost snuck it back in - just lopsided.

Wood - 9 - Excellent. Best I've seen him play, he was first to everything, strong, his passing was good (and there was a lot of it between the defence in the first half). He currently deserves his place and deserves to stay there.

Quarshie - 6 - as I said last night, I want to like him. But to put in the half arsed attempt to stop their striker for their goal was abysmal. I did like the strength he showed in the second half though to bully their player off the ball. I'd probably persevere with him, he will get better with more Championship experience.

Manning - 6 - Not his best game, stupid booking, crosses meh. He's been improved this season since Welington's injury but I'd still like to see Jelert given a run out. 

Jander - 7 -  First time I'd seen him play. What I liked most was his willingness to turn and run into space. Not the best first few minutes but he grew into the game - he looks a player and we'll see better performances I'm sure.

Charles - 7 - He hustled and harried as usual. 

Fellows - 8 - I thought he was having an excellent game on the right, then Will hooks him at half time. He's pacy, dribbles, his crosses are decent, I think he'll go on to be an excellent signing for us. Not sure why he was hooked but luckily for Will it worked out.

Azaz - 6 - I didn't think he played badly, I thought he offered himself up well, perhaps could have done better with the shot in the first half. The least confusing of the half time subs but even so, I think AA was having a worse game than him... at the time.

AA - 6 - Poor in the first half, I didn't notice him for half and hour then he skies his penalty. He was much better in the second half, winning headers (including the one that hit the bar for Stewart's first) and his defensive work shouldn't go unnoticed, he stopped one of their attacks through sheer determination.

Stewart - 9 MOTM - I mean, MOTM is either him or Wood but Stewart's moment of magic edges it. Best game for us, worked his balls off, created the penalty with his experience, had some headed chances, took his first coolly and his second was superb. Please God stay fit and keep banging them in!

Subs: 

Fraser: 7 - He works hard and seems to want to well for us. I thought he was OK when he came on.

Robinson - 6 - Did some defensive work which I applaud him for, didn't make much of an attacking impact that I remember

Roerslev - 5 - I can't say I noticed him much, bar a couple of touches so I can't score him higher than that.

Downes - 5 - Another one I didn't notice much of, but he didn't get booked. Which is something.

Archer - 5 - no real impact - we were defending the lead by the time he got on.

 

Overall it wasn't the best win but it was a much needed win. The first half there was too much passing around, a lack of ideas in attack, and when we lost the ball we looked vulnerable on the counter. It got better early on in the second half with a bit more directness but even so, we ended up going for containment, which nearly cost us with the disallowed goal. Still, Saints fans should be happy this morning, I am and another win against Derby will really kick start the season.

 

Pretty much agree with everything there so I think we watched a similar game.  My only comment is on 'dropping the 3 CBs'.  Didn't we have 3 CBs and Fellows / Manning as wing backs - with Ryan F then replacing Fellows at HT.  

[Midfield_General]

Was on a flight so missed the whole thing. Switched on phone at Gatwick and feared the worst when all the messages started pinging up ‘here we go again’ etc but delighted to see the final score and that we managed to win ugly, something it feels we haven’t been able to do for years. By the end of the season I think three points away at Sheffield United will look like a very decent result as Wilder will get them back into play-off contention. 

Also feels like a first XI is slowly starting to emerge from the shadows, though not quite there yet. Great to see Macca, Wood, Jander and Stewart look like they are starting to cement their places and settle the spine down which has been a mess. Pleased for Still to get the win too, you can see how much it means to him. He’s still learning but I like him and I have a sneaking feeling he’s going to go on to be a popular manager for us in the Adkins mould. 

Brilliant strike by Roscoe, absolutely delighted for him. But Jesus Christ, can someone have a word with him about doing that flying knee slide celebration? His knees are held together by fairy’s tears and regret, is he mad? 

Edited 56 minutes ago by Midfield_General

[Totton Saint]

Have you seen our league position!? Could be better come satourdy

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, SNSUN said:

My ratings (seeing as I went to sleep the second the final whistle blew)

 

McCarthy - 8 - Ok, he's not the best at playing with his feet and he does have a mistake in him (as we nearly saw once last night when under pressure from their attacker). But he made some excellent saves last night and rightly keeps Baz out of the team for me. I still hope we revisit the keeper spot in January though.

Edwards - 6 - Some of his passing wasn't great and I don't remember him getting forward too much but he is a centre back playing on the right and I didn't have issue with him. I have issues with the formation really, I'm glad we dropped the 3CBs but Will has almost snuck it back in - just lopsided.

Wood - 9 - Excellent. Best I've seen him play, he was first to everything, strong, his passing was good (and there was a lot of it between the defence in the first half). He currently deserves his place and deserves to stay there.

Quarshie - 6 - as I said last night, I want to like him. But to put in the half arsed attempt to stop their striker for their goal was abysmal. I did like the strength he showed in the second half though to bully their player off the ball. I'd probably persevere with him, he will get better with more Championship experience.

Manning - 6 - Not his best game, stupid booking, crosses meh. He's been improved this season since Welington's injury but I'd still like to see Jelert given a run out. 

Jander - 7 -  First time I'd seen him play. What I liked most was his willingness to turn and run into space. Not the best first few minutes but he grew into the game - he looks a player and we'll see better performances I'm sure.

Charles - 7 - He hustled and harried as usual. 

Fellows - 8 - I thought he was having an excellent game on the right, then Will hooks him at half time. He's pacy, dribbles, his crosses are decent, I think he'll go on to be an excellent signing for us. Not sure why he was hooked but luckily for Will it worked out.

Azaz - 6 - I didn't think he played badly, I thought he offered himself up well, perhaps could have done better with the shot in the first half. The least confusing of the half time subs but even so, I think AA was having a worse game than him... at the time.

AA - 6 - Poor in the first half, I didn't notice him for half and hour then he skies his penalty. He was much better in the second half, winning headers (including the one that hit the bar for Stewart's first) and his defensive work shouldn't go unnoticed, he stopped one of their attacks through sheer determination.

Stewart - 9 MOTM - I mean, MOTM is either him or Wood but Stewart's moment of magic edges it. Best game for us, worked his balls off, created the penalty with his experience, had some headed chances, took his first coolly and his second was superb. Please God stay fit and keep banging them in!

Subs: 

Fraser: 7 - He works hard and seems to want to well for us. I thought he was OK when he came on.

Robinson - 6 - Did some defensive work which I applaud him for, didn't make much of an attacking impact that I remember

Roerslev - 5 - I can't say I noticed him much, bar a couple of touches so I can't score him higher than that.

Downes - 5 - Another one I didn't notice much of, but he didn't get booked. Which is something.

Archer - 5 - no real impact - we were defending the lead by the time he got on.

 

Overall it wasn't the best win but it was a much needed win. The first half there was too much passing around, a lack of ideas in attack, and when we lost the ball we looked vulnerable on the counter. It got better early on in the second half with a bit more directness but even so, we ended up going for containment, which nearly cost us with the disallowed goal. Still, Saints fans should be happy this morning, I am and another win against Derby will really kick start the season.

 

I don't see how anyone could watch that game and give Quarshie the same rating as Edwards and Manning.