Saints 0-0 Swansea - Match Thread

[Patches O Houlihan]

5 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Clear cut chances….. 0

So you don't think Jander's chance was clear cut?

Of course the two shots off the inside of the post count as off target - even though Jander's was not far off square across the goal line.

When teams play a low block you aren't going to get many breakaway opportunities or in behind opportunities that will allow 'clear cut' chances

Edited 17 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan

[Patches O Houlihan]

6 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Here we go, blame the fans, the club/SR is at it yet again on here.

How many clubs at this level have an unselectable £7m striker on the bench who is so appalling he couldn't be brought on during a stale 0-0 at home?

Where was I blaming the fans?!! 

I'm as pissed off as anyone that we have such shitty striking options after selling Tall Paul who clearly would have done a job for us as 3rd/4th choice.

[Osvaldorama]

I honestly don’t know why people are actually trying to defend still 

 

That was fucking woeful against an absolutely terrible side.. again. He’s clearly out of his depth, just like SR and most of the squad. 
We played well for 15-20 minutes of that game, the rest was appalling, as usual. Just absolute dross. Walking pace dross. 

[LGTL]

Just now, Osvaldorama said:

I honestly don’t know why people are actually trying to defend still 

 

That was fucking woeful against an absolutely terrible side.. again. He’s clearly out of his depth, just like SR and most of the squad. 
We played well for 15-20 minutes of that game, the rest was appalling, as usual. Just absolute dross. Walking pace dross. 

They’re the same idiots who would have turned their nose up at Lampard in the summer. 

[macca155]

What a frustrating match, so many missed chances. some good performances from Charles, Jander, Wood and pleasingly THB. Edwards was iffy in the 1st half but improved.

Scienza had the Swansea defender on toast time and time again. Then is swaped to the other side. 

Plenty of chances created, it wasn't a bad performance, but desperate in front of goal. So slow and aimless in the 2nd half 

Ridiculous having Downs on the bench. Even in the warm up he looked lethargic and disinterested. Aribo could do that job.

[davefizzy14]

7 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Trying Aribo up top for an hour would have been a better option - something different. If AA and Archer aren’t scoring or even striking the ball professionally the team isn’t the right one is it? Ask Ian Rush down for a few weeks to try and sort out the other ‘strikers’ during the afternoon sessions. 

Aribo is definitely an option I agree. 

[Osvaldorama]

Sure, we had a few chances regardless of his shjte tactics and subs. But that’s because we are fucking miles better than them in every position with 100x their budget 

Disgraceful stuff, again

[RedArmy]

2 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

I honestly don’t know why people are actually trying to defend still 

 

That was fucking woeful against an absolutely terrible side.. again. He’s clearly out of his depth, just like SR and most of the squad. 
We played well for 15-20 minutes of that game, the rest was appalling, as usual. Just absolute dross. Walking pace dross. 

Yeah very strange to see people accepting the bare minimum as a good performance. 
 

It was Swansea ffs. 90 minutes of 3 cbs against a team that offered absolutely nothing going forward is pathetic. 

[Mr X]

30 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

People applauding at the FT whistle. 4 wins in our last 47 games, fair play if you think that's acceptable. Today was another damning indication of Sport Republics trash recruitment. We've been crying out for a reliable striker for years and they've not delivered. 

The owners are past the point of no return for me, this club won't heal until Solak and his goons sell up. 

Sport Republic OUT. 

This 100%! but at the same time careful what you wish for but could anyone even be worse? 

[Patches O Houlihan]

9 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Trying Aribo up top for an hour would have been a better option - something different. If AA and Archer aren’t scoring or even striking the ball professionally the team isn’t the right one is it? Ask Ian Rush down for a few weeks to try and sort out the other ‘strikers’ during the afternoon sessions. 

I would have had Aribo on the bench as a striker instead of Downs, or maybe the under 21 striker depending on how confident and effective they were in training.

[Miltonaggro]

1 minute ago, Mr X said:

This 100%! but at the same time careful what you wish for but could anyone even be worse? 

There’s always fifth time lucky for Clownforce. Chimpanzees typewriters and all that. Personally i think dragan should sack the lot, including Spors & Co. and have a fans poll of ST holders in terms of replacements. 

[saintant]

20 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Clear cut chances….. 0

But that is clearly incorrect isn't it.

[Andrew Watson]

A goal scoring forward was a must in the summer,but Spors tried to be clever and go for an untried Bundesliga 2 player and equally as bad to rely on Ross Stewart,who is never going to be fit enough to play enough games. The club is being run by total idiots,we have dropped and will continue to drop points without a 20 goal a season striker and will be wallowing around mid table come the end of the season.

Still does not know his best side and is out of his depth.

[BARCELONASAINT]

Just back from the game and i'm still wondering how the hell we did not win that game!

Standout player for me was Leo and he must be a starter every week, incredibly unlucky not to have scored today and he was the only player that looked like scoring.

I never thought at any point that Swansea were interested in trying to actually win the game, i don't remember McCarthy having a shot to save.

We are still so slow in the build up and until we change this pedestrian approach we are not going to win games.

Hugely frustrating again.

[davefizzy14]

Scienza was the best player on the pitch followed by Wood for me.

[Gloucester Saint]

9 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

I would have had Aribo on the bench as a striker instead of Downs, or maybe the under 21 striker depending on how confident and effective they were in training.

The likes of Dipepa are worth a try, at least we’d be more patient with them on the whole. Downs will never be good enough and being ejected from the squad by our u19s and Aribo would be a kick up the arse for AA and Archer. 

Edited 17 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Whitey Grandad]

26 minutes ago, austsaint said:

If you watched the game today, the statistics were spot on. We dominated the numbers and dominated the game.   

And had no effect on the outcome. 

[sadoldgit]

I’m not sure why Still is getting so much flak. We bossed the game and had enough chances to win comfortably. 

[rallyboy]

Shooting practice, 9am tomorrow - should have been 3-0.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

Shooting practice, 9am tomorrow - should have been 3-0.

With plenty of Clough-type ‘you need fookin shooting for missing that’. Make AA and Archer wear dick of the week bibs. Downs can wear a Sunday League itchy 1990s style Diadora shirt to match his ability. 

Jandar’s miss was dreadful but otherwise played well in his core role. 

Edited 17 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[saintant]

The manager cannot be blamed for the simple chances we missed. Ok, it wasn't a scintillating performance but we should have won 2-0 and most fans would have been reasonably happy so let's not beat the manager up because our players missed simple chances - nothing he can do about that. It's been said too often but SR have been completely negligent for again failing to sign a big strong centre forward with experience - they were available for far less than the fee we wasted on Downs. This means our build up play stalls because we are reluctant to put in crosses and have nobody to hold the ball up while support arrives. Will Still is trying to juggle 5 or six very similar players but what he really needs is an out and out centre forward - what is he meant to do? 

[Streaky]

21 minutes ago, LGTL said:

They’re the same idiots who would have turned their nose up at Lampard in the summer. 

Lampard has failed everywhere he's managed. He's living off the previous managers good work and they will fade away by the end of the season. 

[EBS1980]

With the lack of a forward I think we have to play 4-2-3-1

we need someone to be playing off thr striker and have Leo and Fellows playing left and right. 

With 3-4-3 we don’t have anyone running into the box and so when the ball is wide we only have a small forward to aim at.

we didn’t need 3 centre backs today, we should have taken one off and used the someone more centrally in attack

 

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, Streaky said:

Lampard has failed everywhere he's managed. He's living off the previous managers good work and they will fade away by the end of the season. 

Failed? 100% record of getting a team without parachute payments into the playoffs. Something Will Still would kill for, I am sure

[obelisk]

37 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Clear cut chances….. 0

If being a couple of yards out with the 'keeper on his arse and the goal gaping isn't a clear cut chance then I'd like to know what is.

[badgerx16]

13 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

I’m not sure why Still is getting so much flak. 

10 games, 2 wins.

[RedWillie]

Groundhog day. Poor, poor, poor. Every barn door in Hampshire is safe tonight.

[LGTL]

8 minutes ago, Streaky said:

Lampard has failed everywhere he's managed. He's living off the previous managers good work and they will fade away by the end of the season. 

That’s just complete bollocks but ok, if you say so. 

[RedArmy]

9 minutes ago, EBS1980 said:

With the lack of a forward I think we have to play 4-2-3-1

 

 

Something that is obvious to everyone except the manager. 

[CB Fry]

7 minutes ago, Streaky said:

Lampard has failed everywhere he's managed. He's living off the previous managers good work and they will fade away by the end of the season. 

Except he hasn't failed everywhere he's managed and he clearly isn't failing now.

His first season at Derby he was doing far better than Still is now (16 points) and without a squad of million pound signings.

I didn't want Lampard in the summer but now it is pretty obvious he is a better impact manager than Will Still.

[Convict Colony]

Well at least we have found our level.

I dont put this one on the manager today, we absolutely smashed them, its just unfortunate we cant hit a cows arse with a banjo.

Anyway much improved performance hopefully next game some one scores with their dick

[rooney]

I am so cross.We have the basis of a very good side up to striker level.Week after week Archer and Armstrong prove they are not up to it at this level to score goals.You cannot blame the manager for their lack of quality.We have been crying out for a striker since Ings left and whose fault is that?

[The Kraken]

2 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Anyway much improved performance hopefully next game some one scores with their dick

I know just the man for the job.

[Tanlee]

Swansea got exactly what they set out to, same can't be said about us very often anymore. 

[tdmickey3]

58 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

We have had our fair share of shit managers. But you just cannot place the blame on Still for this match. Sometimes I wonder if you neg heads have ever had to manage anything that wasn't guaranteed to be entirely in your control

These are not the stats of a poorly set up team. They are the stats of a team with only midget strikers playing for a club bereft of confidence. 

Still isn't as good at positive atmosphere creation as Russell Martin was - but you hated him too.

 

 

53 minutes ago, maysie said:

We his the post from 2 yards out you mallet

See stats above you bell

[Convict Colony]

9 minutes ago, rooney said:

I am so cross.We have the basis of a very good side up to striker level.Week after week Archer and Armstrong prove they are not up to it at this level to score goals.You cannot blame the manager for their lack of quality.We have been crying out for a striker since Ings left and whose fault is that?

wait who was telling me about all the goals that these 2 score in the championship !!!!!!!

Couldnt score in a brothel.

[Patches O Houlihan]

1 minute ago, tdmickey3 said:

 

See stats above you bell

That shot counts as a shot off target because of the nature of football stats. 

But even the kind of nobber who only watches football to see the goals their team scores, and finds every single other element dull would count that as a clear cut chance.

You bell

[tdmickey3]

22 minutes ago, obelisk said:

If being a couple of yards out with the 'keeper on his arse and the goal gaping isn't a clear cut chance then I'd like to know what is.

Not for us it seems 

[Paul_B]

Really good solid performance out there today boys. Did so well to nullify such a potent attacking Swansea side. Our attacking quality really shone through at times enabling us to get some shots on goal, hitting the post twice was a joy to behold, wonderous stuff. The substitutions were again excellent, playing with 7 midfielders towards the end was tactically very astute, and the passing around in our own defensive third in the last few minutes stoppage time was so calm and silky, brilliant stuff just to see out the game and retain that clean sheet. Got to be pleased with that big point, if we keep doing what we're doing we'll only get better and better and be knocking on the door of the play-offs and autos in no time! The atmosphere sounded absolutely buzzing too. Great job everyone! 

 

 

#deludedcrew

[Graffito]

No centre forward. 

[die Mannyschaft]

40 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Scienza was the best player on the pitch followed by Wood for me.

He's very good and will be another that goes next season. He looked out of place. If Saints don't start winning then teams will poach our decent players.

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Graffito said:

No centre forward. 

Been the story since Ralph wanted one 

[stfrancisofbenali]

Still’s post match comments seem to be becoming more defensive, which suggests he knows he’s under pressure. A promising first half performance which made the second half even more unforgivable in its lack of urgency and intent. The game was so glaringly there to be won and it’s on him that he didn’t get the players grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. He still needs time of course and may well get it right, but not beating Swansea at home is not a good look. 

[Steve Cadiz]

It's incredible that we paid villa about £15m for Archer ,we paid Sunderland £10m for Stewart I've just seen AFCB's 19yr old french striker scoring 2 goals (similar to our chances today) they paid £12m . I blame our scouting team it's just not good enough. Will Still can only work with the poor forwards that he's got in the squad.

[Graffito]

2 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Been the story since Ralph wanted one 

We all know it. Today was the clearest example yet of what’s missing. A decent CF and Saints would have won that comfortably. If SR don't address it after that they never will. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

1 minute ago, stfrancisofbenali said:

Still’s post match comments seem to be becoming more defensive, which suggests he knows he’s under pressure. A promising first half performance which made the second half even more unforgivable in its lack of urgency and intent. The game was so glaringly there to be won and it’s on him that he didn’t get the players grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. He still needs time of course and may well get it right, but not beating Swansea at home is not a good look. 

Is it though? (Just counting today's match)

These are professional adult football players that are paid a fortune. When do they get to bear some of the responsibility? The shape, style and formation created a hatful of chances and I'm sure it wasn't Will's idea for Fellows to keep putting 'up and unders' into the six yard box that their GK and CBs dealt with easily, or for our defenders to knock it amongst themselves for the last 5 mins.

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

Shite.......I asked for midtable as long as we don't faf with sideways, backwards, sideways.....and yet we play sideways, backwards, sideways and are not going to be midtable. Get Still out.

[die Mannyschaft]

A million times better than Pompey game. 20 shots 8 on target, actually ran at the opposition so that the positive. 

The negative is you won't play an easier team than Swansea in the next 5 seasons they were really non leaque

Still cant score, if we don't get a striker or two actually that are natural forwards then more draws to follow. 

Why don't we press.

Still players sideways and at time very slow.

At 93 mins doing sideways and back to keep so to me we are playing to draw not last 10 all out to win.

Pompey game 0.5 out of 10

Today 5 out of 10

[die Mannyschaft]

5 minutes ago, Steve Cadiz said:

It's incredible that we paid villa about £15m for Archer ,we paid Sunderland £10m for Stewart I've just seen AFCB's 19yr old french striker scoring 2 goals (similar to our chances today) they paid £12m . I blame our scouting team it's just not good enough. Will Still can only work with the poor forwards that he's got in the squad.

That's got to be fake news, we paid villa about £15m for Archer.

I really cant belive that!!

[HarvSFC]

Feels like I've been walking away from St Mary's feeling frustrated for well over a year now, oh wait, we all actually have. The numbers in the ground are now starting to drop finally, and the atmosphere in the ground is now as bad as it has been for years. No anti, or toxic singing, just apathy and silence. If the numbers dropping don't make SR finally wake up, then they never will, while you're also left wondering how many mistakes you're going to allow them.

As for the match, the first half hour was dull, then we came in to life with Scienza on the ball, who produced two quality chances after skinning their full-back, but nobody got on the end of either shot, hit the inside of the post from outside of the box and had it not been for Jander later the player (Archer?) following would have got miss of the season and then he put in the corner for Wood to miss a fairly simple header.

We went into half time with a lot of momentum, but didn't start the second half with it and the second half became a dull and scrappy affair with the aforementioned Jander miss being the main highlight and I haven't really seen a miss as bad as that one for quite a while. McCarthy was never tested, but I don't think we worked their keeper enough in the second half either. The seven minutes added on were very frustrating. Either hoofing the ball and giving up possession, or playing slow possession in our own half.

Scienza the clear man of the match. His YouTube videos impressed me the most in the summer and finally they're actually been true. He's the only one in our entire squad capable of producing that bit of magic. The only one who isn't a robot, looks to take his man on and isn't always looking to play the safe pass. It would be criminal if he now received the Robinson, Matsuki or Fellows treatment.

Jelert played well again defensively. Attacking wise could have done better, but Swansea sent all their attacks in the first half out wide to his side, towards Inoussa and Jelert stuck to him well, even when they were doubling up on him as Armstrong wasn't tracking back enough. He didn't do a Manning and give his attacker time and space to get their cross in, which was appreciated.

And, yeah, been saying it for a lot of this season, but I don't think we needed three centre-backs again today. Teams will sit deep against us 75% of the time this season, we could have done with an extra man up the field to retain those second balls and keep the pressure on Swansea when the momentum was easing. Maybe even an extra man in midfield in Downes to sit back a bit, but play higher than a centre-back would have been better.