Norwich 2-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Mboto Gorge]

I bet the Norwich players and fans couldn’t believe just how easy that final 25 minutes was for them. Sadly, for the vast majority of us , it was very believable and predictable. We’ve seen this movie many times over . Yet you just know if it was us leading, we’d have been hanging on for dear life. Something massively wrong with us in the final quarter of games right now, we are just there for the taking constantly from 70 min onwards

Edited 3 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[Baz Fl]

We need a physical presence at both ends of the pitch. A GK that comes for crosses and commands his area and at the other end a center forward that allows us to play more direct when time is a issue and putting the ball into dangerous areas is more effective than possession based football. The Championship has always demanded it from winning sides

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Baz Fl said:

We need a physical presence at both ends of the pitch. A GK that comes for crosses and commands his area and at the other end a center forward that allows us to play more direct when time is a issue and putting the ball into dangerous areas is more effective than possession based football. The Championship has always demanded it from winning sides

Yep. Are central defenders are so weak they let themselve be bullied by some kid who was playing League 1 football last year. None of them are dominating in anyway. Wood is an absolute unit yet he's so physical weak its pathetic.

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, Baz Fl said:

We need a physical presence at both ends of the pitch. A GK that comes for crosses and commands his area and at the other end a center forward that allows us to play more direct when time is a issue and putting the ball into dangerous areas is more effective than possession based football. The Championship has always demanded it from winning sides

This is true, I don't think it's a case of advocating for long ball either - but we have zero options to switch a game in that area. Armstrong > Archer > Robinson. All the same, quick, nippy forward players. Not physical at all.

I discount Downs as I don't think he's up to it. He was probably meant to be that presence, but we need a more seasoned presence in that mould. Stewart could have been that, but he won't ever last more than a handful of games so he needs to be discounted too.

So yes, a ST and a GK are two priorities for us - with specific attributes. I wouldn't be against signing a CB either, but we'd need to shift 1 or 2 first.

[Charlie Wayman]

59 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

No, it is down to an opponent scoring with his hand 

Time they introduced VAR into the Championship

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

This is true, I don't think it's a case of advocating for long ball either - but we have zero options to switch a game in that area. Armstrong > Archer > Robinson. All the same, quick, nippy forward players. Not physical at all.

I discount Downs as I don't think he's up to it. He was probably meant to be that presence, but we need a more seasoned presence in that mould. Stewart could have been that, but he won't ever last more than a handful of games so he needs to be discounted too.

So yes, a ST and a GK are two priorities for us - with specific attributes. I wouldn't be against signing a CB either, but we'd need to shift 1 or 2 first.

What we need are the players Quarsie and Downs should have been. Big, strong, quick dominant. They look like they should be but both still miles away from that 

the GK situation is a shit show and has been for years. Why we are so balls deep in Baz is a mystery 

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, tdmickey3 said:

Zero game management, it doesn’t exist.

We really have 1 way to play and when it doesn’t work Ekhert is clueless 

Give it a rest mate, we already know how much you adore Gavin and Tonda

[Lord Duckhunter]

First half was ok, clearly should have been one up. AA needs to be fucked off the penalties. Leo or Manning take most of the free kicks, so they’re the better dead ball bods. One of them should take it. 
 

Second half, Will Still football still. Leo was poor, Azaz disappeared, too slow, just didn’t move the ball quick enough. Substitutions a bit of a mess, and the defending poor. The final 10 mins were disgraceful really, no urgency, no passion and no determination to not get beat. Passive, just going through the motions. 
 

Goals were poor. First one could have been cleared twice before the cross finally came in. Second one, Wood to blame, although I would like to see how long the first cross was in the air, and how far out the guy won the header from. Id prefer my keeper to come and punch that, but as Baz doesn’t do that when it’s 5 years out, there’s no way he’s doing that at 10 yards out. I reckon a keeper in the 1970’s comes and gets that, but these modern sweeper keepers only come that far  to mince about, and pass it to defenders. But, Wood must take the vast majority of the blame for that one, fucking woeful.

 

This lot are ok when it’s open and the opposition play into our hands, but fuck me, they shrink when the tackles start flying and they have to get in amongst the muck and bullets. Fratton ain’t going to be pretty viewing, unless Tonda knocks that out of them. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Lord Duckhunter

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

What we need are the players Quarsie and Downs should have been. Big, strong, quick dominant. They look like they should be but both still miles away from that 

the GK situation is a shit show and has been for years. Why we are so balls deep in Baz is a mystery 

Yep, agreed. On paper they are the profiles we needed, but the club gambled on them rather than go and buy proven of that profile. Very risky, but they have a knack of doing that sadly. 

To be fair to them, Leo, Jander, Azaz, Fellows - ticks in the box, more than usual for SR. But the flops have been pretty damaging to us as they're key spine positions.

[Charlie Wayman]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

What we need are the players Quarsie and Downs should have been. Big, strong, quick dominant. They look like they should be but both still miles away from that 

the GK situation is a shit show and has been for years. Why we are so balls deep in Baz is a mystery 

When you add it all up we have a very poor squad that has no right to be playing in this division even.  

[SaintTex]

1 hour ago, Scoobysaint said:

Poor result but one of those days that we had often under Still. Plenty of really good chances to score  and put the game to bed but missed them. We could have been out of sight before half time and it would have been an easy win. 
The main concern is the Plan B or apparent lack of one. I do think we will be a different second half team once we have Stewart fit. Will give us a better outlet. 
This result does show why autos are gonna be out of reach though. 

[Whitey Grandad]

36 minutes ago, Football Special said:

And when the cross comes in none of the three centre backs take charge, just get in each other's way or leave it for each other 

Too many cooks.

[DT]

Both teams to score. Every match.

[LGTL]

2 hours ago, LGTL said:

Eckert needs to fucking step up now. What you got mate?

As it turned out, not a lot. 

[East Kent Saint]

Strange results in the Championship today 😁

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, LGTL said:

As it turned out, not a lot. 

No real surprise. Second half was straight out of the "I haven't got a fuckin clue how to change things" manual. Still obviously left it in his office when he left.

[Football Special]

2 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

Strange results in the Championship today 😁

Which ones? 

[Graffito]

Didn’t compete. Missed Fellows helping the team get up the pitch. Way too many passes. What happened to moving the ball quicker? Should have gone 4 at the back early on to get an extra man in midfield. When it’s shit or bust, what do we get? Constipation football. 
 

Oh, and it took me 6 hours to get there. For that. 

[Tamesaint]

If my aunt had balls she would be my uncle. 

If Scienza had scored instead of hitting the bar, we win. 

If Downes had collected the rebound off the bar better and scored, we win. 

If Arma could have scored his pen, we win. 

If the linesman and / or the ref had eyes, we don't lose. 

Its one of those days. Sometimes it all falls into place. Today it didn't. Lets move on.....but lets also get a better keeper. 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Tamesaint

[James G]

Oddly, I wrote the game off in the first half. It just had the feeling of one of those games. I wasn't surprised by their handball second goal. I thought the ref was awful, that was about it. 

[Pamplemousse]

We were utterly terrible today.

The reality is that this squad isn't good enough to get promotion and tbh I actually think finishing 9th or 10th would be the best outcome for us. In the summer we can really target the key positions - a new goalkeeper, centre back and striker. And then we go all out for promotion. 

[saint michael]

My view hasn’t really changed with the upturn of results recently. We need to get the old Martin players well out of this club before we will see definite change. That complete defence can all fuck off. What they think they are dribbling around at the back goodness only knows 

Edited 3 hours ago by saint michael

[Pamplemousse]

26 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

When you add it all up we have a very poor squad that has no right to be playing in this division even.  

Did you mean to post this on PompeyOnline?

[Pamplemousse]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

Watching replays of the first goal. Really crap by Wood on that one too.

He's been bad even when we've been winning. Clearly the weak link. Get rid.

[Dr Who?]

We will still somehow be in the playoffs come the end of the season, but we will not go up, and this will probably be the best outcome for Tonda. 

[tdmickey3]

32 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Give it a rest mate, we already know how much you adore Gavin and Tonda

Are you the posting police, thought not so myob

[saint michael]

I think we have to come to terms with that if we don’t score 3 goals we are highly likely to lose 

[tdmickey3]

32 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

When you add it all up we have a very poor squad that has no right to be playing in this division even.  

Clueless 

[hypochondriac]

My only reaction today is that I despise Bazunu and I'm amazed that I'm having to sit through another season with him in goal.

[saintant]

We seem to be going back to the worst form of Russball for some reason. Today we had 63% possession most of which was harmless tip tapping about at the back sideways and backwards. Why have we stopped the vertical passing at pace with emphasis on going forward as much as possible. Is it still ingrained in our players because we are a poor side when we play so much Russball. Cut it out.

[Wade Garrett]

Just now, saintant said:

We seem to be going back to the worst form of Russball for some reason. Today we had 63% possession most of which was harmless tip tapping about at the back sideways and backwards. Why have we stopped the vertical passing at pace with emphasis on going forward as much as possible. Is it still ingrained in our players because we are a poor side when we play so much Russball. Cut it out.

Players comfort zone.  Shite.

[James G]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

We seem to be going back to the worst form of Russball for some reason. Today we had 63% possession most of which was harmless tip tapping about at the back sideways and backwards. Why have we stopped the vertical passing at pace with emphasis on going forward as much as possible. Is it still ingrained in our players because we are a poor side when we play so much Russball. Cut it out.

That's why I was saying, just refresh the whole team. Cleanse Russball and add height 

[sadoldgit]

I still can’t get my head around how poor we were in the second half. No energy. No commitment. No desire to get the second goal. I can live with losing but at least make a fight of it. 

[Morse]

The problems were there and obvious in the second half v WBA. They got in our faces, put crosses in we couldn't deal with and very nearly turned around a 3 goal deficit. Norwich did the same. Our inability to stop crosses or deal with them is inexcusable.  

[Lee On Solent Saint]

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

We seem to be going back to the worst form of Russball for some reason. Today we had 63% possession most of which was harmless tip tapping about at the back sideways and backwards. Why have we stopped the vertical passing at pace with emphasis on going forward as much as possible. Is it still ingrained in our players because we are a poor side when we play so much Russball. Cut it out.

Its our default mode when we are in front. Rather than keep attacking we sit back, getting deeper and deeper, not giving the opposistion any problems at all. The mentality of the players is weak and passive. That includes the manager as well. 

[whelk]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Time they introduced VAR into the Championship

They don’t have the manpower

[Rowan Gorilla 5]

Shows why we were interested in Anel Ahmedhodzic in the summer. Wonder if Abakar Sylla and Issa Doumbia will be revisited in January. Judging by Spors’ comments on the January window, no.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, tdmickey3 said:

Who is looking forward n

No me, Coventry 3-0 win. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Bloody hell let Norwich win to help relegated Pompey and Blackburn losing!!

[bpsaint]

14 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Bloody hell let Norwich win to help relegated Pompey and Blackburn losing!!

Tbf, probably keeps Mousinho in a job,  and he’s been doing such a great job there this season

[Midfield_General]

2 hours ago, Baird of the land said:

 

Also while I know their second was a handball, but I have zero faith bazanu would have saved the pre-handball shot.

If Bazunu had come more than 2 yards off his line to come and claim that easy, lofted cross into the box like any proper goalkeeper does then it wouldn’t have been an issue. I was coming and catching crosses like that at Tyro level. He is fucking appalling. 

[Midfield_General]

53 minutes ago, saintant said:

We seem to be going back to the worst form of Russball for some reason. Today we had 63% possession most of which was harmless tip tapping about at the back sideways and backwards. Why have we stopped the vertical passing at pace with emphasis on going forward as much as possible. Is it still ingrained in our players because we are a poor side when we play so much Russball. Cut it out.

Fraser the absolute epitome of this today. Did he pass forwards or go past a man once today? Absolute coward of a footballer. 

[Oldandtired]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Time they introduced VAR into the Championship

That's this week. Next week when the decision goes in our favour...

[James G]

43 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

I still can’t get my head around how poor we were in the second half. No energy. No commitment. No desire to get the second goal. I can live with losing but at least make a fight of it. 

We're doing alot more running. Because we're three at the back, everyone pushes up then runs back in the first half. Then we're tired in the second half. Because we're tired, when the subs come on, noone is in their expected position and it gets messy. Everyone is double checking where everyone is, then the opposition get the ball back because we're taking longer. When the opposition press, the goalie and the defenders are dribbling then passing, taking longer

[die Mannyschaft]

Just now, Oldandtired said:

That's this week. Next week when the decision goes in our favour...

The answer is to cheat as much as possible,  we don't and all other clubs do.

[lambtiss]

Two thoughts :

1) We have no Plan B

We have seen it in the previous 2 matches in the 2nd halves when Scienza goes off and today we saw it almost from the start because Fellows wasnt in the line up.

2) We have an awful defence.

3 centre halves, none of whom can defend and a calamity  keeper.

Edited 1 hour ago by lambtiss

[Jack]

The last couple of away games have massively exposed a couple of the club’s biggest blind spots. Our goalkeeper and defence are absolute garbage, and we’ve got another manager whose tactical preference is for the goalkeeper and defence to have as much possession as possible. It’s absolutely bonkers 

[die Mannyschaft]

2 minutes ago, James G said:

We're doing alot more running. Because we're three at the back, everyone pushes up then runs back in the first half. Then we're tired in the second half. Because we're tired, when the subs come on, noone is in their expected position and it gets messy. Everyone is double checking where everyone is, then the opposition get the ball back because we're taking longer. When the opposition press, the goalie and the defenders are dribbling then passing, taking longer

Why are Saints only lasting out 45 mins on average? Why do other teams play the same pace all game. Saints are so inconsistent. The defending is too slow, its not dynamic, we play like its a pre season walk about. Too slow to read danger and close down. 

[Mboto Gorge]

This is coming home to roost as a lot of us expected, masked by some decent results at home where our far better players have blown teams away for 20 minutes in each game: Overall there is no real strategy or effective game management. Other than the Charlton game, every single away game under Eckert has been fucking dreadful 

[die Mannyschaft]

3 minutes ago, Jack said:

The last couple of away games have massively exposed a couple of the club’s biggest blind spots. Our goalkeeper and defence are absolute garbage, and we’ve got another manager whose tactical preference is for the goalkeeper and defence to have as much possession as possible. It’s absolutely bonkers 

A major flaw in our tactics. We are not good on the ball at the back so why continue with it. Coventry will tear our defence to pieces. 

goalkeeper and defence to have as much possession as possible