Leicester 3-4 Saints - Match Thread

[badgerx16]

3 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

This reaction after the Saints' fourth goal:

- First person: prefers to hide under his jacket.

- Second person: no reaction, just shocked.

- Third person: thinks it's a bad joke and prefers to laugh it off.

They look so disappointed, haha.

Always believe until the very last second!

Congratulation again, Saint's Friend !!!

There was a fourth, between the right hand pair, but he had just switched off his camera in disgust.

[ChristopheVAFC]

2 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

There was a fourth, between the right hand pair, but he had just switched off his camera in disgust.

Exactly, probably ragequit haha

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

8 hours ago, Football Special said:

Left at 3-0 , fucked it right up. Fuck sake Saints 

I was at Filbert Street 30-odd years ago, we left with 10 mins to go after Leicester had just scored a third to make it 3-1. We heard a couple of roars as we were walking back to the car thinking that’s the 4th, that’s the 5th. Switched on the radio to hear we’d pulled 2 back. Still wrong side of the same scoreline that day.

[trousers]

51 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Thankfully I am at a quiet station today (touch wood)

Touch Wood? Is that the station just before Cockfosters?

[badgerx16]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

Touch Wood? Is that the station just before Cockfosters?

Mornington Crescent !

[Hairlesshero]

Key moment was on 75' with the score at 3-1 when Andy King replaced a talented striker with a 3rd centre back. Game became attack v defence, exposed Leicester's frailties and they imploded. Take heed of the lesson, Tonda Eckert.

[Mr Brightside]

Phew, it wasn’t a dream. 

[Cabrone]

Tonda is a funny one isn't he?

Looks like a deer in the headlights but back in November he was the first manager in ages who got my pulse working, Granted he stopped it again either side of Xmas but now he seems to have restarted it.

I don't know what the secret is - Hypnosis? Voodoo? Maybe just a jammy sod? Either way his teams have at least provided some much needed entertainment in what was shaping up to be a depressing season. Sometimes a manager just fits at a club.

This was a big big game, next 5 are Charlton (h), QPR (h), Sheff Wed (a), Norwich(h), West Brom(a) - all winnable fixtures as long as the players don't go back to sleep. Amazingly the playoffs are seriously opening up.

Keep it up Mr Jammy, I've stopped caring what your secret sauce is, I'm just enjoying the highs.

[Sheaf Saint]

26 minutes ago, trousers said:

Touch Wood? Is that the station just before Cockfosters?

No it was the homoerotic Doctor Who spinoff series.

[Sheaf Saint]

21 minutes ago, Hairlesshero said:

Key moment was on 75' with the score at 3-1 when Andy King replaced a talented striker with a 3rd centre back. Game became attack v defence, exposed Leicester's frailties and they imploded. Take heed of the lesson, Tonda Eckert.

Yes, reminiscent of Still replacing Scienza with Stephens while leading at Blackburn.

[Badger]

9 hours ago, SaintBobby said:

This is great entertainment 

 

What a bizarre, and upside down world we now live in.

Three or more chumps or cyber anoraks don’t attend the match but watch it presumably online and link up to discuss it. And others log in to watch them. !! 
 

 

[Badger]

23 minutes ago, Hairlesshero said:

Key moment was on 75' with the score at 3-1 when Andy King replaced a talented striker with a 3rd centre back. Game became attack v defence, exposed Leicester's frailties and they imploded. Take heed of the lesson, Tonda Eckert.

Many familiar comments on Foxestalk, despairing with trying to play 5at the back.

Other familiar themes - manager clueless, nods still clapping the team off, owners need to go. Weren’t these the same owners that saw them win the league about 10 years ago ? 

[trousers]

12 minutes ago, Badger said:

What a bizarre, and upside down world we now live in.

Three or more chumps or cyber anoraks don’t attend the match but watch it presumably online and link up to discuss it. And others log in to watch them. !! 
 

 

Indeed, and before you know it we'll have saddos logging onto internet forums and making loads of posts during a game... Just watch the match FFS...!

[die Mannyschaft]

24 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

Tonda is a funny one isn't he?

Looks like a deer in the headlights but back in November he was the first manager in ages who got my pulse working, Granted he stopped it again either side of Xmas but now he seems to have restarted it.

I don't know what the secret is - Hypnosis? Voodoo? Maybe just a jammy sod? Either way his teams have at least provided some much needed entertainment in what was shaping up to be a depressing season. Sometimes a manager just fits at a club.

This was a big big game, next 5 are Charlton (h), QPR (h), Sheff Wed (a), Norwich(h), West Brom(a) - all winnable fixtures as long as the players don't go back to sleep. Amazingly the playoffs are seriously opening up.

Keep it up Mr Jammy, I've stopped caring what your secret sauce is, I'm just enjoying the highs.

Im beginning to think there is no plan, no spreadsheets,  no formal training etc. I couldn't belive how bad our passing was in 1st half, and this constant passing back to keeper even if you on touchline and could put out gor throw (that ridiculous mistake for goal). Then you get a2nd half of real proper football.  You cant practice that or have a tactic at half time, can you? 

Its a pattern that's happened all season, almost every game. I go with luckiest manager. And it cant be SR could they have the intelligence and football know how to produce last nights performance?

[gecko]

Well what a game that turned out to be. 

Not to diminish Stephens, Stewart and Charles' excellent finishes, but I actually think my favourite moment was Manning's equalising goal. The guy stands on the centre of the 6-yard line, doesn't move, and is unmarked the entire time - just calmly nods it in when it arrives.

How many times have we seen corner defending like that from our lot this season? Was damn nice to watch some other chumps do it for once instead - I'd be absolutely seething if I were a Leicester fan watching that absolute shocker.

 

[SNSUN]

15 minutes ago, Badger said:

Many familiar comments on Foxestalk, despairing with trying to play 5at the back.

Other familiar themes - manager clueless, nods still clapping the team off, owners need to go. Weren’t these the same owners that saw them win the league about 10 years ago ? 

Same family but Leicester fans loved Vichai who was the owner when they won the League, but after his helicopter crash death his son took over. They won the FA cup in 2022 but with some players still there from their League win - then got relegated the following year. They hate the current owner.

[SW11_Saint]

12 hours ago, austsaint said:

While all of that is true, what Tonda didn’t appreciate, or act on, was the need to make changes on the half-hour after Leicester’s third goal goes in.   He should have replaced Jander who was having an out-of-character shocker; he should have replaced Archer for reasons which don’t need explaining, and he could have taken Fellows off who couldn’t get into the game and whose head had dropped after the awful back pass.    It took a miracle and a touch of class from Shea Charles to rescue three points, and save Tonda’s blushes.    Yes, they are playing for him, yes he made several good tactical changes, but the Archer experiment and the delayed substitutions invite justified criticism.

I said last night that Tonda deserved zero credit. I’ll temper that a little, but still think he made critical errors, starting Archer, then not making changes earlier when we could all see how things were going wrong. At least he made them at h/t - not that there was any choice. 

Two other things about him concerned me tonight. Saying (in post-match interview) that “the medical man told me he [Stewart] could I only do 25 mins” and (on the turn around) “the boys decided to go for it”. That does not sound like a man who is in charge of the dressing room, it sounds again like player power (at least positively this time - but shouldn’t it be HIM telling them to go for it?).

I have no doubt Stewart couldn’t last a whole match, but he can - and did - play more than 25 mins, so why not start him? And if you don’t want to  start him, why not start Larin - continuity from the Watford game - and bring Stewart on later? 

Edited 5 hours ago by SW11_Saint

[East Kent Saint]

Having watch these highlights I stumbled upon Saints v ManC on Big Match revisited , Keegan's debut ! Channon was brilliant scored both goals , Baker had quite a few mentions but I can't remember him at all . Holmes , George and a few others all good . City had few chances while Saints had a dozen or more . Excellent start to the day.

Edited 7 hours ago by East Kent Saint

[ChristopheVAFC]

Yesterday's match proved that football is full of surprises and suspense right up until the last minute of play.

The first half was a disaster, even though the players could have opened the scoring very early on if Cameron Archer had scored.

The first two goals could have been avoided. In the first case, if the goalkeeper had been more decisive, he could have stopped the ball. In the second case, the players need to communicate more and the goalkeeper should not have come out like that. The third goal, although beautiful, it must be said, could have been avoided with more defensive impact.

I think Tonda must have had a strong word with the players in the dressing room at half-time.

We thought the match was over, but we could sense that the Southampton players were out for revenge and wanted to show a better side of themselves.

The hardest part was scoring the first goal to make it 3-1. After that, our confidence returned and doubt set in among the Foxes.

The second and third goals, which came shortly before the end of the match, allowed us to come away with at least one point, which was miraculous considering we were 3-0 down at half-time.

The players continued to push forward and believe in themselves, and were rewarded at the very end of the match with a fourth goal, which sealed the victory.

It just goes to show that the team is capable of great things. It's a shame they lost time and points at the start of the season...

Let's keep believing!

[Baird of the land]

1 minute ago, SW11_Saint said:

I have no doubt Stewart couldn’t last a whole match, but he can - and did - play more than 25 mins, so why not start him? And if you don’t want to  start him, why not start Larin - continuity from the Watford game - and bring Stewart on later? 

Slight difference between overriding medical advice when 0-0 and when 0-3 perhaps. I'd guess medical staff advised that Larin wasn't fit enough for more than 25 minutes too.

[Sheaf Saint]

31 minutes ago, Badger said:

Many familiar comments on Foxestalk, despairing with trying to play 5at the back.

Other familiar themes - manager clueless, nods still clapping the team off, owners need to go. Weren’t these the same owners that saw them win the league about 10 years ago ? 

Well, here is another parallel with us.

The KP group is now run by the son of their former owner after his tragic death. And many of their fans are unhappy at the way his legacy has been tainted by poor decision making ever since.

[DT]

Wow. Well done Saints. Perhaps his half time team talks are getting better! 😉

Hope this is a turning point. Looked liked there was a togetherness there that has been missing for a long time.

 

[AlexLaw76]

41 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Yes, reminiscent of Still replacing Scienza with Stephens while leading at Blackburn.

Their game management, and general capitulation, was very Saintsy to me.

it was like looking back a year or so.

 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Touch Wood? Is that the station just before Cockfosters?

Fosters does taste like piss to be fair.

[SNSUN]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Fosters does taste like piss to be fair.

I used to drink it exclusively when I was a young'un, and I'd defend it to the hills. I hadn't had it for many years until summer last year when I had a pint - and it is, indeed, piss. I'm rather glad my palate has grown up. Moretti or Camden Hells for me now, if I do have lager.

To keep this Saints related, was Jander drunk last night? 😀

[suewhistle]

Don't be silly, he's a professional sportsman.

 

I'd say hungover..

[Zorba]

3 minutes ago, DT said:

Wow. Well done Saints. Perhaps his half time team talks are getting better! 😉

Hope this is a turning point. Looked liked there was a togetherness there that has been missing for a long time.

 

Would agree with that second half togetherness, we looked like a team. 

First half collapse was down to a few factors including Jander having a mare. which happens. But we were overun from the start, Archer is not a leader of the line whereas as soon as Stewart came on, they failed to play out from the back, our press worked and we bossed the game. We had made Leicester look good first half and that is pretty hard to do in itself.. They are an uncoherent mess with a terrible manager and just a couple of decent players.. as proved by us in the second half. It should never have got to three-nil and we were lucky they didn’t score more. Tonda should have changed it as soon as the second went in. Jander and Archer were making it too easy for them and had to go. Tonda gets no praise for this win from me but I thought the team of the second half were magnificent and deserved it.

[Jack]

Not really sure whose idea it is, but our first half tactic from goal kicks of:

Stephens to GK, GK to THB, THB to GK, GK to Stephens, Stephens to Welington, Welington to a Leicester player, Leicester player to back of our net

…that needs analysing and putting in the bin to never be seen again. Welington had a shocker first half but I felt for him, he was meant to be the outlet ball after inviting pressure, but he had no pass available as no movement in midfield and a static/useless Archer so couldn’t even go long. For the life of me I can’t understand a CB taking a goal kick 5 yards to our keeper (who’s shit with his feet BTW), knocking it around the back until giving it away in a dangerous area. Absolutely stinks and we persisted until 3-0 down. 
 

We can credit Tonda for finally changing it at HT but should’ve binned that after about 20 mins, and brought on a target man to get the ball into their half a bit. 

[skintsaint]

22 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

I used to drink it exclusively when I was a young'un, and I'd defend it to the hills. I hadn't had it for many years until summer last year when I had a pint - and it is, indeed, piss. I'm rather glad my palate has grown up. Moretti or Camden Hells for me now, if I do have lager.

To keep this Saints related, was Jander drunk last night? 😀

Moretti and Fosters are brewed in the same place. Both junk. Anyway....off topic 😅

[OldNick]

If I find time and need cheering up I may go back to the match thread and read it through, the first half will be full of angst and anger, Tonda the worst manager ever, terrible players not fit to wear the shirt and no fight or spirit to....complete ectasy.

Its odd but at half time I usually think its all over. but I just had a nagging feeling we might get a draw. 

I feel most sorry for the away fans who travelled and left at half time, how gutting that would be to actually take the time to get there and then miss what is probably one of the best days of their supporting lives!!!!!!

[Chez]

 

56 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Their game management, and general capitulation, was very Saintsy to me.

yeah, it t really felt like a role reversal last night.

However, it must be said that lots of teams are very Saintsy. We don't have exclusivity on leading at half time but being pegged back in the second half, mangers picking the wrong team, making the wrong subs, subs being too late, the side being too defensive when in front, bringing on an extra CB and it being attack v defence, conceding late goals...the whole shebang.  

[trousers]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

If I find time and need cheering up I may go back to the match thread and read it through, the first half will be full of angst and anger, Tonda the worst manager ever, terrible players not fit to wear the shirt and no fight or spirit to....complete ectasy.

Human beings in reacting to what they're seeing at the time shocker!

Always good to see the hindsight brigade out in full force... (I must have missed your half time post informing us everything was fine and not to worry as we'd obviously turn things around) 

(No offence Nick, I love you really... Mwah 😘)

Edited 4 hours ago by trousers

[kitch]

I still can't believe it happened. Moments like that are rare in football, especially with this club in the last decade. What an absolutely wonderful feeling!

Stewart changed the game. His presence brought Azaz into the game so much more, and when Charles came on to put Jander out of his misery it was too much for them. Great 2nd half from everybody, amazing finish from Shea.

One of my lads was sat next to me calm as anything throughout the game. Kept saying it's fine, it's the 10th of Feb - apparently that's the date we did the comeback against 5-3 Huddersfield a couple of years back. The fact it's Leicester just makes it even sweeter.

[Stud mark of doom]

3-0 is a funny old score at half time.

As has been mentioned, we lost 4-3 twice at Tranmere and against Brum. I think I recall checking at the time that there was no game in between where we had been 3 up at HT - they were effectively consecutive (albeit several years apart).

The previous time we were 3-0 at half time was the time united famously changed their shirts at half time. Maybe they would have won if Fergie had focused on changing tactics rather than shirts? 

[OldNick]

9 minutes ago, trousers said:

Human beings in reacting to what they're seeing at the time shocker!

Always good to see the hindsight brigade out in full force... (I must have missed your half time post informing us everyone was fine and not to worry as we'd obviously turn things around) 

(No offence Nick, I love you really... Mwah 😘)

I agree but the knee erk and abuse is so funny when you know the result, and then the complete return as things look up 

I was at home watching PL and flicking through X getting updates, its annoying where I live on edge of Salisbury that if I tune into Solent it wont stay on Saints but goes to Solent Dorest and get B'mouth not us.

Not sure how to get Solent online commentary.

 

[goodymatt]

Absolutely incredible. I can see selection logic due to fitness of the two big CFs but Archer had a nightmare. Had to put us 1 up and lost his head after that. All the goals were due to misplaced passes and passive defending. 3 shots on target and all goals. Despite this we did have a second big chance from THB, so should have scored 2 despite the shocking team performance. I really like Jander and thought he was great vs Stoke and Watford but he just had one of those nights where you need to come off, very lucky to avoid red.

Changes at HT were all logical and although as the game went on I found myself wishing it was Fellows in that pace down the right hand side to cross in to the CFs, Matsuki’s energy was good and when Charles came over to the right with him we looked like we could score on every attack. What a goal to win the game, no idea how my kids stayed asleep when that went in.

I was there at the Tranmere game, so know how it feels. It is a great feeling to see us on the right side of it for a change. This result could be huge in our playoff chase and will do the players a world of good to improve what has been a weak mentality over recent months. Rare moment, we need to just enjoy it. Doing it to Leicester feels right. Up the Saints!

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

Many familiar comments on Foxestalk, despairing with trying to play 5at the back.

Other familiar themes - manager clueless, nods still clapping the team off, owners need to go. Weren’t these the same owners that saw them win the league about 10 years ago ? 

They're owned by the same entity, but the son took sole control after the father died - the son and father were always active during their winning years though. Obviously they've won more than many of us will ever experience in our life, in that quick 3-4 year period, but their decline should be studied for sure - in many ways it is very, very similar to our own (they've even copied our scouting) - they just had some huge achievements during their highs.

It's the same arguments really - poor recruitment, poor manager selection, keeping failed managers too long etc etc. It spirals and it's very hard to get yourself out of it. PSR has made it 10000000 times more difficult for anyone who isn't a mega club, as the scope to 'fix' the mistakes you made with scouting and managers is limited - so the decline is often accelerated, whereas clubs like Utd, Spurs etc can just write off 3 or 4 players and multiple managers and go again.

One of the first suggestions I'd make to them though - stop signing our castoffs, it's really not going to help.

Edited 6 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Chez]

18 minutes ago, kitch said:

Stewart changed the game. His presence brought Azaz into the game so much more, and when Charles came on to put Jander out of his misery it was too much for them. 

I thought the combination of Charles and Leicester settling for 3-0 was key. Charles had the space to work in and he ran the game in the second half. He's a really classy player. Great first touch, which gives him time to pick a pass. Everything seemed to come off for him last night. Little flicks, right the corner balls and when he made runs beyond the front three he was picked out. This pushed Leicester back and it became and endless attack.

I was critical when he joined us. I thought he was far too casual and ill-suited to a DM role. I still don't think he can play that role to be honest - he gets caught the wrong side of opposing midfielders too often leaving CBs exposed, but when he is allowed to play a true CM role, allowing him to get up and down the pitch with cover behind him, he looks far better. 

What a great situation to have Downes, Jander and Charles. That squad depth is what parachute money pays for.

 

 

[suewhistle]

Another point considering that I jhaven't seen raised is that the two goals by our defenders came after Larin had come on. I appreciate the first was from a Stewart assist but I wonder whether worrying about the other big man helped too? Manning just stood there (not a criticism) as the space opened up around him!

[OldNick]

what really pleased me was the Leicester fans singing we want 9 then have this result shoved up their gullet 

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

Another point considering that I jhaven't seen raised is that the two goals by our defenders came after Larin had come on. I appreciate the first was from a Stewart assist but I wonder whether worrying about the other big man helped too? Manning just stood there (not a criticism) as the space opened up around him!

It certainly made a difference to have two 'big' men on the pitch at the same time, I think Leicester's defence was already at 6's and 7's, and it just pulled them all over the place. Larin had a shot just before our 2nd or 3rd goal as well, so he was causing a nuisance. And Stewarts movement in and around was also causing a problem, his assist for the winner shouldn't be understated. Cute touch and an awareness of what is around him.

[malcolm waldron]

Special recognition to the fans who went last night and who go up and down the country watching the team.  Last night you got your payback for all those wasted and expensive weekends - and there have been many of those over the years.  Hope you all enjoyed it.

One of the things that struck me during Nov/Dec was Leicester and Birmingham (I think?) fans complaining about the long trip down to St Marys.  Try living down here and going to away games!

[Osvaldorama]

Shout out to Jack Stephens recently as well. 
 

Had a torrid time in a back 3, but looked good in a 4. Rate his performance yesterday and the last few games.
Not much he could have done about the goals. 

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Shout out to Jack Stephens recently as well. 
 

Had a torrid time in a back 3, but looked good in a 4. Rate his performance yesterday and the last few games.
Not much he could have done about the goals. 

He's always looked better in a 4, so has THB. 

There was a moment yesterday though where they both forgot to head the ball, but other than that they seem more at home as a pair. 3 CB's didn't work for multiple reasons and I think the wrong profile of player was a key reason in that. Not saying we can't do it from time to time, but that can't be our go-to approach with these players.

[skintsaint]

7 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Cute touch and an awareness of what is around him.

Looked like mis-control to me but I'm not complaining either way 😅

[S-Clarke]

Just now, skintsaint said:

Looked like mis-control to me but I'm not complaining either way 😅

I've looked at it a few times, I thought it was intentional. Maybe I'm giving him the benefit of doubt! Either way, it's an assist!

[goodymatt]

 

[goodymatt]

11 hours ago, SaintBobby said:

This is great entertainment 

 

Just before we scored to make it 3-2, the main guy on the left said, “imagine if Southampton were any good”, suggesting zero belief we could get back into the game. I’m sure a lot of us shared that belief at the time but hilarious watching those Foxes fans back knowing what was coming!

[Baird of the land]

21 minutes ago, Chez said:

I thought the combination of Charles and Leicester settling for 3-0 was key. Charles had the space to work in and he ran the game in the second half. He's a really classy player. Great first touch, which gives him time to pick a pass. Everything seemed to come off for him last night. Little flicks, right the corner balls and when he made runs beyond the front three he was picked out. This pushed Leicester back and it became and endless attack.

I was critical when he joined us. I thought he was far too casual and ill-suited to a DM role. I still don't think he can play that role to be honest - he gets caught the wrong side of opposing midfielders too often leaving CBs exposed, but when he is allowed to play a true CM role, allowing him to get up and down the pitch with cover behind him, he looks far better. 

What a great situation to have Downes, Jander and Charles. That squad depth is what parachute money pays for.

 

 

Since i first watched him breakthrough for N.Ireland i thought he was a box to box midfielder. Adding goals would complete the package, though ideally saints will lock him down with a big contract before then.

[Ekelund24]

2 hours ago, gecko said:

Well what a game that turned out to be. 

Not to diminish Stephens, Stewart and Charles' excellent finishes, but I actually think my favourite moment was Manning's equalising goal. The guy stands on the centre of the 6-yard line, doesn't move, and is unmarked the entire time - just calmly nods it in when it arrives.

How many times have we seen corner defending like that from our lot this season? Was damn nice to watch some other chumps do it for once instead - I'd be absolutely seething if I were a Leicester fan watching that absolute shocker.

 

 

It looked like he was marked at the beginning but Lascelles went to where he thought the ball was but it ended up where he was and Manning had an easy finish. Big thanks to Nelson for the lack of effort tackling Charles for the winner

Also, is this better than the 9-0 result, 9-0 was a kick in the balls but our balls weren't ready for action, at 3-0 up they must've thought they were close to finish and then BAM balls kicked

 

Edited 5 hours ago by Ekelund24