Saints 2-0 Oxford - Match Thread

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Well controlled game today. 

THB switched off completely and could have made the game a little dicier at the end.

Edozie looking better with each game. Larin put himself about.

Good run and assist from Fellows but the poor fella is never gonna score this season. 

Win the next two games and Saints will nearly be there.

Edited 16 hours ago by JohnnyShearer2.0

[Football Special]

29 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Workmanlike and professional display. Felt we we were playing well within ourselves and could have stepped up another gear if we needed to. They offered very little, their one big chance they fucked up. Certainly have bigger tests in the next seven games 

I'm fairly sure Tonda instructs the players to play with low intensity in these scenarios, probably based on data to preserve fitness and avoid injury. Goes against my instincts to go for it and score more goals but could pay off in the run in if we have full squad to choose from. 

We could have scored a few more today with better finishing but no complaints on the 3 points. 

Going to be a mental week back with Arsenal , Wrexham and Derby to play 

[Saint Pete]

Didn't see the game today but just saw the goals. Shea Charles, wow take a bow son, that was a proper wonder goal! Le Tiss would have been proud of that strike I think iin his heyday. 

And good to see Fellows with the assist for the 1st, shame he couldn't have scored with the rebound chance at the end. Still feel he could be an important player in the run in if we can get him confident again. 

[Saint NL]

Just because it's worth watching again 

 

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

 

Just because it's worth watching again 

 

He's put some serious bend on that.

[Toadhall Saint]

33 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

 

Just because it's worth watching again 

 

Was sat in block 20 just about in line from where he hit it - there isn’t a goalie intbe world that was stopping that - the curl was immense.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Going to be a mental week back with Arsenal , Wrexham and Derby to play

But isn't is great to be at the tail end of a season and have so much to play for?

Actually looking forward to the next Saints game and can't say I did that last year.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Autos shouldn’t be ruled out.

Mad I know. But teams will be taking points off each other, we gained two today!

[Jimmy_D]

2 hours ago, Colinjb said:

Having a pint and reflecting. Don't get to go to many games now due to life, etc.... 

I'm reasonably sure that Shea Charles goal is the best I've ever been present for. Just unreal.

For me it’s close between Shea’s today and Martina’s against Arsenal for goals I’ve seen with my own eyes.

[Convict Colony]

First time in ages I don't predict a 2-0 and we win 2-0.

[Baird of the land]

Enjoyed that today, lovely sunny day 2 early goals to settle the nerves.

Shea Charles is such a classy player, deserved mom winner.

[Lighthouse]

29 minutes ago, Jimmy_D said:

For me it’s close between Shea’s today and Martina’s against Arsenal for goals I’ve seen with my own eyes.

It's hard to put them in order but for games when I've actually been in the stadium it's competing with:

• Osvaldo vs Man City
• Thomas vs Ipswich
• Lambert away at MK Dons
• Lallana vs Hull
• Pelle vs QPR

Plus a whole smorgasbord of free kicks from Lambert, Vignal, JWP, Bale and randomly Chris Baird.

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

I'm fairly sure Tonda instructs the players to play with low intensity in these scenarios, probably based on data to preserve fitness and avoid injury. Goes against my instincts to go for it and score more goals but could pay off in the run in if we have full squad to choose from. 

We could have scored a few more today with better finishing but no complaints on the 3 points. 

Going to be a mental week back with Arsenal , Wrexham and Derby to play 

I think that is bang on the money.  Get a lead and sit on it.

Edited 13 hours ago by Wade Garrett

[benjii]

Brilliant assist from Archer.

[SNSUN]

28 minutes ago, benjii said:

Brilliant assist from Archer.

Yep. Laid it on a plate for Charles's tap in. 😝

[Challenger]

1 hour ago, Jimmy_D said:

For me it’s close between Shea’s today and Martina’s against Arsenal for goals I’ve seen with my own eyes.

Think I still think Ivan's was better.

[Jack]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

It's hard to put them in order but for games when I've actually been in the stadium it's competing with:

• Osvaldo vs Man City
• Thomas vs Ipswich
• Lambert away at MK Dons
• Lallana vs Hull
• Pelle vs QPR

Plus a whole smorgasbord of free kicks from Lambert, Vignal, JWP, Bale and randomly Chris Baird.

The Chrissy Baird set piece vs Cardiff (I think?) in front of the Northam is probably one of the most underrated goals in Saints history. Lay off, laces through it, fuck off. 

[Hayling Saint]

1 minute ago, Jack said:

The Chrissy Baird set piece vs Cardiff (I think?) in front of the Northam is probably one of the most underrated goals in Saints history. Lay off, laces through it, fuck off. 

Yep, was there, great goal

[Pilchards]

Took a piss on the Shea goal, gutted!!

However my bet builder came in.

Saints score first, Larin to score, Saints win, Saints 2 nil and Azaz shot on target and under 2.5 goals.

Made up for it.

 

[Barton Saint]

Has anyone said how awful Oxford were and how on earth did we manage to lose up there??

[beatlesaint]

15 minutes ago, Barton Saint said:

Has anyone said how awful Oxford were and how on earth did we manage to lose up there??

We lost up there because unlike now we didn’t have a goalkeeper back then.

[John Boy Saint]

1 hour ago, Jack said:

The Chrissy Baird set piece vs Cardiff (I think?) in front of the Northam is probably one of the most underrated goals in Saints history. Lay off, laces through it, fuck off. 

If the keeper had gotten his hands to that, they would have snapped at the wrist! Sat at the other end of the ground as another f**ked free kick was happening, chap I sat next to we both uttering ffs cut short with Wow!

Martinas worldie to wake up the stupid o’clock Boxing Day game was a gem too.

Edited 10 hours ago by John Boy Saint

[LoyalSaintSO50]

2 hours ago, Pilchards said:

Took a piss on the Shea goal, gutted!!

However my bet builder came in.

Saints score first, Larin to score, Saints win, Saints 2 nil and Azaz shot on target and under 2.5 goals.

Made up for it.

 

Like the lyrics, what’s the tune to that one? 😇

[Miltonaggro]

Thought we were on for a QPR cricket score at 2-0. Said to the chap next to me at half time, it didn’t look like OU could hurt us, but always a nag they might get one back. instead this Saints team saw it out in a professional manner. Larin was a colossus in terms of hold up play, Peretz solid as a rock, back four working well, Downes, Azaz and Charles all good. Proper team performance again. Well done Tonda. 

[Turkish]

7 hours ago, Barton Saint said:

Has anyone said how awful Oxford were and how on earth did we manage to lose up there??

Seeing as how managers don’t make any difference whatsoever and Baz never, ever made a mistake that led to a goal I have no idea 

[Convict Colony]

I like how both downes and larin were facing the goal ready for any save or post action

 

[Barton Saint]

Well after 5 games in 13 days to have none for 14 is cruel and unfair to us junkies I will have withdrawal symptoms by Wednesday 

[Lighthouse]

10 hours ago, Barton Saint said:

Has anyone said how awful Oxford were and how on earth did we manage to lose up there??

We lost because our finishing was dreadful, we only scored once from a set piece and we ran out of ideas. Then at the end of the game we allowed one of their players to basically jog straight through the middle of our team and score from about eight yards out. Some people feel the need to blame Bazunu for everything, so I can only assume in this game he was wearing an outfield shirt with 'Romeu 28' printed on the back.

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Just a routine win against an incredibly poor side. 2 early goals just killed the game and their game plan stone dead. Just managed the game after that, and apart from one moment, never looked in any doubt. Had we needed 4 or 5 goals, we’d have got them, as it was,  the priority was just getting through the game with the least amount of effort with no injuries or stupid red cards. All achieved, a run out for Ross & a little bit of rebuilding Archers confidence by giving him a start. Apart from other results around us, a good day all round. 
 

“Player” of the match, a hard one to pick, but I’ll probably go for Manning.

[Lord Duckhunter]

5 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

We lost because our finishing was dreadful, we only scored once from a set piece and we ran out of ideas. Then at the end of the game we allowed one of their players to basically jog straight through the middle of our team and score from about eight yards out. Some people feel the need to blame Bazunu for everything, so I can only assume in this game he was wearing an outfield shirt with 'Romeu 28' printed on the back.

 

Peretz saves at least one of them, probably both. If you think Baz couldn’t have done any better you’re deluded. Why are you still defending the bloke, when it’s been proven he was sub standard and a better keeper has got us up the league. 

[Lighthouse]

2 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Peretz saves at least one of them, probably both. If you think Baz couldn’t have done any better you’re deluded. Why are you still defending the bloke, when it’s been proven he was sub standard and a better keeper has got us up the league. 

He might save one of them, we'll never know. They're certainly no worse than the goals Peretz conceded against Wednesday and Charlton.

The team is set up different now and we aren't still trying to pretend Romeu is a professional footballer. We're defending much better as a team, have a better shape, a large physical focal point up front and the likes of Wood and Romeu are out the team. They're all important factors in our improvement.

[Football Special]

12 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

He might save one of them, we'll never know. They're certainly no worse than the goals Peretz conceded against Wednesday and Charlton.

The team is set up different now and we aren't still trying to pretend Romeu is a professional footballer. We're defending much better as a team, have a better shape, a large physical focal point up front and the likes of Wood and Romeu are out the team. They're all important factors in our improvement.

Stop it 

[CB Fry]

I wish we still had Bazunu.

[Miltonaggro]

16 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I wish we still had Bazunu.

I wish Portsmouth still had Bazunu...

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 minute ago, Miltonaggro said:

I wish Portsmouth still had Bazunu...

After yesterday, I assumed they did. 

[egg]

39 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

He might save one of them, we'll never know. They're certainly no worse than the goals Peretz conceded against Wednesday and Charlton.

The team is set up different now and we aren't still trying to pretend Romeu is a professional footballer. We're defending much better as a team, have a better shape, a large physical focal point up front and the likes of Wood and Romeu are out the team. They're all important factors in our improvement.

So Baz would have been brilliant if Wood and Romeu weren't in the team? Right you are. 

I know football fans will never agree on everything, but it should be universally acknowledged that Baz was a disaster and has finally been upgraded. 

[Paul_B]

15 hours ago, Saint NL said:

 

Just because it's worth watching again 

 

Goal of the season contender. All from Archer trying to pass it to the ref 😅

[trousers]

Maybe someone should highlight to our resident contrarians that the following two phrases aren't mutually exclusive:

"Yes, turns out I was wrong about Bazunu not making a significant difference to our fortunes"

"There were other factors that contributed to our poor results"

Edited 3 minutes ago by trousers

[egg]

1 minute ago, Paul_B said:

Goal of the season contender. All from Archer trying to pass it to the ref 😅

Yep. What makes it even better is Charles waiting for the bobble to go out of the pass. He'd have hit it earlier if not. Phenomenal goal.