Man City 2-1 Saints - Match Thread

[pimpin4rizeal]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Not sure closing down stops their winner - it was simply the most pure strike imaginable from the player you'd least expect it to come from. Nothing is stopping that. Thought Peretz was immense today in everything he did.

I just think because no one came towards him it just opened up the oppurtunity where he thinks fuck It I’ll have a go .. does that happen if someone’s running out towards him fast ? 

[tdmickey3]

19 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Great game of football and the players and Tonda can keep their heads high but think Tonda shit the bed playing Fellows. The guy has 0 goals in 43 games of football this season. Matsuki should have been playing instead in the front 3. Jelert should have come on for Wellington. We need to play the form players in the last few games if we are going to go up. 

Mate, do cut the crap

[Swaythling Saint]

So proud of our Saints, their deflected goal was a killer so close after ours - we go again Tuesday!

[Sheaf Saint]

Magnificent effort from us. The goal from Azaz deserved to be the winner.

I guess on balance of play you have to say City deserved that, but their fans didn't. They were so poor - didn't hear as much as a peep from them until they equalised.

We needed a bit of luck today to win, and we didn't get it. Didn't help that the ref gave City a FK every time they fell over. So many tackles he blew up for that would be absolutely fine in the Championship.

[Jimmy_D]

On the plus side, we’re STILL the last team to win at Maine Road…

[tdmickey3]

18 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Only major criticism is that we should never have let Doku cut in, ever ever. 

Mate, most of the PL and lots of teams in Europe struggle to stop him

[benjii]

7 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Not really, considering we conceded the equaliser from him cutting inside. 

We should have been cutting off the inside run and showing him outside every time - let him cross it all he wants.

He was pretty central when he got on the ball and about 20 yards out. Showing him outside there is giving him a straight run at the goal.

[Saint_clark]

Just now, tdmickey3 said:

Mate, most of the PL and lots of teams in Europe struggle to stop him

Because they try to stop him inside and out, all we needed to do was stop him cutting in. Let him do whatever he wants out wide. 

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

Because they try to stop him inside and out, all we needed to do was stop him cutting in. Let him do whatever he wants out wide. 

Ok then🙄

[sfc4prem]

You absolutely cannot criticise our defending. Ridiculous to even try.

Despite that, City are going to have attempts at goal. Of course they bloody are. Peretz saved us a few times. On balance of play, City winning by one goal about right. 

We made them fucking sweat though.

What a moment from Azaz...

[Saint_clark]

I honestly can't believe there's people acting like "we shouldn't let Doku cut inside" is a controversial thing to say 😂😂😂

[sfc4prem]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

I honestly can't believe there's people acting like "we shouldn't let Doku cut inside" is a controversial thing to say 😂😂😂

Did we roll out the red carpet for him? It's not a fucking choice mate, he's a brilliant winger. You do your best to stop him.

[CB Fry]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

I honestly can't believe there's people acting like "we shouldn't let Doku cut inside" is a controversial thing to say 😂😂😂

I think the point is you're making it sound like some schoolboy preventable error when he's literally one of the best attackers in the world for fucks sake.

[Saint_clark]

Just now, sfc4prem said:

Did we roll out the red carpet for him? It's not a fucking choice mate, he's a brilliant winger. You do your best to stop him.

Yeah, we basically did. Just make sure you are always on the inside of him. If he goes outside, who cares, it's on him to get the cross in and then the CBs and GK to deal with it. 

[pimpin4rizeal]

2 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

You absolutely cannot criticise our defending. Ridiculous to even try.

Despite that, City are going to have attempts at goal. Of course they bloody are. Peretz saved us a few times. On balance of play, City winning by one goal about right. 

We made them fucking sweat though.

What a moment from Azaz...

Second goal is down to not closing him down though sure it’s a good strike but i doubt he even has the idea to have the strike if he’s got anyone rushing out to him .: we where to busy defending deep which opened it up for him 

Edited 6 hours ago by pimpin4rizeal

[CB Fry]

Hey lads, little tip for anyone playing Man City in the future - try and stop that Haaland scoring.

[Saint_clark]

Just now, CB Fry said:

I think the point is you're making it sound like some schoolboy preventable error when he's literally one of the best attackers in the world for fucks sake.

But a human body in the way is still a human body in the way. When he got that shot away we had two defenders wide of his position - all we needed to do was have one of those blocking the line from his right foot to goal and he'd need to go on the outside of us. 

[tdmickey3]

Just now, CB Fry said:

I think the point is you're making it sound like some schoolboy preventable error when he's literally one of the best attackers in the world for fucks sake.

Guess he’s upset and that’s fair enough and maybe clouding his mind a bit

[sfc4prem]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

Yeah, we basically did. Just make sure you are always on the inside of him. If he goes outside, who cares, it's on him to get the cross in and then the CBs and GK to deal with it. 

Sorry pal, if you're on the inside of him he will go to the byline but not stop, he'll then cutback and either shoot or whip it across the face of goal. There's no simple solution, really - don't diminish our defensive efforts today by saying we played him wrong, we did our best.

[pingpong]

Unlucky today.  Peretz was in one of his mad moods but thought we'd gotten away with it 😢 

Jander had a good game, hopefully over the little bump he had a few weeks ago.

Think it holds us in good stead for the 23rd.

[sfc4prem]

1 minute ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Second goal is down to not closing him down though sure it’s a good strike but i doubt he even has the idea to have the strike if he’s got anyone rushing out to him .: we where to busy defending deep which opened it up for him 

We'd been defending for our lives for the entire half. I'll let them off for not closing him down once (most of the time we did that brilliantly).

[Saint_clark]

Just now, sfc4prem said:

Sorry pal, if you're on the inside of him he will go to the byline but not stop, he'll then cutback and either shoot or whip it across the face of goal. There's no simple solution, really - don't diminish our defensive efforts today by saying we played him wrong, we did our best.

We'll never know will we, we dealt with every cross up till then. I'm not diminishing our defensive efforts, there was one moment in which we should have shown Doku outside instead of inside and it cost us that we didn't. 

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

I cant fault the team or Tonda today in terms of tactics and effort. They showed up and gave everything. 

Man City stepped up and ultimately a great goal decided the game.

[do i not like fizzy pop]

12 minutes ago, karlb79 said:

Hats (or boots?) off to Wellington. Coming into the side cold from very few minutes in the last few games, to put in a performance like that, absolutely brilliant.

He was my MOTM. Was immense in defense. BBC giving it to Gonzalez was pathetically lazy 

[sfc4prem]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

We'll never know will we, we dealt with every cross up till then. I'm not diminishing our defensive efforts, there was one moment in which we should have shown Doku outside instead of inside and it cost us that we didn't. 

It's all about moments, mate. Man City could easily say 'we shouldn't have let Azaz turn' or 'Reijnders should've scored his volley easily'. 

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

We'll never know will we, we dealt with every cross up till then. I'm not diminishing our defensive efforts, there was one moment in which we should have shown Doku outside instead of inside and it cost us that we didn't. 

Give it a rest now mate, we get your point but it is wrong and getting boring.

[Turkish]

Gutted. Heroic failure once again. Defending was brilliant, when that goal went in which was an unbelievable strike you start to dream for once maybe it’s our time, sadly not. Unlucky with deflection for the equaliser. Everyone was great but for me Jander was absolutely outstanding. 

[Hawkswood]

2 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Gutted. Heroic failure once again. Defending was brilliant, when that goal went in which was an unbelievable strike you start to dream for once maybe it’s our time, sadly not. Unlucky with deflection for the equaliser. Everyone was great but for me Jander was absolutely outstanding. 

Yeah Jander for me also

[VectisSaint]

Well that was so much better than I dared expect, just for a minute (or maybe 3) the upset looked on, but that goal from Citeh was a worldie. Finn will get the plaudits for his worldie, but my MOTM was Caspar Jander, he was absolutely brilliant today, breaking up play, interceptions and great passes, he mad the Azaz goal, even though Leo and Matsuki touched it in between. But well played everyone you did us proud today and have Pep a lot to think about. Seems odd to have lost a game finally (though last Tuesday felt like a loss). 

5 games to go, let's win them all.

Yellows Yellows.

[Saint_clark]

4 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Give it a rest now mate, we get your point but it is wrong and getting boring.

 

6 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

It's all about moments, mate. Man City could easily say 'we shouldn't have let Azaz turn' or 'Reijnders should've scored his volley easily'. 

I get it. But if we're pleased with the team for doing so well for so long, we're allowed to criticise the few moments where they got it wrong. 

Ultimately, I'm just pissed off that it's another victory for the rich elite in football. Sick and tired of "small" clubs being allowed to dip their toes in the pool of success and then have to endure the smug abuse from people who have never seen their team in person at the end of the day. 

[sfc4prem]

Hope Arsenal win the league 

[Toadhall Saint]

28 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Not really, considering we conceded the equaliser from him cutting inside. 

We should have been cutting off the inside run and showing him outside every time - let him cross it all he wants.

You make it sound so easy 

Edited 6 hours ago by Toadhall Saint

[James]

11 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

I cant fault the team or Tonda today in terms of tactics and effort. They showed up and gave everything. 

Man City stepped up and ultimately a great goal decided the game.

100%. What a moment they gave us and started to believe it was our day. 

[sfc4prem]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

Ultimately, I'm just pissed off that it's another victory for the rich elite in football. Sick and tired of "small" clubs being allowed to dip their toes in the pool of success and then have to endure the smug abuse from people who have never seen their team in person at the end of the day. 

Agreed. Man City the root of it, really. Well, the formation of the Premier League ultimately. The financial imbalance is ridiculous.

We're going against a club whose capacity for spending is could be measured alongside countries GDPs, and a club who are facing hundreds of allegations of financial rule abuse.

[Baird of the land]

Went in expecting nothing. To get so close is gutting. Great performance by the players. Bree deflection was so unlucky.

[do i not like fizzy pop]

Just a thought, when Citeh get found guilty of the 115 charges do we get awarded the cup anyway?

(Sarcasm mode)

[BotleySaint]

The levels of commitment and energy shown by the lads today. Absolutely amazing. Every one of then fighting and working hard. It feela like a long time since we've had a team like that!

Hope we can keep that level going.on Tueaday and make the final game worthwhile.

Really proud of them all.

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Agreed. Man City the root of it, really. Well, the formation of the Premier League ultimately. The financial imbalance is ridiculous.

We're going against a club whose capacity for spending is could be measured alongside countries GDPs, and a club who are facing hundreds of allegations of financial rule abuse.

155 charges we’ll never sing that 

[James]

Just now, Turkish said:

155 charges we’ll never sing that 

We’ll never sing that and the league will never do anything about that either. 

[Sheaf Saint]

Really enjoyed the banter across the tracks at the tube station. 

"Live round the corner, you only live round the corner" 🤣

[saintant]

20 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Sorry pal, if you're on the inside of him he will go to the byline but not stop, he'll then cutback and either shoot or whip it across the face of goal. There's no simple solution, really - don't diminish our defensive efforts today by saying we played him wrong, we did our best.

Yeah, he such a tricky and strong player and defenders know he can go inside or out so you can't second guess him. He was the game changer for them today.

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, James said:

We’ll never sing that and the league will never do anything about that either. 

Bet those charges just disappear 

[saintant]

22 minutes ago, pingpong said:

Unlucky today.  Peretz was in one of his mad moods but thought we'd gotten away with it 😢 

Jander had a good game, hopefully over the little bump he had a few weeks ago.

Think it holds us in good stead for the 23rd.

Yeah, if only we'd had your mate Baz in goal he'd have saved both their goals 🙂

[Plastic]

These mancs play dull football and their fans were silent all game until they scored.

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, Plastic said:

These mancs play dull football and their fans were silent all game until they scored.

Posted by a user calling himself Plastic 🫤

[sfc4prem]

3 minutes ago, Plastic said:

These mancs play dull football and their fans were silent all game until they scored.

Why Huw Edwards, by the way? 

[SNSUN]

What a day. Took in the atmosphere and was sensible enough to stop drinking after 8 pints so I could enjoy the game. 😝 We completely nullified then in the first half, superb defending. It was basically attack vs defence. After the break they changed gear but we held strong. That opened up chances for us and Fellows really does need to learn when to just take a shit. Azaz's goal was typical Azaz and we were then angered the beast. They brought on all their big guns. They had to. The defeat could have been extra time but for that Gonzalez strike. 

Everyone worked their balls off, it would be remiss of me to pick out individuals. But if you point a gun at my wife and tell me to pick some, I'd let you shoot then I'd tell you my MOTM... Welington. He was blowing out his arse at the end but he deserves it, he was excellent. Mind you so were  Peretz, Bree, Wood, THB, Jander (who came close), Bragg and Leo. 

Also...fuck VAR. I hate those late offside flags. Just raise the damn flag if it's offside. 

That's it for now. I have to wait ages for the bus that gets me home and I just want to sleep. And fart, but there's people around me and I had a GDK.

[Tamesaint]

2 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Agreed. Man City the root of it, really. Well, the formation of the Premier League ultimately. The financial imbalance is ridiculous.

We're going against a club whose capacity for spending is could be measured alongside countries GDPs, and a club who are facing hundreds of allegations of financial rule abuse.

This and the previous post that you quote sum it up for me. I feel bitter atm and the atmosphere at Wembley Park tube after the match indicates so many other Saints fans feel the same. 

How come Man City can have 130 charges of financially irregularity seemingly ignored? How come Chelsea can lose squillions and not get punished? On the other hand points deductions are playing a huge part in deciding who gets relegated from the Championship. The whole thing stinks. 

 

 

[SNSUN]

6 minutes ago, Plastic said:

These mancs play dull football and their fans were silent all game until they scored.

Imagine being so successful that fans don't really care. Where's the joy in that. 

[East Kent Saint]

1 hour ago, Saint_clark said:

Of course you could. You could not let him cut inside. Let him go outside and cross it.

He goes past defenders either way so stopping one way means he goes past the other way , have you not seen him play before today ???