Man City 2-1 Saints - Match Thread

[BarberSaint]

5 hours ago, SNSUN said:

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.

Puncheon-style?

[kitch]

So, so, SO proud of this team. That result doesn't define them, it only goes to show that we can compete.

When we were promoted a couple of years ago, deep down I didn't believe we were good enough for the PL. I didn't for one second think it would end up being as bad as it was (I gave RM far too much credit!) but I thought we'd valiantly fail.

Now, I see a team I can believe in. It's a team I enjoy watching and a pragmatic manager who will employ whatever tactic he thinks will give us the best chance of success.

He'll already be thinking about Ipswich, that's our cup final and they should be worried about playing us!

[Holmes_and_Watson]

A superb performance and, despite the result, a great day and amazing support.

Everyone worked their socks off. We did so well first half,  but had to dig in second. Delerium when Azaz's goal went in. But it's us, so you knew it was going to still be a challenge.

No shame in losing to that winning goal (not as good as ours though)

Jander, I thought, stood out for us. Important all over the park. But so many other good efforts.

Worse for wear today, but thankfully I'm not preparing for a game on Tuesday.

 

[Middlewordie]

A brilliant day out at Wembley with my son, Saints were great, Man City were average (much better) and the atmosphere was amazing. We didn't win but we looked like we could have. This season has been all the best bits (which also includes some terrible bits) of supporting Saints and I can't remember feeling so positive about my team in years. I'm expecting them to play well, work hard and score goals every game. I'm ambivalent about the PL - nice if we get there, but not a disaster if we don't. Please just keep the club happy, hardworking and something to be proud of, just like yesterday.

[macca155]

7 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

I don't get this. Yes their support was more subdued and our fans were well on voice as you would be with nearly 20k more fans. But all the Man City fans I saw were fine, no different to any other fanbase.  Plus they get to Wembley what, 2 or 3 times a year, every year, it's not cheap for us, let alone from Manchester. 

 

This , as I travelled back, I seemed to be in a City fans bubble. Lots of chat and without exception they were gracious, and frankly hugely relieved.

Their beef was with Pep's team selection, they felt that was disrespectful and they were in danger of making the same mistake as Arteta. Class inevitably told in the end, but Saints have turned heads this year.

Avarice eyes are going to be looking at Tonda and quite a few of our players. The club will struggle to hold on to them if we fail to go up. The stakes are very high.

 

 

[lambtiss]

It was a great feeling to be amongst such a huge crowd of fantastic Saint's fans yesterday. We completely outsupported and outsung the City fans for whom it just seemed to be another, regular day at the office.

Last season and at the start of this, we seemed to have lost the connection with the club and the team. But, this group under the magnificent, management of Tonda have restored that wonderful feeling and pride to be a Saints supporter.

A special shout out to Bragg, Jander and Scienza who were all outstanding.

Well played Saints, so close, so close.

Now to get back to the Premiership

[gandalf]

From where we sat you could see the vast amount of empty blocks in the city end. Probably not showing on TV as it was on the main camera side..

[Football Special]

22 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

It was a great feeling to be amongst such a huge crowd of fantastic Saint's fans yesterday. We completely outsupported and outsung the City fans for whom it just seemed to be another, regular day at the office.

Last season and at the start of this, we seemed to have lost the connection with the club and the team. But, this group under the magnificent, management of Tonda have restored that wonderful feeling and pride to be a Saints supporter.

A special shout out to Bragg, Jander and Scienza who were all outstanding.

Well played Saints, so close, so close.

Now to get back to the Premiership

I think Bragg has been a great addition to the first team squad this season, showed some very composed performances in big matches, hope Scotland take him to the world cup 

[spyinthesky]

My thoughts (for what they are worth) on the players performance yesterday.

Perez           8.5  Did everything expected of him. What a signing. Shame we will probably lose him next season.
Bree             7.0   A decent enough performance defensively allied to a couple of dangerous crosses into the City box.
Wellington   8.0  An excellent display after a fairly long time on the sidelines with injury.
Bree             7.5  Really turning into a decent midfielder. 'One of our own'.
H- Bellis      8.0  A very strong defensive display. Performances have improved since Tonda returned to a flat back four.
Wood          8.5  His performances sometime a bit erratic, especially with the ball, but played very well.
Fellows       6.5  Thing his display showed he is probably not good enough for a starting place if we do go up.
Aziz             7.5   One of his less than impressive displays but he gets an extra mark for a wonderfully taken goal.
Lander        8.5   Possibly deserved a 9 as he was arguably man of the match against top class opponents.
Stewart       6.5   A difficult game for him as a lone striker but it is good to see him back in a Saints shirt.
Scienza       7.5   Relatively quiet game but got half a mark extra for his contribution to the goal and his dispatch of his offside effort.

Saints fans  10/10  Brilliant performance. Loud, Proud & Colourful!!

[Vancouver Saint]

I so wanted to avoid the classic cliche 'did the club and city proud' - but it's actually the most appropriate sentiment for me. 
For a brief moment there we all thought the miracle might happen after a miracle strike by Azaz - but no-one can argue that Man City didn't have more chances or possession. You just knew when that deflected goal went in what was going to happen. Doku vs Fellows was just unkind and shouldn't really be allowed - like cruelty to children.
With the rest of the results it looks like us v Middlesborough in the playoffs.

Hopefully no Wembley hangover...

Edited 5 hours ago by Vancouver Saint
Typo

[Charlie Wayman]

12 hours ago, The Wyvern said:

Having to sit behind the ball while they pass it about creating the correct angles- boring!

We've been there, done that, bought the T-shirt and not that long ago.

Oh! and if you were being ironic, what delicious irony!

Edited 3 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[Football Special]

12 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

My thoughts (for what they are worth) on the players performance yesterday.

Perez           8.5  Did everything expected of him. What a signing. Shame we will probably lose him next season.
Bree             7.0   A decent enough performance defensively allied to a couple of dangerous crosses into the City box.
Wellington   8.0  An excellent display after a fairly long time on the sidelines with injury.
Bree             7.5  Really turning into a decent midfielder. 'One of our own'.
H- Bellis      8.0  A very strong defensive display. Performances have improved since Tonda returned to a flat back four.
Wood          8.5  His performances sometime a bit erratic, especially with the ball, but played very well.
Fellows       6.5  Thing his display showed he is probably not good enough for a starting place if we do go up.
Aziz             7.5   One of his less than impressive displays but he gets an extra mark for a wonderfully taken goal.
Lander        8.5   Possibly deserved a 9 as he was arguably man of the match against top class opponents.
Stewart       6.5   A difficult game for him as a lone striker but it is good to see him back in a Saints shirt.
Scienza       7.5   Relatively quiet game but got half a mark extra for his contribution to the goal and his dispatch of his offside effort.

Saints fans  10/10  Brilliant performance. Loud, Proud & Colourful!!

I'd say all the players can hold their heads high, gave it everything and thats all we can ask from them 

[rallyboy]

It wasn't to be - but that incredible moment when Azaz curled it into the corner will live with me for a long time. 

[spyinthesky]

10 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

It wasn't to be - but that incredible moment when Azaz curled it into the corner will live with me for a long time. 

Bit like me when Bobby Stokes scored near the end of the 1976 final.
The remaining part of the game seemed to go on for decades!!

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

21 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

Bit like me when Bobby Stokes scored near the end of the 1976 final.
The remaining part of the game seemed to go on for decades!!

If Azaz could have waited just another 4 minutes before sticking that one away...Stokesy scored on 83 mins and we held out that day!

Cracking day, how fookin' nuts did everyone go when Azaz hit that?

[ant]

16 minutes ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

Cracking day, how fookin' nuts did everyone go when Azaz hit that?

So many mystery aches and pains today!

My legs look like I've been playing without shin pads against a prison team. 😅

[Whitey Grandad]

Defeated but not deflated. The beauty and purity of that Azaz strike could never be bettered. Utter joy and euphoria all around with complete strangers dancing up and down and hugging each other. Such moments don't come around too often these days. Those who don't 'get' football should watch these images in awe and envy.

It's just a shame that our dreams were interrupted so cruelly and so quickly. Just as we were beginning to think that our monstrous defence was going to survive the improbable our walls were breached. We had shrunk back into our defensive perimeter throughout the whole of the second half and then Pep sends out his elite troops. Was it too much to hope for another 10 or 15 minutes of heroism?

It had a certain inevitably about it. As Nelson said at Trafalgar,

"This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long."

[saintant]

3 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

A superb performance and, despite the result, a great day and amazing support.

Everyone worked their socks off. We did so well first half,  but had to dig in second. Delerium when Azaz's goal went in. But it's us, so you knew it was going to still be a challenge.

No shame in losing to that winning goal (not as good as ours though)

Jander, I thought, stood out for us. Important all over the park. But so many other good efforts.

Worse for wear today, but thankfully I'm not preparing for a game on Tuesday.

 

Wouldn't put it down to it being 'us' - more that it was against a team of elite players on the pitch and bench. Don't think there was anything Saintsy about it, Pep just got a little worried and turned everything up a notch or two and, with the luck of a deflected shot plus an absolute worldie from an unexpected source, got them over the line.

[saintant]

Woke this morning with a tinge of disappointment but only a tiny one. My over-riding feeling was pride in this team and gratitude to Tonda Eckert. It's not long since we were a sham of a football team derided and beaten almost everywhere we went. Not anymore. We now have our football team back and can give anyone a game. The players take to the field without fear, rather with the belief that they belong and can match the very best.  Every player yesterday gave of their utmost and left nothing on the pitch - we ask no more than that but they gave us even more. Of course it was always going to be a mainly rear guard action but how our boys fought throughout the entire game in their efforts to pull off a miracle - they almost did it. The superb goal from Azaz will live long in the memory but, more than anything, how fantastic is it to have a team to feel proud of and to enjoy watching after the shame of last season. Well played team and Tonda, keep doing what you're doing because it's making you a legend at such a young age.

[John Boy Saint]

1 hour ago, rallyboy said:

It wasn't to be - but that incredible moment when Azaz curled it into the corner will live with me for a long time. 

I’m in China working and managed to watch on my iPad - bloody paid for it today being 7 hours ahead of UK. I have to confess I did nod off like the poor chap pictured in The Sun at half time, and missed a little of the second half, “ooh still 0-0”, the evenings beer to it’s natural course and just got back in time to see that beauty fly into the net. What a strike! 

[Whitey Grandad]

20 minutes ago, saintant said:

Woke this morning with a tinge of disappointment but only a tiny one. My over-riding feeling was pride in this team and gratitude to Tonda Eckert. It's not long since we were a sham of a football team derided and beaten almost everywhere we went. Not anymore. We now have our football team back and can give anyone a game. The players take to the field without fear, rather with the belief that they belong and can match the very best.  Every player yesterday gave of their utmost and left nothing on the pitch - we ask no more than that but they gave us even more. Of course it was always going to be a mainly rear guard action but how our boys fought throughout the entire game in their efforts to pull off a miracle - they almost did it. The superb goal from Azaz will live long in the memory but, more than anything, how fantastic is it to have a team to feel proud of and to enjoy watching after the shame of last season. Well played team and Tonda, keep doing what you're doing because it's making you a legend at such a young age.

It goes a little way to washing away the stain of our dismal season in the Premier League. Now when people talk of Southampton they'll remember our performance yesterday rather than the twelve miserable points.

[SaintsfanSwindon]

It was a brilliant day - the team were fantastic and the fans amazing. The atmosphere was incredible before, during and after the match. Special mention to Bragg and Welington. Only sour note were the very few younger saints fans who were being overly aggressive/intimidating with some City fans(elderly and families with young kids) in the queue to get into Wembley Central station. Have a word with yourselves lads. 

[RedArmy]

1 hour ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

Cracking day, how fookin' nuts did everyone go when Azaz hit that?

There’s a video on the fa cup instagram page and the sound is amazing when it goes in. 
 

It’s the one above the city picture that says finalists if anyone wants to have a listen/watch. 

[Sarnia Cherie]

6 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

There’s a video on the fa cup instagram page and the sound is amazing when it goes in. 
 

It’s the one above the city picture that says finalists if anyone wants to have a listen/watch. 

I certainly made enough racket at my son's house when Azaz scored and what a goal. We dispatched Fulham and Arsenal to get to the semi-final and kept City at bay for 80+ minutes which makes me feel we could hold our own in the Premier League. 

[East Kent Saint]

6 minutes ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

I certainly made enough racket at my son's house when Azaz scored and what a goal. We dispatched Fulham and Arsenal to get to the semi-final and kept City at bay for 80+ minutes which makes me feel we could hold our own in the Premier League. 

His goal was excellent , no time to think just turn and shoot ! Walcott could do that but if he had time .....

[RedArmy]

6 minutes ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

I certainly made enough racket at my son's house when Azaz scored and what a goal. We dispatched Fulham and Arsenal to get to the semi-final and kept City at bay for 80+ minutes which makes me feel we could hold our own in the Premier League. 

Tonda has already beaten more premier league teams than Russell Martin did, and he hasn’t even managed in it yet. 
 

We can definitely compete next season if/when we get there. 

[ant]

It's this one that gets me. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXkLYa9DPww/?igsh=MXF5M3lya3B5OGcyNg==

City end half empty before their players had even left the field, whereas our OWTSGMI was spine-tingling. 

Then Wembley put that City interview over the PA, so we just sang even louder. 

Keep trying to work out why I feel so happy despite the defeat, and it's got to be thanks to moments like that.

[ant]

By the by, beforehand we were drinking in Beer Merchants in Hackney Wick - which was full of West Ham fans. 

Lots of well wishes sent our way. Only confirmed my thoughts that I'd prefer Spurs to go down. 🤭

[Football Special]

40 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

It goes a little way to washing away the stain of our dismal season in the Premier League. Now when people talk of Southampton they'll remember our performance yesterday rather than the twelve miserable points.

Loads of positive comments about our team / support from people I know who follow other clubs who watched on tv, certainly good for the image of the club. 

One opinion I heard post match , this cup run was the best tribute to the boys of 76 and did the 'special' kit justice, we never really needed the 'legends' game at St Mary's, this cup run was enough and will be well remembered 

[Saint Pete]

11 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

His goal was excellent , no time to think just turn and shoot ! Walcott could do that but if he had time .....

Yes, this is why Azaz should always be in our current team, because he can produce incredible moments like that. He is certainly frustrating to watch at times with the inexplicable passes straight to the opposition, failing to make challenges and interceptions that other players like Jander/Downes would do, etc. But he is capable of producing moments of magic to create a chance for someone else or a goal for himself like yesterday. I don't believe anyone else in our squad could have scored that goal on the turn the way he did, Scienza included. 

It's a shame it didn't turn out to be the winner but still thank you Finn for giving us all who were there that fantastic moment and the celebration s afterwards to remember. Personally speaking, it's why I watch football to see players like him who can produce moments like that. 

[S-Clarke]

Proud is the only word which can sum it up really. The first half was excellent, although we were aided by a very slow Manchester City - they made it easy for us to get back into our shape and starve them of opportunities to break us down, and on the transition (which is all it was going to be about yesterday) we were excellent in that first half. We caused them all sorts of problems winning the 2nd ball, and we put so much into that first half. I didn't think we did enough to go in front per say, but we held our own and it was very much a stale-mate at that point.

2nd half they turned it up, as we all expected them to. I thought it was the introduction of Doku which really changed it, as they had someone who hugged the wide position and stretched us - they were playing too slow and too central in the first half, but once they stretched us they started getting in behind and causing all sorts of issues with their pace and movement, we were having to work overtime with the blocks and last ditch defending. Isn't it typical though, in the half where you are fundamentally camped and not in the game, you get a transition and score at the other end? That was a great goal. This wasn't the sort of game where you see Azaz dictating things or playing little cute balls all the time, however that goal is why you keep him on - he's one of those players who can be invisible and can then pop up with something extraordinary, you have to take the 'invisibleness' that these sorts of players can bring, because their moments are often a hell of a lot more valuable over the course of a season.

The equaliser so soon afterwards was a real killer, had we held out till around 85/86 mins still on 1-0 they may have got a bit panicky, but they got back in immediately and that was that really. Great winning goal from them, we were physically fatigued at that point and we struggled to get out - which is why he had a bit too much space. Who'd have thought City would have been protecting the ball in their corner flag in the last moments of the game though, that's a credit to us - we gave them a game when no one expected us to.

Player of the match for me was Jander, what a midfielder this kid is. So much energy, so much ability on the ball, always winning the turnovers. He had a little dip over Christmas, but he's back to that level now. He's almost certainly a Premier League/Top Division central midfielder.

We gave it our all, we and that's all we can ask. Sure, it's another round of 'heroic' failure for us and another year of no trophy - but in the context of it all, you can't be anything by proud really. Amazingly we still have things to play for this season, and I hope this hasn't taken too much away from us. I'd be desperate to us build a team around THB, Jander, Leo, Charles, Pertez, because this lot could really grow with us.

[Saint Fan CaM]

I managed to miss a large proportion of the live game as I was ‘otherwise engaged’ sound-checking at an evening function (timing of the game was rubbish for me). I had to wait to get home in the early hours and watch catch-up TV of the game. 

I have to say, the club…management, team, supporters, the lot…can justifiably say that whole event was an epic success despite the score. The players gave it everything and Tonda got the game plan absolutely right. Azaz’s goal was top draw - of course the City winner will be talked about as a great strike, but make no mistake the Azaz goal was better in terms of control and skill. We have undoubtedly shown that we can compete with the very best in the country…we just need that little bit of extra quality…10% more in the big, strong, skilled striker department…and we’ll be competing for all competitions in the future. The basis for an excellent team is right there providing SR/Spors can keep the main core of management and squad together.

MOTM? Have to say it’s Jander for me - he was a very mobile, strong CM presence. He didn’t shrink in the face of the City ‘stars’ and made his mark from the start. One of those players that quietly goes about his business effectively. And he’s just a kid who will grow even more with experience. Peretz gets a honourable 2nd place - his command of the defence is awesome to watch alongside his crucial saves.

[PerthshireSaint]

The tracking back when Peretz was out of position was fantastic. Was sure that was a goal. Defending was absolutely brilliant yesterday 

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, ant said:

It's this one that gets me. 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXkLYa9DPww/?igsh=MXF5M3lya3B5OGcyNg==

City end half empty before their players had even left the field, whereas our OWTSGMI was spine-tingling. 

Then Wembley put that City interview over the PA, so we just sang even louder. 

Keep trying to work out why I feel so happy despite the defeat, and it's got to be thanks to moments like that.

People moan about RB Leipzig being a plastic club but Man City,  Arsenal,  Man U, B Munich Real etc they are all just buying titles and cups with money and no one can complete. The quicker these clubs break away and join a super leaque the better. 

[sadoldgit]

If someone had offered me going into the last matches of the season with a chance of promotion and a semi final with one of the best teams in Europe I would have taken their hand off. More so after the miserable start we had. Huge shout out to everyone at the club for turning things around and making this season one of the most enjoyable for many years.

[markr27]

1 hour ago, PerthshireSaint said:

The tracking back when Peretz was out of position was fantastic. Was sure that was a goal. Defending was absolutely brilliant yesterday 

That's showed the new found belief in this team, that it could still equalise if the score was kept at 2-1.
Many other players would have collectively jogged back and written off a 1-3 defeat.

Edited 43 minutes ago by markr27

[ant]

This is magnificent. A must-watch. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXl1Vj0DMHC/?img_index=1&igsh=MTQ3dHhoeWpsMjQ0ZQ==

Gerrard incredulous. Our joy infectiously spreading to McCoist. Fletcher's pro use of letting the crowd noise carry the moment.

[Football Special]

4 minutes ago, ant said:

This is magnificent. A must-watch. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXl1Vj0DMHC/?img_index=1&igsh=MTQ3dHhoeWpsMjQ0ZQ==

Gerrard incredulous. Our joy infectiously spreading to McCoist. Fletcher's pro use of letting the crowd noise carry the moment.

Its great, easier to watch from here 

 

[saintant]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Proud is the only word which can sum it up really. The first half was excellent, although we were aided by a very slow Manchester City - they made it easy for us to get back into our shape and starve them of opportunities to break us down, and on the transition (which is all it was going to be about yesterday) we were excellent in that first half. We caused them all sorts of problems winning the 2nd ball, and we put so much into that first half. I didn't think we did enough to go in front per say, but we held our own and it was very much a stale-mate at that point.

2nd half they turned it up, as we all expected them to. I thought it was the introduction of Doku which really changed it, as they had someone who hugged the wide position and stretched us - they were playing too slow and too central in the first half, but once they stretched us they started getting in behind and causing all sorts of issues with their pace and movement, we were having to work overtime with the blocks and last ditch defending. Isn't it typical though, in the half where you are fundamentally camped and not in the game, you get a transition and score at the other end? That was a great goal. This wasn't the sort of game where you see Azaz dictating things or playing little cute balls all the time, however that goal is why you keep him on - he's one of those players who can be invisible and can then pop up with something extraordinary, you have to take the 'invisibleness' that these sorts of players can bring, because their moments are often a hell of a lot more valuable over the course of a season.

The equaliser so soon afterwards was a real killer, had we held out till around 85/86 mins still on 1-0 they may have got a bit panicky, but they got back in immediately and that was that really. Great winning goal from them, we were physically fatigued at that point and we struggled to get out - which is why he had a bit too much space. Who'd have thought City would have been protecting the ball in their corner flag in the last moments of the game though, that's a credit to us - we gave them a game when no one expected us to.

Player of the match for me was Jander, what a midfielder this kid is. So much energy, so much ability on the ball, always winning the turnovers. He had a little dip over Christmas, but he's back to that level now. He's almost certainly a Premier League/Top Division central midfielder.

We gave it our all, we and that's all we can ask. Sure, it's another round of 'heroic' failure for us and another year of no trophy - but in the context of it all, you can't be anything by proud really. Amazingly we still have things to play for this season, and I hope this hasn't taken too much away from us. I'd be desperate to us build a team around THB, Jander, Leo, Charles, Pertez, because this lot could really grow with us.

Think we get the Championship trophy is we win the play-off final 🙂