Saints 2-2 Ipswich - Match Thread

[Jack]

1 minute ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Nothing wrong with the ref. Find some other excuse.

If Scienza and Manning didn't spend all their efforts flinging themselves to the ground we might have got more out of the game. The more dramatic the fall the less of a foul it is.

There was a hell of a lot wrong with the referee tonight, so inconsistent 

[davefizzy14]

Just now, Jack said:

There was a hell of a lot wrong with the referee tonight, so inconsistent 

Exactly this.

[RedArmy]

3 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

We do have a significant advantage over other teams of the players knowing the ground, the dressing room, the walk, the noise and the occasion.

But you have to get there first and statistically teams that finish 5th and 6th rarely make the final these days. 

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Listen to the reaction at half time towards the ref. It ain't just me, a lot of people on here are saying how inept he was. 

They're biased.

[James G]

1 minute ago, Convict Colony said:

this is all setting up very nicely for Tom Fellows to score his first goal of the season with the winner in the playoff final.

Tom Fellows has actually played ok the past two games

He's actually got better this year, added better movement going forward and better defensively. It can be hard to see sometimes 

He just needs to score a goal and I think we see the better player. He's gone backwards to go forwards, he's just missing some confidence which will come 

[BotleySaint]

It was a tough game for both sides and a draw was the fair result. We really looked tired after 30 mins and I don't understand why we didn't make more subs.

It's disappointing we worked so hard to get back in it and then to let one in. But there was more top performances all over the pitch. Azaz was very unlucky not to score and seems to be on fire at the moment. And what a save from Pertez!

Assuming Ipswich or Milwall win their final game I won't feel too bad about this one. Or else we'll be left with a feeling of what if.. 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by BotleySaint

[Whitey Grandad]

3 minutes ago, Jack said:

There was a hell of a lot wrong with the referee tonight, so inconsistent 

Or maybe Ipswich weren't trying to con him all the time

 

[davefizzy14]

Just now, Whitey Grandad said:

They're biased.

No he was just inept, simple as that.

[kevdoh]

Obviously be hoping to win play offs but mainly so we keep hold of our best players. I like this squad. If we were guaranteed to keep everyone I think I'd prefer another season in the championship. It's so much better and more enjoyable than the prem. Brilliant game tonight 

[madge]

23 minutes ago, TestValley said:

Hope Ipswich slip up on Saturday and Millwall pip them for the auto spot.

Really? I would’ve preferred to avoid Ipswich in a playoff 

[James G]

3 minutes ago, Jack said:

There was a hell of a lot wrong with the referee tonight, so inconsistent 

I think we were looking for set pieces. Scienza wasn't at the races today, we were looking for set pieces, Manning moments who wasn't leggy. 

Larin scored, wasn't expecting that, he is a machine and was defending again

There was an element of recognition of the effort put in to the FA cup, the unlikelihood of automatics, and the need to rest up for playoffs 

 

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, kevdoh said:

Obviously be hoping to win play offs but mainly so we keep hold of our best players. I like this squad. If we were guaranteed to keep everyone I think I'd prefer another season in the championship. It's so much better and more enjoyable than the prem. Brilliant game tonight 

All you’re saying there is that football is more fun when you have a much better squad than 90% of the league can afford. This league is no more fun than the PL, winning is.

[S-Clarke]

What a game that was, 2nd half especially. I thought the first half was fairly even, both teams sussing themselves out and not really giving up a great deal. It sort of went from a spell for us, then a spell for Ipswich - fairly even half.

2nd half was epic, it was the sort of 'nothing to lose' approach and both teams took their foot of the brake. I think Wood has been an OK squad player, but I don't think he's a particularly bright centre back and he dawdles on decision making - as he did for their first goal. I feared a turn around would have been one too many for us tonight, but this team keeps proving us wrong and keeps increasing the level.

Don't underestimate what an effort it took to bring that game back to 2-1, we were on our arses for most of that game - but we still have that belief and mentality to go for it. Larin's goal though - take a bow. From the pass from the back into an empty midfield, and then Manning's pass into Larin....and Larin's touch and and ridiculous balance on the ball...what a goal that was. I wasn't sure we'd hold on, as we were blowing even up to that point - at this point Ipswich literally ripped their brake off entirely, threw on a team of attackers and just went for it. We got stuck too deep as we had no energy to get out.

I find it hard to really criticise anyone really because of the effort they've put in since January, and this evening - as our 2nd half effort was epic. There is a real grit, togetherness and a mentality in this team now - but there have certainly been signs in recent weeks that we are pretty fatigued, especially Leo, Bree and maybe THB to a degree with some of his passing. These guys have played a ridiculous amount of games in quick succession and still haven't lost a league game.

It's intriguing in terms of how we approach the weekend, if I'm honest I'd try to keep it as 'same' as possible with maybe a rotation for Leo and Bree -  I don't want us to lose momentum by throwing in wholesale changes with the likes of Long, Romeu, Bragg, Jelert, Archer, Quarshie etc. I think keeping momentum and potentially securing 4th is more important than resting a load. We'll have a full week before any first leg.

Edited 9 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Patrick Bateman]

7 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

But you have to get there first and statistically teams that finish 5th and 6th rarely make the final these days. 

True, not very "Tonda" of me thinking so far ahead, win against Preston next

[Wade Garrett]

If ever there was a game made for Flynn Downes it was tonight.

We missed him.  Wouldn’t have been wide open if he was on the pitch.

We’ll be a much better side come the play-offs.

[saintant]

35 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Yeah in hindsight it might have been a good idea to sub him off for Bragg after we scored the second. Fresh legs in midfield could have prevented the onslaught we faced at the back.

Bragg is very good at closing down opponents passing lanes - without him Ipswich played through us far too easily at times.

[benjii]

57 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

One good thing about finishing 4th/5th is that the first leg is on the Saturday rather than the Friday night. 

We always seem to play shit on Friday night 

Saturday lunchtime kick off for the home match if you're 5th. That's crap, IMO.

[saintant]

18 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

It was a tough game for both sides and a draw was the fair result. We really looked tired after 30 mins and I don't understand why we didn't make more subs.

It's disappointing we worked so hard to get back in it and then to let one in. But there was more top performances all over the pitch. Azaz was very unlucky not to score and seems to be on fire at the moment. And what a save from Pertez!

Assuming Ipswich or Milwall win their final game I won't feel too bad about this one. Or else we'll be left with a feeling of what if.. 

 

The ball he played to Manning in the lead up to Larin's goal was sublime.

[Thripp87]

Great advert tonight for the Championship, and FairPlay to Ipswich for still going for the win, hopefully they go up now and get out of the way. Top performance again by Jander who was the best player on the pitch.

Let’s keep the players fresh now. 11 changes required for Preston, totally irrelevant which leg is at home first.

Tonda and these set of players have been fantastic and have made me fall back in love with the club again. 

Just left us with too much to do with the useless Mr Still.

Bring on the play offs, and another Wembley trip.

[OVER THE HILL]

15 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

If ever there was a game made for Flynn Downes it was tonight.

We missed him.  Wouldn’t have been wide open if he was on the pitch.

We’ll be a much better side come the play-offs.

Agree with this. Casper was doing all the work and Charles was just jogging about looking disinterested. I suspect he's got a move lined up already for next season.

[revolution saint]

13 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

All you’re saying there is that football is more fun when you have a much better squad than 90% of the league can afford. This league is no more fun than the PL, winning is.

I get your point to an extent and it's true, winning is more fun.  However you can also make the case that the Championship is a far more competitive league regardless of the amount of money spent by individual teams.  Look at Coventry, Millwall, 'Boro, and up to a few weeks ago, Hull.  None of them have been big spenders.  Leicester, on paper, have a far better squad than 90% of the league and they've been dreadful even without the points deduction. Plus, there's no VAR in the championship.   

[kevdoh]

8 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

All you’re saying there is that football is more fun when you have a much better squad than 90% of the league can afford. This league is no more fun than the PL, winning is.

It's much more fun, yeah winning games is fun and we have much better chance obviously but you can't compare the championship to the Premier league. Teams could be fighting relegation and then following season pushing for promotion. A good manager is the most important thing in the championship. And can change everything, as we know. The ability of championship players in each squad varies a lot, but is much closer than the Premier league sides. Money has ruined it

[James G]

23 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

It was a tough game for both sides and a draw was the fair result. We really looked tired after 30 mins and I don't understand why we didn't make more subs.

It's disappointing we worked so hard to get back in it and then to let one in. But there was more top performances all over the pitch. Azaz was very unlucky not to score and seems to be on fire at the moment. And what a save from Pertez!

Assuming Ipswich or Milwall win their final game I won't feel too bad about this one. Or else we'll be left with a feeling of what if.. 

 

Subs, I think Tonda is balancing expectations.

Automatics were 3 per cent chance, we gave all against Man City

Even Peretz looked rusty a bit tonight

We've been on a run and a half. We've beaten Arsenal and deserved it. It's mind boggling really. 

[austsaint]

12 minutes ago, saintant said:

Bragg is very good at closing down opponents passing lanes - without him Ipswich played through us far too easily at times.

On the other hand, at this stage of his career Bragg is essentially a hard working, neat and tidy central midfielder.   We needed to win tonight and Charles, for all of his languid style, is a potential match winner who gets involved in goal scoring moments.   

[Football Special]

55 minutes ago, Micky said:

We did well to stay in the game and not lose it at the end.  They completely bossed the last ten minutes, we seemed to lose all control after going in front.  Not sure the subs helped, Larins hold up play was missed when Stewart came on and offered nothing.  Jander was very good again, but I think the others suffered badly from the Wembley hangover.  Thought Leo was average tonight, he needs to be stronger in the physical challenge and really try and stay on his feet, far too many times tonight he went over and got nothing. 

Looking at the big picture though, it ain't the end of the world.  After the horrendous start to the season we'd all of ripped your arm off to get to the playoffs, and that we've done, so let's see where that takes us. 

Agree with you, Scienza very frustrating, having gone behind thought we did very well to get back into the game and take the lead. Players looked deflated at the end.

3 games without a win now, Middlesbrough in the play offs going to be bloody tough. Trip up there in January was a real low point in the season 

[S-Clarke]

23 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

All you’re saying there is that football is more fun when you have a much better squad than 90% of the league can afford. This league is no more fun than the PL, winning is.

I don't think that is a fair reflection of the Championship. It's one of the few leagues where anyone can actually have a crack at the playoffs minimum, regardless of budget. Hull (they have had a transfer embargo) and Millwall are two fine examples of that this year, and Leicester are an example at the other extreme.

It's a really unpredictable league, and whilst money can give you an edge - it doesn't create the gulf you see in the PL. I hope the Championship doesn't get like that, as the beauty of the EFL are for teams like Lincoln etc to carry momentum and go again. I think our season has shown the league up for what it is all about, back in December we had no right to even be talking about Top 6 - but we've pulled ourselves to within touching distance of 2nd. The game is never done in this league, no matter how bad you start.

[SaintBobby]

What a bloody great game....especially the 2nd half.

I've decided to devote the rest of my life to a PhD on Peretz's contribution to our equaliser and whether he should formally be awarded an "assist".

Spolier alert: he should.

Edited 8 hours ago by SaintBobby

[Football Special]

9 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

Great advert tonight for the Championship, and FairPlay to Ipswich for still going for the win, hopefully they go up now and get out of the way. Top performance again by Jander who was the best player on the pitch.

Let’s keep the players fresh now. 11 changes required for Preston, totally irrelevant which leg is at home first.

Tonda and these set of players have been fantastic and have made me fall back in love with the club again. 

Just left us with too much to do with the useless Mr Still.

Bring on the play offs, and another Wembley trip.

I think it would be a help to be at home 2nd leg , plus would rather go up there on a Saturday than midweek 

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, SaintBobby said:

What a bloody great game....especially the 2nd half.

I've decided to devote the rest of my life to a PhD on Peretz's contribution to our equaliser and whether he should formally be awarded an "assist".

Spolier alert: he should.

He should be given an assist for the save at the end, which was absolutely bloody ridiculous. He's not totally perfect, but he's capable of pulling off match defining saves at crucial moments - that makes all the difference.

[James G]

8 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Agree with you, Scienza very frustrating, having gone behind thought we did very well to get back into the game and take the lead. Players looked deflated at the end.

3 games without a win now, Middlesbrough in the play offs going to be bloody tough. Trip up there in January was a real low point in the season 

We know Scienza. Selfishly, I hope he stays and it puts other teams off 

The 3 games without a win is not a thing. Bristol, we didn't press. Man City is Man City, Ipswich we could have won with subs but I get it 

There is nothing to fear in the playoffs with a rested team. We should be poles apart 

[die Mannyschaft]

Bit too slow and sideways and ba k.

Need to learn to run at a ball and just walk it out for throw.  Half our hials conceded ard due to trying to pass out and giving ball assy ending to unmarked player.

2 great goals.

Leave all thd players out of Preston game to rest as we look very tired.

[Ekelund24]

59 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Nothing wrong with the ref. Find some other excuse.

If Scienza and Manning didn't spend all their efforts flinging themselves to the ground we might have got more out of the game. The more dramatic the fall the less of a foul it is.

50/50 on this opinion, the two pen shouts in the first half weren’t pens, no hand ball and Sceinza although knocked off the ball was not enough! However, the ref should’ve got the book out early and stopped the easy fouls they were allowed around the half way line! I don’t think it was a red for the foul on the edge of the area either! We don’t take advantage of these kind of referees, we should be taking out players before they get momentum 

[woodsaint1]

I think we should go with a strongish team vs Preston. Rest a couple, yes but there's a good chance we can still get 4th as I dont think Boro will beat Wrexham away. Better to have the home leg 2nd in the semi final

[James G]

2 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

I think we should go with a strongish team vs Preston. Rest a couple, yes but there's a good chance we can still get 4th as I dont think Boro will beat Wrexham away. Better to have the home leg 2nd in the semi final

No,

We need to rest. Go Bristol City against Preston, no pressing. We need to reset

Then go again. We can beat anyone home or away

First match will be full on Flynn Downes until his yellow card. We're good 👍 

[musesaint]

10 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

I think we should go with a strongish team vs Preston. Rest a couple, yes but there's a good chance we can still get 4th as I dont think Boro will beat Wrexham away. Better to have the home leg 2nd in the semi final

Totally agree with that. Ideally 4th place for us

[HarvSFC]

Going to sound a bit like Russell Martin, but the team was missing Stephens and Downes tonight. Certainly didn't miss Smallbone, so not going full Martin, but the first two give us that bit more defensive steel and grit that was missing at points tonight. The second half especially felt like two years ago when we had to play without Downes, leaving us exposed and open in the middle. It's a real shame that Romeu's legs have gone as this scenario would have been perfect for a slightly younger version of himself to come into.

Still unbeaten in the league in 18, we're going into the play-offs the form side and with the momentum. Whereas, you'd feel whoever misses out this weekend may take a psychological hit. Said last week that we want to avoid Ipswich and that still stands. They pretty much signed the best of the Championship when they went up and they have the players who can punish our mistakes and go toe to toe with our squad, like they did tonight. Whereas, I don't get the same fear from Millwall, Middlesbrough or Wrexham.

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Really? I thought they were very good tonight - best team I've seen at SMS in a very long time and probably deserved to win it on balance.

Really didn't think much of them at all. Was surprised they're on for automatics. We were much the same as we were against Bristol City but very knackered at the end.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

1 hour ago, TestValley said:

Hope Ipswich slip up on Saturday and Millwall pip them for the auto spot.

I really don't. Ipswich looked a well drilled side tonight and they've come on a lot from the team we played at Portman Road early in the season. Thought the first half was a borefest but the second more than made up for it.

Once again Jander played superb and put in some great tackles but they seemed to dominate the midfield. Where was Shea Charles? Larin had a great game too. And for those whining about our players being shoved when challenging for the ball, watch THB. If there's a one-on-one jump to header a ball, THB invariably holds back then shoves the bloke in mid jump.

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Micky said:

We did well to stay in the game and not lose it at the end.  They completely bossed the last ten minutes, we seemed to lose all control after going in front.  Not sure the subs helped, Larins hold up play was missed when Stewart came on and offered nothing.  Jander was very good again, but I think the others suffered badly from the Wembley hangover.  Thought Leo was average tonight, he needs to be stronger in the physical challenge and really try and stay on his feet, far too many times tonight he went over and got nothing. 

Looking at the big picture though, it ain't the end of the world.  After the horrendous start to the season we'd all of ripped your arm off to get to the playoffs, and that we've done, so let's see where that takes us. 

Clarke coming on helped them. Think we might have been in a lot of trouble if he'd started but equally our legs were fresher then. I agree that Stewart didn't get into it and our intensity dropped. Couldn't see how good Peretz's save at the end was from where I was sat but watching it on the highlights it just reinforces how important his presence has been.

[dsrdorset]

Just back from the game, and what a game! Great advert for the Championship. Ipswich by far the best team that have come to St Marys this season, by a country mile. 

We did well, and could have won it (or lost it!)

Players knackered, and who can blame them. Great atmosphere also. It's why we go to football, to be entertained!! Larin & Peretz and Manning outstanding. 

 

Bring on the playoffs!!!! (are you watching Will Still, you useless fucking cunt)

[Sardonic Squirrels]

Watched highlights from game three times, just to take in what happened and for one I'm content with the point.    Would have been great to win and confirm promotion but we'll have our chance at the weekend.    That was a very entertaining contest with both teams going for it and a draw was probably a fair result many would argue.    Clarke when he wants to can be a good player when he doesn't spoil it for himself and others and that appeared evident from tonight. 

Walton after being kept out the team by Palmer or Muric has been back to his best in recent weeks and helped get us another share of points but how much is he really going to be threatened or tested by QPR on the last fixture? 

I applaud McKenna and the team for really giving it a go and actually coming near to taking all three points had other chances gone in when I imagined we'd rest up a bit there and put all focus on the final weekend.    It's a stressful situation knowing that four club names will be trying for automatic promotion on the last game when we could have made sure tonight and avoided such a scenario but one last time that was highly entertaining from the highlights provided but think somehow couldn't quite match the excitement of in Paris. 

I wouldn't like to play Southampton over two play off games being truthful but if the entertainment gets to be anything like tonight then fans all over can have something to relish. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

It was a great game ruined by a joke of a Ref in terms of consistency. Lost count of the number fouls against us he ignored. Ipswich are a good team though - well drilled and can pass well. We are in general the better team IMO and I felt the difference between the teams ultimately was tired legs and lack of decent subs. Felt that Tonda didn’t help when we went 1 up by not protecting midfield more and the lead - Edozie was not the right player to bring on.

Funny, but it feels like a loss rather than a draw, even though we knew deep down it was highly unlikely we’d get auto’s.

Preston still matters - hope the players recover.

[DrSuess1979]

Was pep in the stands ? 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Edozie is shit. I’m sorry but he is garbage, he offers a pointless dummy or step over and still loses the ball. Probably one of the first “get rids” in the summer.

Charles has looked poor and inconsistent in recent games. Scienza has looked very average too.

Larin, Manning, Peretz and Jander were the stand outs for me.

There were no mega crap performances as such, just certain players that were off the pace.

[Sheaf Saint]

58 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Edozie is shit. I’m sorry but he is garbage, he offers a pointless dummy or step over and still loses the ball. Probably one of the first “get rids” in the summer.

Agreed. He's offered little to nothing since coming back in from the cold. I have no doubt he will be gone in the summer anyway.

[StrangelyBrown]

7 hours ago, austsaint said:

On the other hand, at this stage of his career Bragg is essentially a hard working, neat and tidy central midfielder.   We needed to win tonight and Charles, for all of his languid style, is a potential match winner who gets involved in goal scoring moments.   

Only he did nothing of the sort. He's a potential match winner very infrequently, but also slows us down every time he has to have 3 touches before moving the ball sideways.

[Wade Garrett]

14 hours ago, benjii said:

Azaz didn't play on the left v Bristol. 

He fucking did.  Was out on the left most of the game.

[Football Special]

7 hours ago, woodsaint1 said:

I think we should go with a strongish team vs Preston. Rest a couple, yes but there's a good chance we can still get 4th as I dont think Boro will beat Wrexham away. Better to have the home leg 2nd in the semi final

I agree, think that 4th place is important, Middlesbrough is tough enough without having to go there 2nd leg. We haven't been able to beat them in either game already this season, don't think we managed to beat them last time in the championship either, always feels like a bit of a bogey club 

[Wade Garrett]

8 hours ago, OVER THE HILL said:

Agree with this. Casper was doing all the work and Charles was just jogging about looking disinterested. I suspect he's got a move lined up already for next season.

Charles, again, kept giving the ball away last night.

I’ve said it before, he could be a really good player.  I don’t know if it’s a concentration thing, but he continually fucks up simple passes and gives it away.