Lincoln 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[aintforever]

That was frustrating, Lincoln looked there for the taking in the second half but instead of going for the second we just fucked about keeping possession and time wasting. Think we will regret not getting another striker in, if Larkin gets injured we’re screwed.

[Vancouver Saint]

Didn't get to watch the game - 4.30am Vancouver time even if I could find a decent stream.
Saw the 2 min highlights - made it look like more even than it was reading the reports - says a lot when the clip is less than 2 mins. Welington wonder-goal should have been enough - but will we never learn we are crap at defending narrow leads and inviting teams onto us is an invitation to score late goals against us.
Listened to Flynn Downes interview on Youtube and he says it all - not good enough, can't sit back, need to win these games...seemed genuinely pissed off (at some of his team-mates lack of effort as well as tactics reading between the lines).
I am not surprised at all. We seem to discount that many teams are strengthening their squads. 
How we missed out on Sebastian Bierhalter - Middlesborough got him for $2M - suggests to me our scouts are asleep at the wheel - I've been watching him at Vancouver Whitecaps and he's an outstanding full US international, creative, goal-scoring midfielder he was a major part of the Whitecaps success last season. Can't believe he wasn't on our radar - to lose him from the 'Caps was bad enough - for him to go to Boro added insult to injury for me.

It's early days, a long season - looks like a competitive league where any team could beat another team on their day - but unless we realise we are not that good and need to fight for every goal and every point every game - we are headed for mid-table mediocrity. 
Does anyone really think we're going on another 21-game unbeaten run again this season...we'd all love it for sure...be let's get real, it ain't happening.
And ffs Eckart - fortune favours the brave - let's beat teams by going forward and scoring a second goal, not falling back and inviting pressure.

[saintant]

Yet to be convinced that JWP isn't going to be part of the problem rather than the solution. Still think he'll prove a poor choice of replacement for Charles.

[Harry_SFC]

13 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yet to be convinced that JWP isn't going to be part of the problem rather than the solution. Still think he'll prove a poor choice of replacement for Charles.

As usual he's neat and tidy but just doesn't offer that drive or threat from open play that Charles did. 

[Baird of the land]

11 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

As usual he's neat and tidy but just doesn't offer that drive or threat from open play that Charles did. 

Yeah if you said blond, neat.and tidy cm I’d have no clue whether you meant downes or jwp, which is a problem imo, especially when there’s a brown haired variant on the bench.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

We need to see if there's any out of contract strikers available. Preferably someone can offer something different. Larin and Muamba as the only options is a joke. Hardly says "we want promotion". 

As for Tonda. I still say he should've been gone in May. 

[saintant]

No getting away from it we are currently light years behind the side that played so well in last season's unbeaten run. Not sure this squad has the technical ability to be much more than just above average in the Championship. That may get us into the play-offs but so far our levels have been fairly poor.

[Hawkswood]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Yet to be convinced that JWP isn't going to be part of the problem rather than the solution. Still think he'll prove a poor choice of replacement for Charles.

Not sure if you saw on skysports midway through the game they had a graphic of JWPs passes in that first half and all the passes were going sideways and even the commentator noticed and mentioned  he has to sometimes attack with his passes.

[LGTL]

Just back and fucking hell, I’ve never seen a more predictable game. They were largely shit, loads of lower league aggression and enthusiasm, but little quality. We completely played into their hands though. 

Those last 20 minutes were absolutely infuriating. Our starting 11 are fine and will compete with anyone, but our squad lacks depth and we’ll have plenty more games like this unfortunately. 

[Hawkswood]

34 minutes ago, saintant said:

No getting away from it we are currently light years behind the side that played so well in last season's unbeaten run. Not sure this squad has the technical ability to be much more than just above average in the Championship. That may get us into the play-offs but so far our levels have been fairly poor.

Agree but long season so dont worry. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Some of the players are well below the standards they set the last half of previous season. Bree, the keeper, Jack, Manning. Some have had good spells, but ultimately haven’t looked any better, Azaz, Leo, Larin, Matsuki. Only one has really kicked on & got better and that’s Downes. 
 

 

[RedArmy]

8 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Agree but long season so dont worry. 

It is a long season but you cannot be dropping points to teams like Watford and Lincoln if you want to be in or near the top 2. Especially not when you started on -4. 
 

 

[bangkoksaint]

Just back from the game, my fourth this season…………I’m still waiting for that team that will ‘have me out of my seat’. If those are our striker choices then I’ll bite your hand off for top 8 now. Tonder needs to take responsibility for that performance.

[Forester]

Just got back and feel a lot less positive about that point than driving back from Brum.  Fair play to Lincoln for making it to championship but thank god it didn’t piss it down located in uncovered temporary stand.

I don’t buy the overreaction about bringing Wood on, which was logical given their long ball assault, late on.  Thought JWP and Downes were decent, and a wonder goal from Welington.

I think there are two major problems to worry about, one of which I think will change but other am less certain.

1. We have several of our match winners out of form.  Azaz and Scienza are not anywhere near the levels they hit last season, and we are yet to see Jander feature at all.  You have to hope and believe this won’t continue for too long.  Neither Bree nor Manning are at their best yet either.

2. As was painfully evident today, there is too big a drop in quality between starting lineup and subs bench.  It reminded me of the horror 12 points season where we competed for an hour and then looked awful when changes were made.  We are really missing not adequately replacing Stewart, as it was crying out for someone to be able to hold the ball up and give us time to get out in that last period of the game.  Am worried Larin will break down at some point and we will really struggle.

[bangkoksaint]

9 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Some of the players are well below the standards they set the last half of previous season. Bree, the keeper, Jack, Manning. Some have had good spells, but ultimately haven’t looked any better, Azaz, Leo, Larin, Matsuki. Only one has really kicked on & got better and that’s Downes. 
 

 

Meanwhile we have arguably the best keeper in the league shopping every Saturday afternoon. This is professional sport, it’s dog eat dog and our best team should be out on the pitch. I don’t lay the blame on DP for much this season but we can’t just blindly select him if he becomes an issue.