[cite]Posted By: Saga Lout[/cite]I wasn't there, but from what I heard this morning from two people who were there, we didn't really start threatening their goal until we were one down.
I feel that some of the comments about us having turned a corner and it's onwards and upwards from here are a bit OTT given that it was one game and we only got a draw.
The upbeat comments are more about the willingness of the players to compete rather than lay down and die once they were a goal down.
We also competed with a physical Southampton side. Physical sides have normally intimidated us this season.
I don't think anybody is pretending it was perfect by any means but it was a whole lot better than Exeter, Carlisle, Tranmere and Brentford!
Agree with, Len. Even if we hadn't scored the equaliser, I would've been encouraged with the performance. I know a couple of Saints fans who went to the game - they thought Dailly and Llera played really well, and that we pressed really well in midfield.
They also thought our full backs were the weakest players, which strangely contradicts what most on here thought of the game.
[cite]Posted By: Fortune 82nd Minute[/cite]Agree with all the positive comments on here about last night's match - how great to see the team play with some fight and spirit again whilst playing some good football. Keep that form up and it should be a good end to the season.
But hang on - and I'm playing Devil's advocate here to an extent - only one poster that I can see has mentioned the "goal" Southampton scored in injury time was onside by a mile - I was nearly in line with the bloke's run and I couldn't believe our luck when the lino's flag went up.
If the lino had not had had that mad moment it would be 8 defeats out of 9.
I think that was me. I don't know why but I seem to have a magical eye for these things. I seem to get so many off sides correct when everyone else doesn't, including linesmen. I can do it with run outs in cricket too. 3rd Umpire my arse! Watching the WC at work I am 100% correct with Run Outs before replays shown. Must be a knack.
But back to us, in football as in all sport as in life - If if and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no need for tinkers hands.....
That is what makes life and sport and football what it is! Some things going your way, some not.
Much improved and they showed some fight and motivation. Thoroughly enjoyed the game. My expectations were low to start which helped! Thought Parrett was excellent and Racon too (who said he couldn't play out on the left....?). After the first half I was thinking a 0-0 would be a good result here then they scored (don't we practice defending set pieces?) and all my optimism disappeared....but they somehow managed to do what they don't usually do and re-group and push on. The equaliser was after great work from MOTM Parrett. Thought we'd got the ball over the line from Llera...but no goal! Thought their second was offside although some are saying it wasn't. If that was the case then about time we got some luck. Do feel a bit like this is the start of a bit of a run - something about last night "felt right". Think if we can start with Anyinsah against Bouremouth then we could actually get something there. Why can't they play like last night a bit more often....baffles me sometimes......
Also good to see that "the on-field management team" (there were lots of bodies in the technical area last night...!) have finally realised that McCack and Francly-not-quite-good-enough shouldn't be playing!
[cite]Posted By: dabos[/cite]
They also thought our full backs were the weakest players
I know we're all entitled to our opinions but that amazes me. Other than dead balls I can't remember much coming into our box from the flanks. Can't remember many errors from Solly and considering he has been out for so long he showed good willingness to get forward. Bessone was always composed, made few errors and brought the best out of Racon.
Wouldn't go that far, it was a good game and a significant improvement as far as we were concerned, but what we need now is to build on this going into what will be a difficult game on Saturday. We were good last night; we weren't fantastic.
"As for BWP, he's a class act, don't care what else he does around the box if he keeps finishing like that, best striker since Benty....build a team around his style of play next season and he'll get 25+ goals and take us up (as long as he stays fit)"
I hate to be positive but I think this is an excellent point from Eltham which often gets over looked in the doom and gloom. With BWP we will always have a chance as long as we keep everything else solid.
This would answer any questons if BWP was unhappy at the club. Last night was a great improvement, Powell I think is getting better as a manager. I think this summer we should be in for some great change arounds and by august we will be propperly ready for promotion like Brighton.
I fancy a win at Bournmouth, COYRs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[cite]Posted By: Saga Lout[/cite]I wasn't there, but from what I heard this morning from two people who were there, we didn't really start threatening their goal until we were one down.
I feel that some of the comments about us having turned a corner and it's onwards and upwards from here are a bit OTT given that it was one game and we only got a draw.
The upbeat comments are more about the willingness of the players to compete rather than lay down and die once they were a goal down.
We also competed with a physical Southampton side. Physical sides have normally intimidated us this season.
I don't think anybody is pretending it was perfect by any means but it was a whole lot better than Exeter, Carlisle, Tranmere and Brentford!
If Saga had been there ( He normally sits next to me) he would have agreed that it was a much improved performance than of late, that showed signs of competing, and decent team play, against a side that will be there or there abouts at the end of the season!. As I commented earlier on page 1 of this thread we had one shot on target up to 70 minutes!. And I think BWP yellow card was the results of this frustration!, some of the balls played to him were frankly ridiculous!. But this was a decent performance, not Champions league, but a performance that if we had shown during the past woeful times we would still be in the playoff positions NOW!
Saga's sub on this occassion ( my son) questioned why do the fan's clap when Charlton put two passes together!. I replied you ought to get down here more than once in two years, then you would not ask stupid questions!.
Nice one, Ken !! My hands were red raw ( well, nearly...) at the final whistle - they're SO unused to all that abuse !!
Just wanted to add something to sm and Muttley's earlier comments about the physicality of Southampton.
When Lallana went off, Mr F commented that he felt the opposition had given everything in the first 30 minutes or so of the match and that the player had overdone it ...and was subsequently knackered ( can I say that on here ?) Good point, I thought . They were definitely a team of strapping guys and not averse to sly nudges whenever possible...not that Mr D'Ursole noticed too often..
Pleased to see that our lads stood up for themselves pretty well - I think we nearly saw Therry's muscles rippling at times as he pushed his man off ! More please !!!
much improved - defence were all very good particularly Solly - looks a great little footballer. Glad Parret's clever chip let to the goal as he looks to have ability and maybe it will give him the confidence to impose himself more. BWP worked harder than normal, not impressed with Nouble. We seemed much more of a team and it was certainly a step in the right direction. With Jackson, Anyinsah, Jenkinson and Stewart to come back in we could have a decent end to the season.
Team looked more balanced to me...OK Racon was wide left, but at least there he had more space to play a bit, and I thought he showed up well.
I would have taken a draw all day long because I was dreading the match due to my next door neighbour being a (nice bloke) Saints fan.
I would be delighted with a point at Bournemouth. why is it a 1pm kick off?
[cite]Posted By: seth plum[/cite]Team looked more balanced to me...OK Racon was wide left, but at least there he had more space to play a bit, and I thought he showed up well.
I would have taken a draw all day long because I was dreading the match due to my next door neighbour being a (nice bloke) Saints fan.
I would be delighted with a point at Bournemouth. why is it a 1pm kick off?
Just seen the video. Seems as if Llera's effort against the bar comes down in front of the line (although I did have to watch it about 4 times). Can't tell if it is a penalty or not and their second goal is hard to tell if it is or not offside. It's been proved it wasn't but we got a slice of luck, for once.....
[cite]Posted By: Spankie[/cite]Just seen the video. Seems as if Llera's effort against the bar comes down in front of the line (although I did have to watch it about 4 times). Can't tell if it is a penalty or not and their second goal is hard to tell if it is or not offside. It's been proved it wasn't but we got a slice of luck, for once.....
Bloody goal line technology. In the good old days there'd have just been a bit of tape across the top of the posts and that would have gone in ;-)
We are playing at 1pm to avoid a clash wit the England Wales game. Fanny - the sly nudges are often unpunished- the Arsenal side when they went through the season unbeaten had it down to a fine art. Basically, how to foul, just below the threshold of giving away a foul! It stops people getting past you and is a frustrating as hell to play against. Not saying Southampton are like Arsenal who were also a very talented footballing side but the definitely have this strategy as a tactic. The problem is that refs generally haven't played the game to the standard where a lot of these tactics go on so they can't act on what they don't understand. That's why I feel so passionately that refs should be ex players - non league included and when you see a 12 year old ref, you should tell him to man up and play football like the rest of em. This year's 12 year old ref is the D'Urso of the future.
Comments
The upbeat comments are more about the willingness of the players to compete rather than lay down and die once they were a goal down.
We also competed with a physical Southampton side. Physical sides have normally intimidated us this season.
I don't think anybody is pretending it was perfect by any means but it was a whole lot better than Exeter, Carlisle, Tranmere and Brentford!
They also thought our full backs were the weakest players, which strangely contradicts what most on here thought of the game.
Disappointing reply Len. Was hoping to get something like......"By the time I get home am too tired to read all the usual crap on here" ;-)
There is that as well!
;-)
I think that was me. I don't know why but I seem to have a magical eye for these things. I seem to get so many off sides correct when everyone else doesn't, including linesmen. I can do it with run outs in cricket too. 3rd Umpire my arse! Watching the WC at work I am 100% correct with Run Outs before replays shown. Must be a knack.
But back to us, in football as in all sport as in life - If if and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no need for tinkers hands.....
That is what makes life and sport and football what it is! Some things going your way, some not.
Also good to see that "the on-field management team" (there were lots of bodies in the technical area last night...!) have finally realised that McCack and Francly-not-quite-good-enough shouldn't be playing!
I know we're all entitled to our opinions but that amazes me. Other than dead balls I can't remember much coming into our box from the flanks. Can't remember many errors from Solly and considering he has been out for so long he showed good willingness to get forward. Bessone was always composed, made few errors and brought the best out of Racon.
Wouldn't go that far, it was a good game and a significant improvement as far as we were concerned, but what we need now is to build on this going into what will be a difficult game on Saturday. We were good last night; we weren't fantastic.
I hate to be positive but I think this is an excellent point from Eltham which often gets over looked in the doom and gloom. With BWP we will always have a chance as long as we keep everything else solid.
I fancy a win at Bournmouth, COYRs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Saga had been there ( He normally sits next to me) he would have agreed that it was a much improved performance than of late, that showed signs of competing, and decent team play, against a side that will be there or there abouts at the end of the season!. As I commented earlier on page 1 of this thread we had one shot on target up to 70 minutes!. And I think BWP yellow card was the results of this frustration!, some of the balls played to him were frankly ridiculous!. But this was a decent performance, not Champions league, but a performance that if we had shown during the past woeful times we would still be in the playoff positions NOW!
Saga's sub on this occassion ( my son) questioned why do the fan's clap when Charlton put two passes together!. I replied you ought to get down here more than once in two years, then you would not ask stupid questions!.
Just wanted to add something to sm and Muttley's earlier comments about the physicality of Southampton.
When Lallana went off, Mr F commented that he felt the opposition had given everything in the first 30 minutes or so of the match and that the player had overdone it ...and was subsequently knackered ( can I say that on here ?) Good point, I thought . They were definitely a team of strapping guys and not averse to sly nudges whenever possible...not that Mr D'Ursole noticed too often..
Pleased to see that our lads stood up for themselves pretty well - I think we nearly saw Therry's muscles rippling at times as he pushed his man off ! More please !!!
I would have taken a draw all day long because I was dreading the match due to my next door neighbour being a (nice bloke) Saints fan.
I would be delighted with a point at Bournemouth. why is it a 1pm kick off?
All to do with the tides.