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Thread | Ralph Hasenhüttl - The Magic Man
at 17:10 30 Mar 2024
Life long Southampton fan and Legend Ralph Hasenhüttl started life as Wolfsburg manager with a 2-0 win at Bremen.
The only mistake Sports Republic have made is sacking The Alpine Klopp.
For our last away game at Leeds we should all wear Wolfsburg shirts in his honour.
HE MARCHES ON |
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Thread | Must Win Monday
at 22:07 29 Mar 2024
Shit or bust at Ipswich on Monday.
Win only.
WE MARCH ON |
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Thread | Midland Saint - WBA game report
at 21:29 16 Nov 2023
SAINTS 2 WBA 1
“…Sometimes when we're as close as this
It's like we're in a dream…”
In my minds eye I see West Brom as a quintessential second division fixture. A view probably skewed by us beating them three times in 75-76. But actually we hadn’t played them at this level since 2008. I was a little concerned that our team depleted by injury and suspension might struggle against a team who were in good form. In the event, we achieved a good result from a very good game in which both teams tried to play football. Far from being a weak link, Holgate stepped up to the challenge of replacing Bednarek – with a huge help from the magnificent Harwood-Bellis. We did of course have to go through the routine of winning the game twice. Pleasingly, the winner came at a time when West Brom looked the team most likely to get the three points. It was a great way to go into yet another international break.
Since I was driving down on my own I made an early start. That meant diverting through Banbury to avoid the chaos of the M40 closure did not show me down that much. Lunch was in the Steingarten.
Remarkably, the crowds at St Mary’s have stood up very well. Over 30,000 again today, with a large travelling contingent from along the Handsworth Road.
The away team did not change their kit and turned out in a very nice early 70s style strip of navy and white stripes that is a tribute to the late Jeff Astle. The Saints team was as you would expect, with Holgate in for Bednarek. Surprisingly Bree was available after having to go off injured at Millwall.
Before kick-off we had the silence for Poppy Day, followed by an extremely quick taking the knee.
What struck me about the West Brom team was that they seemed to be ripped giants, with a decent turn of speed. They certainly proved a string test. But Saints looked to be their equal, playing some fluent football with the ball zipping around the pitch.
The lead came very quickly. Stuart Armstrong crossed in from the left. Adam had a shot that the keeper blocked. Smallbone followed up. The ball was cleared but was already over the line, so far that Mr Nield probably didn’t need the help of goal line technology.
The neat passing continued without really creating any decent chances. A couple of times it looked like Adam Armstrong was away only for the flag to be up for offside. We didn’t seem a lot from Sulemana as the defenders were keeping a close eye on him. Generally, when he did get the ball it was to his feet, rather than a yard or two ahead where he is most effective.
West Brom came into the game and it was time to do some defending. Holgate very sensibly took a yellow card for the team to stop a break. Just before the break he made an amazing block to divert a certain goal-band shot past the post.
As we expected, the away side came out with resolve and caused us some real difficulties. It felt like we were holding on from the restart. Smallbone had to go off in only the 55th minute and was replaced by Fraser, it shows how much the stock of the number 26 has risen in recent weeks.
In the 65th minute a corner from the left ended up on the other side of the goal. It was retrieved from going out in a manner that would have had Arsenal howling. When the ball was played back in it was headed against the bar. It dropped vertically on to the foot of the potentially offside Bartley who ran it into the goal without knowing much about it.
The trio of subs who had been watching from the touchline then got on the pitch. Adams replaced Sulemana’s activity with indolence, Charles replaced Downes to strengthen midfield and Manning was on for Bree who we reasonably could not have expected to last the whole game.
It looked worryingly like West Brom might get the winner, especially when another header hit the bar. But unlike the awful atmosphere back in September the crowd were fully behind the team and the players rallied.
With 10 minutes left the team did what was needed and made the most of a rare attack. Fraser crossed from the left. Stuart Armstrong climbed but it may have been a defender who flicked it on. Close in at the far post, Adam Armstrong took a touch and then calmly fired the ball through the small space available in a crowded goal – just like he couldn’t in the Premier League.
A few minutes later the goal scoring hero made way for the semi-mythical Stewart, making his debut at last. In the limited time available he did look useful.
There was still quite a lot of defending to do as the game went into an extra 7 minutes. When Bazunu produced a magnificent save to spoon the ball up and out of the goal we knew it was our day.
West Brom were a little unlucky and will win games playing like this. That made our victory all the sweeter. It was a smooth and enjoyable drive home, thinking about the 30 points that felt beyond our wildest dreams in mid-September.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 6Holgate 21Harwood-Bellis 14Bree (Manning 66') 17S Armstrong 16Smallbone (Fraser 55') 4Downes (Charles 67') 22Alcaraz 9A Armstrong (Stewart 83') 20Sulemana (Adams 66')
Substitutes: 1McCarthy 3Manning 7Aribo 10Adams 11Stewart 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: Good result from a good game Top Man: Holgate
Next report: Huddersfield
Lyrics: Billy Bragg – Greetings to the new brunette |
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Thread | FREE DRINK
at 06:51 15 Nov 2023
Unfortunately not Kingfisher. But a ruddy good deal anyway.
Fill your boots.
Emergency service workers can get a totally free cup of tea or coffee at over 330 Asda stores.
SEE IT. SAY IT. SORTED.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/asda/ |
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Thread | Midland Saint - Millwall Report
at 08:20 7 Nov 2023
MILLWALL 0 SAINTS 1
“…You'll never know quite when, well
Then again it just depends on
How long of time is left for you…”
This is just so unlike us. We’re the team that gets done by the injury team goals. For all the time I have watched Saint the late winners have been few and few between, and much cherished like Steve Moran in 84. Now we seem to be making a thing of it. Because we seemed to be heading to an ok sort of draw against a truly dreadful side. And then Fraser was once again in the right place in the right time to grab the winner. Maybe there is indeed something in Martin’s talk about our passing game wearing out the opposition, it certainly wears me out.
Normally there would be little thinking to be done about a trip into the Heart of Darkness. Train from London Bridge to South Bermondsey and then a segregated walkway to the New Den. But the local station was shut and the other local overground stations like Surry Quays were served by something to be feared more than the home fans – the replacement bus service. So we set off down the rain lashed M40 to Hillingdon and got the underground to Canada Water. On the map it looked a very long journey from west to east but was only just over an hour. We emerged from the station into bright sunshine.
We had breakfast at the Surrey Docks. Designated as home fans only but we had no colours showing. Even so, it was unsettling to hear the bile being spouted by an old guy announcing to the pub that “Millwall always have a problem with Southampton”. He was old enough to know better – 66 as he told everyone. I think even the denizens of Fratton Park would have found the level of hatred and fabrication of facts hard to accommodate.
The walk to the stadium was not that long. But the route did take us through a landscape of urban wasteland and underpasses that seemed set up to recreate the Green Street experience. There were a ridiculous number of police about doing nothing but tot up their overtime.
We had seats in row B of the top tier. This was actually the front row as they don’t sell row A. It would have been a great view if the stewards had applied the rule that you don’t allow people to stand in the yellow shaded areas at the top of the stairs. The good thing was that we had a large screen to our left, unlike the invisible screen at Preston.
Saints wearing our home kit had what we would probably now see as the best starting lineup of uninjured players. Millwall were still without a manager. Luckily we avoided what would have been the apocalyptic return of Nathan Jones to management. It was interesting to see Bialkowski in goal for Millwall, some 18 years after he joined Saints, and he had a very good game.
There was a very good away following of 3,000 plus Saints fans. The famed home atmosphere was quite muted apart from their reception for the armed services this being their Poppy game.
For inexplicable reasons the police blocked the concourse to prevent people taking the main stairs to the upper tier. That meant they had to come up via the stairs to our left. So for the first 15 minutes there was a constant stream of people passing in front of us. That meant I couldn’t settle. Neither could our players who seemed to be knocked out of their rhythm by Millwall’s all-action basic style.
Eventually we did get going. It seemed clear that as always we were relying on KWP, who got through some stupendous work on the right. Sulemana looked dangerous, if over elaborate on the left. He soon antagonized the home crowd for the crime of being fouled constantly.
In a nothing first half we drew some good saves from the Bartman. From a corner Millwall managed to head against the bar, their sole dangerous effort of the game.
Attacking towards us for the second half, Saints stepped their effort up. But the breakthrough would not seem to come. It was a shame that Bree, who has grown into the left back position, had to leave the pitch injured. He was replaced by Manning, and there seems to be something of an agenda to the constant abuse he got.
A good move ended with Stuart Armstrong sliding a shot just past the post. Alcaraz, who was still underperforming, played in Sulemana who came inside to hit a thumping shot that the keeper did well to push away.
It was strange that having won a freekick in the perfect position for Stuart Armstrong we chose that precise moment to replace him with the passenger that is Adams. Alcaraz did hit the target but it was not quite enough.
For the final push Fraser replaced Sulemana and Charles replaced Smallbone. So intent were we on winning was that I feared a slip would present Millwall with the winner. Slips did happen, but the home side was so hopeless they made nothing of the opportunities.
One thing we do know is that this side keeps going. So the generous five minutes added time gave us a real chance for persistence to pay off.
In the 93rd minute KWP slipped the ball behind the defence for Adam Armstrong to run on to. His first cross in was blocked by a defender. The rebound fell kindly back to him for a second chance. This time he found Fraser at the near post and the finish was instant and deadly. The Saints players and fans went wild as the Millwall players slumped to the ground. Robert saved me from being sent tumbling over the seats as the supporters swarmed down from behind.
The lengthy celebrations meant a further minute was added. There were so many people standing at the front I had to watch the final moments on the screen.
In an unwelcome echo of the seventies we were locked in for some 20 minutes after the final whistle. But rather than take action to avoid a crush when the gate was eventually opened the police just stood and watched it happen. I had my foot caught on something large and immobile and it was lucky that I did not fall, which could have resulted in a dangerous incident.
The police still totting up their overtime gave us a sort of escort back to the station through subways now lit in the neon blue glare of nightmares. We were back at Hillingdon by 6,45 which wasn’t too bad and the drive home was very easy.
I have to say I was happy as the Den is always a demanding place to go, although I have never actually seen Saints lose away to Millwall. In this current run the points have kept coming without us looking totally convincing. If we hit true form it could be interesting.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 14Bree (Manning 71') 16Smallbone (Charles 83') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Adams 83') 22Alcaraz 9A Armstrong 20Sulemana (Fraser 77')
Subs: 1McCarthy 3Manning 6Holgate 7Aribo 10Adams 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: Another late, late show Top Man: KWP
Lyrics: Imagine Dragons – On top of the world
Next report: West Brom |
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Thread | Midland Saint - Preston & Birmingham match reports
at 05:58 3 Nov 2023
“…You promised me a life
You promised me everything would change…”
PRESTON NORTH END 2 SAINTS 2
I must admit I was dreading this fixture having been traumatized by the two dreadful midweek defeats at Deepdale under the SKY cameras in 2007. That was actually a very poor year for us as we lost three times to the Lilywhites. For most of the second half it seemed like things were heading the same way. Saints were simply terrible and easy meat for a basic Preston side. Fortunately, the home team made the mistake of assuming that the game was already won when we got a very late corner. They also never expected that our keeper would be the only Saints player to attack the ball all evening. Somehow the ball ended up in the back of the net to give us a very lucky escape that made all the difference to the long drive home.
Preston is easy enough to get to for us. We just got on the M6 and drove for a long, long way from J6 to J32. It would have felt a lot easier without the interminable 50mph limits and doom laden “queues after junction” signs. But having set off at 2 pm we were parking just after 5 pm in the park opposite the ground that inexplicably allows free parking.
The Internet Football Ground guide sent us to a social club on the other side of the park. They were very hospitable and didn’t bother with the usual formalities of signing in. Walking the 10 minutes to the stadium I was treated to a short but rather spectacular firework display. It was coming up to 15 years since I was last in Deepdale. Having been heavily modernized it is a fine example of a Championship stadium with the benefit of being on a very large site. And the steeply banked seats gave us an excellent view.
If you think the rousing speeches we used to have at St Mary’s, before we apparently relocated to LA South Central, were embarrassing, then the paean to Preston was excruciating. And it went on and on. Strange that the team then ran on to the pitch to a tune from a band formed in Basildon rather than say something from Eddie Calvert (the man with the golden horn). The away fans made up a significant proportion of the 15,000 crowd.
Saints were wearing the black away kit. There were a number of changes including Holgate in for Harwood Bellis, Bree in for Manning and Charles in for Sulemana.
The game was very poor. The manager talks about the need to be brave. I wish we were a little less brave in our passing game around the keeper that just invites trouble. Smallbone got an early yellow card for needless shirt tugging. Charles, who looked so good at the start of the season seems to have lost a lot of confidence and Adams was just phoning it in. A bright spot was that Bree at left back looked a great deal better than Manning.
It felt like the game was drifting to 0-0 when KWP broke down the right wing, came inside and with his left foot struck a superb goal with the ball flying into the far corner of the net.
This should have been the time for Saints to finish Preston off but we slackened off and allowed them to build momentum. Mr Simpson annoyed the home fans by applying the rules. Then he started to give terrible decisions against us and really should have shown a red card for an appalling challenge on Adams. It seems ridiculous to me that a player subjected to a yellow card challenge that needed lengthy attention has to then leave the pitch to put the victims at a disadvantage. The official also made sure that Adams was kept out of the action as Preston went on the attack.
As halftime approached Bazunu made a near miraculous save at close range and then Charles blocked the ball causing it to hit his arm. VAR would have given us a lot to worry about but Mr Simpson waved away the appeals.
Adams was replaced by Mara for the second half. Unfortunately he was all over the place. Preston reinforced their attack with Osmajic. In the 52nd minute a corner was conceded and when the ball was headed out the sub thumped a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Most competent keepers might have saved a shot straight at them.
What came next was inevitable. The ball was lost in midfield. Charles tracked Potts all the way back but failed to take the yellow card necessary to stop him. The finish was straight through the keeper’s legs.
It did look like all was lost when a player tumbled in the penalty area. So we were relieved to see the yellow card shown for diving. Preston seemed to believe they had done enough. But despite multiple changes from the bench it seemed Saints could create no real pressure.
Sulemana came on and a few times did a good job in hanging the ball up at the far post for the target man we don’t have. Slowly he edged back down the pitch to be almost playing in midfield.
With Saints struggling Preston wasted time. Which was ultimately their undoing. Many home supporters had already headed for the exits when we got a late corner. Bazunu was urged up the pitch for one last go. He surged towards the ball and next thing we knew it was in the corner of the net. Even watching the replay a few times it is hard to see what happened. But although Bazunu might not have contacted the ball he influenced the own goal. The celebrations erased the memory of the awful 90 plus minutes before.
Getting away from our parking spot meant negotiating a vast swathe of people walking in the opposite direction. Luckily they were quite compliant in parting in front of us. With only a few delays we were on the motorway in about 20 minutes and home by 1am.
The one thing we can say about this team is that we do at least keep going. 21 points from 13 games is not a bad haul unless you look at the top two in this division.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 6Holgate 35Bednarek 14Bree 16Smallbone (S Armstrong 57') 4Downes (Fraser 72') 24Charles 9A Armstrong (Alcaraz 82') 10Adams (Mara 45') 23Edozie (Sulemana 58')
Subs: 1McCarthy 7Aribo 17S Armstrong 18Mara 20Sulemana 22Alcaraz 26Fraser 27Amo-Ameyaw 29Meghoma
Summary: The only virtue was we kept going Top Man: KWP
SAINTS 3 WAYNE ROONEY’S BIRMINGHAM CITY 1
What a pleasant surprise this turned out to be. After such a poor performance on Wednesday I expected a struggle against a Birmingham side that would surely be galvanized by the impact of Rooney. But Saints played well, the Blues didn’t really turn up and at last we had a win made comfortable by a late goal.
Yet again we had an early start imposed by a lunchtime kick-off. But the virtue of being on the road so early is the light traffic so we made the trip in record time and were tucking in to breakfast by nine.
There were a reasonable number of Birmingham fans in the 28,924 crowd. They were quite noisy at first but soon became rather quiet. The away side wore their normal blue shirts and socks, but rather than swapping white socks for blue they adopted an eyeball searing orange colour.
The Saints side restored to normal strength by the unavailability of Adams once again decided to start the game by attacking towards the Chapel end.
It didn’t take long for Saints to take the lead. Adam Armstrong did very well to get away on the left to loft a cross to the far post. That gave Harwood-Bellis an easy header for his first goal for Saints. There was post match moaning about offside. But it would only ever have been considered offside in the VAR world.
Saints started to put together some decent football. Downes, now at last getting into his full stride was very good, Adam Armstrong ran his socks off and Alcaraz looked much brighter than in recent games.
In the 22nd minute Sulemana did brilliantly to get behind the defence and make for the byline. He looked up and placed the ball low across the goal eluding the keeper on its way to Alcaraz at the far post. He had the easiest of opportunities and made no mistake.
It could have been a romp from then on but the football played was not rewarded with goals. There was a moment of worry when Bazunu rushed out of his goal and appeared to clatter Burke. If VAR was available we would probably have had a five-minute wait for a penalty and red card.
During the half-time break there was a nostalgic session with Marians Pahars. But for injury he would have been one of the world’s great strikers and not with us for very long. He still seemed quite happy at being an enduring Saints legend.
Saints continued the second half looking comfortable. Too comfortable it turned out. For the second home game in a row we seemed to switch off after a lengthy injury to the opposition. The ball was boomed forward, flicked on and then KWP lost a tussle with Stansfield. Seconds after coming on as a sub he was able to run forward and power the ball past Bazunu. For trying too delicate a touch on the ball and losing it cost KWP my Top Man award for yet another outstanding game. In mitigation, he may still have been stunned by an awful scissor challenge that Mr Webb didn’t see.
A manager with something about him might have sensed that Saints were often vulnerable at this point of a game. Rooney did nothing and rather than going all out for an equalizer Birmingham’s response was muted.
The good thing was that Martin did respond. First, the fading Alcaraz was replaced by Aribo. And I have to say he did a very good job of retaining the ball, which was just what was needed. Then Fraser replaced Sulemana and finally Charles and Edozie were on for Stuart Armstrong and Smallbone.
It was the subs that made the crucial goal in the 86th minute. Fraser crossed from the left, Edozie did very well to head the ball down and Adam Armstrong finished off with a low shot driven into the turf and skimming into the net.
There were smiles all around St Mary’s now as what seemed a tricky fixture actually became on of the rarest treats for Saints fans – an easy win.
We came to the end of September on the point of despair. Yet October has ended with six games unbeaten and a very healthy 14 points. Perhaps the team is starting to come together at last?
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 14Bree 16Smallbone (Charles 81') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Edozie 82') 22Alcaraz (Aribo 69') 9A Armstrong 20Sulemana (Fraser 76')
Subs: 1McCarthy 3Manning 6Holgate 7Aribo 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser 27Amo-Ameyaw
Summary: Pleasantly easy Top Man: Downes
Lyrics: Tenpole Tudor – Header Now
Next report - Millwall |
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Thread | Midland Saint Hull Match Report
at 06:57 24 Oct 2023
HULL CITY 1 SAINTS 2
“…sad into unsad…”
It’s amazing how different a few decisive seconds can make you feel about a game. At 94 minutes we were taking away a sort of respectable draw after being outplayed by Hull for large parts of the game. Scroll forward by half a minute and it was all high-fives thanks to great approach work and a superb finish by Fraser. There is still a lot of work to be done as it was embarrassing how exposed we were on the wings. Yet 10 points out of 12 is a good comeback after 4 straight defeats and at what is the quarter-way point of the season making the playoffs does look a realistic prospect.
We set off early for what can be a demanding trip to one of the remotest grounds in the country. Despite the heavy rain our drive was by all accounts a lot easier than travelling by train. We were by the ground before 10 am and looking for parking. My previous free parking spot has clearly been spotted by the authorities who have imposed a one-hour maximum stay since our last visit – seven managers ago. The huge main car park at the stadium was not open. So after a very nice breakfast at the Tramway café we parked up at the Park View Pub, which was very welcoming to away supporters.
There was a pretty good away following in the attendance of 21,524. We had a very good view in row H, with the goal just off to our right. It was fortunate that the weather had brightened up considerably by kick-off as we would have been drenched if the rain had continued. The stadium formerly known as the Kaycee opened only in 2022. And while I am concerned that St Mary’s has deteriorated then I was shocked at how badly Hull’s stadium has been neglected. Much of the paint has peeled away from the steel superstructure and the metal supports for the seats have rusted very badly, while what I think were once yellow seats have faded to white.
The home side sported a predominantly black and yellow kit echoing their tiger nickname, apart from the keeper who had come as the Pink Panther. Saints were in the white and mint kit, with in something of a rarity Bazunu wearing the same colour shorts as the outfield players.
Leading the line for Hull was Liam Delap who has made something of a career out of being linked with Saints. So his goal was simply inevitable. Also in the side was Alfie Jones who came out of our youth system but never made a first team appearance.
The big change for Saints was that Adams was on the bench. That left Alcaraz, fresh from his non-playing time with the Argentina squad, to lead the line. That just didn’t work as he made no impression on the game apart from a delightful subtle flick that was just creeping in at the far post until the keeper got just enough on it.
Saints put the early pressure on the goal at the far end. But when Hull did get the ball there were getting forward far too easily and causing all sort of problems on the wings, with Philogene looking particularly impressive.
Since the club had put a massive PR effort this week into a supporters event to justify our tactics there was no doubt that we would persist with a passing game. It would help though if the players actually passed the ball to each other. Hull’s game was not that different, although they seemed keener to get the ball actually moving forward.
KWP was outstanding today. He had to be to make up for the midfield weakness ahead of him. And he made the goal that came rather against the run of play in the 20th minute. A great run to the byline and pullback enabled Smallbone to pass the ball into the net.
Hull at least did not equalize immediately. We made them wait five minutes. Manning was weak in cutting out the danger on the left. When the ball came in it took a lucky deflection that enabled Delap to lunge in to poke it into the net from close in.
Saints rocked a bit after the equalizer and we needed some good work from Bazunu, having one of his best games for us, to keep us level for halftime.
The second half saw Saints attacking towards us and creating some good opportunities but never quite getting a clean contact on the ball. We also took some punishment, KWP was victim of two yellow card challenges. Hull looked the more dangerous team. But what saved us was their dallying when going clear through on goal.
I must make a special mention of Mr Eltringham, one of the most ridiculous officials we have encountered this season. When we got a corner on the left the Hull supporters in that area took umbrage at the placement of the ball. And at the instruction of the crowd the nincompoop strutted over to check. He saw nothing wrong – I am not sure I have ever seen an official find anything wrong in such circumstances. But amazingly, next corner on that side the Hull supporters howled and again Mr Eltringham strutted over – to find nothing untoward once again. It was quite amusing that when we got a corner on the right, just in front of the away fans, the Saints supporters invited the official over to check the positioning of the ball. He refused the invitation.
As the game neared the closing minutes you sensed that Hull were settling, while Saints fancied more than a point. Alcaraz and Sulemana had already been replaced by Adams and Edozie. Smallbone was swapped for Charles, Adam Armstrong for Mara and Fraser for Stuart Armstrong.
The board showed five minutes to be added. The disgruntled and well lubricated supporter in front of us headed for the exit as Saints continued to push for the opening that would make the difference.
We were in the final minute, with supreme irony the minute due to the Hull fans moaning about the corner. A throw in was taken quickly, Mara pushed the ball through for Downes to chase to the byline. A driven cross and there was Fraser with a quite brilliant instant volley into the corner of the net to win the game.
There was hardly time left to restart before the final whistle. For the fourth time this season the players and manager were able to celebrate in front of the travelling fans, with three of those wins delivered by very late goals.
It was not too hard to get out from the pub carpark on to the main road. And there we stayed. It took an agonizing 35 minutes to progress a few hundred yards to the dual carriageway ahead of us. It was all down to a total lack of stewarding of cars exiting the stadium car park, resulting in total gridlock. When we did at last make the dual carriageway we were heading out of Hull in a matter of minutes. And still home by 8,30.
The win makes us feel a lot better, especially after the Rotherham game. There is still a lot of work to be done. But so far we are at least succeeding in my minimum aim for the season of winning more games than we lose.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 3Manning 16Smallbone (Charles 88') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Fraser 84') 9A Armstrong (Mara 88') 22Alcaraz (Adams 69') 20Sulemana (Edozie 69')
Subs: 1McCarthy 6Holgate 7Aribo 10Adams 14Bree 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: stolen points are the sweetest Top Man: KWP
Next report: PNE and Birmingham
Lyrics: The Beautiful South – a little time |
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Thread | Midland Saint : Stoke and Rotherham match reports
at 07:36 9 Oct 2023
STOKE CITY 0 SAINTS 1
“…And how I wish I, wish I'd done a little bit more…”
Stoke City under Pulis were perhaps the most vile team we have encountered. That mean spirit of vicious tackles, shirt pulling and in the face intimidation of officials still lives on at the Bet 365. So it was very satisfying to come away with a win that left the home fans howling with displeasure. It would have been even more satisfying had the good chances we created been converted to deliver a thumping. In the end the win relied on some resolute defeat and good work by Bednarek.
The M6 is not to be risked on a Tuesday evening. So we took a more scenic route via Coleshill and Lichfield to Stoke. As a frequent visitor to Stone for work I had found it very easy and free flowing. That was though before the advent of HS2 that has spread its malicious tendrils to bring traffic chaos across the Midands. Even so, we were still there early enough to park in our usual car park off Sir Stanley Matthews Way. It was a relatively pleasant evening, with just the first signs of an autumn chill. But the 15 minutes of hard rain coincided with our walk from the carpark to the Harvester adjacent to the stadium.
Stoke are an example of what can happen all too easily when a team used to Premier League status doesn’t make a swift return. The crowd was only just over 20,000 and they seemed relatively supine in contrast to the aggression that use to sway referees into bad decisions. There was a good contingent of Saints fans that largely outvoiced the home fans. We had a very good view in the lower tier, with the goal just off to the right.
Saints turned out in what has previously been the cursed black and yellow New Forest shirts. It was good to see that at last the team was unchanged.
You have to say that the game was not that great. Stoke were shockingly inept. Saints put some good moves together but the final ball was missing. The home crowd got on the back of Smallbone. That was very small minded as he was only on loan there, it is not as if he left them.
Our only moment of worry was when Bazunu raced out to make a clearance only to present Stoke with an open goal that they cam nowhere near to taking advantage of.
Mr Bell missed a few terrible challenges and the frequent shirt tugging. But he did show enough yellow cards to annoy the Stoke fans. Maybe the shirt-tugging did eventually get to him, because a few minutes before half time he awarded a free-kick that isn’t usually given.
It was in perfect JWP position. I wasn’t sure how Stuart Armstrong would do. But he did it brilliantly. A curving up and down strike gave Travers no chance. Strangely, even though the award of the kick and lining up to take it took over a minute just one minute was added on. The officials were held back for protection by stewards as they headed for the tunnels just to our left. As the home fans gave vent to their displeasure they were applauded off by the away fans.
There were no changes to either side. And for the second half we had a great view as Saints attacked towards us. It might have been game over very early on as Adam Armstrong got in a quite brilliant cross from the right to put the ball on the head of Stuart Armstrong. He did everything right by attempting to head the ball down into the turf in the way that always causes problems for keepers. By misfortune the ball hit the foot of a defender.
Just before the hour, Sulemana speeded into the penalty area and hit a shot that was pushed away. Wilmot, who was trying to cover, slid into the post and needed a long period of attention before being substituted by Thompson.
Alcaraz spent much of the game on the verge of doing something absolutely brilliant. Yet failed to deliver on doing something adequate and he lost the ball far too often. He is clearly a very good player, but right off form at the moment. How he has made the Argentina squad is beyond understanding.
It says a great deal that when we desperately needed a player to come on and make the ball stick Adams did not get the call. Instead we got Mara for Alcaraz. Fraser was a useful change for Sulemana who had run himself out, and he brought a useful note of nastiness to combat Stoke’s bile.
When Stoke introduced Wesley, the heir apparent to the title of “great galoot”, we knew what would happen. This is the 6ft 3ins unit that Villa paid £22 million for and then gave away to Stoke. Hard to imagine, but Stoke went even long ball.
It was time for the central defensive pairing of Bednarek and Harwood-Bellis to stand strong. There was a nervous moment when Bednarek came close to giving away a penalty as he crashed to the ground on top of a striker. It was hard to give in real time, but VAR probably would have given it as you can see Bednarek wrapping his arms around the player at one time.
Mr Bell might have been disinclined to give anything thanks to the constant dissent by Stoke players, with the obnoxious Johnson the ringleader. Even their keeper kept coming up the pitch to get in the face of the referee. To add to the bad feeling, after we had kicked the ball out for a player to get attention they didn’t return it and went on the attack.
Aribo came on for Adam Armstrong and then Holgate replaced Smallbone. I had 10 minutes on my stopwatch at 90 minutes. That is exactly what we got, which makes a nonsense of the 1 minutes for the first half. We played it out pretty well and Bazunu made a very good save from a low drive by Burger.
With seconds left Aribo did very well at the corner flag to win a time-wasting corner by kicking the ball off a defender. The assistant couldn’t see what was right under his nose yet very clear to us about 10 yards away and gave the goal kick. It would have been so Saints to have conceded from the resulting attack. But we held on for a very satisfactory win.
Harwood-Bellis, like Smallbone a former loanee to Stoke, gave it to the home fans at the final whistle. There was also a melee with the Stoke keeper scuffling with Alcaraz and going down dramatically although the replays don’t really show anything.
The car park allowed a very fast exit back to the southbound A34. It was all going swimmingly until just outside Coleshill we found the road actually shut – even though there had been no warning on the outward journey. So we had to divert back to the M6 that I had desperately been trying to avoid. We were still back before midnight though.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 3Manning 16Smallbone (Holgate 93') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Charles 81') 9A Armstrong (Aribo 81') 22Alcaraz (Mara 72') 20Sulemana (Fraser 72')
Substitutes: 1McCarthy 6Holgate 7Aribo 10Adams 14Bree 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: Ugly win against the ugliest of teams Top Man: Bednarek
SAINTS 1 ROTHERHAM 1
There was a feeling that this was going to be a straight-forward victory. I always had my doubts given our unusual history with the Merry Millers. Three times in a row we have lost cup games with them as a lower division side. The last time we played them in the league, 1965-66, we lost away and drew 1-1 at home. I doubt that many in the away following have ever seen them lose to Saints, and that probably applies to their parents as well. For the first half it did seem that we might steam-roller them, but for some bad luck and inspired goalkeeping – what you might call the Jonathan Gould effect – we would have done. For the second half we disappointingly reverted to the uninspired sideways passing with zero penetration that blighted our September. That still would have been enough but for a lack of professionalism in needlessly returning a ball that had been kicked out to allow Rotherham to make substitutions, and then switching off when it was humped forward.
It was a glorious October day. You could have believed it was spring but for the leaves falling from the trees. The journey down was also very easy, despite an inexplicable delay on the M3 caused apparently by the slow down signs.
Remarkably, the gate was still over 28,000. There were less away fans than usual. But those that did travel will have enjoyed their first visit to Southampton for generations.
Having won twice with an unchanged team, changes were made today. Che Adams was back in and apart from his early contributions was very poor.
The start was very bright indeed. KWP burst forward and hung the ball up brilliantly at the far post. Adams climbed to head against the post and Stuart Armstrong put the rebound away.
It looked like we were on the path to an easy win with Sulemana rampant on the wing and the ball zinging about superbly. Good chances were created, including a very good deflected header. But we found Johansson in the Rotherham goal in excellent form. He was though helped by so many shots being straight at him. The 25-year old is exactly the sort of competent and inexpensive keeper who would have made a tremendous difference this season.
The ball did go into the goal following KWP’s low cross but was given offside due to Adam Armstrong trying to get to it.
On the halfhour Rotherham made a decisive change with Oneydinma replaced by Revan. The aim was clear. By going for a back five they were going to stifle our chances of scoring more while hoping for something that might come our way.
The tactic certainly worked, although as half-time approached there was disruption caused by a medical emergency in the Kingsland stand to our right. Mr Busby came under some very vocal criticism from the crowd, although I understand that the protocol is now for the game to continue. Opinions on this will vary. My view is that it is perhaps better to play on instead of stopping and having the whole crowd looking on as a potential tragedy unfolds.
During a rather muted half-time it was announced that there would be a further 10 minute delay. The break of 25 minutes may not have helped. But where Saints were bright in the first half in the second half they were execrable. It was all about possession rather than penetration. Time and again the ball appeared to be moving forward and then when a cross was needed the ball was recirculated into the centre. It did not help that Adams could not possibly have looked less interested. There were times when we shot from the edge of the penalty area but it was always blasted high over the bar.
Just after 60 minutes a rather needless triple sub was made. You can see the need when losing. But when winning? It just disrupts the team. And why did Adams stay on? Alcaraz was hopeless as the replacement for Stuart Armstrong and it was nonsense to take off the striking potential of Adam Armstrong. Fraser, as we saw at Stoke, can have a role to play. But not when you desperately need someone to get down the right wing. Edozie was also a poor change for Sulemana, I would like to see both deployed at the same time.
In the 74th minute the ball was kicked out although no Rotherham player seemed in obvious distress. That enabled them to make a triple substitution. Naively we agree to play it back to them. Minds seemed to be elsewhere as the ball boomed towards our penalty area. The header away from Harwood-Bellis was halfhearted. The ball dropped on to the foot of Hugill and he met it instantly to lob Bazunu who was well off his line.
The Rotherham game plan had worked perfectly. One attempt on goal, one goal and a point in their grasp. Saints did at last start attacking. But the Rotherham keeper was in unbeatable form. Mara was a late change for Adams, while Aribo was swapped for Smallbone. They were not going to change the game.
The game petered out to give Rotherham their first away point of the season. Russell Martin’s post match interview focused on what should have been. It is his job to make the easy games certainties. Because while the play-offs remain still possible, another two points lost from being in the lead makes automatic promotion very unlikely.
In making my pre-season prediction of 72 points I budgeted to draw at home with Rotherham and lose away. I wish I had been wrong.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 3Manning 16 Smallbone (Aribo 86') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Alcaraz 63') 9A Armstrong (Fraser 63') 10Adams (Mara 86') 20Sulemana (Edozie 63')
Substitutes: 1McCarthy 6Holgate 7Aribo 14Bree 18Mara 22Alcaraz 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: Lost concentration lost points Top Man: KWP
Lyrics: Beverley Knight - Shoulda woulda coulda
Next report - Hull [Post edited 9 Oct 2023 7:37]
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| Forum
Thread | Midland Saint Match Report
at 06:44 2 Oct 2023
SAINTS 3 LEEDS UNITED 1
“…Want more and more
People just want more and more…”
In his pre-match presser Russell Martin expressed the view that “outcomes are not important”. But it seems his views might have changed under the imminent threat of five defeats in a row. Because for the first half at least the languid passing game was replaced with a much direct approach with a high press. It seemed to catch Leeds offguard as they must have been expecting our usual style. By the time they came to grips with the game Saints were already three goals up and at last we achieved the sort of comfortable win not seen since Broja and KWP devastated Brentford.
With another lunchtime kick-off we had to make an early start. I could have done without it since very late on Friday night I flew back from Stockholm to Birmingham. Almost miraculously though a Ryanair flight was on time so it was a good start to the weekend. Even better though was that the M3 is now, for the moment at least, finished. That meant our journey was back to the usual two hours.
The weather for late September was very good, a pleasant temperature and some bright sunshine. There was yet another surprisingly good crowd of over 30,000. That number was swelled by a large Leeds contingent – not all from Yorkshire, their success in the 60s and 70s spawned a good number of glory hunters, including at my school in Southampton.
With the players warming up in their special rainbow-inspired shirts it was clear that significant changes had been made to the team. Adams was dropped to the bench with Armstrong leading the line with Alcaraz behind him in what people tell me is a “false nine” position. I was delighted that we prevented Adams leaving in the transfer window. Now it seems like a major mistake as we seem to be stuck with a player content to go through the motions until his contract runs out.
It was interesting to see Russell Martin on the touchline alongside Farke, they could be the same person separated by 10 years of hard living.
Leeds seemed to win the toss and decide to switch ends so Saints started the game by attacking towards the Chapel. They didn’t mess about, the way the ball was boomed forward signalled a clear change in style.
In just the second minute the splendid KWP picked up the ball on the right came inside and played a perfect through pass into the penalty area for Adam Armstrong to run on to. If there was VAR in place he might have been a fraction offside. Although running rather wide of the goal, Armstrong drew the keeper and flicked the ball gently over him and into the far corner of the net. It was a truly delightful goal. Such a shame that he hardly ever got that sort of service to work with in the Premier League.
A immediate comeback for Leeds as prevented by our commitment to pressing, with Alcaraz in particular putting in a major effort. It seemed to throw Meslier off his game and for once we could see the discomfort of an opposition keeper in dealing with backpasses.
The determination to stop Leeds attacking meant that the feared Piroe hardly got a kick. It also mean that the players were trying a little too hard and Armstrong and Smallbone got early yellow cards.
I have remarked previously that Mr Brooks is utterly incompetent. Now he seems to have added a level of malevolence. If Mike Dean is the Sith Lord, Darth Youcannotbeserious, Brooks is his apprentice. The yellow cards we got were generally correct, but equal challenges by Leeds players did not get yellow cards. And a player in a blue shirt merely had to fall over to get the freekick.
There was a worrying time when Smallbone had a mild clash with Summerville that caused the Leeds player to writhe in the ground to seek a second yellow card. But even Brooks realized that would have been ridiculous.
A pleasant note from the game was that Bazunu had one of his best games, including a very good if rather Hollywood save to push away a long range shot.
Sulemana earned the MOTM award, he might have been by Top Man had he played more than an hour. At times his close ball control and pace made him look unplayable. At other times, like many other wingers, he would mis-control or run into a virtual brickwall. If he continues this way then his departure in January is a certainty.
It was Sulemana who really turned the game in our favour just after the half-hour. He got the ball on the left, strode to the byline and then picked out Smallbone who had made a late run into the penalty area. Smallbone opted for precision rather than power as he guided his shot towards the goal. In games when your luck is not with you the ball would have bounced away off the post. Today it hit the post and ran delightfully into the opposite corner of the net.
Sulemana was not done yet. In a couple of minutes his ball from the left picked out Armstrong on the right of the penalty area. Full of confidence, the number 9 twisted this way and that before rolling the ball through the keeper’s legs. The ball had a very slight touch off a defender that might cause it to be regarded as an own goal. That doesn’t matter. It was Armstrong’s goal all the way.
With Leeds running scared, Alcaraz went close with a header from a corner that Meslier tipped over the bar.
3-0 at half-time. What could possibly go wrong? Well the ghost of November 2005 loomed when we lost 4-3 after being the same score up against Leeds.
Strangely, Leeds made no subs at halftime. Neither did Saints. It was a rather different game as Leeds went on the attack and our game switched to defence. Saints did in fact defend rather well, with Harwood-Bellis and Bednarek at last looking comfortable together. KWP was tenacious on the right and the only weakness was the rather lost looking Manning on the left.
Defend as well as you might, when a team has the opportunity to build chances like Leeds did then there is always going to be trouble. Just before the hour a corner was not cleared and Struijk was able to turn and prod the ball into the net.
The immediate response was to sacrifice Sulemana for the pedestrian Fraser. It was important not to concede a second immediately and the players rallied to keep Leeds at bay. There was a funny moment when a shot was blazed well wide but rippled the net on the rebound, giving the Leeds fans the impression they had scored.
Smallbone made way for Charles to add a bit more steel to midfield and remove the risk of a second yellow, although the sub soon got one of his own. At the same time Adams replaced Alcaraz. I assume the hope was that the change would cause the ball to stick more up front. It didn’t because Adams just wasn’t involved in the game.
The final changes were to swap Bree for Stuart Armstrong, who had had a decent game and Aribo for Adam Armstrong.
Even with five minutes added on Saints managed to hold on for an important morale-building win. My prediction at the start of the season was that we would have 11 points at the end of September. So with 13 we are slightly ahead of my own schedule. Clearly, when played in the right way we do have the players to thrive in this division. Let’s hope Martin appreciates that it is a division for pragmatism not dogma.
It was great to be able to drive home without hiding from the football news. And even better that we had a clear run on the M3 back to the A34.
Saints team: 31Bazunu 2Walker-Peters 21Harwood-Bellis 35Bednarek 3Manning 16Smallbone (Charles 69') 4Downes 17S Armstrong (Bree 85') 9A Armstrong (Aribo 85') 22Alcaraz (Adams 69') 20Sulemana (Fraser 59')
Substitutes: 1McCarthy 6Holgate 7Aribo 10Adams 14Bree 18Mara 23Edozie 24Charles 26Fraser
Summary: Outcomes are important Top Man: KWP
Next report: Stoke
Lyrics: Gala – Freed from desire (always thought her boyfriend doesn’t sound like that much of a catch). |
| Forum
Thread | Meanwhile in Amsterdam
at 16:48 24 Sep 2023
We get relegated, sell our few best players, replace them with loan signings and a free transfer, then lose to shite like Middlesbrough and are moaned at for venting our anger on the socials and a forum. 😂
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