Mixed emotions for Lallana after draw (From Daily Echo)

Have just come home from the game and have deliberately not listened to any reviews so that the views I give are my own on what I saw from my seat.
In the first half Saints were absolutely brilliant and it was obvious to me that we would need to score one more before half time as Fulham would have to come out better.
Puncheon was making a lot of effort about everything he did and Lambert was somewhat subdued.Lallana as usual was a bag of tricks and I think Spider is enjoying himself in the PL.
Second half and sure enough Fulham started to expound and find spaces.
The end result was about right on what I saw in effort from both teams.
Individuals;
Fox was immaculate and kept at his game.
Jayrod looked tired towards the end and fell about after just about every challenge.Any CB watching will know that he can be bullied off the ball, needs to bulk up and get fitter.
Ricky was used as a 2nd striker and used the space well to give oppurtunities to other players, it makes him a better player but it doesn't make Saints a better team.
3 CB's were all playing well and seemed to be communicating so when we have 2 full backs and can choose 2 of 3 I feel they will all be able to play equally as well.
Davis was what we bought him today, a good midfielder who linked up play.
Overall, a good team performance. We need to up our fitness levels and realise that other teams also want to push on after half-time, other managers will give their team a rocket just as much as Nigel will.
Wanted a win, got a draw, at least we kept fight ing till the death and got our reward.
Guly, if any supporters can claim that they chanted, stamped, whistled, sweated and gave absolutely everything for the amount of time that he did, then you can criticise. Otherwise, shut it!!!!
Glad I was there and thoroughly enjoyed the game.
Now for the comments of all those who saw it on telly and will have been influenced by the commentator.

So just got back and they were still selling programs from cardboard boxes and sack trucks?????? Hardly Premier league????

Don't keep telling me we need to learn we should be improving at the back but we don't seem to be!! as much as I like NA I have question some of the things he doe's with the Sub why take ff Ricky for Gully go on have ago at me but he is nt up too it Punchen another god game but he seems to just keeps running until he loses it deffence needs to learn quicker I am worried 7 gone and only 4 points so please please give us an away win next we hard October with al away games COYR'd

strange how we all see the game from different angles - i thought fox was awful!!
think the substitutions changed the game again - why take off lambert and puncheon - i would have taken off jrod and tried mayuka
great last minutew goal from jose - lots of fans will have missed that lol!!
nervy fans today and will only get more nervous unless results get better - at the moment we are all waiting for the mistake that will cost us a goal .
COYR - still my team

strange how we all see the game from different angles - i thought fox was awful!!
think the substitutions changed the game again - why take off lambert and puncheon - i would have taken off jrod and tried mayuka
great last minutew goal from jose - lots of fans will have missed that lol!!
nervy fans today and will only get more nervous unless results get better - at the moment we are all waiting for the mistake that will cost us a goal .
COYR - still my team

dadofmy3sons wrote:
Have just come home from the game and have deliberately not listened to any reviews so that the views I give are my own on what I saw from my seat.
In the first half Saints were absolutely brilliant and it was obvious to me that we would need to score one more before half time as Fulham would have to come out better.
Puncheon was making a lot of effort about everything he did and Lambert was somewhat subdued.Lallana as usual was a bag of tricks and I think Spider is enjoying himself in the PL.
Second half and sure enough Fulham started to expound and find spaces.
The end result was about right on what I saw in effort from both teams.
Individuals;
Fox was immaculate and kept at his game.
Jayrod looked tired towards the end and fell about after just about every challenge.Any CB watching will know that he can be bullied off the ball, needs to bulk up and get fitter.
Ricky was used as a 2nd striker and used the space well to give oppurtunities to other players, it makes him a better player but it doesn't make Saints a better team.
3 CB's were all playing well and seemed to be communicating so when we have 2 full backs and can choose 2 of 3 I feel they will all be able to play equally as well.
Davis was what we bought him today, a good midfielder who linked up play.
Overall, a good team performance. We need to up our fitness levels and realise that other teams also want to push on after half-time, other managers will give their team a rocket just as much as Nigel will.
Wanted a win, got a draw, at least we kept fight ing till the death and got our reward.
Guly, if any supporters can claim that they chanted, stamped, whistled, sweated and gave absolutely everything for the amount of time that he did, then you can criticise. Otherwise, shut it!!!!
Glad I was there and thoroughly enjoyed the game.
Now for the comments of all those who saw it on telly and will have been influenced by the commentator.

Likewise at the game.Fulham were poor and we should have had all 3 pts,

I fear young Nigel is being found out by virtue of not having a decent back 4 and our cover in these areas is non existent. Lets hope Alvin M is learning fast at the Palace.

Now another disruptive international break..what a bummer!!

i did watch it at st marys and i dont think guly deserved to replace lambert - he doesnt have the work rate or put the same amount of pressure on defenders that rickie does - and no i wont shut it - i paid for my season ticket again and i can say what i see

strange how we all see the game from different angles - i thought fox was awful!!
think the substitutions changed the game again - why take off lambert and puncheon - i would have taken off jrod and tried mayuka
great last minutew goal from jose - lots of fans will have missed that lol!!
nervy fans today and will only get more nervous unless results get better - at the moment we are all waiting for the mistake that will cost us a goal .
COYR - still my team

We played great football for most of the first half.
Didn't take our chances again.

The ref is considered to be one of the best in the country, quite frankly he was a bad joke, 5 bookings for what?
Decision making unbelievable.

The leaked goals again started from our left back position.Where was Lallana and Fox to prevent the ball being put into the centre.
We have to retain the ball more, we constantly give it away in the middle.
Any wonder our defence is in turmoil and are unable to get out.
Rodruiges needs to grow a pair he seems to be on his ar$e more than his feet.
To say I feel dissapointed in him is an understatement. He says he prefers to play up front as opposed to the wing, I've seen nothing yet to convince me he can do either at this level.
I try to be upbeat normally on this site but sometimes you have to say it like you see it.
Unfortunately 2 points lost not 1 gained.
COYR.

dadofmy3sons wrote:
Have just come home from the game and have deliberately not listened to any reviews so that the views I give are my own on what I saw from my seat. In the first half Saints were absolutely brilliant and it was obvious to me that we would need to score one more before half time as Fulham would have to come out better. Puncheon was making a lot of effort about everything he did and Lambert was somewhat subdued.Lallana as usual was a bag of tricks and I think Spider is enjoying himself in the PL. Second half and sure enough Fulham started to expound and find spaces. The end result was about right on what I saw in effort from both teams. Individuals; Fox was immaculate and kept at his game. Jayrod looked tired towards the end and fell about after just about every challenge.Any CB watching will know that he can be bullied off the ball, needs to bulk up and get fitter. Ricky was used as a 2nd striker and used the space well to give oppurtunities to other players, it makes him a better player but it doesn't make Saints a better team. 3 CB's were all playing well and seemed to be communicating so when we have 2 full backs and can choose 2 of 3 I feel they will all be able to play equally as well. Davis was what we bought him today, a good midfielder who linked up play. Overall, a good team performance. We need to up our fitness levels and realise that other teams also want to push on after half-time, other managers will give their team a rocket just as much as Nigel will. Wanted a win, got a draw, at least we kept fight ing till the death and got our reward. Guly, if any supporters can claim that they chanted, stamped, whistled, sweated and gave absolutely everything for the amount of time that he did, then you can criticise. Otherwise, shut it!!!! Glad I was there and thoroughly enjoyed the game. Now for the comments of all those who saw it on telly and will have been influenced by the commentator.

Very good post, i'm glad you were impessed.....we play like that for the rest of the season, and we will be relegated in march.

saintforever....Lamb
ert was playing behind Jayrod and had run himself into the ground. Players get injured when tired, he is 31 and we need him again .
Punch was resting between runs on the right wing, he had also done a great deal because Maya did not play as a supporting right back, just as a defender. That is not a criticism, he did ok playing out of position.
Fox did not make the mistakes he did before and you are obviously going to kick him whatever he does, no surprise there.
Nervous fans?
So what were the whole of the Northam and doing singing there loudest and shouting the team on. Perhaps you were in a different part of the ground where the acoustics were not that good and you couldn't hear them singing?
As I said on different thread.
If any fan can say hand on heart that stood and sang,chanted,clapped sweated and gave their all for the last 15 minutes, then they are entitled to criticise.
Give as much as MY team did in effort, then cast aspersions.
From a Saints fan who was a Saints fan when we were sh!t and still is a Saints fan !
Support your club, not blind faith, but be a bit more realistic with your criticism.

Yeah strange how we all see the game from different view points...from my seat in the Chapel, I thought Fox linked well with Lala and although I don't think Lambo should ever come off the pitch unless he's injured, Guly did put in a shift (he was mostly at my end of the pitch remember), but he should have replaced JRod not Lambo. JRod was great against Wednesday in the cup match, but he's not quite there for the Prem yet, hopefully he will improve his touch a little more and gain in confidence to do well at this level.
We definitely need more cover at the back, shifting Yoshida to RB he looked right off balance, just about did his job there, but not confidently.
We ran the first half and then stuttered for most of the second half, which gave Fulham their undeserved chances.
Overall, relieved to get the draw, but should have got the win against an average Fulham side.
Congrats to Jose for his 2 goals though...

Well as much as i like Adkins i feel his days may soon be numbered. NC did not look to pleased at the end. Yes, may be harsh to talk of the sack... But this is the unfortunate side of the Prem. As per previous post at the top of page we need to be fitter, if this is the reason for taking off our 2 best players JP and RL. We did this against Man Utd which cost us the game! We only had 10 mins to go against Man U, surely we could have kept going! Adkins needs to draw a line under Lge 1 and the Championship and address some issues! Like, We Have No Plan B and maybe some of our players just aren't good enough to cut it in the Prem??

too p155ed off to say anything positive or negative speak later

That wasn't a particularly memorable performance from the saints. However, we didn't lose. There did seen to be a few more 'boo boys' in the crowd today. They weren't actually booing, but I got the impression they wanted to. Muppets the lot of 'em.

vag wrote:
That wasn't a particularly memorable performance from the saints. However, we didn't lose. There did seen to be a few more 'boo boys' in the crowd today. They weren't actually booing, but I got the impression they wanted to. Muppets the lot of 'em.

There were a few isolaed boos from Kingsland North in Jos's direction after the unfortunate own goal. It's a shame when you here it as it foes not help the team.

Who the hell boo's there own players, you should be ashamed.Cant think of any other team that does that.

Watched the game on TV and for me, we still have some players who are not up to the required standard of finishing.
Yet to see anything from Rodriguez to justify picking him - his touch is poor. Hooiveld lacked the pace to keep up with their front line today and panicked to put the ball in his own net -again!
Gazanigga is a big guy, but he doesn't command the six yard box and didn't claim the ball or punch away their corners. Every time Fulham put the ball in our box I feared it was going to go in - and Fulham were poor today.
On the plus side, I thought Puncheon worked hard, but generally held on to the ball too long and lost it instead of crossing.
Cannot understand why Lambert was taken off. Guly is no substitute and his first touch is the worst of all.
The only way we can win games at the moment is to keep up the pressure at the front with Lambert and Lalana (with Ramirez when he's fit)
We cannot defend and so must hold on to the ball and keep attacking! That keeps teams out of our half.

ultimately you cant fault the players, their entitled to a bad game every now and then but nigels had 6 bad games really strange subsitutions and bad tactics and desisions have cost us draw at city, win against united and another win today............. now if we get relegated by six points who will stand by na dicisions then?

saintforever wrote:
strange how we all see the game from different angles - i thought fox was awful!!
think the substitutions changed the game again - why take off lambert and puncheon - i would have taken off jrod and tried mayuka
great last minutew goal from jose - lots of fans will have missed that lol!!
nervy fans today and will only get more nervous unless results get better - at the moment we are all waiting for the mistake that will cost us a goal .
COYR - still my team

The game had already changed by that point. Our best second half spell was after the substitions.

If a player was to walk off the pitch because his own fans were booing him there would be an enormous outcry and all other clubs would say what terrible fans!
No matter what team, no matter what player.
Pay your money to support your team.

If you don't want to support your team and go only to drag them down.
Please, go and "support" Pompey.
They deserve supporters who hate them.

saintforever wrote:
i did watch it at st marys and i dont think guly deserved to replace lambert - he doesnt have the work rate or put the same amount of pressure on defenders that rickie does - and no i wont shut it - i paid for my season ticket again and i can say what i see

Guly did really well and even held up the long balls.

dadofmy3sons wrote:
saintforever....Lamb

ert was playing behind Jayrod and had run himself into the ground. Players get injured when tired, he is 31 and we need him again .
Punch was resting between runs on the right wing, he had also done a great deal because Maya did not play as a supporting right back, just as a defender. That is not a criticism, he did ok playing out of position.
Fox did not make the mistakes he did before and you are obviously going to kick him whatever he does, no surprise there.
Nervous fans?
So what were the whole of the Northam and doing singing there loudest and shouting the team on. Perhaps you were in a different part of the ground where the acoustics were not that good and you couldn't hear them singing?
As I said on different thread.
If any fan can say hand on heart that stood and sang,chanted,clapped sweated and gave their all for the last 15 minutes, then they are entitled to criticise.
Give as much as MY team did in effort, then cast aspersions.
From a Saints fan who was a Saints fan when we were sh!t and still is a Saints fan !
Support your club, not blind faith, but be a bit more realistic with your criticism.

Agree with most of what you posted earlier except the decision to replace Lambert with Guly and go 4-5-1, we were at home ffs!!! 442 was more effective and we totally lost our shape after that, but the positive was we kept plugging away and got a point and glad to say I was among the loyal that stayed too that goal :)

I was at the game and i also think FOX is a very weak link defending , he's never there marking the winger. Puncheon has a lot of the ball but always seems to be able to lose it, no end product for 99% of the time.
Our defence as everyone can see is sh!t. We really need to get out there and find an experienced prem CB reguardless of age, someone that can stop this constant flow of goals against. How many games have we led and not won this season. Ricky off the mark with a couple he would of normally stuck in the net.

Guly + Fox haters will always be haters no matter what the players do.
They need to be able to blame someone, anyone!
No pleasing them.
I wonder what these fans would do if one of these players was to step off the pitch and ask them to step up and say it to their face?
And as for the Nigel haters..... get a life !
He will only get PL experience by being in the PL.
With the Saints !
I can list probably 20 other managers who already have PL experience and are available to hire immediately!
The reason they are available is because their previous employers did not think they were good enough !
Support the Saints, I mean really support the Saints !

saintforever wrote:
strange how we all see the game from different angles - i thought fox was awful!!
think the substitutions changed the game again - why take off lambert and puncheon - i would have taken off jrod and tried mayuka
great last minutew goal from jose - lots of fans will have missed that lol!!
nervy fans today and will only get more nervous unless results get better - at the moment we are all waiting for the mistake that will cost us a goal .
COYR - still my team

I was pleased to see the second goal go in. Mostly because it rescued a point that we will surely be grateful for come the end of the season. But also because all the idiots who left early missed a classic goal and a classic celebration.

The last seven minutes (including the five added) were all Southampton as well. Great value.

We need to start turning draws like these into wins in the coming weeks, but at least we turned what old have easily been a loss into a draw.

That is progress, well done saints.

(mayuka looks a lot more dangerous at this level than guly, I would add)

thomasupton wrote:
So just got back and they were still selling programs from cardboard boxes and sack trucks?????? Hardly Premier league????

get a life tw4t !
that subject has been done to death.
The program sellers were replaced by other program sellers.
Work that one out for yourself.

On the subject of the program sellers, the ladies selling them today were definitely better eye candy than the volunteers who have been doing the job for the last 10 years.

Did someone offer extra hours work to the staff of a local Hooters?

I'd still rather buy the programs from locals. I see what nc is doing though.

Whatever next, cheerleaders?

dadofmy3sons wrote:
Have just come home from the game and have deliberately not listened to any reviews so that the views I give are my own on what I saw from my seat.
In the first half Saints were absolutely brilliant and it was obvious to me that we would need to score one more before half time as Fulham would have to come out better.
Puncheon was making a lot of effort about everything he did and Lambert was somewhat subdued.Lallana as usual was a bag of tricks and I think Spider is enjoying himself in the PL.
Second half and sure enough Fulham started to expound and find spaces.
The end result was about right on what I saw in effort from both teams.
Individuals;
Fox was immaculate and kept at his game.
Jayrod looked tired towards the end and fell about after just about every challenge.Any CB watching will know that he can be bullied off the ball, needs to bulk up and get fitter.
Ricky was used as a 2nd striker and used the space well to give oppurtunities to other players, it makes him a better player but it doesn't make Saints a better team.
3 CB's were all playing well and seemed to be communicating so when we have 2 full backs and can choose 2 of 3 I feel they will all be able to play equally as well.
Davis was what we bought him today, a good midfielder who linked up play.
Overall, a good team performance. We need to up our fitness levels and realise that other teams also want to push on after half-time, other managers will give their team a rocket just as much as Nigel will.
Wanted a win, got a draw, at least we kept fight ing till the death and got our reward.
Guly, if any supporters can claim that they chanted, stamped, whistled, sweated and gave absolutely everything for the amount of time that he did, then you can criticise. Otherwise, shut it!!!!
Glad I was there and thoroughly enjoyed the game.
Now for the comments of all those who saw it on telly and will have been influenced by the commentator.

Spot on imo.

Just watched the own goal , it was on its way to the corner flag before Hoover kicked it.

hedge end bob wrote:
Just watched the own goal , it was on its way to the corner flag before Hoover kicked it.

you could say he got their two goals......

sfcned wrote:
Well as much as i like Adkins i feel his days may soon be numbered. NC did not look to pleased at the end. Yes, may be harsh to talk of the sack... But this is the unfortunate side of the Prem. As per previous post at the top of page we need to be fitter, if this is the reason for taking off our 2 best players JP and RL. We did this against Man Utd which cost us the game! We only had 10 mins to go against Man U, surely we could have kept going! Adkins needs to draw a line under Lge 1 and the Championship and address some issues! Like, We Have No Plan B and maybe some of our players just aren't good enough to cut it in the Prem??

According to the stats nobody in the premier league runs as much as us! That's why are players are knackered at the end of games.
I've always been told since I was a kid ran your nuts off until you can't then we'll get fresh legs on.
I'm glad our players need to come off it shows they are running enough. Nothing to to with getting fitter!

City Saint wrote:
On the subject of the program sellers, the ladies selling them today were definitely better eye candy than the volunteers who have been doing the job for the last 10 years.

Did someone offer extra hours work to the staff of a local Hooters?

I'd still rather buy the programs from locals. I see what nc is doing though.

Whatever next, cheerleaders?

agreed, but I wonder if it meant we sold more programmes...I doubt it!

SnapperSaint wrote:

City Saint wrote:
On the subject of the program sellers, the ladies selling them today were definitely better eye candy than the volunteers who have been doing the job for the last 10 years.

Did someone offer extra hours work to the staff of a local Hooters?

I'd still rather buy the programs from locals. I see what nc is doing though.

Whatever next, cheerleaders?

agreed, but I wonder if it meant we sold more programmes...I doubt it!

...referring the eye candy part...

normal rants on here and everyone is entitled to there opinoin.but the plain fact is average 4 points from 7 games is not enough to keep us up.but nigel is the best man for the job i just wish he would make better use of the subs bench.

Having watched the game, we ran hard the first half and had a few opportunities. However, we looked tired in the second and this allowed Fulham to come back. We were not linking up well and had a hard time keeping the ball once we got closer to their goal. Ricky was tired. JR worked hard, but seemed out of it. We always seemed suspect to crosses into the box. Wet Spam will be a tough game. Who is going to be on Andy Carroll?

SnapperSaint wrote:

City Saint wrote:
On the subject of the program sellers, the ladies selling them today were definitely better eye candy than the volunteers who have been doing the job for the last 10 years.

Did someone offer extra hours work to the staff of a local Hooters?

I'd still rather buy the programs from locals. I see what nc is doing though.

Whatever next, cheerleaders?

agreed, but I wonder if it meant we sold more programmes...I doubt it!

Just because they were on the right side of good looking, with flattering uniforms why does this mean they were not local?

Are you saying us Sotonians are all rough as an elephants backside or just a bit plain?

Can I just post a little off topic and thank the person who threw a three-quarter inch ball of lead down the terrace in the Northam end. Fortunately it was just a glancing blow; fortunately it missed my ten-year-old son next to me and fortunately it clearly hadn't travelled far or I'd have been knocked out.

So, anyone who was in seats 1040 - 1090 (approximately) in rows higher than FF: If you saw someone throw something a minute or two after half time, please do let me know. You can get hold of me at v47259@yahoo.co.uk. The security team are looking at CCTV footage but any help locating the individual would be greatly appreciated.

Rodriguez was a bad signing for 7 million; a testimony to Adkins' lower league mentality(Forte, Sharpe etc). The players who really performed today were acquired by or under the development of, Alan Pardew.
Our best bit of Summer business, Ramirez was a Cortese ego fest. Other signings diminished our transfer budget so low that we still have to rely on Hooiveld, Fox and Fonte in defence. (Although, if Fonte carries on like this then he'll be playing for a more well established PL club next season). **** it. 4 points from 7 games and there are still teams below us. We are Lucky bastards.

up saints wrote:
normal rants on here and everyone is entitled to there opinoin.but the plain fact is average 4 points from 7 games is not enough to keep us up.but nigel is the best man for the job i just wish he would make better use of the subs bench.

don't disagree with all you say, but just put into perspective who we have played in those 7 games...however, we SHOULD have won today!

Velleity wrote:
Can I just post a little off topic and thank the person who threw a three-quarter inch ball of lead down the terrace in the Northam end. Fortunately it was just a glancing blow; fortunately it missed my ten-year-old son next to me and fortunately it clearly hadn't travelled far or I'd have been knocked out.

So, anyone who was in seats 1040 - 1090 (approximately) in rows higher than FF: If you saw someone throw something a minute or two after half time, please do let me know. You can get hold of me at v47259@yahoo.co.uk. The security team are looking at CCTV footage but any help locating the individual would be greatly appreciated.

glad your son is ok and you only have a slght headache hope you enjoyed the game

I watch the game from Itchen stand with Cortsese less than 5metres behind me. My views on the game are that we should have been 3-0 up in the 1st half with Lambert & Puncheon getting on the scoresheet as well. Would have sealed the gamefor sure! I knew we'd tire after doing so much closing down which worked well - we didn't give them a chance to play so tactics were spot on. I was pleased with Fox who has clearly worked hard after being at fault for previous performances. Yoshi coped well after being moved to right back. I believe our downfall was tiredness & perhaps wrong subs. Lambert is a great target man, even when clearly tired he can hold up the ball and be effective. Puncheon was excellent and must have been surprised to come off. JRod should have come off for Chaplow & maybe right at the death Lambert for Mayuka. I felt the second Lambert went off we lost our way and apart from Lallana running his heart out there were no outlets up front.
Although I rate Guly he doesn't seem to fit in recently. I hear rumours he wants out but I don't believe that - think he just prefers to start otherwise he just can't into the flow of the game. He looked lost & not that bothered.

2 things learnt today: improve fitness & reconsider the substitutions of influential players who are easily in the top 3 players on the pitch at the time.

I firmly believe NA needs time and patience because he's a young loyal manager with a good head but he needs to learn from his mistakes and not keep making them. i.e. wrongs subs

hedge end bob wrote:
Just watched the own goal , it was on its way to the corner flag before Hoover kicked it.

I'll take your exaggeration and raise by saying that the Fulham player behind him could well have also stretched out a leg and scored it!
Don't think you can blame him for trying his very best to defend when all he gets is juvenile numpties saying he ain't good enough for us.
But then who would be ?
That we could realistically afford and where exactly would you stop at replacing.
Some one get hold of the borer for me and ask him for the dictionary version of what " a supporter" is ,
I've been led to believe that it is not blind faith, but a realistic backingand belief in the team you choose.
I could be wrong though !

Baddesley Bill wrote:

dadofmy3sons wrote:
Have just come home from the game and have deliberately not listened to any reviews so that the views I give are my own on what I saw from my seat.
In the first half Saints were absolutely brilliant and it was obvious to me that we would need to score one more before half time as Fulham would have to come out better.
Puncheon was making a lot of effort about everything he did and Lambert was somewhat subdued.Lallana as usual was a bag of tricks and I think Spider is enjoying himself in the PL.
Second half and sure enough Fulham started to expound and find spaces.
The end result was about right on what I saw in effort from both teams.
Individuals;
Fox was immaculate and kept at his game.
Jayrod looked tired towards the end and fell about after just about every challenge.Any CB watching will know that he can be bullied off the ball, needs to bulk up and get fitter.
Ricky was used as a 2nd striker and used the space well to give oppurtunities to other players, it makes him a better player but it doesn't make Saints a better team.
3 CB's were all playing well and seemed to be communicating so when we have 2 full backs and can choose 2 of 3 I feel they will all be able to play equally as well.
Davis was what we bought him today, a good midfielder who linked up play.
Overall, a good team performance. We need to up our fitness levels and realise that other teams also want to push on after half-time, other managers will give their team a rocket just as much as Nigel will.
Wanted a win, got a draw, at least we kept fight ing till the death and got our reward.
Guly, if any supporters can claim that they chanted, stamped, whistled, sweated and gave absolutely everything for the amount of time that he did, then you can criticise. Otherwise, shut it!!!!
Glad I was there and thoroughly enjoyed the game.
Now for the comments of all those who saw it on telly and will have been influenced by the commentator.

Spot on imo.

And (from the comfort of watching on Sky) mine.

Read all your above posts and have found myself nodding more or less all the way through. Thanks for the balanced view.

On different point, like City Saint, when the equaliser went in I had a little chuckle about those idiots who left early. I realise some, for whatever reason, might have no alternative (train times to Reading, for example, are dreadful on a Sunday) but most just don't know how to support their team. Still, if they're at SMS, at least they're not on here five minutes from the end of matches talking about 'having lost this match' etc.

To show how much 'better' than NA I am at management, today, I would have started with Jos and dropped Jose (I got that one wrong) and I would have brought off Jay and brought on Mayuka. But RL was clearly dead on his feet as he walked off and Guly almost won it having put in a near-perfect shift.

Of course, both Fulham goals were Kelv's fault and Fox should never have put that cross in for the late equaliser. What was he thinking? :)

hates the skates wrote:
ultimately you cant fault the players, their entitled to a bad game every now and then but nigels had 6 bad games really strange subsitutions and bad tactics and desisions have cost us draw at city, win against united and another win today............. now if we get relegated by six points who will stand by na dicisions then?

If you could just put that in English and use some sort of basic facts to back up your negativity (not just in this post), I might not think you're a totally lost cause.

We have not got the players to defend, end of, we do have the players to attack now FFS learn to finish.

hates the skates wrote:
ultimately you cant fault the players, their entitled to a bad game every now and then but nigels had 6 bad games really strange subsitutions and bad tactics and desisions have cost us draw at city, win against united and another win today............. now if we get relegated by six points who will stand by na dicisions then?

I will !
Because I support the Saints and all that means !

Can't deny Saints' effort, they ran their socks off today!
Never confuse effort with achievement.
Playing at home against a depleted Fulham, they should have won, not scrambled a draw in the last 5 mins.
Thank God Berbatov wasn't playing.
This is the sort of home fixture Saints should have looked on as a banker,
Let's face it, there are no easy games in the PL and in one way or another the next 31 games are going to be as tough as the last 7 and Saints must raise their game if they are to survive.
I consider NA to be a good coach and that it would be wrong if NC were to sack him.
It is obvious that NA is struggling at PL level and needs support from a more experienced coach whose experience NA can draw on and on whom he can bounce off his ideas.
Many posters here will disagree but surely two heads must be better than one!
I feel NA is also handicapped by Saints lack of a wise head on the field, someone that all the supporters and the players respect,who has presence and is obviously in charge, someone like Paul Scholes, who can put his foot on the ball, speed up or slow down the game and convert Saints' obvious commitment and effort in to achievement.
I think that anyone watching a game, should be able to tell who are the captains of the teams within 10 minutes of the start and I don't mean by the silly arm band they wear these days!
NC may be good at totting up the figures on the Balance Sheet but he is an egotist, lacking in the essential qualities of good man management, customer relations, and appreciation of the main stakeholders in SFC, the supporters!
When a good employer sees one of his best managers struggling, he will step in and give him help and support to get back on the road to success.
I fear NC's ego and lack of understanding will prevent him from doing this and he will end up coldly sacking Nigel, let's face it NC's already got a reputation for hire and fire.

Well here's my two penneth...
The most worrying thing of all today (and I'm glossing over the fact that our defensive headers by either centre back ALWAYS drop short and cause secondary problems, amongst other niggles!) was that yet again we are set up ok for the majority of the game tactically, and dealt ok with injuries and the required tactical switches(despite a completely crass racist **** at the back of the Kingsland criticising the "Chink ****", our Japanese International Captain who is no full back but filled in manfully and incidentally for those who actually watch the play, is fluently two footed) but when Our Nige is called upon to make a tactical sub gets it wrong again.
Now, Rikki may have been injured, but by taking him off again and again with an international break looming so no burn out on the horizon, and also taking off Puncheon, surely the revelation of the season so far, coupled with our inability to cope with Jols changes, meant we basically got worse after the changes not better.
All I'm really saying as a Nige lover is for Christs sake he's got to learn soon because he is definitely contributing to our problems in that part if the game, given that, like Wigan, United and City, we found have got more from this game.
He had to learn soon, he's great T so much, but I find myself thinking after of the above, that a more experienced Premiership manager would have done better. My fingers are crossed for him but Pardew, Harry and others would have done better

Nigel is an experienced manager and he already has back room staff. I am sure the last thing he needs as a manager is for NC to step in. If he did to the point where it were visible I am sure fans wold be horrified.

According to NA communication between him and NC is already good. You post boldly about something as if you know the first thing about NAs relationship with NC, perhaps more than adkins himself??

Also I can't see how you can say NC has this hire and fire persona. He fired Pardew for some undisclosed reason, but he let Puncheon back in the building full time after he slighted him on twitter.

The motto as per Adkins is together as one. Not a bad blueprint for taking us forward as long as we keep learning from our mistakes.

saintforever wrote:
i did watch it at st marys and i dont think guly deserved to replace lambert - he doesnt have the work rate or put the same amount of pressure on defenders that rickie does - and no i wont shut it - i paid for my season ticket again and i can say what i see

Tottally agree with you my mate. I pay my ST money in year in year out you have some lazy to$$er from brazil drink driving and could kill someone but no one can boo him. Dad of 3 sons next time you take your sons out for a meal if it's crap don't complain because the chefs sweating. Clueless t**t

what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

angus mc coatup wrote:
what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Nicely andlw. Totally agree.

Thornhill Saint wrote:

angus mc coatup wrote:
what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Nicely andlw. Totally agree.

Sorry meant to type "nice angle".

angus mc coatup wrote:
what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Huge sympathy for someone of your age, modern day football must so often be so so confusing.
Fantastic you still manage to get to so many games but don't you worry, the rest of us will continue to debate what we laughingly call "the real world" on your behalf.
Meantime just thank you so much for your delightful interjections, evocative of a bygone age of flat caps and rationing. You carry on tugging your no doubt well worn forelock and the rest of us will try manfully to carry on debating football as it actually is today.
All the best old codger.... Or possibly, not.
Yours sincerely,
A Premiership Manager x

Fonte up front he deserves it

iswhite10 wrote:

angus mc coatup wrote:
what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Huge sympathy for someone of your age, modern day football must so often be so so confusing.
Fantastic you still manage to get to so many games but don't you worry, the rest of us will continue to debate what we laughingly call "the real world" on your behalf.
Meantime just thank you so much for your delightful interjections, evocative of a bygone age of flat caps and rationing. You carry on tugging your no doubt well worn forelock and the rest of us will try manfully to carry on debating football as it actually is today.
All the best old codger.... Or possibly, not.
Yours sincerely,
A Premiership Manager x

And I still don't give a flying fcuk!
you pretentious tw@t.

angus mc coatup wrote:

iswhite10 wrote:

angus mc coatup wrote:
what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Huge sympathy for someone of your age, modern day football must so often be so so confusing.
Fantastic you still manage to get to so many games but don't you worry, the rest of us will continue to debate what we laughingly call "the real world" on your behalf.
Meantime just thank you so much for your delightful interjections, evocative of a bygone age of flat caps and rationing. You carry on tugging your no doubt well worn forelock and the rest of us will try manfully to carry on debating football as it actually is today.
All the best old codger.... Or possibly, not.
Yours sincerely,
A Premiership Manager x

And I still don't give a flying fcuk!
you pretentious tw@t.

Oooh handbags! Ha. Gosh you are sensitive, sorry. Suggest you stear clear of irony (which you employ yourself) if your skin's that thin, bless x

iswhite10 wrote:

angus mc coatup wrote:

iswhite10 wrote:

angus mc coatup wrote:
what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Huge sympathy for someone of your age, modern day football must so often be so so confusing.
Fantastic you still manage to get to so many games but don't you worry, the rest of us will continue to debate what we laughingly call "the real world" on your behalf.
Meantime just thank you so much for your delightful interjections, evocative of a bygone age of flat caps and rationing. You carry on tugging your no doubt well worn forelock and the rest of us will try manfully to carry on debating football as it actually is today.
All the best old codger.... Or possibly, not.
Yours sincerely,
A Premiership Manager x

And I still don't give a flying fcuk!
you pretentious tw@t.

Oooh handbags! Ha. Gosh you are sensitive, sorry. Suggest you stear clear of irony (which you employ yourself) if your skin's that thin, bless x

me! sensitive.
you don't know me do you.
the post was a dig at all these so called tactical geniouses.they get on here to air their views which is fair enough.but to then start spouting tactical drivel just makes me laugh.they must think that nigel actually reads this sh!t and that they know better than the pros.

angus mc coatup wrote:

iswhite10 wrote:

angus mc coatup wrote:

iswhite10 wrote:

angus mc coatup wrote: what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange). so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses. the side that started today contained some players that played for us in div 1. that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself. that in itself will probably make me a " happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk" I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Huge sympathy for someone of your age, modern day football must so often be so so confusing. Fantastic you still manage to get to so many games but don't you worry, the rest of us will continue to debate what we laughingly call "the real world" on your behalf. Meantime just thank you so much for your delightful interjections, evocative of a bygone age of flat caps and rationing. You carry on tugging your no doubt well worn forelock and the rest of us will try manfully to carry on debating football as it actually is today. All the best old codger.... Or possibly, not. Yours sincerely, A Premiership Manager x

And I still don't give a flying fcuk! you pretentious tw@t.

Oooh handbags! Ha. Gosh you are sensitive, sorry. Suggest you stear clear of irony (which you employ yourself) if your skin's that thin, bless x

me! sensitive. you don't know me do you. the post was a dig at all these so called tactical geniouses.they get on here to air their views which is fair enough.but to then start spouting tactical drivel just makes me laugh.they must think that nigel actually reads this sh!t and that they know better than the pros.

I was with you up until the Last comment. Shouldn't we all aspire to understand the game better? I think talking tactics on here is a good way to develop our own understanding of the game. I doubt anyone is on here hoping Nigel reads it. Right or wrong everyone deserves a opinion. I wish they won't so typically negative but it's easier To put down then praise, so this is what we have.
On Fox though I thought he was much better today, when 2 on 1 outside though he was caught napping but only once. His delivery into the box reminds me of ian Harte, deadly with our height and strength.
On fitness, no team works as hard off the ball, hence struggling in last 30. Once we keep it for longer periods like we did in the first half it will become easier.
Guly, poor fella. I can't bag a guy who gets put on the park. It's not his fault, just hope it can click for him. He's Brazilian, needs to be happy to play well.
Keep cheering lads. Stay positive! Realistically we need to finish above reading, Norwich and villa. But wigan and qpr would be nice as well.

angus mc coatup wrote:
what I find puzzling, is why are all the other premiership managers posting on here pretending to be fans under assumed names (strange).

so as a multiple season ticket holder (35) and being a fan for 110 years and seen every game, home and away for the last 95 years I think my opinions usurp everybody elses.

the side that started today contained some players that played for us in
div 1.
that sort of puts a draw against a half decent prem team in perspective.that same bunch of players got us out of the championship and into the prem but maybe the're not quite prem quality.so nigels job is to slowly replace those that can't quite cut it at this level.that takes time and money lots of it.so during this transformation
I shall remain patient, and support the club as it tries to improve itself.

that in itself will probably make me a
" happy clappy" fan kneeling at the feet of cortese and adkins and following in "blind faith " but guess what! I couldn't give a "flying fcuk"

I'm saints fan nothing more,and my influence on the team can only come from supporting them so I shall continue doing that whatever happens.

Angus, that was one of the most sensible and informed posts I've seen in this current debate about Adkin's ability and who's a cr*p player. I think a lot of people simply get frustrated because for some reason they believed we were gonna stroll it through the Prem. Angus' and Retford's points about the starting eleven today are significant because hopefully it will be a reality check for some folk when the penny finally drops. The doom and gloomers are entitled to their opinion of course, but it doesn't make them right.

I was dissapointed with saints second half display after playing so well in the first half. However, my worry is the form of Adam Lallana this season . He seems to start reasonably well but as the game goes on his influence diminishes markedly. I believe beinging captain does him no favours as he is not one to gee up the other players when things are going well.

I watched it through an internet stream, so I know my opinion counts for zero, I have however supported Saints since I was in nappies and am now 37 so think I have a right to have my say on this one-upmanship forum!
Can't for the life of me work out why Adkins keeps taking off Lambert when we had half an hour to see out, ok we were 1-0 up, but that was a very fragile lead, and it's blatantly obvious we haven't got a good enough replacement, who can hold the ball up and take the pressure off the defence.
All this does is encourage the opponents, twice so far this season out of 7 games, to keep attacking us til our fragile defence eventually caves in. I'm not calling for his head but he has to wise up or else the discerning voices will get louder and louder as the weeks go on.

On another day we would have had clyne, ramierez, richardson and prowse playing.(I think prowse was on the bench because he was carrying a knock?) If our strongest team would have been fielded we would have stuffed fulham yesterday end of. Instead Nige had a dilema of what game plan to instigate. I think given his options we did pretty well and even better considering richardson getting injured so early. So, give Nige and the team a break. We made the best of a sh1te situation and rescued a point when in the past we wouldn't have. Well done yoshida for playing out of position. Well done fox and guly for still pulling on the saints vest knowing the fans hate you. Well done fonte for stepping up and hopefully raising your game for the rest of the season. Well done Lambs for respecting Nige and leaving the field in upbeat mood and not looking all upset about it. most of all well done 25k fans who stayed until the whistle blew and get their entertainment value from their ticket. The way you urged the team on with 5 to play made the difference.

Percy has said the game was ours first half but we simply ran out of gas again!
Second half we got a lucky draw.

Doppler, I think your words are fair comment to say the least, and echo my thoughts completely. You, like a lot of folks on here want to give the team/ management the benefit of the doubt, because you want them to succeed. As fans we have no control over the situation, but we do have a voice and we can go or not go to the game. I believe that folks should be able to offer an opinion regardless of whether others agree with it or not, but personally, I hate it when anyone bad mouths the team, manager, etc because I want to support them and I especially want to support players who are not having a great day. I think It is criminal for a Saints fan to boo a Saints player for any reason, but thats just me. But on a brighter note, If I am not mistaken this is the third year of the five year plan to get to the prem. Which means if we went down this year we could still make that goal by the 5th year, and we wouldnt have to splash out on players with Prem experience. Dant wowry, always look on the bright side.....

The problem is the daily echo have nothing to right about saints. The club has nothing to do with them and all the echo do is write complete crap about a proxy sticker day in Totton . Arse wipes