Saints held at snowy St Andrew's (From Daily Echo)

Good point from a tough game, roll on burnley

Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ?

The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

Neither card was justified and the first wasn't even a foul. Still Harding is better than Fox so all ok.

Horrible conditions so a draw good provided we return to winning at home.

Happy with a point especially as Cardiff lost. Win our home games and pick up draws against rivals away and we'll b in promised land come may. Thought we showed real team spirit tonight.

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:
Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ?

The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

If you want to comment on here then do so when we're winning as well as when our form is poor.

You will recall I offered you a thousand pound bet at the beginning of the season, it's still available if you want.

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:
Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ?

The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

Oh Pressy box boy or whatever your dayam name is, you are so funny...do you do "teabagging"....I guess being from Brighton you probably do.....:)))))))))

But I have to agree with you, we are a bit crap at the moment :))))

Horrible conditions but I thought we were the better side. A game in those conditions is a lottery so the draw is ok. So much for all the 'fear' mungers before the game.

I'll probably get shot down for this but I've been frustrated for too long now so here goes...

WE ARE NOT CREATIVE ENOUGH IN FRONT OF GOAL AND WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE TO TAKE A SHOT!

For too long now we just haven't created decent chances, simples.

My frustration here is solely that we are always trying to walk the ball into the **** net. Get some confidence chaps and lets take some shots from outside of or on the edge of the area. Teams have got wise to us trying to walk it into the net. The last significant memory of a shot from range was spiderman at forest, and look what happened, he scored!

I know conditions were incredibly hard tonight and before the game I would've taken a draw, so I'm mildly happy. But we didn't get a shot off all 90 mins. These conditions lent itself to having a go from range and following in for the inevitable spillage of the ball if saved or blocked.

What was RL thinking towards the end for example with the free kick. It was half heartedly limped into the box and cleared. Hit it low and hard and get it on target and you have a chance. Even a short ball to his right into the path of spiderman (I think it was him) would've been a better option than the one he took as at least he would've had a clear unopposed shot on goal.

Let me be clear. I'm not knocking NA. I'm a big fan and fully behind him but we need to do far more work in training for the final third of the field. We have the squad but something is misfiring.

The two Fox bookings were an complete disgrace by the way! Absolutely outrageous decisions, especially the second one.

Not sure if game would of been played if not in front of the cameras, however point away from home not too bad. Bit worried about the shots on goal?
Fox should never have gone, 2nd was a bit cynical but 1st was cleanly won. Caldwell's was the worst of the night, very cynical indeed.
No injuries so onto the next game on Tuesday against millwall where certain players can be rested. Burnley next week is a must win game, although there is no need to panic but just to keep pressure off us and on those around.

Fans were great- heard them all game. Conditions awful.Not too unhappy with a draw. Don't rate Fox so hopefully Harding will get a look in now.

Harding is a better player all round fox does nothing but give the ball back to the opposition at least Harding will prove that on Tues

After about 10 minutes, I said to my brother "I'll be chuffed as nuts to get out of here with a point and nobody injured", so I'm very happy - especially as the seeds of the team's recovery that I saw in the second half against Cardiff were there. We are getting better again, but more importantly I was worried we were getting ourfought for the ball, and picking up oints away to Brum & Cdiff show that's not going to be the case, and let's face it - aren't bad results. I agree that we need to shoot more, but there weren't so many times we could have shot; people around me in the pub were screaming 'shoot' a few tiumes, but if you looked at the ball it wasn't coming down, and there were loads of bodies behind the guy with the ball and the goal - you can only shoot if you've got something to shoot at! And Lambert's free kick was far too close to get it over the wall and down again, so it was sensible to try something they weren;t expecting. Overall, I'm happy enough with that - obviously would have preferred it if we'd nicked it, but onwards and upwards - we're back on track, and won't be playing on ice-rinks all season. And last thing - how Danny Fox got booked once, let alone twice, is a mystery. Appeal them both, I say.

Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:
Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ?

The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

Well you would know about a crisis, wouldn't you! Can't even pay your players let alone buy any - but then who would want to go to your club?

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

He got up and walked away. Ref booked without consulting lino. Fox then walked off without arguing. It's the least dissent I have ever seen!

Overall performance maintained the improvement in the Cardiff game. West Ham are an accident waiting to happen - rash buys in the window, stuffed at Iswich, lucky today, Nolan presumably out v us on 14th. I'm more worried by Birmingham and Blackpool.
We were 2nd after the opening game and haven't been lower than that. I think we've now had our blip as well. West Ham just going into theirs.

Tony in Liberia wrote:
After about 10 minutes, I said to my brother "I'll be chuffed as nuts to get out of here with a point and nobody injured", so I'm very happy - especially as the seeds of the team's recovery that I saw in the second half against Cardiff were there. We are getting better again, but more importantly I was worried we were getting ourfought for the ball, and picking up oints away to Brum & Cdiff show that's not going to be the case, and let's face it - aren't bad results. I agree that we need to shoot more, but there weren't so many times we could have shot; people around me in the pub were screaming 'shoot' a few tiumes, but if you looked at the ball it wasn't coming down, and there were loads of bodies behind the guy with the ball and the goal - you can only shoot if you've got something to shoot at! And Lambert's free kick was far too close to get it over the wall and down again, so it was sensible to try something they weren;t expecting. Overall, I'm happy enough with that - obviously would have preferred it if we'd nicked it, but onwards and upwards - we're back on track, and won't be playing on ice-rinks all season. And last thing - how Danny Fox got booked once, let alone twice, is a mystery. Appeal them both, I say.

I agree with most of what you've said, apart from the shooting. There's obviously something in our play that doesn't allow the space or time to open up the opposition to fire off some long range shots, after all Brum still had shots. The ball in the final 3rd is always the toughest, we have got to be fearless and brave enough on the ball to draw opposition out of position. This will be even harder to do at home, we do seem to play better when we get the early goal which forces other team to attack us more. Adkins now needs to work set pieces and corners to punish teams at every opportunity.

ghk230473 wrote:
Not sure if game would of been played if not in front of the cameras, however point away from home not too bad. Bit worried about the shots on goal?
Fox should never have gone, 2nd was a bit cynical but 1st was cleanly won. Caldwell's was the worst of the night, very cynical indeed.
No injuries so onto the next game on Tuesday against millwall where certain players can be rested. Burnley next week is a must win game, although there is no need to panic but just to keep pressure off us and on those around.

'2nd was a bit cynical'- are you having a laugh??
You best watch it again !!

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

He got up and walked away. Ref booked without consulting lino. Fox then walked off without arguing. It's the least dissent I have ever seen!

Bang on Seedhouse! Agree 100%

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

He got up and walked away. Ref booked without consulting lino. Fox then walked off without arguing. It's the least dissent I have ever seen!

Wasnt for dissent !!!

With the run Brum have been on you have to say this was a good point! The conditions ruined the game as a spectacle and I have no doubt that if it wasn't on Sky it would have been postponed. Just lucky really there were no serious injuries.

We could have been two points behind Cardiff tonight and in third place.

We're two points ahead and in second.

In my book, that's four points which make the difference between being very unhappy and pretty satisfied.

DisplacedFan wrote:

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:
Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ?

The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

Well you would know about a crisis, wouldn't you! Can't even pay your players let alone buy any - but then who would want to go to your club?

Since when did Brighton not pay their players ? Never in your lifetime.
Same goes for buying players, we just built an entire squad and captured 3 more in the last window.
No crisis at Brighton mate, just an unbeaten 2012, and second place in the current form tables?
You lot are really touchy. Why is that ? I was just sparking a little debate.

perry taine wrote:

ghk230473 wrote:
Not sure if game would of been played if not in front of the cameras, however point away from home not too bad. Bit worried about the shots on goal?
Fox should never have gone, 2nd was a bit cynical but 1st was cleanly won. Caldwell's was the worst of the night, very cynical indeed.
No injuries so onto the next game on Tuesday against millwall where certain players can be rested. Burnley next week is a must win game, although there is no need to panic but just to keep pressure off us and on those around.

'2nd was a bit cynical'- are you having a laugh??
You best watch it again !!

Was it as bad as Caldwell's?, no way

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

Shoudda gone to specsavers ref! ;O)

ghk230473 wrote:
Not sure if game would of been played if not in front of the cameras, however point away from home not too bad. Bit worried about the shots on goal?
Fox should never have gone, 2nd was a bit cynical but 1st was cleanly won. Caldwell's was the worst of the night, very cynical indeed.
No injuries so onto the next game on Tuesday against millwall where certain players can be rested. Burnley next week is a must win game, although there is no need to panic but just to keep pressure off us and on those around.

Agree. I love ghk. (In a manly, group hug kind of way).

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:

DisplacedFan wrote:

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:
Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ?

The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

Well you would know about a crisis, wouldn't you! Can't even pay your players let alone buy any - but then who would want to go to your club?

Since when did Brighton not pay their players ? Never in your lifetime.
Same goes for buying players, we just built an entire squad and captured 3 more in the last window.
No crisis at Brighton mate, just an unbeaten 2012, and second place in the current form tables?
You lot are really touchy. Why is that ? I was just sparking a little debate.

Can we ignore this wanna be? Please.

The game should never have been played,the conditions for playing top level football were a joke,I felt sorry for the paying fans.

rob the saint in NZ wrote:

ghk230473 wrote:
Not sure if game would of been played if not in front of the cameras, however point away from home not too bad. Bit worried about the shots on goal?
Fox should never have gone, 2nd was a bit cynical but 1st was cleanly won. Caldwell's was the worst of the night, very cynical indeed.
No injuries so onto the next game on Tuesday against millwall where certain players can be rested. Burnley next week is a must win game, although there is no need to panic but just to keep pressure off us and on those around.

Agree. I love ghk. (In a manly, group hug kind of way).

Straight back ta ya babe! Make love not war, peace out!!!

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:

DisplacedFan wrote:

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:
Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ?

The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

Well you would know about a crisis, wouldn't you! Can't even pay your players let alone buy any - but then who would want to go to your club?

Since when did Brighton not pay their players ? Never in your lifetime.
Same goes for buying players, we just built an entire squad and captured 3 more in the last window.
No crisis at Brighton mate, just an unbeaten 2012, and second place in the current form tables?
You lot are really touchy. Why is that ? I was just sparking a little debate.

Put your money up then big boy.

My head is blue and I still can't feel my toes. Did we win?

David Crook wrote:
The game should never have been played,the conditions for playing top level football were a joke,I felt sorry for the paying fans.

I'd have felt more sorry for them if they'd made the journey just to get sent home. Failing a dangerous pitch, the game had to go ahead.

Hey Seedhouse, do you still have the ear of the Saints hierachy? This is a bit off-thread, but my wife is a psychologist and has prepared a 'focus' training (which could also be termed a confidence training, as in having the confidence to shoot when you get the chance, rather than passing to someone else). SHe actually developed it in a different context, but I pursuaded her to develop an adaptation of it for football, in the hope of getting the Saints to try it. If I got a copy to you, would you be able to hand it to Nigel for me?
Sorry to go so selfishly off-thread, everyone, but if it gets the Saints winning again, we all win and you will thank me - and Seedhouse!

St Retford wrote:
My head is blue and I still can't feel my toes. Did we win?

The mind boggles at what you've been up to then!

Ah, jumpers for goalposts, Birmingham is'nt it, wah, you know, terraces, cold pies, bricks, marvellous, SNOW, cold toes, mum can I have soup.heinz, tomato, marvellous, by the way the our casuals put on a jolly good show in 84, I was there...transit 2 matteress's in the back, 14 of us .....marvellous.
Promotion well finishing is'nt it...

DisplacedFan wrote:

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote: Six points from the last six league games ? 6 of 18 available points ? The blip that turned into a slump must surely now be a crisis ?

Well you would know about a crisis, wouldn't you! Can't even pay your players let alone buy any - but then who would want to go to your club?

Leave it, he's Brighton not Skate!

Tony in Liberia wrote:
Hey Seedhouse, do you still have the ear of the Saints hierachy? This is a bit off-thread, but my wife is a psychologist and has prepared a 'focus' training (which could also be termed a confidence training, as in having the confidence to shoot when you get the chance, rather than passing to someone else). SHe actually developed it in a different context, but I pursuaded her to develop an adaptation of it for football, in the hope of getting the Saints to try it. If I got a copy to you, would you be able to hand it to Nigel for me? Sorry to go so selfishly off-thread, everyone, but if it gets the Saints winning again, we all win and you will thank me - and Seedhouse!

Only trouble with that idea is that Nigel has a degree in it and has been introducing many methods since he arrived. I'd say he's very open to ideas but it would have to be very sophisticated to appeal to him and has to be handled in a way not to slight him.

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

...now I'm even more mystified as to why he got booked!!!
I don't either of these offences fit the situations I saw, but then I'm not a ref...

Off topic, but I see that BHA continue their tactics of winning by contriving to get opposing strikers sent off. Leicester's Jermaine Beckford's sending off bears uncanny resemblance to that of Ricky's a few weeks back. Not sure which I find more distasteful; Brighton's cheating or the officials' gullibility. Can't believe any true Brighton fan can be proud of their team and manager.

rob the saint in NZ wrote:

St Retford wrote: My head is blue and I still can't feel my toes. Did we win?

The mind boggles at what you've been up to then!

I've been out on the lash with Avram Grant. That man is a fcuking animal.

Seedhouse, I take the point that NA is up to speed on this stuff - my God, remember when Big Sam was an innovbator becuase he used sports psychology? I mean Big Sam? But, this isn't sports psychology, it's the adaptation of educational psychology - research based scientific principles on how the mind works, and all that. WIth a measurable outcomes, rather than being that Glen Hoddle inspired madness that the England players had to endure...

She did have a psychologist friend who did a training with Arsenal, and who was going to put her face to face with Wenger, but two days after her friend's training Arsenal got stuffed 7-1 by Manchester, and WEnger stopped returning her calls....

Of course, I wouldn't mention that in the publicity material...

Anyway, if you're interested, since this is so off-topic, let me know - are you in the Saints Forum Facebook page?

@saintssmurf. Typical ref, probably watching a completely different game. I know three referees and they all have something in common - they have no control over what happens at their work place or home life, thus feeling like they need a hobby which allows the to practice their personality flaw - being a control freak. It's true, honestly, I have also employed two members of staff who were referees, a nightmare as they desperately needed to control meetings, other members of staff etc and became desperately frustrated when I had to bring them back to earth. We had all staff pycso analyzed and you should have seen the reports on these lot. I feel sorry for their wife and kids as it must be like living with hitler. They were all very nice people but my god, issues or what!!!!! Hate to watch a footie game with one, they'd be ref watching not ball watching!! N

St Retford wrote:

rob the saint in NZ wrote:

St Retford wrote: My head is blue and I still can't feel my toes. Did we win?

The mind boggles at what you've been up to then!

I've been out on the lash with Avram Grant. That man is a fcuking animal.

Did you take invite him back to your place last night?

Yep should of worn our snow chains then perhaps we would of got a grip with the conditions!

blah blah blah blah winter wonderland blah blah blah blah never a sending off blah blah blah blah COYR blah blah blah blah blah we hate pompey blah blah blah blah

If the game wasn't on TV would it have gone ahead?
Steaming was hopeless - and to be honest it looked like TV pictures of the 1950s!
No injuries - but a red card for Foxy. Still many see him as a weak link and will welcome Harding back for 2-games.
Have to agree with others why didn't Rickie have a go with a bout 3-mins to go? It cried out for a whack - anything on target could have gone anywhere!
Must confess happy with a point - and yesterdays result for me was Nolan being sent off for WHU yesterday - straight red means he should miss our top of the table clash!

Two points to make. A: Danny Fox's first yellow was never a yellow - that was a fantastic tackle and the second, well I can only imagine it was for dissent cause the foul was never a yellow either and B: The Echo's opening line, Saints ESCAPE with a draw at a snow covered St Andrews. Are you kidding me - I thought we were absolutely fantastic in terrible conditions. After the midweek game against Cardiff where we totally murdered them second half tells me that the signs are there that we are coming back to somewhere near our best and winning the league is a distinct possibility. This isn't over by a long shot. COYR !!!!!!

SnapperSaint wrote:

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

...now I'm even more mystified as to why he got booked!!!
I don't either of these offences fit the situations I saw, but then I'm not a ref...

Having watched the vid through my red and white specs, the first yellow was for a stock, block tackle which clearly got the ball, no studs showing, the follow through which caught the players was down to the conditions, harsh decision but the over reaction conned the Ref. The second was for an outstretched arm being used to fend the other player off but was deemed to be a push again harsh but may be correct.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

He got up and walked away. Ref booked without consulting lino. Fox then walked off without arguing. It's the least dissent I have ever seen!

Whatever they were awarded for doesn't mean they were deserved, the first maybe, but very debatable, for me it wasn't but can see why he gave it but a second like that was joke, if that's is dissent then why is Rooney ever allowed to walk on a pitch!!!

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

saintsmurf96 wrote:
Just to clear things up Danny Foxes first card was awarded for Unsporting Behavior (C1) and the second was given for Dissent (C2). I am a level 7 referee myself.

He got up and walked away. Ref booked without consulting lino. Fox then walked off without arguing. It's the least dissent I have ever seen!

Whatever they were awarded for doesn't mean they were deserved, the first maybe, but very debatable, for me it wasn't but can see why he gave it but a second like that was joke, if that's is dissent then why is Rooney ever allowed to walk on a pitch!!!

Tony in Liberia wrote:
Seedhouse, I take the point that NA is up to speed on this stuff - my God, remember when Big Sam was an innovbator becuase he used sports psychology? I mean Big Sam? But, this isn't sports psychology, it's the adaptation of educational psychology - research based scientific principles on how the mind works, and all that. WIth a measurable outcomes, rather than being that Glen Hoddle inspired madness that the England players had to endure...

She did have a psychologist friend who did a training with Arsenal, and who was going to put her face to face with Wenger, but two days after her friend's training Arsenal got stuffed 7-1 by Manchester, and WEnger stopped returning her calls....

Of course, I wouldn't mention that in the publicity material...

Anyway, if you're interested, since this is so off-topic, let me know - are you in the Saints Forum Facebook page?

Yep. Dressed as an Arab waving money at skates.

Swissowned wrote:
I'll probably get shot down for this but I've been frustrated for too long now so here goes...

WE ARE NOT CREATIVE ENOUGH IN FRONT OF GOAL AND WE HAVE NO CONFIDENCE TO TAKE A SHOT!

For too long now we just haven't created decent chances, simples.

My frustration here is solely that we are always trying to walk the ball into the **** net. Get some confidence chaps and lets take some shots from outside of or on the edge of the area. Teams have got wise to us trying to walk it into the net. The last significant memory of a shot from range was spiderman at forest, and look what happened, he scored!

I know conditions were incredibly hard tonight and before the game I would've taken a draw, so I'm mildly happy. But we didn't get a shot off all 90 mins. These conditions lent itself to having a go from range and following in for the inevitable spillage of the ball if saved or blocked.

What was RL thinking towards the end for example with the free kick. It was half heartedly limped into the box and cleared. Hit it low and hard and get it on target and you have a chance. Even a short ball to his right into the path of spiderman (I think it was him) would've been a better option than the one he took as at least he would've had a clear unopposed shot on goal.

Let me be clear. I'm not knocking NA. I'm a big fan and fully behind him but we need to do far more work in training for the final third of the field. We have the squad but something is misfiring.

The two Fox bookings were an complete disgrace by the way! Absolutely outrageous decisions, especially the second one.

I totally agree with Swissowned we are not taking any shots, even half chances. This is why Im a fan of Spider he has not scored that may but at least he has a punt at goal when he can.

On our winning run during the first half of the season had shots on target for each game well into double figures

here is a random selection

Southampton 3 - 1 Leeds on and off target 18
Barnsley 0 - 1 Southampton 15
Southampton 3 - 2 Nott'm Forest 28!!!

Reading 1-1 Southampton 11
Bristol City 2-0 Southampton 7
Southampton 1-1 Cardiff 11

I was heartened by Billy's first shot with a Saints kit on, if only because of the mistake he made.

If he'd looked right, he'd have seen Cork in space and, as a loyal Saints player, he'd have tapped it over to him, possibly for Cork to score (or more likely to pass it back).

However, he didn't. He took a shot, for which I commend him. If he carries on like that (trying to get the ball in the net rather than always looking for the pass) I'll forgive him a few mistakes.

We do need players to take their chances and we need to be forgiving when they mess them up.

The highlight of the game for me was the ball boy at half time trying to clear the snow but having his brush break because he had too much snow, whilst the others stood and watched him.

The lowlight, the 3 hours it took to get back to the M1 afterwards and then another 4 hours to get home.