Match Thread Southampton v Everton - Preview, Match Report and MotM Poll

[Sarnia Kevin]

I've just seen the match stats and was quite surprised. We had more possession (61% to 39%), more passes (474 to 302), better pass accuracy (73% to 68%). Really the only difference was the own goal even though it looked like Southampton were the better side. Wierd really

 

[Walsall Blue]

I've just seen the match stats and was quite surprised. We had more possession (61% to 39%), more passes (474 to 302), better pass accuracy (73% to 68%). Really the only difference was the own goal even though it looked like Southampton were the better side. Wierd really

I went to the game mate and the only conclusion I can make of the stats is that the stats man as been on the pi$$.

 

[Ring master]

I've just seen the match stats and was quite surprised. We had more possession (61% to 39%), more passes (474 to 302), better pass accuracy (73% to 68%). Really the only difference was the own goal even though it looked like Southampton were the better side. Wierd really

Plus we had less shots,less on target,saints were by far the better team and it proves stats dont always seem real and will to people maybe make it look like we were unlucky if they just used stats to view if they had not seen the game sometimes

 

[Strikinglyhandsome1]

I've just seen the match stats and was quite surprised. We had more possession (61% to 39%), more passes (474 to 302), better pass accuracy (73% to 68%). Really the only difference was the own goal even though it looked like Southampton were the better side. Wierd really

We play like the Chuckle brothers across the back line - to me to you to me to you. The first positive pass goes straight to the opposition.

 

[Steve Wigan]

no idea what is going wrong but maybe we are signing the wrong players

our attacking mid is from swansea, our left mid was a free agent from ukraine, our right mid was from charlton, our striker was from watford, our centre mid was from villa, our right back was from sligo rovers, our centre half was from burnley our goalkeeper was from sunderland

maybe we expect so much because we paid so much for them but maybe the truth is that they came from bog standard clubs and are bog standard players

That's one of the most ridiculous posts I've ever read on GOT. Our attacking mid is a goal scoing international from Iceland,our left mid is a technically brilliant Brazilian international,our striker is a Brazilian international, our central mid is an international with one of the best tackling records in football,our right back is an international captain who has had a top class career,our centre half is an English international as is our goalkeeper. There is an abundance of talent in our squad. What is lacking is consistent desire, fight, and leadership.

 

[RomanReigns]

That's one of the most ridiculous posts I've ever read on GOT. Our attacking mid is a goal scoing international from Iceland,our left mid is a technically brilliant Brazilian international,our striker is a Brazilian international, our central mid is an international with one of the best tackling records in football,our right back is an international captain who has had a top class career,our centre half is an English international as is our goalkeeper. There is an abundance of talent in our squad. What is lacking is consistent desire, fight, and leadership.

In the words of oasis “I said maybeeeeeeee”

 

[Old Blue 2]

Having watched MOTD, my views are that:
Whereas Ward-Prowse struck his shot superbly, where was our defensive midfielder? If that was supposed to be Gana, then he was absent. When we had Gareth Barry at his prime, there would have been no way W-P would have advanced in such space to line up and strike his shot. I have said before, that area in front of the central defence is an area that needs to be addressed, whether it needs to be a fesh player or players, or hammering it into the skull of whoever is detailed to be there, to actually BE THERE! First goal - completely avoidable.

Their second goal - rank bad luck. Could have gone anywhere, but was inch-perfect just inside the post. Everton that...

 

[Steve Wigan]

In the words of oasis “I said maybeeeeeeee”

Yep,you did. My point is that all the players you mention have good pedigree(Coleman obviously showed something when he was signed ,and he's prove that he is top class over the years). To get to the position they were in the game when we signed them, they must have been consistently good,have had desire and to have fought for there reputation. So whats happened? And is there blame that can be laid,and if so, at whose door?

 

[onlyme]

I've been concerned for much of the season about our poor ball retention, we're playing like a team who give the impression that they're galacticos, nonchalant and lacking aggression with no real desire to do the ugly stuff.
Where are the leaders on the pitch? Who bollox players when possession is squandered by sloppy 10 yard passes? Worrying how poor the body language is, the Moyes side who finished 4th were nowhere as talented as this squad but at least you knew when you watched the game that they were giving 100%.

 

[brian labone]

Where is McCarthy, I believe he is better than anybody on the field at the minute. at least he tries.

 

[PhilBr]

Our habit of giving the ball away sloppily whilst we have players out of position seems to be causing us a lot of problems.

A 4-3-3 with one of the midfield 3 sitting in front of the CB’s would make it easier to keep a better defensive shape when facing counter attacks. Passing to blue shirts would also help a lot.

Spot on as both Gana and Gomes were on the wrong side of Ward-Prowse when he got the ball for the first goal.

The alternative would be three at the back with the sweeper or controller to step into midfield to mark the attacking midfielder at the correct time (as Kevin Keegan played Gareth Southgate for England many years ago).

We currently only have Phil Jagielka who is capable of playing the sweeper role but his distribution is suspect and I don't think he has the confidence to step into midfield. I thought that Jack Rodwell would have grown into this role but he's gone along with John Stones - perhaps we can get Der Kaiser out of retirement?

 

[Woolverhampton_Blue]

Spot on as both Gana and Gomes were on the wrong side of Ward-Prowse when he got the ball for the first goal.

The alternative would be three at the back with the sweeper or controller to step into midfield to mark the attacking midfielder at the correct time (as Kevin Keegan played Gareth Southgate for England many years ago).

We currently only have Phil Jagielka who is capable of playing the sweeper role but his distribution is suspect and I don't think he has the confidence to step into midfield. I thought that Jack Rodwell would have grown into this role but he's gone along with John Stones - perhaps we can get Der Kaiser out of retirement?

Three at the back could work but as you highlighted we probably don’t have the players to pull it off effectively.

Ideally we’d be able to play a few formations without looking disjointed, but that seems like a pipe dream at the moment.

 

[Frang]

@Connor must have gone into hiding after this one..

very telling.

still think hes going to come good mush?

 

[Frang]

Watching what it meant to those Southampton players at the final whistle, running over to their fans, fist pumping the air, I thought Shane Long's head was going to explode, he was that pumped up, then looked at our players feeling sorry for themselves, totally embarrassing. Another thing, you know when things are bad because I have never heard our away fans so quiet, apart from the woman next to me who was letting those on the pitch know what she thought of them.

I've always said the body language of the players mirrors that of the manager for me, Silva for most of the game just stood there, arms crossed, emotionless.

totally correct about the manager / team analogy

united / Mourinho v solskaer case in point

 

[Frang]

Where is McCarthy, I believe he is better than anybody on the field at the minute. at least he tries.

terrifies me that you m ight actually be right.

imagine