Back from the game-saints

[Svlad Cjelli]

Substitution timing cost us the win. Normally Big Mac gets it pretty damn on, but I think Kebe on for HRK straight after the goal would've put them a little more under pressure at the back so early on from our goal and we might've seen better out of him than the cameo 10 minutes that he gave which didn't inspire. HRK had a good game, off his best and was clearly tiring at the point that he swiped at a shot from nowhere to go wide, hence the average 6 for performance in this thread.

I'm not sure I do agree - but even if this was true BMc is well ahead of the curve considering the number of substitutions he's made which have pulled back or even won matches.

[The Rouge]

Once again we have been let down by failing to take advantage of playing against ten men late in the game. Everyone knows that the key is ball retention and stetching the opposition by getting the ball wide. Our failure to do this against ten men highlights the lack of composure and tactical awareness throught the team. Despite this yesterday was a half decent performance. As for Mills he has an uncanny ability to look a really classy player when he can`t do the basics. And as for Jack Mills wasn`t he the train driver in the Great Train Robbery?

Half decent? It was terrific! And they call you Negative Jeff?

I think it was terrific compared to recent games, but not to recent years. Maybe we have been spoiled in recent years but we didn't look that dangerous going forward and created only a handful of chances in the game - when we used to get in double figures.

Positives for me were:
Leigertwood return to form
Gorkss good
Pearce good
Le Fondre great
Church pretty good
Karacan decent
Cummings solid

Negatives
Lack of quality from dead balls
Kebe's disinterest
J.Mills
Wingplay generally - inc fullbacks
Vegetable Chow Mein Noodle Pot

[Ian Royal]

You are aware we had 12 shots and 14 corners aren't you Rouge?

Granted we didn't produce a huge number of high quality chances. That's our main problem really.

[The Rouge]

Very aware of the 14 corners - we wasted them all. We may have had 12 shots but I maintain not many clear cut chances.

[Ian Royal]

Very aware of the 14 corners - we wasted them all. We may have had 12 shots but I maintain not many clear cut chances.

Well I'd say it's extremely rare in our history to create more than handful of clear cut chances in a game.

[The Rouge]

We created about 10 every home game under Brendan - just couldn't shoot straight.

[muddyfeet]

Agreed some of our balls in yesterday were dire. So many of the corners were completely overhit

[muddyfeet]

I didn't like having to walk past them all on my journey around the ground to get home. A lot of them were very mouthy.

Maybe consider different attire if you would like to feel a bit more inconspicuous

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Just to reiterate...

Is anyone else fed up of 'this is a shithole, I wanna go home?'

They were singing it before the game

[robbieroyal]

Just to reiterate...

Is anyone else fed up of 'this is a shithole, I wanna go home?'

They were singing it before the game

Yeah, I guess its standard now. We were singing it at pompey earlier in the season and to be fair, away fans there have every right to chant it. It really is a shithole!

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Just to reiterate...

Is anyone else fed up of 'this is a shithole, I wanna go home?'

They were singing it before the game

I think's it's sung by nearly all fans at every ground they go to these days. It's what passes for "banter" these days, and if you read more general forums you'll see a lot of complaints by fans wishing their own fans didn't sing it all the time.

[Ian Royal]

TBH it's just like they're automatons, someone's pulled the cord in their back and it's that one's turn on the five song loop again.

[M-U-R-T-Y]

It's alright once or twice... but in town before the game and in the queue for the bus it was being sung every oxf*rd 5 minutes.

Some of their fans were complete arseholes, one of them thought it be hilarious to grope my girlfriend behind my back and steal her hat.

[Ian Royal]

It's alright once or twice... but in town before the game and in the queue for the bus it was being sung every oxf*rd 5 minutes.

Some of their fans were complete arseholes, one of them thought it be hilarious to grope my girlfriend behind my back and steal her hat.

It's not alright once or twice. It's alright at total shit holes, which is virtually nowhere at Championship level. Sorry to hear about the sexual assault, that's obviously bng out of order.

[M-U-R-T-Y]

It wasn't sexual assault, really Some bloke just decided to cop a feel of her derierre to put it gently, I was completely unaware until we got off the bus 'cos she didn't want to start trouble with a bunch of drunk, aggressive, arrogant not to mention smelly, Southampton fans.

Not to say they're all like that. There were two perfectly nice fans sat across when we actually got on the bus, but there was a group of about 40-50, very loud and general arsehole-ish fans outside the station about half hour before kick off. Shouting 'cunt' and 'wanker' at anyone who dared have a Reading shirt on, one Royals fan got so worked up by them he decided to square up to one of the Saints fans right in front of the fuzz on their horse, and got taken away.

Which reminds me, nice to see the town centre covered in horse shit on the ensuing night out.

[royalsroyalsroyals92]

not sure if I've missed this elsewhere (i don't want to go through 8 pages at the minute) but i would blame HRK for their goal partly. even though i think he is a top player, de ridder ran straight past him. although there was a lot to be done after that and de ridder did well!

[M-U-R-T-Y]

Bunch of scumbags, that could get you sent to prison in some places! I'm surprised you are not more outraged.

I was, but the point she told me we'd all got off the bus and were heading to the stadium, no idea what the bloke looked like, so not a lot I could do.

[If you still hate Futcher]

not sure if I've missed this elsewhere (i don't want to go through 8 pages at the minute) but i would blame HRK for their goal partly. even though i think he is a top player, de ridder ran straight past him. although there was a lot to be done after that and de ridder did well!

Yes it has been mentioned, as has the more important fact that Gorkss left the space that de Ridder ran into. But those of a more blinkered disposition would have you believe that the brother of the anti-christ (also known as Joe Mills) is totally and singlely at fault for any goal that we concede.

[Focher]

only my 2nd game of the season, and i thought we looked genuine contenders for at least the play offs.

1st time ive seen Le Fondre and i thought he looked every part a premier league player. 1st time ive seen Mills and thought he looked every part a Dr Martins league 4 player.

[Svlad Cjelli]

Just on a side note - it's starting to look like us - and presumably other clubs - are starting to get Southampton sussed. Play a very high line to deny them space to pass it about at the back and their system isn't anywhere nearly as effective - they're no Swansea who can then pass it around you if you try to do that to them.

So I'd expect their results to fall off and whilst they might still be in a play-off position by the end of the season I can't see them getting automatic promotion.