Southampton: Post Match

[Neil Young]

That's not to say Foresterblokes wife can't think you're great though.

Surely that's a given. She obviously doesn't have the highest standards.

[Fivex]

Ouch

[Chris]

Crap that. Skrtel was horrendous and Glen looks like he's already on holiday in his head.

[rudedog]

It was a poor team performance - no sense in pointing the finger at any individuals.

[Helios Creed]

apparently the problem was that we started playing too late - surely a fundamental part of football management is telling the players what time the kick-off is?

[Chazza]

apparently the problem was that we started playing too late - surely a fundamental part of football management is telling the players what time the kick-off is?

Like playing local football on a Saturday and not being told the kick off has moved from 3pm to 2pm so the game doesn't finish in the dark

[McDermotX]

It was a poor team performance - no sense in pointing the finger at any individuals.

All round, it was lamentable **** on display.
Fair play to Southamption though......absolutely humped us, but I don't believe they even thought it would be that easy going.
Better in all areas of the pitch....miles better.

I honestly believe it was poor preparation from everyone that cost us that game yesterday. Management and players.
You can point to Allen coming in for Lucas etc etc, but in the end, the team selected should have had the stones to get three points from that game yesterday. The question for me, is how did we mentally prepare for that game ?

A few minutes into it, you could get the feeling that something wasn't right. There was an air of arrogance running through us, or at least, that is how it came across. 'Just show up, we're better than this lot' etc etc
Within a few minutes it was clearly obvious that they wanted it more, they were prepared to close down all space, right in our brittle midfield's faces if need be. They were first to every second ball, with our unfocused possession easily surrendered after one or two passes, just handing the advantage to a gutsy, yet limited opposition.
I don't believe you can just raise your game like that, on-and-off like a tap I mean, when you find yourself ill-prepared for a game. You need something to 'spark' your game in those cases, which you would think a late first-half goal would help to bring about, but it was never to be and you never really thought we were going to get anything from the second-half, even when Southampton stood more off us.

Who knows if Brendan probably thinks back to that first half, and asks himself if he should've made the changes right there and then to the midfield ? Get Lucas on ?, quicken the pace ?, give Henderson a chance to inject some life into our possession ?, shoot Downing ?, re-organize the ineffective forward play ?
**** it anyway.

[Frenchie]

Southampton fighting for survival wanted it more, our lot were considering what wrap they should put on their Bentley and whether the Burj Al Arab will be available end of July.

[BigChief]

Couldn't believe Rodgers started Allen after writing him off with a shoulder injury. He's doing with Allen what Dalglish did with Carroll and Henderson last season - play them at all costs until the purchase is proved.

Anyway, hopefully that's the last we'll see of Allen until the injury is sorted, i.e. next season. Lucas was so poor for Southampton's third that I can't decide if the situation would have been any different had he started in place of Allen.

[dizzycat]

I know Allen has been getting a bashing, but I do think that most people are willing to give him a chance. Its a problem we've had for a few seaons, that is buying the type of player that needs to be slowly introduced into a winning team. Theres not many players that have the personality to join an inconsistent team with huge expectations and then perform at a high level with a winning mentality. What I'd give fot a central midfielder with luis's personality and drive...

[Lee]

We have a central midfielder in Lucas with that attitude though mate.

[Kenneth]

A better one wouldn't go amiss.

[Gibbo]

A better one wouldn't go amiss.

Better than Allen or Lucas?

Don't think you'll get much better than Lucas to be fair, maybe if we somehow manage to bring Masch or Xabi back.

[Helios Creed]

Better than Allen or Lucas?

Don't think you'll get much better than Lucas to be fair, maybe if we somehow manage to bring Masch or Xabi back.

I'm trying to give Allen the benefit of the doubt - remember how bad Lucas was when he joined? Like Allen, he just didn't seem to be strong enough to cope. Allen looks as though he needs to bulk up - is that likely?

[Tee]

I'm trying to give Allen the benefit of the doubt - remember how bad Lucas was when he joined? Like Allen, he just didn't seem to be strong enough to cope. Allen looks as though he needs to bulk up - is that likely?

It is a fair point you make.

Lucas though had some pedigree, winning Brazilian player of the year. Allen was a bit if an unknown who was signed for a massive fee and after a bright start has been so bad.