Southampton 1-2 Wolves. Verdict Thread

[Parkins left foot]

First half was what we were on Thursday - second much nearer to what we need to be.

Switching Adama & Neto narrowed them in & stopped Traore & Semedo trying to occupy the same space.

The penalty was one of those you have seen given & not. For me it was as Bertrands left arm was well out & blocked the cross off. Have seen it said that Jose could have taken it given that he needs to score - not for me as we really needed that impetus so get the best taker we have in Neves to step up.

Still on the fence as to how much Jose brings - will give him another couple of games, but if there's not much more then don't want to make it permanent and almost going with giving Fabio the rest of the time this season - he's not the answer yet & lacks pace (was outrun by Ward Prowse when if he had got there first would have been clear) but it will give more learning time & we are probably no worse off.

Also inclined to pass the corner FK's to Neto now - I have loved seeing Moutinho here, but feel that the decline has started so maybe needs to be eased into the 'senior citizen' role with less importance placed on him.

 

[Johnny75]

João was poor today and Coady was shocking defensively. He has to be more proactive in seeing things.

But our attacking play in the second half was superb and the interplay between Neves, Traore, Neto and WJ at times was great to watch.

Semedo had a good game too, got forward well and looked far more comfortable with Neto than Adama.

Would've liked WJ to make a few more chances for himself but his link play was good.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Rui was top drawer today too. No chance with the goal but made a good save in the first half and the double save in the second. Claimed a few corners too. Good to have him back.

He was! He even tried a quick Ederson style goal kick out of his hands (which didn't work, but still, it felt like a first)

 

[Kenny]

No we are not. No where near. We had played a shit load of EL games and had performed really well in them as we after a poor league start.
This could be a turning point to build on but it asks just as many questions. Moutinho still looked off it and his set piece play sucks. Coady made some good blocks but was also done a couple of times, once for the goal.Dendonker still looks sideways rather than forward. And MGW , Vitinha and Otasowie never had a kick. What do we do with them going forward?

Yeah he was talking about points rather than how we are playing. Just imagine if Silva scores v Spurs and Otasowie v Brighton with those last second headers and we are sat with the exact same points despite being nowhere near the levels we can hit.
With how we have been playing and so many average performances maybe we under achieved last season. To be only 4 points ahead of their shitter version is poor...

 

[Wolvensam]

He was! He even tried a quick Ederson style goal kick out of his hands (which didn't work, but still, it felt like a first)

Ha! Too true. The main negative was probably Coady really. Played out some nice passes but just got bullied far too often.

 

[Wolvensam]

Yeah he was talking about points rather than how we are playing. Just imagine if Silva scores v Spurs and Otasowie v Brighton with those last second headers and we are sat with the exact same points despite being nowhere near the levels we can hit.
With how we have been playing and so many average performances maybe we under achieved last season. To be only 4 points ahead of their shitter version is poor...

You could argue we should have more as we haven't got Europe this season, but but we didn't have an injury to our best player last season.

I had a look at our games earlier and looks like they're spreading out a bit more now with week long/fortnightly breaks. Gives us a bit more training ground time to hopefully get things right.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Semedo had a good game today, however i was very disappointed by both his and Donk's hand in their goal though. Semedo just dangled a leg at Armstrong and then Donk was more concerned about his arms than blocking the cross, really, really poor.

Semedo is going to be one hell of a player for us if he improves his concentration and defensive decision making that's "all" that's lacking, but it is a significant thing. It's probably Jonny's strongest attribute and that's why Jonny never seems to make a mistake or have a hand in the conceding of a goal.

Talking of full backs, Marcal did well, he was just what we needed, cynical fucker too, which is great when you are winding the clock down.

 

[Tredman]

Semedo had a good game today, however i was very disappointed by both his and Donk's hand in their goal though. Semedo just dangled a leg at Armstrong and then Donk was more concerned about his arms than blocking the cross, really, really poor.

Semedo is going to be one hell of a player for us if he improves his concentration and defensive decision making that's "all" that's lacking, but it is a significant thing. It's probably Jonny's strongest attribute and that's why Jonny never seems to make a mistake or have a hand in the conceding of a goal.

Talking of full backs, Marcal did well, he was just what we needed, cynical fucker too, which is great when you are winding the clock down.

Yes thought Marçal was the perfect sub at that moment.

 

[The Bear]

If he could stay fit Marcal would be a key piece of our defence for years to come.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

If he could stay fit Marcal would be a key piece of our defence for years to come.

Yep, certainly a really consistent squad player.

 

[Kenny]

But our attacking play in the second half was superb and the interplay between Neves, Traore, Neto and WJ at times was great to watch.

What we have been missing and it makes a difference.

Deutsch will be on at some point to give Jose a Leon Clarke out of 10 but it was interesting watching him today. Only twice in the first half did we get behind their line and had an opportunity to feed Jose. First one he tells Neto where to play it and it goes behind him. 2nd one he actually loses his defender for the perfect far post position but Adama just ran it out of play. He had a opportunity to shoot in the first half but waited for Adama to make a run...he didn't. Outside of that he was isolated and had to deal with 2 defenders on his own.
2nd half he had touched the ball more times than the 1st by the 50th min, all because Adama and Neves got close to him. A few poor touches and weak heading attempts but on Neto's goal I thought he found a great position before Neto selfishly ignored him to score...
We do what we did in that 2nd half with him we will create chances. Do the 1st half and he will do a Cutrone and sulk off.
He's not perfect and probably not worth €22m but used properly he will help us get a comfy boring league position. Which is better than we were looking at 4 games ago.

 

[Wolvensam]

If he could stay fit Marcal would be a key piece of our defence for years to come.

I'd like to see him at LCB with Jonny LWB.

 

[Paul]

Yes thought Marçal was the perfect sub at that moment

He has that wisdom that comes with age when running a clock down, keep knocking it out off a Southampton player, good lad !

 

[Wolvensam]

Loved his shithousing grabbing the ball when it was a Southampton throw in in the 94th minute too.

 

[prawnking]

If we don't hear from Pornking in the next half hour I'm going to assume he's spaffing himself silly over his mate passing to a gold shirt

Happy Valentines Day mate

Spending some time with the other half after watching the game but pretty happy and feel like the second half could be a something to build on.

First half thought we looked up for it until their goal but we shrunk visibly for the rest of the half. Second half obviously worlds better going forward. Thought Neves was excellent, Semedo very good and I was literally about to moan at Neto for over playing (which my eldest lad still won't let me forget...) when he cut inside only to lose my shit when he scored. What a player.

I very much enjoyed Marcal's calming cameo too. I can understand the underwhelming reaction to WJ, but tbh as long as it isn't costing us points I'd rather him take the lions share of minutes and keep Fabio to cameos for now.

Really pleased for Nuno at the end too, we all want him to turn this round

 

[Paul]

Happy Valentines Day mate

Spending some time with the other half after watching the game but pretty happy and feel like the second half could be a something to build on.

First half thought we looked up for it until their goal but we shrunk visibly for the rest of the half. Second half obviously worlds better going forward. Thought Neves was excellent, Semedo very good and I was literally about to moan at Neto for over playing (which my eldest lad still won't let me forget...) when he cut inside only to lose my shit when he scored. What a player.

I very much enjoyed Marcal's calming cameo too. I can understand the underwhelming reaction to WJ, but tbh as long as it isn't costing us points I'd rather him take the lions share of minutes and keep Fabio to cameos for now.

Really pleased for Nuno at the end too, we all want him to turn this round

And to you my friend

 

[Wolvensam]

I was literally about to moan at Neto for over playing (which my eldest lad still won't let me forget...) when he cut inside only to lose my shit when he scored. What a player.

My dad called SEB a selfish bastard before he scored THAT goal against Charlton. Soon shut him up 10 seconds later...

 

[prawnking]

My dad called SEB a selfish bastard before he scored THAT goal against Charlton. Soon shut him up 10 seconds later...

Dads can be full of shit like that, I'm not bucking that trend any time soon!

 

[Tredman]

[I might have said don’t shoot before a certain goal in 2017/18]

 

[Johnny75]

Loved his shithousing grabbing the ball when it was a Southampton throw in in the 94th minute too.

Neto knocking the ball away from Romeu wins my particular filth of the match award. Even got him to bend down for the ball before touching it away.