AFTER-MATCH ANALYSIS: BIRMINGHAM

At the end of each month I intend to hold a poll to vote on members' posts commenting on Saints' League and Cup matches. Please get in the habit of giving us a detailed post after each match saying what you thought of the performance, who played best, who didn't, who should have been playing, what you would have done if you were manager etc., etc.
It doesn't matter if you weren't there.....you can still say what you think.

If you are impressed by a particular member's post please let me know so that I will be sure to include the post in the poll.

Your analysis of Saints-Birmingham should go on this thread please. There is a separate thread in the Amusement Section's Competition League where the table showing the points gained for the analysis will be shown

In short: WE WERE ROBBED!!!!!!!! There is absolutely no way in this space time continuum that Birmingham deserved to win. :fair:

Saints played brilliantly for most of the game, bar about four or five minutes. Lallana man of the match, officials crap. Now, why can we not play like this in the league? Translate this performance into the league and we'll be laughing all the way to the CCC!

Worse than losing the match is losing Graeme Murty for a significant length of time. He was stretchered off and it does not sound good for a quick return. I hope AP can get a replacement in PDQ.

According to the OS it is suspected knee ligament damage. :x

Knee ligament damage is worse than a straight forward break. Damn!

Police in Southampton are searching for three thugs wearing blue shirts with the names Carsley, Carr and Bowyer following various assaults carried out in St Mary's area tonight. In addition police have advised a white male, approx 6ft tall wearing all black clothing should report to Southampton police station where he can collect his Golden Labrador, White stick and dark glasses which are in lost property. They may however also want to question him about his role as an accomplice with the three thugs.

Kicked out of the match, 2 stone wall penalties in first half, which ref could not miss, he just didnt want to give, and his willingness to let Birmingham kick us of the park must rate as one of the worst refereeing displays at St Marys for years . Gutted about Murty and did say previously would have rested him tonight so fit for Saturday. Also disappointed that AP failed to see that the minute Murty went off the James/Mellis combination on the right hand side was a recipe foir disaster. Mellis who again did little should have been taken off and the midfieldf reshuffled to give James protection we had 10 minutes to do something but no action. We desperately need cover at Right back as I'm afraid James has no confidence and unable like many of the younger players to tackle. Doddsy can you go there for a week and show them. For the first hour we really did play well, passed the ball well and created chances, looked solid at the back while Murty was on though Thomas didnt inspire, Trotman looks much better. Harding had another good game. Lallana scored a great goal and worked hard but please can someone else take the corners, always over hits way past back post plus he takes them both sides, why?? Think we need at least 2 more players RB and midfield players who can tackle plus if either Rasiak or Saga go replacements for them.,

Yep Saints had one absolute stonewall penalty in the first half when Mellis was taken out and Saints did play well for most of the game. The result was not a suprise as Birmingham were happy to let us run the game until they felt like doing anything because they knew they had the quality to rip us open quite easily. Unfortunately Thomas and Perry were both poor and Thomas once again lost concentration after we scored and helped them equalise. Murty was very good until he got injured combining his usual boyish enthusiasm with great experience to good effect. Harding as usual was also exemplary. Wotton was better than normal but caught ball watching too often and James made a few mistakes but otherwise was decent. Mellis did some good things but spent long periods being quiet and really didn't help Lloyd James defend and also came inside far too much. Lallana did well msot of the time and obviously scored a very good goal. Lambert played as the target man superbly and Saga was very busy but didn't really get any good chances.