Saints vs Torquay (JPT)

So...is anyone here going to the Torquay game tomorrow night? Yes, so the Johnstone's Paint Trophy may be viewed as somewhat of a 'Mickey Mouse' competition in some quarters (I have seen the cries of 'how far we have fallen' and I can't disagree with that) but, when's all said and done silverware is silverware and our cupboard is somewhat bare in the trophy department, with the notable exception of the FA Cup in 1976, so I hope that AP goes all out to win (he has, indeed, said he wants to win it). Who knows, a win tomorrow could be the start of better things and winning a nice cup could be the beginning of the Saints revival after so many years of mediocrity and total dross.

I am not expecting it to be an easy game as Torquay will be 'up for it' but if Saints put in the sort of performance they did on Saturday then hopefully we'll see a few goals and a good win to get into a 'winning mentality' - as opposed to the oft-quoted-so-far-this-season 'losing' one - and maintain the new-found confidence after Saturday.

I'll be there tomorrow night. they must have sold more tickets than originally expected as have managed to get in Northam originally only opening Itchen. Know AP has said wants to win but still think he should start a couple from Perry, Gillet, Saganoski and Paterson. No Mellis on international duty so chance for Gillet I would think. Would keep Lambert and Lallana (especially as Adam has a knock) on the bench and bring on if we need to. Another chnace for Waigo to start and would still be a strong team but with league game on Friday I would be okay resting a couple. Still should be strong enough to beat Torquay who are struggling in Div 2.

Problem will be that every team which comes down to SMS will do so ready to fight. If we are not up and running from the off we could end up with egg on our faces.

I would play James at RB unless Murty is nearly ready but needs a game or two to get match fit. Morgan can be rested as it will give him a bit longer. Wotton should play as should both Saga and Paterson. As you say Matty, rest Ricky and Adam but keep them on the bench just in case. Winning is a good habit to have and therefore I hope AP plays a strong team.

Not going tonite as we are having my party

if i can get out of my sick bed i will go :SICK:

I'll be there. Work's dried up a bit (I work for a temping agency) and I am skint but I want a change of scene, I am sick of hanging round at home, so with tickets being cheaper than normal I thought getting out for an evening and - I hope! - with the prospect of seeing a good win more than justifies the cost. Mind you, living on the Isle of Wight means I have to set off just before 4pm in order to be there before 7.

Twizzle98 wrote:Not going tonite as we are having my party

Have a great time, wish I could be there!!

Southampton

* 01 Davis
* 02 Harding
* 03 Thomas
* 05 Perry
* 23 James
* 08 Gillett
* 10 Wotton
* 14 Hammond
* 37 Antonio
* 07 Lambert
* 09 Papa Waigo

Substitutes

* 28 Bialkowski,
* 15 Lancashire,
* 18 Mills,
* 04 Saganowski,
* 17 Paterson

Saints started much better than Torquay. Papa Waigo playing like a man possessed. Antonio getting a lot of the ball.

oh dear, Toquay's 1st attack. Kelvin goes for cross and misses. Hits their player on back of head and goes in

0-1

Kelvin gives away penalty, but escapes with yellow card

scored, 0-2

10 corners but nothing from them, saints gone quiet after first goals, lambert isolated in 4-5-1

sort it out saints

just seen the score not a happy bunny

Papa has got one back

1-2

papa again

2-2

this bunny has a smile now WOO HOO GET IN THERE :go saints:

Perry header hits crossbar

Torquay defender misses header from corner unmarked

im new to st johnstones but does it got to ET???

JUST SEEN WE WON ON PENS :?:

Spot on Saints finally go through.

After bright first 20 minutes Saints lost their way and gave away poor goal from long throw. Kelvin looked at fault as somehow ball found its way into back of net. Then just before half time got worse as Kelvin brought down Torquay player, possibly lucky not sent off as looked just like the Peter Cech incident earlier this season. Blasted straight down the middle and Saints went off to loud boos. First half performance few took any credit, Gillet had a poor half his first touch losing the ball, Michael on loan from Reading showed some flashes early on but faded and with him wide right and Waigo wide left no one even remotely cloase to Lambert to pick up flick ons and also meant midfield were unable to exert any authority. Perry and Thomas looked rusty and James played his usual at Right back picking up yellow card for scything down player, more due to lack of pace then any malice.

Second half saw Gillet and Michael replaced with Sagnoski and Mills coming on and more of a 4 4 2 formation with Waigo now on right. Waigo a real enigma as some good touches and much better on the right though final ball is poor yet in the right place to get two scrappy goals. In the right place at the right time. Perry much better second half getting his foot in. Mills big disappointment as first touch is poor losing the ball. Please will someone tell James to go down the wing and try and get to by line before crossing, constantly crossing from just inside the half and easy fodder for Torquay centre halfs. Hammond had a header which hit the bar then Torquay had a great chance with 5 mins left but put wide. Hammond had probably most least effective game for saints

All down to penalties and saints 5 were Lambert (never in doubt), Waigo (top corner) James (please no, but good pen into side of net), Mills (high and into side of goal) then Wotton final pen, score and we are through. Good pen hard and into corner, goalie guessed right but couldnt reach. Kelvin guesses right and saves Torquays second penalty and despite a stuttering performance Saints go through.

Apparently Referee use to ref Wessex league and suggest he goes back there. Awful and wanted to stop the game and talk to every player he whistled agianst, Ref we want to watch footbal not a referee acting like a prima donna. 8)

Postives

We are through!!
Waigo, Perry and Thomas second half.
5 very good penalties
Thomas played 90 mins so maybe RB on Friday
Good atmosphere even with 9300.

Negatives
Gillet was poor and think will struggle now to make the squad plus Mills missed opportunity with Mellis out to stake a claim
Overall first half performance by just about everyone
Right back position is becoming major concern
James signals for his corners, please dont stand with hands on hips as you run to corner!! That said his corners didnt seem to follow any pattern even with same signals so might confuse opposition 8) as well as our own team!!

No doubt on tonights performance Lallana, Mellis and Scheiderlin will be back Friday if fit

Not a great game from Saints point of view, but at least we got back in it - something I very much doubt would have happened last season. The first twenty minutes was excellent, and had fans wondering how many we were going to get - we could have had four or five by then - but we just couldn't get the ball in the net. Then, thanks to a couple of Davis cock-ups - what the hell was he doing for their first, he was miles out of position, then he brought down a Torquay player for their penalty - Torquay went 2-0 up and it was a case of 'it is going to be one of those games'. Hopefully that's the obligatory Davis mistakes out of the way for this season - better to make appalling blunders in a cup competition than in the league where points and league positions are at stake.
Half time saw us 2-0 down and the ref leaves the pitch with chants of 'The referee's a wanker' ringing in his ears due to his willingness to give Torquay everything and us virtually nothing (despite Lambert being fouled left, right and centre) although, in hindsight, at least he didn't send Davis off for bringing down the Torquay player and conceding a penalty.

Antonio was promising. Tbh I thought he'd be crap, he wasn't but his final ball did leave a lot to be desired, but I think it will come. He definitely brings some more pace to the side; I think 'raw' is the word to describe him, but at only 19 he'll improve.

The second half was much improved, with Saganowski replacing Antonio and Mills replacing Gillett. Gillett was crap, I don't know if it's lack of fitness but he was bloody awful.
For me, Papa Waigo was man of the match, he was certainly up for it and his pace gave them problems. And he scored two goals - he can definitely get in the right place at the right time - and a decent penalty. He may look awkward but he's very effective and gives Saints another dimension.

Before tonight I hadn't seen a penalty shoot-out 'in the flesh' so to speak, and they are every bit as nerve-racking as they are on television! Davis made up for his blunders with a good save from Kevin Nicholson, meaning Saints finished 5-3 on penalties

Positives:
Coming back from two goals down - that wouldn't have happened last season
Papa Waigo's performance, two goals and well-taken penalty
Michail Antonio - no he wasn't great but I think that, in time, he'll be a very good player.
Saints scoring all five penalties

Negatives:
Scrappy performance
KD's blunders - two awful, unnecessary mistakes
Not taking our chances in the first half. We should have been out of sight within the first twenty minutes.

So, not a great Saints performance but they did show self-belief and confidence after coming from behind and then going on to win the penalty shoot out. However, if we want to progress in this competition and get to that final, then the team are going to have to put in much improved performances in future. While it was not a good Saints perfomance we also have to bare in mind that Torquay came here up for it, wanting to take a big scalp and very nearly succeeding in that - if they play as well as that in League Two this season, then they should not have any further problems (as I understand it, they are struggling since promotion from the Conference last season).

The match was at 7pm to encourage kids to come. Unfortunately there were far too many unaccompanied ones, certainly in the Northam - were schools given tons of free tickets or something? It was like being in the middle of a school outing. The majority were well-behaved, but there were some right little gobby brats among them. Four were behind me, and gave it the big one all match and although they were not openly rude to people (one barged into me and apologised profusely - although that could have been to do with the filthy look I gave him!) they were complete little gobshites. The club could really do with an 'All children must be accompanied by an adult' policy and frankly I don't know why children are allowed in unaccompanied, it's a recipe for trouble. Every time the kids were told to sit down by the stewards they got back up and were just a pain in the arse all game - some openly taunted one steward about his spectacles, little twonks - I don't envy their teachers. Still, it was a good atmosphere, despite the brattish element there.
Some bald bloke got escorted out by stewards, I have no idea what he said or did to get chucked out but whatever it was, it got him ejected.

Scrappy, unconvincing performance, and brattish element of the watching public aside it was a good evening out and hopefully Saints will take confidence from the second half fight back and the fact they scored all their penalties.

Thanks for the comprehensive comments Matty and Undies.
:thanx:

Good thing about this game was AP could see for himself how bad some of our squad can be. I don't think Perry,Gillett and Saga will be around for very much longer. Mills hasn't done himself any favours either and I can see him joining those on their way out alonside Wotton and Pulis.

Pulis has already gone. He is now on loan at Lincoln for a while.

I have just seen the goals on South Today, KD was definitely at fault for both of them but he did redeem himself with the penalty save. Papa's goals were certainly of the 'scrappy' variety but who cares, that bloke is on fire, long may it continue!

Pulis out on loan never even seen him as a sub and think others such as Gillett will follow. Mills didnt do well but is left footed so may well want to keep in squad and is learning. Little point in keeping Saga really.

I know Wotton is not everyones cup of tea but he does a job in sitting front of back 4, problems comes whene either we have to many midfield doing that or he thinks he can actually play and tries to be clever. I'd keep him as he is a good player to bring on if required.

Can't believe the Echo reporter giving ref 8 out of 10!!! Convinced Adam Leitch doesnt actually goes to the game ref failed to give Lambert any protection at all and watching for time wasting as reported is fine except the ref probably wasted at least 5 mins as he insisted on talking to players every time he blew his whistle!