Luton Post match comments

Well good news is through to 4th round, bad news is another poor performance.

AP said all about the start and we didnt really get going for first 10 minutes but eventually started to play some football and took control midway through first half. several hand balls not given by fat lino and ref but after a Lambert free kick superbly saved by Luton goalkeeper another free kick slightly closer was given the Lambert treatment, curled round the wall and into the net. Undoubtedly a great dead ball player. Should have made more of pressure and had another goal mouth scramble cleared of line and another great chance after goalie palmed out Antonio shot and no one following up. Antonio shot was about the only decent thing he did all day, yet another poor performance and never looked like beating his full back and delivery was poor often failing to beat first defender.

Second half you would expect saints to step up gear but like Exeter game sat back and invited Luton to press, Fortunately Antonio went down injured and subbed just after with Paterson coming on and Waigo going wide right. Luton changed it wih 2 subs and AP failed to respond. Our midfield continued to be over run and we tried to be too clever. James had a poor second half back to "shall I shall I not" tackle indecision. Luton really should have scored had a couple close in chances which they snatched at and completely mis kicked with goal at mercy. AP should have brought on Wotton to stengthen midield but with about 10 minutes left brought on Gobern for Schneiderlin and for last 5 mins brought on Lancashire for Waigo. Most of us in northam were expecting him to get a red card and mess up. At least saw out game without any major scares during 4 min of extra time.

At least AP said on Solent afterwards that they had put in two bids for players and will see what happens. Todays performance and that of other recent home games clearly shows the need to improve the quality of the squad and while we have Jaidi, Connolly and Murty that would improve the team but all have question marks over their ability to last the season.

Davis 7 solid with his saves but missed several chances to release ball early out wide
James 6 bit dodgy second half and some pretty poor delivery today, high no pace and easy for goalie
Thomas 7 Dodgy first 30 minutes but improved as game went on winning most balls and lead the defence in 2nd half
Perry 7 fairly solid but played second fiddle to Thomas
Harding 7 had plenty to do second half
Antonio 5 another poor game all round and I wouldnt keep, think unfair that Holmes doesnt get chance to prove one way or other on pitch
Hammond 6 not a great game
Lallana 6 seemed off the pace for most of game
Schneiderlin 6 another average game I must be missing soemthing in his game for AP to rave about him
Waigo 7 thought he at least showed commitment for all of the game and put in effort lacking in many
Lambert 7 would have been 6 if based on effort, didnt seem overly keen and unusually beaten in air for most things. Dead ball king though hence 7.

Subs

Paterson 7 actually put in plenty of running and tried to make things happen and had one shot which went close
Gobern 6 hardly time to make an impact
Lanchashire 6 no time to get a red card!

Manager

AP 6 needs to use his subs to counter act other teams when they take the initiative when mdifield over run surprising taht Wotton remains on bench. At least he seems to get it right in Transfer market so look forward to some new signings soon (preferably before Huddersfield game)

Overall have to be happy with out position in January after the summer we had but signs that a number of players are not putting in the effort and seem comfortable where they are, been there before. Time for AP to start shaking up likes of Scheiderlin to put in some match winning performances. A few new faces may act as an incentive.

It sounded absolute crap second half. But we made it into the second round. Just. I think some new signings are in order to inject some new blood and spirit into the team, because I feel that things have reverted a bit to good one half, crap other half.

Pato did very well today when he came on, Perry good, Thomas was absolutely awful for the first 30 but got better, James didn't put his foot in enough, Schneiderlin very good today I thought, Hammond average again, Antonio poor, Papa not much better but he was playing on the wrong side.

Funny how opinion can vary about one player in one game.
Schneiderlin seems normally to be able to send passes to the target. lately he has not been as fluent and for that reason we seem to be struggling. Either we replace him or we give him a rest. A few of the team are beginning to play as we played last season and that got us where we are now.

Oh nearly forgot, we are in need of urgent reinforcements.