Arron Sanders gives his views on what was a disappointing result, but was ultimately a meaningless friendly.

On a very wet night at St Mary's last night, Saints were humbled in a 4-0 pre season friendly defeat to German based Bundesliga side outfit FC Augsburg.

It was certainly a night where any positives were hard to come by, where new boss Mauricio Pellegrino made his bow in front of his home supporters.

Augsburg took the lead on 35 minutes when Michael Gregoritsch netted the first, of his first half brace with a stunning strike from around 30 yards out with Fraser Forster well beaten.

He then doubled his tally not long after with a great header from a left wing cross, leaving Saints with a tough task ahead of themselves being 2-0 down at half time.

Pellegrino made 3 changes at the break with Jordy Clasie, Jack Stephens and Sam McQueen all entering the frey, in what was a half of not too much action the away side still managed to add 2 further goals to their tally.

With Ja-Cheol Koo adding a third via a free header from a set piece and Raphael Framberger added their fourth late on.

On top of the result it's self their was big holes tatically and individual errors made during the game.

The high pressing game that was trying to be deployed seemed half hearted from some players, and the high defensive line dosen't work if they all don't step up together.

Fitness is the key during pre season and the result is not the be all and end all, it could be said that it's good to get the individual errors out of their systems now as well.

Putting it into context though we suffered a heavy defeat to a side who are a week behind us in their pre season, and they looked the fitter side out of the two on the night so that for me is a genuine concern.

Their is a big hole in our defence with Jan Bednarek certainly one for the future as opposed to now, with a season with the U23's or on loan in the Championship maybe a suitible solution for him this season.

If Virgil gets his move we need 2 but certainly 1 good first team calibre central defender brought into the side.

On the Van Dijk saga briefly it could become a catch 22 situation for Saints, with what is best for the club may not be best for the first team squad.

The club need to stand firm to stem their reputation of being a selling club, and also not setting a precedent for future players angling for moves away.

The squad however clearly needs two or three additions of first team quality, and if the £60-70m fee gained from Virgil's sale helps that it could be for the better in longer term.

On the back of this game their are clearly things that need addressing on the training pitch between now and Swansea's vist to St Mary's.

The manager and his coaching staff will certainly be earning their money this week it seems.

What were your thoughts on the Augsburg game Saints fans? Are you concerned about the season ahead on the back of that performance?

Photo: Action Images

highfield49 added 10:23 - Aug 3 Am I concerned about the season ahead? Yes.
12

Santos added 10:47 - Aug 3 Don't want to push the panic button just yet, but my hand is hovering over it!!!!! Whilst I do not mind loosing a pre-season friendly and think it sometimes positive to do so. This was on a different scale when trying to pick some positives. The style/identity was the important thing last night and unfortunately there was none!!!! Whilst I'll admit to being a fence sitter on Puel they did at least know what they where doing. Is it possible to say that CP knew the limitations of the squad and played accordingly?? This style and I'm not sure exactly what the idea was certainly did not suit we have no one who can go past anyone in midfield they all sit. Your report says about high pressing game (not sure I witnessed much of that). Really feel we are lacking any leaders/character in the team. Could go on but think I have just accidently lent on the "PANIC" button!! Sorry everyone.

13

DPeps added 10:47 - Aug 3 Although you shouldn't read too much into the results from friendlies, you can take some things away from performances. Unfortunately there weren't many positives to take from last night. We may be in for a season of conceding goals and struggling to score. I agree that Bednarek is not ready this season, which is concerning given the VVD situation and our overall lack of depth and quality in central defence. Regardless of what happens with VVD, I think we need to get a CB in, preferably one who can also play DM as we're up the swanny if Romeu gets injured.

10

oldeastterrace added 10:48 - Aug 3 Its a bit more than about fitness in your penultimate Pre Season game. YES friendly results mean nothing but if anyone is going to tell me that i shouldn't be concerned by what i saw last night they need a reality check! This performance was totally and utterly woeful. If the club still think they can get away with not strengthening our defence and even our midfield on last nights evidence then they are sleepwalking back to the Championship. Judging by the people i have spoken to since last nights performance i think there is a realization that we appear to have much bigger issues than people thought. Wake up everyone....A top half finish??? We will be nearer the relegation places with the squad as it stands today!

11

SaintBrock added 10:53 - Aug 3 On this evidence we will be bottom at Christmas and this is being optimistic!
3

derbydog added 11:01 - Aug 3 Where did you learn your proof-reading skills? From Nick?!
0

petedoors1 added 11:08 - Aug 3 When are we going to spend any money on new players? After this abysmal performance Mr Reed must get his purse out or we will be heading towards the Championship. We now have to many journeymen players and players not ready or not good enough for the Premier league. At the start of the second half Jordy Clasie, Jack Stephens and Sam McQueen all came on and done nothing. JWP once again did nothing. It looks like we need 2 or 3 new top class players before the season starts. It is so important we get off to a good start this season.

7

RogerToye added 11:13 - Aug 3 defence was dire, still tinkering methinks, judge after five/ten games whether preparation has been ideal. A few players look a yard off in thinking and in pace, don't forget also we achieved a reasonable place last year without vvd and charlie austin for best part of the season. imperative now to play first 11, All the rotation last season was tinkering to much, we dont have that luxury in the Premiership. COYrs

6

RogerToye added 11:28 - Aug 3 defence was dire, still tinkering methinks, judge after five/ten games whether preparation has been ideal. A few players look a yard off in thinking and in pace, don't forget also we achieved a reasonable place last year without vvd and charlie austin for best part of the season. imperative now to play first 11, All the rotation last season was tinkering to much, we dont have that luxury in the Premiership. COYrs

1

StGibbo added 11:43 - Aug 3 We're on the verge of losing VVD and we haven't even replaced Fonte and by all accounts this new Polish lad is nowhere near the standard required so what was the point of signing him? This smacks of a club in absolute limbo and again, trying to do everything on the cheap. There's uncertainty on and off the pitch which will be our undoing and right now, I can't see us beating Swansea a week Saturday. Truth be known, KL's heart is not in it and I'd like her to sell up and walk away now.

3

SaintPaulVW added 11:45 - Aug 3 Hopefully it's the kick in the pants the squad and board need.
9

pete_boggs added 11:50 - Aug 3 I predicted some time ago that the happy clappers will be holding hands going into the Championship like lemmings and that's now the case with the squad that Les has allowed us. Some sort of protest is required quickly as Reed seems paralyzed and deluded regarding our quality.
1

saintpp added 11:53 - Aug 3 Was not the desired result or performance but it was only a freindly and didnt have our best 11 all on the pitch at the same time. MP must play the first choice 11 on saturday no more time to test players out. As for Saintbrocks comment 'on this evidence we will be bottom at xmas and thats being optimistic' well would like to know what he thinks pessimistic is as how could it be worse than being bottom? Predicting doom based on one freindly defeat as daft as saying we will be in the top 4 after winning one. Mp is on a learning curve just as Puel had to so judgement should held back on him,but will our impatient fans give him the chance,booing and sarcastically cheering Forster when he saves is no way to support the team.No wonder players want to leave with fickle fans like ours.

6

ChristchurchSaint added 11:59 - Aug 3 I think Les Reed's first job today, was to get hold of Lazio and make a firm bid for Hoedt. Secondly, scan the black box for a striker who can score goals and a goalkeeper who will hopefully spur Forster into life. Top six? Bottom six more likely!
12

oldeastterrace added 12:21 - Aug 3 Saintpp Everyone has got their own way of reacting and most comments i have seen on saintweb here and Facebook seem pretty concerned. I am concerned by what we saw last night. Yes it was only a friendly but it was our 2nd last friendly. Do we look in good shape for the new season??? To me its further evidence of what i have been saying to friends for a while now the current squad needs QUALITY ADDED URGENTLY. Yes we have SOME good players left here but they will want out too because they see the quality being diminished year on year and they wont want to be here when it all goes POP! ......and the day it goes POP is getting nearer! Of course some of our fans are very good at burying their head in the sand and saying that people like me go OTT with our comments. I feel totally at ease with my opinion and if people want to bury their heads in the sand and hope everything turns out ok that is up to them. The reality is there is a trap door and we are stumbling around in the dark hoping somebody is going to turn the light on so we can avoid it. We had better hope they find that switch soon because BELIEVE ME we are edging ever closer to that trap door and burying your heads in the sand aint going to alter that.

4

PETEA71 added 12:31 - Aug 3 I agree with u Saintpp. Fickle fans get the mood around the whole stadium on the downer. Probably the same fans who would boo the likes of Pelle one minute, then lauding him the next. However, Forster in my opinion is simply not good enough, the likes of Redmond and Long's games are built on taking players on, they don't do this enough! We do need 3/4 decent replacements and in particular creativity in the midfield and a class centre back to replace Van Dijk.

4

helpineedsomebody added 12:34 - Aug 3 dreadful new playing system was bendy playing sweeper for the second goal the new manager way out of his depth the owner cant sell the club the best player we have wont help us no money this season from transfer of players /to pay for new players cp & his assistant being paid hundreds of thousands of pounds per mth for the next 24 mths/2years its looks like a very hard season ahead but like my dad said me NEVER GIVE UP

-1

helpineedsomebody added 12:35 - Aug 3 TOO
0

Big_T added 12:48 - Aug 3 Lots of fans wanted CP out and got their wish, we then use up money paying them off and another six to eight months bedding in a new manager and new playing style . This season will again be about getting through it without too much damage being done. Hopefully we can get through this period and strengthen the team and get some much needed stability.
2

bstokesaint added 12:52 - Aug 3 I'm pretty sure it's possible to sit somewhere between suicidal and burying your head 10 feet below the ground. Although it's not exactly the result that we needed for our penultimate friendly at least this is a huge wake-up call for the board. Previously I felt very optimistic about another good season with fair justification I thought. After all if we keep VVD this is the same side that finished 8th with their star man missing for half of the season and their star striker (Gabi I mean) only completing just under the other half. With a couple of quality additions why couldn't we improve? I think now is the time for the fans to get behind the team and the manager. We can't impact what is going on behind the scenes or pretend to know. In fact taking guesses probably isn't all that helpful. All we can do is get behind the team and hope Les and his team pull some quality rabbits out of the hat in the dying stages of the transfer market. If they needed any justification for it then this was it and we all know with the hugely increased revenues that their must be money to burn (just look at the likes of West Ham).

4

SanMarco added 14:08 - Aug 3 I agree that the one good thing about this is that it might alert the board to the need for some incoming transfers. He needs to play Sevilla like it is a proper game and not make 96 substitutions. At least we might then be reassured that we have a 'best 11'.... Maybe best not to take SaintBrock's quip too literally saintpp !!
3

PETEA71 added 14:17 - Aug 3 Whilst we obviously need reinforcements, your panicking far too much Pete Boggs! Anymore predictions Nostradamus?
1

pete_boggs added 14:57 - Aug 3 I pray your right. VvD will spend until xmas when he will be moved on for 45m. Pellegrino will punch Reed in the face (I hope).
1

underweststand added 15:32 - Aug 3 as MP said ...good job it was a friendly , it's games like this that you use to iron out problems. VvD or not, we needed a CB who could attack and win the ball in the air. It's good to have "wingbacks" who can go forward and centre the ball, but defenders are primarily there ..to defend...what happened there?. Midfiled players wandering around in droves but no-one atatcking the ball. Augsberg had total control of midfield. Roll on Saturday ....for a better showing

3

aceofthebase added 16:59 - Aug 3 I wish I could criticise the system but I don't think there was a system! It was a case of trying to recapture the ball and not give it away and in most cases failing. We were outjumped, out tackled and lost the second ball. We miss height in defence and midfield, we miss attacking flair, we miss organisation and leadership. We miss nearly everything including open goals! What we are good at though is passing the ball sideways and backwards and players that can keep possession doing 360 turns whilst the opposition get organised. The season hasn't yet started so no good bedwetting but like many, or is it most I think we are in deep deep trouble and a new manager that hasn't learnt the ropes of premier football is no help. We cannot afford to give away points against lower, or expected to be lower sides.

3

Blogs 31 bloggers

Bristol Rovers Polls