How many points for a win nowadays?

0

An easy win, should be automatic promotion (with three new MF's and and a striker who can strike).

-4

The Martin years: A new record number of passes and a soft goal.

Blissfully no VAR.

3 points in the bag tho!

COYR

1

Apologies for being a bit of a curmudgeon here on a first victory in what seems like several years. But, RM keeps saying Saints have been asked to do something 'really, really different'. But what is this 'really, really different' thing? they looked exactly like they did last year - the match was like a poor Prem team against a League One team. So we won for a change but that changes nothing except defences are poorer in this division. Our defence still looks vulnerable, our attack could barely penetrate (except for the Tella and JWP/Adams moments of magic) and we still can't defend set pieces. It'll be really, really interesting to see whether we actually change at all. But in all honesty I can't see it because that's what RM means by 'really, really' changing.

-2

The possession style is going to get pretty boring, but it could well be effective in this division...and they did it brilliantly to close out the match. It relies on the full-backs, both of whom starred for me (surprised no full-backs amongst the subs tho). And then depends on Edozie and Tella running at people from wide (mixed success there, I think) or shooting from outside the box (StuA is better at that than Edozie). And then it depends on getting the ball to a striker who can put it in. Suffice to say that wasn't AArmstrong (he scored while tryng to get out of the way, which says something). But generally this looked like a well-balanced side, with JWP the lynchpin...he'd better stay! It'll be interesting to see how it all develps, but this looks solid so far.

5

A decent start. Some nice play and I can see us dominating a fair few matches in terms of possession and higher up the pitch. Despite all the possession we didn’t create that many clear cut chances but it was difficult given SW had 10 players camped in their own penalty box at time.

We will have to improve our set piece defending as we seem a bit small and lightweight compared to SW. I’m sure similar teams that have less skill on the ball will see set pieces as their main threat against us this season.

Tella and Edozie looked bright on the wings, defence looked solid for the most part, JWP and Smallbone pulled the strings nicely in the first half, I thought JWP went missing a bit in the second until he popped up with the run and assist for the second goal. If AA hadn’t been credited with the goal he may as well not have been on the pitched but as mentioned it was very crowded in the box which also meant it was difficult for Alcaraz.

I know it is likely that Lavia, JWP and one or two others are likely to go. I hope we can keep Che Adams who is a proven goal scorer at this level as was shown for the winner.

Plenty to look forward to.

8

A decent start. Some nice play and I can see us dominating a fair few matches in terms of possession and higher up the pitch. Despite all the possession we didn’t create that many clear cut chances but it was difficult given SW had 10 players camped in their own penalty box at time.

We will have to improve our set piece defending as we seem a bit small and lightweight compared to SW. I’m sure similar teams that have less skill on the ball will see set pieces as their main threat against us this season.

Tella and Edozie looked bright on the wings, defence looked solid for the most part, JWP and Smallbone pulled the strings nicely in the first half, I thought JWP went missing a bit in the second until he popped up with the run and assist for the second goal. If AA hadn’t been credited with the goal he may as well not have been on the pitched but as mentioned it was very crowded in the box which also meant it was difficult for Alcaraz.

I know it is likely that Lavia, JWP and one or two others are likely to go. I hope we can keep Che Adams who is a proven goal scorer at this level as was shown for the winner.

Plenty to look forward to.

0

Good Result a win to start the season isn't something we do.
The difference, so far, to last seasons possession based football is the movement, last season we seemed to pass and stop last night was more fluid. Will be more difficult against a better team but it's early in the development of Martins system & hopefully we'll get better.
The biggest concern for me was that the best performances last night, were from the players that may be on their way. JWP was exceptional given more freedom than he has been allowed for a long time, Adams came on and scored the sort of goal he normally misses, KWP & Tella also put in very good performances & Smallbone glided through the game with such ease it was a joy to watch. Really can't see us missing Lavia if we keep the rest.
Sterner test next week (a) we are at home & (b) Norwich will be much better than SW. Lets hope we are still all here both on the pitch and in the stands.
COYR

7

Being the first match of the season, having a new manager in 2 months ago, I thought that performance was great.
Maybe Sheffield Wed. were poor, but still.
Almost 1000 perfect passes? Wow.
We have to defend corners better, though.
It feels so good to start the season with 3 points. We so rarely do. :)

Good work team and staff.

6

The winning goal is just the type of goal we need to be scoring regularly this season. "Unlocking'" packed defences is not easy and on this occasion one was enough. We are not going to get promoted on shots from outside the box.

To be charitable their goal could be seen as one of those things where it just fell into the path of the main goal scorer BUT it was same old, same old in terms of a big opposition player being bigger and stronger at a corner and winning the first ball.

Ludicrously we now have a best part of four week wait to find out what team we will have in September. For me yesterday shows that Adams before A. Armstrong every time. Keep Tella and KWP if we can - and get a big strong striker who (hopefully if he stays) can play alongside Adams. JWP and Lavia are, IMHO bound to go. The worst case scenario is that all three who won the game with that nice goal will be gone when the window EVENTUALLY shuts.

It looks like Stephens is now first pick - he has virtues going forward but he is hardly a pillar of strength at the back but we can talk about that after playing a team that actually attack us...

1