Once again SFC Ref takes a look not only at the referee in the Saints game at the weekend at West Ham United, but his opinions on the team itself and what is happening around St Mary's
I myself wasn’t able to watch this game, so have to base this report simply from what I’ve heard about it, and what I’ve seen from the highlights to the game. As the result was yet another 6 pointer loss, and one in which have made many saints fans lose a lot of hope of staying up. But I’ve still got a little bit, but those games against Forest, Bournemouth, Palace etc… will be one’s that we must win, irrelevant of how we faired against Man City, Brighton, Fulham etc…
But anyway for this game in itself, team selection wise, I had mixed opinions over the squad that Ruben put out to start at the London Stadium.
As our defensive line is exactly who I thought should start for who we had available, as we played our best fullbacks with KWP and Perraud, and whilst Salisu and Bell-Kotcha out, the best we had was always going to be Bednarek and Calleta-Car.
Midfield wise, I had a bit more of a differed opinion, as I was happy that Lavia, JWP and Stu started, but why Elyounoussi was picked yet again I just can’t understand?
As I even watched him playing for Norway and he even cost them a goal in one of their euro qualifying games by giving away the ball, yet still plays for them, but still will also play for us even with Sulemana, Alcaraz and Aribo all on the bench who I think all saints fans would’ve preferred over Elyounoussi.
Forwards wise, I personally would’ve started tall pall over Mara, but at the same time won’t criticise Ruben for that as neither have really been shining when they have played and neither are that much more experienced in the prem than one another. But Walcott I agreed with as he almost single handedly got us the point against Spurs with how well he did in that game, and how few other options we had.
So overall those that criticised him for picking Elyounoussi, I can completely understand and agree with, but why some were criticising him for picking Walcott and Bednarek I can’t understand as both have actually been playing really well recently, and for who we had on the bench available for the game, they were the best two to pick from. And like I said with Mara I can understand why some may of wanted tall pall to play, but even then it’s hardly likes he’s been shining with 0 goals for us so far.
Going onto the game, I’ve only seen the highlights and based this off of many who I’ve spoken to who went and watched the game as unfortunately I wasn’t able to. But from what I’ve heard/seen it just looked like the usual saints performance, just creating nothing, not taking any chances we did get, and just keeping to the same tactics that didn't work for us, yet we still continue to do them!?
As an example of this is yet again Elyounoussi cost us, stupidly giving away the ball which lead to a Calleta-Car fouling the attacker and getting a cautioning. And that free kick leading to the only goal from the whole entire game!
Yet somehow he starts and will probably start again against City this Saturday, even though there isn’t a single saints fan out there that wants him to. But it was still some poor defending to conceded the goal anyway with nobody on him anyway.
As for the rest of the game, from what I’ve seen and heard we seemed to create very little, if anything at all. As Perraud did have a half chance in the first half but that was about it. Whilst West Ham had many, with them hitting the crossbar and Ings as well as a fair few others having many chances (which again was caused by Elynousie not going his job and just jogging back).
As really we should’ve lost by more goals, as it was only for the last 5 to 10 minutes that we actually looked like we’d score, but even then had just simply 1 real chance where we could’ve scored. As about the only player who seemed to have a good game from what I heard and saw was Bazunu who did pull of some decent saves and did help to keep us in the game, along with West Ham taking so few of the many chances they had.
But for our survival hopes, I personally feel as this loss did certainly feel like major blow. As previously, a single win could (if the other results went our way) get us out of the bottom 3, but now after Bournemouth winning at the weekend along with West Ham, it means we’re now 4 points from safety so need really back to back wins to get out of the relegation zone now.
And with us playing City this Saturday, just feel as if we’ve got to win all those 6 pointers as well as getting some points in games like this. But the next few games will certainly clarify for us of what’s going to be happening for our hopes of staying up. But if we are to have any, then we do need to sort out or attack as well as to stop playing the likes of Elyounoussi and play those that have performed well for us before instead.
Referee watch West Ham VS Southampton (Paul Tierney)
The score to this game basically summed up how little Tierney had to do. As there was very little for him and VAR to loom at other than West Ham’s goal, which was originally ruled out but then given by VAR. As the free kick itself was a blatant foul and definitely the correct decision, but we then had a bit of controversy around the offside.
As it took VAR 4 minutes to award this goal, even though the scorer was clearly onside, and yeah many of his teammates were offside, but in all fairness none intervened with play as none went for the ball so the goal was rightfully awarded, but why it took so long to conclude this I do not understand.
But other than that there was nothing much more for VAR to do, and a fairly easy one for Tierney to officiate with no real incidents for him to manage. But still a good game for Tierney and an ok one for VAR who got their decisions correct but did take far too long for it.