In the first of his two columns of the week, SFC Ref runs his eye over the Crystal Palace game both from the refereeing perspective as well as his own views of the playing side of things at St Mary's
The Saints side
When the team sheet came out, I was both astounded and relieved to not see Moi Elynousie in the starting 11 to this game!
But overall the original starting 11 I didn’t have too many issues with, and for once didn’t have too many major issues with it for who was playing, but it did have one on the fact that we didn’t seem to have any recognised striker playing!?
As the back 4 I was fairly satisfied with, although I’d of played Perraud over Maitland-Niles, as Perraud does seem to create more and produce more of a threat that Maitland-Niles does.
Midfield wise I didn’t have any complaints around, but forward wise wasn’t the same. As why we still aren’t starting Onauchu is beyond me, and was one of the major issues we had in the first half. As really we should’ve dropped one of Walcott or Aribo for him, as you can’t score many goals when you don’t start with any strikers. So not too fussed over who was starting, but certainly over who wasn’t starting.
But onto the game itself, the first half we weren’t actually too bad and did have a few chances here and there, but no major ones. As we defended fairly well, with Palace also having no major chances, bar the goal that they had ruled out for offside, so it was a fairly even first half. But us not having a striker really did show, as time and time again we’d cross the ball in or play a through ball and it would go to absolutely no one! But still going in at half-time for 0-0 wasn’t the worst but still was very boring.
But as the second half kicked off I couldn’t understand how we’d not made a sub? As practically all fans could see that it was up front with no striker playing, that was what was causing us the issues, yet Selles did not. But still the second half started up just the same as the first, but then when Palace got their first major chance, they only went and took it with a recognised striker and took the lead. And it was only after that, that we finally made some subs, which in all fairness to Selles, was exactly why I though should be coming on, tall Paul and either Stu or Djenepo, for Walcott and Aribo, with Aribo being practically invisible in the first half and Walcott not taking any of the chances he had.
But it seemed very much too little too late, with Palace getting their second goal, which in all fairness was a screamer, just a few minutes later in the 68th minute, to confirm them the 3 points. As it wasn’t until we hit the 80th that Selles made any further changes, bringing on Edozie and Stu, which was fair enough, but for Sulemana and Alcaraz, which I can’t understand. As seeing how Alcaraz was one of the few players playing well and seeing how we were 2-0 down with nothing to lose, why not take off a defender rather than a forward, seeing how us loosing 3-0 wasn’t going to make a difference whilst us making it 2-2 would.
So for subs, it was good for who he brought on, but the timings for them where just rubbish and too little too late! And tactics were similar with us just passing it around at the back non stop when loosing, almost like we’d given up and didn’t wanna risk going on the attack to get goals which at the end of the day is what footballs all about!
But for players, well I thought the only ones to have that good of a game were Lavia and Alcaraz who did try to create stuff and did play well, with most of the rest just being average or the poor players that many of them are.
As look it’s certain that we’re going down now, and in my books we should get in our manager for next season now so he can have a bit of time to assess and look at the squad to get a head start for next season down in the championship. As it’s clear we need another striker, as the fact that it’s been basically 15 months since we won a game by over 2 goals (against Brentford at home in January 2022)! Which ended 4-1) in the league, which just shows of how poor we’ve been over this period.
But hopefully we can rebuild in the championship and see whether these owners do give a toss about us or not. And also the leagues a lot more competitive, where we might actually be able to win most of our games, and won’t get all the tourists and glory hunters at the home games all the flipping time, with just the true saints fans actually going to the games. Still as I said before, it seems fairly certain now that we’re down and out. As yeah Sports republic have had a very poor start with us for their manager and players they’ve gotten in, but I also think that all the years Gao was in charge for did also cost us, but it’ll be especially interesting to see how much/little SR will be giving to us in the summer and will show whether they do give a toss or not about our football club.
Southampton VS Crystal Palace (Michael Oliver)
Referee watch
When I first saw Oliver put down to referee this game, I was very happy as in my books it’s him and Taylor who are the best two in the country, with the pair being consistent picked for many major intentional events from the champions league to the World Cup.
But still for the game he had in front of him there certainly wasn’t too much for him to do. As there weren’t any major penalty, red or any other game changing decision for him to make, so was a fairly straight forward and easy game for Oliver to manage. But still I think he was fairly decent, with just a few fouls here and there, both for and against us, that I might not have agreed with, but still most were spot on in my books. So overall a quiet but good game from Oliver and his team.