At West Brom you could tell from the first minutes of the game that Saints were well organised focused and disciplined, against Hull it was the exact opposite, from kick off you could tell we had none of these attributes.

In the preview to this game I said that Russell Martin should play his best team for this game, but truth of the matter was that he left Ryan Fraser and Che Adams on the bench and we struggled to get balls through to the forwards and create chances, although to be fair we had the opening chance of the game when Will Smallbone pressed and pushed the ball through to Joe Rothwell who saw his shot deflected wide by the keeper.

But at the back we were shaky and Hull pressed at the right moments, but the truth was we were putting pressure on ourselves, continually giving the ball away cheaply during the whole game and constantly out of position.

On 11 minutes came the opening goal of the game, it was well worked by Hull who surged forward at the right time, Gavin Bazunu made a decent save from the initial shot, but the Saints defenders were static and stood and watched as Zaroury fired home the rebound.

On 36 minutes it got worse, and it was an individual error that was punished, the ball from Bazunu to Rothwell was fine, the Bournemouth loanee had plenty of time to control the ball and pass it on, but he took a heavy touch and tried to run it across the edge of the box and was tackled and we were left exposed and Hull made it 2-0 and it could have been 3 before the break as a buoyant Hull side forced Saints into errors and at times unforced errors and with some better finishing could have put us to bed before the break.

At half time three changes were made, Adams for Mara was understandable, although the issue was about getting the ball to Mara and in essence not a lot changed it was just Adams who wasn’t getting the ball.

But what were we doing taking off our top scorer at a time when we needed goals, Adam Armstrong is arguably our best player, yet he is taken off at half time, maybe he had a knock, certainly he is bing taken off early in games lately so he might be carrying an injury, but if not the was plain stupidity from the manager.

Brooks coming on to replace him was also perhaps wrong, Ryan Fraser has been one of the best players since Xmas, yet in recent games his minutes on the pitch have been reduced.

We huffed and we puffed but we didn’t blow the Hull house down, Sulemana coming on for Stuart Armstrong was also wrong, Sulemana is talented, but he has not shown anything to deserve to come on ahead of those still on the bench of for that matter taken off before him.

The tally of just 3 shots on target was poor, on 88 minutes Joe Aribo pulled one back, but by then we were a disjointed rabble with no one sure who was actually playing where, a lack of leadership both on and off the pitch.

So a very bad day at the office and Russell Martin has to hold his hands up here and admit he got the team selection and tactics wrong, but in his defence show me a manager who hasn’t got it wrong at some point, so we can forgive him here.

We are now in 4th place and the pendulum has swung the other way for us, but it doesn’t mean it has to be terminal, we are still just 2 points off the automatic promotion places, even after losing poorly in two of the last three games.

There is still a lot to play for, this season is far from over, against Millwall, Russell Martin has to stick with the tried and tested formula, hopefully we will have Flynn Downes back and Ryan Fraser starting and get the season back on track.

Photo: Action Images

onetowatch added 15:30 - Feb 21 Nick, you've definitely covered the most obvious mistake of the whole evening (and in a night of some awful distribution from Saints, there were many), and that is the selection. Mara and Edozie together is a gamble, perhaps the combination is too 'lightweight' to make an impact, but that can't be the only reason we had a complete disconnect between defence and midfield. This led to players at the back hanging onto the ball longer than they should which led to an increasing number of mistakes. The players starting on the bench must wonder what they're doing wrong. There were several poor performances last night, and I'm sure Manning will come in for criticism (he did have a bad game), but I would appreciate an insight from anyone as to what WS brings to the team. The continual back passes, only ever playing the way he is facing, slows up our play and keeps the ball deep in our own half. Some one needs to tell him, he's allowed to turn. The unbeaten run was fantastic, but is no reason to encourage complacency, or possibly even arrogance - RM needs to start the remaining games with his strongest possible line up.

4

Centurion added 15:57 - Feb 21 Lets see how we do against Milwall. A good win would see us on track for the play offs at the very least.
0

halftimeorange added 16:26 - Feb 21 The tone for last night was set by several things. First the Armstrongs. Stuart looked tired and Adam totally listless. This should have been evident in training and conversations between them and the coaches. Second - did Gavin Bazunu practice kicking this week to different lengths and positions on the pitch? Anybody who regularly plays a sport to different lengths from a lawn green bowler to a quarterback has a feeling for distance yet Gavin, last night, kicked the ball way past our forwards on six or seven occasions following kick-off. Why? he doesn't do that normally. Third, several spectators around me (and me myself) expressed surprise that Aribo and Fraser were not starting after their recent positive showings. The midfield of defensive-minded Smallbone and Rothwell, plus the aforementioned worn out Stuart Armstrong played a large part in our downfall against a Hull side on the up. Edosie had no support from Manning so I don't particularly blame him. Things improved with the introduction of Fraser, Aribo and Brooks but, the damage was done. Russell Martin promised us a team we could be proud of. If that promise isn't going to be an empty one he'll need to get his starting team selections right in the upcoming games.

3

halftimeorange added 16:26 - Feb 21 The tone for last night was set by several things. First the Armstrongs. Stuart looked tired and Adam totally listless. This should have been evident in training and conversations between them and the coaches. Second - did Gavin Bazunu practice kicking this week to different lengths and positions on the pitch? Anybody who regularly plays a sport to different lengths from a lawn green bowler to a quarterback has a feeling for distance yet Gavin, last night, kicked the ball way past our forwards on six or seven occasions following kick-off. Why? he doesn't do that normally. Third, several spectators around me (and me myself) expressed surprise that Aribo and Fraser were not starting after their recent positive showings. The midfield of defensive-minded Smallbone and Rothwell, plus the aforementioned worn out Stuart Armstrong played a large part in our downfall against a Hull side on the up. Edosie had no support from Manning so I don't particularly blame him. Things improved with the introduction of Fraser, Aribo and Brooks but, the damage was done. Russell Martin promised us a team we could be proud of. If that promise isn't going to be an empty one he'll need to get his starting team selections right in the upcoming games.

-1

JoeEgg added 16:47 - Feb 21 Nothing much to add to Nick's description of what happened , or what didn't happen on the pitch. Worth mentioning that Hull had done their homework, and used their young energetic loanees to exact a high press on a team that just couldn't cope with it. Hull were excellent and I'm not sure that we'll fare much better if we have to play them in the play-offs! Teams now know how best to play us. In a previous comment I had suggested that we leave the team selections and player evaluations to Russell Martin although that was before he claimed that the side that started against Hull at St Marys was selected on the basis of what he had learned about Hull from the early season encounter!! That admission in itself is worrying indeed. it was another game where the opening minutes revealed an opposition side that was far better prepared and organised than we were, and Hull are a much stronger side than Huddersfield and were never likely to give up their two goal half time advantage. In fairness Ipswich scared their own supporters by conceding three goals to bottom club Rotherham, and it becoming clear that Leeds are the form team of the moment and the ones to stop. Russell Martin must take full responsibility for the team selection on Thursday night and failure to take advantage of the three points that would have sent us second in the table. The fans feedback from Thursday is full of comments about errors by individual players and total confusion as to why the likes of Fraser and Adams were left sitting on the bench. We were second best against Hull and second best against Bristol. We have conceded 8 goals in the last four games. So I ask again are we really good enough for automatic promotion. Russell Martin has suddenly brought unnecessary pressure on himself and now there is no room for any more errors of judgement.

3

felly1 added 16:51 - Feb 21 Smallbone was played out of position. He's never a defensive midfielder. I don't see why Martin put him there. I believe he's scored more goals than Flynn Downes or Stuart Armstrong. Smallbone is a number 8 and that's it. For me it was the lightweight midfielders offered no outlet for our struggling defence against an excellent Hull press. . Should have played Charles or Aribo instead of Rothwell

2

landerwal added 17:01 - Feb 21 Agree with what you said Nick, only adding that a major factor in our miss passing was that Hull were buzzing round us as soon as we got the ball, preventing us from playing our usual game. Unfortunately, we failed to do the same to them.
1

saintmark1976 added 17:27 - Feb 21 Centurion, we are currently sixteen points better off than the seventh placed team with only thirteen games left to play. Should we not at least make the playoffs from here, I think it fair to say that Russell Martin will not be given a further opportunity next season to make any more ridiculous team selections as he certainly did yesterday.
0

ElSanto added 17:41 - Feb 21 We know Edozie is much more effective against tired legs - why start him for such an important game? Mara has been improving, but I still don't trust him in difficult games against strong opposition where he isn't given lots of support and opportunities. For me you have to start Fraser and Brooks.
3

SanMarco added 18:19 - Feb 21 RM's whole strategy is based on accurate passing - if the passing is rubbish then there is no plan B. We have several Hull-like play-off hopefuls to play at home and they will all watch the video of this game and plan accordingly. It is going to be tough but we are bound to get into the play-offs and are still well placed to challenge for second so let's wait a while before despairing - and also maybe practise that passing... The one thing I notice is that we have suddenly started shipping goals since Downes went off vs Huddersfield - a coincidence??

4

landsdownsaint added 19:32 - Feb 21 The midfield & defence are putting far too much pressure on Bazunu , however good Bazunu is with his feet he’s still a goalkeeper, I know we play from the back out but if Downes isn’t playing Bazunus got a lot on his shoulders imho , strange night & not the same atmosphere talking to fellow fans in the boozer before the game … on to the next game
0

Farlow added 20:16 - Feb 21 The problem is the squad is too big too many wingers.Aribo should have been the first name on his sheet.We spent a great deal of money on Sulemana who will be a world beater given time.The structure of the team has to allow for individuallism.Its a joke to pass to Rothwell with 3 men on his shoulder. Manning must go he cant defend.
1

IanRC added 21:03 - Feb 21 Utter rubbish manager comments after the game. He was the one who made poor selections and refused to adapt his tactics. It was apparent very early on that Hull were pressing very effectively. I disagree with you Nick about Sulemana, the game was crying out to have him playing through the centre and running onto balls over the top. Instead we dilly dallied and continually looked like we might concede again. Obviously Russell Martin did not watch the Liverpool game at the end of last season. Instead arguably our best flair player, since we let Alcaraz go, was brought on too late and out on the wing. I do agree that Fraser and Che Adams should have been on from the start. Aribo too should be starting as he brings the aggression we need to midfield. Hear what you say about AA but at the moment he looks to be somewhat out of touch. Really hope he clicks into place soon as his work rate is always exceptional. Doubtless having cocked it up by fielding a weaker team against the tougher opposition yesterday we will find all the players who should have started on at the beginning on Saturday. Yes, we had a good 25 match run but I am really wondering again now whether Russell Martin is the right man to have us win automatic promotion. As Joe Egg said it must be doubtful that we could beat in even the play offs unless something changes.

0

IanRC added 21:03 - Feb 21 Oh and by the way Manning was again useless.
0

Boris1977 added 22:07 - Feb 21 Ian RC, the answer is no. Probably not. RM is an average manager who has bought into the Pep/Spanish 2000s/Dutch 74-78 total football philosophy that can only get results for top class squads and tacked it onto our club. We have got a very good squad for this league, probably equal to Leeds and Leicester, but we have a manager who, for all his hard work pulling this squad into team, is still learning his trade (he's only 38) and will make mistakes. The main issue of concern is that on the unbeaten run we had our fair amount of luck and favourable referee calls in our favour and the last few games the issues have been homegrown i.e selection issues. That needs to change. If it doesn't then the playoff's beckon and I think we'll fail that test. But is this squad ready for the top flight - the answer is a definite no. An RM with this squad in this league for another season might be the making of him and this squad - COYRs

2

davidargyll added 08:18 - Feb 22 What we saw on Tuesday was the downside of badly executed tippy-tappy. Whether or not Edozie or Adam Armstrong or Mara or Rothwell were playing below par, the reason we lost was because we let in two goals at least one of which (the second) and conceivably the other were of our own making, ie faffing around trying to play out from the back against a team that was onto us like rats up a drainpipe. And yet, with no change to the defence at half-time but still with a number of subs on for H2, the machine spluttered into action, and we played a much longer game out of defence. So why on earth didn’t they - or couldn’t they - do it in H1? Simply because RM told them not too, ie THE MANAGER THOUGHT THEY COULD COPE WITH A HARD PRESSING OPPOSITION WITHOUT CHANGING THE STYLE OF PLAY; overconfidence in other words. The trouble was Hull are a very fit and determined team. So unlike say Huddersfield who clearly ran out of puff, our expectation that they (Hull) would do the same simply didn’t happen. Result? 45 minutes just was not enough to get back into the game. Did we start with not the strongest team? Well maybe, but isn’t it more that the players will do what the manager tells them (play out from the back with quick short passing) but, if its not working and obvious mistakes being made, there is no one on the pitch who has the vision or skill or confidence or pizzazz to change things. So forget all these demands for strikers, goal keepers, defensive midfielders, god knows what, what we need is … Flynn Downes!

0

PezzaSaint added 08:35 - Feb 22 RM has to take responsibility for Tuesday night. A lot of our recent first half performances have been below par. You do have to wonder what is said by the Manager before the start of the game. In post match interviews he comes across as Mr Cool/Mr Considered. Perhaps he’s Mr Cool when doing his rallying call before the game rather than Mr Angry which I think our squad needs. We lack real leaders on the pitch and so it’s down to the Manager to give the team a verbal kick up the arse.

2

PezzaSaint added 08:35 - Feb 22 PS Downes a big miss!
1

SaintPaulVW added 06:46 - Feb 23 2 duff games in the past 4 months. I think RM deserves some slack given what he inherited. At the start of the season if you had offered the playoffs I would have taken it. The first half performance was not great. The team put out didn't work. Agree that we should have stuck with the team that played well on Friday. Hull really went for it and our passing style just broke down. Bazunu clearly needed another option rather than repeatedly distributing the ball to Smallbone who passed it straight back. Manning and Edozie didn't work well together, Coyle was a constant threat. Second half we stuttered into life. The one bright spot was Aribo. Think he has earned a starting spot. I don't mind a wobble but it needs to happen now, so that we can carry good form into the playoffs. We still have to play all the top 3 so no point getting too bent out of shape now. COYR

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls