There was a lot of hope and bluster amongst the Saints fan base, but ultimately the bubble burst and this performance was no better or worse than any of the previous 23 games played in the Premier League under what is now our third manager of the season.

This was always going to be a scrappy game and when it was announced that it would be an unchanged starting line up no one was too disappointed, but disappointment would soon come as Saints put in a nervy performance that saw them concede the only goal of the game with 13 minutes left, literally the only time in the game when either side looked like scoring.

Of course this was always going to be different than the trip to Chelsea, Leeds wanted this game and had a crowd behind them that roared them and their new manager on from the start rather than as Chelsea had a team of talented but disinterested players and a silent crowd.

It seemed that Saints were nervous, they didn't want to commit to too much going forward for fear of getting caught on the break, there wasn't the playing without fear that they showed at Stamford Bridge.

The winning goal when it came saw Saints switch off and allow Leeds to score a goal that they really shouldn't have been allowed, it started right by the corner flag, we had them penned in by two players, but somehow allowed their man to lay a little ball through, that found Ibrahima Diallo caught napping and with two men to mark, the shot was hardly fearsome, but it still went in and Gavin Bazunu has to take some blame here, he really should have done better, in his defence it was poorly hit which deceived him and it bobbled, but it should have been saved.

We never looked like coming back from it, Leeds and their fans were making sure of that.

So where did it go wrong ?

I don't blame the tactics as mentioned Leeds only looked like scoring once aside from an effort in the final 45 seconds of injury time, up to the goal without looking brilliant we looked mainly in control and with some timely substitutions we seemed set to step up the pace, up to the goal things were going to plan to a degree.

So who is to blame, in truth this season the players in the main aside from the usual scapegoats have got away relatively easy, in the first third of the season it was easy to blame Ralph Hasenhuttl, it was also easy to blame the failure to land a forward in the summer transfer window.

In the second part of the season Nathan Jones got the entire blame, even when it wasn't his fault in that we were giving away free headers left right and centre.

Now though the excuses have run out, kit is time to stop pointing the finger and it is time for the players themselves to step up to the plate.

I don't blame any individuals for this, the goal was not the error of one man, at least four players were found wanting.

Gavin Bazunu got a bit of stick on social media and yes he should have done better, but this wasn't the worst goal I have seen conceded over the past few years and he was not helped by his defence.

We have to stick with Bazunu if only for the fact that we have very little other choice and he is still the best option.

Some are calling for Alex McCarthy, but they forget that he was not the man for the job last season either, no disrespect to him, but he has barely played this season, just two league cup games and in the past 15 months he has since getting injured against Brighton he has played just twice in the Premier League conceding 6 goals in the process.

Some say desperate times call for desperate measures, but they also call for calm and composure, I want to see Ruben Selles give us that rather than the scattergun approach that Nathan Jones employed with panic at every turn.

Not the greatest day in the life of Saints up at Elland Road, but the season is not yet lost, time for the players to step up to the plate and win some games of football, sides that get relegated sink to the bottom as they believe they are finished long before the season ends.

Those that stay up as we did on several occasions back in the 1990's did so because they refused to believe they were finished and battled their socks off backed by the supporters, it wasn't the easy route that some would have you believe, but we stuck to the task even when we suffered some bad defeats.

We will find out now if the players have the heart to do just this.

Photo: Action Images

stmichael added 09:56 - Feb 27 Not sure how you can describe that goal or write that article without mentioning Jan Bednarek. And the substitutions were not timely. It was completely the wrong time and more importantly the wrong players. Bednarek and Bazunu made other errors in the game too which should have led to goals. Just one of five players had to do their jobs properly and the goal would not have happened. 5 errors just unbelievable. A day when the manager and players let themselves down yet again. Bednarek and Bazunu should be taken out the firing line. Both of them are a nervous wreck and it shows..

8

Boris1977 added 10:01 - Feb 27 The same issues over the past few years have caught up with this relegation bound squad. The weekend saw yet another 'must win' against another 'struggling team' with 'injury problems' lost. Sports Republic inherited a mess but then proceeded to get the big calls wrong 1) keeping Ralph beyond the summer, 2) buying a 10p mix up of young players over the summer and 3) appointing Jones. The only concern I have is getting shot of the amount of deadwood around 15 players?) within this squad to avoid serious financial problems in the Championship. COYRs

3

wibbersda added 10:03 - Feb 27 Does this team actually do any practice at shooting on goal, Beggers belief that we still can't pass anything into the final third to our would-be strikers, and that they cannot hit the target....and stop putting Frank Spencer in defense!
7

Boris1977 added 10:14 - Feb 27 Some clubs do 'av em. We certainly do :)
4

Saint4Life247 added 10:15 - Feb 27 What a poor goal to concede.... For me Bednarek should hold his head in shame. His reaction to the shot was embarrassing. Just get something on it!!... some have mentioned he feared scoring and another own goal... surely that's the risk with any shot towards any defender in any team... its part of the job!! Bazuna is nowhere near prem ready IMO... is it worth recalling McCarthey for the Grimsby game to get him up to speed and then replace GB for the rest of the season?? (can't be any worse surely) As soon as I saw Walcott coming on I knew we'd lose.... what is he doing anywhere near the squad?! awful Not enough creativity, Alcaraz should have started - The big man up top looked isolated most of the game. Its all simple stuff which makes it harder to take - We hang by a thread at best now.. a miracle is needed to keep us up. I can handle relegation, it happens unfortunately, just go down fighting

6

SaintPaulVW added 10:19 - Feb 27 While Bednarek played a fairly visible part in the comedy of errors that led to the goal, on reflection, he was b*ggred what ever he did. Try and block and the ball may ricochet off him, CB's are told not to do this, or stand still which he did and still be slightly restricting Bazunu's view. KWP should have been playing at RB not covering for Perraud. It was a very nervy game. Only JWP and Lavia looked good to me. Why Onuachu was drifting over to the sides I do not know. Plus he had defenders climbing all over him and seemed to react badly. He must be used to this. Sulemana seemed a bit disheartened at times. If we are going to get out of this we need goals. Selles has got to get a bit of fight in this side or we are dead in the water. COYR

1

SaintNick added 10:20 - Feb 27 st michael- You are right about Bednarek, I hadn't realised just how static he was at the goal, and he was right in the way of Bazunu so blocked his view. Bazunu came and flapped at a cross in the first half, but apart from that looked ok, Bazunu hasn't looked a nervous wreck to me, he is still coming for the balls he should be Mike you offer plenty of what you see as issues, but little solutions, you say the manager let us down, Just how did he let them down, as you say 5 players didnt cover themselves in glory during the goal, how was that Selles fault ? The goal aside we werent playing well but neither were Leeds, the manager made very similar substitutions as he did against Chelsea, last week they were inspired, now it is letting the team down.

4

Centurion added 10:56 - Feb 27 Confidence plays a massive part in winning teams. We are completely lacking in confidence, are hesitant and making mistakes. It has been like this since the 4-0 loss to Villa last year. I remember the MOTD pundits saying at the time it was just a blip.
1

kev3882 added 11:05 - Feb 27 Can anyone tell me why Elyonousi is even on the bus yet alone the pitch offers nothing but like Theo. Selles seems to have a game plan that he brought forward from Chelsea he needs to adapt to each game I agree that Alvarez needs to start. KWP at right back and AMN in front of him and get Sulemana doing what we bought him for running at defenders. Agree Bednarek and others should have done better for goal and why do we keep taking S Armstrong off ?

10

Ifonly added 11:29 - Feb 27 In a season of continuous disappointments this was the most disappointing yet. New manager, new signings, coming off a win, a settled team for the first time in ever ..... same old performance and result. Total sh**e. I think the only way forward would be to say to the players "f**k it, we're down, forget about it. Just go out and play. Express yourself, play without tension. So what if we lose?" If we did, I think we'd have a sluggers chance. But I don't expect that to happen. I expect more tension and caution and I expect us to go down as a result.

5

felly1 added 11:55 - Feb 27 There's no way we're getting out this now. Championship football beckons. We look like a classic bruised and beaten side sunk at the bottom. Similar to Norwich in previous years. Can't score and can't defend. As Ifonly says above I guess we've a punchers chance and we need to start swinging wildly and hope for a miracle. 4-3-3 . Gk..??? Lb. Perraud Rb. KWP CB. Salisu CB. Caleta Car Mid. Lavia Mid. Jwp Mid. Alceraz Att. Adams on left ( if not fit then Djenepo /Edozie Att. Sulemana on Right Att. Onuachu centre.

8

saintmark1976 added 12:20 - Feb 27 This was a match not to lose and by and large I thought that Selles got his tactics ( excepting the substitutions) correct.Had we hung on for a draw together with Bournemouth, Everton, Forest and Leicester losing plus Wolves only drawing, then things would have looked a lot brighter on Saturday evening. Selles can’t be held responsible for Bednarek and Bazunu making schoolboy errors but he will be culpable if he selects them again to play against Leicester on Saturday.

2

JoeEgg added 13:01 - Feb 27 There are still plenty of teams doing their best to give us a chance of staying up. We've played most of them recently and lost to all but Everton! Now you have to start thinking that we dont even deserve to stay up! Unfortunately it was always going to take time for our new forward signings to adapt to the rigours of Premier League football. How long did it take Danny Ings to settle in at West Ham? We've made too many wrong decisions this season and probably for the first time we can say with some degree of certainty - time is no longer on our side. As felly and Ifonly have said we might as well just throw everything we have into the ring and just go for it. The Leeds players and supporters did just that on Saturday. We have some really difficult opponents to face in the next few weeks. Make some brave team selections - JUST TRY AND SCORE US A GOAL! - and we just might still have time to join Leeds United in safety!!!!

5

landsdownsaint added 13:09 - Feb 27 Ralph would’ve kept us up , 6 weeks rest he could’ve had during the WC & a few quid too spend … massive mistake getting rid
6

dowater added 13:36 - Feb 27 why have we brought Bednarek back and put him in the team so quickly???? does that mean that the rest of our defenders are that bad that we have to use him? he was pritty much unused at Villa and for a good reason. we have so many better defenders than him, lets try some of the new signings. i saw a post during the week from a chat show speaking with a premier league striker saying that Salisu was one of the hardest defenders to play against. we need him back desperately. i am not sure why we are not playing KWP on the right and RP on the left. what are we not seeing in training that gives KWP a starting spot? it also amazes me that the players that seem to score excluding JWP, seem to score and then dont play again.... Jo Aribo, scored a couple at the start of the year, then has been dropped and left. Roman Perraud has scored a brace in the cup then dropped... Carlos Alcaraz scorse on his full debut and then dropped... are we picking tams to not score? goal keeper seems to be our biggest problem and i believe what is causing our defense most nerves. we should have brought a recognized keeper in the summer with some top level experience and used GB in the cups and occasional games to get experience. i would drop him in favor of Willy Caballero. from what i have seen he would be a good/improved player for that position and give our defenders some confidence. my ideal line up would be 4-2-3-1 GK- Willy Caballero RB- Kyle Walker-peters CB- Armel Bella-Kotchap CB- Mohammed Salisu LB- Roman Perraud Defensive midfilder - Romeo Lavia Defensive midfilder - Carlos Alcaraz Attacking midfield left - Kamaldeen Suleman Attacking midfield center - James Ward-Prowse Attacking midfield right - Stuart/Adam Armstrong striker - Che Adams

5

ItchenNorth added 13:38 - Feb 27 Jan Bednarek, again! Sure Bazunu flapped at a couple crosses,, but he got something on them, so it's a little harsh to pin this goal as error on him. Jan Bednarek was stood about 4 foot right in front of him, it wasn't the best of shots, yet Jan moved out of the way, leaving Bazumu no time to get down and save it. Pathetic from Jan, again. Just put your bloody boot through it and clear the dam thing away. It was Bamby on ice last time for an own goal by Jan, now this. Drop him. If we are to continue with a back four, it has to now be Salisu and ABK. If we revert to a back 3, Caleta-Car comes IMO. We also need to find a way to get Alcaraz in the starting 11. They kids got drive, guts and an eye for goal. We'll not get anywhere, regardless of our defense, without goals somewhere in this team.

3

Farlow added 14:48 - Feb 27 I Was hopeful when Selles got the job but the new coach buzz has gone already.Maitland Niles is not a full back,and to prefer him over KWP was barmy.Thats 2 games Bednarek has cost us since his return.Alcaraz has to start before Diallo surely.I feel sorry for Djneppo he had an absolute blinder against City and has had barely a sniff since.I dont agree with giving a coach the job because the players like him!

4

zonehead added 15:31 - Feb 27 The players were playing to get Selles the job last week, there was no need to give him a contract yet! We’ve negated our own bounce, seen it so many times. Subs were poor just cos of last week no need to do it again. And when your chasing a game, with the best crosser in the prem you need a 7 foot striker to aim at, oh I forgot he was subbed!!
0

StRipper added 15:45 - Feb 27 I am surprised that everyone is only focused on Bednarek's role in Firpo's shot for the goal. Where he screwed up for me was in not kicking it out right at the start of that period of attack, that led to the goal. Then we could have regrouped. Threat under control. Nothing to see here. Instead, of kicking it out when he could, Bednarek scuffed the ball away and went down on the edge of our box to appeal for a foul, which he didn't get. It totally screwed us and caused panic as we were all out of position and the threat was still not dealt with, with the ball still in play. Unbelievably poor decision making from Bednarek. I can understand it, but its a shame that Selles felt he had to leave Bednarek leading the line after the Chelsea game. That was Bednarek's only decent outlier performance in all of the shambolic appearances since his return to Saints. He was such a major contributor to our loss on Saturday, from the painfully slow time to choose a pass to making us sit so deep in defence. It only seemed to be our full backs that were trying to break forwards. And it was Bednarek leading the defensive line. Caleta-Car should always have been straight back in once his disciplinary issues were dealt with. Instead, we prioritised Bednarek's hurty feelings that he would have if we dropped him after Chelsea. I am also pretty baffled by these calls to put McCarthy back in goal, ever again. How are fans memories so short as to remember Mr Ghost's repeated failings at his near post, where any shot is sure to go in. He should never play for the first team again as his failings are known by all opposition attackers. The fact that he is still here says more to me about the club's other priorities, over any statement that he should ever actually play for us. Caballero should be the only alternative choice to Bazunu.

5

halftimeorange added 18:19 - Feb 27 There's something we don't know about going on at St Marys. How can an organisation like Sports Republic, with their experience in professional sport and business, make so many mistakes in who they hire? We all seem to believe we have enough talent in our playing squad to compete in the EPL but, why buy players like Orsic, Alcaraz and Aribo and not play them. Why persevere with the likes of Walcott, Bednarek and Elyonnousi when they simply don't deliver? Why continue to play KWP out of position? It makes me wonder just who does pick the team?

3

AmericanSaint added 18:44 - Feb 27 Halftime - I think you are right, there is something going on in the background that we are not aware of. As for the game, I will say that I think Selles got the tactics/players wrong from the start. With the speed that Leeds had down their left wing, KWP should have started. AMN was in shambles most of the game. Also, why is Moi still starting????? Stewie should start on the left midfield so he can come inside and shoot with his right. And why wasn't Alcazar not starting as he has shown he has good feet and can make the needle pass? I wont even start on Jan as all has been said. I think we sat back too much and didnt attack Leeds on the wings as we were doing a decent job of controlling the midfield. I think RP was the only one who crossed the ball in the first half with an regularity. Maybe Selles has a plan but we didnt execute it. Now my big issues was after the game, when Moi said that every game was like a cup final, YET you all are not playing with that intensity. Don't say something so stupid when the performance does not match it. Finally, I came to the realization that we are a Jekyll and Hyde team. We seem to get yup for the "Big" teams and play hard, yet against all the teams at the bottom, we wither and become sheep. Now I dont have the answer for that, but it appears that some players fancy themselves at a bigger club, so they are using these games as auditions. Also, as someone before said the players have no confidence in their own game and its shows. While I dont want us to be relegated, I find myself comes to terms with this reality and just want whoever is on the pitch representing Saints to fight hard and git it their all (Just like RP showed when he cleared the lines at Chelsea). Still hoping, but resigned to most likely future.

-1

DF_20032017 added 20:27 - Feb 27 It was a very frustrating day, it felt a bit like we couldn’t get into full voice as fans, nerves all round. Leaving the ground I felt like that was it, even a 0-0 would’ve have been 4 points in 2 away games but we absolutely crumbled. We didn’t create a single chance after they scored, you could see it kicked the stuffing out of the players too. The bit that drove me mad was we had a massive striker playing and barely put a cross into the box, when we did get into a crossing position we stuck it in low - give him a header to win!!! I think it’s clear that us along with Bournemouth, Everton and Leeds are probably the worst 4 teams in the league - West Ham and Wolves just have that ability to turn it on when they need to. Can we get past those 3 in 14 games? I’m not sure we can but a win at home next week is essential if we are to do it.

1

davidargyll added 07:04 - Feb 28 I’ve been reading a lot in the Forum about the point at which our whole team started to fall apart, with everyone down to the tea lady being blamed. But I only read one comment that said that Rasmus Ankersen should be shown the exit for his absurd recruitment policies. Which I 100% agree with: never was the old adage about not being able to win anything with kids more appropriate. However I think it goes back earlier than that, when we brought in Che Adams and Adam Armstrong in the mistaken belief that they were PL players in the making. And then refusing to give Ralph the money to buy a top-rated striker. And yet even now no one is admitting that particular error. Whether or not our defence is sh*t - as it was against Leeds - for most of the last two seasons, we simply haven’t been able to score. And that surely has to be laid at the door of our very own moneyball moron. But the most depressing - and puzzling - thing is that Ankersen and the Board only realised the error of their ways and do something about it in time for this January’s transfer window. It was obvious to all us lowly fans a year ago so why not the Board? But as it takes time for players to bed in, there has been zero improvement and likely won’t be for a few weeks yet, by which time of course it will be way, way too late. I’d love to be a fly in the room when Ankersen tries to explain to Dragan Solak how he has managed to p*ss a large portion of his investment - of around £200million - up against the wall…

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Sunderland Polls