Cups, Windows and Bobbles....

29^th January 2011 – 4^th February 2011-02-04

This week started with Saints playing in the FA cup against the current Premiership Leaders Man Utd. A large crowd was expected at St. Marys for this match compared to the majority of the league games played this season. Coincidence or not? I’m all for a full stadium roaring the team onto victory but the amount of plastic fans who attend these games frustrates me. The amount of so called fans who tell me they have to work every Saturday or have childcare issues so can’t make league games, but miraculously they can arrange days off work and someone to look after the kids, just to watch Man Utd. I know the majority of supporters would prefer larger crowds for league games rather than cup games like this one.

Anyway, Saints started the game against Utd in the diamond formation which worked so well against Blackpool in the previous round. The lads didn’t look intimidated and started with plenty of confidence. We passed the ball sharply and caused the premiership team some problems with our passing and movement. Guly playing at the top of the diamond seemed to be enjoying the extra space he was given. Morgan and Chaplow had the upper hand in midfield. First big chance of the game went to Guly who poorly headed over after a great cross from the recalled Danny Butterfield. Saints were more than matching the opposition and took the lead just before half time as Richard Chaplow smashed a shot past Lindegaard on the stroke of half time. It was a ferocious effort which flew into the net. A well deserved lead, but Utd would still be dangerous in the second half.

It was great to see some of the heroes of the 1976 cup winning team paraded on the pitch at half time. Well deserved recognition for a group of players who battled hard to win the cup for us. The second half started much like the first, Utd had their fair share of possession but Bialkowski in goal wasn’t really troubled. Saints had a great chance to extend the lead when a clever set piece between Harding and Chamberlain resulted in a Harding cross being missed by everyone as it flashed across goal. Saints were starting to look tired after all the effort that had gone into the game. On the hour mark, Utd bought on Giggs and Nani. They had the choice of £100 million worth of players. Rooney and Berbatov didn’t even get up to warm up. Eventually Utd worked an opening and Owen showed why he used to be a great striker and pounced from close range. By this time saints were out on their feet and with the extra quality Utd had bought on the result was inevitable. Hernandez poked home the winner after Dickson was robbed on the edge of the box.

Saints may have lost, but I think we should all be proud of the effort and skill they showed. We were not given a beating and showed the nation that we play an attractive brand of football and have some very special players. Chamberlain played a different role and excelled, Lambert, Barnard and Guly all worked hard to create chances for each other. The defence looked solid with Seaborne and Harding having great games. The star of the show for me was Morgan. He showed with time and space what a talent he is. His performance frustrated me, he can sometimes go missing in league games, but on this day he showed that if the likes of the ineffective Darron Gibson and Anderson are worth millions, Morgan more than matches up to them. The final highpoint of the day was abusing the mancs! Oh how I enjoyed that!

Following the good performance in the cup, Saints played what in my opinion was a more important game. Away to the Grecians of Exeter. This was always going to be a tough match. Exeter have a decent home record and the pitch at “the real” St James’ Park was always going to even the contest. This is traditionally the type of game we lose, as at Tranmere.

We started badly and eventually gave away a goal when a long ball was poked past the on rushing Davies. The ball trickled in despite the efforts of Jose Fonte. N’Guessan our recent loan signing started and showed glimpses of what he can add to the team. Second half Saints reverted back to a diamond formation and got a good equaliser when N’Guessan crossed for the goal machine Lambert to power a header back past the keeper. The returning Dean Hammond got an assist for the winner in the last minute, again Lambert rising to head home from close range. A great 3 points which keeps us in the promotion race. Brighton could only manage a draw and with all the other teams around us winning, this was a game we simply couldn’t afford to lose.

Editorial -

This week saw the transfer window shut. Saints added Jonathan Forte from the gaffer’s old club Scunny on deadline day, a move none of the fans predicted. Outgoings were Forecast and Puncheon on loan. Shame we didn’t release Forecast as he is the worst keeper I’ve ever seen, even worse than current number 1 Kelvis! Puncheon on the other hand should be sold in the summer to the highest bidder. I’m glad he’s gone.

So many fans appear to be unhappy with the clubs dealings during the window. But I disagree. We have completed the permanent deals of Guly, Chaplow and Forte. Bought in N’Guessan on loan, managed to keep hold of Chamberlain when many predicted the lad would be sold to one of the premiership’s top clubs. The most important signing of this window was securing Lallana on a four year deal. He seems to have taken on the responsibility of being our creative genius in midfield and shows how important he is to our side. Stats prove that when Adam doesn’t play we can sometimes struggle to score the necessary goals to win matches. But aside from creating goals, Adam chips in with his fair share and scored a vital opener at Dagenham. Being a fairly local lad, he seems to have the same passion for the club that the likes of Benali and Le Tissier had.

I will soon be running a competition to win a signed Saints shirt and might even have a surprise in the next edition, so keep checking back!

Also I would like to use this blog to pass on my congratulations to Jamie Cotton Jnr, who has signed academy terms with Saints. Good luck for the future Jamo, remember me when you’re handing out free tickets!!

A big thank you to all those that have been able to read this and if you have any comments, good or bad please get in touch. Email – modha79@gmail.com

Special thanks to my very good friend Alan who is helping spread the word by advertising this blog on his own website. Please visit www.bellsofhythe.co.uk for all your outdoor sports needs!

All the best

Neel