15 Jan 2022 19:31:34
What a good job our team did today it was never going to be easy against Southampton and to be honest a very average referee.
Credit to Coady for getting the players to move away and talk to the ref to get the VAR involved to get the penalty even though I was a bit surprised we got it and Raul took it really well.
Very surprised to see Toti Gomes start the game as probably most people were but the best praise I can give him is you didn't see any difference in our normal performance. Pleased to see the lads go to him at the end, he did very well. Maybe his passing wasn't great but was anyone's today. Defensively he was solid.
I've seen Donck has had a lot of criticism mainly I think because he's not Neves! He's never going to be he does a different job mainly breaking up play and winning the ball for others to play. So a lot of it is a bit unfair I think.
Sa was excellent as usual. At first I thought he should have got the free kick they scored but having seen it from behind I don't think anyone could have saved it, swerving away from him.
Nice to see Adama score though at the time I was still calling him names for the chance he missed a minute or so before! He took this chance really well. I do wish he'd sign that news contract and stay, he looks like he enjoys it at the Mol!
Here's hoping we can get the result wed like next week at Brentford we owe them a beating.
I wonder what they will do with Toti now, he's certainty given them something to think about anyway!
15 Jan 2022 20:01:34
I hope we keep Toti for the rest of the season as the reports from Switzerland were that he's been ready for the step up for awhile so would be good to see another youngster getting good game time for us.
15 Jan 2022 20:39:18
We had 3 shouts at the penalty bar could take its pick podence jiminez and ait Nouri were fouled
16 Jan 2022 09:21:22
Born, I was surprised because we never get them not because I didn't think it was!
16 Jan 2022 17:03:23
Good summary from Ken
My ratings
Sa 9 - not only does he stop the ones he should, (and a few he really shouldn't be able to), but he also dominates his area and sweeps up behind the back 3. This gives so much reassurance to the whole team and enables everyone to play with confidence and confort. He is a massive uplift from last year's Patricio. Well done to all involved in his recruitment (yes you Jeff!)
Semedo 7 - good performance. looks v comfortable.
Gomes 7 Excellent steady debut
Coady 8 - Great leader, organised the defensive brilliantly and scored 1 and had a 2nd wiped out for off side.
Kilman 8 - another v strong performance
RAN 8 - Looked v impressive going forwards. Probably needs to cut out some of the histrionics though
Dendonker 6 Doesn't deserve the criticism he gets as he does what he does but as Ken beautifully puts it he isn't Neves. Is a squad player being forced by our squad shortcomings (Jeff you are the Weakest Link - pick up your game or step back and allow the football side of the club to be run by people who do know what they are doing!Our bench this week was a disgrace with effectively only Traore as an adult option for Lage who is performing miracles but has now officially run out of senior players) to play more than he should.
Moutinho 8 - Another v strong performance. He manages the ball and the tempo beautifully.
Podence 8 - He tries a lot of things, many of which don't come off, but enough do to make him a real threat and he is the perfect counterbalance to Moutinho/Neves who tend to play it safe a lot of the time.
Jimenez 6 Still not back to his best but retained possesion well.
Trincao 5 - Some isolated excellent touches in an otherwise sadly mediocre game. His total lack of a right foot means that he really shouldn't be in the team. Simply not good enough!
Subs
Traore 7 His strength, power, pace and skill means he retains the ball well and causes defences problems. His goal came from an excellent pass that put him in behind their back line. We need to make more of those passes ( Podence gave one to RAN last week for Semedo's goal)
Silva 7 Again only a cameo but far far better than he has been in the past Looks so much stronger and maybe has even added a yard of pace. Well done
Cundle N/A
ps
New Stadium for me next week.
I went to Griffn Park twice, a defeat in the mid 80s and a win in the early 90s, but have never been to their new ground so am looking forward to it.
16 Jan 2022 17:23:12
future, fair comments. Lucky you going to next week's game at Brentford s new ground. Something I can only wish for sadly. I will be watching so make sure you wave ha ha. Let's hope it's a win we are certainly playing well enough. I hope we are able to stand up to the style of play they produce. ( I'm being polite) Should be an interesting game style over brawn I guess!