Hmm, I read the forum this morning too, to see what their fans view on the game was. Your summary really isn’t a fair representation - out of a 13 page match thread I think there were 3 or 4 posts which referred to our fans being quiet and I think I only saw 1 post that said we were sh*t. The “big take” I took away was that their fans expected the match against us to be tough, they were annoyed that they sat back on a single goal margin and threw away a win so late, but most thought a draw was a fair result and would have taken that before the game. Also, many were blaming their keeper for our goal but also said he had kept them in the game earlier in the match.
After a period a few weeks back where attending home matches felt more like a burden than any sort of joy, the last three games have been terrific entertainment. We’ve scored nine times (not bad for a team not blessed with a prolific striker), and these matches have involved a thrashing, a comeback from two down and now an injury time equaliser! Typical of course now we have to wait until February for our next Saturday 3pm league match at the Vic. I’m so pleased for Healey. I wouldn’t be arrogant enough to be suggesting to Ismael that he should play more (I’m just a fan who has no idea what goes on in training or behind the scenes etc) but the fact remains he’s a goal scorer, he has been over the past few seasons when not injured, and he proved it again yesterday. He could still be a valuable squad member this campaign. Let’s hope so. For sure there will be bumps in the road ahead and I’d be surprised if ultimately we didn’t finish around mid table, but it’s enjoyable watching a side become more settled and starting to grow. Most of us older fans have always believed in the value of continuity but probably told ourselves otherwise to justify our excitement at doing things differently when Pozzo first arrived. But what we are seeing now is a more settled side and the likes of Kone, Kayembe, Lewis etc really looking better players thanks to regular starts. I bet back in August few of us would have imagined that before Christmas Hamer would be regularly starting matches, Louza wouldn’t even be getting action as a sub and Kayembe would be winning Man of the Match awards! The value of keeping faith with a Head Coach after an indifferent start, and in certain players who previously had been in and out the side, is starting to be seen. Who would have thought it eh!
I think we’ve now won 7 points this season from losing positions, whereas we’ve only given away 2 (the draw at Coventry)
I was surprised at all those fouls they committed in the first half - never seen that from Soton before. And in the last 15 mins it seemed that Eddie Howe had been moonlighting.
Something I've also noticed is that this squad must be the fittest we've had in years? We don't seem to be getting too many injuries and players aren't blowing towards the end of the match, the intensity remains throughout.
Similarly, I’m pretty sure after we equalised, after their fans had given Hoedt **** all game he turned around and celebrated to a degree in front of them.
Totally agree I'm starting to enjoy going these days as opposed to turning up out of habit, expecting to lose and not being bothered when they did. Unlike the teams of the last 3 years or so, this squad are likable.
One of the best home records in the league A likeable squad A determined team who push until the end Multiple different goal scorers We are improving bit by bit each week. VI deserves a huge amount of credit for what is happening, and yet again he has had a sub assisting and a sub scoring - his use of subs is excellent. I still maintain we will finish mid table but comfortably so. No major surgery required in Jan, just a couple of tweaks. Going to Watford is enjoyable again. All through the game yesterday we thought the Saints keeper looked shaky when he was pressed, he definitely had an error in him. Fair play to Healey for exploiting it and taking his chance. Imagine the floods of tears if Bachmann or Hamer had conceded that…
makes you wonder what was possible with some of the previous managers if they had been given more than 3 weeks
He also did a perfect piece of sh$t housing. When there was a bit of handbags in the box for a corner for us, everyone was getting involved. He walked off, without been seen, he picked up their keepers drinks bottle, one of those big ones that squirts the water horizontally out the lid. Took the lid off, emptied it and launched the lid and bottle in different directions behind the goal. The boy has a future.
The key to this season has been giving VI some time, despite some fans shouting for his head not too long ago, and also the mass outgoings in the summer. Most of the bad eggs are gone now, once that is complete we can start to build again. Right now I’d say VI has built us a pretty good base to start building from.
It was a really nice goal in so many ways! Healey is naturally right-footed too I believe, so he scored it with his weaker foot. Despite only appearing in 2% of our season’s playing time so far, he currently boasts a goal, an assist and a vital goal line clearance that helped us then go on to save a match.
Is that the latest euphemism? Hopefully the club does a minute's applause in their memory before the Ipswich game.
As others have indicated, this was a really enjoyable match IMO. On the whole, the players are improving, the team is improving & the manager is improving. I think he finally knows his best team. For those of you in the "i'm not going to another game at the Vic while the Pozzo's are in charge" gang I would say your missing out. This is a very likable team. Where are we going to finish? In truth, It all depends on injuries & fitness, but 5th & 6th spot are still up for grabs! For now, i'm looking forward too and enjoying my Watford FC play. With positivity, lets see what happens in the next few months
Also, when we restarted after more of their *********ry and kept the ball instead of giving it back he made a gesture to their players not to press him as he’d give it back. He didn’t and then just pass to one of our players. Has any one else looked at Marten’s penalty shout right at the death, it looked to me like he was taken out good and proper.
I don't know if there was much in it, even so on Saturday when Bayo was hacked down when clean through on goal at the death we got sod all for that. Would of been pretty sweet had we got the pen, Healy takes it and bagged us a brace and three very deserved points. Ah well.
