Southampton (Home) Saturday 14 August

[badaids]

Well.  Just relieved that we navigated the first game, and that we actually looked like we had a bit of fight and guile in the second half.

Off to watch the cricket now.

[Cornish Steve]

Just the kind of response you'd hope for in a first match. Nerves are settled, confidence is boosted, and that after several first team players were unavailable.

[Gwlad]

Pretty sure that our recently departed manager wouldn't have turned that game around. Well done Rafa.

[Palfy]

For those lucky enough to be there what was atmosphere like at full time, did Rafa applaud the fans and did they respond in kind. 

[msloan78]

Credit where it's due... The performance in the second half was strong, especially compared to what was tossed up first half.

I liked what Gray did today, and think he could be important this season.  Townsend worked hard and Doucoure second half was top.  

Holgate and Keane caused palpations every time they went near the ball.

[Elston Gunnn]

1 hour ago, Shukes said:

Well this is going to be Rafa’s first test. Get them in at half time and make a reaction happen.

Hooray for Shukes in his tent.  Not bad by Rafa.  And the players.

[plaidharper]

29 minutes ago, chicagoblue said:

What a goal doucs

He played really well today. My MOTM.

[MikeO]

Horrible defensive style Benitez teams play eh?

[RuffRob]

probably best result Rafa could have hoped for - coming back from a losing position, change in tactics/formation, big reaction from the team. Even ended up winning comfortably at the end. When did that last happen! A result where a manager made the calls and they worked. 

It's was just the start we all needed after the past few months.

 

[Zoo 2.0]

1 hour ago, Aidan said:

Fuck that lets get to what we all want to know and tell us where you're getting signal in the old lady?!

It's absolutely gash mate  took me two attempts and most of half time to send my post about the first half !

[SpartyBlue]

30 minutes ago, chicagoblue said:

Pass from Richy was slightly under hit, then iwobis touch took him a bit too wide then he just passed it to mccarthy

Yea he didn’t really end up with any angle there.

[Zoo 2.0]

I feel like I fell back in love with football today, it's been strange (and shit) not being at the ground and today was just electric. The ground was bouncing before KO and exactly the positive vibes that the team needed after the pandemic. Good that Benitez's reception was generally positive too - regardless of whether you want him in or not, he's here now and (IMO) it's only fair that the crowd get behind him.

Weirdly enough that's the most tipsy turvy game I've ever seen too. The first half was genuinely one of the worst halves of football I've seen, whereas we absolutely played them off the park in the second and never looked like losing.

First half, Michael Keane was lucky to see out the 45 as he was at fault for no more than 5 errors that I counted, I'd probably let him play against Huddersfield but the sooner we get Godfrey out of isolation the better. Holgate I also thought was poor in the first half, but to be fair was having to do his own job and mop up after his partner, much improved in the second.

The main problem with the first half is that no matter what ball was on we seemed to just hoof it wide left or right towards Richarlison (who I thought was brilliant) and Townsend. Usually resulting in us losing possession with fuck all to show for it, DCL and Gray anonymous as they had fuck all to work with and quite comfortable for Southampton to defend against.

Second half and we were a different team, Gray moving more out wide with Coleman and Digne playing incredibly offensive up the pitch, allowing us to use a high press and keep the ball in Southampton's half, the goal from Charlie a minute or so after KO swung the game in our favour and we never looked like letting go. Top goal from Doucoure (my MOTM) and a great finish from DCL to wrap it up. If we can keep the high tempo, offensive football coming then we may just see more wins than defeats. 

Not getting carried away and understand that we have mountains to climb, but back in the Old Lady today and three points to show for it. I'm made up.

Edit: Totally forgot to say too, full credit to the team for doing a lap of the pitch and applauding the fans. Too often you'll see people running down the tunnel, but simply going around and showing appreciation for the fans in the ground improves the connection between fan and player which truth be told has been lacking for a few years now.

[Shukes]

Mentioned at half time this was more a test for Rafa than the players. 
 

I think he did ok.

[Wiggytop]

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

For those lucky enough to be there what was atmosphere like at full time, did Rafa applaud the fans and did they respond in kind. 

It was a really good atmosphere at the end, Coleman or Rafa got the squad to do a lap of the ground applauding the fans, which was very well received.  I think he will have won many over today, more so if we can respond as well in other games. Southampton were OK especially when we gifted them the lead, a good finish from Armstrong, who looked good all game, and apart from the many corners weren’t a real threat for the rest of the game.

[MikeO]

3 minutes ago, Wiggytop said:

It was a really good atmosphere at the end, Coleman or Rafa got the squad to do a lap of the ground applauding the fans, which was very well received.  I think he will have won many over today, more so if we can respond as well in other games. Southampton were OK especially when we gifted them the lead, a good finish from Armstrong, who looked good all game, and apart from the many corners weren’t a real threat for the rest of the game.

I don't think Jordan made a save all match did he? Certainly not that I saw.

[Zoo 2.0]

Just now, MikeO said:

I don't think Jordan made a save all match did he? Certainly not that I saw.

I cant think of any, he did really well from the corners as they were literally aimed at him but I don't recall a save that he had to make of note.

The goal he couldn't have done much about, the lad had all the time in the world to pick his spot.

[Wall Writer]

22 minutes ago, Zoo 2.0 said:

I cant think of any, he did really well from the corners as they were literally aimed at him but I don't recall a save that he had to make of note.

The goal he couldn't have done much about, the lad had all the time in the world to pick his spot.

He also made a save from Michael Keane in the first half, if I remember correctly. 

[Wiggytop]

6 minutes ago, patto said:

He made a save from Armstrong just after the goal on the near post. 

He did, it looked like it was going 

[milesey05]

3 hours ago, Shukes said:

Freshwater beech by Bridport mate.

Bordering Devon. Nice place, enjoy Costa Del Dorset buddy 

[Matt]

https://youtu.be/IpzYFO1ZN6A

I love Doms interviews 

[Shukes]

46 minutes ago, milesey05 said:

Bordering Devon. Nice place, enjoy Costa Del Dorset buddy 

Thanks mate. First time down here, and so far it’s been amazing. 
Weather is perfect, place is absolutely stunning! And a win for the beautiful blues.

[Romey 1878]

I was glad I didn't hear a single boo for the manager when he was introduced. I'm sure there were some but they weren't audible where I was.

That first half killed any excitement I might have cobbled together . Jesus, it was absolutely abysmal and we had nothing about us whatsoever. Pickford's kicking was miss, hit, miss. Keane forgot that he has two feet and gifted them a goal. Holgate spent the half aimlessly hoofing the ball to no one and getting beaten in the air by Armstrong. Coleman showed just how badly we need a RB. Digne was barely even in the game because we went down the right every time. Townsend worked but he was on the periphery I felt (and didn't change in the second half IMO). Richarlison put the effort in but he was a frustrated figure. Allan was terrible and Doucoure wasn't much better tbh. Gray was another that worked but things just weren't coming off for him. DCL was hopeless tbh - I can't remember him winning a header. He was understandably rusty, so it's forgivable.

I was sat there at half time with the thought that we are simply not a team that is equipped for the modern game. The modern game requires quick football and we looked like that concept was totally alien to us.

Second half though was a completely different story once we got that early goal. You could see the whole team were lifted by it and it got the crowd going, which had gone very quiet as the first half wore on, and that lifted the team even more. We looked really threatening with players actually running at Southampton - Richarlison and Gray in particular. Those two were giving Saints nightmares and it put the shits up them big time and that nervousness allowed us to put the game to bed with absolute ease. There was only one side in it in the second half and I enjoyed watching us.

There's plenty to work on but there's also plenty to work with going on that second half showing. We thoroughly deserved the three points and I didn't think I'd be saying that at half time.

Onwards blues.

[Shukes]

All I can say is that Romey had some positivity… 

So Rafa basically performed a miracle!

[Sibdane]

4 hours ago, MikeO said:

Horrible defensive style Benitez teams play eh?

You know he told Keane to give away the goal. Defensive masterclass to get the opposition to let their guard down like that after we conceded. 

[Matt]

 

 

[barryj]

Long day! Jekyll and Hyde performance. Tale of two half’s. Digital tickets seemed to go ok. Rafa applause. Great to have us fans back. Holgate and Keane = car crash. 3 points. Lots of positives. The most normal it’s felt in 18 months (except an Everton home win).  On to next week. COYBs 

[Bailey]

I was at a BBQ all evening with some Southampton fans so it was safe to say it was an interesting afternoon, and not one that I remember too much of the end of! 

I didn't think we were that bad in the first half, or at least until the goal. The tactics were not too dissimilar, it was just that the application of those tactics was. Once they scored, the arse of plenty of those players fell out and Rafa did well to get them back out with their tails up and it helped with the early goal.

Rafa earned a lot of my respect for the way he used Doucoure (easily my motm). Whenever the ball went forward he was joining in the attack. From the first kick to the last kick, he was sprinting forward making 5 players in attack. Last year we sometimes didnt have 1! The switching of Richarlison and Gray also worked well, as well as Keane and Holgate but IMO we just did what we were doing in the first half that bit better. When we got the ball forward the whole team squeezed up the pitch and tried to win that second ball. It isnt pretty football but we arent a pretty side and IMO it is the right way to go about using the qualities we have in this side. At its basic it is like the way Ferguson lumped the ball forward in his few games in charge but clearly much more refined from Rafa.

Pickford didn't really have much to do and did what he had to.

Coleman looked a bit of an old man at the end when Djenepo put him on his arse. He was ok but they were starting to run him ragged at the end.

Digne was also solid enough. Not terrible, but not really making an impact on the game.

Keane and Holgate had good spells and terrible spells. Keane's mistake was shocking, but Holgate panicked straight after when he could have bailed out his teammate. Keane was rocky until about 60 mins in, getting nudged off the ball by a far smaller man showinh where his head is. Holgate was bullied by both strikers and his long balls where shocking. One of the reasons we didnt have a stronger foothold in that first half. 

Allan was solid enough again, mainly going about his business but Doucoure was a mountain. Regardless of the goal he was key for us. Always getting forward, but the first back too. He turned the ball over and started attacks regularly too. He dominated midfield. 

I was impressed enough by the wide men. Townsend is a such a strange one. Great work rate, he looks like a bit of a leader too, organising people. He has a wicked delivery, off the back foot too which is really difficult, but he has little to no involvement in build up play and makes really basic passing errors. He had an essy through ball to slip Gray in the channel and he knocks it out of play. I don't get how he can whip a cross onto a 5 pence piece but overhit a simple pass that far? 

Gray was lively all game. He is really sharp and to my surprise he played two really good crosses into the box. He then also ruined a good attack but crossing the ball into the keepers arms which is the player I have seen more of. After that moment, I thought his head dropped. He looks better than I expected but lets see if he is still playing like this at the end of the season. 

Richarlison and Dom were similar. Richie wasn't getting any change out of the full back in the first half. He was much better second half through the middle. The assist was a great cross however I would best describe it as a persistent performance rather than a quality one. It was that persistence that led to the equaliser. 

Dom started the game very rustily. He was off the pace and a sharper performance would have seen him score a couple because the one time he got infront of his man he scored. As long as he does sharpen up, I can see him doing well this season. 

A small mention should go to Iwobi too. Him and Towsend are like chalk and cheese and that showed in the two goals that followed. Whereas Towsend wasn't really involved in the build up, Iwobi was firstly drawing the foul and then getting up and running into space to nod the ball back to Doucoure. The second goal is a little hazy but I seem to remember him getting into space and playing the ball to Richarlison. Small things that Townsend wasn't doing. Iwobi clearly wasn't as organised in defence and did not have the quality in delivery. 

There are definitely promising signs and this was a big step forward from the end of Ancellotti, but I won't get too carried away just yet given what did happen last season. Not that you would expect me to anyway

[pete0]

1 hour ago, Bailey said:

Keane and Holgate had good spells and terrible spells. Keane's mistake was shocking, but Holgate panicked straight after when he could have bailed out his teammate. Keane was rocky until about 60 mins in, getting nudged off the ball by a far smaller man showinh where his head is. Holgate was bullied by both strikers and his long balls where shocking. One of the reasons we didnt have a stronger foothold in that first half. 

Michael Keane had one of the worse 45 minutes of any person I've seen in an Everton shirt (that's including lads at 5 aside with a replica jersey on).... Yet Holgate gets the blame?!

[Bailey]

19 minutes ago, pete0 said:

Michael Keane had one of the worse 45 minutes of any person I've seen in an Everton shirt (that's including lads at 5 aside with a replica jersey on).... Yet Holgate gets the blame?!

No, pretty sure I blamed Keane too. I even used the word shocking which was the clue. Holgate was as trying his hardest to be as bad though but was much better second half. 

[pete0]

1 minute ago, Bailey said:

No, pretty sure I blamed Keane too. I even used the word shocking which was the clue. Holgate was as trying his hardest to be as bad though but was much better second half. 

Everything you say about Keane you deflect with how Holgate was worse, or even to blame.

Shocking, but Holgate should have saved him.

Keane was bullied by one but Holgate bullied by both.

You even blame Holgate for us not having a foothold in the game compared to Keane being rocky. He wasn't rocky, he was an absolute shambles and that's even without the mistake.

Yes Holgate has a face like a slapped arse but the lad isn't playing badly. Similar happens with Davies too, used to see the same shite from the fans about Fellaini as well. One looks arrogant, one looks like a skateboarder and the other gangly. Rarely actually judged on their football.