Southampton player ratings

[1976Saint]

Saint in peace.

Thought your wingers were quality first half. That was my worry going into this game was our lack of pace at the back. Danns is a very good player by the looks of it.

I also was one of the few Saints fans who didn't mind that Kasper was in goal yesterday. I never really rated him at Leeds. But Jesus H Christ he was amazing yesterday. I was told we had 11 shots on target, and I'm sure had a normal keeper been in goal, we would have scored a lot more than 2!!

Was surprised when you signed Vassell as I thought he was past it, but he looked very lively first half.

Got to say, I wasn't impressed with our acadamy graduate Mills. Certainly a capable player, but £5m??

And how the hell did you get away with that 3rd goal. Blatant foul.

I don't want to incite any abuse here, but that Poznan/Man City celebration is embarrassing. You had our fans in stitches, and it was clear that quite a number of Leicester fans looked very embarrassed. And when you follow that up with our song, it really doesn't reflect very well on your lot. Tinpot comes to mind...

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season...just not too much.

[Bugg]

Saint in peace.

Thought your wingers were quality first half. That was my worry going into this game was our lack of pace at the back. Danns is a very good player by the looks of it.

I also was one of the few Saints fans who didn't mind that Kasper was in goal yesterday. I never really rated him at Leeds. But Jesus H Christ he was amazing yesterday. I was told we had 11 shots on target, and I'm sure had a normal keeper been in goal, we would have scored a lot more than 2!!

Was surprised when you signed Vassell as I thought he was past it, but he looked very lively first half.

Got to say, I wasn't impressed with our acadamy graduate Mills. Certainly a capable player, but £5m??

And how the hell did you get away with that 3rd goal. Blatant foul.

I don't want to incite any abuse here, but that Poznan/Man City celebration is embarrassing. You had our fans in stitches, and it was clear that quite a number of Leicester fans looked very embarrassed. And when you follow that up with our song, it really doesn't reflect very well on your lot. Tinpot comes to mind...

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season...just not too much.

Stuff like that happens to Steve Howard whenever he comes on, he gets fouled even when a player is climbing all over his back and even ends up giving away a foul as a result!

[dhermon]

It's interesting reading all the comments on Kingy the guys commentating the game on the Soton player (Fox player was dropping out every other minute <_< ) were quite happy to see King go off as they thought he was one of our better players

[ithuriel]

I watched King and he was involved a lot in our attacking play down the middle, did not make a lot of runs but passed it a lot out to Danns and Fernandez whilst Wellens was sitting in front of the back four.

I think that once the players get used to this formation King will start to get more runs into the box, it looked like the same diamond formation as used at Forest and so far it is reasonably effective.

[maynefox]

* Kasper: 9 (great saves to keep hold of the lead)

Pantsil: 6 (had his PANTS down for their second, seemed abit shaky as well

Mills: 7 (won some good headers, but struggled at times v Lambert)

Bamba: 8 (bit of a rock, fair play. nearly messed up trying to do his casual run)

Konchesky: 7 (over lapped well, which he's probs the only full back in the team to do so, got caught out a few times though)

Wellens: 7 (great goal, slacking at times. overall good game)

King: 6 (hmmm turned and ran at the defences sometimes opening chances, bit of a ghost though at times)

Fernandes: (well played, passing looked decent)

Danns: 8 (chased down well, and also counter attacked well. got into the half and ran at the defence)

Nugent: 5 (how bad??)

Vassell: 7 (well played, need a pacey guy up top, tired towards the end though)

Schlupp: 7 (bit like vassell, have more confidence, times where he got into positions at say Roths/Bury and didnt shoot. good game though for him)

Gallagher: 5 (not much effect)

Abe: 5 (see above)

[Bugg]

* Kasper: 9 (great saves to keep hold of the lead)

Pantsil: 6 (had his PANTS down for their second, seemed abit shaky as well

Mills: 7 (won some good headers, but struggled at times v Lambert)

Bamba: 8 (bit of a rock, fair play. nearly messed up trying to do his casual run)

Konchesky: 7 (over lapped well, which he's probs the only full back in the team to do so, got caught out a few times though)

Wellens: 7 (great goal, slacking at times. overall good game)

King: 6 (hmmm turned and ran at the defences sometimes opening chances, bit of a ghost though at times)

Fernandes: (well played, passing looked decent)

Danns: 8 (chased down well, and also counter attacked well. got into the half and ran at the defence)

Nugent: 5 (how bad??)

Vassell: 7 (well played, need a pacey guy up top, tired towards the end though)

Schlupp: 7 (bit like vassell, have more confidence, times where he got into positions at say Roths/Bury and didnt shoot. good game though for him)

Gallagher: 5 (not much effect)

Abe: 5 (see above)

He was on the pitch for 3 minutes, cut him some slack.

[Guest shearfox]

He was on the pitch for 3 minutes, cut him some slack.

I hope he is just joking...

[bmt]

Saint in peace.

Thought your wingers were quality first half. That was my worry going into this game was our lack of pace at the back. Danns is a very good player by the looks of it.

I also was one of the few Saints fans who didn't mind that Kasper was in goal yesterday. I never really rated him at Leeds. But Jesus H Christ he was amazing yesterday. I was told we had 11 shots on target, and I'm sure had a normal keeper been in goal, we would have scored a lot more than 2!!

Was surprised when you signed Vassell as I thought he was past it, but he looked very lively first half.

Got to say, I wasn't impressed with our acadamy graduate Mills. Certainly a capable player, but £5m??

And how the hell did you get away with that 3rd goal. Blatant foul.

I don't want to incite any abuse here, but that Poznan/Man City celebration is embarrassing. You had our fans in stitches, and it was clear that quite a number of Leicester fans looked very embarrassed. And when you follow that up with our song, it really doesn't reflect very well on your lot. Tinpot comes to mind...

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season...just not too much.

It's just a bit of fun. Also, saying you dont want to incite any abuse and then calling us a tinpot club is ridiculous, sorry we didn't live up to big time Southampton.

Oh, and good luck to you too.

[earle the winger]

Kasper 10 won the game

Pantsil 4 not good enough

Konchesky 7 fair game why dont we use him more to deliver set pieces

Mills 9 good game lacks confidence in players around him

Bamba 4 lost players dwells on ball foul for our third goal but last week we were fouled for equaliser

Wellens 7 normal display

King6 not being used in correct role by Sven

Fernandes 8 good first half

Danns 8 good first half

Vassell 8 best game for us

Nugent na

Schlupp 8 first half 6 second real threat to them down middle no threat on wing see Sven

Gallagher 5

Abe

[Freeman's Wharfer]

Saint in peace.

Thought your wingers were quality first half. That was my worry going into this game was our lack of pace at the back. Danns is a very good player by the looks of it.

I also was one of the few Saints fans who didn't mind that Kasper was in goal yesterday. I never really rated him at Leeds. But Jesus H Christ he was amazing yesterday. I was told we had 11 shots on target, and I'm sure had a normal keeper been in goal, we would have scored a lot more than 2!!

Was surprised when you signed Vassell as I thought he was past it, but he looked very lively first half.

Got to say, I wasn't impressed with our acadamy graduate Mills. Certainly a capable player, but £5m??

And how the hell did you get away with that 3rd goal. Blatant foul.

I don't want to incite any abuse here, but that Poznan/Man City celebration is embarrassing. You had our fans in stitches, and it was clear that quite a number of Leicester fans looked very embarrassed. And when you follow that up with our song, it really doesn't reflect very well on your lot. Tinpot comes to mind...

Anyway, good luck for the rest of the season...just not too much.

Personally think the Poznan (not the 'Man City' celebration) should have been left in last season although if people want to do it then let them. I'm not embarassed by it.

Which song is your song exactly? Last time I check Oh When The Saints was a hymn that is now sung by every club. If it is 'your' song then Spurs certainly sing it better...

And if we're criticising football chanting from yesterday's game then the Lallana swaying thing made me laugh, reminded me of 'mauled by The Tigers'.

But, I think your summary on the game is pretty accurate. I thought Lambert's movement was top drawer, obviously Lallana was good and Do Prado bossed the middle of the park a little too much for my liking in the second half. I think you'll be up there at the end of the season, you've got to admire Adkin's philosophy and the way he's got you playing.

[bluesbrothers]

76saint is a daft muppet who's been posting the same thing in each thread he's posted in - namely "I dont want to incite anyth-TINPOT CLUB S**T FANZZZPOZNAN!!1!!!!!11!"

I don't remember the Saint's pretty big following really being in very good voice all day.

Anyway, my ratings

Kasper - 9 (Kept us in it, no doubt. Passhun showed.)

Paintsil - 6 (Not great, but i'll forgive his pratfall for their goal since we won, and it was quite funny)

Mills - 7 (Distribution was poor, but looking at his defensive display under intense pressure, probably his best for the Foxes.)

Bamba - 6 (Apart from a pratty run which gifted Saints a golden chance, was quite steady.)

Konchesky - 7 (Didn't realise he offers so much going forward, and not a bad free kick either! Needs to track back faster.)

Wellens - 9 MOTM (Flawless display, would have been a 10 for a full 90.)

King - 6 (Largely anonymous as is frustratingly common for him, but some good moments.)

Fernandes - 8 (Can't fault him, steady and with enough flair moments to merit another quality display.)

Danns - 7 (Lost the ball a few times but did well overall and played a key role covering Konchesky when he got forward.)

Vassell - 9 (Worked tirelessly, deserved his goal and troubled Saints defence. Tired late on but his best Foxes display.)

Nugent - N/A (Can't rate, but hope it's not too long until he's back.)

SUBS -

Schlupp - 8 (Filled the role of Nugent suprisingly well, brilliant tenacity for Wellens' goal and rewarded with first assist in the Championship. Lost in second half, but we were under the kosh. Great game.)

Gallagher - 6 (Came on at a time when he couldn't exercise his dead ball skills, but his defending is slowly improving.)

Abe - 7 (Not on long, but made some gutsy challenges to help neutralise Saints' push for the equaliser.)

UTF!

[beryllind]

Kasper 8 Saved the day

Pantsil 6

Mills 6

Bamba 7

Konchesky 7

King 4 doesn't know what a tackle means

Fernandes 6

Wellens 9 Wish all the other players had is passion

Danns 7

Schlupp 6

Vassell 7

Sven 5 His tactics leave me baffled

[Number 6]

Kasper 8 - Kept us in it.

Pantsil 7

Mills 7

Bamba 6

Konchesky 7 - much better game

Wellens 7

Fernandes 7 - gets stuck in

Danns 7 - Engine

King 5 - Anon

Vas 6 - ran and ran

Schlupp 7 - caused them all sorts of problems. Won some vital free kicks

Gally - 6

Yuki - 6

[Thracian]

It's interesting reading all the comments on Kingy the guys commentating the game on the Soton player (Fox player was dropping out every other minute <_< ) were quite happy to see King go off as they thought he was one of our better players

There's a clan of City fans who support Wellens over King whatever because, in their eyes, he "gets stuck in". They like that and it's what's needed at times.

But, for all that so many of the stats show that King is our most effective midfielder. He's made the most appearances, scored the most goals, had the most shots, is our fastest and most accurate passer and is a far more effective defender than Wellens in many situations. .

Me I like both players in some ways and there is no doubt that since King's return to a starting position - and the introduction of our diamond approach - some of our football is so much improved that it's arguably the best we've played. Part-time!.

Give me 90 minutes of what we've been doing for 35 minutes and I'd be a happy man. But we're not getting 90 minutes and Sven is not coming up with an effective alternative for when Wellens tires, when his influence fades and when he starts leaving gaps all over the place.

Sven's response to that situation only makes it worse and that's what has to change if we are to mount a serious challenge.

[funkyrobot]

A midfielder from the past who had outstanding passing accuracy was david batty and that's because, like kingy, his passes were short, simple and often went backwards.

[Corky]

A midfielder from the past who had outstanding passing accuracy was david batty and that's because, like kingy, his passes were short, simple and often went backwards.

Is that a totally bad thing?

It will keep possession.

[Thracian]

A midfielder from the past who had outstanding passing accuracy was david batty and that's because, like kingy, his passes were short, simple and often went backwards.

Batty scored just 9 goals in his entire 12 year career which is fewer than Kingy scored last season alone.

[Kent]

There's a clan of City fans who support Wellens over King whatever because, in their eyes, he "gets stuck in". They like that and it's what's needed at times.

But, for all that so many of the stats show that King is our most effective midfielder. He's made the most appearances, scored the most goals, had the most shots, is our fastest and most accurate passer and is a far more effective defender than Wellens in many situations. .

Me I like both players in some ways and there is no doubt that since King's return to a starting position - and the introduction of our diamond approach - some of our football is so much improved that it's arguably the best we've played. Part-time!.

Give me 90 minutes of what we've been doing for 35 minutes and I'd be a happy man. But we're not getting 90 minutes and Sven is not coming up with an effective alternative for when Wellens tires, when his influence fades and when he starts leaving gaps all over the place.

Sven's response to that situation only makes it worse and that's what has to change if we are to mount a serious challenge.

Mate take the blinkers off for a minute. You can't seriously say that King is effective defensively. When he's playing its for more or less one thing and that is goals from midfield. His short passing technique is decent but he's obviously under instruction to spend as little time on the ball as possible and if there are little or no other options then he will usually give it straight back to the person who gave him the ball.

[Guest ttfn]

Schmeichel 9 - Ultimately won us the game.

Pantsil 7 - Love the guy, but slipped to allow them to score the first. Lap of honour is outstanding.

Bamba 6 - Troubled by Lambert's presence and Connolly's movement. Had one aberration with about 15 minutes to go where he lost the ball twice in 10 seconds pissing about with it.

Mills 5 - The guy is not a footballer. He's a "head it and kick it" centre-half, and not a £5 million one at that. A concerning display.

Konchesky 7 - Looked pretty solid throughout.

Fernandes 7.5 - Never stops running.

Wellens 7 - Used the ball well, great goal. Said in his interview after the game that it was his job to protect the space in front of the back 4. If that was his role, he didn't do it very well.

King 6.5 - Thought he played brilliantly in the first half, setting up the first goal, and he should have had one himself. Second half he disappeared, other than one good shot.

Danns 7 - Busy and tricky as usual. The only one who started who still looked like they had any energy at the end.

Nugent n/a

Vassell 7.5 - Classic Vassell performance of hard running and poor control, but a tidy finish as well.

subs:

Schlupp 6.5 - Good in the first half, poor in the second on the wing. Not his fault though.

Gallagher 6 - Did fine, nothing special.

Abe 7 - Made a couple of critical tackles.

Sven 4 - What the hell was he doing changing formation at half-time? And then not seeing that it was going tits up for us? Everyone else in the stadium could see that he had dropped a bollock, but in the end he got away with it big time.

Also, I thought Adam Lallana was absolutely outstanding for Southampton. That was the best individual display I've seen by a player at second tier level.

[@mrtonycox]

I didn't rate Konchesky, a few passes he gave the ball away and the David Connolly goal was his fault. I was yards from this both Konchesky and Kasper were jossling Connolly in the centre of goal, when the kick was taken Connolly stepped out to the back post, Kasper went out to try and catch it and Konchesky didn't follow his man or cover the back post.. Connolly was simply waiting there with a simple tap in via his head unmarked.. Was bread and butter defending and a sloppy goal.

[coolhandfox]

A midfielder from the past who had outstanding passing accuracy was david batty and that's because, like kingy, his passes were short, simple and often went backwards.

If thats a bad thing someone should let Pep" Guardiola know as he's Barc do it all the time..............

[Jaspa]

He was on the pitch for 3 minutes, cut him some slack.

I think he was asking how bad his injury was.

Buggtard

[Bugg]

I think he was asking how bad his injury was.

Buggtard

[LCFC OK]

Is this the worst defence in the league?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14700372.stm

pause the action at 50 seconds to find out!