Neutral view of yesterday's match

[whalebone 0]

I went to yesterday''s match, as a supporter of neither team. Hopefully this match report will be objective and unsullied by the normal bias of these forums, whatever team is represented...

The first thing to say is that it was a cracker. A great advert for the Third Division. The standard was really pretty high. Sure there were lots of mistakes, but if you did not know anything about the clubs but went to lots of football of varying standards you could easily imagine it as a Championship match.

As this is a Norwich forum, I''ll discuss it from your perspective. The only other game I have seen of yours this season was the Sky TV coverage against Leeds. Then you impressed me. I thought your midfield was dominant until the last ten minutes, and then you tired. Obviously the final goal was a sickener from your point of view.

Yesterday you didn''t play as well. You had lots of possession, again, and looked very comfortable on the ball, but Hoolahan was not the factor he had been at Elland Road. In fact he was relatively anonymous, and gave the ball away at crucial times by trying to be too fancy.

Lappin too, was a bit of a disappointment. In fact I thought you looked better balanced in midfield (your real strength) after the second half substitutions.

You also lacked a real cutting edge up front. Lots of good looking football but really too few chances. I was behind goal opposite your fans and in the first half your really created nothing. Holt was tamed by the Soton centre back (Jaidi??). He was just too strong for him, and all over him like a rash and because Holt looks like a goal poacher rather than someone with pace that was a problem.

Martin played better, with some nice touches, but I have to say I have seen much more threatening strikers than him in the Third Division.

Your defence was shaky at times. Your GK is actually pretty good, he made one amazing save toward the end and can''t really be blamed for either goal.

But when Soton attacked with pace (especially that Cameroonian sub, Papa whatsiname with the blue boots) you really looked flat footed.

Having said that it made for an exciting game. End to end stuff.

A draw was a fair result I thought.

Will you go up in an automatic spot? Very possibly. I don''t think you will be champions, but second place is very attainable.

[Mr. Bump 0]

Thanks for sharing

[Chocolatebuttons 0]

great...

[Canary Man of Kent 0]

Rubbish post. The title suggests potential for something insightful, not even nearly.

[macdougalls perm 0]

[quote user="SimonOTBC"]Rubbish post. The title suggests potential for something insightful, not even nearly.[/quote]

And so speaketh Confucious [:)]

Unless this was a joke in which case I''ll blame it on being first thing on a Monday morning [;)]

[nu_matik 184]

Realy good to hear an impartial view. I wasnt at the game and hasd to follow the live text on here... Im hoping Holt just had a bad day but im glad youve confirmed my suspicions about a few players...

[Lewie - Holt Our Saviour 0]

[quote user="SimonOTBC"]Rubbish post. The title suggests potential for something insightful, not even nearly.[/quote]Shuddupa your face!

[I am a Banana 0]

although it was from a ''neutral'' it was all about norwich nothing about soton!