Taking Southampton North!

Two tough results. Looks like the results go in your favour when the stats aren't on your side. :p

Still, a pretty solid start to the campaign!
 
mask0991 said:
Two tough results. Looks like the results go in your favour when the stats aren't on your side. :p

Still, a pretty solid start to the campaign!
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Haha definitely seems like it :p

Thanks, can't complain too much, though hopefully we can turn things around again soon :)
 
Pretty crudy run of injurys there lid. But as r' Jurgie pertinently reminds us, that's football. Next man up and all that.

Like story's like this dealing with defeats and injuries et all. Nobody ever said management was easy and it adds to the realism I personally appreciate when reading.
 
That injury list is ridiculous mate!! You have had a good start so far, Hopefully a few more tweaks and your tactic will come good!
 
Scouseinthehouse said:
Pretty crudy run of injurys there lid. But as r' Jurgie pertinently reminds us, that's football. Next man up and all that.

Like story's like this dealing with defeats and injuries et all. Nobody ever said management was easy and it adds to the realism I personally appreciate when reading.
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Definitely agree with you there, trying to keep things realistic as much as possible here :) Overcoming obstacles is part of being a manager, and personally I've always enjoyed the stories which involve struggles much more than instant success stories

JamesScott2908 said:
That injury list is ridiculous mate!! You have had a good start so far, Hopefully a few more tweaks and your tactic will come good!
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It's pretty annoying but nothing I can do about it, at least everyone else gets a chance to show what they can do :) Hopefully I can settle on a tactic that works soon enough!
 

UEFA Europa League Group Stage - Game 2 - Borussia Dortmund (Home)


Dortmund come to town today, and a win would be fantastic to break out of our slump. They’re certainly the favourites though, particularly as we’re missing Stekelenburg in goal.

The 6th minute was the first real action, with some end to end football seeing chances created by both teams, with only last ditch tackles from Cedric and Hummels preventing either team from a probable opening goal.

In the 13th minute Dortmund were in front, a looping header from Aubameyang proving too much for Gazzaniga.

Two minutes later another Hofman cross from the right bypassed our defence, and Reus finished at the far post.

In the 27th minute Aubameyang turned Van Dijk with ease, but Gazzaniga was across to push his effort around the post.

In the 30th minute we clawed one back through Rodriguez. Ramirez played a clever through ball, and Jay raced onto it, outpaced Hummels and finished beautifully beyond Burki from a sharp angle. It was a ridiculously good goal!

In the 64th minute a sensational cross from Dusan Tadic found Ramirez all alone with the goal gaping - but Burki, having obviously seen how Neuer dealt with Walcott at the Emirates irl, made the most unbelievable goal line save. Lost for words!

Clasie replaced Ward-Prowse in the 69th minute.

Two minutes later we had a corner, but it was cleared, and Dortmund killed us on the counter, Reus slotting home from a sharp angle after Hofman’s shot was parried.

Juanmi replaced Ramirez in the 73rd, with Rodriguez shifting to the right.

Pelle replaced Davis in the 81st minute.

In the 90th minute Pelle slid ahead of Hummels to deflect Rodriguez’s cross past Burki. It proved to be no more than a consolation goal.

Another disappointing defeat as Cedric was the only defender whose match rating wasn’t a 6.2 or 6.3 for most of the match. Rodriguez was outstanding and if he’s not too exhausted, has certainly put himself in contention for the next match. After Jay though, everybody else was rated below 7, besides late substitute Pelle (7.3). We really need to turn things around quickly.


POM: Marco Reus (9.0, 2G, 0A)

Best Southampton Player: Jay Rodriguez (8.7, 1G, 1A)
 
Tough result against Dortmund mate! Still think you guys will get out of the group with them.
 
It was a close game judging from the statistics , both goalkeppers were not in the best though. From a total of eight shoots on target ,five of them ended up as a goal !
 
kolas79 said:
It was a close game judging from the statistics , both goalkeppers were not in the best though. From a total of eight shoots on target ,five of them ended up as a goal !
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Well spotted actually. Unfortunately Burki made one absolutely world class save :(

JamesScott2908 said:
Tough break against Dortmund!
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3 losses in a row! Hopefully we bounce back soon :)
 

English Premier League - Game 8 - Tottenham (Home)


Our lack of central midfield options right now means that youngster Callum Slattery is on the bench against the Spurs today. Morale is down, form is down, and we’re playing a very strong side. Can we steal a draw or a win today?

In the 6th minute Harry Kane outpaced Fonte and laid off for Lamela, but fortunately the Argentine’s shot was fairly tame, and Gazzaniga held it.

Just a minute later we countered, Sadio Mane finding Juanmi racing up the middle, and the Spaniard putting Dusan Tadic through in oceans of space on the left. With just Lloris to beat, Tadic found the net high to the near post side. Great start!

Vertonghen made a critical block on Van Dijk in the 12th minute after the Dutchman was picked out by a Ward-Prowse corner.

In the 36th minute we once again produced a lethal counter attack, and it was one of the best I can ever remember seeing, as the ball flowed from one end to the other through Ward-Prowse, Mane, Clasie, Davis and Juanmi, who played the most sumptuous through ball for Davis to continue his run onto, and the Northern Irishman finished off the move with aplomb. Scintillating play from the Saints!

Unfortunately in the 40th minute Spurs halved their deficit, Dembele chipping a ball into the 6 yard box, and Harry Kane making no mistake from point blank range.

Two minutes later St Mary’s was stunned into silence as the Spurs were level, this time through Erik Lamela, and he raced into the box to meet Kane’s ball with an emphatic finish. The worst part of both goals was how prone the two centre backs were, allowing an attacker who was further away to nip in front of them and get to the ball first.

In the 52nd minute we should have been behind as Spurs carved us apart on the counter, but luckily Eriksen missed the target.

Ramirez and Rodriguez replaced Mane and Tadic on the wings on the hour mark.

Cedric made a vital block on Lamela in the 71st minute after a cleared corner was worked back into our box by the visitors.

Targett replaced Bertrand in the 76th minute.

Just as it appeared the game was headed for a draw, we found an extra reserve of energy and regained the lead in the 91st minute! Davis lofted the ball wide for Ramirez, who outpaced Rose and sent in a first time cross. Juanmi burst ahead of Wimmer to volley from the near corner of the 6 yard box. His shot was headed for the top left corner, but went straight into Wimmer’s face, and instead found the bottom right corner! I’ll take it!

A fantastic win today, with Juanmi the undoubted star of the show, laying on two goals and scoring the late winner himself! I was a little concerned when we appeared to have thrown away a winning position, but we showed great resolve to keep fighting and find a way to take all three points, particularly after a string of poor results. Hopefully we can kick on from here!


POM: Juanmi (9.0, 1G, 2A)
 
Nice result just in time for a confidence boost to the team !
 
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