Sat, 25th May 2013

Echo Sport

How does Saints' City win rate?

1:50pm Sunday 10th February 2013

How does Saints' City win rate?

SAINTS produced one of their best league results of modern times in beating defending Premier League champions Manchester City last night.

City arrived in town with a squad costing over £300m and having only suffered two defeats in 25 league games this season.

They had only lost one of their previous 15 away league games, winning 12 of them, and prior to last night boasted the best away defensive record in the Premier League.

Joe Hart had only conceded 10 league goals in 11 games, but conceded three more as Saints claimed a famous victory.

That got us thinking here at the Daily Echo.

Where does last night’s success rank in your list of the greatest league results Saints have produced in your time supporting the club?

Does it rank right up there with putting six past Manchester United at The Dell in 1996, when Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were also the reigning Premier League champions.

Let us know below ...

Comments(30)

Comments(30)

100%Saint says...
2:01pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Although it is not our most important victory in the recent seasons (eg: Coventry last game to go up) but it is probably the best we've had. We want more results like that. COYS!!!

OSPREYSAINT says...
2:06pm Sun 10 Feb 13

It was good, it was something we had threatened for a while, and it was very important, it was good to be there and watch it, I suspect that if all goes well there will be better to come. Manchester City were not at their best but that wasn't our fault, on the day we simply gave them no room to play their fancy stuff and they were not up for a fight.

bogie says...
2:10pm Sun 10 Feb 13

I think this will be a real confidence boost. We have been threatening this for a while.
Need to stop the silly errors though as it has cost us a mid table position this season.
Onwards and upwards.
Don't think that anyone will be looking forward to playing us at the moment due to our high pressing and high workrate game.

JohnItaly says...
2:19pm Sun 10 Feb 13

I can remember a similar shock result against Man. City. 3rd FA Cup January 1960 at Maine Road. Manchester City (1st div.) 1 - Saints (3rd div) 5. Oh happy days.

Rising_Son says...
2:33pm Sun 10 Feb 13

JohnItaly wrote:
I can remember a similar shock result against Man. City. 3rd FA Cup January 1960 at Maine Road. Manchester City (1st div.) 1 - Saints (3rd div) 5. Oh happy days.
I was hoping we'd match that. It was the first season I started to watch Saints regularly.

Costa Baz says...
2:38pm Sun 10 Feb 13

It rates highly because Man City weren't just poor- they were made to look poor, by Saints tactics, depriving them of time on the ball, stopping them from playing short passes, forcing them to hit long hopeful passes out of defence, which just concede possession back to us.

We mad Everton look poor for 45 minutes. Likewise Man Utd for 45 minutes. Now Man City for 90 minutes.

Because of the quality in their teams, the pundits have put this down to their having played badly, and have only begrudgingly conceded that we have, to a certain extent, played well.

Against Wigan, we made them look poor, but because they are bottom 3, we were given the due credit we deserved.

Get used to it. There are a few more teams due to have an off day, when they next play Saints.

Dave Juson says...
2:49pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Everybody I saw after the game was claiming it the best performance for a decade. I agree. So the argument is: which result circa 2002-03 was better than defeating the Premiership champions?
My suggestion is the 3-2 defeat of Premiership champions Arsenal at St Mary’s on November 2002, with James Beattie and Agustin Delgado inducing shell shock in the Gunners’ defence.

St.Yorkie says...
2:54pm Sun 10 Feb 13

It doesn't rank up there with some of the results when we were last in the big time.

I can think of a lot better performances in terms of skill and flair - for example that 4-1 thrashing of Liverpool at The Dell.

If hard work and endeavour brings results like this week in week out I won't complain. The icing on the cake for me is that we can get some flair as well as endeavour into our performances.

As far as performances at SMS - it's the first time for a long time I have not felt nervous in the last 10-mins. It's probably the most comprehensive win since we anialated Spurs in the Cup all those years ago under Strachan.

Block41row0sfc says...
2:57pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Hopefully we won't have to look behind us now more in front. Wins against QPR, west ham, west brom & stoke. Draws against Newcastle, Norwich, Swansea, & reading.

Should see us comfortable and I can't so why we can't if we play some where near to that level.

Up the saints

milton road says...
3:10pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Think we had threatened this against Arsenal, Everton and United, we just finished it off with goals this time.
Think 13 points will see us up, hopefully get more than that.
If we stay up this is a big result.
hard to say where it comes on the scale. over 50 years there have been some immense results

OSPREYSAINT says...
3:21pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Villa 2 1 up in injury time. Gives us a chance to catch WHU

promised land says...
3:38pm Sun 10 Feb 13

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Villa 2 1 up in injury time. Gives us a chance to catch WHU
My thoughts too and they are 11th

City Saint says...
3:43pm Sun 10 Feb 13

The win againt Citeh was or for the trophy cabinet, just like the 6-1 and 6-3 against Man U all those years ago, and the famous victories against
Liverpool and Arsenal in our previous Premiership life. I would say this was even better, because Man City have a limitless budget, and therefore the very best players and coaching staff that money can buy. With financial fair play about to kick in, this might be the most expensively assembled elite team that any club will ever face in history. We are one of the few to ever turn the tables on them!

City Saint says...
3:45pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Puncheon was in awesome form. Some of his passes and flicks were touched with genius.

Rocket 1 says...
4:33pm Sun 10 Feb 13

What a great weekend, all results going our way, now we have Wet Spam in our sites and they are 11th wow dizzy heights, oh and the icing on the cake, the fishy fiddlers lost, bye bye poopee

st1halo says...
4:43pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Dave Juson wrote:
Everybody I saw after the game was claiming it the best performance for a decade. I agree. So the argument is: which result circa 2002-03 was better than defeating the Premiership champions?
My suggestion is the 3-2 defeat of Premiership champions Arsenal at St Mary’s on November 2002, with James Beattie and Agustin Delgado inducing shell shock in the Gunners’ defence.
Great game and sterling performance from Niemi as I recall


STID

Strasbourg Saint says...
6:00pm Sun 10 Feb 13

St.Yorkie wrote:
It doesn't rank up there with some of the results when we were last in the big time.

I can think of a lot better performances in terms of skill and flair - for example that 4-1 thrashing of Liverpool at The Dell.

If hard work and endeavour brings results like this week in week out I won't complain. The icing on the cake for me is that we can get some flair as well as endeavour into our performances.

As far as performances at SMS - it's the first time for a long time I have not felt nervous in the last 10-mins. It's probably the most comprehensive win since we anialated Spurs in the Cup all those years ago under Strachan.
My life's been such that I didn't make the 6-3 vs Manure, the 3-1 (grey shirts) vs Manure, the 3-2 vs Arsenal, the 4-1 vs Liverpool or the 4-0 Cup win vs Spurs (though I watched that on TV).

That 4-0 was the one that yesterday most reminded me of because we simply didn't allow the opposition a chance (except for yesterday's goal, of course).

As I recall, the 4-1 was in 1989-90. I was in Melbourne and got home from a party late at night, turned on the radio and feared the worst when the World Service said there had been another goal at the Dell. Then I discovered we had got our fourth. Wasn't it one of Dodd's first games and he supplied half the goals overlapping down the wing?

Two earlier ones I remember being at (early '80s) were beating Forest 4-1 and an outstanding 3-2 win aginst Manure (the one where Keegan's overhead kick was disallowed for offside against Armstrong).

I'm too young to remember beating Man City away 5-1 in the Cup, though.

Changed your mind about Newcastle yet?

southwest saint says...
7:48pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Costa Baz wrote:
It rates highly because Man City weren't just poor- they were made to look poor, by Saints tactics, depriving them of time on the ball, stopping them from playing short passes, forcing them to hit long hopeful passes out of defence, which just concede possession back to us.

We mad Everton look poor for 45 minutes. Likewise Man Utd for 45 minutes. Now Man City for 90 minutes.

Because of the quality in their teams, the pundits have put this down to their having played badly, and have only begrudgingly conceded that we have, to a certain extent, played well.

Against Wigan, we made them look poor, but because they are bottom 3, we were given the due credit we deserved.

Get used to it. There are a few more teams due to have an off day, when they next play Saints.
Let the pundits not give us the credit. Let teams underestimate us. We all know how good this side is.

saintbobby says...
7:56pm Sun 10 Feb 13

It was a great display confirmed by the Shearer legend who said on MOD that the Saints were "absolutely brilliant".

The papers I have read today seemed to concentrate on how bad City were - and we all agree they were pretty awful and with such dreadful mistakes.

But, is it not the old adage that you are only as good as uour opponents allow. We were missing several first teamers, particulalrly the wonderful Clyne (oh boy isn't he good!!), but our defence is now a revelation - what a change and helped a lot by the team's confidence in the goalkeeper.But we did NOT let City play their game, so praise for the Saints is deserved.

Let's hope the remaining matches are just as good. COYR.

By the way, I think a pat on the back for NC is deserved. Why won't he speak about his thoughts. They seem pretty good and wise to me.

Block41row0sfc says...
8:02pm Sun 10 Feb 13

saintbobby wrote:
It was a great display confirmed by the Shearer legend who said on MOD that the Saints were "absolutely brilliant".

The papers I have read today seemed to concentrate on how bad City were - and we all agree they were pretty awful and with such dreadful mistakes.

But, is it not the old adage that you are only as good as uour opponents allow. We were missing several first teamers, particulalrly the wonderful Clyne (oh boy isn't he good!!), but our defence is now a revelation - what a change and helped a lot by the team's confidence in the goalkeeper.But we did NOT let City play their game, so praise for the Saints is deserved.

Let's hope the remaining matches are just as good. COYR.

By the way, I think a pat on the back for NC is deserved. Why won't he speak about his thoughts. They seem pretty good and wise to me.
Missed clyne???

saintbobby says...
8:07pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Block41row0sfc wrote:
saintbobby wrote:
It was a great display confirmed by the Shearer legend who said on MOD that the Saints were "absolutely brilliant".

The papers I have read today seemed to concentrate on how bad City were - and we all agree they were pretty awful and with such dreadful mistakes.

But, is it not the old adage that you are only as good as uour opponents allow. We were missing several first teamers, particulalrly the wonderful Clyne (oh boy isn't he good!!), but our defence is now a revelation - what a change and helped a lot by the team's confidence in the goalkeeper.But we did NOT let City play their game, so praise for the Saints is deserved.

Let's hope the remaining matches are just as good. COYR.

By the way, I think a pat on the back for NC is deserved. Why won't he speak about his thoughts. They seem pretty good and wise to me.
Missed clyne???
Fair comment - when I said "missed", I meant he was absent. Obviously, the team more than coped.

Sorry not to be clearer!

Tirau Dan says...
8:08pm Sun 10 Feb 13

The relentlessly positive attacking style of football that has definitely come with the introduction of Mauricio Pochettino and his assistants does credit to the the club and the Chairman.

The talents that were apparently held in check are now potently unleashed and being encouraged to get stuck in. Every team member seems to be more actively looking to become involved in making an impact on play.

Where does this game stand in the history of the club?

To date we've shown lots of potential but nervous mistakes and loss of direction in games at times cost us points. In my humble opinion the new style has quickly put that behind us.

This game it signals our coming of age in the new era of SFC; we have arrived in the Premier League.

Opposition need to watch out - The Saints are coming!

Pundits now need to read past the team player list and get used to Southampton being more potent and effective.. They will need to swat up and be more informed about our players as so far none has show any respect at all.

The new SFC call has to be:

VIVA LOS SANTOS

All the best to SFC and Fans


Dan Macmillan
New Zealand


PS - don't look back.. March On.

Block41row0sfc says...
8:43pm Sun 10 Feb 13

saintbobby wrote:
Block41row0sfc wrote:
saintbobby wrote:
It was a great display confirmed by the Shearer legend who said on MOD that the Saints were "absolutely brilliant".

The papers I have read today seemed to concentrate on how bad City were - and we all agree they were pretty awful and with such dreadful mistakes.

But, is it not the old adage that you are only as good as uour opponents allow. We were missing several first teamers, particulalrly the wonderful Clyne (oh boy isn't he good!!), but our defence is now a revelation - what a change and helped a lot by the team's confidence in the goalkeeper.But we did NOT let City play their game, so praise for the Saints is deserved.

Let's hope the remaining matches are just as good. COYR.

By the way, I think a pat on the back for NC is deserved. Why won't he speak about his thoughts. They seem pretty good and wise to me.
Missed clyne???
Fair comment - when I said "missed", I meant he was absent. Obviously, the team more than coped.

Sorry not to be clearer!
To be clear on what I meant he played the full 90 minutes.

st1halo says...
8:55pm Sun 10 Feb 13

Think he means Shaw!

Alicesdad says...
9:45am Mon 11 Feb 13

Let us not forget !!!
We have scored FIVE goals against City this season. Any other team done that?

I haven't looked it up so let me know.. wont be many, if any ..

JohnItaly says...
11:36am Mon 11 Feb 13

Alicesdad wrote:
Let us not forget !!!
We have scored FIVE goals against City this season. Any other team done that?

I haven't looked it up so let me know.. wont be many, if any ..
And do not forget 3 against Man Utd. Again no mean feat.

saintbobby says...
4:30pm Mon 11 Feb 13

st1halo wrote:
Think he means Shaw!
Thanks for putting me right. I read a pre-match report that Clyne would not play, hence including him in my comment.

Makes me look silly - never assume, they say. Thanks for being polite.

dellboy1968 says...
4:44pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Fabulous game a great win and at last my 3-1 bet paid off in style COYR

rednwhite72 says...
9:00pm Mon 11 Feb 13

dellboy1968 wrote:
Fabulous game a great win and at last my 3-1 bet paid off in style COYR
Nice one del, keep betting like that and next year we will be miwionares...;)

Block41row0sfc says...
10:48pm Mon 11 Feb 13

saintbobby wrote:
st1halo wrote:
Think he means Shaw!
Thanks for putting me right. I read a pre-match report that Clyne would not play, hence including him in my comment.

Makes me look silly - never assume, they say. Thanks for being polite.
Sorry read that back today I sounded rude didn't mean to be it confused me that was all I had to double check to make sure I wasn't going around the bend. Must be all this positivity my mind isn't used to it!!! COYR

More Echo Sport