NortonExile
Well-known member
Just under 1200 attended this game yesterday which was a great attendance considering it was a cold, overcast day against ‘unglamorous’ opposition. Southampton staff gave out mini flags to wave, had photo opps with the mascots, and created a ‘family day’ atmosphere without advertising it as such. 2 large, fully staffed heated concourses open so it was quick to be served and to be fully socially distanced. Really well ran and Southampton should be applauded.
The game was a strange one. I haven’t seen one team so dominant and not win a game in a long time. Boro tore into Saints time and again. Over the course of the game they had two goals disallowed for offside, they hit the woodwork three times, missed two one-on-ones, and hit the tamest penalty I have ever seen live when Kavanagh tried a ‘hop, skip, and a jump‘ penalty that had all the Saints fans howling with laughter. These chances were on top of the other high number of general chances and efforts we created over the course of the game. Saints scored typically against the run of play with a cross- shot that trickled slowly into the far corner with one of only three shots they had all game.
There were some great performances for the Boro. Pick of the bunch was the new signing Bilongo playing Centre-Back. What a find he looks. Very tall and skinny, he won everything in the air, was quick across the ground and read the game so well, intercepting numerous passes. Dodds at right-back impresses each time I see him. Gibson, who played against Mansfield in the cup, showed good pace and energy and the number 11 out wide on the left(?) had a very good game but I didn’t catch who he was nor had I seen him before. Very similar in style to Tav.
I had been looking forward to seeing Kavanagh given his rave reviews and scoring streak but I must have seen his clone as the finishing yesterday was horrendous. The penalty he took summed it up. Why players try to complicate a simple task of stroking a dead ball into the net astounds me. Each time I see Isaac Fletcher i think he looks a footballer but he struggles to impact games. I bet he is untouchable in 5-a-side but seems to get lost on a wide open pitch but there is something there.
As always with the Boro youths the future looks bright but will we ever produce a deadly striker?
The game was a strange one. I haven’t seen one team so dominant and not win a game in a long time. Boro tore into Saints time and again. Over the course of the game they had two goals disallowed for offside, they hit the woodwork three times, missed two one-on-ones, and hit the tamest penalty I have ever seen live when Kavanagh tried a ‘hop, skip, and a jump‘ penalty that had all the Saints fans howling with laughter. These chances were on top of the other high number of general chances and efforts we created over the course of the game. Saints scored typically against the run of play with a cross- shot that trickled slowly into the far corner with one of only three shots they had all game.
There were some great performances for the Boro. Pick of the bunch was the new signing Bilongo playing Centre-Back. What a find he looks. Very tall and skinny, he won everything in the air, was quick across the ground and read the game so well, intercepting numerous passes. Dodds at right-back impresses each time I see him. Gibson, who played against Mansfield in the cup, showed good pace and energy and the number 11 out wide on the left(?) had a very good game but I didn’t catch who he was nor had I seen him before. Very similar in style to Tav.
I had been looking forward to seeing Kavanagh given his rave reviews and scoring streak but I must have seen his clone as the finishing yesterday was horrendous. The penalty he took summed it up. Why players try to complicate a simple task of stroking a dead ball into the net astounds me. Each time I see Isaac Fletcher i think he looks a footballer but he struggles to impact games. I bet he is untouchable in 5-a-side but seems to get lost on a wide open pitch but there is something there.
As always with the Boro youths the future looks bright but will we ever produce a deadly striker?
Last edited:
