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SAINTS LACKING CREATOR'S TOUCH
SingaSaint Julian Chow shares his thoughts on the 2003 FA Cup final between Saints and Arsenal.
SingaSaints watching the Cup final at CHIJMES
The date was 17th May 2003... The final whistle blew and the Millennium Stadium erupted! Players in red and white raised their arms in celebration, starting their ecstatic runs of joy. The physical exertions over the past ninety minutes were totally shrugged off by the adrenaline-filled Gunners. For those decked in yellow and blue, the whistle was like a death knell… One by one, they sank to their knees, fatigue amplified by defeat. The Saints had a zombied look in their eyes as they stared into emptiness. Somehow, I heaved a sigh of relief and started clapping as though it was the Saints who had captured the coveted FA Cup. Amidst the bitter taste of defeat, I have found many reasons for cheer.
Not so long ago, an extended cup run would not have been thought of, let alone a cup final. Finishing in the top-half of the league was also considered a wishful thought. We have done both this season, carrying on our gradual transformation from perennial relegation dog-fighters to a class side that has now got a reputation of being hard to beat.
From this one match, I could see that the future of our beloved Saints is bright. We pressed the Gunners all the way and with some luck, we could have easily won the match too. It was definitely a much closer match than many other people have claimed (The Singapore Sunday Times had this article "Arsenal gets the cup it deserves" by Rob Hughes). Arsenal certainly won the match, but we definitely did ourselves proud. To say that Arsenal deserved to win is nothing short of being an insult to the valiant efforts of the Saints who went down fighting.
We played a disciplined game and what separated the two teams was an admittedly well-worked attack by the Gunners, aided by a lucky deflection, who took their chance. Beattie had a goal disallowed for being offside, which he was, albeit by the slightest of margins. There were heroics by three keepers on both sides. Niemi produced many stunning saves with his catlike reflexes, Paul Jones who came on to replace Niemi also had a few heart-stopping saves to deny the Gunners. At the other end, the energetic Ormerod stole in perfectly from a Tessem flick-on to turn in a shot from a tight angle, only to be tipped away by Seaman. In the end, it was that goal by Pires that won the match.
The result was a defeat, which means the romance of bringing the FA Cup back to the south-coast was dashed. Many fans had waited such a long time but it was not meant to be. We are the 2003 FA Cup 1st Runner Up...
The side that had lost is definitely by far one of the most talented sides that we had seen over the years, illuminated by the performance they put up (starting from the defence):
Antti Niemi has produced yet another scintillating display of his goalkeeping skills. He was called into action only some 30 seconds into the match and made himself big enough to deflect Henry's shot with his legs. He was not at fault when Pires calmly slotted home the ball from close distance when it took a lucky deflection off Ljungberg into his path. He then made a cat-like save when Bergkamp tried to curl a shot beyond him to the far post. Unfortunately he suffered a freak calf muscle tear to prevent him from keeping goal for the rest of the match.
Chris Baird was outstanding in his second only start to the season and showed that he could do more than replace Dodd. He is naturally gifted with good reflexes and a great reading of the game. He was at hand to thwart many of the attacks down the right and even through the center with his timely and confident interceptions and tackles. With quick feet and a cultured cross, he at the age of 21 has all the essential ingredients to become a star for Southampton FC in the many seasons to come. Yes, I said "star" and I firmly believe that he will be, if we can hold on to him.
Brett Ormerod made many surging runs and was a constant pain for the Arsenal defense with his pace and neat footwork. The former part-time soccer player, who had to work in a factory during the day before soccer in the evening, almost completed a fairy-tale transition from the nadir to the zenith with a rasping volley near the end of the match from a tight angle. It was a wonderful opportunity made out of nothing, when he somehow managed to dart in front of an Arsenal defender whom looked certain to clear a knock down by Tessem in the six yard box. He tummied the ball while still moving at an incredible speed, spun round the defender and half volleyed the shot that seem destined for goal if not for the fingertip save of Seaman. It was a good chance well taken and denied.
James Beattie has already made the graduation from a confidence player into a class player. Now he is the owner of the England number 9 jersey and he has stamped his authority by having a few good attempts on goal. There was a clinical finish into the corner of the goal that was disallowed (rightly) for offside and a powerful header cleared off the line by Cole. He stuck to his job well and was a good target-man with some nice flicks and knockdowns. Give him a sniff of goal and the chances are that he will stick them in.
These players are definitely in the star category for the saints and are excellent players comparable to the very best in the English game and they certainly showed that in the final match.
The others not mentioned had a great game too but were not as outstanding as the few I mentioned. Michael Svensson and Claus Lundekvam certainly earned their pay protecting Niemi and Paul Jones from the multi-million dollar strike force. Wayne Bridge did what was expected of him, partnered with Chris Marsden, managed to marshal the left flank most of the time. Matthew Oakley was a calming presence with his reassuring non-fancy passes. Paul Telfer provided the much needed grit against an extremely fluid Arsenal side, constantly hounding their every pass. Jo Tessem did all right and could have scored with his second touch if he had struck a clean volley instead of hitting the shot onto the ground and shin of an Arsenal defender. Paul Jones carried on his form against Manchester City and deputized ably for the injured Antti Niemi. Without his saves, the match would have already been lost much earlier into the game.
Fabrice Fernandes did not work his flair but to be fair, the tricky winger did not have much time to impress having come on in the 86th minute. Arsenal was playing a sleek keep ball game by then and also demonstrated how to rearrange a freekick multiple times without getting a warning (it was composed of questioning the referee on where exactly he wanted the ball to be placed, shrugging of shoulders and asking the opinions of other teammates). They also unveiled an innovative way of protecting a freekick. Henry with the ball was sandwiched between two other Gunners who were acting as bouncers to prevent any Saints player from getting to the ball. Effective but definitely disgraceful and ugly. They managed to wither the minutes away and it was only during the 94th minute did Fernandes get a touch on the ball. He took the corner that was headed down by Beattie and cleared by Cole on the goal line. His form over the season was erratic and after starting extremely well he seemingly cooled down. Perhaps he has really been "found out", but essentially he is an important first-team player for me.
No reflection would be complete without a comprehensive look on both sides of the coin...
Many a time, my heart was screaming silently for someone to latch onto the poorly headed clearances by the Arsenal defense. Each time, my heart anticipated and painted a familiar lumbering figure, dragging a mortal shell and impeccably hitting a somewhat ironically celestial volley that pierces through the forest of defenders and beyond the flailing arms of Seaman. My heart had pre-empted my mind by superimposing the godly visage of Le Tissier exacting his typical divine punishment to opposition's poor clearances. When I no longer look with my mind's eyes, I see Anders Svensson of arguably pristine appearance, swinging his leg and launching a mortal mis-hit pass or shot. He was a pain to watch in the game that could have topped off our magical season. For someone who is reputed to be the most talented in our current squad, he has rarely shone or reproduced his great performances for his home nation. Please do not think that my current reflection is a reaction to his recent shocking "want away" revelation. This was really what had gone through my mind when I saw his labored-self plow his clumsy way through the match. He is simply not reproducing his best consistently enough for us and I feel it wouldn't be much of a loss to let him go (at a price that Rupert Lowe deems fit).
To sum things up, we have what it takes to maintain or even do much better for the seasons to come. For now, we are no longer a one star/man team! It would not be too far fetched to suggest that Niemi, Baird, Bridge, Michael Svensson, Rory Delap, Fernandes, Omerod, Pahars and Beattie are all stars in their own right, comparable with the best in the English Premier League. Then there are always the reliable Lundekvam, Jason Dodd, Oakley, Marsden, David Prutton, Telfer, Paul Williams, Kevin Davies, Jo Tessem and perhaps even Jones that keep the squad ticking! If we can keep the mentioned stars as well the work-horses, adding the right quality to the squad; the Saints could possibly challenge in Europe, the league and do well on both fronts.
We simply need a new Le Tissier to patch the final chink in our armour. Someone with Le God's grace, confidence and ability to punish opposition by pouncing on their mistakes or create something out of nothing. With that done, we would be on our way! We have much to cheer about with all that we have achieved in what still remains as one of the best seasons that I have personally experienced over my many years of support for the Saints.
COME ON YOU SAINTS!
Julian Chow
18-05-03
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