Patches O Houlihan

I see Troll Charlie has the log in this evening. He's my least favourite.

Which of those players has an 'on field 2023 Alex McCarthy' as his competition?

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I don't think we even have to wait for the next game. If you can't see the improvement in our defending recently that's on you. I would like Colin to have a word in Manning's ear though, and tell him to be 2ft closer to the attacker; we'd have far fewer dangerous crosses coming into our box.

Baz man of the match for 94 minutes today. But undeniably should be saving the Watford equaliser. I find myself really feeling for him - today was going to be one of those days when he could have really stuck it to the naysayers. BUT there is a positive. Right now he is not likely to get poached off us by a top PL team, and by sticking with him through thick and thin you would hope that there is a feeling of loyalty to the club being built up with him. Plus he has been largely very good for the last 12 games. I still believe he will be a properly top level keeper, and we likely won't need to wait until he's 28. While for some supporters anything but an easy 3-0 is not good enough, I'm enjoying watching his development. Yes it's frustrating at times, but all the best dramas have some moments when things don't go as planned. Keep up the good work Baz

Boring Boringtm Arsenal under George Graham

KWP has been superb

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RM quoted as saying that he has tried to sign Ross Stewart for every team he has managed... you'd hope that he would know the LND's game thoroughly at this point.

We have - he went off injured with a hamstring...

Check out the epic bruise Kamaldeen is sporting - back of the leg, above the knee.

Swapping Sulemana for Edozie wouldn't have been the end of the world. But like you say, we just cannot rely on Edozie & Manning to close out a tight game. Manning just isn't a Left Back.

It could be worse - we could be getting battered 0-4 at home, in League One, by Blackpool 😄😆😅🤣

Maybe we ought to practice long ball skills for use in the last 10 mins of games: Downes/Smallbone to dink it forward to Stewart, who knocks it down Pelle style for Arma or Stu to smash into the back of the net... 🍆 > 🦕 >🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 easy!

Edozie and Manning on the left to close out a game doesn't work. Bree and Fraser as a pair are on a completely different level in terms of defensive reliability. I understand bringing Edozie on. I cannot see why Manning came on, unless Bree got a knock that I didn't spot? RM clearly feels the need to keep the bench players involved; but it does feel like we loose something at the moment when we swap in Charles & Manning

Russell Martin's shit football tactics Bazunu's the worst keeper in the league Smallbone weakens the midfield Holgate should never pull on a Saints shirt again What is the point of James Bree? Sorry Ryan I think you're going to be the one to take the stick for the next week or so

May be this is still residual Scar TissueTM We're so used to Saints being crap, that winning while not playing well feels like just luck; rather than teamwork, effort & innate skill.

Bree has improved us so much

I think we're seeing the benefit of both a settled side and competition for places: Holgate - know's Stephens is nearly fit and he'll be back to 4th choice so he needs to play out of his skin today. Bree - knows if he lets his standards slip Manning will come back in Adam Armstrong - despite being captain and one of the leagues top scorers will be feeling the pressure of Ross Stewart nearing fitness. Also I'm loving the mini breakthrough that Alcatraz has had today, and last week. Just need him to start pumping in the goals from the edge of the area again.

Breed compared to Manning - caught the wrong side, still made it work

Holgate, KWP, Downes, Alcaraz all on fire right now

We are bossing this so far!

Some lovely threaded direct through balls so far 👏

Or we could draw and go back above them on goal difference 🤠

He's afforded loads more space on the pitch in Turkey than he'd get in the PL or Championship, which will be much easier for his game. I believe the Belgian league is the same. Rather than pay him for years while he learns how to manage in a congested box I think we were better to loan him out to a league that suits his game better, and get in a player who knows how to manage in that environment (Ross Stewart). At the pre-WBA press conference RM was asked about him and the first description that came to mind was "He's massive!" and that's not a metaphorical term; he was meaning physically a big bloke. That footage of him scoring after 9 minutes for the Under 21s made him look like he'd gone back to play for his school team! There would seem to be no lack of effort on Paul's part. I just think it was a wrong choice for all parties. It might have worked if we had dramatically changed our playing style but Selles wasn't wiling. I'll bet by the time January comes around we'll all be much more confident about which big bloke we loaned out and which one we signed.