Holmes_and_Watson

We get a director of football who knows him. There's one at Man Utd. Just ask for... Ralph. 🙂

Crash

Good night John Boy Good night Jim Bob Good night Ben After another torrid defensive display, Saints bring in the Walton's back line from the MLS... 🙂

I thought offside too. Also that JWP got clambered over, but I saw some posts that suggest otherwise.

Foam

I'll need to take another look at the second. I didn't think he had a chance with it.

I'd add Forster, based on tonight. Pope stopped one straight at him and saw a JWP free kick over. Other than that he just stood there as if he had nothing to worry about. 🙂

I thought all the posts auto typed Broja into them and, like the emojis, they are fidgety to replace. 🙂 I'd look at his contributions at the end of the season. He had a great spell when he was an unknown and we were playing dynamic, pressing stuff. It's a lot more inconsistent for lots of players. Is 6 goals in a season a concern? Yes. But more so when no one else is getting many more. We're not going to know if AA, Tella or Long would have got more. Presumably Broja has shown it in training, and is considered the best fit for the tactic. When/if Broja goes it's only Adams who looks likely to score, and he's got, is it 1 more league goal? It's maybe not a Broja issue.

Was there context on what the second half xG was better than? Our first half xG? The xG of 2 goal ahead opponents, who didn't need to attack, but who still looked most likely? The xG of a group of septuagenarian strangers who had never seen a ball before? As long as he's happy he finally brought on Adams to raise it up a bit, then I guess that's a positive 😃

I was thinking that it would be easier to judge if he got a decent amount of chances and support. That support also creating some space for him, now our opponents know more of his game. He, and nearly everyone else is on poor form, and we're struggling across the board up front.

I could have saved myself a *lot* of typing, if only I could summarise as well as you. 😊

I liked the effort of Cork and that JayRod chap. Could they do a job...hey...wait...

At least we've some games to go. Focus on keeping that winning mentality. At lower levels in men's football you've got some teams with a game to go and others with 7 or 8 , due to earlier call offs. I'd rather be playing, than cooling my heels waiting for the big day.

Just popping in to remind myself what a 2-0 victory from a determined, well drilled Southampton team looks like. Pretty good 🙂

That was poor. Out run, out tackled, out thought and out fought. Poor right across the team, with only Forster getting credit from the game. Burnley might have something to fight for, in terms of just staying in the division. But that we have nothing to fight for is often self inflicted, and no excuse for that level of performance. I have a concern that Ralph doubts his tactics. Beaten so easily by Chelsea, where Tuchal gave a how to guide for it in a couple of paragraphs. Getting a result against Arsenal didn't mean we had to approach this game in the same way. It took Burnley all of 5 mins to adapt and get the better of us. Broja needs support. He needs Adams for that, or at least more options from midfield. 3 at the back for most of the game was a waste, and and questionable to begin with, we never looked like getting back into it. Slumping towards a lower than mid table finish. Pretty much where my start of season expectations were. But that doesn't make it any easier to watch.

Thought that was going to be 3

Taking a moment to discuss wider transfer news. I've seen nothing from Pope to suggest he's a Forster replacement. Mainly as he's had nothing to do. 😊

I'm not sure that Ralph's "more of the same, lads" team talk at half time was the way to go.

I was surprised by the line up. What worked for Arsenal, wasn't what you'd against a relegation threatened team. But we were the brighter in the first 5 mins. That flattered to receive. I looked away, and when I looked back it had gone to pieces. Burnley harder working, Bednerak giving Burnley an easy decision to shoot, Valery struggling, Romeu having a poor game which never goes well for us, JWP out fought and no coherent play from us. The only one with credit is they guy who's going. Not for the first time either.

Good news! The cat has jumped down. I can turn off the radio, so I don't have to listen to the Burnley chances, then have to watch them too.

Did I blink on 5 mins, just when aliens replaced everyone but Forster?

Radio is 2 mins ahead of sky mobile. So I have a wait before I see what I know what's coming. Not great when it's not our chances. 😒

Forster again keeping us in it.

Fire

Of for... That's what happens when we don't make them count.