OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

Last year people rightly laid in to Baz because there's no way he should have been our first team goalkeeper, but this year,, as fans we seemed to accept there was no-one else. Now he's injured, I'm starting to think there really is no-one else. Macca against Preston was pretty awful. He half spilt the only gentle save he had to make, his distribution was as shit as ever, and that dribble out where he got caught was a gentle reminder of how bad he can be. Problem is, I don't think Lumley is much better and the big positive with Macca is that the rest of the team look forwards rather than backwards!

This time of the season you want a middle of the table team with nothing to play for who you've already thumped once....and along come Cardiff! Got to be a win and then it's all to play for at Leicester next week.

Agree. He never does those searching passes and Preston weren't exactly on him as soon as he had the ball, but he looks competent, looks like a solid player to bring on to defend a lead and looks a lot better in that role than Jack!!

Didn't like the way RM put AA in the middle after Che was substituted (when will RM ever learn?), but I agree, now this clown is unavailable, that's one less mistake RM can make by bringing him on.

Totally agree. Any slight pressure yesterday and he made a hash of it. Can't understand why, after so many years, he is still so useless with the ball at his feet. What does he practice in training sessions? And surely this contract/playing time isn't right. We need promotion and the best people in the role and not giving players shop window time. If he is going to be our goalkeeper for the rest of the season, we will be a lot more positive. It was noticeable yesterday how Downes dropped back and that the back pass to Mac was a last resort.

Is it MacCarthy or Lumley in goal? Suspect it is the former though he was far from convincing in the very little he had to do against Preston. That loss of possession and loose kick straight to their player spring to mind.

Actually think that's a good sub

Would have preferred Lumley. Now Mac's chance to earn his squillions.

Preston haven't got a lot to play for. Coincidentally, I spoke to a couple of their fans at Birmingham services last Saturday (they were on their way back from Watford, us from Blackburn) and a lot were wearing pork pie hats so I wanted to know what that was all about. Don't think many will be travelling down for a second time to St Marys so the atmosphere could be a bit flat unless we get off to a flying start....which hopefully we will and this time we'll maintain the momentum. 5-0 Saints and after we'll all working out permutations about how to get an automatic promotion spot!

Fucking hell, Vectis, if that was us going for goals on Saturday after being two up, I'd hate to watch us consolidating. I think we only had one shot on target in the second half or it certainly seemed like it.

Yes, his performances have been pretty average. Seems to jog around in one gear all the time. Can't remember if he has much positional sense but surely as a defensive midfielder and helping to close out a game, he should at least be on the bench...for a start, he could replace one of those 3 wingers (but not Edozie!). Problem now is the next couple of games are so key, RM will perceive playing Charles as a risk.

Great analysis as usual S-Clarke but aren't you also looking at the table and thinking maybe, just maybe the automatic spot is still possible.

Charles didn't look too bad when he last came on. Agree, he has to be on the bench.

That's the point. There's nothing wrong with the long ball and sometimes it's necessary. It also starts to make the opponents second guess what we're going to do. There's nothing wrong with playing from the back, but once you break the press, you have to go forward quickly. Our problem is we break the press then look for the sideways/backwards pass and lose all momentum.

Great scenes in our bit of the Northam at the end but on reflection, we won in spite of RM and not because of him. Why we were fannying around for practically all the second half when the players must have known only a win would do, is beyond understanding. Shout out to Manning when he came on. Rest of subs made little impact. And what has Edozie got to do to get game time?

Is he a possible for the play-offs? A Loch Ness Drogba on one leg could be a better bet than Che up front.

What does RM say in his half time team talks? I reckon it goes along the lines of: "The game's won lads, just walk around for the next 45 minutes!" Seriously, how many times have we bossed the first half then started to fold in the second? Could say we even got lucky today. And I used to like his substitutions. His most recent one have been quite baffling.

That first half was really good. Amazing what happens when players play in the positions they're used to. Solid Back 4. None of this roving JS nonsense. Even AA looked good again. Can't work out if Mara is incompetent or lazy. That bit when he was caught from behind as he slowly dribbled the ball out was comical. His hair is so massive he can't see behind him! And what was he doing on the wing anyway? RM being too clever again, or genuinely confused by the haircuts and thought he was sending on Edozie.

My son and I were at both these games and the atmosphere is dictated by the play of the pitch. W.Brom was full of confidence and more direct. Last Saturday was dull, boring and negative. And Jack played in both so we can't blame him! I agree Ale House. Mix it up. Against Ipswich after we went 1-0 down, we went more direct, looked for the forward pass and bish bash bosh, we went 2-1 up in a matter on minutes. Then we sat back. Personally I'm not a possession football fan. In fact, with our speed, I reckon we'd probably be a better counter attacking side.

You're right, I keep forgetting the 20k ceiling then after that, it's up to the club how many tickets they offer above 2,000. But the principle is still there. Offer 10% of capacity and get a good atmosphere going. But if Leeds fuck us over and only offer the 2k minimum, we need to think of seriously good ways to get our own back. Quip pro quo and all that.

Great analysis. Yes, where has this 10% thing gone? Last year, clubs like Arsenal were taking the take the mickey and only giving out some 2,000 tickets to away supporters despite their 60k capacity. And Newcastle are a disgrace where they put away fans. Nowadays clubs blame logistical and segregation difficulties which is a convenient excuse, and I get them in the premiership giving out smaller allocations when there's a £30 cap on away tickets, but not in the championship. In an ideal world, Leeds should be offering us 3,800 tickets and then it's up to our club to decide how many to take and make up any shortfall for unsold tickets. If Leeds ever come our way again, I'd hope we reciprocate by offering them a minimal allocation at inflated prices, or better still, make a statement and ban them altogether.

Interesting you should say this. On a couple of occasions, THS rifled a pass to Aribo which even Usain Bolt wouldn't have got to, and when Aribo didn't reach the pass, THB waved his arms in despair. Perhaps you're right. Aribo has no anticipation or not on the same wave length as his teammates.

Exactly - and the score will be irrelevant!

Just seen the 1 minute highlights on Sky. AA just had to score. Also Baz saved a couple low down. He was practising those before the match! Their top scorer went down after 15 minutes holding his leg and didn't seem so quick after that.

And did Russ really say that AA had been pestering him to play as Centre Forward so he thought he'd give him another go? Sounds like Under 8's football when kids 'bagsy' positions. While I wasn't one of those booing Russ when he came over at the end, I certainly wasn't going to clap him either. That was a long schlep for one of the most uninspired performances of the season.