sandwichsaint

P7, W6, D0, L1, F21, A9, Pts 18, GD +12. Let's just enjoy the ride, when did we last see stats like this? Winning six out of seven and scoring three goals a game, not since NA in League One maybe, and probably not then either. Entertainment's back, at both ends of the pitch, and it makes watching Saints worthwhile for the first time in a long time.

Weird subs

QPR-esque

Baz ball

Same, got on in time for them to score.

Sunderland away and we had better go full strength too. Tonda needs to understand what the FA Cup means. Hang on, misprint, that should read ‘what the FA Cup used to mean’.

Sensible team, three changes without disrupting the overall shape/feel of the team. Keep calm and carry on.

Saints Cov in a few weeks, could be another 5-5 ?

Never realised that film was named after the size of her feet in other news 3-0

It gets better

Lets do the timewarp .... again !!!!

Ron Davies would have been glad of that one. Textbook goal.

Two Fd passes from FD, progress there then.

Tonda watch, I was sat about three seats away from our dugout on Sat and thought he was very impressive. Not hugely demonstrative but massive concentration and clearly a bit of a perfectionist. Constantly encouraging and applauding our good play, making tweaks to the alignment of the back three and middle four. Seemed to want us to pass with a purpose, play out of tight areas and then get it forward quickly. A couple of times when we overplayed at the back you could see his frustration. He clearly loved the goals (!) inwardly rather than with a massive knee slide to the corner flag. I couldn’t see into the dugout but he didn’t seem to spend much time pissing around with an iPad, stood on the touch line pretty much the whole time, read the game, and made the tweaks he needed. Subs unfussy and all pretty much spot on. Good rapport with the players as they came off and celebrated with the staff at the end. I would say he looked very comfortable in the role, players and staff responding to his methods, but very business like. To me he knows he just needs to give this his best shot, there are harder games to come, Tuesday evening for his next one, but he’s certainly giving himself a chance.

Lot of people were saying we were wasting the international break blah, blah. To me it looks like TE used it to full effect, a much more clearly defined 3-4-3 shape, Back three shifting sideways to support or cover the genuine wing backs. Midfield two far more positive, very few passes from CM to the CBs, playing wide to the wing backs, in front of them so they could advance or play a forward pass quickly, and also looking to play early to the forwards’ feet or directly into the channels. Forwards full of running and options, AA outstanding in a flexible floaty false nine type role and Scienza just sizzling off the left side we surely have the makings of a very good side. Not really TE’s fault that none of the CB s has any real pace and the GK is generally very poor. If we continue with three at the back hopefully we will find a way of getting Qarshie back in, definitely one for the future if we can build on his raw ability. Saw a few comments saying Downs did better, first time I’ve seen him live but not for me, weak and technically poor, needs a season in the u21s, ridiculous to think he’s taking pitch time that could be going to Robinson. TE playing a blinder at caretaker, long may that continue.