Minsk

Excellent post

Stu is certainly one of our better players, but the fact we haven't won a match he has been involved in for so long is more down to coincidence than his performances. Especially so this season. He has done absolutely nothing of note in any match this season. That is precisely why you are unwilling, sorry make that unable, to go in to any specifics.

Can you please outline how, exactly, Stu was instrumental in any of our victories this season? Or how he positively impacted in each of those matches?

Easily as bad as the one JWP got sent off for at Chelsea, if not worse (given the weather conditions/state of the pitch at The Bridge).

Fully deserved the draw and thought it was a fair result. Couple of cracking goals for us and, again, something annoying about both of theirs. For their first I thought Romeu was fouled in the build up. For their second had Willy not saved Edouard's shot with his foot and it had gone in the goal would (or should have been) chalked off as the ball hit his hand before he took the shot. That said, better defending and we stop both those goals anyway.

Match Day 17 Match Day Comparison: Last season match day 17 was our 1-0 victory over Liverpool at St. Mary's. Last night's draw away to Palace sees us drop points and GD. -12 points; -17 GD Head-to-Head Comparison: Last season we lost 1-0 away at Selhurst Park, so last night's 2-2 draw sees an uplift in points and GD here. +8 points; +6 GD Yet again the disparity in the two comparison methods has moved further apart. However, I feel (and hope) that we are now at the point where they will start to move closer to one another - obviously by chipping away at the points/GD deficit on the Match Day side of things. Next up, Boxing Day on Match Day 18, is our away fixture at West Ham. The Irons beat us 3-0 at theirs, in the last match of the 20/21 season; whilst match day 18 saw us fall to a 2-0 defeat away to Leicester. I think we might get a sneaky draw in this one. COYS

Yes, it does give some hope.

Indeed.

Given our (likely) lack of forward options, and 'keeper issues,, I would go with something like this today: Willy Stephens Lyanco Salisu KWP JWP Romeu Diallo Perraud Redmond Tella Did think about putting Smallbone in instead of Diallo, but thought the latter couldn't be as crap as he was on Saturday 2 games running (can he?) Give Tino a rest. Keep it compact. Use the wing backs for width. Subs: Lewis, Tino, Valery, Bednarek, Smallbone, Moi, Walcott, Long, Chauke (or maybe Watts)

Leeds came close last night without having 2 players sent off (one wrongly, whilst a penalty was wrongly awarded against him). They also didn't have a legitimate goal chalked off because an elbow was offside.

Match Day 16 Match Day Comparison: Last season match day 16 was a 0-0 draw at home to West Ham. Saturday's 3-0 loss at the Emirates sees us lose 1 point and 3 GD. -10 points; -16 GD Head-to-Head Comparison: Last season we drew 1-1 away to Arsenal, so losses in both methodes again here. +7 points; +5 GD Next up, on match day 17 (19.30 Wednesday evening) is a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace - a very different outfit to last season's side. Last season we lost 1-0 away to Palace in the first match of the season due an early (13th minute) goal from Zaha. In comparison Match Day 17 saw us hold on (and boy did we have to hold on) to a 1-0 win at home to Liverpool, thanks to a 2nd minute Danny Ings goal. Palace are certainly playing some good football right now and in Gallagher have a player I would have loved us to sign (would take him over Broja). We have huge problems with our 'keepers and strikers. I feel it will take something to get anything from this game, but think we might. I'm going for 1-1. COYS

Nobody expected Arma to be an 'Ings'. Certainly no one I have spoken to and I haven't seen a single post on here saying anyone did (except yours that I've quoted). Still, nice to see you have written him off and don't expect him to improve at all. I believe the vast majority think/thought he would be a younger, fitter, faster player who would fit into the pressing style. Not as agood a finisher as Ings, not as clinical, not as experienced or composed. A player with ability and rough edges that need to be polished up. Personally I was hoping he would have produced a bit more by now, but he is largely playing as expected. And, do you know what, both Arma and Ings have 2 goals from open play thus far this season. I thought Ings would have been way ahead of him by now. Maybe he will be by season's end; maybe not. Time will tell.

How much have you put on it? What odds did you get?

It's a hip injury. Tried training during the week but hip was still too sore. Expect Willy to play again on Wed but hope FF will be back by the weekend, or sooner. Willy was pretty wank yesterday. Come on FF, get fit!!

Match Day 15 Match Day Comparison Last season we drew 0-0 away to Fulham on match day 15 so Saturday's draw sees no change in either points or GD. -9 points; -13 GD Head-to-Head Comparison Last season Brighton beat us 2-1 at St. Mary's. Therefore (as painful as it was) Saturday's 1-1 draw gains us a point and +1 GD. +8 points; +8 GD Next up, on Match Day 16, is an away trip to Arsenal. Last season we drew 1-1 at The Emirates. We also drew match day 16, 0-0, at home to West Ham. If offered right now I would absolutely take a draw this Saturday. I think that would be a good result given our injuries and suspensions. If we do lose (as most are expecting us to) at least we will only have to wait a few days until the match, where we will have at least a couple well rested players to come back into the fold. Head says 3-0 loss; heart says 1-1 draw. COYS

That is quite surprising, especially given that he was (arguably) our poorest player in the first half against Villa and was well off the pace when he came on for the last 20 minutes away to Watford.

Match Day 14 Match Day Comparison: Last season we lost match day 14, by a goal to nil, against Man City at St Mary's. Last night's draw sees a gain in points and GD. -9 points; -13 GD Head-to-Head Comparison: Last season we drew 1-1 at home to Leicester so yesterday's 2-2 makes no difference here. +7 points; +7 GD Next up, on Match Day 15, is Saturday's home game against Brighton. Last season saw a 0-0 draw away to Fulham on match day 15. Whilst our home match against The Seagulls ended in a 1-2 defeat. Without wanting to state the obvious, a win on Saturday would see gains in both comparisons. Looking at the table it is easy to see that Brighton are having a decent season so far. Currently sat in 7th place, they have only been beaten 3 times in their 14 matches (by Everton, Man City and Villa). The latter 2 of those being in their current 9 match winless run. That means they have drawn 7 of their last 9; one more draw than we have all season. If I were a gambling man, which I'm not, I would say that the safe bet would be another draw in Saturday. That said, even though they are sat 7th and we are 16th, they are only 4 points ahead of us. There are 2 matches we have lost this season that I think we should have easily won had we put away a couple of our numerous chances - Wolves and Norwich. Had we done so we would now be 6th. That's how tight this season is. It would be great to get a few more wins under our belts. I'm going to predict we get one on Saturday. 2-1 to Saints. COYS

No striker scores every chance they get, especially when they only get the one in a match. Both Vardy and Jiminez missed chances they should have buried last night. To my mind, Jiminez's winning goal at St Mary's earlier in the season was more to do with Bednarek's failure to get a tackle in, and Salisu slipping on his arse, than any great skill from the striker. Jiminez certainly didn't 'turn them inside out'. As for creating their own goals, yes Zaha, St Max and Raphina are capable of doing so. As is Che (although not the same extent as Ings did for us). Heck, I've even seen Redmond create his own goals (not saying he is on the same level as the 3 above). That said, some 'flair' players do seem to 'flatter to deceive'. For example, for all his speed, skill and flair St Max only has 10 goals in 70 appearances for Newcastle and Adama Traore only 10 in 145 for Wolves. Could we do with better? Absolutely yes. Do we have to have better to survive? Well, we didn't have better last season and were okay.

Spot on. Berty not even on the bench for them. Vest is though. As for us, good to see Tella given a start. Shame that Stephens isn't ready yet.

Match Day 13 Match Day Comparison: Last season saw us get a 1-1 draw away at Arsenal in match day 13, so Saturday's 4-0 loss to Liverpool is more points and GD dropped. -10 points; -14 GD Head-to-Head Comparison: Last season we also lost at Anfield, but by half the number of goals. +7 points; +7 GD Next up, tomorrow evening on Match Day 14, is the home fixture against Leicester. Last season we drew 1-1 at home to The Foxes (having played with 10 men from the 10th minute following Vestergaard's red card) whilst Match Day 14 saw Man City beat us 0-1 at St. Mary's. Leicester have been a bit off their usual performances so far this season, but seem to have turned a bit of a corner recently. They also have some very good, and very dangerous, players (dangerous in more ways than one, Mr Vardy - I still swear to this day that he intentionally stamped on VVD's foot). That said, they are missing Tielemans and we should be able to match them all over the park. Unfortunately, I doubt that either Vestergaard or Bertrand will be starting for them tomorrow. But, anyway, one can only hope that we get something out of this match - even if it is a repeat of last season's 1-1 score line (although hoping for a 2-1 win, or better). And don't forget, this match is being shown live on Amazon Prime with a 7.30 kick-off. COYS

Match Day 12 Match Day Comparison: Last season we won match day 12 (3-0) at home against Sheffield Utd. Saturday's 2-1 loss at Norwich sees us drop points and GD. -9 points; -10 GD Head-to-Head Comparison: As previously mentioned, I will be substituting Norwich for Fulham here. Last season we drew 0-0 away to Fulham. Again, points and GD dropped. +7 points; +9 GD Next up, tomorrow on Match Day 13 (yes, 13), is an easy little trip up to Anfield (he says tongue firmly in cheek). Last season we lost 2-0 away to Liverpool, while match day 13 saw us earn a 1-1 draw away to Arsenal. I think most sane Saints fans won't be expecting us to get anything from this match. Mind you, those same fans were probably banking on us winning last week. It's a funny old game football, which can throw up some strange results. Praying we get one of those tomorrow, but really not expecting it given the week I've been having..... Hey ho. Come on Saints. At least make me proud!

Thanks for that.

I honestly think it is more about matching them up with a 3 man midfield. A curve ball for Smith.

With our line up we could be playing 4-2-2-2 (with either JWP or Diallo out of position) or, more likely, 4-3-3 or 4-3-1-2.

Cheers guys. Yeah, the head-to-head is very encouraging. Given we won most of our points in the first half of last season it's no wonder we are lagging behind in the match day stats. Hopefully we will soon catch up and overtake there as well. (Spoiler alert - we only won one league match from mid December to the beginning of March last season).