austsaint

It's not true in your mind - it is in mine. Truth and opinions are two different things.

I doubt many will take up your question about Will Smallbone, and why he seems to be an automatic selection. There's a solid base of praise for him on the forum which is hard to understand. A steady mid-table Championship midfielder who wouldn't get into the Leicester, Leeds or Ipswich starting line-ups. Why ours? Aribo has demonstrated, at Championship level, he is a much superior attacking midfielder, better at retaining possession and more dangerous in linking up with our front four. Charles has shown himself to be a better holding mid, though far from the finished article. If we are not promoted this season it's a valid question to ask of RM's team selection. Why so much faith in Manning and Smallbone?

There's a case for believing that Fraser and Rothwell are our most clinical finishers.

It's like re-living a nightmare. Bertrand's early red card v Leicester didn't help, but it is remarkable to look back at our midfield that day - JWP, Romeu and Hojberg. In the Man U debacle Jankewitz got the red card after two minutes, and only JWP was left from that strong midfield we paraded v Leicester.

Yes, Adams and AA worked well together - plenty of evidence that neither on their own up front is effective. Like to see the THB/Bednarek combination restored and if KWP can’t play, Bree at RB and JS at LB.

In the end it was one of those "hail mary" results, even though on the balance of chances created and shots on target, it really should have been a comfortable win. Worrying that Brum looked a fairly mediocre side, even before the red card, yet we made such a struggle of getting the three points. Stephen's had quite a good game at CB, with an interesting spell in midfield. Just the same, THB and Bednarek have to be restored as a combination. Once again the weakness of Manning's defensive and positional game were there for all to see. Quite a few praising Smallbone - I thought he was a peripheral player again (bit rich to call the Brooks goal an assist) and Aribo was unlucky not to start in his place. Interesting how opinions on WS vary so much! AA was busy and creative all afternoon; Stu A had his moments and Downes immediately made our midfield stronger. Adams could/should easily have had a hat-trick. Crucial three points - maybe Gareth Bale was right; we should all have defibrillators close by!

I fully support every word RM said about the vile abuse WS copped on social media. My view is entirely down to the limitations I see in Smallbone's game and the suspicion that RM grossly overrates him.

I'll be amazed if THB doesn't start - and disappointed if the midfield isn't Downes, Aribo and Stu A. Smallbone definitely needs a spell.

Looked like he was injured after stumbling. Let's hope not.

We will disagree on that. But between us I think we've identified the two players RM has shown too much faith in.

Solely Smallbone's error.

Happy with that side. Maybe Meghoma should start at LB - he's earned the chance. Touch and go with Brooks?

I doubt King Midas would have shown as much faith in players like Will Smallbone and Ryan Manning. That's his most damning error in my view.

Yes, I meant someone like Winks (proven, experienced) playing regularly in cm would have been a better proposition than Smallbone, and Charles for that matter. Your point is well made, buying Charles (one for the future) has cost us as our midfield woes have mounted.

With hindsight, someone like Winks rather than Smallbone in any central midfield role would have benefited Saints greatly.

I see S. Clarke's point - that people are entitled to hope (and a "winning mentality") as a Football fan, just as hope is crucial to just about every aspect of life. As you point out though; even the most basic of mathematicians could tell us we weren't going to make up that deficit on Leicester in the remaining games. In that sense hope of winning the title was not hope, but pie-in-the-sky. The more realistic hope was/still is that we finish second - a couple of weeks ago, that hope burned brightly, despite the proximity of Leeds and Ipswich. Now it's a slightly flickering low wattage globe after the defeats at Bristol and St Marys v Hull. It's still possible - the hope of automatic promotion lives on.....precariously.

Don't forget Meghoma - he'll likely go past all three you mention inside 12 months.

You're breaking our hearts. But you're absolutely right.

Great summary. I don't think RM is being arrogant - he just seems to have a blind spot with players like Manning and Smallbone... Too much faith in them; and comments about "unnoticed contributions" and WS doing a great job against Bristol City as the 6 just leave you baffled as to how he can say that. It really was like a re-run of the Bristol City game - as you say, he really should have reacted to the mistake of the starting line up before half time, that's how obvious the mistakes were.

You're probably right.

Downes and Aribo for Rothwell and Smallbone - Downes can hold the midfield on his own - Airibo more advanced. Stephens for Manning; Adams for Mara; Fraser for Edozie (on later), Brooks for Arma (on later) and stick with Stu who can share the 10 and wide role with Brooks.

His hold up play and first touch is much better than Maras'. The starting lineup seemed wrong today - Smallbone and Rothwell was never going to work as a midfield pair. Why re-instate Manning? The improvement when Brooks, Fraser, Adams and Airibo came on was instant - it's not as though we had a comfortable cushion of points - should have started with a stronger line up.

Smallbone and Rothwell = no midfield.

No, but he looks to be up to standard, six years younger than JWP and probably already a better defensive midfielder - which is what we're short of. You'll also note I agreed about a hypothetical Downes/JWP pairing being a good match. Could happen I suppose if we don't go up and Downes goes back to the Hammers.

Agree with both your sentences.