austsaint

Yes, Taylor wasn’t bad….far from it. It’s just when you’ve got a Rolls Royce in the garage, why bring the Toyota Corolla out of the car port.

Yes, no criticism of RM today for selection and tactics, although I would have preferred Cornet on instead of BBD or Stewart, both of whom look miles off the pace and quality needed - a damning fail of our striker recruitment. I also wonder about Taylor at LB. He was solid enough, but not once got forward, and did not deliver a cross for the entire 97 minutes. Maybe that was his role, but it meant we didn’t create much on our left hand side; a few efforts from Fraser - nothing from Diaz. In that sense we missed KWPs enterprise, even when playing out of position. I’m not sure the case for balance with a natural LB was justified today in giving up so much attacking and creative possibilities on the left side of the pitch. So much to like about the performance though. What more can be said about Dibling, a totally fearless display of dribbling, run, exquisite passes and a composed finish from the Lallana pass. He also tracked back well and helped defensively. His combination with Sugawara was great to watch - Sugawara has proven himself a worthy Prem RB, and along with Fernandes and Les Ugo, are the pats on the back for the recruiting staff as much as the striker/attacking recruits look like dismal mistakes. Having said that, Archer showed glimpses and created two gilt edged opportunities. Just needs the confidence boost of a goal or two. Some have doubted Downes at Prem level, yet I thought he once again proved he’s more than comfortable. Worked hard at both his holding and box to box responsibilities and covered at times for Lallana who while very good creatively, couldn’t offer the defensive midfield cover to Downes that Les Ugo can and did later in the game. THB was much improved today and it’s fair to say we looked better with the Bednarek/THB combination rather than Captain Jack. Gutting to concede so late. Ramsdale deserved a clean sheet today. t

That will do. I’m backing Ramsdale’s class to provide a clean sheet, with a second half Saints winner from the sub Cornet.

On a sliding scale of sledge quality, that one's skidding along at the base.

Agree with you. Identifying and playing your best players is the 101 of sports coaching and management. Unless ABK has assaulted someone or ignored Club standards and protocols, why freeze him out. I'd have more regard for a Manager who can rehabilitate a loose cannon or help a talented player to redeem himself, than one who marks a players card never to play again.

Outside of Stephens I should have said, although I do get the argument that THB has taken a while to get up to speed in the Prem. It's always been my feeling that we've seen enough of Stephens over the years to know about the errors, the ball watching and the positional mistakes, whereas THB, in his young career, shows every sign he is going to establish himself as a Prem CB. I would have played THB or ABK last Saturday.

Yes, we forget just what a good player he was for us in his pomp. I've been a bit surprised at how much of his skill and poise remain at 36, and it's fairly clear he has at least a good 45 minutes of Football (per game) left in his legs. I was never too fussed about vilifying him for the Liverpool departure - I just thought he had very little to offer on and off the field to justify the contract. And I was probably wrong on both counts.

He did pick a good line up v Utd. I think the deviation from principles you talk about has as much to do with Ramsdale's presence and the replacing of Smallbone than RM actually sanctioning a change. Ramsdale's distribution is more accomplished than AMs and promotes a variety of ways to play out from the back or be more direct. Fair to say Smallbone was/is the biggest culprit in the ping back/brick wall pass and the introduction of Fernandes, and Les Ugo, (even Dibling) has resulted in more half turns and progressive passes than we saw previously. The prospect of not needing a mid season (or earlier) manager reset has a lot to do with the improvement which Ramsdale and the new midfielders have brought.

To my eye, Flynn Downes has proven himself well up to Prem level in all four games - much more so than THB, who has made a slow start and looked a little shell-shocked. I'm confident THB will also prove himself at this level too.

Harsh on Downes - had to carry Smallbone for the first three games. Comfortably PL quality.

It's not five minutes to midnight yet, but it's definitely well in to the afternoon.

If he watches the replay of the tackle, he'll have no complaints. Sugawara and Dibling our best today. Les Ugo and Downes both good.

Someone hasn't done their homework.

I shouldn't have laughed out loud; but I did.

Since the penalty was missed the air has completely come out of our tyres.

Yes, he has backed himself into a corner with Stephens; and Bednarek is borderline good enough at best. Martin must put his faith in THB and get ABK up to speed. Jack Stephens has to be replaced. There are many promising aspects today - Downes, Les Ugo, Sugawara and Dibling. Bring Cornet and Lallana on. Archer and BBD off.

Our midfield has been excellent and Dibling and Sugawara bright on the right hand side - but two Championship CBs and lack of a striker are going to cost us dearly.

Yep, well done RM. You've picked a better side. I too would prefer THB to JS and would have liked Cornet in preference to BBD. I like the idea of Lallana coming on in the second half rather than starting.

Didn't realise it's been 21 years since we beat Man. U. at St Marys 😒 - here's hoping for that drought to end today. I still remember Charlie Austin's late headed goal for the win at Old Trafford a few years back.

Bednarek is a good redemption story in the wake of that ill fated Villa loan. It's a pity he's not, say a 15% better player - give me a Fonte or a Toby instead and things would be more comfortable. I've still got this fanciful notion that RM is going to showcase his man management skills and bring ABK back into the fold coaxing the best out of him.

I get the argument for playing a natural LB like Taylor, but never, ever at the expense of KWP being in the starting lineup. It's a curious situation where we have two high quality RBs - reminiscent of Tino and KWP two seasons back. KWP is still a better RB than Sugawara who has been very impressive. If one has to go, it has to be Sugawara, or we continue with playing KWP out of position at left back, particularly if a Fraser or Cornet is ahead of him. Smallbone has to drop out of the side - if RM doesn't employ Downes, Fernandes and Les Ugo as his midfield he's not learning quickly enough in my book.

Yes, the sample size of Prem appearances (56 with 4 goals) by AA provides a strong case to believe that he's an outstanding Championship player who just can't compete at this level. Better defences, less time on the ball to make decisions and get his feet organised leave him looking shell-shocked and uncomfortably out of his depth. At 27, it's hard to see him turning things around. There's some hope for Brereton-Diaz though. He's two years younger than AA; has scored 7 goals from 33 appearances for Chile - appears to have scored most of them when played as an inside right attacker. Six goals from 14 appearances for the Blades last season was a good haul. If he's played alongside someone like Archer in a 4-4-2, rather than that weird isolated left wing role, things might improve. Neither Armstrong or BBD were helped by the threadbare attacking midfield of Smallbone and Airibo. Fernandes, Dibling, Cornet and Les Ugo, along with Downes appeal as more likely to deliver the better service BBD and Archer will need.

When we are losing I like a review of the style commitment and the hint of humility from RM. We haven't seen enough of either. The clock is ticking.

Interesting point you make about the clutch of unwavering backers of Managers, although did Pellegrino have any? Even in the case of a likeable, successful manager like Ralph, when he did lose the plot to the point where a change seemed inevitable and urgent, there was still a "clutch of unwavering backers" ready to argue the case for him staying. I'd add the term "contrarian" as a means of understanding why this is. An enjoyment of swimming against the tide; arguing a case for the sake of it; a rigid belief in their opinion - a need to have the last word. A form of sport for some perhaps. Like you, I give Martin a (tentative) chance of turning things around. I base that idea on seeing him make those two changes at h/t v Brentford and the withdrawing of a CB for an attacking player shortly after. They were belated signs that he can get his best side on the pitch and reassess structure and formation. That still leaves the massive issue of rigidly playing out from the back with the short passes and focus on possession, with all the resulting calamity and risk. The next 4 or 5 games are crucial.....it's a knife edge really, for Martin and the Club's Prem status.

Sulemana was very disappointing last season; but, as you say, under a different manager and playing style he could yet prove himself at a good level. RMs possession based style and slow build up did not suit KS or Charly for that matter. Both are players who need the space and early delivery to exploit stretched defences . With the likelihood of Downes, Les Ugo and Fernandes being the preferred midfield things will likely improve for the likes of Cornet, Fraser, Archer etc