StrangelyBrown

Fantastic stuff. Incredibly stressful to watch, but gobsmacked how resolute we were in our defending. Russell Martin - all is forgiven. He seems to be learning and what a time to add pragmatism to his football playbook.

Everything that is good about Russball in one performance. St Mary's banging like never before. A great day to be a saint! COYR!!!!!!!

That could be the noddiest thing I've ever seen from the club. Do you get a free giant foam hand and a red and white wig to go with it?

Just checking that you really mean "exceptional" as in the same level as Rodri or Rice or maybe Camavinga? JWP is a better than average premier league player playing for a better than average premier league team. Nothing more, but still proven to be capable at a higher level than Downes. Perhaps you should think before calling people silly or laughable?

Completely agree, I just hope it isnt another saintsy glimmer of hope before yet more disappointment.

Hurrah we won the bottle jobs derby! Hopefully we can take some confidence into the playoffs.

Ha ha ha, he's shown a particular talent for slicing so I see where e you are coming from 😉

I think there's quite a few that would be ahead of him: Calum Davenport (as already mentioned), Ryan Smith, Paul Moody, Tommy forecast, Anthony pulis, ...). He's lazy, but he's got his work cut out to be Ali Dia bad...

Russell Martin will render the game completely pointless (at least for us)

He looked properly twitchy in the pre game presser - if he can't hide it there then unfortunately its bound to rub off on the players. I actually feel quite sorry for the guy - it must be awful to know you are out of your depth and be under enormous pressure to turn things around without a clue as to how to do so.

What a brilliant reaction this is. RM has really shown how incredible he is at quickly turning things around and stopping the rot. Simply incredible management, we're so lucky to have him going into the playoffs.

Please go RM - you're not up to the job. Putting JS on the field is clearly what we need FFS.

Same old shit different day. Is it a lack of bravery, scar tissue or just that dominating possession without testing the keeper doesn't really work? I can't see how this gets any better.

And yet he keeps his place game after game...

Taking a very simplistic view, and bear with me, given that 2 of our our biggest problems are the strikers not scoring enough and our keepers conceding far too easily could the problem simply be down to the fact that the strikers find it far too easy to score in training and therefore aren't improving where they should be? If so should RM have worked this out by now?

You say all... calling Gio for an alternative view

There must be a lot of great keepers in this division on that basis... Or perhaps we're just not great at shooting?

Leicester only have 2, but easily have the best players - the team of the season is just opinion and nothing more.

Did we do something like win again and inadvertently bring out "sad fucks" Gio for another sermon?

You have to wonder why they keep putting him in the side? Edozie must have done something seriously wrong in training for Mara to get the nod ahead of him...

Poor turn of phrase... What's your perspective woodsaint?

If that's the case, which doesn't seem unrealistic, it's been going on a long time - so whose responsibility is it to fix the issue?

David I'm genuinely interested in a balanced debate and I'm trying to get my head around your post... If I read this correctly you are saying that RM has done ok because we were shit last year and we're in the top half which makes a nice change and that it's not RMs fault because we haven't got enough firepower up front? You mentioned the unbeaten run, but how many games did we needlessly draw that we should have won during that period if we'd taken a few more risks with the ball? The unbeaten run was a bit of a red herring... If rather than drawing 2 games we'd one one and lost one we would be better off. Do you think this risk adverse approach actually works? It is easy to focus on the lack of a Striker and blame the recruitment for all our woes, but that ignores the bizarre team selections, the lack of tactical adaptability, the inability to consistently get the side playing with the tempo needed for Russball to work, ... We have plenty of goals in the side, as we have demonstrated from time to time (as you rightly highlighted) but it seems to me that our tactics (that insist on ball retention over risk) lead to us creating fewer good chances than we should. Do you think our approach is ok? Our expectations as a club were to get promoted this year. If RM fails to do that now via the playoffs he has failed to meet expectations. Our current form doesn't suggest we're the team to beat going into the playoffs. Do you think RM should be given a pass for looking like he is heading for failure?

I'm with Chez here, for a RM team Perrauds technical limitations and style of play would be completely unsuited. Under a different system he might be useful, but I can see why RM didn't want him.

And somehow Edozie won't get a look in for the next game...