Saint86

Playing devils advocate, if the more attacking subs don't come on, we don't open up the game and get what should have been a blatant penalty putting us 3-1 up... Instead a couple of minutes later we're 2-2 and with 10men... mostly thanks to insanely inconsistent (best case and being nice) Video Assistant refereeing (most would call it openly biased as a minimum). Don't get me wrong, i am one of the ones that bemoaned those subs post match - but i can only moan about it because we didn't get the pen and instead got shafted. Had the pen been given, we probably would be here saying it was a good performance, rather than having people pointing to it as a bad defeat. As others have said, its fine margins. It certainly feels like there are some in the fanbase that can't enjoy the win because they refused to step back from wanting martin gone for even a few minutes. And tbh on the set piece front (thinking Ipswich), we've looked pretty solid from most corners and set pieces despite immense pressure at times. The two goals that have cost us (Leicester and Ipswich) were both because of player errors where someone didn't do their job and cover/close down out side of the box. The result is we all sit here and lambast Martin for awful defensive set up on corners... but actually having seen us do that setup most games now, we actually look very solid with it generally. Reality is its a championship squad and a championship manager - they need time to step up... whether they can is very much a doubt... but they've got the first win now, they beat stoke as well, there is a bit of momentum there. I watch wolves palace the other night, they are utterly abysmal defensively and wasteful up front - they are there for the taking even if its going to be a low standard nerve biting mess of a game... and win that and things don't look anywhere near as glum. And get that the above is looking for the positives (such as they are) and hoping we improve and get a bit more luck - but its evident Martin isn't going anywhere... so whilst he (and the players) are trying, you may as well try to find something to support and enjoy in being a saints fan - Its not all going to be back to back promotions, top 10 prem finishes, and flirts with europe. Think some forget perennially being in the relegation zone and pulling off last minute escapes was our typical MO for quite a few seasons.

Dibling is 18 having played circa 10games of men's football, lallana is 36(?}... For obvious reasons we won't be getting 90min out of either of them regularly. The squad depth / quality will need to be improved on January specifically in the attacking areas if we're to have any serious chance of staying up playing like this.

We played like this last season, difference was confidence levels and relative ability of the teams. I've said it elsewhere, but dibling and fernandes are massive for us as they're the two players than can genuinely deliver attacking play like Martin wants at this level - sugawara and kwp as well. We're a totally different team when they're all on the pitch. Lallana as well to a lesser extent.

This was a fantastic save as well. How we've missed a shot stopper of his ability... And we're talking years, probably since niemi bar foresters brief "wall" stint.

Interesting stat on today's stream. It took Dyche 11 games to get his first win in the prem, he went on to keep Burnley up that year. Martin has done it in 10... A glimmer of hope?

Agreed. One of the most blatant "tight" offsides you could get. What really through me was when the red line was drawn beyond the blue line and i thought they'd give it... a bad choice of colours to indicate the attacker was offisde. 🤮

Having Dibling and Fernandes on the pitch together at the same time is massive for us. As is KWP and Sugawara. Thats the reality. A lot of our players don't have the technical and attacking quality to fluidly threaten at the top end, and equally the confidence is low... If players are lacking both ability and confidence they're on a hiding to nothing. Hopefully we can get a win at Wolves and we'll at least tackle the confidence side of things.

He's going to be a proper crowd favourite if he sticks around. Came here just to play, and his stated ambition is to keep us up and try and re-establish us in the prem. Hard not to like someone prepared to do that for us, as opposed to sit on the bench at a big club earning a packet and winning trophies.

A win and a clean sheet, and a bit of luck perhaps (for once this season). Will take that (obviously). Lets see if we can get a win out of Wolves somehow - would be absolutely massive.

You know what they say about teams that "win ugly"... thats the sign of champions!!

100% this.

If its rumoured to cost us £12M to sack him, we think we're down anyway, and we don't really fancy any of the available replacements... I can see why he's still in the job. What a ringing endorsement of Martin 😄

The reckoning for Ralph and Rohl football vs sports republic football?

Now that is a tough one 😂🤣

Can only echo what others have said. That was a poor team performance and will certainly have damaged the confidence of our defensive players. Very poor in an attacking sense as well. A lucky shot, a soft pen, and a free header being our only real threatening chances. Stoke's reserves probably made the better attacking chances tbh.

8min more of this absolute comedy show 🤷😜

8min. What?! 😂🤣

Reality is that a load of people will be cheesed off Martin's blushes have just been saved. Great shot though, pleased for bree!

The 3-4 to Leeds, or similarly the tranmere Cup exit? They were really bad ☹️

This is getting embarrassing. We're comfortably being outplayed by stoke atm. They're keeping us at arms reach and loon far more threatening... Stoke's resveres...

Onuachu furiously telling them how to cross 😂🤣 An out of favour squad player is one of the "leaders" on the pitch for us. Joke really.

Lesley trying to give stoke a 3rd there...

Tall Paul's first goal incoming tonight 😎

Has tall Paul had a fling with Martin's missus? Have to wonder what he's done to not even get a start in this game. It's so obvious we need that physical presence in the box. If we lose this, do we think he might actually get sacked?

Need to cancel the lesley and cornet loans if we can. Both of them are just using up a squad and loan spot with no real benefit to the team.