NewYorkSaint

There have been several times this season watching our team when it's felt like we were that close to something truly special. This was epitomized by the Onuachu goal yesterday. But add in: - Fernandes, showing delightful genius touches and runs in almost every game - Sulemana at his best - Dibling at his best (and yes, yesterday was not that). - The mid-field force-field of Downes, Oguchukwu, Aribo at their best - Ramsay - even our defence have had days where they've looked resolute, powerful You just feel like even with these players things could have been so very different. A manager who had built our team around tall Paul, Sulemana, Dibling and Fernandes would have helped.... But personally, I don't put all the blame on the managers. Or SR. Or the players. I think luck itself plays a huge role. Some early games we might well have won, plus repeated VAR fails, and our teams psychology got pushed to a fragile place with knock-on consequences. But whatever the explanation ... it's heartbreaking. There's a parallel universe in which we clawed our heroically to a low mid table position. This ain't that universe. I still hold out hopes of ending the season with a little restored dignity and pride. Yesterday helped. We're better than the numbers show... and it would be great to have that confirmed in the coming games. Then I think we can rebuild from a stronger place........ Any one else share my sense of 'if only, if only'...?

In other news... I really like tall Paul and hope he stays with us. If we'd built a playing strategy around him, we'd be in a much better place I think. We all know he's occasionally clumsy... but when he's good, he's REALLY good. How many times have we given him the chance for the type of thumping header he delivered this half? Not nearly enough.

There's this beautiful moment during the first 15 minutes of most of our games, when it feels like we're competitive in the premier league. And then... the first goal.... But you know, you can't take away that 15 minutes!

I'm an optimist and even I'm depressed. thought nothing that a couple of goals our way wouldn't fix. One thing I'll say. the hate poured out on Smallbone pregame not justified. He's been one of our best players, though admittedly not much competition for that honour.

C'mon boys. Fight and flair, please! Give me that I don't care what the result is.* *... though 2-0 would do nicely.

Mathematically, there's a reasonable chance this year that the we break the prior record for low points needed to survive (34 pts). With a big gap above the bottom four, it's just possible that 30-31 pts cd do it. So... all we need are 6 wins and 3 draws.... easy peasy!

how great was that?! best single thing. The evident level of commitment by Every. Single. Player.........

Plus his was the first touch setting up our goal...

I dunno. I loved that half. Wellington looks wonderful add. All to play for. We have two of our best players still to bring on....

Still waiting for tall Paul's opening goal. It's coming... it's coming....

It's a mystery ever since we signed him, why tall Paul never given a proper chance. For a team in desperate need of a great striker it made zero sense. So damn happy to see us now building our game plan around him. We deserve to be ahead. Huge second half coming up. I guess TP will be subbed pretty early. Would be unreal if he got his goal before that.

Armstrong's been doing his part in an occasionally impressive press, but I agree he shd give way to tall Paul or Archer. I'd keep Dibling on. How good would a clean sheet feel? I'm v happy to have Bednarek as captain. Feel he's been a seriously under-appreciated player. Always gives his all.

9 wins, 5 draws, 8 losses... it's hard to remember what it's like being on a winning streak, but stranger things have happened.

You really are a miserable bunch. I grant you it's a lot more fun online to take the piss... but not me. I still find myself looking forward to each game, torture and all, and get HUGE pleasure from the moments when we're playing well. And despite it all there have actually been a lot of those moments. I'm happy to be the counter-voice here who believes we're actually really close to a run of wins. If tall Paul comes on in the 60th minute and in the 70th minutes heads home a winner from a cross whipped in by Dibling or Fernandez or KWP... then I would like a little appreciation please. That event could easily be in our v near future. I think at this point, it's pointless to sack Martin. We're trying to compete in the world's best league with teams that have spent way more than us... and we're precious close to getting it right. There are so many games where we've been competitive and exciting to watch for large parts of the match. Of course, when you lose, the narrative gets completely rewritten as a shitshow. But watch how that changes if and when the results start to go our way. I think Sunday will be a thunderous game... and we'll edge Spurs out 3-2. Saints fan for life... through thick and thin......... Hold the faith!

the weird thing is that if all you looked at was the general run of play for the half, an independent viewer would say it was even stevens. We gave as good as we got... just as many sweeping forward moves... and, in the conditions, they made as many mistakes as we did. Am I wrong? And if I'm right, the narrative that our squad isn't premier league quality is false. Even missing 5 of our best players, we're competitive. Tis a game of fine margins. And so far, they're not working in our favour....