NewYorkSaint

Football is such a crazy game. You put the team with second best defense in Europe against a team that can't score goals. What odds wd you get on a goal in 15 seconds by the latter? You have to just shrug and laugh. Really impressed with how Saints held their cool and fought back. That showed class. We'll win this.

Football is such a crazy game. You put the team with second best defense in Europe against a team that can't score goals. What odds wd you get on a goal in 15 seconds by the latter? You have to just shrug and laugh. Really impressed with how Saints held their cool and fought back. That showed class. We'll win this.

I rewatched last week's game, and was stunned all over again by Lallana's play. When you think of our pressing game, he is the number 1 instigator. Stole possession more times than I could count. And when he as the ball his swerves, shimmies and flicks are just unbelievable. Last season, the injury to Adam, right before the Sunderland game, led to a spell of disappointing form for us. If he can stay healthy, given how well the rest of the team are playing (as a team!), I think our magic run will only get better. Some day soon, there will be a bucketful of saints goals. C'mon Saints! I'm really up for this one....

Absolutely awesome. MoM for me was Lallana. But so many awesome performances. Wanyama, JRod, Rickie, Clyne... Oh my, oh my. This was epic. I was watching on NBC in New York and the commentators were so gushing over Saints it was almost embarrassing. A real belief that they might be seeing the rise of a significant new force in the premier league. After this game, we're going to see a lot... and I mean a LOT of attention.

What a half. Lallana has been truly unbelievable. And Wanyama! What a game. I didn't see a single loose pass. So exciting to see....

C'mon Saints! 3-0, pls...!

Another way of putting that: Exclude the Palace game which has no year on year comparison, and take the other 7 games we've played. Last year we got just 3 points from them, this year TWELVE. ...4 times as many. Continue that improvement rate over the season and we end up on, um, 164 points. Point being... you can't just put our current position down to an easy start. We've totally and utterly outperformed compared to last year.

Comparing this season's results with the equivalent results last year, looks like we're currently 9 points better off (and that ignores the Palace win, since we didn't play them last year.) We've done as well, or better, in every game except Norwich (0-1 loss vs 0-0). Even that disappointing draw with Sunderland to give them 100% of their season's points was better than last year's awful home loss. Last year we drew with Fulham home and away. Another fantastic opportunity to ratchet up the year-on-year comparison.

Really, really happy to see VW storm back and play a hugely powerful game. Him, Morgan, Lallana... dazzling midfield.

We had more possession, more shots, more shots on goal. ...and theirs was offside. We deserved to win that. Away. Against the team most still assume is one of the best in Europe. Believe!

Some absolutely pulsating football. Really proud of the team. For the first 15 we were all over them. There will be more goals in this one. But even if we don't win, I've seen enough to know that our current position not an accident. Wanyama, Lovren, Schneiderlin massive.

Love this line-up... Despite being mocked for it, I think right call to hold Rickie as supersub.

Inspiration from 1969... (but holy cow, the game has speeded up just a tad since then! also the worst internet stream today is better than this..! don't let them tell you there's no such thing as progress)

Inspiration from 1969... (but holy cow, the game has speeded up just a tad since then! also the worst internet stream today is better than this..! don't let them tell you there's no such thing as progress)

Personally, I like that team... with Rickie avail as supersub. (or better yet, move Wanyama to the front sweeper role and reunite Cork with Schneiderlin.) But I can't see Poch switching to this formation. Suspect he might try one extra midfield player, though. Something like: Boruc Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw Wanyama Schneiderlin JWP Davis Lallana Ossie ...with JRod and Rickie avail to come on if we go behind.

He could easily become one of the most powerful players Saints have ever had. All the talent and strength are there. I'll be excited to track his progress this season. Plus, from everything I've read, he's a wonderful human being.

It's beautiful what Osvaldo did to Denmark at the weekend. One of these please, Dani! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPwNxGiorKA

Personally, love this team. Brings Cork Schneiderlin back together, stunning creative potential with Ramirez Lallana, and save Rickie and JRod as potential supersubs. But does anyone ever play 41221?

Here's the slo-motion replay... R a m i r e z!

Great, great day. We outplayed them pure and simple. The team looked even better with Davis on, and my gut is the way forward is to choose between Osvaldo and Lambert. Probably start with Osvaldo, and use Lambert as supersub. That opens up a midfield place for Davis or Cork or JWP. That's where the pace and creativity come from. Personally, I think Wanyama's a keeper. He won the ball several times through sheer strength. Hate seeing Lallana subbed. But what an awesome performance.

Absolute beaut of a save from Boruc. Wow. And arguably we've been a little lucky with the ref, though I agree it wasn't a penalty. Lallana fantastic. Ossie's big moment is close, surely. The move ending with Clyne's volley back across the area was superb. I thought Wanyama overall strong despite the frustration of some underhit passes. But Cork for Wanyama on the 60th minute would be interesting to see. Our pressing game is driving them crazy. We look strong. Saints goal will be explosive celebration here in New York city (where it's the lead game live on NBC Sports.)

I don't understand why Lallana is always first man off... but I thought second half strong overall, and on another day we'd be 2-0 winners. Morgan had a couple of spectacular strikes, Wanyama a lot better second half and Osvaldo is exciting to watch. I have a hunch we'll surprise Liverpool next week.

I don't fully agree with all the Wanyama dissing. He HAS given the ball away a lot... but usually when under intense pressure. Osvaldo has shown some spectacular touches. I live in hope of a better second half.

...and even more exciting would be to include Boruc in goal!

Personally, I'd love to find a way of getting the Cork/Schneiderlin partnership operating again. I think there's a 4123 set-up that could be powerful, with Wanyama playing just behind Cork/Spider Clyne Fonte/Yoshida Lovren Shaw Wanyama Cork Schneiderlin Lallana Osvaldo Rodriguez Lambert on as super-sub if Osvaldo hasn't delivered by 60th minute. This is the starting team that would excite me most...