NewYorkSaint

Ah... this is the excitement and joy I remember. Onuachu has had an incredible half. His ability to receive long clearances, control and retain possession has been fantastic. I was worried the first game he played that he was less good in the air than his height suggested. Today those doubts are gone. Not only is he exploiting is height, his footwork can be stunning... and he's FAST. Alcaraz for Ely. It would be incredible if we won this.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man...

If you wanted to try your damnedest to make the case for giving NJ "a little more time" as his song goes, it would be something like this: - we've all (including SR) known for a long time the team needs better options up front. That's been the main explanation of our poor perf for last year. - those options came in all of 10 days ago. - it wasn't unreasonable to bring them on off the bench for their first game. - so they've had all of 45 mins to make their mark. - both looked really promising, especially Sulemana (that speed!) - both seem currently to be supportive of NJ (eg the puff piece in the Echo today). - so arguably Saturday is the first game when there's really been a chance to see NJ's vision of a fully-charged Saints side. - it may be last chance saloon, but it's worth granting. To be clear, I'm not sure I want to argue this. I'm as frustrated as anyone by NJ's ill chosen remarks after the last game. The only thing you cd say is that the pressure on him is insane, and sometimes people don't show their best side in those circumstances. But he does seem to still have JWP's support, and is there maybe a chance that through all this, JWP emerges stronger as captain? I dunno. I may be grasping at straws. Unlike some others on here, I do think Rasmus and SR are really strong. They had a reason for this appointment that we haven't seen yet. But they're also smart enough to change course if that's what's needed. Unlike us they have their personal fortunes on the line. I'm guessing they'll allow another game or two before the switch. I'm willing to TRY to continue to believe...

Need to bring on both new signings for Ely and Che, and Alcaraz for Diallo. That at least is a team that could....

Calm down people. Honestly. We've got people brand new to the PL, their first week here. No harm at all in starting them on the bench. I'd expect to see both on early in the second half. If they seem up to speed, they'll start next time. Let's judge the game by the full 90 mins. For me, just having Lavia back and starting is reason for hope.

So let's see... the same man who just pulled off the best January window I can remember for Saints - and it was him working personally on these signings - is also the man who appointed a man he has got to know over many years as a super-smart, data-driven, fanatically hard-working manager. One achievement is rated 8-10/10 by most on here. The other seems to be rated 0-5/10 by many on here. These ratings don't make sense. I would rather take the stance that it might take time to fully understand a manager's strengths. We've had a couple of months. He's had years. He knows football better than most of us do and has many £millions of personal money on the line here. He's now given NJ the tools he needs to get this club a-moving up the table. I for one will be patiently and excitedly waiting, and in the meantime giving NJ, and Rasmus, full support.

So let's see... the same man who just pulled off the best January window I can remember for Saints - and it was him working personally on these signings - is also the man who appointed a man he has got to know over many years as a super-smart, data-driven, fanatically hard-working manager. One achievement is rated 8-10/10 by most on here. The other seems to be rated 0-5/10 by many on here. These ratings don't make sense. I would rather take the stance that it might take time to fully understand a manager's strengths. We've had a couple of months. He's had years. He knows football better than most of us do and has many £millions of personal money on the line here. He's now given NJ the tools he needs to get this club a-moving up the table. I for one will be patiently and excitedly waiting, and in the meantime giving NJ, and Rasmus, full support.

My verdict on this window: Truly fantastic. Rasmus! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

It's not quite over yet. If we score the next goal, there will be a lot of pressure on them. Need to see Perraud on for Bree. And Lavia for Dallio. Let's give this our best shot.

Would so love to see a Mara goal. He has the potential to be superstar. A little more confidence could be catalytic. In other news... Lavia makes me happy. I think NJ prob has it about right for this game. Good rotation, great chance for our fringe players to get game time and show what they can do.

I'm a glass half full kinda guy. We're up against a team costing 2x + ours. And we battled them all the way. This is still close enough for next week to be exciting. Diallo showed promise for pretty much the first time. Alcaraz is going to be a superstar for us. Adam A is the new Shane Long on steroids. Salisu is world class. With Livramento and Lavia fully fit, we have a fantastic team.

Nice to see Diallo have a good half. Overall, I'll say this. This team looks capable of surprises. There's a sharpness to our play that's pretty exciting. Just need to carry it through to the penalty area.

I agree with this. Alcaraz has an incredible shot on him.

Diallo apart, it's an exciting team. We'll learn a lot tonight. Re Diallo, his misplaced passes are infuriating... BUT I think he does play a really important role in winning back the ball. He's constantly in people's face. NJ likes that kind of fire and commitment. Lavia way better, but I get the need to protect him. Last thing we want is another hammy and six weeks off. A huge amount for me depends on Alcaraz. If he can provide some real midfield solidity (plus, rumour has it, the ability to surge forward and spark our attacks), that will be huge. It's really been the missing piece all season.

We can still win this. It's so close. Wd like to see our new signings in action. Exciting to see Lyanco becoming a really great player. There's a great core building here. We just need to find a little penalty area magic.

Too soon? "All you needed was just a little time...."

Possible theory. NJ has given players like Lyanco and Djenepo a jolt of belief and confidence....

There's enough luck in football to make Saints 14-1 odds of victory tonight a pretty good bet.

Take a look back at the pre-match sneering and disgust. It's so unfair and unhelpful. Football is never as bad as it looks when it's bad, nor as good as it looks when it's good. There's soooo much luck in the game. We were lucky today. And unlucky before. But I really hope we give the club benefit of the doubt these next few weeks. Just need one win in the premier league, and one or two more exciting players in, and the world will feel v different. I give Jones and the team some real credit for that game. Confidence naturally started at all-time low. But after going a goal down, they fought back intensely. It was great to see. Lyanco, who everyone was piling on pre-match, was seriously impressive. And Adam A's blistering pace played a huge part in forcing the error for our second goal. Also saw JWP looking more like a captain than in recent weeks... some team-pumping and encouragement visible. Don't usually see that. All in all, proud of the team today, and remain hopeful we can still avoid the drop.

I'm not seeing any working streams. For once, it's not on live TV in the US... 😆 Anyone have one working?

It's really amazing to watch the group pile-on - on Twitter even more than here. People, this is our team. If a couple of mistakes had been avoided in last couple games, and this exact same team was picked now, you'd see people going. "yup... reasonable." The only big worry for me is: what's up with Stu?

May not be popular points, but I'll make them anyway. 1) I think we're incredibly lucky to have someone with Ankersen's vision running the club. He may well be the smartest owner in the league. Would you rather have just another rich owner or someone who's actually spent decades figuring out how to identify hidden talent and willing to construct a system of feeder clubs where talent can migrate all the way up naturally. 2) Where's the part in the video above that says success will come instantly? It isn't there. It's actually key to his model that it has to be first identified, then recruited, then developed. That won't happen overnight. When you look at the early signs though, there's a lot of promise: Lavia, ABK, Edozie for three. Plus we were a few hours away from signing Gapko, someone who no one on here was arguing for, for half the price that Liverpool just paid. I don't think this is evidence that what he's talking about is 'wank'. 3) I think we're all ignoring the role that luck/bad luck plays. If Lavia had stayed fit, and we'd brought in Gapko, we could well be looking at a very different situation right now. The trouble with football is that once things go against you, confidence drops, and the situation gets worse. You can see that so painfully in Che's loss of form. And last night it seemed to have spread to the whole team. Really, really hard to see. On the other hand confidence can come surging back with just a couple of wins. 4) I agree with everyone that so far NJ has looked a like a deer in the headlights. Definitely worrying. He's also been unlucky. The majority of the goals we've conceded since he came are down to specific individual errors. And we've missed many golden chances. With just a slight turn on that luck/confidence dial things would have been very different. His talent is supposed to be the relentless hard work he's willing to put in, coaching individual players. That is not something that would necessarily become apparent overnight. I'm really hoping it turns soon. If it doesn't, and he loses the dressing room, I agree that Ankersen may need to try again. He took a big gamble on NJ. Not every gamble comes off. But for me, at any rate, I'm willing to give it another month. 5) We're at the start of a new window. Supposedly our owners are at their finest in identifying new talent. They know how urgent this is right now. Before everyone talks themselves into a frenzy of anger, how about we see who they come up with and what difference that makes. They had a strong window last time round, and it was nearly sensational. I'm guessing they come up with the goods and we'll all feel a little better here. As confidence returns, there is still every chance we find our way moving slowly away from the danger zone. We're in the toughest in the league in the world, playing mostly against teams with far deeper pockets. If we can claim our place by OUTSMARTING them, that will be a really joyful thing. I'm hanging in there. I'm not sure about NJ. But I do think Ankersen and Kraft have what it takes. And that's despite my favorite John Cleese quote ever: "I can take the despair. It's the hope that kills me."

I asked ChatGPT to write Nathan's half-time pep talk. This is what it came up with... LOL: "Team, I know things aren't looking great out there, but let's not lose faith. We've got 45 minutes left to turn this thing around, and I believe that with God's help, anything is possible. "I know some of you may be feeling frustrated and defeated, but let's remember that God is with us in all things. He has a plan for us, and this difficult situation may be part of that plan. Let's trust in His will and have faith that He will guide us through this. "So let's go out there and give it our all. Let's play for Him and let Him guide our actions. Let's remember that it's not about the outcome of this game, but about giving our best effort and glorifying His name. "And even if things don't go our way on the field, let's remember that our ultimate victory is found in Him. Let's go out there and leave it all on the field, knowing that we are playing for something greater than just a win or a loss. "God bless, team. Let's do this."

The only thing you could say in Saints defense is that both goals had a freak quality to them. Gazunu would save the first 99/100. And the second was a freak own goal. Great cross, but v unlucky tip of the ball onto Perraud's legs. But our play in possession was only rarely good. Until we get our best players back, we're clearly going to struggle. I'd bring on Stu for Dalio. Next goal crucial.

Hilarious. But based on this result....WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP EIGHT TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!