kitch

Deffo some complacency there. Probably hard to stay focused when you're so clearly dominating. I suggest they stop and look at the scoreboard every now and then, because like you say, they should have been out of sight if Adams could finish. (He did well with his goal, no doubts on that one). Smallbone & Charles, however...don't want to see them in midfield at the same time again for a while. No creativity at all. Badly needed Aribo or Stuey to start with one or the other, but appreciate Downes was out so not an ideal lineup anyway. More like Swansea, less like tonight, but keep it going Saints.

Being lucky to win games when even you've made errors or not played well is the mark of a team that wins things. I'll take that all day long. Thought Mara's cameo was hugely encouraging. He's looked good each time he's come on recently. Some lovely skill tonight, unlucky not to score. Still convinced there's a big player there. Lovely finish from Alcaraz too, and I've really been impressed with Bednarek recently. Hasn't put a foot wrong for ages now. Baz? Bah, it happens. He's young, as long as he learns from it, no problem. Onwards.

Che Adams is fucking toilet.

Still remain convinced there's a player in there. Ask yourselves how many of our other attackers would have been on the end of that cross on Saturday? Che would've been stood still in the box watching it. Only AA possibly would have met that, but even then I'm not convinced. He gets bit parts, with 5min cameos here and there, which for a 21yr old trying to find his feet is a pretty rough deal. I think he just needs to adapt to the pace of the game here, and he won't do that on the bench. Thought he was solid when he came on against Blackburn, though he should have put that one-on-one away, but that's again that's a lack of match sharpness and confidence.

Jesus, that's some guy. Makes you feel proud to support the same club as him.

I just wanted to say if you came up with "Who needs Rodriguez, we've got your back four" and "We are Southampton, we don't need to score!" years ago when Everton came down and scored two own goals, I personally thank you!

What actually kicked that off, then? Alcaraz getting involved cos Burger started on Holgate?

There's nothing to be gained by trying to analyse last night. Only thing I took out of it was the number of times in the second half one of our creative players (normally Stu or Alcaraz) wandered into the opposing half looking to start something, before hanging onto the ball for what seemed like 4 hours while they desperately looked around for someone to move it to. How can a team that's set up with 5 attackers have no options in the final third?! Leicester weren't sat deep or anything (they didn't need to). Were players hiding? Were they in the wrong positions? All the shit that's gone on over the past couple of years, and last night it looked like nobody at the club had learned a thing. Credit to Baz, thought it'd be 5 or 6 if it weren't for him.

Was just thinking that!

He did. He liked Ings, too.

#maraIN

Strikes me that if we actually feed him with the service he needs, he'll bag tonnes of goals in the Champ, but he's never had it. He always looks like a fish up a tree. I think he'll go to Werder Bremmen personally. Arma will be up top tomorrow with Alcaraz, Fraser and Stu behind him IMO. Have a nasty feeling this is when the unbeaten streak ends. Sunderland will want blood if we're pinching two of their best players, and it's a damage limitation match for Russell as he doesn't have all the pegs in the right holes yet. Hope I'm talking complete shite though.

Can't figure Mara out. He's frustrating. Clearly has a lot of talent and potential, but figuring out a way to unlock it seems tricky. He's had three different managers here, and if Russ doesn't see it then I'm happy to trust the process. Things like the finish against City in the cup though...none of our other strikers (since Ings) would have managed that. Cool as you like.

I wonder how Wolves fans will feel about signing the striker who (if my memory serves me right) managed while playing against them to miss an open goal on the goal line by handballing instead of heading? I can see Wolves going down tbh. I think their party is over now.

He literally is no. 9 😆 (yeah I know what you meant!)

You see him more as a 10?

Are you forgetting Arma there?

Gotta be Millwall and Leeds.

This is a valid point. People are weighing up £15m for a striker with poor finishing generally (though with other decent attributes) in his last year of contract vs. the riches we'd gain from promotion...completely overlooking the fact that we aren't guaranteed promotion with or without him, and could easily finish outside the top 6/7 and still see him go at the end of the season on a free. I quite like him, but I think he's easily replaceable. My only worry is will the club actually manage it this time.

Serious question...who the fuck would eat raw chicken liver, and why?!

I wouldn't take Messi if he'd done the same thing, let alone Greenwood. Let him go and become a billionaire in Saudi or something.

Say what you want about getting deals done early, but we're pulling a masterclass in how to get the most pennies from a sale here. Have basically pitted two top 6 teams against each other and are using them both to bump each other's bids up. £60m for Lavia is a great deal after less than a full season of PL football.

This deserves a quote post!

I know it's risky to say it, but I really enjoyed that last night! Can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching us.

Lyanco's hopefully so enraged that he decides to move to another club to play his 2 or 3 good games a season.