SaintZamboni

Same reason buyers were interested in Newcastle or Burnley I suspect. What exactly is it that makes us an unattractive purchase?

Because over the entire season, which is ultimately what counts, we’re 13th so far. The massive over perform then under perform we’ve seen shouldn’t hide that.

There were times tonight we looked like we were playing a 4231. Ings and Adams were dropping in and it seemed to help us. Armstrong and JWP looked like a good midfield combo. When we lost Ings I assumed Armstrong would fill that 10 void until he was moved. Didn’t work for us after that. Diallo seems to have lost some of his initial sparkle. He’s getting bullied a bit and losing the ball too often. Salisu had a decent enough game. Enough that I’d pull Bertrands contract offer and let him go.

That’s what I assumed seeing the line up. Give us some cover so KWP can attack without leaving a huge gap. We can also go to a bank of 4 or 5 when out of possession. would allow the front 3 to rotate somewhat as well. be interesting to see...

Limp. typical way to go out given our season so far. exposed down our right again despite looking decent enough. No response.

He’s completely exposed because KWP is playing higher this half. This is why we get beaten week in week out

I think Jan is getting a rough time. He’s constantly exposed because KWP is marauding and our midfield are high. WBA tore us apart because they exposed the gap he leaves. If I can see it then it won’t be hard for an actual football manager to work out. I don’t think dropping him for stephens is the answer but I also don’t know what is

And were red hot for the months prior

Yes. We’re not going down, we’ve just been frustratingly hot and cold

Every single problem comes down the right. KWP is nowhere, they get behind him and bednarak is left alone. Diallo and JWP constantly running full tilt towards our goal. Sloppy mistakes all round as well. Absolutely awful

When Ralph talks about players bot executing his style I always think of Redmond. Theo, when fit, and Armstrong will turn and make headway forwards after picking up the ball. Do they lose it? Often. But we go forwards. KWP is the same albeit from a different role. None of these players feels the need to endlessly roll their foot over the ball a couple of time then roll it back and give it to Bertrand. Redmond did actually turn, run and shoot against city, once, and it got us the corner from which we won a penalty (I think). But that’s the only time he’s done it in recent memory.

Ralph’s assessment seems fair. Subs brought us no impetus and we clearly aren’t playing to a style or system, we’re just showing up. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that when things get tough our players revert to this bland, no style football. Too many of them have been around too long and shown they’re not what we need. we’re so hamstrung by finances. Bertrand isn’t what we need anymore, he offers none of the dynamism and progression that KWP does and we know his attitude can be off when things aren’t going our way. Trouble is we can’t guarantee the funds to secure another LB. His new contract is not signed because he is surely feeling out other offers but giving him a contract is cheaper than finding a new first choice full back for us. If players aren’t executing the style then I’d say drop them, but for who? Hopefully the break gives Ralph a chance to reset and we finish the season a bit more effectively. I think we’ll stay up but I don’t care to watch and find out anymore

We’ll beat them in the same manner we did Sheffield United. More front foot drive against opposition we feel we can beat. City game didn’t teach us much other than who shouldn’t be playing or who Ralph will play and got a good rest. Hoping Armstrong has the legs for this one alongside Minamino. Tella and Adams up top to give us that quick out ball. 3-0

Wide open at the near post with a player who, again, was only going to strike with his left

It’s Mahrez, no chance he’s going to look to cut onto his left so we’ll let him drift inside and see what happens...

Forster KWP Bed Vest Bertrand JWP Armstrong Redmond Djenepo Adams Ings 2-0 Saints

I think that if we score we’ll go on to win with a degree of comfort. Fingers crossed for KWP return but if not we should at least play someone there who will get forward. Djenepo created our best chance yesterday by getting forward into the space created by Tella and Armstrong being central. Bertrand doesn’t do this enough down the left, perhaps under instruction, so hopefully Minamino is fit so Redmond can take a seat on the bench. Can’t have our entire left flank slowing it down and going backwards. If Diallo is back then that could free up Armstrong to play in the left advanced role and get us moving forward more. Predicting 2-0 Saints, Ings (2)

I would like to think we’re going to play 343. Give the centre backs some time to gel and make sure there’s someone up top if Che is holding the ball up. not feeling so doom and gloom as everyone else apparently

Bamford saying we pressed them hard first half but second half they looked to play higher so mistakes didn’t punish them.

We never have a focal point to our attack. If Che is holding up the ball and laying it off then there’s inevitably no one in the box. Ings the same, he pulls deep or wide and there’s fuck all going forwards. Combine that with being fragile as fuck and we’re done. Contract talks should be on hold for everyone. Bertrand and McCarthy definitely don’t need extension

Think this side will work. Try to be solid, knowing Leeds will come at us, use pace on the break and introduce Ings and Mina as they tire, assuming we’re still in the game

Right. I think we’re making the same point. Somebody else was saying that doing the same thing and expecting the same results is the definition of madness. But I’m making the point that doing those things made us successful before so why change now. Obviously injuries enforced changes and I would hope success would return because things were working before

So logic suggests that when we were winning and playing well we were doing the right thing and no need to change. Why then won’t it correct itself with some tweaking?

I think saying ‘stuck with Ralph’ is incredibly harsh. He is clearly a quality manager who is hamstrung by a squad that needs refreshing. Who on earth would come in, do a better job or get us playing anywhere near as well? I have no interest in Saints going down the replace for safety route again. That said, we cannot keep bemoaning VAR decisions when we haven’t been good enough to win.

Lee Mason is also a fat fuck. His job is to referee a high paced professional game, Christ knows how he’s supposed to do that