corky morris Posted 2 December, 2011 Share Posted 2 December, 2011 Harding is average defensively and offers nothing going forward, whenever he plays, even when he has a good game, it just reminds me how much better Fox is. Hardings crossing is awful and opposition do see him as a weak link. Fox may well be better going forward & his delivery is without doubt better than Hardings, but Harding is a better defender IMHO. I thought he got forward really well on Tuesday in a way that Fox has not done. For the record Fox was very very poor against Brizzle. He may have been exposed, but he just dropped off until Adamoah got into our box & then left him to decide what he wanted to do. I have seen Harding also have a complete nightmare as well up at Carlisle last year. I just hope Fox becomes a better defender! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 2 December, 2011 Share Posted 2 December, 2011 Fox may well be better going forward & his delivery is without doubt better than Hardings, but Harding is a better defender IMHO. I thought he got forward really well on Tuesday in a way that Fox has not done. For the record Fox was very very poor against Brizzle. He may have been exposed, but he just dropped off until Adamoah got into our box & then left him to decide what he wanted to do. I have seen Harding also have a complete nightmare as well up at Carlisle last year. I just hope Fox becomes a better defender! If the opposition have a decent, quick right winger i would go with Harding, he is a better defender. If they haven't I would go with Fox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 2 December, 2011 Share Posted 2 December, 2011 (edited) If the opposition have a decent, quick right winger i would go with Harding, he is a better defender. If they haven't I would go with Fox. Giles Barnes has been playing RM recently. Over-rated IMO. Edited 3 December, 2011 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 2 December, 2011 Share Posted 2 December, 2011 Need to win this one, can't rely on winning every home match and our away form is pretty average. We must dispel this myth. If our way form was average it would be the 12th or 13th best in the league. We actually have the 8th best away record in the league, so are well above averaged. 12 points from 9 away games is much better than the generally perceived requirement of a point per game on average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Need to get some away form going today. Will be relying on txt updates as todays mission is to join fellow exile % lurker GJ in the Heineken Hostility tent at the rugby/ Lot of lessons yesterday we could take to SMS - allowing s to take cool bags full of beer into the stands, banning Stone Island and replacing it with fancy dress or silly hats, rousing choruses of Move like Jagger & Hey Bay every 7 minutes, looney suicical parachutists trying to hit the goal posts, marching camels, building trings of plastic bags that go all the way round the stadium...... nah maybe not, you have to be shredded to not find it all annoying Although watching Brazilian women play rugby and just KNOWING that the 'tater is gonna do a Clarkson a number of non PC classics? Yeah that was a moment Day Two here we come 12 hours again, please send spare liver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Need to get some away form going today. Will be relying on txt updates as todays mission is to join fellow exile % lurker GJ in the Heineken Hostility tent at the rugby/ Lot of lessons yesterday we could take to SMS - allowing s to take cool bags full of beer into the stands, banning Stone Island and replacing it with fancy dress or silly hats, rousing choruses of Move like Jagger & Hey Bay every 7 minutes, looney suicical parachutists trying to hit the goal posts, marching camels, building trings of plastic bags that go all the way round the stadium...... nah maybe not, you have to be shredded to not find it all annoying Although watching Brazilian women play rugby and just KNOWING that the 'tater is gonna do a Clarkson a number of non PC classics? Yeah that was a moment Day Two here we come 12 hours again, please send spare liver Not much hope of txts from me ... working and prob no access to computer till 2100 - but working on it!! Have fun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Need to get some away form going today. Will be relying on txt updates as todays mission is to join fellow exile % lurker GJ in the Heineken Hostility tent at the rugby/ Lot of lessons yesterday we could take to SMS - allowing s to take cool bags full of beer into the stands, banning Stone Island and replacing it with fancy dress or silly hats, rousing choruses of Move like Jagger & Hey Bay every 7 minutes, looney suicical parachutists trying to hit the goal posts, marching camels, building trings of plastic bags that go all the way round the stadium...... nah maybe not, you have to be shredded to not find it all annoying Although watching Brazilian women play rugby and just KNOWING that the 'tater is gonna do a Clarkson a number of non PC classics? Yeah that was a moment Day Two here we come 12 hours again, please send spare liver Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericofarabia Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Dubai Saints decimated by Phil at the Rugby 7's sat behind 20 Jimmy Savilles and me at work. Just seen 2 nuns in the crowd on TV and taters gave a weather report so our work is done. Have fun and play nicely girls!! COYS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 For those that heard Nigel Adkins comment on saints player about players hiding knocks from him... I must have missed that then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSFC Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 We must dispel this myth. If our way form was average it would be the 12th or 13th best in the league. We actually have the 8th best away record in the league, so are well above averaged. 12 points from 9 away games is much better than the generally perceived requirement of a point per game on average. Our away form certainly is a little better than average but if we only averaged one point a game away from home, we would need to average 3 points at home in order to achieve the generally perceived requirement of 2 points per game average. Of course thats spot on right now....BUT sport tells us that things can change quickly and winning all 23 games at home is unheard of. If we continue averaging 1.33 points away from home we will get 31 points (rounded up). To achieve 92 points for the season we need to claim 61 points at home. We already have 30 and there are 13 games to go. 31 points from 13 games is a 2.38 ppg average or something like 9 wins and 4 draws or 10 wins, 1 draws and two losses. Playing safe and assuming 2 home losses and 3 home draw would mean a tally of 27 points up the next 13 games and 57 points overall. That means 35 points are required away from home. We already have 12 from 9 so need 23 from 14 games at an average of 1.64 ish. This is better than we are currently at. So playing safe-ish, 7 wins, 2 draws, and 5 defeats away would suffice.....or 6 wins, 5 draws, and 3 defeats. So overall we need 14 or 15 WINS..no more than 8 DRAWS...and can AFFORD UPTO 7 DEFEATS!!!! We are in a very strong position to say the least. Lets chlk off one of those wins today.......!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miffy Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Of course there are lots of ways of looking at this, but in the last 3 years 81 points would have been enough to secure 2nd place. As we currently have 42 we would only need 39 more, which is 13 wins in the last 27 games, we could afford 14 defeats! Not sure would want to take that chance though.... Whichever way it is viewed we are in a v strong position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FarehamRed Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Looking at the table, Doncaster don't score many goals - 15 in total. Makes me think that if we score one, we'll probably win. This being the case, I wonder if NA will be tempted to rest RL. We have some big games coming up against Blackpool and someone else, plus a busy Christmas period. Would have thought we have at least one goal in us, even without RL. Guly & Barnard to start I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Weather report from Orkney wild winds and my back garden is under 6 inches of water so come on saints cheer me up and spank the Donnys ( or is that offensive) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 3 points today & a clean sheet thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Will be interesting to see the line up today with Lambert missing through injury. Connelly is still not fit I assume and Barnard is not yet match fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints-cris Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Will be interesting to see the line up today with Lambert missing through injury. Connelly is still not fit I assume and Barnard is not yet match fit. Is this definate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Is this definate? Pretty sure, was told y/day by someone usually spot on that Lambo will be missing for the next few games. Hope it's just today tbf... It's a blow because he's pivitol to how we play, but I don;t think we rely on him as much as we did under Pardew. We litterly had no idea under Pards if Rickie was injured, I think we have alternatives now - not as potent, but still additional options. I would be very surprised if SDR doesn't start up top alongside Guly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints-cris Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Blimey, guess its time to prove we can do alright without him. I think De Ridder/Barnard with Guly up top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Was hoping we'd start with De Ridder out wide. Davis; Fraser, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox; De Ridder, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Guly, Barnard ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 I am not going to be at my laptop this afternoon, so here is a punk playing a melodeon with some NUNS! (in case they are needed) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Was hoping we'd start with De Ridder out wide. Davis; Fraser, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox; De Ridder, Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Guly, Barnard ??? Is JonnoQuick not back with us yet. Can't remember when exactly he went to Preston for a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Saint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 BBC says that we have only used 20 players this season, which is the joint fewest any club has used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 I hope I am wrong but I think we will struggle big time without Rickie. Hope he is only out today, a few games sounds worrying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 I hope I am wrong but I think we will struggle big time without Rickie. Hope he is only out today, a few games sounds worrying. we don't even know for sure that he is out,I'll wait until I see the team sheet. Anyway it would give us an occasion to try something new, you know something that the opposition haven't seen hours and hours of on videos. Seen both of the last 2 matches in full now, RL contributed the square root of firk all to either of them, except nodding back for the Guly goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Our away form certainly is a little better than average but if we only averaged one point a game away from home, we would need to average 3 points at home in order to achieve the generally perceived requirement of 2 points per game average. Of course thats spot on right now....BUT sport tells us that things can change quickly and winning all 23 games at home is unheard of. If we continue averaging 1.33 points away from home we will get 31 points (rounded up). To achieve 92 points for the season we need to claim 61 points at home. We already have 30 and there are 13 games to go. 31 points from 13 games is a 2.38 ppg average or something like 9 wins and 4 draws or 10 wins, 1 draws and two losses. Still the point I was making is that contrary to what some on here seem to think our away for is well above average. Playing safe and assuming 2 home losses and 3 home draw would mean a tally of 27 points up the next 13 games and 57 points overall. That means 35 points are required away from home. We already have 12 from 9 so need 23 from 14 games at an average of 1.64 ish. This is better than we are currently at. So playing safe-ish, 7 wins, 2 draws, and 5 defeats away would suffice.....or 6 wins, 5 draws, and 3 defeats. So overall we need 14 or 15 WINS..no more than 8 DRAWS...and can AFFORD UPTO 7 DEFEATS!!!! We are in a very strong position to say the least. Lets chlk off one of those wins today.......!!! I think in the end you are agreeing with me. Our away form is quite good (better than average) and if we were to win today our average away points would be 1.5 per game. That would leave us needing 47 points from 26 remaining games, 20 points away and 27 at home (W 9 L4, or W8 D3 L2, both of which are achievable. We clearly won't win all of our home games, thats just ridiculous to even consider, but unless something catastrophic happens we will still win a good many of the remaining home games, 8 or 9 more this season is not out of the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 we don't even know for sure that he is out,I'll wait until I see the team sheet. Anyway it would give us an occasion to try something new, you know something that the opposition haven't seen hours and hours of on videos. Seen both of the last 2 matches in full now, RL contributed the square root of firk all to either of them, except nodding back for the Guly goal. Agreed but he's played practically every minute of every game so far he probably needs a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aardvark Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Need to win this one, can't rely on winning every home match and our away form is pretty average. The table shows us ranked 8th on away from - "average", "top half" or "play off from" - discuss. 1 West Ham 19 5 2 2 17 10 7 2 1 18 5 20 23 2 Middlesbrough 19 3 6 1 12 9 5 2 2 11 8 6 17 3 Leeds 19 4 2 3 13 14 5 2 3 20 14 5 17 4 Hull 18 4 0 4 9 10 4 3 3 10 10 -1 15 5 Cardiff 19 6 2 1 18 10 3 5 2 15 12 11 14 6 Reading 19 3 4 3 13 13 4 2 3 10 8 2 14 7 Brighton 19 4 3 2 14 11 4 2 4 8 10 1 14 8 Southampton 19 10 0 0 26 6 3 3 3 16 14 22 12 9 Crystal Palace 19 3 6 1 9 6 4 0 5 10 12 1 12 10 Burnley 19 3 3 4 18 14 4 0 5 11 15 0 12 11 Bristol City 19 2 2 5 9 13 3 3 4 11 17 -10 12 12 Leicester 19 6 0 4 16 10 2 5 2 10 10 6 11 13 Derby 20 4 2 4 14 12 3 2 5 10 18 -6 11 14 Blackpool 19 5 2 2 16 8 2 4 4 14 17 5 10 15 Barnsley 18 4 2 3 12 9 2 4 3 9 13 -1 10 16 Nott'm Forest 19 3 2 5 11 18 3 0 6 7 16 -16 9 17 Birmingham 16 5 3 0 11 3 2 2 4 12 15 5 8 18 Peterborough 19 5 1 3 22 15 2 2 6 14 19 2 8 19 Ipswich 18 4 0 5 15 15 2 2 5 10 22 -12 8 20 Watford 19 4 2 4 12 15 1 4 4 7 13 -9 7 21 Millwall 19 4 4 2 16 9 1 3 5 7 13 1 6 22 Doncaster 19 1 4 4 5 11 2 0 8 10 22 -18 6 23 Portsmouth 18 5 2 2 14 7 0 3 6 6 14 -1 3 24 Coventry 19 2 4 4 11 13 0 3 6 5 16 -13 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legod Third Coming Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 BBC says that we have only used 20 players this season, which is the joint fewest any club has used. I am sure this is why we are top of the league - even when we swap players in/out, they are well drilled in our style and system. If we are without Rickie, Guly must step up and fill the role of hold-up/playmaker up the field and we need to see Barnard show his true mettle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorpie the sinner Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 We just need to rotate in Dec nicking as many points as poss then cream the Jan window! Had a twitter chat with Jez Butler one of the Northern Journos and he is convinced we will be back for J Rod and we will get him! Think it was intimated on here that when we played the clarets earlier we told them our offer stood! JB is convinced J Rod is worth the hype in potential alone! Thrilled with what we have achieved so far but we need to be as covered as poss if we want to sustain this fantastic run until the end of the season! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty Posted 3 December, 2011 Author Share Posted 3 December, 2011 If Lambert is out I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing how others fare, and I think our style is one which can adapt quite nicely. Whilst we do use Rickie's aerial ability in certain scenarios, like him pulling off at the back post for crosses and free kicks, it's not the only thing we rely on and while any team misses a good player, whoever comes in will bring additional skills. I'm confident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 I hope Guly starts and scores six just to shut his doubters up .....kinda agree with that sentiment, too ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 If Lambert is out I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing how others fare, and I think our style is one which can adapt quite nicely. Whilst we do use Rickie's aerial ability in certain scenarios, like him pulling off at the back post for crosses and free kicks, it's not the only thing we rely on and while any team misses a good player, whoever comes in will bring additional skills. I'm confident. ^^This^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEVMAN Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Fox back in,De Ridder starts out right,Guly up on his own with Morgan behind him will vary during the game me thinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 @jordansibley: Saints Vs Doncaster: Davis. Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox. Hammond©, Cork, Schneiderlin. Lallana, Guly, De Ridder #saintsfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 @jordansibley: Lambert misses out through injury. Fox comes back in for Harding and De Ridder starts. #saintsfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquidshokk Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 De ridder up front with guly??!! I played him up front in FIFA 12 last night and he was awesome Edit: or is that guly up on his own... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Fox back in,De Ridder starts out right,Guly up on his own with Morgan behind him will vary during the game me thinks. Not too bad - not sure how much threat Guly will offer on his own, but we'll see. I expect as you said the midfield will change around a fair bit, could expect Lallana to popup in behind at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfc4prem Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 ...So it looks a very fluid formation today. 4-5-1, 4-3-1-2, 4-4-2 - we can shift to these during the game with that team, which should keep Doncaster guessing. 4312 should be a useful formation today as Donny don't have much pace/talent down the flanks, unless i'm mistaken? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 So, he failure to get in an additional forward before the window shut has finally come home to roost.... And to think there were some on here who felt we didnt need to even strengthen in January... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 So, he failure to get in an additional forward before the window shut has finally come home to roost.... And to think there were some on here who felt we didnt need to even strengthen in January... Do you know what the result will be then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO16_Saint Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 So, he failure to get in an additional forward before the window shut has finally come home to roost.... And to think there were some on here who felt we didnt need to even strengthen in January... It's 14:19. Wait until after the match before jumping to conclusions. Hope you're wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Saints to win 3-0 and 3 more for the pot.... Certain players to stand up and be counted...... De Ridder to shine with a brace and Guly... WIFM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itchen Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 So, he failure to get in an additional forward before the window shut has finally come home to roost.... And to think there were some on here who felt we didnt need to even strengthen in January... Bloody hell, was it an early kick off? Putting aside your obsession with seeing the worst in every situation, I'm a bit puzzled by your use of tense. Are you saying that people don't want us to strengthen next month if possible? Because I don't think I've seen anyone say that. What they may have said is that we should strengthen if we can attract the right player(s) but, if not, we've probably got a good enough squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 So, he failure to get in an additional forward before the window shut has finally come home to roost.... And to think there were some on here who felt we didnt need to even strengthen in January... Miserable **** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Warrior Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 **** Troll is trying to wind us up 30 minutes before kick off. Rickie Lambert Travelled to the match with the squad he was walking round the pitch according to solent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Should still be winning this game. Who to take any penalties? Lallana? Guly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Davis, Richardson, Fox, Fonte, Hooiveld, Morgan, Cork, Hamster, Guly, Lallana, De Ridder. Anyone know the subs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 It will be fine, pretty sure they knew he would be out since Tuesday, I guess thats what they do at Staplewood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Red Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Bart, Martin, Barnard, Harding, Holmes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 3 December, 2011 Share Posted 3 December, 2011 Guly as the focal point with Schteeeeeve and Adam as Wing forwards. Could work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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