Saints 1-0 Leeds - Match Thread

[The Cat]

1 hour ago, Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd said:

When is Ralph going to get it right? Starts Broja, which is great, but plays him up front with fucking, Redmond. What is his obsession with NR? I wouldn't even have him on the bench. 

Any remaining respect I had for RH has gone. 

(Now watch Redmond nick it for us in the 2nd half. 😂)

You are an idiot.

[Streaky]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

beat a leeds with half of their first team (and best players) missing.

A win is a win though and we needed it no matter how

Should have been more but that will give us confidence going forward. Really important win. Especially for Ralph.

[VectisSaint]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

beat a leeds with half of their first team (and best players) missing.

A win is a win though and we needed it no matter how

We were missing JWP, Stephens and Adams

[TWar]

Salisu is incredible, Ralph's move to 4141 was inspired and directly led to our victory, and Elyounoussi looks really good at the moment as does Diallo. Also Stuart Armstrong is back! Good news across the board imo.

[The Cat]

26 minutes ago, saint lard said:

We beat a second string Leeds side at home. 
rejoice. 🤷🏻‍♂️

What reaction would you prefer?

Personally I'm going to enjoy the evening after watching my team win at home for the first time in ages.

[cloggy saint]

27 minutes ago, saint lard said:

We beat a second string Leeds side at home. 
rejoice. 🤷🏻‍♂️

FFS, there's always one.

[Teddeer]

1 minute ago, TWar said:

Salisu is incredible, Ralph's move to 4141 was inspired and directly led to our victory, and Elyounoussi looks really good at the moment as does Diallo. Also Stuart Armstrong is back! Good news across the board imo.

The biggest bit of good news was that Ralph was finally forced to give Broja a try up front. He shouldn't have had to wait for Adams to get injured to give him his first start in the Prem.

[Toadhall Saint]

3 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

We were missing JWP, Stephens and Adams

Now now Vectis you know that doesn’t count. 😉

[Baird of the land]

2 minutes ago, TWar said:

Salisu is incredible, Ralph's move to 4141 was inspired and directly led to our victory, and Elyounoussi looks really good at the moment as does Diallo. Also Stuart Armstrong is back! Good news across the board imo.

I didn't see 4141 out there, it was pretty much 4-2-2-2, maybe 4-4-1-1 at a stretch.

[The Cat]

3 minutes ago, TWar said:

Salisu is incredible, Ralph's move to 4141 was inspired and directly led to our victory, and Elyounoussi looks really good at the moment as does Diallo. Also Stuart Armstrong is back! Good news across the board imo.

You don't know what are you are talking about. His selection was awful, subs crap and he doesn't know what he's doing. Haven't you been reading this thread?

[Shroppie]

4 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

We were missing JWP, Stephens and Adams

And, effectively, Stuart Armstrong. He's not match fit.

[TWar]

Just now, Teddeer said:

The biggest bit of good news was that Ralph was finally forced to give Broja a try up front. He shouldn't have had to wait for Adams to get injured to give him his first start in the Prem.

I actually don't think Broja was that great, maybe a little controversial. He didn't have many chances and his goal was all Redmond with a superb run and then a ball to put it on a plate for him. I would rather see us go back to Che and Armstrong when Che is back fit. But the 4141 was super effective against such a press heavy side like Leeds so good to have in our arsenal. Against Burnley and Watford I'd revert back to two forwards though.

[SFC Forever]

JWP might have a problem getting a game if our next two games see us winning well

[TWar]

2 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

I didn't see 4141 out there, it was pretty much 4-2-2-2, maybe 4-4-1-1 at a stretch.

I did, Romeu was definitely significantly further back than Diallo and Elyounoissi, both played narrow with Redmond and Djenepo mainly playing off the wings and Broja was most certainly a target man imo. Could be a 433 I guess but I'd definitely call it a 4141.

[VectisSaint]

1 minute ago, Shroppie said:

And, effectively, Stuart Armstrong. He's not match fit.

Agreed, didn't like to add that, it would probably have upset some of the doom mongers here. 

[Manuel]

Just now, SFC Forever said:

JWP might have a problem getting a game if our next two games see us winning well

Only one game to judge but I think Diallo was an improvement on JWP today.  

[Baird of the land]

Just now, TWar said:

I did, Romeu was definitely significantly further back than Diallo and Elyounoissi, both played narrow with Redmond and Djenepo mainly playing off the wings and Broja was most certainly a target man imo. Could be a 433 I guess but I'd definitely call it a 4141.

No Elyounessi and Djenepo were playing off the wings and redmond definitely through the middle.

[Billy the Kidd]

16 minutes ago, Teddeer said:

Plus he at last woke up to the fact that Broja is clearly the best striker at the club.

Possible. 

Or Ralph has been working with him all season so he is good at the things the manager wants him to do.

That is also plausible.

 

[Billy the Kidd]

9 minutes ago, Teddeer said:

The biggest bit of good news was that Ralph was finally forced to give Broja a try up front. He shouldn't have had to wait for Adams to get injured to give him his first start in the Prem.

Why not? Ralph sees him every day in training.

I get you dont rate the other strikers, or prefer Borja, but he has to be ready. 

Out of interest, what did you make of his start against Sheff Utd?

[Teddeer]

6 minutes ago, TWar said:

I actually don't think Broja was that great, maybe a little controversial. He didn't have many chances and his goal was all Redmond with a superb run and then a ball to put it on a plate for him. I would rather see us go back to Che and Armstrong when Che is back fit. But the 4141 was super effective against such a press heavy side like Leeds so good to have in our arsenal. Against Burnley and Watford I'd revert back to two forwards though.

Adams would have smashed that chance straight at the keeper. It was not as easy a finish as you make out. Broja led the line well especially considering it was his first start at this level. He was a handful at corners which none of our other forwards are. He made a huge difference today and gave us a presence up front which clearly unsettled Leeds.

[redder freak]

Just seen the goal on YouTube. Clinical passing and finishing by Djenepo, Redmond and Broja. And the roar of relief at St Mary’s. Sweet.

[Billy the Kidd]

8 minutes ago, TWar said:

I actually don't think Broja was that great, maybe a little controversial. He didn't have many chances and his goal was all Redmond with a superb run and then a ball to put it on a plate for him. I would rather see us go back to Che and Armstrong when Che is back fit. But the 4141 was super effective against such a press heavy side like Leeds so good to have in our arsenal. Against Burnley and Watford I'd revert back to two forwards though.

Yep good points here. Ralph played the perfect system and needed Broja. He may use the same system next weekend, but if he changes the system, he may need to change the players slightly. I thought Broja was OK today, but not as good as Ely and Redmond in an attacking sense, the goal aside, which was great play by Moussa, and Redmond.

Broja could have scored in the 1st half when played through by Tino (I think) but got the ball stuck under his feet. 

[Matthew Le God]

1 hour ago, TWar said:

I did, Romeu was definitely significantly further back than Diallo and Elyounoissi, both played narrow with Redmond and Djenepo mainly playing off the wings and Broja was most certainly a target man imo. Could be a 433 I guess but I'd definitely call it a 4141.

I wouldn't, it was the normal 4222/442. 

Redmond & Broja and later Redmond & Walcott were the strikers. Average position map shows it was 442/4222 with Elyounoussi's average looking very central due to switching wings. Romeu was not deeper than Diallo.

Broja even says in this interview it was him and Redmond upfront...

Edited 16 October, 2021 by Matthew Le God

[Teddeer]

3 minutes ago, Billy the Kidd said:

Why not? Ralph sees him every day in training.

I get you dont rate the other strikers, or prefer Borja, but he has to be ready. 

Out of interest, what did you make of his start against Sheff Utd?

On the contrary I wouldn't say I don't rate Armstrong or Adams. Both have their qualities and neither has been given much service. My gut feeling is that Broja is more what we need and has more to offer than either of them. As to the Sheffield Utd match, I thought he was no worse or better than anyone else in a lacklustre display in a game lacking any real quality,

[Billy the Kidd]

2 minutes ago, Teddeer said:

On the contrary I wouldn't say I don't rate Armstrong or Adams. Both have their qualities and neither has been given much service. My gut feeling is that Broja is more what we need and has more to offer than either of them. As to the Sheffield Utd match, I thought he was no worse or better than anyone else in a lacklustre display in a game lacking any real quality,

I understand, and thanks, it is nice to have a reasonable chat on here from time to time 👍

I guess I feel Ralph has been tweaking the system since we didnt win any of the first 3 or 4 games, trying to get a way where we have more attacking threat. Like the Sheff Utd game, where you acknowledge Broja didnt do much (same as others in that game) for me that is the same as AA and Che have suffered from in our first 7 games - a lack of service.

For me that doesn’t make it a cert that Broja should start ahead of the either of them, just maybe what system(s) we play and the opposition will dictate that.

I think AA will turn out a good signing in the end, I mean he would have likely scored the goal Broja got today, but Broja has the shirt and can understand him playing more regularly.

[LuckyNumber7]

That's the most comfortable I can remember feeling at 1-0 in front, especially given our record at holding onto a lead. Leeds really were dire with their key players out, but you can only beat what's in front of you.

Salisu was MOTM, dominant performance aside from his brainfart in the second half. Broja, Moi, Romeu and Diallo all very good too. 

I'm a big critic of Redmond but he had a very good game, so credit where it's due.

Still worried about the lack of goals but Broja definitely offers something different, I expect to see him starting more often than not now.

[Jimmy_D]

One of the most dominant wins we’ve had in a long time, despite the narrow scoreline.

Leeds were poor and we took full advantage to limit them to almost nothing, while we finally managed to find just enough of a cutting edge ourselves, had enough chances that it could easily have been a far more comfortable score.

Redmond MotM for me, albeit only just ahead of Salisu.

We did miss JWP, although maybe the players on the pitch subconsciously were putting in a little bit more effort without him there?

[Baird of the land]

I know its only leeds but it was nice to actually seem a slight threat from corners again via Broja.

[Teddeer]

14 minutes ago, Billy the Kidd said:

I understand, and thanks, it is nice to have a reasonable chat on here from time to time 👍

I guess I feel Ralph has been tweaking the system since we didnt win any of the first 3 or 4 games, trying to get a way where we have more attacking threat. Like the Sheff Utd game, where you acknowledge Broja didnt do much (same as others in that game) for me that is the same as AA and Che have suffered from in our first 7 games - a lack of service.

For me that doesn’t make it a cert that Broja should start ahead of the either of them, just maybe what system(s) we play and the opposition will dictate that.

I think AA will turn out a good signing in the end, I mean he would have likely scored the goal Broja got today, but Broja has the shirt and can understand him playing more regularly.

Yes, good to have a healthy debate. I agree that there is much more to come from Adam Armstrong. It is not as though he has missed a hatful of easy chances. I think Ralph needs to find a way of getting the midfield to provide him with better opportunities. His goal against Everton was superbly taken. Adams is great at the hold up play and is strong but nobody could say he is a clinical finisher. Also, he needs to be much better in the air where he provides zero threat. As I've said, I think Broja is the better all round player of the three because , from what I've seen,he is strong, quick, good in the air, can take opponents on and knows how to finish. If we were banging in goals I wouldn't care who was playing but clearly we are struggling to put the ball in the net and I thought Broja added something different today to help get the vital win.

Edited 16 October, 2021 by Teddeer

[DT]

Well done Saints. Will watch Match of the Day for once. Hooray. 

[East Kent Saint]

Fantastic 3 points and Man U got stuffed by ex Saints ha ha !

[The Cat]

Thought we were largely good throughout and never looked like losing. Very pleasing that once we scored we kept solid and the only real clearcut chance they had was when Salisu suddenly had a brainfart and nearly cost us a goal.

Midfield was solid, Diallo stepped up and put in a very good performance considering he's barely played.

Salisu was excellent aside from his one moment of madness and Elyounoussi put in some good work. Heard on the radio on the way back after that Ralph said he had been a bit sick so a very industrious performance considering that.

Both fullbacks had good games and Broja took his goal well. Finally a big well done to Redmond who had a great game. Was running at players, worked hard and set the goal up with a lovely assist.

Much bigger crowd today for some reason. I can't work out why a lot more people came today than the Wolves game. It's still laboriously slow getting through the turnstiles. Are people still struggling with tickets scanning? 

[Give it to Ron]

Can only beat what’s in front of you and we did, Diallo my MOTM carried it drove us forwards no sideways and backwards.

Having Perraud as left back gave us balance the thing we struggled with against Wolves.

Tino is some player just enjoy him while we can. Redmonds first 6 touches gave it away then he grew into it and had best game for a long time. Let’s hope he can do it again and it’s not another 10/20 games with no end product he is better than that just do it on pitch.

Salisu a beast think he got caught by sun in eyes and unsure what McCarthy was doing but apart from that outstanding display.

Best game from Ely today can’t remember him giving it away cheaply

Good win now follow up against Burnley 

Edited 16 October, 2021 by Give it to Ron

[Jimmy_D]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wSlvAcNHEI

[Viking Saint]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Nervy stuff because we only scored the one goal, but Leeds didn't threaten at all and we were comfortable at the back. Would have been nice to get another goal or two because our dominant performance deserved it, but hey ho.

4-point gap to the relegation spots now with 3 of our next 4 games against teams below us, gives us a great chance to pull out more of a gap and push on.

I'm gonna give my MOTM to Redmond. I'm usually one of his biggest critics, but I've never doubted his ability to perform well, just his consistency and his decision making.

Romeu a close second.

More to come from Broja I reckon. 

Yep, all of this. Would still like to see KWP and Tino combining on the right, but not sure where you'd play SA now he's fit again. Big three points that

[Forester]

Thought Redmond was superb, he was everywhere working so hard and great for the assist.  Top performances too from Salisu, Diallo and Moi.

 

As per separate thread we are one point behind what I would have predicted based on fixture list and if we get at least four points from next two games I won’t be unhappy at all with first part of the season.  Three clean sheets, with three different centre back pairings, is very encouraging too.

[Nordic Saint]

I thoroughly enjoyed that! I think we're going to see a lot more goals from Broja. 

[Manuel]

20 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Salisu a beast think he got caught by sun in eyes and unsure what McCarthy was doing but apart from that outstanding display.

Yeah.  He was superb for most of the game, real quality, then one error, a misplaced pass from him put him under pressure.  After that the Leeds player seemed to go straight past him and was on goal.  Uncharacteristic.  I wondered if there was some miscommunication between him and McCarthy.  

Edited 16 October, 2021 by Manuel

[Red]

1 hour ago, The Cat said:

You don't know what are you are talking about. His selection was awful, subs crap and he doesn't know what he's doing. Haven't you been reading this thread?

Not aimed at you in particular, but this is the typical reaction on here - win and Ralph is a hero and the best thing since sliced bread, lose and he is an utter f'wit. Reality in my view is somewhere in between and probably closer to Ralph being poor so far this season.

Yes we won today and a played really well in parts - arguable whether Leeds were poor or we made them look poor - probably a bit of both. What was really concerning was that it took us that many chances to convert one goal. In the PL you normally get 1 or 2 chances and have to be clinical with them (Wolves for example). We could have so easily screwed up again today - for all the great work Salisu did today and he was my MOTM one slight loss of concentration could have cost us the win.

Add to that that if people think Broja is our best striker (I think he has promise and should be used more but not our best) then why did Ralph wait so long to start him and say he was not ready, only to start him today and score the only goal? Also, why bring on Theo when we needed to add more pressure on Leeds - why not AA and move Redders to the wing? Also bring on Tella with more than 30 secs to go.

I am delighted we won and will enjoy the night but I think we are far having solved our variability, and it's a good start and hopefully Ralph and the players will gain confidence from today and push on 🤞 

[John Boy Saint]

2 minutes ago, Red said:

Not aimed at you in particular, but this is the typical reaction on here - win and Ralph is a hero and the best thing since sliced bread, lose and he is an utter f'wit. Reality in my view is somewhere in between and probably closer to Ralph being poor so far this season.

Yes we won today and a played really well in parts - arguable whether Leeds were poor or we made them look poor - probably a bit of both. What was really concerning was that it took us that many chances to convert one goal. In the PL you normally get 1 or 2 chances and have to be clinical with them (Wolves for example). We could have so easily screwed up again today - for all the great work Salisu did today and he was my MOTM one slight loss of concentration could have cost us the win.

Add to that that if people think Broja is our best striker (I think he has promise and should be used more but not our best) then why did Ralph wait so long to start him and say he was not ready, only to start him today and score the only goal? Also, why bring on Theo when we needed to add more pressure on Leeds - why not AA and move Redders to the wing? Also bring on Tella with more than 30 secs to go.

I am delighted we won and will enjoy the night but I think we are far having solved our variability, and it's a good start and hopefully Ralph and the players will gain confidence from today and push on 🤞 

@The Cat 

didn’t take long to get one on the hook 🤪😜😂🤣

[Harry_SFC]

3 minutes ago, Manuel said:

Yeah.  He was superb for most of the game, real quality, then one error, a misplaced pass from him put that him under pressure.  After that the Leeds player seemed to go straight past him and was on goal.  Uncharacteristic.  I wondered if there was some miscommunication between him and McCarthy.  

Looked that way, seemed like Salisu was gesturing towards McCarthy after Dan James put the ball wide.

[Patches O Houlihan]

2 minutes ago, Red said:

Why did Ralph wait so long to start Broja and say he was not ready, only to start him today and score the only goal?

Today was literally his first premier league start, and he is only 19. Yes we’ve seen him scoring for Albania as a sub, but arguably the standard is higher in the PL. Listen to his postgame BBC interview and you’ll get a proper sense of this. Broja is definitely in the ‘wonder kid’ category along with Tino and Small. 

[Red]

8 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

@The Cat 

didn’t take long to get one on the hook 🤪😜😂🤣

I knew full well he's comments where some what tongue in cheek, but it felt an appropriate time to air my views - I realise it doesn't suit the so called "established members" of this forum that others might also have a view and dare to comment but it's a forum right or have I mistaken a private old boys club?  

[Chewy]

Not a strong Leeds side but we dominated the whole match save for maybe 5 mins after the break. The dominance was created imho in central midfield where Romeu and Diallo in particular were excellent.

Very good performances elsewhere, not a foot wrong really across the entire defence except for 1 Salish error … but he was excellent otherwise. Wide players were slightly less good than everyone else but fine; Redmond had a good game and his effort was exceptional. Borja led the line very well, had some great touches and got a first goal. And we even got a pretty impressive few minutes out of Armstrong who we’ve missed.

Only criticism would be that the score line didn’t reflect our dominance but that’s a small complaint. Very happy this evening.

[Teddeer]

38 minutes ago, Red said:

Not aimed at you in particular, but this is the typical reaction on here - win and Ralph is a hero and the best thing since sliced bread, lose and he is an utter f'wit. Reality in my view is somewhere in between and probably closer to Ralph being poor so far this season.

Yes we won today and a played really well in parts - arguable whether Leeds were poor or we made them look poor - probably a bit of both. What was really concerning was that it took us that many chances to convert one goal. In the PL you normally get 1 or 2 chances and have to be clinical with them (Wolves for example). We could have so easily screwed up again today - for all the great work Salisu did today and he was my MOTM one slight loss of concentration could have cost us the win.

Add to that that if people think Broja is our best striker (I think he has promise and should be used more but not our best) then why did Ralph wait so long to start him and say he was not ready, only to start him today and score the only goal? Also, why bring on Theo when we needed to add more pressure on Leeds - why not AA and move Redders to the wing? Also bring on Tella with more than 30 secs to go.

I am delighted we won and will enjoy the night but I think we are far having solved our variability, and it's a good start and hopefully Ralph and the players will gain confidence from today and push on 🤞 

Out of interest, since you don't say, who do you think is our best striker?

[sadoldgit]

2 hours ago, Teddeer said:

The biggest bit of good news was that Ralph was finally forced to give Broja a try up front. He shouldn't have had to wait for Adams to get injured to give him his first start in the Prem.

You do know he has started up front before don’t you?

[Teddeer]

2 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

You do know he has started up front before don’t you?

You do know that I meant in the Premier league don't you?

[Wade Garrett]

Several good performances today.  Top performers for me were Salisu, very dominant, and Diallo - his best performance in a Saints shirt.

[S-Clarke]

That was as comfortable as you'll get in the premier league, very dominant from the first minute. I had horrible feelings of us hanging on in the final 10 mins, but Leeds couldn't muster anything.

I won't get ''too' carried away because I don't think we'll face as toothless a team again this year, they had nothing about them. It shows what happens when you remove the 4 or 5 PL quality players out of a side, they were well short. But we still had to compete with what was in front of us and we put them to the sword, albeit with our usual wasteful approach.

I can see why he chose Redmond, and his selection was justified as he did well I thought. He didn't play directly up front, but he dropped in behind Broja and occasionally drifted to the flanks - but in the main he was the 'number 10' just in behind and he's not too bad in that position.

Moussa was Moussa, still fairly wasteful and erratic on the ball. Didn't do anything of note. Elyonoussi 'should' have scored, no doubts. But he had a busy game, direct against Dallas and came inside quite often which dragged a few of their players out of position in order to open more space for Redmond etc.

Broja is a proper centre forward, he carries a threat in all aspects of the game. He's a threat from set pieces, he's a threat on the break as he's so quick and he's a threat in the build up as he's strong with a good touch to bring others in. Big fan of his, think he's got a big future in European football.

The win is a relief though, we needed that. As others have already alluded two, our season starts from today and the next few fixtures will provide us more points if we play that way. (I do still worry about the number of chances we need to score though)

[Toadhall Saint]

17 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Several good performances today.  Top performers for me were Salisu, very dominant, and Diallo - his best performance in a Saints shirt.

Those 2 were excellent - I’m expecting big things from both of them.