Saints 1-0 Bristol City - Match Thread

[macca155]

10 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

I’ll give you this last night, but how many other times has this happened? Who of our relegated squad that is still clearly prem standard has won us games from individual skill?

Aah that's not fair, adding in 'clearly' invalidates any player other than KWP. A few come to mind.

Stuart Armstrong free kick

Frazer positioning and finishing

Bazunu's distribution and recently goalkeeping

Adam Armstrong's goals

Alcaraz midfield dominance v WBA

Downes running games recently

Bendarek and THB defending

Is it consistent, absolutely not.

However my point was that they give that slight edge over other teams. I think that is what is bringing us this good run.

RM gets battered when we lose so only fair to let him take credit for the current good form.

 

 

 

[sandwichsaint]

13 hours ago, Saint Billy said:

Good result but another underwhelming performance. I just wish we would go at these sides and attack straight from kick off instead of this laborious slow build up style which doesn't seem to frighten the opposition at all, in fact imo it does the opposite as it really does not offer much threat at all.

I always thought it was the job of the away team to quieten the crowd and take the sting out of the game.

Extraordinary stat given that we are comfortably in the play-offs, unbeaten in 10, probably averaging 70% possession, and we have only been two goals in front twice in 18 games.

RM is either a football genius or a very lucky general.

 

[SaintBobby]

It’s so frustrating…it’s like it’s “nearly there”, but two quick passes to get the balls down the flanks seems like it’s a disciplinary offence…

[fanimal]

18 games in for a young squad literally thrown together in reality in that scenario you would reasonably expect bottom 6 at best so to be 4th just accept it laud it and embrace it 

[Highfield Saint]

Longest unbeaten run in the whole of the English top four leagues yet still the Saintsweb football intelligentsia wants more and wants it now 

[trousers]

34 minutes ago, Highfield Saint said:

Longest unbeaten run in the whole of the English top four leagues yet still the Saintsweb football intelligentsia wants more and wants it now 

Yeah... Those pesky kids... Wanting us to win convincingly rather than scraping through games... They've never had it so good...!

(Translation: one can be happy that we're unbeaten yet still be critical of how we're achieving it. The two aren't mutually exclusive... #logical #commonsense #aardvark)

Edited 1 December, 2023 by trousers

[Whitey Grandad]

53 minutes ago, trousers said:

Yeah... Those pesky kids... Wanting us to win convincingly rather than scraping through games... They've never had it so good...!

(Translation: one can be happy that we're unbeaten yet still be critical of how we're achieving it. The two aren't mutually exclusive... #logical #commonsense #aardvark)

Watching the extended highlights of Wednesday’s game it struck me how fortunate we were not to concede from the many good chances that Bristol City created.

[manji]

On 30/11/2023 at 10:36, fanimal said:

Who flaming well cares!!??

That was our FIFTH home win in the League so far which keeps 99.9% of Saints fans happy unlike the 0.1% stay at home keyboard fanatics 

Absolutely. Fourth, top of the current form table, unbeaten in 10 ? Games, mighty Leics have poor current form . All anyone talking about is an interview. FFS plenty of managers throw wobblers. As I’ve said before I swear there are a lot of fans who just look for something to moan about. FWIW I thought it was a tedious game but you’ve got to be pragmatic it’s a long season and we are only going to get better.

 

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

3 hours ago, fanimal said:

18 games in for a young squad literally thrown together in reality in that scenario you would reasonably expect bottom 6 at best so to be 4th just accept it laud it and embrace it 

Bottom 6 

[trousers]

33 minutes ago, manji said:

Absolutely. Fourth, top of the current form table, unbeaten in 10 ? Games, mighty Leics have poor current form . All anyone talking about is an interview. FFS plenty of managers throw wobblers. As I’ve said before I swear there are a lot of fans who just look for something to moan about. FWIW I thought it was a tedious game but you’ve got to be pragmatic it’s a long season and we are only going to get better.

 

 

Stop moaning about people moaning FFS!

[Saint Fan CaM]

Late to the party here, but thought I’d add my five penneth. City passed the ball well, did create some very good chances and with better finishing would have won that game despite the possession stats favouring us. Nevertheless, we do look very comfortable in possession and if we could create more chances, leading to more goals we’d be a formidable team.

I’m disappointed in RM picking his fanboy Manning when Bree has excelled at LB. Apart from Manning having a stinker of a game, in general we looked more unbalanced in my opinion and Bednarek had to stretch wide to cover for him on more than one occasion. Perhaps that’s why Russ was so downbeat…he can see the gulf in class but hasn’t the guts to keep his mate on the bench?

Baz had his best game so far. KWP was easily our best player. But I would also highlight Downes who as always just gets on with his job really well as an unsung hero. Adams is just turning up for a pay check - awful player - a striker who has no positional sense or anticipation and in most cases way off the pace. He’ll be very lucky to get a Prem contract, but if he does I’d take the first offer.

As it stands, we’re gaining points which will see us in the top 6 easily baring an absolute disaster. Top two might be a bit too much of an ask, but then there will be teams that drop off in the second half of the season…who knows? In summary, I’m enjoying the wins, but would prefer to see a little more pace in attack and more than one goal per game.

 

[JustinR]

On 30/11/2023 at 09:00, trousers said:

Am I the only one not seeing anything contentious/provocative about Adam Blackmore's opening question?

Word-for-word:

"Russell, first of all, well done on the clean sheet, but I thought the second half turnaround, stopping them getting near the penalty area and creating the chances they created in the first half was probably the difference in the game?"

What am I missing? What would have been a better opening question?

I think this is the problem with most sports interviews. Its not a question. Its a prompt for a specific answer. 

[gecko]

1 hour ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Late to the party here, but thought I’d add my five penneth. City passed the ball well, did create some very good chances and with better finishing would have won that game despite the possession stats favouring us. Nevertheless, we do look very comfortable in possession and if we could create more chances, leading to more goals we’d be a formidable team.

I’m disappointed in RM picking his fanboy Manning when Bree has excelled at LB. Apart from Manning having a stinker of a game, in general we looked more unbalanced in my opinion and Bednarek had to stretch wide to cover for him on more than one occasion. Perhaps that’s why Russ was so downbeat…he can see the gulf in class but hasn’t the guts to keep his mate on the bench?

Baz had his best game so far. KWP was easily our best player. But I would also highlight Downes who as always just gets on with his job really well as an unsung hero. Adams is just turning up for a pay check - awful player - a striker who has no positional sense or anticipation and in most cases way off the pace. He’ll be very lucky to get a Prem contract, but if he does I’d take the first offer.

As it stands, we’re gaining points which will see us in the top 6 easily baring an absolute disaster. Top two might be a bit too much of an ask, but then there will be teams that drop off in the second half of the season…who knows? In summary, I’m enjoying the wins, but would prefer to see a little more pace in attack and more than one goal per game.

 

I'm hoping that the Manning thing is just because of rotation in a busy week. I really wanted him to do well here (still do), but he's a defender who seems not to think about defending.

There were two absolute cock-ups from him that I remember:

 - First half, there was a cross rifled across the box (baz made an excellent save from a back-post header). But the guy who put it in had acres of space, you could see Manning crap his pants when he realised he wasn't actually marking anyone and it was supposed to be his man.

 - The pathetic pass that was given away near the end of the second half. Downes saves the day with a perfect tackle as part of an excellent performance all-round.

 

Here's hoping Bree is back in on Saturday - he's earned it IMO.

[saintant]

20 minutes ago, gecko said:

I'm hoping that the Manning thing is just because of rotation in a busy week. I really wanted him to do well here (still do), but he's a defender who seems not to think about defending.

There were two absolute cock-ups from him that I remember:

 - First half, there was a cross rifled across the box (baz made an excellent save from a back-post header). But the guy who put it in had acres of space, you could see Manning crap his pants when he realised he wasn't actually marking anyone and it was supposed to be his man.

 - The pathetic pass that was given away near the end of the second half. Downes saves the day with a perfect tackle as part of an excellent performance all-round.

 

Here's hoping Bree is back in on Saturday - he's earned it IMO.

It wouldn't surprise me if RM sticks with his mate at left back purely based on the clean sheet even though he must have seen how crap he was.

[gio1saints]

35 minutes ago, saintant said:

It wouldn't surprise me if RM sticks with his mate at left back purely based on the clean sheet even though he must have seen how crap he was.

Yeah, cos RM is an idiot who picks his “mates” especially the crap ones not the best 11 for each match. 🤔

Surely you do not believe what you wrote? I guess at some point your view on the idiocy of our manager will come true. By that I mean we will lose a match. So, in advance : Congratulations football genius. 

Oh, and Manning was NOT crap and to say he was is simply laughable. As is downgrading the value of our first home clean sheet for six months. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 hours ago, gio1saints said:

Yeah, cos RM is an idiot who picks his “mates” especially the crap ones not the best 11 for each match. 🤔

Surely you do not believe what you wrote? I guess at some point your view on the idiocy of our manager will come true. By that I mean we will lose a match. So, in advance : Congratulations football genius. 

Oh, and Manning was NOT crap and to say he was is simply laughable. As is downgrading the value of our first home clean sheet for six months. 

Manning was not crap? Tell us what he did well. He lost the ball with terrible passing on two occasions, went missing in defence on a number of occasions and not closing down well enough, delivered ineffective corners and free kicks and as I’ve said above, did not provide the same team balance that Bree does. My feeling is that RM picks him because he drifts inside acting out the ‘inverted fullback’ role that RM loves, but rarely works.  When we dropped that stupid idea our results suddenly got better. Bree (surprisingly I should add) has moved into the LB role with ease. RM is making a mistake by sticking loyally to his mate.

[Appy]

1 minute ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Manning was not crap? Tell us what he did well. He lost the ball with terrible passing on two occasions, went missing in defence on a number of occasions and not closing down well enough, delivered ineffective corners and free kicks and as I’ve said above, did not provide the same team balance that Bree does. My feeling is that RM picks him because he drifts inside acting out the ‘inverted fullback’ role that RM loves, but rarely works.  When we dropped that stupid idea our results suddenly got better. Bree (surprisingly I should add) has moved into the LB role with ease. RM is making a mistake by sticking loyally to his mate.

He isn’t sticking loyally to his mate, he’s been out of the side the last few games, bar rotation this week. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 minute ago, Appy said:

He isn’t sticking loyally to his mate, he’s been out of the side the last few games, bar rotation this week. 

Yes he is. Bree did nothing wrong so why change him out for his mate Manning?  And don’t say to give him a rest…Bree, like KWP doesn’t need resting FFS otherwise why’s he on the bench?

[Whitey Grandad]

12 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Manning was not crap? Tell us what he did well. He lost the ball with terrible passing on two occasions, went missing in defence on a number of occasions and not closing down well enough, delivered ineffective corners and free kicks and as I’ve said above, did not provide the same team balance that Bree does. My feeling is that RM picks him because he drifts inside acting out the ‘inverted fullback’ role that RM loves, but rarely works.  When we dropped that stupid idea our results suddenly got better. Bree (surprisingly I should add) has moved into the LB role with ease. RM is making a mistake by sticking loyally to his mate.

Yes, why does Manning stick inside and ignore his winger like that? I have lost count of the number of times I have seen the opposition right winger with at least twenty yards of space. On Wednesday several good chances were created from crosses from that wide position.

[david in sweden]

16 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Yes he is. Bree did nothing wrong so why change him out for his mate Manning?  And don’t say to give him a rest…Bree, like KWP doesn’t need resting FFS otherwise why’s he on the bench?

Bree is a better defender - on either flank - and had 5 good games.  Selection is not about favourites.  After serving his suspension Manning has had just 50 mins.

of playing time spread over that entire period.  Every player needs game time, but it often depends on the state of the game and the oppositions tactics. 

Even so Manning came off injured near the end of the Bristol game  and so we may see Bree back already on Saturday. 

Without either of them, we don't have any viable alternatives in defence (except Holgate) and so being out of the mix for too long isn't good for anyone.

 

We are two games into a 10 match sequence this month and we have to use squad rotation . Despite the fact that we can pick a 9 man bench, very few  

are candidates as a regular starting player, and we can no longer dip down to U21 side, who have their own problems with injury / poor form already this year.

Fortunately KWP, Bednarek and both Armstrongs are staying fit and in good form, beyond which no-one else (aside from Bazunu) has had a full season

and Ché Adams has only made half-a-dozen starts and already has one foot out of the door.

 

We have no Divine Right to win every game with 90+ minutes of sparkling football, but are still on an undefeated run of 10 games with a fairly new

and partly-inexperienced squad (at any adult level).   Look around the leagues and see that few teams achieve that, but the 3 points are most important.

 

Edited 2 December, 2023 by david in sweden

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

On 30/11/2023 at 08:43, JibMcdo said:

 

Think the injury to Kamaldeen may be a blessing in disguise.

 

Random bump, but this turned out to be quite true I think.