Chez

We signed Downes and Fernandes and Les, so it's not as though the club haven't looked at the midfield area and thought we needed to improve it. Martin rated him. Not sure the `club' could sell him from under him. Besides, he has hardly played, so our poor results aren't really down to him. Armstrong was absolutely flying towards the end of last season. Everything he hit was going in. Everyone knows he `failed' the last time, but many including myself did wonder if with confidence restored he might make a better stab at it this time around. Obviously not. Again, the club signed Archer and BBD, who I realise haven't worked out, but these were attempts to add PL firepower.

I hope that's true, but maybe let's see how we go against against a side going for CL on Sunday. Since RM departed, we have seen a solid draw by parking the bus against Fulham (sure Juric was not at the helm at that point), a decent front-foot-no-nonsense-get-the-ball crossed-into-the-box first half (nothing in the second) against West Ham. A bright opening 15 minutes but then quite frankly piss poor performance against Palace, a dreadful showing all game against Brentford, a solid performance against a weakened Championship side and then last night's great showing for about 75 minutes until we ran out of steam.

He has played well in the last two games. Not sure Juric has improved him as a player, more encouraged him to do the things he can like take players on. Good decision making may take years to evolve...

No one is high-fiving about what a great player we have. A few, including myself, have said in the past that we like the player and therefore are pleased to see him have a good game. Past displays are down to him. Past managers may not have helped, but in the end it's him that has to make it happen on the pitch.

I'll give you an example why it can work that you will be all too familiar with "just give the ball to Le Tiss". OK, `do it almost every single time'. The point is, the game is largely played between the ears and managers need to build the confidence of players and get the best out of them. If what they have is pace and skills you want them utilising and showing them as often as possible not passing it backwards or to someone else who is less qualified to create

Fair enough. I am perhaps being too positive. Like you say, in the end we still got beaten, but the performance from the side and Sulemana was just light year better than it has been recently, so having had all hope knocked out of me (I've openly said we are down and should not spend a penny in this window) it was nice to see us dominate a game AND create guilt edge chances. I'll take any positive I can get at the moment.

I've not seen a defender been made to look that poor for quite a while. He took him to pieces. he was easily the MOTM until the Ahmed show at the end. It was the type of performance that may have turned a few heads, as it came out of nowhere. As I said, he might not do that again. How high you think that `height' was is actually subjective. Mine was a little higher than yours by the sounds of things. You are right though, no goals and no assists, but if that is you only measure of a player's performance then I suggest you stick to Fantasy Football. I have perspective. He ain't done very much at all since he joined us. He has shown some flashes, beaten some men all ends up (which I love to see), but a lot of shite too. Some of that is on the managers we have had, the majority is on him. I openly admit I'd rather see a pacey dribbler that beats a man all ends up but then hits it into row z, than a guy like Ely that keeps the ball well, perhaps allowing others to do something, but never really hurts the opposition himself. In the worst season of football I have experienced in 40 years of following Saints, I am happy to see anything that resembles actual entertainment provided by a Saints player.

True. He tends to dither and ends up passing backwards. This seems to be a problem for lots of wingers though. For me, if you are going to play pacey wingers. The manager needs to be saying, "every single time you get the ball I want you attempting to beat the fullback. Every single time. I don't want you passing it backwards to keep possession, I want you dribbling down the line and into the box again and again and again no matter if you are successful or not. keep doing it." I don't really want to bring RM into the discussion, but I just don't think this was likely his instruction. As soon as a winger starts passing backwards the full back has won the battle and can have the afternoon off.

Perhaps, but seeing as we ain't even squeezed a buttock the last month or so, I'll take any bowel movement he can offer...Hmm. Instantly regretting this reply.

If you want to get a tune out of some flair players, the manager has to show them some love. That means playing them in the next game even if in the last game things didn't go well. Managers have to show some of the bravery they themselves talk so much about. I don't think many of our managers have really done that with flair players over many years. Hard to blame them. They are under pressure to get results and indeed us as fans see a poor performance and are only too happy for that player to be dropped from the next game. I get the feeling Juric knew what Sulemena had in his locker and has decided to show him some of that love I mentioned. He perhaps has told him `he is the guy', `he knows he can do it' and he has backed it up with some consecutive games and minutes. It paid off yesterday. Now can he do it again? I suspect Forest will be much tougher and he may offer limited impact. They don't have a stupid five-at-the-back-don't-have-a-clue-what-they-are-doing formation. But if not in that game, let's see if he can do it in the game after. I have a feeling, even if Sulemena doesn't do it at Forest, Juric will pick him again and that confidence in him might be rewarded again. We shall see.

He was excellent last night. Showed what some of us could see was there. He might not reach those heights again, but it was great to watch. I love pacey forwards like him. No end product? How is getting the ball on the half way line. Beating the full back all ends up and getting a shot on target that the keeper makes a great save not end product? We have literally created nothing over the last month and while he single handedly tore United's defence a new one you want to point out one missed pass? I guess you are correct, but not sure why you are so keen to describe the negative rather than the positive.

Agree with you. Sugawara wasn't great last night anyway. Neither armstrong or Archer are similar to Dibling in any way. It really depends what Juric wants them to do.

The 'backs against the wall game' under Koeman apart, this must be the first time since Hoddle that we have looked good playing five at the back. The fact United were doing the same perhaps helped. They looked like they didn't have a clue how to play it either! I wonder if Bree is more suited to a centre back role? Did ok last night. Hasn't got the pace or attacking ability to play fullback. I know with only about 8 CBs we are desperately short in that position, but you never know we might offload someone in the summer.

It wont be news to anyone, but Fernandes will be in great demand in the summer. Very very impressive tonight.

Yep. It's not long ago that we were 0-5 down after 25 minutes against Spurs.

Games certainly past him by earlier in his career when he played for us in the Prem. He was a total non entity in the more forward role. I was very worried we would be relying on him in the championship. He was asked to play a different game and when dominating possession his passing was a real asset, Without the ball he just doesn't have much of an impact on proceedings. Not sure he deserves the slating on the United match day thread, but fans need someone to blame i suppose.

We played well, but we must do it again on Sunday...and hopefully get a result. It can't be a one off. Forest are flying. It will be incredibly tough.

Thanks for posting that. Exactly how I feel. Proud of how the side went about it today. Hope we can replicate and get a result next time.

Could not disagree more. United were on getting on top, we weren't closing them down anywhere near as quick. Sulemana for example didn't do a ting for the last 20 minutes. Players did tire. Whether the players that came off were the ones most tired, I don't know.

This. Subs had to be made. Players were visibly tiring. We worked very hard to press them in first half. We suffered because of that. Sulemana should have come off after abut 75 minutes.

It's not all on Smallbone, but I agree, Archer or Armstrong was the sub at that point. Onuachu was shite when he came on.

Gutted we lost. It's been a while since I actually felt like that, we have been so far off the pace in other games. We were top quality in the first half. Creating proper chances that perhaps we should have taken. United did have two very good ones of their own. Our defence is still not the best. United were always going to improve second half, but to be honest we more than matched them for 20 minutes. Once Dibling went off, we lost a threat and control, and every sub seemed to take a little from us. No complaints though. I thought players did tire, so subs had to be made. Sulemana showed what one or two on here knew he could do. Pace is essential at this level. If only he could play against teams playing five a the back (and a young centre half exposed) every week.

Jesus, the hate for Smallbone on here is mental.

Gutted. Losing Dibling and then players tiring forcing subs has hurt us.

fuck off.