SW11_Saint

I can ‘handle’ defeats like the one to Hull - at least they were better team by some margin. But defeats like today really boil my piss… it was dismal and it was self-inflicted. A pedestrian, workmanlike Millwall team and they made it look easy second half, like a training exercise - and we totally played into their hands. The team selection & subs beg questions too. Smallbone just can’t play holding midfielder. Should have played Charles - although he’s no Downes, at least it’s his natural position. I have no idea what he was even doing with Jack Stephens today. Also should have kept Che on who was working hard and providing a focal point for attacks. Arma should have replaced Brooks on the right who was ineffective. After Che went off we were even more toothless up front. Sulemana is simply a headless chicken who doesn’t fit the system. Frustrating. Frustrating. Frustrating. We’ve thrown away any realistic hope of automatic promotion with these two defeats.

Should have bitten Everton’s hand off in the close season. Money could have been used on someone with end product.

I’m fairly circumspect about the defeat in the cold light of day. The reality is, Hull fully deserved it. They look quality and will 100% finish top 6 if they continue to play like that. They outplayed us all over the park and Resenoir tactically outsmarted RM. 13 games to go and Leeds, Ipswich, Saints won’t win all 13, so something will give. It’s a three-horse race for second. We really don’t want Leicester getting dragged in at this point as no way they are finishing outside of the top 2 (if anyone can topple them it’ll be Leeds). More worrying is our form against top half teams - we’ve now lost to Leicester, Sunderland, Ipswich, Hull, Bristol City, Boro - and failed to beat Norwich, Preston, Watford, Coventry in at least one game (WBA the only ones we’ve managed to beat home & away). I’m also concerned about the playoffs - Ipswich, Hull, WBA would all be very dangerous opponents for us. We must give the next 13 games out all and start playing our strongest team wherever possible. Mara is a bench option, as is Rothwell. Bree needs to come in for Manning. COYS.

You clearly haven’t watched Hull this season…

Agree with most of this. Good summary

Paul Smith | SaintsPlayers.co.uk Story about him scoring for Forest (v Leicester is an odd one)

Who could they mean?! 🤔

Get well soon. Hopefully a good result will help 👍

Any chance of Brooks being involved today? (on bench if he is presumably?).

Charlie won’t be happy, Stella will be delighted. 1-3 Saints 😇

Leroy Whale? Bit old…

Turning into a modern day Nick Holmes… does a great job when on, but often goes under radar. Always missed when absent, but it takes a while for folks to work out why…

And such a melee that there are points deductions for both…

It’s an amazing trophy actually. The old football league trophy. Much classier than the tacky PL trophy.

Just this please… 🔴⚪️🔴

Path of least resistance… Leicester win, but a draw wouldn’t be a bad result in the long-run…

I guess. Though he woke them up a bit today!

Yannick Bolasie - not a name I like hearing as a sub…

Let’s hope he plays like Eddie Yeats…

Closer game than recent ones, but 2-1 for me 😇

Team today? Would like to see a few changes, but not too many. Maybe Baz; KWP, Stephens, THB/Holgate, Meghoma; Charles; Smallbone, Dibling; SAA, Adams/Arma, Fraser ?

I’m not sure I’ve seen such a dominant half of football as the first half… yet we hardly troubled their keeper at all. They came for a 0-0 draw and their goalie was wasting time from about the 5th minute. They can feel aggrieved about the disallowed ‘goal’ but can have no complaints about the result. Well deserved 3 points, and a continued great unbeaten run 😇

Just thinking…. we could finish with Adams, Stewart, Stuey & Fraser on the pitch (unlikely I know, as SA typically goes off). BUT, if we did might this be our highest number of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿internationals on the pitch at one time?

I really don’t miss it - and have surprised myself by how quickly I’ve detached from it (used to watch MOTD religiously but now really haven’t bothered watching). If a Sky game is on at home I may watch while doing something else but rarely sit down to properly watch a match. All of that said - and despite enjoying the Championship - we’re all desperate to get promoted and be a PL bottom-feeder again!

It’ll be Charley / (Che) surely.