St Landrew

Could it possibly be because everyone, except a few posters, had been calling for 4-4-2, for weeks before..?

You know what, I think that's fair comment. Yes, we have been winning, on the whole but, we've being doing a lot of winning and getting results without playing that well. I'm trying to remember a few league games in the last couple of months where we've actually played really well and won. And I can't think of one. I would say it has only been for the last couple of months though - since halfway through November. Seems churlish to moan about that, but I will, because once you come up against a really good team, you can't play badly anymore. And you can't be successful by playing badly for the remaining time and get away with it.

I don't listen to Solent's post match programme for the fans ringing in, as I find myself cringing hearing their comments. But tbf to them, ringing up the programme, probably ill-prepared and on the spur of the moment, would make even the most eloquent slightly tongued. The trick is - don't ring in, those people..! I listen out for Pardew's interview and other informed comment. Plus they tend to replay the goal action. Sometimes, Dave Merrington does highlight the odd thing that I might not have considered, but then he's at the match and being paid to watch closely. And if we all saw and heard the same things then there would be no debate.

No Le Tiss today..?

Leeds drew at home against Wycombe, last Saturday, and today lost away to Exeter. Every team has an off-day occasionally, and every team has a blip. And agreed, Saints are not immune to that.

Before the game, if someone had offered 1-1, I would have reluctantly accepted, because only Wycombe have won at The Den. It's still disappointing in the manner of the draw. But we are talking about an away draw, against one of better teams with one of the best home records in this league. This isn't 12 months ago.

Don't you mean 2-2..?

Pardew being interviewed on Solent. Apparently Holmes has been knocking on the selection door, in training, for some weeks. He thought he had a good game. I didn't hear Holmes name mentioned a lot, but I wasn't there. He agrees it was 2 points dropped. Connolly is off-form, so he wasn't played. Hammond has an achilles problem, and could be out for 2 weeks.

Can't believe some of the reactions I'm reading. Over-reaction or what..?

No, we had 4 chances on target. Amazing game. As soon as we scored, I thought, right, now keep calm Saints. And they were so calm, they went to sleep. Don't know whether to be disappointed, happy or what. We didn't deserve to win, but that means nothing. We were seconds away from 3 points, and I was typing something about, that is how you get success, by winning when you don't deserve to. Well drawing when you ought to be losing is a halfway house. But we should be winning anyway. Mixed emotions. :cool:

FT. Go to the Post match reaction thread

BBC website still saying 0-0. Ha..!

1-1 Defence went to sleep.

1--0

Free kick in stoppage time. Come on Lambert.

Waigo to come on.

I think that's a little harsh. We've only just got to 64 minutes. I expect changes soon. Burley would leave it until 85 minutes.

According to the Beeb, we have 56% possession..??? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8444142.stm Saints fans bloody loud.

Dare I say we're getting into the game a bit better now..?

I agree with Dave Merrington. We need a bit of pace. Take off Holmes, move Lallana over to the left, and bring on Papa Waigo on the right. Possibly swap between 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 to confuse Millwall.

Merrington: Kelvin's come out, made the goal big for him..!

No problem. I was a bit startled when I saw it too.

Yeah, attention was interrupted from here at the time, so I made the error. I've deleted the sole 2nd half thread.

Listening to the radio, while doing some work about the house, and I think I've heard Lee Holmes mentioned once..? That's not good enough. I expect changes, but also I expect AP will actually be OK on the 1st half. After all, still 0-0 and perhaps now Saints can go for a win. We've ridden our luck a tad, so let's put it to use.

HT.