Jack

Would make no sense to change the system that’s got us 3 wins and clean sheets on the spin. If that means Stephens on the bench as the THB/Bednarek partnership is too good to break, that’s what he should be doing. Round pegs in round holes as much as possible please RM

Bit sad to go digging up old posts. People were rightly concerned about throwing away stupid goals and points because of the obsession with a certain philosophy. Russball is adapting, thank god, for the better, and it’s now working pretty well. But just because it’s working now, it doesn’t mean there weren’t fundamental flaws with it before which cost us loads of silly points.

Left back position completely vacant, as per. If they’re going to hurt us, it’s there

Top man

I streamed the QPR game perfectly from this beach in Sri Lanka the other day, surely someone can come up with the goods tonight? 🙏

We’re going to need a lot more clean sheets this season if we don’t address the striker situation in January, we’re routinely not putting away enough chances and keeping the opposition in the game. Adams is a shell of the what he used to be, I don’t see the point in giving him game time over those who we need to develop. Well done to THB, another solid performance and great run for his goal. Looks like he’s enjoying it

Though thoroughly dominant possession-wise in the first half, I thought we were pretty ineffective in terms of goal threat. There was a big gap where you’d want a striker in the box, Aribo seemed to be tasked with arriving late but we never seemed to find anyone. Stu’s curler was the closest we got and the goal from a corner was a bit of a surprise. Came out with way more intent and ideas 2nd half and looked like we’d turn it on and create better chances even without their stupid red card. Great to see Stu have such a good game and deserved goal, Alcaraz can stay on the bench for that shocking cocky penalty, Smallbone had a great game, nice to improve the GD. We’ll have much tougher tests and I think we need to up our game in terms of goal threat, which is weird to say after a 4-0 victory.

Very standard performance. Lots of getting into good areas but absolutely no goal threat, other than Stu’s curler that was always going wide. Big striker sized gap on the pitch when we’re in possession in the final third.

Ipswich are a really decent side. Possession, but actually trying to do something with it. Hope Russ is taking notes

The extended highlights also won’t show you the multiple times we refused an easy pass forward and a quick break in favour of recycling it to the back 4. The goal we conceded came from exactly that. We know we’re fairly goal shy so therefore need to create more, and better chances. It would’ve been very easy to create more and Coventry offered very little, but by sticking to Russball we limited the number of decent chances created, that’s cost us more points as much as Arma’s finishing IMO

1-1. Loads of possession. Russ delighted. Groundhog Day

Sadly not far off. I think we’re 4th and on this amazing unbeaten run despite of Russball, not because of it. Some of the games we’ve drawn, we should’ve blown the opposition away. Coventry offered very little and we gifted them a route into the game. Laughably, from refusing a decent chance to break forward quickly in favour of fannying around at the back, and getting caught on the ball. 90+5, instead of trying to win it we’re content on playing triangles in our own 6 yard area with Baz and the CBs. Others find it funny but for me it’s infuriating. I’m sure Russ loves it but these points aren’t as good as he’ll take credit for

Aribo is woeful. Always on his heels

WHHYYYY do we always turn down the chance to break. Absolutely pathetic. No wonder we’re so goal shy, it’s infuriating

Yeah we need to be beating teams in the bottom half home and away to have any chance of keeping pace with the top 2. Need to put pressure on Ipswich who have a tough run ahead of them, and make the most of a rare Leeds defeat. 1-1 78% possession, 2 on target, Russ delighted

Saints need to make it another 7 point week to have a hope of keeping pace with the top 3. Coventry have had a recent turnaround with 10 points from their last 5 games, after just 1 point from their previous 5. Despite that, it’s really a must win for Saints to keep some pressure on the teams above who have all been winning these kind of fixtures. Would expect some rotation after today and plenty to work on in an attacking sense

Probably a fair result. We haven’t created enough decent chances. Frustrating to get done by a long ball after defending pretty well. Thing that pisses me off is we turn down the chance to break so often in favour of going backwards and sideways. One of the few times we got forward quickly today we scored. So often pick the wrong pass

Leeds winning again, it’s relentless at the top. Would be happy with another 7 point week but not sure it’s enough at the moment

Much needed win against a mediocre side from a bit of brilliance from a player who’ll probably be off in January. Shit football, shit interview from the manager. We’ll drop loads more points against teams we really should be beating IMO

Yes, I reckon mediocre if we want to be in the top few at this level or above, but that’s just my opinion.

Maybe in the club’s eyes but Stephens is pretty mediocre at this level IMO bar the occasional couple of games

He was shit when he was just Dan Brereton from Stoke, then added Diaz to his surname, started banging goals and got called up to the Chilean national team and was scoring for them. No idea if he’s any good now, Che and Arma we’re both 25 goal strikers at this level at one point… I’d love to see a proper DM recruited in January, someone to protect our back 4 a bit more. A new CB to challenge THB and Bednarek for a starting spot might be asking a bit too much I guess

A big part of that for me is a lack of any competent backup. Bednarek has been decent recently but we’re still a decent player short in that position

Toothless, again

That defending is important?