Miltonaggro

Fucking player...

You would hope one of the club's social media toddlers might have a look on here and realised that they've badly fucked up. Nicholl played more for Saints than any other of his clubs, and won most of his 51 international caps whilst playing in the best Saints sides of all time. This, before managing us in the top flight for six years. Even for a self-obsessed club media that seems willing to virtue signal on any nonsense at the drop of a hat this is a genuine cock up. Let's hope a grown up rectifies the situation next home game.

A couple of further observations from yesterday agreeing with some of the foregoing posts. Taking Brooks off clearly unbalanced our midfield, with the defence already looking a tad unbalanced due to the shoehorning of stephens and playing our best centre back as a full back. Those Sunderland goals looked great in the ground but remarkable having seen them back - terrific and Bazunu had no chance. Thought Armstrong the Geordie was mom and clearly wanted to rattle the away fans, which was nice to see. Other than the two missiles, Sunderland didn’t really have a structured goal threat and if we could finish would have reversed that 5-0 early second half. After half time Sunderland were swinging long cross balls in towards manning who once again was seen as the weak link by our opposition. Good to see Bree on, and he’s a steady Eddie, a solid defender, which is quite handy to have at full back. Mara is frustrating but has a touch of the louche Gabbadiani class about him, looks like he has everything you need in a centre forward but is either naive or still learning, like to think the latter as a youngster. More worried about Sulemana who has some remarkable skill but seems incapable of passing or shooting on target, very quick running up his own arse. Lethal player potentially but it’s like having the scarecrow from the wizard of Oz on speed as your impact sub currently.

Rothwell proper put his laces through the ball on both occasions, no pissing about. That was very heartening to see.

Odd thing that stood out for me today second half was the ball constantly passed or rolled out from our box into the centre no man’s land where it was duly picked up by a Sunderland player who turned it into an attack or pin balled back in. Must have happened half a dozen times and though I was at wrong end of the ground to see detail, it looked tactical. If it was I hope we never fucking see it again.

Unconfirmed reports that it's the Rankersen Book Depository and Yoga Studio Inc. that's gone up in flames. Rather interesting given the release of the financial statement earlier in the week.

The scrapyard or stadium?

Good summary, he is markedly better and clearly more comfortable with Downes in the side. The real shame is that Downes is the only player we currently have who can compliment in that role.

Those impromptu barbeque pool parties at Michael Barrymore's place were notoriously full-on!

Gio the ‘endless nastiness’ is a direct consequence of RM being picked by RM and the saints support having to watch him, albeit through binoculars, twice a week. It should settle down around May.

We’d have to have sold Che Adams.

When he’s on his game Adams is most effective as a bully centre forward, the only one we have currently who can use his strength to hold up play, in other words holding his own with the oppo centre backs. Not a great finisher of course but this season looks pretty good when Armstrong is played on the right. Right to retain him in January rather than throw the dice I think.

Future sport historians will refer to this watershed epoch as Annus Ankersen.

Hoping that this is the game where we get back to business at home. 2-0 saints, hopefully the WBA set up.

They haven’t got the range…

More antisocial media to be honest.

I think you have to say what you see and for a number of games the opposition have been clearly targeting our left side - knowing that this is where the gaps will materialise and where pressure can most effectively be applied. As others have said it’s baffling that our coaching team fail to see it or worst still, fail to call it out to RM. Even if it’s just to provide manning with some time out of the firing line. The best we have looked defensively this season is Bree THB Bednarek KWP, by a country mile, and if that quartet is fit they need to start our remaining matches in the run in.

Is the answer.

Playing Manning could cost us promotion, thick as two short planks footballer, zero positional sense.

80% possession, the same as cashflow v profit in business, an illusion of success.

Yes definitely a frisson, not necessarily a bad thing.

Russ was doing his best to be zen in the press conference, but clear Adam B gets on his tits. If we lose today the post match interview could be particularly tense. I expect us to win and the scar tissue to calm down once more.

Terry Downes would beef up central midfield.

Good lad.

Part of his natural game, but the side is better with him in it.