Captain Jack

If I recall when Leicester won the Premier league they usually had lower possession in games than their opponents, preferring a solid defence and the ability to move forward quickly on the break - benefitting from the pace they had up front with Vardy. They employed a similar tactic when they demolished us a few weeks back. we seem to be getting sucked in to this posession mentality and one of two things is happening. Either we are losing posession in our own half - often right in front of goal - and conceding. or we are losing posession in the opposition half, getting caught by a quick (leicester style) break, and conceding. What we are not doing is using the posession to grind down the opposition, forcing them to make the mistake and getting plenty of openings for ourselves. Logic would state that with the pace of Sulemana, Edozie, Frazer even both Armstrongs, we should be looking to catch teams on the break rather than slowly trying to pass our way into the goal mouth.

After watching that, the only thing that will stop me chuckling all day will be another 9-0 defeat this afternoon!

Have the Sun had anything to say about it? Maybe in twenty years there will be a court case and it will turn out to be the fault of the Metropolitan Police.

I agree on paper we should be netting plenty in this next game, but to be honest i would be happy with 1-0. From where we have come from, it would just be nice to see us sailing a steady ship for a while, building a run of positive results and then over time really looking to step it up. a collection of clean sheets would please me more than the odd game where we score a hat full. At this stage of the season, when teams are not too spread out then 3 points per game soon gets you up the table. the goal difference looks after itself if you are winning enough games.

First game I have been to for awhile that we have won! So very happy. Lots to do still so not getting over excited. Some here calling for lots of goals come Saturday, but I think just another win will do, to start building a steady run. Some good performances last night. THB, Bednarek, KWP who was smiling like a Cheshire cat whilst winding up Stoke fans and players at the end, and especially when walking back to the tunnel. He seemed genuinely ecstatic and proud to still be a Saint. Sadly some dross. I love stu to bits but he was poor, but for the goal. But if he can do that every week he can be as crap as he likes for 89 mins. RM got a great cheer at the end. I think deep down we all really want to love him! And we will if he maintains this more pragmatic approach and delivers results.

So in previous years at about this time, I would look and work out which 3 teams were worse than us. I can't believe I have already started doing that this season! Luckily I think there are plenty. Unfortunately, if we carry on defending the way we are, then even the really bad teams won't have to try too hard to beat us! Remembering that QPR and Plymouth were both able to carve us open and were let down by poor finishing. Sit back and wait for us to give the ball away, and we are there for the taking for any team with pace and a half decent finisher. Our 10 points flatter us at the moment. At least we now know we have to be realistic about our expectations. We are not 'walking this league' are we?!?

That is class, quality save, feet behind the line, not fooled by the striker smashing it down the middle, and a great pose for the cameraman. Is he eligible for us for Saturday. We could have done with him against Grimsby.

I am trying to help KWP think of some of the positives he talked about, and the major one I can think of is that he won't have to listen to the annoying song about Ruben Selles winning the FA Cup anymore!

Yep, and live on sky vs leicester....you know how it works

So the only way our season can get worse is if we break our own record of heaviest Premier league defeats and concede 10 in a game. So remind me, who are we playing next 2 games?

Following the game on live text. The name s.Armstrong seems to be featuring a lot. Has he been the missing link this season?

Anyone got any good spots to park for Leeds game?

Wow, quite rare. Thanks for reminding me of the last game at the dell. It was worth the post just for that!

Commentators love to reel out the obvious stats about us - 9-0 defeats two seasons in a row, most points lost from winning positions blah blah, but I didn't hear anyone last tell me when we last came from behind twice to win a game. Does anyone here know?

We've been saying all year what a great player Redmond is

Thanks

How long before they mention points thrown away from winning position?

Why was that not a red card then

Think positive. I have not once heard a commentator mention how many points we have conceded from winning positions. Neither have I heard them mention a 9-0, only a 7-1 defeat from about 100 years ago. So things must be getting better

Just thinking about this, as I hardly managed to sleep on Tuesday night and bust a guy shouting at the tele yesterday. But I have perversely enjoyed all of the post match analysis, and even the banter with glory supporter work colleagues. And being so poor for periods makes the good times feel amazing! I think we have all enjoyed some of the football we have played - and the liverpool game was icing on the cake. What do you think? Am I clutching at straws?

Not sure I get the criticism of Bertrand. He at least was pushing forward and was getting his crosses in from wide. But we weren't getting it out wide as much as we should. Redmond was rubbish though. The fault was in the tactics, or lack of them. We didn't need so many players behind the ball. Redmond is capable of taking players on and getting to the byline. Frustrating that he doesn't do it. You just know he is going to get the ball, run a few yards then stop and go backwards. So predictable. Easy for defenders that have watched him and know how he plays.

Not sure I can cope with the oncoming BT love in coming for Newcastle. As much as i love Ralph, he has to take the blame for this defeat. We kept 5 men behind the ball when they only had 9 men. One sub, made. Djenepo had to come on when we were chasing the game. Best chance we had to win a game and lift heads for the rest of the season.

The 'except for the above offences' phrase makes a massive difference doesn't it? I think very few are aware of this. The pundits in the studio and Dean Smith after the game were saying that the slight contact meant it was not a penalty, like it was a foregone conclusion. But when you add that phrase it changes everything. Heaven forbid, it might even mean Mason and Dean don't know the rules!

I think I would go for the 10 nil tbh! We would have both records then. Seems a long while ago we got 8 vs Sunderland.

Just to put a smile on your face, remember that although we hold the dubious record of heaviest premier league defeat - twice - let's not forget that we also hold fastest premier league goal and fastest hat trick! Clutching at straws I know, but we do have some things to cherish!