Patches O Houlihan

We were top of the Premier League under Hassenhüttl (briefly) and the council changed the welcome signs to the city. That said the atmosphere was very different; we knew we had found a good manager who was able to win against the odds stacked against us more often than we 'should' do, rather than the feeling that we have now that we genuinely are amongst the class of the division. I wouldn't for one moment say that it was a good thing that we were kicked out of the playoffs - BUT there are some benefits. I suspect that teams that get promoted really benefit from a feeling of momentum, togetherness, and a pervading feeling of 'we are good enough to be here' throughout the club, staff and fans, and we see this particularly with teams that have won consecutive promotions 😉 Despite having gone on that long unbeaten run under Russell Martin there were still plenty of draws and the odd 'lucky win' and after all the years of sinking down the PL we all still bore the ScarTissue™ - Meaning that not many of us were hopeful we could stay up; particularly after we saw the recruitment. In fact there was a theory that you don't go all in on recruitment the first time because the jump is too high; you wait for the second one... Either way if we do find ourselves promoted to the PL in May we will have had 19 consecutive months of supporting a team that mostly wins and feels confident, rather than ~7 under Russell. Unless we have got lucky in the playoffs from a low finishing spot, no-one is going to say that Saints don't deserve to be there. The difficult bit will be the hard and ruthless decision-making that might be needed in order to re-build the team so it genuinely can stay in the PL. Incidentally the answer is 68 and 95 - that's the number of chickens I've counted in case you were wondering! ...It's also the total number of games managed in all competitions, and the Championship points Saints have won under Tonda across 46 league games (2.06 average). This suggests a total of 22 cups games, 19 of which we have won (including Fulham & Arsenal). If we considered them all as league games this would be a 2.24 average or a 103 point season. Cheers Tonda 🍻 Keep up the good work.

Almost as if he is playing for a team that is amongst the best in the league, rather than amongst the worst... meaning that he usually has players free to pass to further up the pitch. When he doesn't he recycles it rather than lose it (see the last few posts) This evening WBA made a 4 v 2 break against JWP and Captain Jack. Prowsey knew just to keep tracking back, subtly ushering his player a little wider whilst simultaneously blocking off the pass inside. By the time their player had a chance to strike JWP had deliberately closed off 2/3 of the goal (plus the pass) and trusted that Peretz would be able to handle whatever shot came his way. Peretz did indeed have the ball covered as it bounced off the outside of the post. £800k - good work from Mr Spors

Since January last year I have developed a tiny sliver of respect for Nathan Jones: Because he rated James Bree and insisted on bringing him to Saints. We have given Bree so much stick for being Nathan Jones' man, and then loaning him out; so for him to still be here and bossing it - Chapeau James. Nathan Jones can still get fucked though

Our press in the second half was superb. There were moments when it was clear QPR just didn’t know what to do to break it. A week uninterrupted on the training ground will have really helped for that, but Dobbin’s speed, stamina, agility and willingness to run will have helped considerably too. Larin does work hard on the pressing but you can also see that his frame requires him to pace himself a bit in order to remain an effective goal threat. As I said in the other thread great that Dobbin is putting pressure on Larin, and giving us another option for the playing style, and that his team mates have clearly bought into too.

From the BBC feed - JWP's evening keeps getting better

Best goal difference in the league currently - could be crucial at the end of the season.

Loving that instead of feeling the need to push Larin back into the side as soon as he's half fit he (despite having already scored 7) will feel he has to demonstrate why he needs his place back. Well done Dobbin and the front players learning how to adapt their game to suit him. Will be great to have two different styles of effective front play to choose from going forward.

Which replay are you watching?

Don't thank me thank my friend Marsellus Wallace

Well I found it, and I worked out why they took it down. They wanted to use the face to face interview discussion on his Ballon D'Or page (3m30) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/cwg7xevnyrjpo There's a longer form version here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0031m14/premier-league-game-changers-harry-kane-explains-his-tactical-evolution (11mins) You can see in his highlights reel how this plays out in practice (10mins) Squint a little and when Larin can't play you can see Dobbin as a Temu Luis Diaz, with Finn Azaz as a passable Championship Harry Kane that you picked up in the magical middle aisle of Lidl 😁😉

There was a theory that Adam Blackmore was pulling strings to keep him out of the match day squad so he wouldn't have to pronounce his name - but in fairness he made a passable attempt at the weekend so that's one conspiracy theory blown 🤷‍♂️

"What now? Let me tell you what now. I'ma call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' n****s, who'll go to work on the Holmes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass."

More creative that Matty, yet still capable of making a tackle or block, covers a lot of ground, and an unselfish player. My favourite Saints player, but then Matty was when he was here. I think Azaz is better than Fernandes was for us. Haven't seen him properly elsewhere.

⬆️ THIS ⬆️

Maybe he is distracted by newly married life? Does he have a nipper?