Patches O Houlihan

Love this 😁

I only got a B at ‘A’ level applied maths, but I suspect the physical laws of projectiles wouldn’t allow this, unless the volley was struck at more than 7ft height.

If you want to believe that modern nutrition and training can dramatically improve a keeper’s reflexes to match the extra power and bend the ball is being hit with then you’re welcome to but I don’t. To take motor racing for comparison: > The cars are faster, brake better, and grip better >The drivers are fitter, stronger and eat better, and they’ve learned to drive using downforce. > Do I believe that Max Verstappen’s reflexes are significantly quicker than those of Jim Clark? No I don’t.

https://www.myfootballfacts.com/premier-league/all-time-premier-league/premier_league_goal_statistics/ PL stats - because the game didn’t exist before 1992 😉 Early mid nineties ~2.6 goals/game average across the season. Last few years ~2.8 goals/game. That’s 7% more goals scored. I was expecting to prove myself wrong!

The ball design, and the design of the boots has changed though. Think of the swerve that JWP could create - Bobby Charlton was not doing that. Material science and technique improvements. You could also argue that improvements in nutrition, fitness and coaching mean the ball is being hit harder/faster/with less back lift - requiring quicker reflexes. Now I’m prepared to agree that maybe a few stand out players historically were delivering similar, but I would say the median top league striker is a far more potent goal scorer now than thirty years ago, never mind sixty years ago.

One benefit of having Jack on the pitch is we have 3 really good headers of the ball: So better to defend set pieces (a likely scoring avenue for Norwich). But also better to attack corners, which we are likely to have loads of. Hopefully KWP can learn to be effective in a more advanced position if we are going to continue playing this set up.

So perhaps unsurprising that he's not in a hurry to meet Rishi - not "too cool to talk to the prime minister" more on the opposite side of the political spectrum.

RM did publicly give the defence a rocket for having passed to Baz too many times in the last 10 minutes of the match - speaking to Adam Blackmore (BBC) Here's the link to Convict's table I'm sure Whitey will be unsurprised to learn that Baz is 5th from last at PSxG+/-

Or maybe he's a bleeding heart lefty like everyone from Brighton?! This forum often has a lot of support for Her Majesties opposition* It really does feel like there is nothing Russ could do or say to win over some fan's support - even setting an all time record for games unbeaten would likely not be enough. (*still can't get used to Chas running the show now)

Lets hope we are 4 wins into an insane run of 10 consecutive wins 😉

I agree with this I think the risk of upsetting the excellent squad dynamic is huge. We’d want to be confident of our youth fall back options in defence - how close is Larios & CBs? I’d be gutted if KWP left. I don’t think he will. Can see us getting a central striker, as Arma will still play, Che may be off, LND is long term injured, so the team might see it as a reasonable move. Plus Mara may go out on loan - but then he might also kick on in the next few games…

Because of the Liverpool goals, the training goals we saw on the club website, and the fact he holds the record for fastest player at the recent World Cup. In the Championship this should equal prolific, and yet somehow it hasn’t… yet. Looking forward to him coming back and crossing to more confident & trusting teammates - would be a shame if he moved on before we had seen the best of him.

Isn’t that SAA? He was tearing up matches for the last 30 mins at the start of the season. He’s not playing right now because Arma plays better from the sides rather than centrally, and we have an embarrassment of riches at left wing.

You do realise that play can look slow and ponderous on occasion because players in forward positions aren’t free to receive the ball? One or two of our advanced players being a few yards away from ideal, or the opposition placed perfectly - or blocking the view of the ball player can all lead to recycling. It is not always purely down to tactics. And yes we have all got frustrated when breakaways have been unnecessarily slowed down; but at least some of those were down to a lack of individual player confidence in the moment - a trait alluded to endlessly by RM. We see less of it now because confidence and trust has built within the team.

I'm going to open a can of worms and mention xG now in the hope that the feel good factor post Swansea will keep me out of trouble! This xG table is entertaining reading It will adjust according to the various headings if you click them. We are bossing it, and yet we are still 'relatively' under scoring the number of chances we are creating - which means there is still room for improvement even after 16 games unbeaten (11 wins, 5 draws I think?) Plymouth yet to win away, must be fearful of a visit to Fortress St Marys - however we ended their impressive run of home wins, so let's hope they don't return the favour. Saints 3-1 COYRs

Agree with all of this. I'm loving the positive pressure that is being put on players who are top quality in the Championship > Edozie makes one and scores one, subbed off after 60 mins. Fraser scores with virtually his first touch, makes one and scores another. Edozie may well start the next game but knows he has to play out of his skin to keep his place. > Harwood Bellis & Bednarek have formed a great partnership. But they both know that Jack is right there if either of them drop their standards for a moment, and Holgate has played some good games as well. > Manning was forced into improving his game by Bree, and even now that Bree has picked up an injury you suspect that the combination of; KWP as a setter of standards, Jack as a potential RB (KWP to LB) and Megahoma raring to go on the bench will keep him honest. > Charly Alcaraz and Kameldeen Sulemana could be treating the league as if they are rockstars and pushing for a move in January. But they are not, partly because of the culture and atmosphere created in the dressing room by RM's willingness to swap out underperformers and keep faith with those who do play well. It's by no means guaranteed that Sulemana will come straight back into the team, and Alcaraz doesn't just have competition from Stu and Adams now but from Aribo and Mara as well. As Saints fans we have to smell the roses when we can and I'm loving it right now. St Mary's is rocking let's chase down Leicester. COYRs!

As we've seen today we are better playing against teams who fancy their chances against us and come out, as home teams are more likely to do, and these three in particular. The quality of the pressing we have been demonstrating recently when applied to the sides I watched tonight would reap rewards I'm sure.

Watching the game I’m sure we can overhaul Ipswich. If we manage to put some pressure on Leicester that would be great. Big matches against our three rivals to come, not least Leeds on the last day.

Don’t worry - it’s now only 11 points to Leicester - we’ve got this! COYR!

Great finish by Agent Vestergaard!

On today’s evidence I agree. Struggle to imagine pulling back 13 points in 22 games on Leicester though...

It’s a proper match. Leicester’s defence being tested, and resolute so far. Only one moment when Vestergaard has had an oil tanker turning moment.

Rekindling this discussion because I just read this piece https://theathletic.com/5119607/2023/12/08/the-ludicrous-numbers-in-championship-promotion-race-and-what-it-means/ Yes - it's The Athletic - the firm happy to take subscriptions and only then cancel Saints coverage (but not Leeds or Leicester). F**kers But in the interest of trying to get my money's worth I have a read occasionally. Essentially their journo agrees with our analysis - it's been 118 years since such a strong start was made by the second placed side in the second tier. But what was most interesting to read was in the comments: Coupled with the top teams playing each other this might play into our hands a little over the coming months...

My excuse is that I was working abroad when Jay Rod was at his best. I associate the song with Ralph turning us round at Christmas time after Puel, Pelligrino & Hughes.

I can't help but do that - it's the posting equivalent of fingernails down a blackboard, day after negative day.