gio1saints

No Downs and no Stewart and yet even with multiple subs and an obvious need for, perhaps a chunkier guy to hold the ball up front a moment for us, BBD can’t get on. I think his selection on the bench, on live tv for the last two matches is what’s known as “player availability for sale or loan “ advertising. I’m surprised that when camera pans to the bench he’s not been told to wear a “For Sale” fluorescent vest.

Pluses: Thought best game I’ve seen Ryan Fraser play for us in a long while. WP! Glad for Robinson. His final product is improving match by match! Shea Charles love his attitude. And a very good player this level too. Jack Stephens was, surprisingly, our best defender, once again. He is stepping up. WP! Bazunu looking the part more and more. Minuses: THB and Quarsie will not be happy with their performances. Too many errors. Some good stuff but I suspect they’ve got higher standards than what we saw and won’t be pleased. Our attack looks and is lightweight in absence of a target man up front. All these illnesses and injuries stopping our big CF’s from playing are starting to hack me off. This 3CB formation I thought would get found out by a better team than Wrexham or Northampton. Ipswich away would do it for sure I thought but we got away with it. I hope the ostensibly good result does not blind club to the obvious squad deficiencies. It’s annoying we are clearly needing to sell before getting what we need. Just hoping we do not drop too many points waiting for these transfers out to happen and bringing in our lined up targets. Think this is a good point on that basis.

Apart from the perfect pace lay up ball for Fraser to cross into Jay Robinson. Apart from that piece of class yeah.

Wellington gets the nod ahead of Manning. Ryan Manning can feel a bit aggrieved that his performance in the last league match is rewarded by, being put back on the bench. Random thought perhaps but I’d say there’s a very good chance we will see Manning for Wellington at some point - and that Wellington is going to bust a gut for 60 minutes or so working for Jay Robinson.

Think you are correct re BBD. Robinson looks like he’s being viewed as what used to be called inside left - pretty much like Armstrong is being used as an inside right. So we are winger-lite. I think the general consensus to qualify as an great out and out winger is that, minimum, you MUST have footballing intelligence, pace, close ball/one on one dribbling skills, a good cross and a good shot. Being two footed is a great advantage as is being able to compete physically in the air or in ground. But #1 and so often overlooked is surely football intelligence. And I think that’s why Ryan Fraser is seemingly flourishing - of all the wing/forwards he’s probably got the highest footballing IQ in our squad. And that’s not truthfully a high enough bar- no disrespect to Ryan at all love the wee man.

Fair enough. £7m. Whatever he cost the team needs to pass it or cross it or feed him the ball however they can - more than anyone else but also the other forwards - much more often. I simply want to see DD get more of the ball, more of the time. Show us what he can do. He’s there to score goals. So, give him the ball!

Got pushed for the Stephen’s goal and yes missed a sitter.v Northampton. Obviously he’s a work in progress but if you are happy with the poverty of forward passing our team delivers for the forwards - and especially a big athletic centre forward - we are going to disagree. You got to feed the big guy otherwise if you expect one chance one goal I think you need to shop in a slightly higher price band than £3.5m or whatever it was

He’s six foot three. Athletic. I’m certain He can hold the ball in final third better than any of our much smaller and shorter other forwards. Use that skill. Don’t just play him as if he’s Adam Armstrong mk two or Cam Archer mk 2. its going to take some time for team to unlearn their habits of not giving it to the CF and instead playing pass the parcel with the ball. Kiefer Moore gave Ronnie and Saints a torrid time. Wrexham got foothold in our last third too often simply because he’s too strong. There going to be matches and opponents where having a guy capable of doing that- for us- is going to be match winning.

And to be passed the ball. IF our team can shake off that “don’t look to pass the ball to our big centre forward “ hypnotic suggestion they’ve had implanted into them that is. We didn’t pass to Tall Paul either. Who scored the only goal winner on his debut in Turkey btw. Less ball recycling more give it to Damion quickly is my motto for this season!

I’d prefer to see Jay Robinson playing left wing even if he is more the archetypal inside forward that Will Still alludes to. IF Jay Robinson is playing - as he should - then a flat back four makes sense. A more defensively minded full back is more appropriate than a flying wingback given Jays skill set. That he got picked to play was correct - but the best structure to minimise the downsides of when he ( inevitably) gets dispossessed is with a full back who tends to be BEHIND him not flying off ahead of him leaving massive gaps behind.

👋 @Crab Lungs Sperstyan and Rudoni seem good footballers in positions we are weak in. Dibling on the other hand, is the closest thing to MLT I’ve ever seen for Saints. Objectively, what he probably needs - and sadly it’s been ever thus for Saints - is to be surrounded by better players, in a better team, and in a better league. He will get kicked the shit out of this season for sure playing Championship. Do that in the EPL and VAR will get players sent off. Do it in the championship he will just get injured. Every logical thought says he’s going and he is right to go. It’s not if he’s going it’s simply how much. It will dismay sentimentalists like me but that’s the state of this shitty game nowadays. There’s no more heroes nor can there be - only transients that wear the shirt for a season or two then depart.

Can I come and make an offer on your house please? 😁

I agree -that’s a fair observation. He IS suffering the press conference like they all do out there and appears impatient with it all but his mannerisms are very revealing. No great revelations but he really did not want to be put on the spot today. And minding his words very carefully. It’s a fairly regular behaviour of his. I’d rather that than he being bragadoccious though. I think he’s a talk softly but it will be more menacing / effective if and when he does raise his voice type of Manager. He’s only 32 don’t forget.

Have we signed Max from Sturm Graz yet? What’s the hold up? Or have I been misinformed?

I think 433 or similar is worth a try. Experimenting with it at Ipswich away after two wins in a run ( albeit lucky) may not happen though.. I think surrendering the centre midfield ( which is my personal opinion of the weakness in current set up) v Ipswich is asking for trouble. They are much better than Wrexham or Nthhampton. So- even if what players we currently have available are probably better suited to using 3 CB’s - on balance I’d change it up for this match. I’d rather flood the midfield and invite them to hit it long ~ and back our Cb’s especially Quarsie or FB’s to win the ball the header or the race to the ball.

I like 443 as long as the ref does not notice! 😁

Ipswich have played a 4-2-3-1 formation last two matches with Hirst as a focal point. I expect same Sunday. Consequently I think there’s a fair chance Still may consider 3 CB’s one too many in this situation and put another player into the midfield. Probably the Centre Midfield. The legendary Front Sweeper perhaps! The non existent midfield of recent match’s ( Shea aside) that has NOT controlled matches needs to start doing so. Putting another body there might see us control play better. If Les was still here he’d be just right.

We sing a song for Mateus. Deservedly our most applauded player. MAYBE, at Ipswich, Saints fans can show Tyler he IS wanted as a Saints player. By the fans if not seemingly as by the Club. He may be mentally gone already - BUT if there was still a chance or any doubt about his departure ( which there probably is not so this is a Hail Mary idea), loud support for the lad, from the terraces, might influence both him and SR. Saint sold excellent exciting to watch young players like Alan Shearer, Gareth Bale, Oxlade Chamberlin, Luke Shaw, Theo Walcott and Sadio Mane in the past before we really appreciated the nascent quality they had. I’d be happy to watch teenager Tyler play just this season and let him join a bigger club next year just selfishly to watch that extra special generational quality he has- in a Saints shirt. NB . I’m not interested in the money. I’m interested in watching potential world class talent we have play at our club before I only get to see him playing on the TV in the CL for a big club in a few years time.

Fully agree with that assessment. He’s playing the players he’s got to - not necessarily his ideal set up. IF and when we get a player (s) able to play wide in attack and/or even the much touted #10 Spertsyan we may well see changes in his formation.

Yeah.

2001 Saints fans travelling on Sunday. If you did a straw poll and asked them if they’d rather he played ( and risked breaking his leg/scoring a Worldie) or if he should not because he only had a few flashes of brilliance last year so is largely overrated and we don’t want anyone to know - what do you think k travelling support is going to say? Nobody travels or renews a ST to peruse the accounts.

No No offence @Midfield_General but you previously thought my suggestion to play him was not the way to go. Now you agree he should be involved because he’s our best right side player. Which is it?

Completely fair and valid alternate proposal. 🙏. Personally, I think Ipswich would be more frightened if he played than if he was kept away. Personally I think our team for Ipswich - and everything about the situation from a Saints pov - is better for him being at worst on bench than left at home. I - and most fans I suspect t would love to see a team that has Tyler, JR and Mateus all playing at same time against a top opponent- which Ipswich away certainly is.

I think there’s one obvious way to convince Everton / an other club Tyler Dibling is worth what we are asking for if they are unconvinced. Play him. Maybe from the bench Ipswich or fuck it if he’s fit make him start. Mateus Fernandez showed why he is so highly valued the other night with one bit of extra quality. Most Saints fans believe Both are going to be top players. And even though we had a shocking team last year it was obvious they had EPL quality and something else- star quality. So let him show the world. He can let his football do the talking. I’m sure we’d all agree that’s the best way to silence doubters.

Given Will’s current preference for 3 CB’s I’ve been trying to assess how Spertsyan fits into that kind of team - and where the rest go ( assuming MF stays but Tyler leaves). Does behind a little and large front two look like the position for Spertsyan? Gavin. THB. Stephens. Quarshie Flynn. Charles Mateus. Manning Spertsyan(#10) Armstrong. Downs.