gio1saints

Fuck yeah!!!!!

Much the best 4 /5 minutes weve played this season so far. nb this is the cue for Boro to score

The defence from Tuesday night has not let will Still down. Certainly not first half. WP guys. It’s a start!

Recovery pace very good point.

Another corner to saints

We are starting to be physically dominant.

Nice smasher challenge by Quarsie!

Azaz is starting to fancy it

Corner saints

Adarma getting a lot more of the ball than usual. Wish could say same of Azazaprt from one ball ..Danger free kick to saints edge box…cmon…

Reminds me of the Burnley cup match so far I’m afraid

Want to see him get proper involved. Not seen him put a tackle in since he’s been here let alone a shot of distinction. Or a sprint. Just kick someone anyone and show you are not a walking wounded mate.

The decision to play AM makes perfect sense. Other than the disaster pass he made some excellent saves. Saves that, frankly, we are are not used to seeing Gavin make. AM drops passing to the opposition in his own area out of his game and we may stop conceding so many goals to random shots. Good man management imo. Of course if he does it again today he is dropped forever I guess…

I think they will come on later. Leo in particular when and if Boro have tired a bit.

Yeah I want to see Leo start and get a run. But I can’t help feeling it’s either him OR Fraser. And Fraser is a form player atm. So I think it will be him much as I’d like to have both on pitch-let alone Jay and Fellowes. Problem is- Leo is defo going to shoot and try score- whereas Fraser is the safer option because he will pass it backwards and be defensively solid. I’ve had enough of that passive way of thinking. I want us to try to score every attack and be very dangerous. When Leo or Jay get the ball last third something dangerous might happen- with Fraser it also might but the odds are lower and he’s just as likely to do a Flynn Downes and recycle the ball cos he cannot take a player on one on one anymore or play in a risky way cos he’s too long in the tooth. And I love Wee Man! So I’d start Leo /Jay even if it’s defensively riskier because fuck it we will score more than them.

“Channon is Bionic” is another terrace chant that dates itself perfectly in sync with the era of “Steve Austin - The Six Million dollar Man”

The Ruben Agboola song was a favourite of mine at the Dell. If you don’t know it you are probably too young but it was sung to Jackie Wilson said ( I’m in Heaven) by Dexy’s midnight runners. Very popular no words just something even the most pissed up Saints fan could gurgle along to Ps sorry @Wurzelsee you already mentioned it though it was the intro to JackieWilson said not Geno. ( that’s 3 points on Popmaster for me and I’m well on the way to getting a signed photo 🤣)

I know it’s probably just me but I kind of feel relaxed about this one. We are nowhere in the league, they are top. They are now amongst the favourites for promotion. There’s a big question mark against us. Last home match there was massive pressure not to lose. This match just feels like if Will just says “ go and show what you can do” our game level will rise substantially. Boro will need be at their best to get a result if we do. That’s my view. If the team can just take a breath play instinctively we will not lose and more likely win. 2-1 or 3-1 win for Saints my prediction. 😇

Did nothing when he came on v Liverpool. Looked nothing like as good as we wished. Wonder why that is. Is the pressure also too much for him like it is for DD? He’d be forgiven at his age surely.

I think that the problem is psychological. Those criticising DD as lazy are mistaken - or more bluntly - stupid. Mental blockages slow all reactions and make you look shockingly bad. Especially on the biggest stage. Watching the ball bounce off his legs the other night like he never got shown how to trap or pass a ball is sobering - but a reminder of how much pro sport is played in the head. He can do that 99/100 times in training but at Anfield in front of the world - his timing is gone, his muscles weak and looks like he’s running through sand. The difference between the #1 ranked snooker player in the world and #100 in terms of technique is small. They can all compile a century break and win a frame at one visit. Technically they have all the shots in the toolbox. But only a few can deliver under max pressure. Same with football. DD is not dealing with the expectations AT ALL so far. Will he? He should get our compassion but unfortunately he’s paid a fucklot of money a week to be better than this. Clearly there’s some who feel he never will - but I think that if he gets his head right he will prevail. But if he does not do that quick he will join the long list of failed wannabe superstar CF’s. And won’t be earning a fucklot of money for very much longer.

Deliberate @trousers…. The saves Alex made v Liverpool were good, the first excellent in fact. But they were cancelled out by the disaster pass. Gavin Does not make enough saves. Too many shots on goal go in. Based on their very last match I’d say - I’m doing what you do and sitting on the fence! Up to Will Still to decide. 🤣 My gut would be to play the player of the future not of the past ie Gavin. IF he comes good (IF) we may go up with him OR even get a good fee for him when Aaron returns - but if he does not ie play as per what we currently seeing which is mediocre to bad - then I’d say we get rid and bring in a new starting gk in the Jan sales.

Thank you. I’m well known for my agreeability on this forum. 😂

If Will Still drops the good performers from Anfield - Woods, Quarsie, Jelert, Charles, Downes, Manning I would find that contradictory to his “ who plays good retains their place “ super pragmatic kind of mantra we’ve been led to believe is how it works with him. If he starts with THB, Stephens and Mads for example : three disappointments from their last match instead of Woods, Quarsie, Jelert- three strong performers from their last match - it would not feel like he’s been pragmatic at all- just picking on reputation NOT current performance. Same with Flynn. He has been playing bad - BUT v Liverpool he was back to his best. He must start after that - BUT if he repeats his negative football of before Will needs hook him off. Shea is a must start also on that basis. Adarma played his best match of the season v Liverpool so, he too keeps his place if Will is being consistent. That means we should have 7 starters based on FORM not reputation - Woods, Quarsie, Jelert, Manning, Charles, Downes and Adarma. The other four to start is what Will is paid to decide - but IMO dropping the form players to squeeze in a reputation player is bad for squad morale. And it should give a massive kick up the backside to the “reputation” players to actually prove why they have that reputation when and if they get in the pitch. That kind of competition to play and perform and prove why you are a supposed big star has been noticeably absent - and is a big factor in why we are looking so limp in the league.