gio1saints

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.

This could be our Leeds match.

Downs looks patently well down on confidence to me. Everything about his presence on the pitch latterly screams nerves have got the better of him. I don’t understand why but it’s not because he is not big strong tall or fast. Oh and he can kick a ball. For me this is an entirely mental issue. He gets that resolved it’s a different player. And clearly Poch has seen something in him and I’m not arguing with his footballing opinion! He does get his head right - he could be massively good - he does not - he’s getting shipped back to Germany.

My highlights from last nights match. 1. The new formation worked. Keep it. ✅ ✅✅✅ 2. Jelert did not disgrace himself on debut. Did not amaze but solid enough bearing in mind the opposition. ✅✅ 3. Alex MCc made a couple of great saves then possibly destroyed his future career prospects with that passing to them bollocks. A repeat of what he did the last time he was allowed to play in a big boys stadium at Newcastle. I’m just sorry for him at this point. Did he learn his lesson? Not I’m afraid. ❌✅❌ 4. Ryan Manning is playing his best version of himself and he looks a good left back. Where has he been under previous managers? He has got more than just a sweet left foot and showed plenty class in the ball under pressure. My prediction is he will win championship lb of the season team. ✅👍- my Saints MOtM. 5. Quarsie and Woods. Well done fellas. If you dont get picked v Boro you are right to be aggrieved. IF its all performance based - as has been insinuated by Still - then them two start on Saturday.✅✅ 6. Downes. So you didn’t like the rumours about your immune system and wanted to show you still got the legs and the ability? WHY THE FUCK Don’t YOU PLAY THAT WAY EVERY WEEK INSTEAD OF ALL THAT PASSIVE PASSING SHIT YOU BEEN ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH FIR TOO LONG!!!✅❌🤺 7. Casper and Shea. Are good players -actually very good players at Championship level. ✅ 8. Leo : unlucky son. Keep shooting though and keep doing aggressive things. But FFS how do you miss that header professional footballer and all? ✅❌🤯 9. Adarma. He’s back and playing better. First swallow is it or is it that he’s fucking back? Just be fucking back Adarma we need you to score notfanny around. ✅ 9. Talking of fannying around. Poor poor Damion. He wet himself. Again. On the big stage. He IS a player. But fuck knows what sport because his head needs major sorting out. As Will said - he needs to get angry and forget about nerves let his instincts take over. Pick a fight do something- not this abject and upsetting to watch a big guy grown man wetting himself with fear on a footie pitch nonsense. Cowboy up big boy. Or get a proper job because your impression of a CF is not working. ❌😢🤠⬆️ 10. Ronnie : no disgrace did alright at RB. ✅ 11. Cam. Does what he always does run run run but when is it going to be scoring goals like he’s supposed to?Clock is ticking on his career he does not start putting them away. ⏰✅❌ 12. Still : Good new formation and style. Not one long boot to Cam! Subs/changes were still by the numbers though not much interesting stuff going on in game. But he’s a kid.And still green in uk football. How long is that excuse valid for I wonder. He’s got max until Xmas to turn this excellent squad into a top two or minimum top six team. ✅

Don’t let a trickle of optimism and hope enter your mind. You are a Saints fan after all and this forum houses some truly incorrigible and hardcore cynics. Bruce Springsteen, in one of his best songs imo, wrote The Ghost of Tom Joad. One of its themes , paraphrased and used metaphorically, that relates to SFC ~( to my admittedly not normal mind ) ~ says whenever you see a post that is downbeat critical negative cynical or simply depressing that’s where you will find me. Fighting. Becoming cynical about Saints just creeps up on you. But it’s still a choice. And, as sadly passed away George Michael says - Choose Life. Ignore the results and even the performance. Choose Life. Being a Saints fan IS winning at life. PS. Two popular music cultural references in one post about useless SFC. I’m slacking.

Liverpool play a433 so I’d add an extra bodies in the middle of the park. Every match we look weak there. A formation that floods the midfield centre a bit more and makes us more competitive on first and second balls I’m in favour of. The MF can all run their arses off for sixty minutes then get replaced frankly. Typically that might be something akin to a 4 2 3 1. Putting names to the formation : Mccarthy Mads. Woods. Quarsie. Gelert Charles. Casper Scienza Azaz. Robinson Armstrong( or RA/DD) Bench : Fellowes Downes Sesay Matsuki, Manning, Cam, 2 other forwards & an U21. Probably still get smashed but it’s an opportunity to get a look at a different formation free hit.

Romeu had the class and stature for it yes agreed. But of the current squad? Jan and Adarma were simply bad. THB I still have hopes for. Not Gavin. Leaves me with Shea and THB as the realistic captains. My choice would be Shea. But he might need this season. If we had the luxury of a Milner available I get it. But we don’t and that most probably won’t happen - so Jack is what we’ve got- and currently, imo, is the only realistic man for the job.

So who would be your captain then? Which player would you say has shown the qualities you require? Leadership and captaincy credentials are not always so easily defined as by how good the player individually is or his team performs. He is my Captain on merit vis the rest, no doubt

Accurate observation. But what you are also saying is that he has not nailed his colours to any particular tactic or style of play. He has said from outset he will be Mr. Pragmatic. That sounds great when you win, but clueless and value-less when you lose. After the paroxysms many experienced on this forum and on the terraces watching Saints under RM he’d be forgiven for avoiding the elephant trap of saying he wants to play this or that tactic or style of football. Being ideologically fixated is bang out of favour right now. Being flexible is the new cool thing. But losing is always unfashionable and frankly there’s not long left before SR do their own tactic of sack the Manager. If he gets to Xmas with decent points he is safe - but if we are still shit and void of ideas he will be out before the presents are unwrapped I reckon. I really wish not. I really wish he was given the time. But this is football and a bad run means the sack - not patience and support like perhaps in the old days. The “old days” when you could name the starting eleven from memory and players and managers did not change every season or even half or quarter season. It’s crap really. You barely get the time to know there name and there’s a new one. Ffs I wish they’d just slow down.