gio1saints

I’m sry @Hypo not meant to imply you voiced that comment or that it’s been quoted here. It was a paraphrase of common sentiment. My misquote. @Charlie Wayman Good point though I actually think the reverse is just as likely. Ie he gets poached. I never would have thought it even ten games ago but RM is pretty damn vital/ fundamental to this winning squad and mentality. The belief and relationships he has engendered is enabling average players to play better and good players to really shine. And a feel good factor to be the mood feeling at the club. Long May it continue!

It should have been pretty clear that judging at how easily Burnley won this league last year especially the second half that the PB football style could dajfu. - if we learned it well. We are still Learning judging by occasional mishaps but these are fewer and wider inbetween given this run. Big question is will more teams figure us out before end of season? That’s why I’ve been encouraged last two matches in particular not just by actually scoring from the chances we nake(!!!) but with sone of the tactical flexibility changes. RM switching KWP to left back and putting Bree RB for example, and last week playing JS at fb and KWP as winger. IF we go up and even if we don’t then it’s that kind of bespoke flexibility that will keep opponents guessing and always rea ring to us not other way around . RM may be “ finally listening to what the fans demanded / want “ now (🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) or maybe now his team has learned the basics of FB there’s room for a little bit more variation. I’d like to think the latter.

TBF all posters here just want Saints to do well and like a bit of banter ( actually that’s not 100% true- the hate mob actively abusing him, Saints and anyone who stuck up for the club back then know who they are and it was beyond vile) and the passion can overflow in the wrong way. When it gets to the point where loan players like Flynn are actually quoted at being in disbelief at some fan reactions at SMS and even RM noting the massive disunity at the club when he arrived you know this club was in bits back then. We all underestimated what a fucked up club we had back at start of season. To read the match day forums early doors since then you’d swear we’d just won the League and Cup double previous year not stank the place out week after week. Remarkable turnaround.

It was the other way Round. Sam started the season whilst KS was still unfit. But , apart from a few glimpses of skill was a bit underwhelming though obviously a talent. He then appeared to lose his man for two separate break away goals we conceded, was criticised and his confidence dipped. Enter KS. Who started brightly but also underwhelmed. KS Got injured again and now Sam has grabbed his second chance with both hands and will be very hard to dislodge from starting berth. Though frasers form is so good who knows!

Just checked out his Miovski recent goals. Would be a very makes sense signing for probably c £5m+. Insurance policy v anything happening to AA and/or Che leaving. He does seem to be efficient at converting cutbacks from either wing by foot or head m. A lot like the kind of service I’d hope he’d get from saints - and the type of goal / chance we seem to frequently make/score. IF Che leaves for any kind of nominal fee in Jan - ( you know £2/£3millions) then bringing Miovski in at c £5m and who may have upward mobility on his value if he does well at Saints plus would be on cheaper wages than Che would seem eminently sensible. Would essentially be our second striker and takeover Che’s job currently on the bench but coming on late to score or whenever we want an extra forward up top.

What so RM says get to team possession stats but don’t try to score once we have all that possession? Do you honestly Bellieve that?

So you agree with me that they are highly unlikely/ improbable then?

Ahmed Diallo or Mason Mount from Man Utd are the more outlandish short term loan options for Saints on the internet atm.

WRT to Man Utd rumours on the web ; Ahmed Diallo is more likely than Mason Mount imo as regards a short term loan. Only difference ( apart from wages and fee) is that Mason would surely be a definite starter for Saints. He knows the area being ex Pompey so relocation not so disruptive and we play a style that suits him down to the ground. I would not say Ahmed goes straight into our team straight away even if he is a potential superstar or that he’s guaranteed to settle in Hants even if he is a top talent. And then there is Afcon for Diallo - if he is selected. Just my tenpence worth. Of course either are VERY welcome and would be marquee signings.

Oops

Why would we get a loan of an afcon player ie Ahmed Diallo? He’s obviously a talent fits all our criteria and all boxes ticked but he cannot play if he’s at Afcon . Taking him in for three months stops AMO from getting any end of season chance to show what he’s got ( and Sam and Kameldeen maybe even Charlie gets sacrificed also if he joins btw) and all those are zero cost to Saints I might add. On a permanent is a different matter - he’s our type alright ( but why did we let Nathan go in which case as they have some attributes in common) but there’s no way we are affording to buy him in Jan.

Ah yes JS. Could be the way to finally get him back into the starting team lol

Larios is very injured and Small does not always start in Scotland (st mirren I think) so neither in level of form required

Johnson of whufc im not sure would go from their bench to our bench here. Especially seeing whats happened to Holgate. Rather we put Meghoma on the bench if that’s the case. Having said that we are just one more injury away from not having a specialist fb. If Bree is bad injured and something happens to kwp or Manning Boxing Day it’s play Meg or Holgate …and that starts to look less strong- though I personally would be ok letting Meg out in a few matches now. We used to play JWP at FB in extremis but it weakened us overall. PS. Cannot recall but have we played 3 centre backs this season? In absence if real fb’s that may be an in pitch tactical necessity. Pushing either RM or KWP Into the MF ( assuming JB is injured).

Amazing what having a fit captain CB ready and waiting to come on for you can do for your goalscoring 😁

I think you are right regarding attacking players. Though that may be mildly unfair on Sam Edozie. Neither Charlie nor Sam have set the world on fire. Yet! Tall Paul is scoring - but in Turkey! But arguably there’s more than signs of life otherwise. Bazunu, Bree and Ryan Fraser can be added to THB and Flynn as players who’ve added value and got better. Larios is always injured though, sadly. 5 good uns, 2 so far not doing enough 1 scoring overseas, one injury prone and one out for rest of season, apparently. It’s not a disastrous scorecard. In fact it’s better than I’d expect to get 5/10 at least doing very well and sone others getting there. It’s often a coin flip.

The usual forum angry mob have found a nice focal point. It must have been frustrating all these matches unbeaten so this is a great chance to pile on the hate. I think they have, finally, found something to beat RM, JW and SR up with. An Early Xmas present. And, of course, even though it might appear unseemly to some that a major injury set back to what appears to be a decent bloke is being used in this way, that’s life and don’t let that get in the way of our anger. I’m sure questions will be asked and eyebrows raised about the pre transfer injury status - but does the poor guys injury set back really deserve this very distasteful commentary? As supporters let’s use this energy to get behind Ross and the team today and rest of season Instead of in trying to win forum points about who can be most outraged and best finger pointer?

Feel so sorry for Ross and hope his recovery goes well. Also hope team react to this news powerfully and positively by putting on a performance for him today at QPR!

I get what you are saying but have you ever been in a sports man management position like RM? How do you think Stephens would feel if his manager described him like you did? Players love managers who make them feel good. They will run through walls for such managers. His job is to make his players 5% 10% better than they actually are just through motivation and man management skills. JS “ may” be average to you or even objectively true but when he walks out on the pitch I’m one saints fan that wants him to feel like superman. - and do his best to live up to his billing. That’s what RM is up to.

My feeling is that Ipswich are the more vulnerable of the top two. Due to this leagues physical attrition on squads and experience. I think probability they can repeat their first 52 points from 22 matches form is low. Bookies agree- they think they will finish on 92 points from 46 games.( spread is actually 91-93) In other words Ipswich are predicted to get only 40 points from the next 24 matches. That still, just, sees them auto promoted ahead of Leeds then us according to bookies. That being the case it suggests bookies feel we need 51 points from last 24 matches for automatic ( 51 + 42= 93) which is just a tad more more than our current average ppg. The equivalent of beating not drawing with Rotherham and Watford.

Shhhhhhh! I shouldn’t have even posted it here in public. Pretend you didn’t read it and maybe nobody will catch on until it’s too late. 😎

IF we do bring in a loan player I’d hope we use the old “ reduced section” at the supermarket technique. It’s no good getting a Sainsbury’s own brand cottage pie reduced from £6 down to £3 - it’s still a Sainsbury’s own brand cottage pie. On the other hand if it’s a fine piece of well aged Fillet steak reduced from £10 down to £5 then it’s worth a punt. ie I’d rather we loaned a top top player proven class, bizarrely out of favour at his club desperately needs to play speaks English, intelligent, technically excellent , great passer, fit, scores goals and flexible positionally but just needs games ……..than take a chance on buying another possible striker and them not being all that. They don’t need to be a #9 but they must have a goalscoring pedigree. They don’t need be Usain Bolt but they must be comfortable in possession and quick thinking. Lastly they cannot be a primma Donna. They must be humble and prepared to sacrifice for the team. If they come from the EPl it’s doubly important they show humility - but also why they are an EPL player. If they can teach something to teammates even better. There you go, I’ve written the blueprint. Just need hope his club can pay most or all his wages because we for sure cannot and would not afford them.

Gosh. Would never have that that possible ( if it’s who I think). Ermm, Would he be well received though?

PB football IS our #1 strength and individual flair ie what you might call “ playing to your strengths” is a subset of that. They are not either or. Criticism of how long the style can take to turn into anything remotely dangerous looking is entirely valid. But fact is, Saints play this PB style against every team. Some teams are better against it, especially those with a very low line defence or who’ve Sussed out how to press us better. Some ( too many!) games our finishing is lousy. Some games we don’t do PB as well as we can. Or a mixture. But it’s not an either or conscious choice. We are not either playing to our strengths OR reverting to PB football. For me we seem to be getting better at it. Faster at it. So much so that we don’t even recognise it as PB football. But like all great magic tricks that’s an illusion and an example of misdirection. It is the Saints team collective united in this PB style that is the true playing to our strengths.

FWIW Having Sulemana back ( I’m assuming his injury keeps him out of African Nations) , having Jack Stephens back and having RStewart back is like adding three powerful, exciting new signings. NONE of them have l done much for saints on the pitch this season so all three fit and adding to the squad is a massive boost. ALL three when fit are very likely automatic starters/ bench.