Holmes_and_Watson

Yup, the further they go to the right to get that 15% back, if they are not tied solidly into centrist territory, then the more votes they ship on the other side. People look at the obsession over some issues, look at the lack of effort on others, and make their choices. Power lies with those that can keep their group of back stabbing vermin, with their own agendas, as broad as possible, without wrecking it. When it falls apart, all those agendas think they were right and it was everyone else in the party that brought them down. Cue years of searching for an identity, which would be obvious to anyone not in the bubble. Mind you, the lack of self awareness is something you can see in a lot of things. If votes/decisions don't go their way, it's the other side full of the absolute worst of people all conspiring to overcome the "right" side.

They look at the voters going to the likes of reform, as their lost voters. It gives strength to those at the top with sympathies there to want to reach out to bring them back on board. But it has to be done along with enough good things to keep others on board. They've not had a stellar record on that, and also failed to get their more extreme policies over the line either. On the other side, while it's an ongoing internal battle, Starmer has dragged his party back from the side of his party that was closer to it's extremes. While there have been lots of u turns, the approach of saying as little as possible while the other side implodes, is going to be more than enough. That also has the bonus of attracting those in the centre, making the likes of Braverman even keener to lurch to the right to establish what she considers a clear party identity to be.

We'll need to see after the play offs. Being top of the SR group should provide even more motivation for the team. 🙂

The new DoF come in and promptly tells RM to ditch his possession game. Saints do a manager swap with Man Utd. 🙂

A new DoF would be short term, as the Rasmus AI will soon be released, using data analytics (adjusted for left-fieldness) and the transfer tombola across every facet of SR. 🙂

He missed a good chance (getting into a good position for it), wasn't as smart or physical as Adams. But, made some decent runs, we looked to pick him out, playing more central relies less on him taking on players and delivery than in pace and attack. Something to work on, and makes us more versatile.

Surprising set up, interesting personnel in it and looking to get different things from Russ's philosophy. At it's best before we had lots of possession, created chances through creating space. But we struggled to convert and keep teams out. Today, we gave up the possession, strengthened the midfield, still used our passing game, but more decisively and getting it forward earlier. We got to see some different strengths from our team, as a result. Russ gave key players minutes, removing them progressively. Che took a knock, which is hopefully nothing. Fraser was probably the most wasted, having to defend as a Manning replacement. Downes is our most important player. Today, freed from so much passing around, made that even clearer. Adams, AA and KWP not far behind. Borderline cards from the ref, which created some interesting moments later as tougher challenges went in. Farke was annoyed Manning stayed on first half, but the ref could have handed cards out to Leeds in the second. Strong performances from Aribo, Smallbone and the others too. There's a little bit of wondering how things would have turned out if we had been a bit more flexible earlier in the season. But it's more lack of in game changes that have cost us. We looked controlled today in large part due to all that short passing we've being doing. We look much more comfortable on the ball than others. Good to see a central cameo for Sule and Stewart. Even if the game had closed a lot by those points. Sule had an excellent chance, while Stewart was a foul away from taking the ball into the box. Nice to go into the playoffs with a win. We've nothing to fear from any of the others.

Rothwell looks knacked. Much like his first game.

Free kick impacted off the wall like a failed Death Star attack run.🙂

Nonsense free kick.

It would have taken quite a swerve for Will's FK there. Rothwell the better option. Just noticed he was still on.

3 bookable tackles from Leeds as we moved through them. Grrr.

Good work from Aribo, but he just couldn't get it under control for ages there.

A little, late cotton wool for AA and KWP. Most getting some minutes.

Bree and Stewart!

We're playing much deeper. Odd to see us happy to conserve energy, and let Leeds have possession. We have Sule waiting for a slip. Leeds had a chance as we sat in our box. 2 strong parties out from McCarthy today. Experienced play from Aribo to get us a free kick with not much going on ahead of him.

That was a great chance for Sule! Good move Saints! And good to see Sule in the middle right enough. That wasn't far from being a Che close range miss. That's the potential he's already showing in there. 🙂

Rothwell picked ahead of Charles for that midfield spot. Downes absolutely key.

Hopefully this is Sule playing more centrally? Been wanting to see that. Gives him more options, and more so if Leeds push up to get an equaliser. Will already tried to pick him out.

Ah shame on the offside. Good move. We get mileage when they switch off. Hopefully more when they tire. Mythical creature spotted warming up. Adams took a knock first half. Cotton wool time. Nice to see Smallbone give Ampadu a good push. A bit of steel.

Smallbone did well, looking for a pass, not getting it, getting the next, creating and then busting a gut to get forward. Move broke down before he got there. As the ball came back with Leeds, our engine in Downes there to put a stop to it.

Finding that balance of failing at the final hurdle, while making enough money to buy and develop lots of Prem League talent to sell on, is tough.

Manning off right enough. Fraser on.

Downes continues to be our key player. His early influence got us in control, and excellent box to box. With Stephens in, and pushing forward at time, Smallbone's role is different. Loads of positives and a goal. Some of it is not where he's most comfortable. Che very important to. Movement, holding it up, partnership with others and at least one excellent covering tackle when we conceded possession. Ref's cards for Manning and Gnonto were daft. Others were fouls, and borderline cards. Ref errs on the card side of things. Their diver got away without one. We gave away the ball clumsily twice for their goal. But even in this system where crisp short passing isn't always going to work, we look organised and are willing to take passes further up to create from. That's what's pinning Leeds back at times. That's from all that work over the season. All good and we're in front. So that means little after a Russ teamtalk... 🙂

Believe so. It's been mentioned a few times. If not even earlier.