Holmes_and_Watson

For the corner they had 3 players positioned at the edges of the box. Their keeper was back, and of course there's the corner taker. It's not as though there was a packed, disruptive box or the keeper had come up to sow confusion. It was a standard corner, where it seems we've decided to pack the box. Any loose balls are then closed down from multiple angles by players running out. On other days, maybe our players get further out for a better block. Maybe they don't react by turning and giving the angle. Orvthat deflection goes wide or back into a group of players. On other days, and what Martin is counting on, is that we just see another corner dealt with in the box. We don't stop to think that it was because we had an extra body in there. But we've seen plenty of corners delivered back out centrally and thumped in. If teams know we don't protect that, then they will look to take advantage of it. Considering how long we persevered with similar things, Martin may think it's still perfectly valid and just needs more drilling in. But 2 points lost due to it yesterday.

That's a relief to hear. For a minute I was thinking it was an event held by a party, desperate to placate vested interest groups that the gravy train would be just fine once they got into power, actually paying for lobbyists to attend so they could build relationships for further scams. Also relieved to hear it being deflected with a reference to going out for a pizza. A successful tactic with royal endorsement. Any other concerns behind removed by it all being within the rules, never mind how utterly crooked those rules were set up to be. Good to hear we've now got a government not beholden to the old sleazy ways. One that makes the calls normal, decent folk would make. Perhaps they could throw an event to celebrate? Actually, that would be a flimsy, wasteful pretext. Like hosting it around a birthday.

Snowman

I'm of the view that the evolving stats don't always tell the story for us. We have a system, that's about possession. Our attackers have to take advantage of unforced errors and where we can exploit gaps. That's different from end to end games where attackers have momentum, the stamina and mental impact of such a game. So, we can get into decent xG positions. But it's offset by the game's structure. Yes, the stats are bringing in more variables, but there are broader datasets it struggles with. It means we need instinctive finishers, able to put opportunities (more so than systematic planned attacks) away. Oh, but the also need to do a hundred other things while waiting for those chances. It's a bigger ask, than I see a lot of attackers having to deal with. I think comparing our stats with others needs to look well beyond core stats, due to the different systems and player requirements. But I testing as broad indicators. Just as people seeing the games unfold before them can pick out things the data isn't equipped to do.

Thanks saintant. Erwink also took the view that it was player based. In The Beeb interview I've just watched, he talked about the Stewart header and the free kick. There's still a bit of me wondering if his official site interview specifically mentioned that there should have been someone out there. I could be being harsh on him. He could actually be doing a good job protecting his players. With set pieces drilled into players, I can't imagine it was by accident no one was out. I can imagine them not dealing with points within the set up. And it's those points Martin is referring to. But looking at it, they really did look set up that way. A manager seeing that done not on purpose would have been screaming instructions from the touchline. Players would be shouting to each other too. It also fits into other things we see like the players back from our corners. To give the other side of that. On the corners, that running back is more organised. I'm not thrilled with it, as I'd like to see how much of an attacking advantage it gives us against the risk. Also, the shift in control and momentum it gives opponents and support. Things that aren't on the databases. But I get the logic. I get the logic here too. But I have even more reservations. Rumour is Chelsea are bringing back Lampard, just to play against us, for all the goals he'll put in from exactly that position.

Definitely another factor. Clubs had to find loophole exchange transfers to keep within the rules. Others are stuck with players they can't shift. Due to amortisation, they can't take the PSR hit. So the fee (often too high because of the PL cash cow), and those wages make it even harder to move on players. For us, SR have made it key that they keep individual wages as low as they can. It's a false economy in the larger sense, in that they panic bought extra players 2 seasons ago. But the idea is that it gives flexibility and higher profit margins for lots of transfers. In practice, we've got players looking at the new deals and ( exceptions for Alex and Bedders) looking to move on. And waiting to go on a free, to get the best of their higher deal here and the big free signings fee at the next club. Even at the levels SR bought players in, it's been too high to shift some of them. In fairness, ABK got derailed. We've not had decent enough offers for others. So, we've a bloated squad again this season. Like you say, clubs can't spend even if they'd like to, as they struggle to balance their own books and offload their own players.

Unless the destination club just happens to offer him a great deal, I'd have thought he'd take the best of the offers as a free agent. Part of the club's (and any club) is to sell on players. They've previously said they would try to minimise this. But that can be hard to do, as we've seen.

I've only seen the short highlights. For their goal, it screamed of the analysts & coaches concluding that the data showed fewer goals conceded from that shooting position, compared to headers/ second balls in the box. Of course that data is skewed if based on goals conceded, while teams make sure they do have a man out there. And from teams who realise their opponents aren't putting a man there, and look to take full advantage of it. It's the latest small margin from the guys who introduced panicked running back from our own corners.

Chilly

Night

Happy Birthday to you Sorry Saints made you feel blue But let me offer a congratulation And hope we pull out of relegation

This week I has been mostly drinking... ...very little, as I was worried about having a "chat" with folk on SaintsWeb. 🙂 I was at a local game today, so didn't get past a couple of pints of Tennants Light (which I don't mind).

That's the pace of it in real time. The replay shows it going off his Lego head, through Stephens legs and low and to the left past Bazunu. 🙂

Lots of interesting points in those 2 posts Gio.

I'd not underestimate the surge in Gloucester Saint's popularity. 🙂 Is this an approval one, where all of them can get negative ratings, rather than having to pick one over the other? Because, unless the Lettuce is making a political comeback, I've no idea either. 🙂

"How can they be on the front foot, when they're attached to poles?! It does my nut in! Aaargh!" - Nathan reveals he hates table football more than ping pong.

Thanks. Labour worked well in advance of the election to give themselves the best possible start. And there's been a lot of activity. And each part, or all of that, is up for discussion. Political history is tainted with bribery and corruption. Any random copy of Private Eye has examples of revolving doors between political and industry appointments, cronyism, cover ups and generally wasting taxpayers money to chums. I agree that in other industries you'd be bounced for any number of things politicians across the board have a sense of entitlement towards. Over and above what's in their Rulebook of dodginess. From other posts, it shouldn't be some comparison with other wretched people or parties. Any of that is up for discussion too. Personally, I doubt my opinion changes regardless of who it is. Just the level of disappointment, when they turn out to be no better. The football one seems like a good plan. Long supporting PM still gets to watch his team, is safer doing so, disrupts crowds less and it's cheaper for us apparently too. Except that it's being used as a distraction from all the other things, and importantly the PL are front and centre in opposing the powers of a football regulator. Of course, the PM couldn't possibly be involved, and I'm sure everyone who is works in an integrity proof silo. Elsewhere donors got positions or access to no 10. Since none of them are passing the sniff test on cronies, access and donations, it becomes hard to trust them on anything. Preventable and setting up needless barriers, with all the work ahead. To have looked to start so strongly, only to be tripped up by this level of avoidable integrity issues is disheartening. Like early season hopes going wrong, it gats more of a reaction from me. Perhaps, in parallel with the Lord's reforms, they could have a close look at their own structures and finances. Instead of being dragged into reluctantly making concessions to integrity.

It's just the Pitcher and Piano. You're thinking ahead to when things get a little heated, when mentioning the piano wire. 🙂

Thanks for the review Christophe. I felt a little bad posting right after it, as I think it's fair to allow a little cool down time. So, me going right in and being a bit critical of VA wasn't the kindest. On your points, VA made a habit of not just having players fall over, but stay there like there was a medical emergency, when clearly they were at it. The added on time was directly the result of VA taking ages with subs, delays from some hard tackles and their own time wasting. Silly pen to give away. Should have been a win, but that choice to change the intensity to slow the game down, just allowed the visitors to get into it. A few spells of some higher tempo control would have put an end to that. Even so, VA had enough decent chances to put the game to rest in the second half. Far from a disaster. Some game management lessons learned.

Ramsdale KWP THB Bedders Taylor Downes Les Lallana AA BBD Cornet Bench: Dibling, Aribo, Stewart, Suga, Wood, McCarthy, Archer, Fraser, Fernandes Lots to offer from an attacking bench, as this is a game we really need to be winning. Also, because there's not a massive difference between bench and some of the starters. Positions to fight for there. I can see this as a draw. But hopefully, Ipswich will push up allowing us to put one away. The subs will be very important.

SaintsWeb pre-match "chat"

It was a few days ago, but was listening to a fairly short news item on fixture congestion. Going into the CL games they started with Rodri's quotes. They mentioned the expanded FIFA club tournament. So, top club level. So a bit of a surprise when the manager's opinion they quoted was our Russ. Getting mentions in the same chat as the big clubs he hopes to be leading one day. Barcelona calling... 🙂

Delivery

Only if they take table football into the dugout with them. 🙂

I do get the point on the tone whelk. For me it's a combination of the activity. their reaction to the push back and the other things they do combining to really annoy me. Just put on the radio. Someone from labour annoyed about the press talking about clothes. Last week it was "why, the taxpayer should be funding it all" slippery slope into giving away even more perks. This morning they are saying "well, they want to look smart." Both utterly missing the point. While also happily keeping it focused on clothes, rather than another look at all the other funding and gifts they get. A historically appalling bunch for lining their own (now paid for by someone else) pockets, on all sides. Rayner was talking about her working class credentials over the Ibiza trip. I did read one MSM source at the time saying that some of that trip had been paid for. While trying to find that. there's now a New York trip paid for. The push back over Ibiza is that " hard working MPs need to relax too" So relax, and get yourself clothes you like. But do it on your own money. Live to the values to talk about. Don't be just like all the grifters before you.