coalman

On the one hand we created a lot more yesterday (including some in the second half). 22 shots (7 on target) to Hull's 9 shots (3 on target). We looked better when we moved to 4 at the back. The trouble is we completely surrendered any initiative we were creating with our suicidal playing around the back. Then compounded it with 2 players ball watching the player they were up against from the subsequent corner. Honorable mention for Peretz's hologram impression dealing with the header though his earlier save at 0-0 was top notch. Throw in the decision to remove our best crosser of the ball when they brought on our only centre forward able to get on the end of crosses and we turned a totally winnable game into a narrow defeat. We also had Manning drifting around in his usual ball watching free role away from his actual position so we'd always be at risk any time they got the ball down their right wing when combined with the ball watching central trio. While we're giving away so many easy chances and have such obvious vulnerabilities we're always going to be at risk of this kind of result. One would hope that the lessons taken from that game are pretty easy for Tonda. 1. 4 at the back and don't get overrun in midfield. Dropping Wood would be a good start. 2. Manning replaced by Wellington (or any footballer who can play left back) 3. Downes replaced by a midfielder who is allowed to pass forward. 4. Play Fellows in his best position and keep him on the pitch. 5. FFS STOP CUNTING AROUND AT THE BACK

He was hired by Sport Republic. Chances are he's not _that_ promising.

Just make Lallana/Garner interim manager, wait until he wins his first five and give him the job full time. By which time we'll be safe.

He'll need another week of rest after the shift he put in today. Sorry, did I say "shift"?

Manning thinks he's a winger.

Jelert, THB, Wood and who is the 4th?

The skills he learned chasing the ball around the pitch as a 6 year old are still strong.

To be fair, golf does seem like a great way for them to maintain the fitness to play walking football. Though I bet these cunts hire buggies.

I find it hard to believe we haven't blocked a single cross. Oh, wait....

He's Tonda the Friendly Ghost.

It's the 3 Bs innit? Beckenbauer, Baresi and Bellis

It's like someone put Casper the Friendly Ghost in a turtleneck and told them to wander up and down the touchline.

I'm going with aimless like for like subs around 60 - 65 mins.

Remember a couple of months ago when we were concerned about only showing up for the first half? I miss those days

Free header from a corner. Whatever next? At least we'll be able to shut up shop in the second half and hold on for the result.

Manning doing Manning things. At least the post match interview writes itself. "I thought it was two games. We were on top until they scored. We just need a bit of luck"

If only that's what manage actually meant. Also management is about organisation. Leadership is about culture. Prick. https://www.etymonline.com/word/manage 1560s, "to handle, train, or direct" (a horse), from the now-obsolete noun manage "the handling or training of a horse; horsemanship" (for which see manege, which is a modern revival of it), from Old French manège "horsemanship," from Italian maneggio, from maneggiare "to handle, touch," especially "to control a horse," which ultimately from Latin noun manus "hand" (from PIE root *man- (2) "hand").

I'm pretty sure it will be the same excuse as every week. That we trained well, played really well until they scored and were unlucky we didn't score first.

I think you could argue Armstrong could pass more. Promising positions get wasted because his first instinct is to lash it at goal. That being said it's a welcome change from the rest of the shot shy bunch. I'd like Armstrong to shoot a bit less and the rest to shoot more. Plus to turn back less in attacking positions.

They do love Tonda. He's like a younger beardless Martin with wide eyes you could lose yourself in.

I wonder which past Saints player they'll pay not to play next season

It's not being injured. It's inducing a month of tactical rest to stay fresh for the run in. Don't want those intensity levels dropping and it's a luxury of having such a large squad.

I think Hull are in for trouble this weekend. Our crack team of sports analysts will have done their homework and identified their weakness against teams playing 3 centre backs and keeping possession around their own box. Meanwhile our elite sports physiology department will have been working overtime to ensure the team is properly rested for the match. The players themselves will have prepared as usual by posting how hard they're training on Instagram. Obviously with Hull's injury problems nobody will have come up with a plan to stop Beryl the tea lady cutting in from the wing. Leading to our defence backing off and her unleashing an unstoppable daisy cutter toe punt from 12 yards. But even then we should have too much for Hull during the ten minutes we choose to play. Tonda has also had a week to prepare this week's excuse for not showing up in the second half. If it keeps happening to you after you bemoan it in your post match then it only can be bad luck.

At least we're going to dominate the majority of games we play...