coalman

Bamford really wanted a penalty today.

Every time I make a banjo joke Che scores*. * scores includes the ball going in after bouncing off some body part

I thought he did ok the other night. More importantly he's the only other DM we have. So if Downes gets injured we wind up with a very lightweight midfield as you're either bringing on Stu or Rothwell. With 9 subs you should be confident of covering every position. Subs include Stuart Armstrong (AM), Joe Rothwell (AM), Sam Edozie (AM), Ryan Fraser (AM), Kalameen Sulemana (AM). There is not way all of them are going to get on the pitch in any sane universe. Also, none of our promising kids on the bench which is a backwards step from earlier in the season.

I can see Ipswich losing and us winning. Then a few days of wild optimism followed by crashing to earth on Tuesday.

Oh my It's the hope that kills you though.

Southampton team Starting XI: Bazunu, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens (captain), Walker-Peters, Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, A Armstrong, Adams, Brooks. Substitutes: Lumley, Manning, Bednarek, Rothwell, S Armstrong, Fraser, Edozie, Kamaldeen, Mara.

Not sure why we need so many attackers on the bench but I guess he's chosen not the break up a winning team. Let's hope Downes doesn't get injured.

Can't fault Leeds' attacking intent. Many forwards on the pitch now.

Bamford's coming on to get the winner.

Leeds well on top here.

The tone has definitely gone down since the Internet took off across society. It's always a red flag when people make it personal rather than talking about the behaviour that they don't like. It's possible to disagree with a decision someone has made without attacking them as a human being.

Compare the two YouTube highlight reels

There may be better ways to make that point than the "big clubs know what they're doing" argument. Particularly when the big club in question is Man Utd.

Your argument is that Man Utd is a big club so they must know what they're doing?

Possible? Yes. Probable? No.

It's possible for Martin to be shit and us get promoted and for him to be great and us not get promoted. Outcome bias leads to poor decision making. We should be able to say whether Martin is the right manager without needing to know whether we've been promoted in the same way we could tell Jones wasn't a good manager for Saints before we were relegated. The question remains "Is Martin right for Saints?" and probably in Martin's mind "Are Saints right for me?"

I think Shea Charles will come good. I think we should stick with Martin. I am unfussed over Wilcox going though if it were done when 'tis done, twere well it were done quickly

The two goals from the other night should have been disallowed for handball. He gets in great positions but I don't think I can remember a Saints centre forward I have less confidence in finding the back of the net when he finds himself with just the keeper to beat. I have sat watching hoping that now is the time he's going to come good but am resigned to it not happening. Rumour has it he's already signed for another team and all the best to the lad. He always put in a shift. Just think Saints can or should do better up top.

Wherever he wants? We seem to be good at stopping teams on a run in their tracks so I'm going for 3-1. Che's banjo has tasted the sweet kiss of a cow's arse and now it wants more.

That's a great question. I'd say it usually takes a year for a new leader to start establishing a culture within an organisation. So we'd be right on the cusp of that starting to bear fruit if he saw succession planning as a key part of his job. I'd also argue that his organisation hasn't been wildly effective thus far so change might not be such a bad thing. We really need to get someone in for more than a few months to see returns from it. Joe Shields disappeared pronto and now Wilcox looks to be doing the same.

I was just reminded that Wilcox was also responsible for bringing in Mason Holgate. Of his signings so far - 3 loan signings have been good - Harwood-Bellis, Downes, Fraser Of his permanent signings - Shea Charles hasn't lived up to his price tag, Joe Lumley may well be a poundshop Baz, Ryan Manning is Ryan Manning and Ross Stewart has been crocked all season. He's also brought in David Brooks and Joe Rothwell to unbalance a midfield that was doing well. He did a great job of getting maximum value for Lavia and managed a recoup a lot of money from outgoings over the summer. We still have a lot of players out on loan that we're going to make a loss on.

Re-watching the highlights. Che moved his hand to the ball so I think we got away with one there. He put his hands above his head and handled it during the goalmouth scramble for the second one as well. I think VAR would have disallowed both of those.

To be fair to the officials I'm pretty sure Adams knew nothing about it until it hit him.

Adams celebrated. Give him the goal his clinical finishing deserves 😉