OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

I would like to have seen TP lay off that ball to Archer on Saturday instead of to Sulemana.

Sulemana's chance was huge but you can't be angry about the result. He's useless and it would have been a total surprise if he had scored. Someone should sit him down, order him to take his head out of his arse and watch the video of Fatawa playing against us over and over again. And yes, Fernandes is shaping up to be a top player

Pretty sure the team spirit is there but it can't stand you in good stead if the team tactics are crap and the players' fitness levels aren't where they should be. Every team we've played not only move the ball quicker; their players also seem to be quicker than ours, and that's been especially noticeable with the 'lower' team like Ipswich, Forest, Leicester. It's not as if RM has the excuse of playing an energy-sapping high press. Fernandes or a.n.other makes a half-hearted challenge while the others sit back and let the other team come to us.

Yes, it's really odd. Other teams don't do it because it doesn't work. When that last corner was taken every one of our players bar one was inside the 6 yard box (and the other was standing one yard outside). So the ball could be dribbled out to Ayew and he still had time to set himself up and take his shot. Absolute nonsense and frankly indefensible when exactly the same thing happened just a few games previously. You've got to learn by mistakes and RM has shown time after time that he doesn't. I can only guess that Potter and Moyes have turned us down because I'd be banging down their doors trying to persuade them to take us on.

What the game did show is that Tall Paul has something about him. He can hold up the ball and pass, in fact the only thing I haven't seen him do yet is header the thing. Sh*t, if he could jump then he could get on to half our wayward crosses. He also looks fitter and faster than I remember him. TP and Archer up front together? TP laying off to Archer. Maybe something for the Everton game.

They treat our club like a toy and they're all in it together. Don't think for one minute that Dragan is dipping in to his own pocket. Yes, they want success but ultimately to them it's a venture with sadly a lot to gain but very little to lose. What I will say in their favour is that money has been spent on players. What they need to do now is realise Russ Martin is not the answer.

The numb feeling is just dying off and then looked at the league table. This has been all so avoidable. Yes, we've got an average squad, but with Ipswich and today alone we've squandered five points and the four at the bottom are already looking detached. It really is noticeable how so many of our players are blowing out their arses after 60/70 minutes and they're not running around like headless chickens before that either. KWP aside, we look slow and comparatively unfit. This is inexcusable. C'mon Potter you know you want to!

Genuinely think Saints should lodge a complaint against that refereeing display. That said, from 2-0, the way RM managed the team should be a straight red. That's up there with the worst of inept managing. So many substitution errors and that defending of the final corner, especially after Ipswich, was criminal.

Two goals in one game. To us! What's happening? Still think we might need another two because the midfield is getting swamped.

That's odd. I can see Manning getting in the way of KWP. Sulemana back on the bench so he's fit again.

Nope and frankly watching his touch in the games he has played so far, I'd rate him miles behind Archer and Tall Paul and that's not setting the bar very high.

And we're relying on an OAP in midfield. I'd still want to see Sugawara and KWP at the back rather than Taylor because they present more of an attacking threat. But when you look at that forward line up or the options, reality does hit. Our goal threat is so limited. I'd go for Archer in the middle - at least to start.

Could this be Jack's new role? Nurturing and bringing on the youngsters? Fingers crossed.

I don't see it as a conundrum. If we win, it's because Martin has changed his tactics and yes, we could then turn a corner. We haven't got a premier league winning squad but used properly, we have got a squad that can beat Leicester. The betting pot is looking empty this season though there's another few quid 'invested' on Saints winning 3-1.

Thanks Pamplemousse. Like you say, the club probably can't be bothered to do much about it if the away section is full. At Cardiff there were lots of empty seats but if it happens in premier league games, they might feel compelled to do something about it. I guess Saints Membership is still worth it for the priority you get for homes games.

Yep, I'm pretty sure that's what happens but I'm not itk as to where they sell them. All I see is the occasional sale on this site.

Two years ago, it was easy to get away tickets as Saints Plus members, now they're like hen's teeth. Can't believe so many season ticket holders keep putting themselves through this. Share the suffering around the fanbase, I say.

Saint Jonny, I thought you were being serious until you mentioned Walcott, Adams and a past it Bertrand as three of the best seven. We could all pick a team at random. Against Everton in that season we started with Baz in goal, Caleta-Car, Larios, Maitland- Niles, Mara as well as those superstars Adams and Aribo. I really think our squad today is better than that, has a better attitude and frankly better than at least three other teams in this premier league.

I'm hearing the commentator say, they want to put the ball in the middle to the centre forward but the problem is we haven't got one - now, where have I seen that before? All this False 9 crap!

Sadly, he's not learning. He can't seem to see that in the premier league everything is played at a faster pace, the players are fitter, the opposition's press is tighter and our players aren't skilled enough to play the type of possession football he seems to desire. He talks a good talk but he's really struggling. How long does he have? Leicester we draw, Man City we lose, Everton we draw...then it's practically all over. We need someone soon. Saints manager recruitment seems to have been totally crap or inspired. Let's hope they can find a Poch, Koeman or Ralph. Potter/Moyes - would they accept a challenge?

I thought Kompany was on a vanity project and look where it got him...and look where it got Burnley. My concern is that Russ has this scheme/plan/master philosophy or whatever you want to call it and fuck Saints, he's going to stick with it. And I don't buy in to this 'we've got the worst squad in the league, that's why we're at the bottom' way of thinking. Football at this level is fine margins. There really isn't much between lots of clubs. Forest were just better organised than us; Ipswich seemed to have more determination; Bournemouth seemed to be quicker, even Brentford just seemed to have that press which we didn't know how to deal with. But their players aren't miles better. The only team we've played so far where we looked the more inferior team because their players look better players has been Arsenal - and their complacency could have cost them.

I don't know what it is, but the last time we were relegated I couldn't give a toss about a lot of the players. This time, I genuinely believe they're a good bunch of players, eager to work as a unit and do well in this league but they're being hampered by their manager. Players are regularly being asked to play out of their natural positions and I'm concerned that any creativity they may have is being coached out of them with this indirect football. If Russ is still here for the Leicester game (which seems like a certainty), he's got 2 weeks to come up with a Plan B that shows he's more attacking minded than we're currently giving him credit for. We have to win that game which setting the team up to have numerous shots on goal.

Leicester, Man City, Everton are the next three league games and 4 points is a minimum requirement. Ross Stewart has managed to show in his few games this season that his touch is only worsened by Brereton Diaz which is not want we need from a hold up player who's also laying off the ball. Tall Paul, on the other hand, showed in his cameo yesterday that he can control the ball. So even if Ross Stewart is fit in a couple of weeks, I'd still be playing Tall Paul against Leicester. I think M271 has summed up RM's view of TP up to now and this needs to change.

Must admit, never thought he is the answer to our goalscoring woes, but given our options, him and Archer at least offer something. A couple of years ago I remember TP had a great game at Stamford Bridge. Unlike AA, he's not totally out of his depth in the premier league and I think we'll be seeing more of him in upcoming games.

Can't remember the last time it felt like we were dead certain to lose. Even the last time in the premier league, there was always the hope we'd sneak a point at Man City/Liverpool or whatever. I've still put a few quid on us sneaking a win at 20/1. 😏 Never bet against your interests.