OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

I remember this time last year after Stamford Bridge thinking if we win this/that match, we can still avoid relegation. The hope's back again but this time it's if we win this/that game, we can still get automatically promoted. It's not an irrational hope. We've still got to play the top three (the proverbial six pointers) so it's in our hands. RM needs to pick the best team, stop the tinkering and there's no reason why we can't do it. Certainly this year's hope is more realistic than last year.

Well, we've slipped up but I'm still hopeful. Many are singing Leeds' praises but contrary to popular predictions, they'll get thumped against Leicester and that'll knock the stuffing out of them 😉

Also prefer Mara to Che and like someone said, AA has been pretty poor recently, so I'd like one of the Sams to take his place but accept that won't happen.

You're right, this is a real concern. No Downes and the others in midfield look rushed. Better when Aribo and Brooks were on but Hull looked good, pressed hard, created a lot of chances and to be fair to them, they didn't go out of their way to waste time at the end of the game. Can't complain about the result. Annoyed with RM's starting line-up, especially Rothwell, but I'm still expecting Leeds to blow up on a couple of games (starting with Leicester on Friday) and we'll be back in it.

Is Brooks ready for a start? I also thought Mara did more than enough on Friday to justify another start ahead of Che. The one thing Che does ok is hold the ball up, but Mara did a good job of that on Friday despite being closely marked and he's got an eye on goal.

Agreed. His attitude, outwardly at least, seems to have changed. He injected more tenacity in to the team when he came on on Friday and filled the midfield.

He was but it's good he recognises his mistakes and addresses them.

But that tackle today was 😀. So glad to have got rid of him. It's not just the signings Wilcox has done well, he's also been good at offloading our dross.

Leicester missed a lot of chances yesterday but the good news is Iheanacho is back, so we have a chance of catching them!

I know a lot of posters say Charles is a kid, it's not his fault he cost so much and we should give him some slack and while I'm not denying there's potentially a great player there, he does need to work on his fitness/change of speed. As a 20 year old, I'd expect him to run all day, but in the second half we was ambling the whole time. There was no change of gear, no real intent to get back. Compare to Stuey's chase back and SC has a lot to learn.

Subs were brilliant. Was starting to get pissed off with Charles ambling back, and Aribo made a big difference. Edozie and Brooks also came on just at the right time and added intent. Well done RM. We might have a fantastic bench but he manages them well. Just the one, just the one undefeated...

Serves him right for getting rid of Holgate! 😀 That said, he's raided the Man City academy but now our contacts are established there, maybe it's not such a disaster if he's poached from us.

There seems to be a new legion of fans that have come out of the woodwork. Don't know where they're coming from or if there's any truth in the rumour that season ticket holders can buy double using the same numbers, but us SaintsPlus members are finding it harder to get away tickets. One person I spoke to at Sheffield earlier in the season said he hadn't missed a game home or away since 1980...and it sounded very creditable. Meeoww!

Charles looked cumbersome and only seemed to do the short pass but he was ok at the start of the season. Problem is, being out the team seems to have slowed him and reactions up even more. Like S-Clarke said, he was often out of position or when he got the ball, he gave it away and deserved to be yanked off at half time. And I'm not usually a Baz critic but couldn't he have anticipated and dived out to cut out the cross for the first?

You're right and I think half way through the second half he switched with KWP and Bristol switched their attacking side. Think more clubs will be doing the same.

That's good because that means replays and a proper commentary team and not some kids on work experience.

Yep and probably perfection from wherever you were in the ground. Standing right behind the goal, you could see it was in from the moment it left his foot. A goal for the history books.

Yes, this week's games could be close but I don't see these games being season defining. Mid-March is Ipswich and couple of weeks later is Leicester. That could be more make or break though by then we could be eight points clear of third in the League!

I agree there'll be other teams looking at that high press because it caused us difficulties, but the other thing they did well was give none of our players much time on the ball when they played that press - especially their midfield. With our pace, if other teams play that tactic, I wouldn't mind Baz popping one or two over the heads of the last man.

Compared to last year when he would flap at crosses and seemed to never make a save, Baz has got considerably better. Playing out from the back with possession football needs a Baz rather than a McCarthy/Lumley because his passing is so good. He also seems to read the game very well. The problem seems to come with saves to the left. Not that I know, but I'm told this is a common problem with league goalkeepers. Well, surely they can be coached to sort that out.

Yes, Mara in for Che. Mara is getting better each game. Stu was off the pace yesterday and looked like his was nursing an injury/strain before going off so needs a rest. Not convinced Meghoma deserves a start even though Manning was probably our worse player yesterday. Don't think Charles is the quickest so need someone in midfield to counterbalance that.

Can't ever remember see us score five in a half. Atmosphere in Northam in second half was magical. Timings of subs from RM were excellent. Sule flattered to deceive as always and maybe Mara is nudging ahead of Che is the striker stakes. Just read through the thread's pages and someone said Mara seems to have been in the gym or something because he seems a lot stronger. I agree. A great cameo, held off defenders and maybe just maybe he could turn out to be the striker we're crying out for.

Be interesting to see what RM does if we get through. Will it be another 'B' team?

In the fifteen minutes he played, he looked absolute class.

It interesting to compare forum comments about this transfer window to those of last year and before. There seems to be general agreement and understanding about what the club is doing this time around and even when people like Charlie go on loan, it's understandable and cover was brought in before he went. Compare that to the scatter gun approach of bringing in Tall Paul, Sulemana, Orsic and Charlie last year and the money thrown at youngsters in the 2022 summer and you think everything now is part of a plan.