OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

Wish they'd show some urgency. We're 1-0 down and pissing about taking 10/20 seconds for every throw in. C'mon. These players need rockets up their arses!

Yep, one of my cousins met up with one of the Oxford squad before the Christmas fixture and asked if they had a game plan and he said exactly that. Two on Scienza, close the midfield and look for a mistake at the back to make the break. We're so damned predictable, it's frustrating. Really think the forwards and backwards chant needs to be in full voice if/when we start pissing about at the back again.

Not only is the Championship much weaker than a couple of years ago, but also there seems to have been quite a few games when we've played teams that have got their own long injury list. Which makes our performances this year even more woeful. Hull are missing players but not expecting much tomorrow. We'll have 5 at the back and create a couple of chances which AA will squander. Heading for a 0-0 unless Stewart is fit to play. Starting to think Edozie could make a difference. Someone to run at the opposition and create openings.

I would have thought loans are their main option - surely they can bring someone in? What happened to this much vaunted multi-club model? If Romulo was any good, why didn't he come to us from Gotzepe? Who else is in the SR fold or is this just another attempt to copy the likes of Man City that isn't working?

Agreed, would need to be a loan striker but I've always also thought there are lads in the lower divisions who could be worth a shout. Someone mentioned Alassana Jatta. Got to go for the big strong type so surely worth a look. Someone who can control a ball and run at defences. Chuck a ball at a player and watch their first touch. Someone like Tyler Dibling has a good first touch. The rest (fitness, game awareness, passing etc) can be trained in to them. And how often do players come back and be at the same level as before they left? Forget the JWPs etc. We need to move on.

To be fair to our players, you don't see a starling murmuration like that every day. They were probably watching it like us...certainly more entertaining than the footie. Also the chants were pretty good: "Shit on the home end", "They're coming back..." etc Tried to get the Brum "sideways and backwards" chant going but it didn't really take off. Also, didn't really get the anti SR chants at the beginning. Would have had more impact when they made it 2-3.

Yes, saw Leo come over to some kid and talk to him. Wondered what that was all about. What's he going to do, get it washed and use it for the next game? Meanwhile the keepers' pre-match shirts looked like they'd rolled around in the mud. If it was to encourage them to dive, it didn't work for their second goal!

He didn't have much to do in the first half and with the action all at the other end in the second half, it was difficult to judge his performance - though work in progress is a good, if not a little generous, comment. He may be a little rusty but at least he could have bent down and tried to make a save for their second and what looked like master saves at the end of the game on the highlights look simple to make and he seemed all a bit flappy. But he seems to have a bit of presence and this should instill confidence in the defence.

I'm hoping he'll play against Doncaster - God knows what I was thinking when I bought a ticket for that game but now there's something to watch out for.

The plan from kick offs also seems to be to get the ball to Scienza or Fellows and hope one of them can run past a player or two and create space for the others. With Fellows out yesterday, it limited our options...and from kick off it was frustrating to see the ball in our corner flag, that's asking for trouble. I would have though Matsuki or even Edozie might also be able to run at players and create openings but these two seem to be sidelined.

We are dealing with a legend here....albeit the whole left hand side of Archers Road got prepared to duck when our Francis hoofed it up to the forwards! No, Baz is as bad as anyone I can remember in goal for us. He doesn't make absolute howlers like letting the ball roll through his legs but he never saves anything and that must destabilise the defence knowing there is no last line of defence.

I genuinely believe that we got promoted out of this division last time because he got injured. McCarthy is pretty awful but again today, come out and collect Baz, it's very simple. His mistakes are costing goals time and time again. And I've never seen him play but he owns a pair of gloves so perhaps George Long is worth a try. At the very least, by picking him, Tonda would be sending a message to SR that we've been saying for years.

If Fellows plays, this could be a basketball score. 4-4 or even more!

Concerned that Fellows is a doubt as he's become one of our main ways of getting out of a high press. He's come on leaps and bounds in recent games. Also, Norwich are playing better nowadays and a bit unlucky not to pick up more points in recent games. I'm less confident about this that Brum and WBA so an away win really will tell everyone we're on the way up.

I'm one of those. It's a job creator for the industry, players become more negative to preserve their stats and xG is bollocks. Back in the 1970's, as part of my Statistics degree, there was a book "How to lie with Statistics". Made a lot of sense. But when Baz is constantly at the bottom of the stats rankings, maybe, just maybe, there might be something in it. And in football eyes don't deceive. Just look and see how bad he is. Beadle (Brum goalie) pushes a couple of Scienza shots around the post; Baz lets identical shots in. And his lack of presence has to make the defence nervous. Against West Brom we go from in a comfortable position to hanging on all because of his lack of presence. Used to think his deficiencies were somewhat negated by his ball control but as someone noted, his long kicks have recently been going out of touch. But sadly, we don't have many options...

Exactly this. He has absolutely no presence, particularly in the six yard box - and what I don't understand is that after years in goal, he is not getting any better. Second goal was his main clanger. Punch the guy who's blocking you or fall on the floor and claim obstruction but don't waft around. Quarshie also needs to be in the centre headering those type of crosses clear. And Baz is staying. Don't think we'll be shopping for a new goalkeeper in the January window.

It started after we went three up. Far too early to try to hold on to a lead and go on the defence. It's another 3 points. It's another move to the play off places. Sort out this game management and we'll get automatic promotion.

Yes the finishing has been clinical and a joy to watch, but my special shout out goes to Quarshie. He's learning to pass a ball sensibly and his presence in the centre is shielding any crosses that come over.

He's evidently been coaching Tom Fellows on how to kick a ball judging by high it went. He was trying his best not to look sheepish after he kicked it which suggests he didn't put a lot of thought in to what he was doing!

The most notable difference I can see from my untrained eye is the speed of movement from defence to attack which is a pleasure to watch. Millwall closed us down quickly but we didn't have Scienza or Downes that day, and they made a huge difference against Brum's press. A couple of training ground drills:- 1) Tom Fellows (who is getting better by the game) need to practice shooting along the ground; 2) Ryan Manning needs to break the habit of a lifetime and practice getting closer to the attacker without pushing or fouling him.

I was trying to think back to when I've enjoyed watching Saints so much. Yes, we scored a lot of goals and went on that unbeaten run under RM last time we were in the Championship, but it wasn't exciting football. Probably Ralph at his peak...

Great game to watch. You can see the confidence in the team. Edge of the seat stuff at the end but I wish we wouldn't sit back and invite trouble. Have a release for corners. Good to also see Archer hopefully keeping Downs off the sub's bench. My only real criticism is allowing Joe Aribo on the pitch. He's a liability and not someone who can help protect a lead.

Starting to look very settled. Nowadays, I look more to the bench. Disappointed that Matsuki or Edozie aren't on it, though perhaps Robinson will come on to run at their defence if Fellows or Scienza run out of puff.

Maybe I'm an optimist but I'm looking at those play-off places and thinking that's our target and easily reachable...so still all to play for. And Convict, I'm missing your pre-match stream advice. Hopefully you can give a pointer or two just prior to today's match.

And I remember him coming on at Northampton and while he didn't do anything spectacular, he looked competent and in control of the ball. I am also really confused with Eckert's persistence with Aribo (and Downs). He's now got a settled starting 11 and we're getting off to a good start but his substitutions seriously weaken the team. Matsuki, even Edozie, need game time.