West end Saints

Used to make me laugh when people couldn't understand us having Shane Long with his weakness in finishing, without clicking that with his pace and work rate, if he was a lethal finisher he would be Suarez and not playing for us. All our players will have some weaknesses compared with the top top players. And remember, think I put it earlier in this thread, that the criticism of Mane was worse in his first season, waste of money, shouldn't have signed him, just a sprinter, runs and stops, headless chicken etc..... Sulemana is the closest in playing style I've seen for us... In the summer he will be the age Mane was when he first signed for us. Pace is something that doesn't improve - decision making and end product does, he just could end up pretty decent.....

There is some rubbish on here tonight. Kids who just beat Chelsea? Yes far from a first 11, but this team would still beat mamy in prem. World up winner, Van D, Gakpo, Elliot plays most games, Konate .

What was wrong with selection? Only obvious starters KWP and THB, and Bree / Stephens did ok. Understandably went for pace up front, people were moaning about Adams and A Armstrong recently, Stu was very poor last game. Lack of quality up front was main difference and who do we have!

The last player of his style of play (not needing to get speed up, ability to stop, wait for a defender to react than burst past) was Mane. When we signed him there was a thread on here slating him as a waste of money. In the summer Sulemana will be the age Mane was when we signed him. I don't know how good he will be, but far too early to write him off

Thought both Armstrong's were off the pace last night, Stu back to his lazy frustrating premier league style. I don't know why, maybe fitness thing as was great against WBA. Aribo and Downes have to start. I wouldn't mind Smallbone with those two as they offer the physicality. Or maybe Brooks in AM role? Front three wee man, Che and Edozie/AA

I think that is post defeat emotion talking. I sat in the stadium moaning our game in hand has gone and tonight could be the night promotion went. However, 2 points behind with 13 games left so far from curtains to top two. A few days ago we were 2nd, so to say two by better teams is pretty negative when they were looking up to us before the last few days!

The last player we signed with his raw speed and style of play was Mane. When Mane was signed he was absolutely slated by several on here and described as a waste of money. In August 2024 Sulemana will be the same age that Mane was when we signed him. Far too early to write him off.

Russell Martin, after West Brom, picking out Smallbone and Aribo as doing great, and Mara being brilliant. Brook and Fraser scoring. Stu MOM. I also thought Rothwell and Edozie looked good Tough choice, guess will also be influenced by who we are playing

What's surprising? Che and Downes not fit. He said their strength is their physicality, Manning has been criticised so Stephens not a shock. Edozie / Fraser seem to share so could be either. Brooks took heavy knock and maybe not 100% and maybe not physical enough?? Only other query would be how far off Rothwell or Aribo were

I'm not convinced Martin will be worrying about who his first choice team is, as with amount of games, injuries and dips in form it will continually change, plus with subs not many midfield / forwards will play the full game . However, I wondered who people would choose, for a big game. Downes Brookes / Rothwell Edozie / A Armstrong/ Fraser Maybe but I know he prefers Fraser and Edozie same side. I'm struggling though as hard to leave out Stu, Aribo, Smallbone,Adams, Mara. I see Sulemana more as sub currently. Thought both Armstrong's were way off their recent game today, and sure others will drop.

Looking at their appearances this season, and player ratings looks like they are taking this marginally less serious than us, about half of their best 11

Personally more than happy with cover at CB. I know it is possible we get another long term injury, but even when we did Holgate was hardly used. Stephens can't get back in the side so will already have a CB on the bench. Charles, Bree, Manning offer options if we get stuck for game. If Downes is out, needing Charles to cover, it would only be a problem if it was at the same time as three of our CBs and Bree, and no other options from under 21.

Disagree that he has been poor - certainly subjective view not objective. Think we are yet to see his full potential but early in this run, playing further forward and now central I thought he was very good. Still lacking consistency, as often the case with players of his age. He has also come on, when we needed someone to speed up the passing, he probably sees a fast switching pass better than anyone we have.

Benson was 2nd in goals per min in the championship, apparently man of the match in 5 of their games. Don't know enough about him to understand why he didn't get more minutes but 11 goals, 3 assists from 14 starts, 19 as sub, sounds useful addition

Think maybe you could have worked out using last 28 without my help?! Don't know why triggered CB's most common response? It's not doing you any harm, it is explained and harmless, without any controversial opinion! I'm not saying it will happen, I did it expecting to see this good run, with only 18 games left, would show we are not making anywhere enough progress against Leicester .

Purely for my curiosity, tried alternative current form process to estimate possible target points. I felt that Leicester were out of reach as their current form after an amazing start would see them home... Current form is a good indicator, but it is hard to argue whether 6 , 10 , 12 games I the best indictor. There are 18 games left, so thought would look whether 18 game current form from the last 18 games, if mirrored for the next and final 18 games would leave us too short to go up automatically... Happy for anyone to check my maths.. Leicester 95 Ipswich 93 Saints 100 Leeds 92 Please check as was surprised. The way the club have played since 7 October put us on target to win the league even if team don't have blimp but carry on as they are.

They will care, but don't have guarantees. There could easily been the situation where Bednarek and Stephens kept their places, Man City would not have a say in it. What happens when loan player doesn't play much depends on the terms agreed in the loan. It may be irrelevant, if the contract was a season loan, if there is a recall clause it may mean recall is more likely to happen, or it may mean that a recall option becomes live (don't think this is common). However, for a January loan I doubt there is anything formal, I would guess it is more down to: Loan fee Share of wages Where player wants to go Less extent is the club seen as one who will be good for the player (a positive for us). In a previous job I used to see many professional footballers contracts, Premier league and championship. Quite eye opening! Not seen any for several years so no idea of any current pros.

I am trying to see both sides of this, and be reasonable, but am totally lost at why guided Missile or other can criticise him? There are no reports that anything actually happened that could be called rude or a snub. Sunak wasn't just there as a fan, or he would not have had a photographer to try and use saints to boost his image. All opinion polls, including conservative home and others focusing on conservative voters indicate very few feel he has done a good job, so why should people be in awe of him? Martin was directly asked and said he would not be saying hello sir. Which is quite reasonable. He made polite comments about hoping he enjoyed the game etc and did not directly criticise him. He was professional and said it didn't distract him from doing his job (and we played very well again). Non story.

Personal role??! From the echo... "Rishi Sunak having a camera man positioned on the stairs next to him ready to capture his authentic human actions is pretty much exactly as I imagined it would be."

When I heard it on radio 5, I was pretty sure he said he had no interest in saying 'Hello SIR' which shows he doesn't want to be survile to someone he (rightly IMHO, had little personal respect for). He expanded saying.. I hope he enjoyed himself just like anyone who comes here I hope they enjoy themselves. “I have no interest because I’m a football manager. I’m not sure we’re aligned on too much politically but I know he’s a fan and I hope he enjoyed watching the team. “Some people would be excited about him being here but we had a job to do and we were here to win a football match and we did.” I'm sure most in the crowd, agree with him as Sunak is widely viewed as dishonest, weak and a poor leader (surveys not my comments).

These are just a few shortened posts to highlight what I mean, but there were loads more, and they continued into our unbeaten run (CB Fry, you escaped as your dodgy ones were later and I got bored ) Fair enough to criticise and have doubts but the total writing off and name calling was over the top. Some have been big enough to accept they called it wrong. To be fair to RM this is how he saw it from the start, said the passing style and confidence would take a while, and it did. We looked so vulnerable passing at the back, worried all of us, but he had strength of character, and confidence in his players to persist and they do it brilliantly now. Of course he is continually tweaking, as he sees what works and what doesn't (eg full back positioning although it is still quite different than previous seasons) but the passing football, triangles, waiting for gaps, not panicking etc have all remained. He was clearly never out of his depth or a cunt! We all see it differently and hopefully all want the same.

I just went back to around the 3rd and 4th defeats, a funny read. It should be compulsory reading before being allowed to post on here!

I think you are hanging onto your negative view of him, and now he has proved he knows what he is doing are maybe looking for something else. Do you honestly think he is any less attached than our other managers have been after 20 odd games? If he has a couple of good years here, I'm sure he will feel a similar bond as Adkins does. Most think he sounds a decent guy, very keen to respect the individuals he works with, and appears to be loving his time here. Just accept we all misjudge players and managers at times, all of us, and enjoy him while he is here. I cannot remember when I last had four consecutive visits to St Mary's (or Dell) giving 4 wins and 12 goals for, none against!

Superb appointment. He has been brave to continue with a style, even though players at times struggled which is now showing the results. Popular with players, good at managing the squad, good atmosphere and popular with fans. I said as walked into St Mary's how strange it is arriving feeling confident. No other club or fans will have written our automatic chances off yet. After those 4 defeats no one could have hoped or expected any manager to do this well. Enjoying going more than I have for years, last 4 home games, 4 wins, 12 goals for, none against. I have tonight read both Ipswich and leeds forums, posts there have us as favourites for 2nd. Leeds fans were saying they hope we get 2nd as wouldn't be able to beat us in the play offs.

Live table has us 7 points off 2nd, but 9 points ahead of 5th. Surely posters can't write off automatic at the same time as saying we will struggle for play offs... Well some can!