lambtiss

Just start with your best players. Simples

Very surprised to see Matsuki start. He seems very lightweight and unsuited to a physical derby

I mentioned Parrot a few weeks ago, but was told he was out of our price range and already playing at a higher level.

Nothing but good feelings towards Ryan and best wishes for his future. He always gave 100% for us and it was just age that caught up with him that hurried his departure.

Definitely

I don't doubt you but is a surprise nevertheless.

I guess we must disagree on this. My perception was that our performances dropped in intensity and quality upon Stephens return. I definitely think 4 at the back suits the current Saints personnel. That season in the Championship under RM where we played 4 at the back was the only successful campaign under SR's ownership. Playing 5 at the back requires 3 skilled, ball playing CBs which we don't possess.

My apologies, my response was unfair. However, I still think 4 at the back suits the current Saints personnel. That season in the Championship under RM where we played 4 at the back was the only successful campaign under SR's ownership. Playing 5 at the back requires 3 skilled, ball playing CBs which we don't possess. It requires good wing backs which we also don't possess. The players we have suit 4 at the back rather than 5. THB, our best CB, is far more comfortable in that setup. It means we don't play the ball sideways and backwards so much. It means we have to play 2 proper full backs rather than pretend that Manning is a wing back and hamper Fellows who is clearly a winger not a defender. Finally it allows us to play another midfielder or attacker, rather than Shoehorn a weak CB like Woods into the team. Just my take ..

Totally unsupported by facts. The great unbeaten run we went on in the championship was with a CB pairing of Bednarek and THB. Results started to deteriorate when Captain Jack returned to the fold and RM tried to Shoehorn him back into the team. Still, don't let facts get in the way of a story.

I hope Manning stays on the bench

Scienza and Azaz off. The white flag has been raised

We are starting to retreat and creak

Stewart has been excellent

The 2nd half is the big test for Eckhart. Will we go into our shell?

I’ve just heard that Sammy the Saint has requested a transfer.

It’s a low bar ..

I agree that Stewart looks better than Armstrong, the issue is that he hasn’t been fit for 3 seasons with the constitution of Walter the Softy. Your comment that I was responding to was that Armstrong is absolute shite which is nonsense when he is the 2nd top scorer in the Championship in an underperforming team.

So shite, that he is the 2nd top scorer in the Championship, in an underperforming team. Nobody thinks he is Ronaldo but he is the most prolific striker we have and losing him now would be a disaster.

That's a sure way to ensure relegation to League 1

With our track record of signing strikers that would be a disasterous move. We have needed a tall striker alongside Armstrong not instead of.

Well, I know he talks bollox ..

Somebody who had managed before would be another

I would prefer to see a back 4 given a chance, as a back 5 has been given over half a season and given the quality in some of our squad has clearly failed and led to some of the dullest football imaginable. 1) A back 4 would give the CBs clear responsibilities and hopefully stop a lot of the "to me, to you" nonsense that we see with 3 CBs. 2) A back 4 should release Fellows from his role as a wing back and allow him to play as a natural right winger, which he is. 3) The priority of the full backs would be to defend. This should mean that Manning is dropped immediately as he is incapable of defending 4) The loss of a player at the back means that we can employ another player to bolster our midfield which has been overrun too easily. Secondly, the two central midfielders have often had to cover too much ground and have tired in the 2nd halves of matches. 5) Alternatively, the loss of the 5th defender would allow us to play Stewart upfront alongside Armstrong when we are chasing games or the opposition are weak. 6) We can revert to 3 CBs if we are defending a lead towards the end of a match. By the way, if we are playing 4 at the back, I would like THB and Quarshie given a go,as I feel he is improving and has a much higher ceiling than the hapless Wood. THB should be told it is his role to organise and lead the defence.

Simple, you would sack the press officer who came up with such a ridiculous statement.