Toussaint

Rom Tackle worth a goal

Bristol City, 1977. 2 nil to Phil Boyer, Phil Boyer, 1st divisions top scorer.... My interest was sparked by a previous cup game against Leeds at the Dell which I didn't attend. For the first time in my life I could hear the roar of the crowd from my house in Bitterne Park and see the glow of the lights. I enjoyed the Bristol City Game, watching Boyer hanging in the air for five or so minutes to get purchase on the header, but what hooked me was a subsequent game against against WBA in the late rounds of the FA cup. For those that weren't around to hear the atmosphere on a cup night, at the all standing in the lower tiers, 30,000 capacity Dell, you really missed something that will never be repeated. WBA were something back then, Ron Atkinson as manager, players including Brian Robson, Cyril Regis, Lawrie Cunningham (RIP), (both amazing physical specimens), Derek Statham etc. Always had a soft spot for them since. Them were the days!

True, he has had a bit of a dip, but most of it can be attributed to lack of opportunities being created for him. Give him even half chances he will score more often than not.

Was he? I thought he started there but it seemed Bednarek took over as right back and Djenepo went to right mid, he did seem to cover back a lot. Really impressed with him today, he’d clearly had enough of losing

Not sure if he’s (Ings) especially out of form, maybe a little dip, but there is only so much a striker can do when we barley set up decent attacking moves. He’s probably even more important in a side that isn’t creating much.

Did very well, but Moussa for me

I wasn’t singling him out, just thought the old frustrating traits were present today. I don’t think he was especially bad, just his usual self.

I watched it, aside from setting up the goal, which he has to have credit for , I thought he was his usual slow witted, slow footed self.

So did I , thought he was head and shoulders clear motm. Best game for us so far, and I’d written him off!

Sad times when the best you can hope for is not to be humiliated again.

I’m not sure I can watch this, if I do it will be from behind the sofa with a cushion held to my face. Having the occasional peek, followed by a tantrum / sob / expletives as the occasion requires. Course it could be the day we turn the corner.

Is it the White Lightning? Is that the good feeling?

If I had anything else to do on a rainy lockdown Saturday, I wouldn't watch the game. Saints have ruined too many weekends lately and a couple of weekdays to boot. However as I have nothing else to do I will watch it, hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised. I hope you all find this as riveting to read as I found it to write. Sigh.

Agree to differ, but with Wolves we didn't put them away when we dominated the game in the first half, we came out in the second half with no puff, the officials did not help, but I still think we were architects of our own downfall.

I honestly believe our decline started before the injury crisis and the bad officiating, but we still picked up results which masked the issues. I'd go back to Wolves away, they pounded us, but we came away with a draw (9-2 shots on target, 20 - 7 overall), Home to Man - threw away a 2-0 lead, Arsenal away drew 1-1 playing against 10 men for nearly 40 minutes, that's when I first really noticed us running out of ideas around the opposition area, Arsenal had chances to win after going down to 10 (remember they were on a long losing streak at the time). Brighton away, they were at least as good as us - more shots again but this time the officiating worked in our favour, , away to Fulham - completely blunt in attack 0-0, 10 - 3 goal attempts in favour of Fulham. Home to West Ham - full first team playing - completely blunt going forward again, West Ham could easily have won and so on. The teams we did beat in this period were at their lowest ebb, Newcastle and SUFC. Then there was the Liverpool at home freak, where officiating could have gone against us but didn't. I would venture that we got found out around the time of Wolves away in November.

Shouldn't be that big a deal, many teams change formations and tactics during a game, he's had a week to work on it. Don't forget this drop off on form / scoring started before the injury crisis, there has been plenty of time to work on alternative formations and tactics when it first became apparent plan a was becoming less effective

....when we run out of steam, fatigue sets in compounded by the niggling injuries players are playing through catch up? Further compounded by the opposition knowing we will burn out and biding their time. It occurred to me when Klopp first took over at Liverpool they played at a frenetic pace and rain out of steam quite early, he ended up having to slow things down a bit to suit the marathon that is a premier league season.

Don't think we'll need VAR to screw us, they have superior players in almost every position. They'll have to have an off day and we will need to be at our best, like Liverpool at home.

Note to self, get Valium / electroconvulsive therapy

Thanks for this mornings motivational speech, I feel invigorated and ready to seize the day.

I got it

Maybe try gaelic football, that will keep your fitness up?

The difference is we tried to be too smart, whilst they sold and bought to sustain their success, we sold with and bought view to playing moneyball, but got it largely wrong.

He's still a fantastic player, I'd have him here in a heartbeat (I know it's never going to happen) .

Leicester isn't a great comparaison, whilst town and support are similar sizes they are owned by the gazillionaires, King Power. We are owned by someone with, well, no money at all. I really don't see how this self financing model of ours works, or perhaps it doesn't, which is why we flattered to deceive and are now finding our level.