macca155

Stephens has done nothing wrong and had a good game on Friday. However the best defence is obvious and he is excellent cover. Totally agree up front there is no clinical striker. Che isn't as bad as recent performances suggest but he'll have to work for his place. The only option is to put finishers up front. Mara can at least do that but doesn't offer any of Che's hold up play or physically presence. Total conundrum. That's why I suggested Brooks Frazer and Rothwell. They do at least know where the goal is.

Nothing is over until it is over. Fat lady hasn't entered the building yet. Every sport is about staying in the game and fighting until the end. The schedule for Saints is daunting and the window of opportunity is shrinking. Nevertheless they are still in it .... just. Martin has to find some consistency. I'd suggest play a settled side would help. Personally I'd go for as much experience as possible Best defence is KWP THB Bendarek Bree so play it A midfield of Downes, Aribo, Armstrong, and Rothwell seems to be the strongest. Rothwell in particular is needed for his finishing. Up front Armstrong, Brookes, and Frazer offer the best opportunities. That's 12 so maybe Armstrong/Rothwell alternate. Just keep the team settled.

Interesting topic, probably worthy of a separate thread. Sure we'll lose at least Downes. THB, and KWP. but they'll be other loan players available. Saints remain a big fish in this pond. We've also got a few out on loan, who may come back with tails between their legs. Whether we want them is debatable of course. Also the likes of Meghoma, Dibling and SAA, must start to make an impact. It will be tougher obviously, but if SR maintain financial stability. Saints should remain contenders. For the moment Saints are still in the race, although I think the focus will be on the play offs. Autos feel like a big ask now.

Good point. Good to have a win, get the momentum going again.

With Smallbone off limits, the scapegoat agenda moves on to Stephens..... ridiculous. He was fine today why pick on him. It was a good win, Sunderland were woeful. Taking Smallbone off was a mistake. So many changes unsettled the team, but they recovered pretty emphatically. Enjoy it.

Yep , not a bad game by any means, but by his standards less commanding than usual. Not his fault by the way, the roving role Stephens has exposes THB. He has too much to do.

Don't agree,, Stephens added much needed strength to the side. He was one of the better players. Saints are better with him in the side imo. THB had a very iffy day and yet he escapes criticism. Saints were fine until the substitutions. Taking Smallbone off was an error. He had a good game and the team lost its shape when he went off. I thought Adams was off his game today, he needs to hold the ball up and struggled with that today.

We really need that Sunderland game to go ahead. if it doesn't Saints could be stuffed. Games in hand are a pain and with so many in so short a time frame there is no way they'll have the capacity to perform at the Leeds, Leicester, Ipswich level for all games. We've all seen that that scenario so many times. Points in the bag are always worth more than games in hand. I guess the only caveat is that Stewart may be back but that's doubtful. A big factor in all this will be the form of Adams. He needs to start on a scoring run for both our prospects, and his own with Scotland in the Euros. He is capable when the mood takes him, and maybe the incentive of firing his country into Euro glory (yes I can dream) will be the catalyst he needs. Armstrong and possibly Frazer will have similar thoughts. Brooks with Wales as well. By the time April and May come around minds are going to be sharply focussed on the Euros and potential transfer moves. Will they all give their all for 10 games in 36 days ... who knows. It just seems everything is getting tougher for Saints sadly.

Good to see the fire brigade turn up in next year's kit 😀 Could be worse

Reading would be the obvious choice. Bournmouth too small. Reasonably easy access by train.

Valid point I must admit and at the moment we have the best part of that million pound deal. However my thoughts were really about Lavia the player. He should have been protected a bit more, he's still young, but imagine the impact a fit Lavia would have I'm this league.

I've been saying for years he'd be a good defensive midfielder. However you don't just start brilliantly in a different position.it takes time. He has to learn about positioning, not over committing, and being brave. Martin knows he has deficiencies in that area so maybe he is trying to convert Jack. Either that or Jack is channeling his inner Gunter Netzer. One for the oldies there. Oh how I wish we'd kept Lavia.

Your pants are on fire

Aribo you beauty

Are you joking,! pretty much one of our best players today

Holiday meant the game was the middle of the night for me. Woke up to the expected score frankly. Glad it's out of the way. Sounds terrible from comments on here. Was it really that bad. Back to the league Saturday. Spirits need raising. All a bit despairing at the moment.

He at least took no nonsense from Millwall and drove forward. Certainly not one to blame. However as you say he was being asked to do too much in too many different positions. Let him play deep midfield or RB. Needed Charles on the field as well. Lots of justified despair today, but we all knew this was coming. The midfield and striker gaps are starting to bite. I'd add too many loan players, and one dimensional football as a factor. On their own each has a small impact but collectively it leaves Saints as a good play off side. No more than that. Positives are that Martin has 12 games to manage the team ready for the play offs. There is no pressure now really. Other teams will be knackered as they'll be fighting to the last game. Not discounting autos, a lot can happen, but this team just doesn't seem to have the edge required.

Plus we are safe from relegation🥺

This has been horrible, Saints style of football has been sussed out. Always thought it was going to be the play offs. Need to use the next 12 games to set ourselves up for that. However this team would be mullered every week in the Prem. I don't want to go through that again either. Bollocks

Saints are far too easy to defend against. They take so long to attack the defence has all the time in the world to get themselves organised. Two rows of five and mark the wingers very tight. Hardly rocket science. Very disappointing at the moment.

He's had 24 mins off the bench so far. Not much going for him there it would seem.

No need to panic yet, they are pretty vulnerable. Like the way Stephens is putting some strong tackles in. It's what we need. We are a better side with him in it.... so there.

Great player but if you want rock hard call up Joe Kirkup. The man was chiseled out of granite.

Bit harsh imo, I doubt he'd do much worse. However remains a valid point. Got to do something otherwise teams will waltz through our midfield.

Didn't realise that, a better option on the bench perhaps, rather than multiple wingers