macca155

Wise words and the Preston game will be a good test. They'll be humps and bumps in this season yet. However, there was a fair bit of hope in that performance as well. I thought our remaining Prem standatd players, such as they are, looked increasingly confident. I thought some of the passing was excellent. Maybe just maybe they are starting to play the way Martin wants. Onward and upward.

He was excellent, it's not just about saves, his distribution was superb. Put Stoke under pressure for the first 65 mins. After that it was a full on assault, and the whole team defended with gusto. He isn't perfect I totally accept that, but not our major problem.

Excellent a fighting win. Downes MOTM, he worked so hard. Games like that are never easy.

Just going to be a long ball assault from now on

Thought that was great, went grimly expecting a draw at best, and they served up a comprehensive win..... lovely. Takes the pressure off a little, now the winter grind begins. The games will come relentlessly and the team have to keep sparking. Sulemana showed his class, true MOTM performance. He'll probably be gone in January but he can cause some damage before that. Thought Bendarek and THB really started to forge a partnership today. Downes looked comfortable and a lot fitter. In addition the tactics looked way better. Maybe RM has realised that you need to adapt. Much better no moaning, Stoke and Rotherham next is it OK to be tad optimistic.

I think we're all pretty much prepared for a defeat today. Leeds aren't anything special, but they'll probably have enough to capitalise on the inevitable mistakes from Saints. If luck goes our way it may be a draw. I can live with that if there are improvements to be seen. Less errors, more intensity, sensible management. The team needs to start forging out an identity and some self belief. Needs to happen fast as well, or this season is going to be grind, with the prospect of the play offs the only vague target. However for the moment COYS, batter the dirty northerners.

Holgate in at RB I presume. Good that adds some height to the defence. Stronger midfield as well. Its what I wanted to see so game on.

January be on us soon enough

What a great post and spot on. All I can think is that they are trying to out Aribo in the shop window. There can be no other reason!

Well the home fans can't devolve themselves of all responsibility, but considering how bad it has been in the last few years, it's hardly surprising. It will change with a couple of wins. Obviously there is an issue playing at St Mary's..BPSaints's suggestion has merit. Get use to the place , open the doors for fans to watch some of it. However we can all see the solution. This squad has talent, so start managing to utilise it properly. Stop the complicated nonsense, give players the freedom to run at the opposition. Just imagine Sulemana, Edozie, S Armstrong, and Alcaraz relentlessly charging at the opposition. They'll shit their pants. That can only happen if they have security behind them, so set the team up that way. Twice yesterday AA ran past a static Aribo to tackle an Ipswich player. That's the sort of commitment we need from everyone. Bazuna has his critics but his distribution is excellent. So use it, when he has the ball charge forward quickly. Take the bloody initiative. So many on here have said how ghastly it is supporting Saints atm. Totally agree with that, matchday has ceased to be enjoyable, just an endurance built on the hope that something decent will happen eventually.

Very hard to look forward after those three matches. However tonight was at least better. Desperately relative comment but that is at least something. The defence sharpened up when Bendarek came on. Hopefully he'll develop a partnership with THB. They need a few goals to get some confidence back in the side. Absolutely zero self belief at the moment. Hopefully the away games will have less pressure. Try for a win and build on that.

That's a way better team now. Giving RM some slack he's probably been hampered by injuries

Skilfull player in close quarters. Sort who'll conjure something up playing behind the forwards. Absolute luxury though.

That was terrible, football at walking pace won't in this division, or any for that matter. Aribo simply doesn't run enough and frequently loses the ball. Ipswich have 2 tall men on against Manning and Frazer. Not at the races

Ballard just scored for Reading .... just saying Only EFL trophy mind but I still think it was mistake letting him go.

Saints have a better squad than most teams. As you keep it simple and let the player's superior skill, experience and (maybe) fitness win the games.

He's hardly going to lead in a press conference 'yeah my bad sorry guys' Zero surprise at what he said. If he has decided to change things a little then he isn't going to tell the opposition. Nor should we all go overboard at a few bad results. We've been here before. It will click at some point. Like most on here I think that will be when RM has accepted that his strategy needs adjusting, and he has Stephens back. Obviously being uber positive. Hopefully Bendarek will partnrr THB. That will allow Charles to play in his best position, potentially pushing Smallbone further forward. I just hope they keep a clean sheet. Last one, in the league, was Man Utd in early March. That's ridiculous.

I very much doubt Martin will change things.Holgate in for Downes I suspect even he will want Charles in midfield. It might be worth giving Doyle a chance as we desperately need a presence in the midfield. He seems to have been pretty sharp in pre season. It is ridiculous that a team who can put out a midfield of, Charles, Smallbone, Alcaraz, and S Armstrong, can struggle in this league. I'd add Dibling into that list as well. Maybe those 2 results will force him to change tactics a little.

Whitey you've just reminded us all what's really important in life. Devastating news but hold on to those 57 years. Thoughts and prayers.

I think we could all do with a hug from Holly this morning.

If and it is a massive if, Saints had avoided the early calamities, then I could see that game being much closer. Martin was right once the third goal went in, they could sit back and avoid any risky moves. Saints have shown a complete inability to break down teams in those situations for years. That's football, once you have a lead the balance of the game changes. However he set that team up. All managers have to deal with injuries. It was obvious Charles needed to be in midfield. Play Holgate (or a youngster) but make sure he is protected. With so many games losses like this can be quickly negated, if the manager and team set their mind to it. If working hard again there. Bazunu, Edozie, and Charles did OK today. The rest looked lost. These tactics really don't look to be effective.

Knew that Leicester would be the toughest challenge. They are clearly a better side, way more stable and well drilled. They deserve to be ahead but good grief we've made it easy for them. Ridiculous tactics anyone can see that. After shipping 4 and 5, I'd have expected a dour gritty match. First aim would be not to concede. Charles has to be in midfield. Holgate just has to cope. FBs need to stay in their proper position. Make Leicester play against two resilient walls of 4. Bluntly both man and ball should ever pass. Once control has been established gradually let the flair players loose. Be pretty grim to watch but neither would Saints be 4 1 down.

And there's the 9 0 reference .... with video

Law of averages Turkish. If your defence is so loose it allows the opposition to pepper the goal with shots, inevitably some are going in. That isn't a defence of Bazuna, there are issues there but Peter Shilton would struggle behind a defence set up like that. It's been a mess for years, I can't remember the last manager to have it sorted, Koeman I guess. It is priority no 1 and needs urgent action.

There are 5 members of that defence, plus the coach who sets it up. Bazuna is just one of them. I think he is the least responsible for Saturday's debacle. Now that is a relative statement, he'll probably not be over keen to watch the DVD on Monday, but I think the spotlight needs to be elsewhere. None of those players are bad players. They've all fought their way through the academy system. However, at the moment they are set up wrong, playing a weird system, and crucially have no protection in front of them. Sort that out and Bazuna might just have a chance to develop properly.