trousers

You make reasonable points sir, and I bow to your insightfulness. I sometimes allow my lack of intelligence to get the better of me and for that I humbly apologise.

Blimey. Stats don't get much more clear cut than that, do they? I guess in a perverse kinda way it highlights how good Ralph is at preparing for games when he gets the opportunity to do so. Underlines that his whole strategy is based on meticulous preparation, which he has been ill-afforded this season. Helps explain why we did so well in 2020. A beacon of hope there for next season once match frequency returns to 'normal'...?

Fair points 👍

Apologies your lordship. I shall hence forth desist with my thinking out loud on an internet football forum. Please forgive me sire.

Dear noble ladies and gentlemen of the Saintsweb forum, May I be so bold to ascertain that the main factor behind our Jeckyll and Hyde performances this season is Kyle Walker-Peters? Exhibit A m'lud... Games played = 19 Points = 29 Points per game = 1.53 Games not played = 6 Points = 1 Points per game = 0.17 Our shape definitely goes to pot when he doesn't play... In the words of Huey Lewis, is it as simple as that?

Is it me or does a decline in Bertrand's esprit de corps always coincide with a dip in the team's form? Chicken or Egg though...?

I don't recall (m)any posts about that in November, but quite likely my memory is playing tricks on me. Fair play to those that knew that things would go tits up whilst we were still making hay earlier in the season.

That's a fair point, but I don't recall anyone stating in November, when we were flying high, that the wheels would inevitably come off the wagon. If Ralph's style/tactics was so obviously workable in the short term but would unravel in the medium-to-longer term, why did so few, if any, people forewarn us of the inevitable on here back in November...?

Fair analysis FF

Dunno. Baffling.

Love you too darling 😘

He's almost as shit as your spelling

And the Sherlock Holmes Award goes to...

Why on earth did Bertrand run away from the Leeds player...?

Surely pitches have to be a certain standard for games to go ahead? Seems crazy to be playing on a pitch that's not fit for purpose

FFS. Getting fed up with these fucking injuries.

Buttocks

I'm more than happy to have a pop at the officials a when there's obvious ineptitude but I think they've made the right decisions so far (albeit marginal)

Think the whistle was just after JWP struck the ball. Split second though

Tempting fate here but looks like Ralph's game plan is working perfectly so far.... Get to half time at 0-0 then unleash Ings & co

This. Should have a yellow for his play acting

Superb Romeu!!

Why the f*** isn't that a yellow for Roberts...?

That's the problem with the way VAR has been implemented. It's not there to overturn EVERY incorrect decision, only the ones where the ref got it obviously wrong. Debatable on that basis.

Agree with VAR. No pen