VectisSaint

On evidence of the season so far dropping THB is a complete no-brainer, regardless of what happened last night. Personally don't think Stephens has done much wrong. Quarshie was completely different last night, his previous appearances were shocking but last night he looked calm and assured (maybe just a little bit of criticism for his involvement (or lack thereof) in their first goal.

So you want to revert to 3 at the back when everyone has been screaming out to get away from it.

How come Jamie Carragher is running the line tonight?

Quite honestly prefer he is on the bench tonight, Liverpool would probs be tapping him up otherwise.

I always want Saints to win every game, but realistically I think promotion this season would simply lead to another disaster. To me the ideal situation would be to finish 3rd and lose in the play-off final (with the proviso that Skates finish below us and do not beat us in the PO final having finished 4-6th). We would need to massively strengthen if this team were to get promoted, there are very few, if any genuine PL quality players in the squad.

Haven't commented before but now seen the extended highlights. THB was a disaster, again. All three goals directly down to him, and a couple of other Hull chances as well. He has been awful all season. Whatever Still and his team coaches you cannot have someone play like that and expect to win or even draw. Complete shit show. I know Quarshie looked awful, but he has to be better than that. Yes Baz should have done better with the first, but the blame needs to be [put squarely at THB's door. I know I was only watching the extended highlights, but some of our attacking play actually looked half decent, someone better than Downs could have made something of one or two of those chances, I'm sure Stewart would have done better. If I was Still I would drop THB and replace him with Edwards, or play Stephens on the left and bring Quarshie back, it can't ba any worse (I mean for Boro, Liverpool is just something we have to get through). I wonder if Arma's goal, late and inconsequential as it was, may boost his confidence, think I would play Stewart and Arma up front. Just hope Downes continues to feel under the weather.

Still did say they will be staying up North.

When did Russball ever involve hoofing? He also wasn't alright about it, if you saw his post match interviews, laid the blame squarely at the players and sorted it out (largely) at half time.

More accurately he needs the players to do as they are told. We don't win points by making the fans believe anything. Very clear on Sunday and from what I have heard today that the problem is the players not executing, it was better in the 2nd half v Skates though still not great, players clearly took something on board that WS said at half time.

Maybe, but 1st half stats show 51% Skates

Nothing wrong with the defence? Apart from the way they played of course.

Only needs 1 more yellow and he'll lose his place anyway, hopefully. Two things certain in life, death and Downes getting a yellow.

Downes yes, Charles no, thought he was probably our MOTM, though that's not saying a great deal. The problem we have at the moment is as Still said in his Sky interview (I watched on ITV, but caught the end of Sky coverage), in the first half our players were still playing and thinking like they did last season, so obviously calling out THB, Stephens and Downes, possibly Manning. Their first thought was to play it back or sideways, even when there are clear forward balls on. Unfortunately with our big turnover of players we did not freshen up the back/centre to any extent. He obviously gave them a bit of a bollocking at half time and it showed, completely different 2nd half, of course then showed up our lack of penetration. Needs to get those 4 sorted out and looking more positive (even Baz was knocking balls forward today to an extent). THB and Downes are the worst culprits, Stephens has always tried to play forward more, sometimes calamitously. Fairly sure if Still sorts that out we will be much.more effective. Anyway today was extremely depressing, but glad the derby is out of the way now and we can get back to playing football.

New players now have shirt numbers, Aribo (7) and Edozie (23) have kept theirs, so presumably are staying. Jelert 38 Scienza 13 Jander 20 Fellows 18

I remember getting around 28-30k at The Dell regularly. The 15k capacity only came about because of the requirement for all seater stadia. We used to attract as many supporters as we do now.