VectisSaint

Its not nailed on that we will finish 4th, though likely, the only thing nailed on is that we will finish in the top 6. But, given autos are no longer realistically achievable now, the target must be to win as many as possible until the end of the season, so as to be the in-form team going into the play-offs. Taking our foot off of the pedal now and coasting toward the play-offs is a sure-fire way of failing at that hurdle. Hopefully Leicester will finish 3rd, and with WBA and Norwich in there we could still go up (if you see going up as a positive of course). But winning mentality in the last few games has to be the priority, including Leicester and Leeds, get out of the habit and we will be sunk.

Fairly typical responses on here, sounds like some didn't watch the game. That was probably the best we have played all season and it was against the team who are top of the league and at their place. Defence was sound and we attacked with pace and incision, the second goal was superb, Bazunu-Armstrong-Armstrong. Then a slightly dubious refereeing decision cost us (the sending off, not the foul). Then sadly Bazunu was easily beaten twice. I'm gutted, but really think we were very good up until that foul after 85. Once they got the 2nd a 3rd was almost inevitable with their momentum. Bollocks.

To be honest KWP didn't look all that on Friday. I'm not overly surprised at him being benched, though it is a shame. Anyone any idea what has happened to Shea Charles? Seems like a good bench option if fit.

Check the date

According to Transfermarkt yesterday was just his 2nd assist in the League, he also had one in the Europa league. Has scored 5 goals though. He is doing a good job and pleased for him and will end up with a Bundesliga winners medal to add to his Championship winners medal. Not bad really. Shocking the way Saints threw his talent away. By the way Leverkusen are 13.clear, Munich lost 0-2 last night to Dortmund, another blank for Harry Kane. 13 ahead with 7 to play, it could be wrapped up in a couple of games.

But if we win two in the play-offs we will not get promoted because we will have lost in the final.

I wouldn't have replied if you hadn't said it - "but also a lot of time to specifically prepare for how we play"

Boro had 9 players on international duty so there is no logic that they can prepare better than us.

Yeh, I sort of guessed that's what it meant. But what a meaningless award. Look forward to selling him for megabucks in the future based on the award. Perhps they could have called it "Player of the Tournament" or perhaps that would be too simple these days.

Good to see SAA was awarded MVP. What the hell it means I have no idea, but assume it's good.

or even Douglass Lukjanciks 😉

A Hornby Doublo sinks Saints.

Would have to beat WBA or Hull (or Coventry or Norwich first).

Think you're struggling with your own argument 🤣

Very sad, wonderful to read about his heroics, not something I was really aware of previously. Is it too much to ask what name he posted on here as, maybe obvious to some.

It is interesting to see Man City u21 in 24th place, considering they have won PL2 for the past 3 seasons (if the information I have read is correct). They have been the most successful club at this level for some time, what has happened to them? Perhaps it has something to do with them selling or loaning so many young players to us, or perhaps the departure of Jason Wilcox. Not sure I'm surprised at any of the other Bottom 6 dwellers, Newcastle have been notorious for years at youth level, and clearly the dirty Saudi money has not yet filtered through. Everton and Derby are recently at least basket case clubs.

They would have played as Guests during the War, but by the time the Football League resumed in 1946 the players would have all been registered with Pompey, not as Guests. Some of the players were indeed recruited from the Navy though.

So how come we won every League game that followed an FA Cup game this season?

Didn't we? How do you know that we wouldn't have won more than we did, or scored more goals if Stephens had been available. You don't, nor do I. But there were a lot of people on here moaning (unrealistically imho) that we drew too many during the 25 game run. Having Stephens as an option during the run may well have helped, we will never know, but having to rely on two CBs and with only Holgate as backup was a big risk, fortunately we got through it.

BC wasn't after a cup game, it was after the Huddersfield debacle. 4 changes, 2 for injury was not really that radical after that display, especially considering that 2 changes were to bring in attacking players who had dug us out of that hole as substitutes. If Martin hadn't changed the team after the Huddersfield display there would have been hell to pay.

Right. That's cleared that up then. 🤔

11, and we conceded 7 in those games (Stephens played 90 minutes in half of them, 3 of those were against Liverpool). We started conceding goals in the last 8 games when Stephens did not play (with the exception of Liverpool), those are facts/stats. Stephens is not the problem. The problems started against Huddersfield, yet the back 4 that day was KWP, THB, Bednarek, Manning with Downes DM. Bristol City, same back 4, but Downes injured replaced by Charles. West Brom (won 2-0) Stephens replaces Manning. Hull, the "first choice" Back 4 again but no Downes or Charles. Millwall tinkered with Manning out, KWP on left and THB on right, no Downes. Birmingham, no KWP, Downes back but we did win. Sunderland still no KWP but again we did win. Fact is that it is not Stephens causing the issues with goals conceded but a combination of injuries to key players (KWP, Downes, Bree), and having to tinker to cover for these. Martin has to take some "credit" for these issues, by playing people in the wrong positions, THB especially is better in the centre than on the right, but there is also a confidence factor, once teams worked out how to score against us (started with Huddersfield) our defence has lost confidence and often now seem to panic, including the usually unflappable THB, not really sure for the reason. Seriously hope that we settle on a back 4 of KWP, THB, Bednarek and Bree with Downes in front for the run-in, but suspect RM will prefer Manning, who I see as the weak link.

Your opinion and many others.

Yes. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, the league operates under the so-called 'Swiss Model' where the 26 teams will be seeded into five pots based on their historical performance in the competition over the preceding three years, meaning each team will play 20 matches in the regular season. A 21-game week scenario will see teams playing each club in their own pot plus four or five teams in all other pots, either home or away. After this, the combined table will determine play-off positions, with the top 16 teams qualifying for the knockout format.

The issue here though is not Stephens, if everyone is fully fit it will be KWP, THB, JB and bloody Ryan Manning.