VectisSaint

Alcaraz has produced very little.

'Was' being the operative word. He peaked with us and then was very poor the season he got injured (or was it COVID, can't recall exactly). Did very little that last season and has done very little since. I wouldn't be averse to having him back, but he is not the Messiah (neither is he a very naughty boy). He would not, in my opinion 'score goals for fun' as others suggest. Sadly Danny is well passed his prime, but no doubt he would be an upgrade on Adam's, which is not really a ringing endorsement.

Not sure how many more chances you expect us to create. At least 14 good chances were created, we messed up 13 of them and scored from one of the least good ones. Creating chances was not the problem.on Wednesday. The goal we conceded was the result of a complete brain fade by Manning, not for the first time. Whatever system you play mistakes like this will cost goals. Well aware of the limitations of the XH, but it is not the issue.

Watching the extended highlights you get a very different view of the game than what is being posted on here (I know, its extended highlights so most of the dross is not shown), I counted 14 quick, incisive, sharp attacks, 7 in each half. The problem wasn't the lack of good attacking chances, the problem was the lack of composure and poor finishing in the box. Our goal was arguably the least incisive attack of the game, very ponderous build up until Stuey and then Fraser got hold of the ball. Really don't think that is much to moan about for an away performance (result excepted). If only we had someone who could replace Adams up front.

Just to clarify, coming up against Prem sides is nothing to do with gaining promotion. It would have happened anyway as PL2 has been transformed into a single division league. Fact is we are doing much worse than last season even against the teams we were above in PL2 Division 2 last term.

Simeu has long term injury, ruptured achilles in August.

Hoedt does for us again. Awful blunder, just like he used to do for Saints.

Just bear in mind that Ipswich and Leicester have not met so far this season. One or both is going to drop some points in those two matches. Probably best for us if one or other does the double. Ipswich have a difficult run from tomorrow until 22 Jan (Watford A, Norwich H - local derby, Leeds A, Leicester H, QPR, Stoke, Sunderland and then Leicester A). They will be doing very well to keep up their current average between now and end January.

Charles is not having a good match. Stupid yellow and giving the ball away, looks a bit like the Charles we saw at beginning of season, thought he had got through that.

He was awful last year, but made no difference to whether we stayed up or not. The whole team was awful, we would have been relegated whoever was in goal.

Yes, I think you are missing something. It won't be 19 unbeaten if we remain unbeaten this weekend. I think you may have missed the point. The record is 19 which has stood for over 100 years.

Nothing like that, sorry you don't understand. It isn't pointless at all (in as much as anything is pointless if it is just idle speculation), fact is we may have looked dodgy in first few games but that was not reflected in the only stat that really matters, i.e. how many goals we conceded, which is how we are judged "defensively" (none of this xG nonsense or whatever it is). We had 3 extremely dodgy games, playing players out of position and so on), replace the 3 bad games (defensively, remembering we did actually draw one v Norwich) with 1 or even 2 goals conceded in each of them and we would still be second best in the League defensively. Those 3 games left a lasting misapprehenison about our defensive capabilities and will no doubt colour our defensive record for the season.

No. 19 league games in 1921 as previously reported.

Girona are not Oriol's hometown club. H was born in Ulldecona (in south Catalnia), whereas Girona is in the north of Catalonia. Hs boyhood club (i.e. where he played) was Barcelona. I think the attraction of Gerona was that it is a Catalan club (like Barca) and Oriol identifies strongly as a Catalan (he represents Catalonia in "international" football, although they are not a full FIFA country.

The tightening up at the back started before Calderwood arrived, primarily when we started to have a relatively consistent defence and CM (KWP, HB, JB, Manning, Downes and Smallbone, not forgetting Bazunu of course). But Calderwood certainly has not done any harm. The porous defence is really a bit of a myth, we had 3 bad games in short order (Norwich, Sunderland, Leicester) which made our stats look very bad. We have not conceded more than 2 in any other league game, and only conceded 2 in a game twice. Take those 3 games out and we probably have the second best defensive record in the league.

Will just be pleased to get to 40. Should be enough to keep us up even with 46 games 😉

Would be nice to honour Chris Nicholl

No chance of long term, but short term loan might be a possibility, don't think he wants to leave Chelsea and they don't want him to go, already rejected interest in him from Fulham.

Didn't sound like it, especially Stewart, I would suggest early February at best.

Toi be fair, t was his playing in the Bundesliga that was being discussed. He has played only 63 minutes in 7 appearance so far in the League, 1 goal, no assists. So far Leverkusen have scored 37 goals this season in 12 games. Clearly struggling to break through into the very successful first team, but his recent goal will help no doubt. In the Europa League he has made 5 starts, also 1 goal, no assists. Nevertheless Sulemana is way behind Tella at present, but bear in mind he has 3 years to develop before he reaches Tella's age.

So how does that help, given we have the current set up and style of play? If he isn't suited to Martin's set up and style, then he won't do well this season and so won't boost our promotion chances. We would be better off with someone that does suit. I think he has flattered to deceive so far, but then most thought that about Mane when he joined, and he seems to have done quite well for himself. By the way I can't see that Tella has done particularly well since he left, 2 goals and no assists in 12 apps, is not exactly ripping it up.

You do know that the WSL teams enter in the 4th round, so that means Manchester City and United are still in. I would guess that Bristol City are still in along with Rovers. Probably others. Besides, Moneyfields are in Portsmouth so that's two Pompey teams in the 3rd round. Also we aren't a town. Otherwise sound comment. 😉

... and the 4th Round is on 14th January, hence the big gap in the fixtures, though quite why the women have a long break over Christmas is a bit odd.

So why was he in the stands before the game, as I pointed out? It is actually very difficult to find information on exactly what is and isn't allowed during a touchline ban. One thing I read says that managers are not allowed any contact with players for the duration of a match (which would suggest not allowed in the Dressing Room at HT). But also they are allowed to participate in team talks, so how does that work, that would suggest they can be in the Dressing Room before kick-off but not at half-time. So why was RM in the stands before kick off?

Not really Liam Manning's style. Manning favours a high possession, high pressing style of football. But maybe its too soon to have changed City from Pearson's style.