The Kraken

The worst thing would be to keep him just in a caretaker mode. It smacks of “we don’t trust you”. We are so far down the road this season that I think we must give him the job until the end of the season at least, with an extend option in the contract. Jesse Marsch was about the best we could hope for before today, and given the upgrade in performance we’ve seen,, Marsch could well be a downgrade. Players clearly like Ruben, and the first half seeemed to me to give us back an identity, I thought we were great. This season is about potential survival and everyone needs to be onboard for that, today showed that we might have stumbled upon the solution.

What did you do instead, use the force?

Going on current points per game it looks like 36 or 37 could see us stay up. That’s 18 or 19 points from 15 games. 4 wins 6 draws 5 defeats could just get it done. It’s a bloody hard ask given our form and upcoming fixtures but it’s not insurmountable.

I’m only going off the bbc interview, but his words were: “I’m here for the club, the fans, and if that’s my position until the end the season I’m happy to do it, if not then we’ll take some decisions”. The ball is in SR’s court. If we’re going with Ruben then the caretaker tag needs to go. Give him to the end of the season as de facto manager, and give the option for the full time gig. Players want to see continuity, he could well be it.

BBC interview is up. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64607244 Very cool customer. Sounds like he very much wanted the job after Ralph. Good. He holds himself very well, doesn’t seem like a caretaker boss. I like him. A lot. I thought appointing him might be negative from SR, the cheap and easy option, but today’s first half performance and result have changed all that. Loved the first half display, it’s everything I want Saints to be.

First half we looked like Saints at our best under Ralph. High pressure, hunt in packs, put pressure on the opposition and control play high up the field. More of that please. Even the initial 3 subs made were positive, three attacking players coming on rather than retreating to a back 5. Brave sub choices all day. JWP is high class, Lavia just so good, those two need to keep fit and on it. It looks like we, finally, just might have something to build on.

I’m still enjoying the commentator from earlier. At various points throughout the game we had Bazanu and Bazuna, at one point he was even Bazuanu. It was worse than Saintweb for getting it right.

He’s gonna keep us up, and win the FA Cup

Best game for us IMO. I felt he had a bit of a flap at his first save, ended up giving away a corner when he should’ve held it IMO. After that he was solid, and when he was beaten he had his defence to help him out.

I said in the match thread, he looked absolutely gassed after about 40 minutes. I know some players sweat more than others but his shirt was absolutely drenched. He gives us an outlet we we don’t have otherwise though. And ‘he’s got good feet for a big man’. But getting much more than 45 minutes out of him will be a bonus, so we’ll need a rotation policy. I liked him today, get some proper service to him in dangerous areas and he’ll be a proper handful.

Just saw footage of the players shoving a reluctant Selles in front of the fans after the game. Yeah, we’ve seen it with Jones before but still good to see. The first half performance was exactly what I want to see from a Saints side. Backs to the wall second half but understandable.

What a game. JWP for me by a mile.

Brilliant first half, backs to the wall all second half, we rode our luck but all credit for hanging in there. How nice to see a Saints team with some identity. Pressing in the right areas, hunting in packs, making it difficult for the other side. And how nice to see a calm manager on the touchline.

Yeah I didn’t really see it but that’s what the commentator said.

Dunno if Mara is lucky to stay on the pitch there, they’re not showing the replay. He absolutely nailed him.

Fuck. Lavia coming off, looks like Diallo coming on.

Probably the right 3 to come off as they all look a bit gassed, but crikey what a 3 to bring on. Our right side looks extremely vulnerable.

Triple sub upcoming for saints.

Come on Saints, settle it down.

Weak from AMN.

He definitely got lucky with only a yellow there.

Get in you beauty.

Tall Paul looks absolutely fucked, his shirt is soaked to the bone in sweat.

AMN having a bloody awful 5 minutes. Shame as he started well (for him).

Yep, not sure how this ref has let him off that.