The Kraken

She’s more plastic than person these days.

I looked at this the other day, but it seems like the Argentinian league starts on 27 January, so it’s hopeful he’s well through a good dose of pre season training.

I can’t begin to imagine how much he must utterly stink. No wonder nobody is sat next to him. Good job there’s usually spare seats around to get away from him.

That’s what I’m hoping too. The lad was flipping brilliant tonight.

Did he? Or did he just go off? I don’t know. I know he was down on the ground before going off, but hoping that’s Jones plan to get him off after 60, protect him a bit more and don’t push him too much.

Exactly this. We don’t have a strong team/squad. We know that. Under Ralph, he got better results from the sum of their parts, while having utter capitulations of course. Jones needs that. Players working their socks off for each other, high pressure, make it difficult for the opposition. Under Jones so far and apart from Palace second half, we had been utterly passively and basically made it easy for the opposition. Palace second half and this, just want I want to see with a limited group. Work hard, play hard, and we might have a chance of staying up.

One thing that tells me after game….. AMN must never play CM for us again, he is the epitome of slow, ponderous, back foot football. He has looked ok when he’s been played out wide, but he simply isn’t a dynamic central midfielder. Lavia is key to the equation of course. Having JWP and Diallo with Lavia is our strongest CM combo, and we must play a three, been saying this for some time. Work hard, cover ground, make space for each other, cover for each other. AMN gives none of that, he likes to get the ball in his own half and pass it off.p with no intensity. The other players at least look forwards quicker and seemed a good cohesive unit tonight. I maintain there’s a player in Diallo, but a defensive midfielder In a two, it isn’t.

💪

Not many people (pundits) talking about Romeo Lavia’s role in Djenepo’s goal. First class win the ball, spin, and play in tge attacker. Defence to attack in one second. Pure class.

Correct. This performance was utterly night and day from anything previous under him. The closest was 20-30 minutes second half against Palace. Jones has had fans on his back early, and I’d say rightly so, it’s been a shambolic few matches under him and terrible to watch. Today reminded us of the times at our best under Ralph. Press, work hard, quick passing, no dilly dallying about at the back, and exploit the other team’s mistakes by breaking very quickly in numbers. That’s how we can stay up.

Meh. Manchester United probably the worst one to draw so we got second best. Very difficult though.

It’s called man of the match. Not man of last week. Happy to explain it more if it gets confusing 👍

Haven’t done one of these in a while! Lyanco for me.

Just heard that. How?!

There’s Bazunu with excellent anticipation to cut out a City move.

I get that, but we’re on a hiding to nothing here and we need to think about Saturday. So long as the players keep shape and effort, it doesn’t matter to me what the personnel is. Got to keep on the front foot and keep at them, if fresh legs help that them I think it’s a good shout.

Dunno about that, but definitely would’ve been better. Very good player and the only one in our squad who can effectively play the defensive midfield role so well.

You really don’t know? Probably because we’re going to have to work our tits off this half so fresh legs will obviously help.

Shades of Longy vs Villa about Djnepo’s goal.

Absolutely superb bit of play from Lavia there.

It’s true. But, as I and I’m sure a few others said earlier this season, him in a CM 2 won’t ever work. In a midfield 3 with JWP and Lavia alongside him, I think that’s our best ‘solid’ midfield 3.

That JWP fella is crap at free kicks, always wastes them.

Yep, told you he’s rubbish.

😆

The setup is one thing, what’s more important is the general demeanour. Lots of press, effort, playing it quickly, not keeping possession at the back, looking to turn defence to attack rapidly. It’s encouraging that we can do this. City have been poor but you have to credit Saints’ hard work in that. If this is the revised Jonesball, I like it. Good to watch.