The Kraken

Well that’s quite simple then. Pick any game where Saints picked up a point or three (there’s not many), see if Bazunu made any saves from shots on target. If he did, then he’s helped us earn points. It’s a brutally simplistic answer and it doesn’t prove much of anything, but it’s what you asked for.

Well, we had a bonzer strategy of bringing in a guy who used to recruit for the Man City youth team, we let him him sign a bunch of untried nippers from Man City for huge money and expected they’d slot straight into our first team, then he left us straight after the transfer window shut so that he could go somewhere else. Its not the best strategy I’ve ever seen. When you write it down, it actually sounds even more daft than it was.

It’s only because of the money they’ve spent, apparently.

Just watched the BBC interview with him. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63523917 Let’s be honest, he’s not really saying anything we don’t know. I’ll say that I have more faith in him than I would have in Ralph to sort out the problems he talks about: too passive, gave them too much time, need to work harder off the ball etc., but that’s what any new manager coming says. He’s definitely making the right noises. We just need to see how that translates to changes on the pitch.

I’m not going to get on Bazunu’s back, but I do think it is one of our biggest problems. Our goal difference is one of the worst in the league, and we’ve had one clean sheet in the league all season. Of course, not all of those are down to Bazunu; but when you go somewhere like Liverpool you need to frustrate them and keep it tight. Gifting them that after 5 minutes is just a body blow. There’s been too many goals conceded where the finger can justifiably be pointed at him. I thought Bazunu’s saves today were excellent. But he also had a couple of flappy moments in addition to the first goal. He really needs to minimise all of that that. On current form I think he’s perhaps on a par with McCarthy and not as good as Forster was last season, and that’s a real problem.

Youngsters? I remember reading Garry Nelson’s book back in the 90s, and back then he said he made a living out of running the channels.

Anyone know if we’ve got any friendlies lined up for the break?

No need for that.

Alright, who voted for Theo Ffs?!

I still think it’s worth exploring Diallo in a midfield 3, with JWP and Lavia. It’s far from ideal, but in the rare cases when Diallo has looked it’s ok it’s been when he’s been further up the pitch and looking to break the lines. In a 2 man midfield he’s mostly hopeless, but I still cling to the hope that in a 3 (and the more advanced of the 3) he might be ok. Perhaps it’s clutching at straws but I think it would also make our central midfield a bit more solid. Also might give a bit more licence to have Edozie involved from the start, and then I’d go S Armstrong on the right and Adams up top. At least until the January window when, let’s face it, any new people in are going to be challenging for a first team spot straight away.

Pretty shocking first half, much better second half.

I’ve also been back row in the Anfield Road end before, it’s a disgrace they get away with it.

Hope that’s just precautionary for Lavia. He’s been a rare bright spot.

Piss off Allison! Good save.

Lyanco on for ABK.

AMN looks to be a much better RB than he is a CM.

Nice from Edozie but got to take these chances.

Haven’t showed much of him but quite a bit. Straight after the first goal he was passing on instructions to Elmo.

Theo supposedly coming on, and we know what that means.

He did well to hit the ball, let alone the target.

That whole move summed him up. Off side anyway, tried to control it with his right but missed it, made the ball but a powder puff of a shot.

Aside from that we’ve been fine! It really was a good first 15 minutes followed by an absolute lesson for the next 30. As someone else said, I hope this is Selles’ choice of lineup because it’s just not going to work. If we come out for the second half with that line up this could get ugly quite quickly. Hopefully the World Cup players will go easy on us….

We are completely overrun in midfield. Our midfield is basically a bunch of players who are all running towards their own goal in an effort to get back behind the play.

Perraud could’ve stopped that attack before it started, he completely fluffed it though. Fair play, Saints are giving it a go. But the gulf in class is massive.

Get in!! Terrific delivery.