Graffito

The look on Benitez’s face is saying “How did I end up with this dipstick”

All teams get more points at home than away. In relative terms you have a point with Everton and Leicester, West Ham less so, Newcastle not really. Saturday’s match represents arguably our best opportunity for 3 points. http://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england

It seems counterintuitive but there are studies which appear to show that while playing at home is generally an advantage (obviously so), crowd size and atmosphere are not significant factors. Other studies have shown that a vociferous and aggressive crowd can influence referees. Perhaps this bias will improve with VAR. In the meantime maybe we should be targeting refs. In any case if there is any marginal benefit in motivating players and refs, and any negative impact (e.g. a tension producing atmosphere like at St Mary’s) in not doing so, we should take it. A good atmosphere makes for a more enjoyable experience anyway. Sadly it doesn’t suit everyone. There was the women in front of me at the Emirates a few seasons ago who complained, I kid you not, that I was giving her a headache.

Tadic was crowded out in the centre. Stoke frequently had 5 at the back and were compact. Contrary to many I think he can be effective as a 10 but one quality he lacks is mobility. It was right to replace him and could have been hooked earlier.

Surely the same is true of most bare statistics, e.g pass completion which tells us nothing about quality of pass. That doesn’t alter the fact that he compares favourably with peers in winning aerial duels.

Sims played on the right. Then he was taken off allowing Redmond...etc Redmond did more than ok.

Appear to be two trains an hour out of Waterloo. Oddly 35 and 39 past the hour.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/mar/01/premier-league-relegation-who-survive-drop-championship?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Three of five have us down here. One of them makes the point that Man City could be on the beach or otherwise focused on Champions League by the time we play them. Also, Stoke v Swansea on the final day looks like a big one. With a lot more fight and determination from the players and a bit of luck we won’t be going into the final day needing points. We can then recruit a decent manager without delay and improve the squad.

Thanks. Bit the bullet and forked out.

As expected, the cost of rail tickets from London has rocketed since the draw was made. Not that it changes anything but anyone know why they waited to advise date and time until the first of the replays had been played?

Dyche was highly critical of the ref in his after match comments. For some reason he left off his list of failings that the ref failed to spot Barnes handled the ball into the net for Burnley’s “goal”.

It’s not rubbish at all. The manager has been too cautious and I think also he has failed to get the most from the team but if you cannot see deficiencies in that team then you are myopic beyond belief. We have singularly failed to replace quality sold with the same level of quality.

You may be right about 442. What about 352? Extra aerial presence at the back in Yoshida. E becomes 5 when defending. Gets our fullbacks forward, especially Bertrand who puts in a good cross. Gives the option of two up front. The Carrillo/Gabbiadini link- up for the goal could be a combo.

Graham Potter.

In the interests of pedantry, may I suggest you look up the word “reactionary”.

The better team won. Punting the ball at the corner flags and chasing it. Aerial bombardments. Glad I don’t watch that every week. Nonetheless enjoy trips to West Brom and hope we both stay up.

Some balls are hotter than others and they’re all in it and always have been ever since anyone didn’t like the draw they got. But let’s not despair. They only beat us by a last gasp effort by the toddler.

Value added.

Agreed. Renew. It’s a way of life. I’m f’king stuck with them anyway.

There were people on this very forum saying some weeks ago how they’d prefer a relegation battle to mid table obscurity. https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?58977-Back-down-to-the-Championship&p=2555208#post2555208 A case of be careful what you wish for.

Isn’t John Williams the bloke who was expected to be appointed Saints’ chairman before Ralph suddenly appeared?

A perfect metaphor for the second half performance.

You can forgive an awful lot if players give 100%. Not for the first time this season heads dropped. By the end today they looked like they’d given up. That was desperately poor from the players and they deserve criticism but ultimately it comes down to the manager. We’ve got a nice team with a nice but ineffectual manager when what the players need is a rocket up their arses.

Let’s not be hasty. We haven’t seen Ralph’s pledges yet.

Guardian - 10 things to look out for.... 1) Van Dijk faces the brickbats Welcome back Virgil van Dijk ... no Southampton supporter will be saying when the centre-back strides onto the St Mary’s pitch on Sunday. The reception will be hostile and something the Dutchman will have to cope with as he continues to adjust to life as a Liverpool player. It’s been a rocky process for Van Dijk – following his Hollywood-esque debut against Everton there have been appearances in two defeats and a draw, with six goals conceded in the process. Van Dijk insists he can handle the pressure that comes with being the world’s most expensive defender and, despite the turmoil, he has generally impressed for Jürgen Klopp’s side. Now comes arguably Van Dijk’s most difficult test. Prosper amid the jeers and the 26-year-old may feel he has truly arrived at Anfield.