austsaint

He needs to be fired.

Hat

Let’s just hope for another fortunate three points…..give Eckhart a pat on the back and a medal of some sort, and send him back to look after the u/21s.

Shouldn’t be a crazy dream. Appoint Viera immediately; give him a fortnight’s leave during the international break and allow Tonda, fresh from masterminding consecutive wins to run the show until his arrival.

Tiara

Court

Yes, in a game like today’s , Aribo playing just ahead of Jander and Charles, instead of 3 CBs would have been a better line up.

If you watched the game today, the statistics were spot on. We dominated the numbers and dominated the game.

What more could Still have done today? Perhaps leave out Edward’s for Azaz or Fellows. We dominated the game and had a hat full of chances; shots of the post, and on another day could have had at least 3 goals. McCarthy didn’t have a save to make. Be frustrated with the result but the performance was good, with plenty of of quick transitional play and chances created.

We will deal with their crosses better if Jelert replaces Manning who just doesn’t get anywhere near enough to their right side attackers.

I know that’s a point of view on sections of the forum; but I question it. Downes at this level is in the top bracket of midfielders. Charles likewise. There’s no reason to think they can’t combine in CM. I don’t know whether Jander has played the attacking mid role before, but everything I see of him suggests he can. Thus far, Azaz has been a dud; no denying his record at this level is good, but he just doesn’t look to be the player we need. I suspect he was third choice, at best, attacking 10 recruit. Still has shown the capacity to make changes and act on what he sees on the pitch. This might be another opportunity to fine tune the starting 11 for the better.

Why not Downes and Shea at CM; Jander replaces Azaz as the 10 , with Scienza as a back up. Arma, Stewart and Fellows.?

Yes, yes and Yes. The Saints reaction to going 2-1 up on the hour looked like a combination of panic, jitters and a fragile mentality. There was no collective nous on how to manage the game or press for a third goal to kill off the spirited Blades. It was unnecessarily nervy and a dose of good fortune was needed to get that precious result. Well done to Ross Stewart. I’ve consistently written him off, and even tonight after 30 minutes I thought that Archer should replace him - at which point he nearly scored with a header. His first goal was a clinical side footed finish after Arma’s headed poster and that second was a worldly strike, complete with a half turn. Bravo; stay fit, keep banging them in and quite a few of us will be eating humble pie. I hope humble pie will be on the menu after a good Finn Azaz performance, but apart from some technical skill, tonight was another meh performance. He seems to need more time on the ball than he’s mostly going to get. He doesn’t seem to have the quick feet and guile to evade a tackle or initiate quick ball movement. Stray passes and being dispossessed are also showing up in his game. At this stage I’d like to see Jander or Scienza tried in the 10 role, with Downes and Charles in CM. Wood and Edwards were both good and should be at the front of the CB queue. A game to forget for Quarshie, after being skinned for the goal he just seemed to drop his bundle. Still will need to rebuild his confidence which should see him away from the action v Derby. One of the problems Still has is the overall numerical strength of the squad without there being many nailed on starters. Take Charles, Jander, Wood, maybe Armstrong, maybe Stewart and Fellows out and the rest of the 18 man match day squad is still unclear.

Need to see more from Stewart and Azaz. Still has shown some bottle with an unchanged side. Bench is incredibly strong.

Yes, he was true to his word with rewarding those who put in a shift at Anfield. Perhaps he could have replaced Stewart and Azaz earlier, to bring on Archer and Scienza as it was clear Boro upped the intensity in the second half, and only had Armstrong and Fellows to keep an eye on defensively. Taking off Fellows could also be questioned . Manning was loose defensively and Jelert on earlier might have tightened things up. Boro certainly happier with the point than Saints.