CanadaSaint

We really need to do a better job of spotting the moment to convert nice around-the-box build up into a shot, or over-elaboration is going to kill us. At least when we're a goal down the temptation to shoot is greater.

He does seem to be a different guy - enjoying his football, his role and the people around him. He seems to have a special rapport with Clyne, not just in the footballing sense but also in the "close buddies" sense. I hope - and think - he's smart enough to realize that he would be risking a lot to move just when he's finding his feet, meshing-in well and achieving his potential.

You're right - I was hoping we'd get points playing against ourselves! I'll look at it in the morning, but the problem impacts every team so it shouldn't change the relatives. Thanks. Edit: Couldn't go to bed with this unresolved. I've changed the PPG targets in Away matches with Fellow Strugglers to 1.00. The new total is 40.25, and the new table is as follows: 1 West Ham - Target 16.50, Actual 22, +5.50 2 Fulham - Target 17.25, Actual 20, +2.75 3 Sunderland - Target 18.00, Actual 16, -2.00 4 Aston Villa - Target 17.75, Actual 15, -2.75 5 Wigan - Target 18.75, Actual 15, -3.75 6 Southampton - Target 19.75, Actual 15, -4.75 7 Reading - Target 15.75, Actual 9, -6.75 8 QPR - Target 16.75, Actual 7, -9.75 I hope that's right now.

Thanks for remembering, Ottawa. I've re-tooled it a little, given the way things are shaping up. I've moved Norwich and Swansea from the Likely Strugglers group to the Fairly Solid Four, with Sunderland and Fulham making the reverse journey. Sure, I could have moved Newcastle down but I just can't see them struggling all season. Likewise, I could have moved West Ham up, but they are a possible candidate for a bad run that would pitch them right back into it. We can debate "who goes where" until we're blue in the face but it doesn't matter that much because the whole point of this exercise is that it's a relative measure. So the groups become: Elite 4 - Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man United Pretenders - Everton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham Fairly Solid 4 - Stoke, West Brom, Norwich, Swansea Likely Strugglers - Villa, Fulham, QPR, Reading, Saints, Sunderland, West Ham, Wigan As a reminder, the PPG targets for the Likely Strugglers are as follows: vs Elite 4 - H 0.00/A 0.00; vs 4 Pretenders - H 1.00/A 0.00; vs Fairly Solid 4 - H 2.25/A 0.25; vs Fellow Strugglers - H 2.75/A 0.50. TOTAL = 40 Here's the latest "Strugglers Table", up to date following Sunderland's win over Reading: [TABLE=width: 750] [TR] [TD]Position[/TD] [TD]Team[/TD] [TD]Target Points[/TD] [TD]Actual Points[/TD] [TD]+/- vs Target[/TD] [TD]GD[/TD] [TD]vs Likely Strugglers[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]West Ham[/TD] [TD]15.50[/TD] [TD]22[/TD] [TD]+6.50[/TD] [TD]1[/TD] [TD]P6 / W4 / D1 / L1 / PPG 2.17[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]2[/TD] [TD]Fulham[/TD] [TD]15.25[/TD] [TD]20[/TD] [TD]+4.75[/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [TD]P6 / W2 / D2 / L2 / PPG 1.33[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]3[/TD] [TD]Aston Villa[/TD] [TD]15.25[/TD] [TD]15[/TD] [TD]-0.25[/TD] [TD]-11[/TD] [TD]P6 / W2 / D1 / L3 / PPG 1.17[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]4[/TD] [TD]Sunderland[/TD] [TD]17.00[/TD] [TD]16[/TD] [TD]-1.00[/TD] [TD]-4[/TD] [TD]P6 / W3 / D2 / L1 / PPG 1.83[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]5[/TD] [TD]Wigan[/TD] [TD]17.75[/TD] [TD]15[/TD] [TD]-2.75[/TD] [TD]-13[/TD] [TD]P6 / W3 / D1 / L2 / PPG 1.67[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]6[/TD] [TD]Saints[/TD] [TD]18.75[/TD] [TD]15[/TD] [TD]-3.75[/TD] [TD]-10[/TD] [TD]P6 / W3 / D1 / L2 / PPG 1.67[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]Reading[/TD] [TD]13.25[/TD] [TD]9[/TD] [TD]-4.25[/TD] [TD]-12[/TD] [TD]P6 / W0 / D2 / L4 / PPG 0.33[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]QPR[/TD] [TD]15.75[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]-8.75[/TD] [TD]-16[/TD] [TD]P6 / W0 / D4 / L2 / PPG 0.67[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] I found the update quite sobering. While our recent results have helped a great deal, we clearly still have a very long way to go. I expected us to be farther ahead of Reading but this table shows the whole point of this approach. Sure, they've played 6 games against Fellow Strugglers but five of those games were away from home; so, while their record against the Strugglers isn't good, they haven't dropped that many points against their target because they only need to average 0.50 PPG in those away games in order to be on track for survival. The table also shows that QPR aren't as detached as many of the pundits are saying - a good run would move them up quite quickly. Our good results against the Fellow Strugglers are great - and crucial, but we really need to pick up some "above budget" points from the higher teams. St. Mary's must - with help from the fans - become a fortress, and we must do some solid business in the window. I've checked the table several times but it's quite a complex exercise, so please forgive (and tell me about) any errors.

tfft

Rickie's control and layoff in the build-up to the goal were absolutely superb. Yes, I think we're THAT much better than the bottom three, and probably a few teams above them. But we're a side that needs to score that vital second goal, and we need to work on that.

You could well be right. Sunderland strike me as a decent side with attitude problems. The same players turned it around completely after Bruce was fired so they obviously weren't playing for him. They've been heading the same way with O'Neil but it looks like they had a rocket at half time, so then we see a different team. It all magnifies our challenge, doesn't it?

It's quite striking that Chris Hughton is so vocal on the line, constantly telling his key midfielders when to press and when to drop - and that they listen and respond. Yes, it's kind of annoying to hear but I often wonder whether Nigel needs to be more forceful with our lot during games, especially when we seem to be losing our way a bit. If it's not coming from the players themselves it has to come from somewhere.

Tactically we got it wrong IMO - our midfield defended far too deep in the first half and we didn't adequately recognize the importance of their attacking full backs. It was almost as though we were setup to avoid a hammering, which is paying them too much respect. Morgan was barely in it in the first half, better in the second. Davis frustrates the hell out of me with his telegraphed passes that are so easy to intercept. I'm starting to become concerned about our fitness levels.

The good thing is that we can make some adjustments at half time that could change this around, because - despite how that half looked - we can play with them. But we need to be far more effective in midfield. Morgan really needs to step up.

We need to start competing higher up the pitch - it's like we've been set up to avoid getting whacked.

It has just dawned on me that the combined Liverpool right wing/Saints left back contest is younger than Jamie Carragher.

Demand your money back and drop to three posts per day. Everyone wins.

The wall was the problem - it left him with too much ground to cover and he didn't get there in time. And yes, it was his responsibility. But he's not even 21 until January and he's still got a lot of learning to do. Keepers don't peak until their thirties. To write him off as a "clown" is infantile. I think he needs to get some games under his belt away from the pressures of the PL but let's not forget the frustration voiced (often by the same people) with our other two options. IMO the solution to this will come in January, not tomorrow.

I would have thought that Cortese had his picture on every turnstile.

I'm starting to wonder if he has some kind of chemical imbalance or dietary issue because he's super young and super fit but, you're right, it is becoming a regular thing. Still, I'm sure the club is looking at all the angles. He was excellent today.

He's showing his immaturity, and the more he shows it at this level the more it will be exploited. Besides the error for the goal (errors, plural, if he set the wall), he gave up on a couple of crosses to the far post in the first half, thinking they would go out. They very nearly didn't. I like him and I think he has a ton of promise, but he really needs to get some games under his belt at a better level than Gillingham but below the Premier League. What gets my goat is seeing the knee-jerk negative brigade calling him a "clown", which he clearly isn't. Errors and all, he may still be our best option right now. Kelvin won't be any less cross-shy or near-post-vulnerable if he comes back, and Boruc's dubious judgment and seeming lack of agility/fitness won't have improved either. Neither represents a clear improvement. We need to make a decision and stick with it until the cheque book can come out.

I didn't mean nasty-lazy so much as "believe your own positive publicity" lazy.

We've been much slower to set our triangles today. Fatigue, laziness or credit to Norwich?

I think we're getting sucked into playing their game rather than forcing them to match ours. Still, time to go and talent on the pitch.

No, just open your eyes and your mind. If that doesn't work you have a larger problem.

Ooops!

I'm going with a Ramirez bender.

Yes, there has been evidence - plenty of it. If you're looking. He's young and immature, and it's showing, but he's not a clown FFS.

Get a grip FFS. Now Adkins is proving you wrong, I guess all the heat goes on your next whipping boy.