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Scienza, Jander and Charles are the only ones who have looked consistently good. Jelert looks very good too and needs to come back in ASAP, Downes played ok once or twice when could be bothered, and Wood been ok, but always think he's fairly limited, just the only seemingly strong centre back (or the equivalent of Eddie Hall compared to Edwards).

Think about their key strengths - Downs is known to want to play on the shoulder and run in behind - we've seen him score a good goal like this in pre-season, and from last season. Azaz is good at getting on the ball and slotting it through the defence for strikers - he's done this a few times for Armstrong who's fluffed it, but it is probably Downs who wants that sort of service and we haven't actually seen these two guys really play much together to utilise their talents.

Please no! He instilled the whole “comfortable for his mates” environment which led to us being completely embarrassed in the prem and was a laughing stock with Rangers

Based on the squad and the teams we’re facing with that squad, Still is definitely doing the worst.

SACK HIM NOW

I think this is the thing - he never looks like he even wants to get involved. When it’s not working out you at least need to try to get involved, and he just wanders around not trying to even touch the ball

Maybe we show some ambition and put a £10 million bid in for Ross Stewart in Jan?

No time like the present Will!! As you said, Azaz, Fellows, Downs, Roerslev, Jelert, Jander, Scienza were all literally brought to play this system. GK Roerslev THB Quarshie Jelert / Welly Charles Jander Fellows Azaz Scienza Downs Just as Downs hasnt worked out (as yet) - there is a very obvious way of playing this system with all the players and replacements for all positions. It's not like we suddenly dont have any attacking midfielders or similar. The target man may be a bit of an issue, but Fellows and Scienza are good at carrying the ball so should alleviate issues there.

He's a good player when he wants to be (i.e. when his mate is constantly bigging him up), but is quite clearly disruptive in the dressing room. Wouldn't matter so much if he played to the best of his abilities and starting dominating the midfield, but we haven't seen that for a long time. I expect he will play against Preston, but needs to have a bit of a think about what he wants doing with his career and actually put some effort in, work in a team environment and play to win matches of football.

Bazunu and Robinson starting tonight against Real Madrid. No sign of Sesay who played the full match (and scored in the 96th minute) at the weekend - possibly rested, or saved for the first team? Supposedly free to watch on Saints Play (via website) but I can't see it as yet on there. KO 7PM.

Some of the weird selections / substitutions make me wonder if he is bringing on the players who have been least disruptive / shown the best attitudes, rather than those who are best for the game / situation? That said, I thought it was fairly clear that Stephens was probably undermining him... Sad it's come to that if so. I think the last few games are well past the settling in period and are now extremely worrying, but at a very minimum 6 points from the next 3 games now has to be the main goal or he's surely got to go.

Scienza looks pure quality and I’d say Fellows would if we actually played him properly and/or with the right players around him. I’d argue strong cases for Jander and Jelert too, problem is they’re not in the positions we desperately needed (ie keeper and striker)

Jelert out injured and Roerslev doesn’t make the bench? He (like many of Saints signings over the past few seasons) looked good on his debut and then quickly falling out of favour. Everyone hates the back 3/5 right?

He’s clearly suffering a massive confidence crisis, but has done it at a decent level in Germany, we just need to get him up to that speed here. Keeping fingers crossed it clicks in the next few weeks. He’s not an aerial striker, he’s a ball in behind the defender type - play to his strengths and let’s see what happens.

I don't disagree, just feels like as he's completely out of the picture he might have said "I want to leave" and by principal they're not playing him and having a potentially disruptive player around the squad. Have we seen Joe and Edozie training with the first team? Has it been queried in the press releases yet?

Has anyone thought that the reason he's not playing is because he's said he doesn't want to be here? Hopefully the question will be asked, but it did seem almost certain he'd go, he hasn't for whatever reason but if he's not wanting to play then I think it's fair he hasn't been in the squad (although annoying for Saints).

Which is strange as seemed to be miles ahead of Manning.

Certainly looked good pre-season and has stood out in the few games I've watched of the u21s this season much like Robinson and Dibling before him have, albeit obviously not a promise he'll go on to be quite as good as those two. You'd think we still have Aribo & Matsuki not getting in the matchday squad ahead of him so it does look unlikely he'd get much gametime unfortunately. Shame we can't at least move Aribo on, but I think you'd struggle to get a better first choice 3 central players than Charles, Jander and Downes, so always will be tough to fit Sesay in this season.

Stewart going off injured… 😑

Did I see him do a knee slide celebration?! 😬 This used to terrify me when Ings did them too!

Fellows off?! Our only player who looks like he's going to get anything going. Should've stuck Scienza on.

Second time I've seen someone mention a mysterious Jansen! Quarshie and Wood both good, Stewart a bit anonymous.

Fawanews constantly buffering 😐

Agree that Stewart needs to show us something soon otherwise I’d persevere with Downs (after Archer) who needs to gain some confidence

Crazy decision, but is it another one of the 'deeper pockets wins' situations?! Imagine if Ipswich were winning and Blackburn down to 10, would they replay?