goodymatt

https://x.com/alfiehouseecho/status/1739903943608762394?s=46&t=7raSKCMt6LV8RJ1C2d39WQ Sounds like Bree needs a second scan next week, ruled out for the festive period at least.

He was clearly chosen for his underlying stats and possession based style. It’s nice to see those underlying stats become points on the board, goals and clean sheets. That 4 game losing streak was unacceptable but he stuck by his principles and now we are seeing a proper team. Feels like it’s just clicked now and the belief is starting to come back into the fanbase, for the first time since the Covid run and Koeman before that. 16 games unbeaten, it’s the second best league run without losing in our entire history and we were in the third tier when we did it last (1921/22). I look forward to watching Saints again, with more expectation/confidence in us than fear. I hope we can keep this going and get that 2nd place spot. Will be very important how we react to a defeat when it comes.

I think Downes is just not 100% fit yet following his illness, so his minutes were being managed on Saturday. We should win this game comfortably, I think 2-0 Saints. Merry Christmas fellow Saints!

Thank you, Sir. Interesting that we are only 2 points behind where we were at this stage last time. Same 2 points behind where Burnley were at this stage last season too. Shows how good a job The top 2 have done so far. I think we can catch Ipswich, just a question of whether we can finish ahead of Leeds too.

I’m interested in comparing how we are doing against our last promotion season. Does anyone know of a particular website that lets you look at how the league table looked after 23 games when we were last in the league?

Surely Ings could get a PL loan to one of the bottom 6? Why would he come back here and drop down a league? That said, I’d be absolutely happy to have him back, he’s a goal machine and if he was fit you’d expect him to score every game at this level.

Manning is so poor, why do we keep playing him?

We started the first 15 with much more zip and directness. Coventry then sat much deeper and we fell into the pass pass pass phase. Towards the end of the half it was very frustrating to watch. Hopefully we start the second half more like the first 15 mins!

Will be a tough test tomorrow, their style is one we could struggle against and they are in very good form. I’m going 1–1 for this one.

Congratulations to you too! 😇

My new son starting off life with a 100% Saints record. Long may that continue!

Sounds like Sulemana injury could be a ‘significant’ one: https://x.com/alfiehouseecho/status/1729994296328110350?s=46&t=7raSKCMt6LV8RJ1C2d39WQ Ross Stewart has a new muscle injury: https://x.com/alfiehouseecho/status/1729991686166646892?s=46&t=7raSKCMt6LV8RJ1C2d39WQ

Now he’s up and running he looks quality

4 more to play plus however long manning is down for here

So so bad.

That’s a stat! Think we have scored first in 11 consecutive games now too.

Much better second half, creating a lot more and looking much more controlled on the ball. Need that second goal desperately.

Is it me or is any tackle we make a foul? This ref is shite.

What a strike that was by KWP, fantastic!

It was supposedly a coup to beat Leeds to his signature. Player that fully understands Russ-ball and gets 15 goal contributions a season. In reality, he’s a LWB that looked good in a back 5, where defending wasn’t his job and he could get up high. We play with wingers so unless you play a striker or AM on his side to afford space like we do with KWP, he is a fish out of water. You can’t do that on both wings though so not going to see the best of him. Please sign a proper defensive LB in January.

That was so passive. Sulemana injured. Should be losing. We don’t look at all convincing in any part of the pitch tonight. Only positive is Gav making 2 big saves, that will do his confidence good.

Manning scares me defensively.

We were linked with Vyner in the summer IIRC, be interesting to see if he’s any good.

Notable absence, wonder if we are just giving him a night off as part of his management. He’s only played 15 mins though at the weekend.