goodymatt

Fratton Park is falling down John Westwood’s a f****** clown In league one for 10 more years Southampton boys are on the beers

Leeds and Ipswich dropping points but we couldn’t take advantage. So infuriating!

We played MK Dons but I haven’t seen a result posted anywhere

I wonder if Ross will start having played a behind closed doors game during the break or if we will continue to bring him in slowly?

Doesn’t always work though, lost 5-0 at Watford last time out.

Need to take advantage now tomorrow

Smallbone has decent potential, is a solid championship player and is ‘one of our own’. He is underrated by our fanbase based on this forum and X (Twitter). He fits our possession model and arrives into the box well. Suits some games better than others of course, but I think he’s having a good season so far, especially now Downes is fit and firing.

Martin just confirmed that Stephens is back on the grass with the team, still need to be managed but it’s a big step in his return.

Maya Yoshida training with us this week, could a short term deal happen during the MLS close season?

Agree that keeping this team together would be the priority. I think the right hand side will be Arma’s position. With KWP given the license to go so high, we can afford to not play a proper winger there and he has popped up with goals from that position. Arma’s work rate is notably very high this season too. Need to find a way to keep our top scorer involved. Bree being a more defensive minded full back than Manning at LB gives freedom to Kamaldeen to dominate that LW too and we have The Loch Ness Drogba as our main CF. If I was being greedy I would say an experienced CDM and a defensive but natural (left footed) LB would be the two positions that would improve the squad. We only really have Shea atm as and out and out CDM, although Downes is proving to be a great player for us in that role atm. A championship Romeu would be ideal for closing out games. We are probably a decent LB away from having the best back 4 in the league IMO. Sulemana LND Arma Alcaraz Downes Stu/Smallbone NEW Beds THB KWP Baz

I’m trying not to get too carried away here but I do think the Loch Ness Drogba is the missing piece of our attacking jigsaw, if he can stay fit. Kameldeen and KWP dominate their wings, we just need that proper clinical CF.

This would be a fantastic signing. Plays the same position as Sulemana though? I think Brentford are very keen to sign him in January, it will be interesting to see if Sunderland can keep him. He reminds me of Lallana a bit.

Might be best for his development. He did look very dangerous coming on as a sub earlier on in the season. Not the same impact starting vs QPR and pretty much vanished since.

https://x.com/sunderlandafc/status/1724129857968177574?s=46&t=7raSKCMt6LV8RJ1C2d39WQ Looks like we won’t be going back in for Patrick Roberts then. I do wonder if we really need another winger if nobody leaves in January though. I see Kamaldeen and Arma either side of Stewart, with Edozie and Fraser in reserve. Still having Amo-Ameyaw as cover too.

I would normally be all over this away trip but unfortunately it’s very close to my Wife’s due date for our second baby. I also missed Stoke away (closest game to home this season) as it was her birthday, the fixture list gods are not doing me any favours! I’ll take another wish I was there 3 points please. I enjoyed the 3–1 away win in the PL just before Christmas, complete with free Saints Santa hat. “Swing your hats, if you love the saints!” Obafemi’s first senior goal IIRC.

This is a good point. Wilcox said he was his choice and it all feels pretty well aligned to me in terms of game model etc.

I got the impression Downes was feeling his calf when he came off. On the pitchside unseen video on YouTube he appears to mention his calf to Martin on his way off the pitch as well. Hopefully he’s fine for Huddersfield.

I reckon Barley was in an offside position when the header was made that bounced off the bar for him to tap in. Hard to tell from the replays but I don’t think that goal should have stood.

Holgate was decent today, 4th time lucky in my book though. After being subbed ant Sunderland and Boro, then looking quite shakey vs Preston. It shouldn’t take that long for a £70k/week CB with his experience IMO. I hope this is the corner turned and he can help us going forward.

This next run is probably our kindest run of fixtures this season. 20 points from our last 8 games. You hope we can get even more than that from the next 9. This is our chance to make up ground. If it wasn’t for that mental Rotherham result, we would have 2 points per game, which is usually promotion form. Might need a bit more this season as those top 2 are currently averaging 2.43 per game but not sure that is sustainable.

Fair play to Holgate, proved me wrong today. Had a solid game and made some big tackles. Looked a lot more comfortable on the ball too.

Why not Charles?

He scares me. Genuinely surprised how poor he is. Hopefully he proves me wrong today! People saying he had a good game at Preston, from where I was standing he looked nervous and on the edge of a mistake all game.

Holgate for Bednarek the only change to the starting 11