goodymatt

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.

Just listened to the full press conference on YouTube for this game. Most interesting was an update on Jack Stephens. Martin speaks so highly of him and gives the impression Jack feels ready to play himself but he likely won’t be considered until after this week. That would mean if we do rotate players like we did at Preston, we might see Holgate again. The way Martin speaks of Jack was like he is our first choice CB but I wouldn’t break up the Bednarek and THB pairing personally. I think tonight will be a competitive game but we should edge it. 2-1 Saints.

Tino handball, 90+9 penalty equaliser for PSG.

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.