Saint Fan CaM

Keep Cornet quiet and we should be OK. Need the team to be as switched on and motivated as last game. Thinking a 2-2 game again.

Fantastic performance from Fraser and Perraud, KWP and Lyanco all had outstanding games too. Ralph had obviously made a tactical choice to abandon the usual methods of play to favour a sit back and defend approach which was right for Arsenal. But make no mistake, Fraser dominated his area and made some world class stunning saves - in my book the best game he’s had for Saints. Perfect antidote to last weeks abject miserable match. It does leave one with the lingering thought that this squad is just not good enough to sustain the tippy tappy, high % possession, high press game Ralph seems to like. The summer transfer business will be fascinating to watch.

This would be the best setup to get something from the game but instruct the defence not to overcommit in the first half. Broja Armstrong and Moi have enough about them to keep Arsenals defence busy.

It’s going to be another mauling and anything better than 0-4 likely to be chalked up as a success by Ralph and his team of also rans. Sorry, not feeling terribly positive about SFC of late and I’m not sure whether it’s the Manager or the players or both. Tactically I’m bored watching the same old moves resulting in the same old mistakes. I’m frustrated at the % of JWP’s backward or sideways passing and his inability to find a Saints player with one of his hailed corners. I’m tired of trying to understand why KWP plays LB rather than Perraud. Can’t justify the expense of renewing the ST this season, but at least I’ll miss it less the way things are going.😔

Think a 4231 will suit this game better with Che up top…controlling midfield will be key IMO. Would have Tella, Stuey and Eli in the forward three and obvs JWP and Romeu in front defence. I’d also rest Tino and have KWP and Perraud at full-back to provide more balance in defence. Would put money on Ralph not doing this and starting Long. Think we’ll lose anyway, so it’s all conjecture. 1-3.

Leeds scrapping for every point and to be honest there was not much between the sides. Not sure Ralph got it entirely right in terms of team setup but at the end of the day another point towards survival is a good point.

Romeu off?!? WT actual F?!? What the hell is that all about? Think Ralph may have played that card a bit too early.

With JWP forever passing backwards and Diallo looking like he’s at a picnic kickabout we desperately need Stu Armstrong on to liven up midfield. Too many wrong decisions by Che, otherwise we’d be ahead. Broja is not really getting into the game enough but that’s more about the lack of service. Would prefer to see Perraud and KWP at full back to unlock a shaky defence.

Not saying you’re incorrect in that thought, but what’s to say Winks is not the star ready to blossom under a different system and boss? My thought is that often players often excel because of the partnerships they form under the system(s) they’re asked to play…think Morgan S, Wanyama and Hojberg who all played better with Saints than the club they moved to IMO. That said, whenever I’ve seen him he seems too lightweight to go up against some of the prem league midfield bulls.

Yes agree with this. He may not be a World beater, but he’s definitely shown himself to be capable at PL level. We should look to strengthen the position if possible but to be honest it will be difficult for a club of our standing to find better quality. For me Djenepo and Redmond are the big question marks - both are not really offering enough competition. Walcott is a different case…think the intention might be for him to finish his playing career here and move into coaching.

Most important thing is to arrest the very poor form over the last 3-4 matches. Forget it’s Leeds and that they need it more, I want to see every player show up and aim for a convincing win. Would take a draw so 1-1.

And there’s the £m’s talking. Our Championship level striker misses a sitter…theirs hits a Worldy. Over and out.

There it is. Stephens demonstrating his lack of PL level quality. We’re not coming back from this…they’re just too good.

It’s going to be over by half time. Changed defensive pairing with a CB renowned for ball watching. Two strikers with no experience working together and pretty much match unfit. A Ref that is biased in the extreme towards the ‘big’ clubs and a love of a red card. Think we could be seeing a record FA Cup score against. BUT, it’s the FA Cup and who knows? Get to half-time at 0-0 and we may just squeeze out a miracle. COYR!

Where to start a prediction but at the end and this one will not end well if the past three games are indicative of the level we’re operating at. This team needs to work at 120% to get anything from a game…consistent press in packs all over the pitch…move the ball upfield at pace…more one touch passing than multiple touches. Whatever, can’t see anything other than a 5-0 defeat. Might be more.

I wonder if there’s an option for a straight swap with Chelsea…Livramento for Broja? Would seem a win-win.

Just the type of team we lose against. They’re a team that likes to sit back and break quickly - we’re the mugs that like to get caught with our pants down in a high press in our final third, while fannying around recycling the ball as the front line stands static waiting for an incisive pass that never comes. Jeez, I’m so cynical nowadays! To win this game we need Perraud behind Moi and KWP on the right. We need Broja to link well with Stuey. We need JWP to pass forwards at least 30% of the time. We need to transition the ball from Forster to the front line much quicker. We need Valery (yeah I know) next to Salisu (he’s quicker in mind and body than Bednarek or Stephens). We need an early goal. We can win this, but I’m never confident even playing the worst teams in the league. I’m going 2-2.

Poor game plan…tippy tappy pass it backwards slow boring football. At 75 minutes you could be forgiven for thinking we were 3-0 up rather than losing the game. Where was the strategy to try and turn their 6’7” slow CB? KWP the only player who took the game on for us. Poor choices for full-back…Moi works better with Perraud behind him. Tino is not all that lately. JWP once again flatters to deceive at corners…nothing EVER comes of them. And he’s not got a forward pass in his locker. Eddie is doing a good job…Newcastle are fighting for him.

As others have said, losing Salisu means significantly weakening our defence…Stephens and Bednarek are collectively a poor unbalanced pairing. We don’t have a left side natural CB to cover for Salisu though, so options are thin…fingers crossed he’s back. If Newcastle figure out how stifle our play like Villa did we’ll lose again… 0-2. If they give us space to play 2-1 Saints.

And there you have it - the problem with messing about too much and with a poor CB combination that don’t know how to play with each other. Valery has been a better CB than Stephens!

Seen a report today that Chelski are valuing him at €70m! No way for us, so can only hope for a 2nd season loan at the very best (again highly unlikely).

Will be one of the tougher tests this season and one that could very easily see the end of the unbeaten run. Just don’t want Ings to score - would love to see him frustrated and subbed early. Both teams have goals in them - 2-2 for me.

Absolute blinder played by Ralph. Perraud my MOTM, but for goodness sake every player bar Djenepo and Diallo had a brilliant game.

Nd this is where we lose the game, aided by the club letting Oppo supporters boss the stadium giving their team a lift.

Crazy team selection. Feel a complete drubbing on the horizon. Oh well…nice cup run while it lasted.