Saint Fan CaM

Well there’s only one way this is going to end and it’s not favourable for us. If we had enough about us to beat Pool, there’s still the Ref, two linesmen, a fourth official and VAR to contend with so it’s extremely unlikely we’ll win because the Prem/Sky etc will not allow it. Or something like that.🤣🤣🤣

Well that’s blown...only one way this going now and it’s not Saints way. Be brave Ralph.

What the very fuck is that about?! No way is that a red...he took the ball very clearly!

Oh dear. Ralph’s finally cracked and gone full circle mad. He is the definition of “let’s try the same thing and expect different results” by bringing Stephens back, but to play him at LB is truly stunning. And Redmond in attack. My prediction for this game? Another horrible loss, horrible performance, by largely horrible players, playing a horrible system that only Ralph understands. We will lose...probably lose by a large margin. 0-4. But I’ll still watch the debacle from start to finish in the vain hope that by some miracle we’ll steal a point.

There’s a stat that’s been produced showing how in a number of games the oppositions number of passes before interception increases dramatically in the second half and this has led to us losing games. It was the same in the Spurs game. There’s a reason for that - basically the players stop the pack style press...possibly to conserve energy...and the result is we play deeper, more defensively in front our pen area and allow more pressing time for the opposing team. Then we go behind and suddenly the press and urgency return. I’ve also noticed that we triangulate passing very well to play out of defensive positions, but often fail to do that in front of goal. We rely far too much on individual player ‘skill’ to open defences, cutting in from the flanks more often than not. Other than perhaps Ings, we don’t have that level of quality in the squad. This comes down to poor coaching...don’t they watch how other teams operate successfully and put the lessons into training? In my view if we were to solve the two above issues we would start seeing better results...I don’t necessarily think wholesale changes are needed to the squad. The only other possible issue is the 4222 formation, which does not suit a wing back style of play well, even with DCM’s like JWP to run everywhere to provide cover.

Moss and co wanted desperately to give that as a free kick then a pen. Didn’t look like either as Djenepo went for the ball and the striker kicked him!

Lucky to get that offside, but right decision. I blame our poor 2nd half on Ralph completely...we were on top of them until the Ings substitution which was unbelievable. Now we don’t look like scoring.

To be honest so far I’m liking what I’m seeing in this changed team...more urgency and speed in the pass. On the evidence so far we can win this, but it depends on the application of the players. I think Ralph has got this right.

Their goal came from a fluke and not much to suggest they were a better team, however Saints were terrible...very, very negative football and to have so few chances on goal in an FA Cup Semi is tantamount to criminal! I don’t think Ralph has got what it takes to be a successful manager at Saints unfortunately now. Thank fook I didn’t pay to watch that!!,

Ralph’s plan to contain them in the first half has worked! Just need to switch on the magic now. Be nice if the ref actually remembered that he can use the yellow card on Leicester players too! Some of their fouls have been cynical attempts to nibble our players - shocking that they’ve not been booked. COYS!

Think Djenepo could be the key to unlocking the door either by way of a pen or a JWP ‘special’ from a free-kick outside the box. This will definitely be a more entertaining game than the City / Chelski game, but it’s difficult to call. We’re definitely the underdog and the team without good form, but Leicester are not looking everything themselves lately. I think it could be a 2-1 to them, but if we’re exceptional then we could pull off a shock. COYS!

Watch us give a third away on the break...it’s bound to happen. Big Sam knows how to protect a 2-0 lead against a side in poor form. Can’t see anything to suggest we’ll get anything from this game.

Perhaps it’s tactical...let Brom win and allow them to catch Newcastle so the ’strongest’ team goes down? 😉🤣 Seriously though, this performance matches our 9-0 games but WB are more rubbish and VAR is their enemy. KWP in particular seems to have lost it...half the player he was 3 months ago for some reason. I’m starting to hate the formation Ralph insists on...I just don’t think we’ve got the quality in the side to play 4222...JWP and Diallo are just not good enough to support the attack and Redmond is not at the same level as Armstrong so the midfield is not functioning effectively. Have Ings up top and put Armstrong in a more central position to provide an outlet from JWP and Diallo. One thing I know is something needs to change or we will get embarrassed at Wembley. Again.

Horribly slow and ponderous start from us as usual. Why does it take 20 minutes to get our passing game going? KWP making a hash of things there.

Don’t agree Minemino is better than Theo...unlike Theo he wouldn’t have had the vision to have picked a up the loose ball at the back and picked out Redmond for the winner at the weekend. I think this the key with Theo now - he has bags of ability and so he takes defenders away from Redmond, Armstrong and Ings. He stays in for me. I agree with those saying keep a settled team...there really is no reason to change anything. We should win this...but it will be a nervy tough one...I’m going 2-1 Saints.

Brilliant win, but to be honest we got lucky. If only JWP had a little more invention and ambition we would be better in midfield. If only Bednarek and KWP were a little better in their games today. Small margins, but if anyone thinks we’ve got a shout in the FA Cup against much better oppo then thy need their heads seeing to. Well done Ralph and the team - one more win to safety.

Get in Ingsy you legend!!!

Back to playing pedestrian football again now. Sooo slooowww. FFS. They will wait and break for their 3rd...wait and see.

Can’t sniff at the fitness JWP has developed...is a real machine. Playing the ball really well too and would love him to net another.

He was my first footballer hero alongside Billy Bremner, before I was old enough to understand what allegiance to your home town club meant. Fastest shot in UK football at the time if I remember correctly...think he toe punted ‘em!

Well deserved win against average Championship team. Can only beat what's in front of you and it should have been 4-0. Thought Forster did well again. Redmond of course draws most attention and to be fair, rightly so. Armstrong put it a great performance and Diallo did well. JWP is a machine. KWP immense. And special shout out to Salisu who looked very good again. Well done Saints....let's take this into the last few games of the Prem.

An example of what can be done when the ball is played positively, not endlessly recycled and players get their heads up and foocking PASS!

I think this game will ultimately give Saints Board a very difficult decision to make. Lose and Ralph's head or win and Ralph will want money spent in the summer. Fingers crossed for the latter.

Us win a game of football? A game of significance? Nah, our form is abysmal and there’s is pretty ok. We’ll lose this one.

In one sense the result matters little - well get knocked out in the semifinals whatever, so talk of a Wembley appearance seems a bit pointless. On the other hand, moving into a run of 4 potentially winnable league games with a cup win could (should) provide an added boost. The one big issue is the wear and tear on players - Bournemouth will see this as their cup final and will be a tough nut to crack...i.e. there will be a high degree of physicality to the game. We have to play, so my instructions to the team will be pass quickly and do not provide 'hospital passes' which increase the chance of injury. Let's hope the pitch is in a decent state of repair. Wouldn't like to call a score, but our form would suggest it could easily be another loss.