Saint Fan CaM

For years I couldn’t afford going to a game let alone get an ST, then eventually I was financially able to start going to SMS buying single games now and then around different parts of the ground. When we were 2 seasons from relegation I managed to get a half season ST in the Kingsland due to so called supporters not returning, which I could then turn into full ST the season after. I felt myself very lucky to get a seat on the halfway line, row W and right on the aisle too. I’ve made friends with those around me, some of whom have passed away and not returned. In many ways, it’s been a privilege. While I understand the clubs ambition to improve facilities, I think shafting your most loyal supporters with an extra £300 on the seat they’ve held for years is ungrateful, disloyal, corporate greed orientated and just completely misinformed. The fact it’s a discount on the usual pricing is no more than a slap in the face...cold comfort. Will I renew? Well the interesting thing is that I have over £300 sat in my account from last season, so it would actually in theory not cost me anymore this season to renew. I suspect there are many like me and I also suspect that a corporate little genius has worked out that us old fogeys with £300 sloshing around will probably renew as we’ll not miss this squirrelled money. Annoyingly they’re probably right. I probably will renew but only for this season. I’m close to retirement and so £1000/year is not something I can justify in my pension planning. Like all those years ago as a nipper, I’ll have to support Saints from afar as I will not be able to afford anything more than an occasional game. A pity as I was really looking forward to taking my Grandkids with me and help ignite a new generation of supporters. Oh well...the new corporate IT driven world has given me the opportunity to watch every game streamed and this last year has proven to me that, sadly, I can live with that.

Nearly all of Leeds attacks came from the fast movement of the ball and a lack of guile from our defensive players. Djenepo is not a defensive player...and frankly he is not being played to his best abilities in attack either. Redmond is a waste of space and a shirt. We need Romeu back alongside JWP. However, the biggest issue for me is game management by Ralph and his coaching team...they are not getting something right. I’m no expert, but whatever game plan and style of play is being employed is just not working. One last thought...Theo is twice the player Redmond is and I’m pleased we’ve signed him. I hope we sell Redmond... he needs a change and so does our attack.

A tough game no doubt...Leeds look good at the moment. Whatever the game plan has been for the last two games, let’s see more of that. Interesting that it seems we’re less obsessed with high possession and more about effectiveness when we’re on the ball. I know many are wishing Armstrong will play further forward, however his partnership with JWP is looking good as he offers an attacking option from a deeper position. I definitely want to see Salisu and Tella start too. Pleased that I’ve got one of the 8000 tickets. If we’re at our best, 2-1 win. Otherwise likely 1-3.

Just when Redmond seems to be at his worst, he suddenly pulls extra special shitness out the bag to prove he really is pathetically outclassed in the Prem now. FFS get the joker off Ralph!

Brilliant from KWP and Tella!!! That’s how to do it Redmond!

I was about to say we look as bad as Fulham, but then a little bit of quality shines through. Redmond needs to find another team...I’m sick of watching him have awful non-descript games.

Ings May as we’ll be playing up top on his own...Adams a ghost. Put Tella up with him and really change the pace of the game...he will supply Ings without fear. Redmond despite the defensive blunder is doing ok...just. Overall I just wish we’d play the ball a little f-Ing faster!

Utter shit. We’ve lost this one.

So Ralph has his strongest side...let’s see what he can do. Something tells me we’ll still lose. Why? Because that’s the mentality around the squad, perhaps the entire club, at the moment. The way we play, tip tap practice pitch football...grown men playing a teenagers game. Jeez I’m not THAT disillusioned surely?!😳😂 In truth this could go any which way, so hey let’s say 3-1 win.

Feeling a little sorry for Fulham - that's probably us next season.

Perfect game to test 2-3 youngsters, particularly if Fulham lose tonight. Sadly Ralph will not do this, possibly because contracts get in the way. Think we’ll lose though unless Ings is providing a threat....just got so little threat up top. Head says 0-1, heart says 2-1.

We just dont look like any kind of threat except to Fraser as we've passed it more yards backwards than forwards. Utter shit. And we get nothing from a JWP set piece anymore - he's not all that.

Not sure he’s any better or offers anything different than Redmond and Redmond is hot and cold at the best of times. I don’t think Taki is a bad player, it’s just we need something different...more Armstrong than Redmond.

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.