Saint Fan CaM

Bertrand looking very exposed on the left...we will get punished if thats allowed to carry on.

No pushover this evening, Brighton have some handy players. I just hope we get in and around the edge of their box because they will be very wary of giving away free kicks for Prowsey to convert. That’s why Djenepo is such an asset - he must be terrifying to play against given his trickery. I think having Ings, Redders, Diallo and Salisu on the bench ready to step in will provide the impetus to push the team to an impressive performance. Head says 2-2. Heart says 1-3. Hope it’s the latter to take us back into 5th. COYS!

I wouldn’t mind seeing Armstrong given a rest on the bench and playing Theo and Redmond as AMs. If Ings is OK have him up top with Adams. No point playing Long...give a youngster a chance.

Oh fuck.

Yep and Sky so f ing delighted that Utd have got back into the game. Dicks.

Absolutely stupendous quality from Prowsey!

Did I hear Ralph in his pre-match say Ings could be back for this game or did I imagine that? Would be a big boost if so.

Think the current Man Utd differs in one essential way from previous versions- their Manager doesn’t know how to mould them into a team. Yet. That’s quite the opposite to Saints under Ralph and hopefully it will make the difference. Unchanged side as Redmond is still out, but I hope Djenepo is able to do more than his headless chicken act. 2-1 Saints.

Can see Wolves coming into this and scoring first - need to put more pressure on their keeper to get something from this game.

Defensively we look good as we feel our way into the match, but we’re not moving the ball forward in possession quickly enough at the moment. As usual JWP and Betty slow the play down too much.

Let’s do this...show ‘em it’s no flash in the pan. Control the game lads. COYS!

Given Ralph’s closer involvement with the B team and his positive comments over the recent tonking of Man City, I wonder if there’s more opportunity for certain youngsters coming though rather than significant spending in January? Could be a quiet month.

No thanks. No good reason I’ve seen to change it.

I really don’t think there’s a reason to be concerned. The player is hardly of advanced years, has had injuries to overcome and is learning the system Ralph wants. He is training so is in the first stages of his integration, but it must be remembered that there are good players playing a successful team game in both the first team and B team, so it’s not a shoe-in for the lad...he has to demonstrate he’s better than the present incumbents. Time is on his side it seems.

Another academy product that looks to have the potential to be the real deal. Look who he has to displace though...can’t see him getting serious game time unless there’s a cup game against a lower league side coming up, which will be shame as I like the look of him.

If they keep playing like they are against Leicester we will get a win. There’s little creativity up front from what I can see.

My word, Wolves suddenly look utter dross. Just goes to show you can’t rely on other teams...you gotta do it yourself.

Stephens getting far far too high up the pitch and we almost got caught leading to Romeu having to take a yellow. Have a word Ralph!

Stephens very nearly undid all the good work so far with a silly pass.

What a fooking goal!!!

Perhaps “not match fit” is a euphemism for “a bit shit and not fitting into the system just yet”? Why would the club come clean about that?

When we talk poor, it depends on how you judge the standard. Newcastle are poor by comparison to any team that plays exciting football, plus I don’t think Bruce has forged a particularly potent team. Saints are better than that currently, however we’re faced with disruption to the 1st choice team selection and in defence that is typically a weakness for us.

To be honest Newcastle are poor and so is Bruce, however they have some stand out players...e.g. Maximilian. I reckon there’s every chance of a 3-0 win. Trouble is by the same token, Newcastle are a team that can sit back and frustrate. Thinking a 1-1 draw.

To summarise, brilliant first 60 minutes, then Villa enacted their Managers instructions to nobble some key players and dive as much as possible in the box. But the end result was that we only let in 3 and still won going 3rd. My MOTM was McCarthy who frankly stopped Villa coming away with an embarrassing 5-4 win. JWP ran a very close 2nd...one of the best games I’ve seen from him. Armstrong needed to give KWP more cover and I just hope Salisu is better than Stephens, whose poor positional play was shown to be key to our past defensive frailties.

Good feeling about this. Confidence must be high in the squad which is starting to look stronger than for a long time. 1-2 Saints.