Saint Fan CaM

We should win this comfortably, but we won’t. RM will persist with Manning which will unbalance the defence once again. Hoping Downes is back, although thought Aribo had a great game at the weekend. If we allow them the chance to break, they’ll eventually score and we’ll struggle. Draw 1-1 or an end to the unbeaten run.

You’ve answered your own question there. If we don’t go up and our better players are pilfered we’d become one of the mid-table also rans in the Championship under RM’s managership. Unless there’s some decent investment of course, then it’s anyones guess.

While it’s probably true the side will be picked apart if we don’t go up, who actually would go? KWP…big loss, but anyone of the others are expendable in my opinion. Especially when you consider that our ‘super side’ was held to a draw by a pretty average Watford yesterday. So the second part of your assertion that we would start to lose regularly is a fallacy - we would continue to win some and lose a few more and become a mid to top table Championship club which based on investment is probably where we deserve to be.

And another thing. How can RM say he’s ‘gutted’ for Bree? The lad did brilliantly coming into the team for several games to replace Manning on the left - arguably outshone him - but then he loses his place at the first opportunity. Well gaffer, it’s you that chose your mate over a player that had been ‘low’ but fought hard to excel and be a part of the teams improved performances, so don’t be surprised if he falls back into a ‘low’ place again. 🙄

I wonder if RM will turn tinkerman or resist the urge to bring Jack Stephens back in? He’s suggesting that he may have to go three at the back (to accommodate all three primary CB’s)…if that’s the case, who loses out and what will that do to the balance and harmony of the team? My view is he needs to stick with the pairing that has been very successful over so many games and wait until one the CB’s has a bad game before re-introducing JS.

I will be astounded to see the club bring in a potent forward this window, even if Che and Mara go missing. Our record has been pretty dismal to date…why think that’s changed!?!

Yep, and promotion candidates utilise these types of games to steal a March on their rivals. Are we good enough for the win and three points whatever the score?

I wasn’t really saying we were terrible and useless, although I may have perhaps over stated the case admittedly. My point was that Calderwood has most definitely had a positive impact since his arrival and I stand by that.

So if I understand correctly, you’re saying that had Calderwood not joined, the results would have turned around in exactly the same manner in which they did? That RM would have had a blinding flash of inspiration to change some the things that he was doing which led to the dreadful results and patterns of play we were witnessing? Sorry, don’t buy it…there was a definite change and it coincided with Calderwoods introduction.

Think this could be our banana skin moment, but hoping to get a win as it’s imperative to keep us in touch with the top two. 1-2 with a hard fought win…1-0 more likely.

I don’t get that. You might as well say, if we had scored 5 goals in every match this season we’d be top - blatantly obvious but equally untrue, so a pointless observation. Fact is, we were looking very poor value for money at the start of the season for 3-4 games and then two key things happened…a more consistent defence when JS got injured and Calderwood arriving. He’s definitely had a positive influence and anyone who argues against this is blind to the facts.

Much better game than previous outing, but Che and Mara particularly need to be better in the final third and less selfish - a number of times a goal was spurned because a pass to an open player was missed. Manning did a bit better, but I would still rather see Bree.

Yes he is. Bree did nothing wrong so why change him out for his mate Manning? And don’t say to give him a rest…Bree, like KWP doesn’t need resting FFS otherwise why’s he on the bench?

Manning was not crap? Tell us what he did well. He lost the ball with terrible passing on two occasions, went missing in defence on a number of occasions and not closing down well enough, delivered ineffective corners and free kicks and as I’ve said above, did not provide the same team balance that Bree does. My feeling is that RM picks him because he drifts inside acting out the ‘inverted fullback’ role that RM loves, but rarely works. When we dropped that stupid idea our results suddenly got better. Bree (surprisingly I should add) has moved into the LB role with ease. RM is making a mistake by sticking loyally to his mate.

A win should be the order of the day, but like RM’s usual halftime talks we’ll be jaded from Wednesdays game and start this slow and lethargic leading to going behind. We’ll huff and puff and might get a consolidation goal near the end for a 1-1 draw. Or Cardiff are pretty rubbish, setup to stop us playing through them and we’ll win with a solitary goal from an individual instance of brilliance. Who the hell knows…this is a Saints team on a record unbeaten run born out of some jammy results. I want to see Bree back a starter. I don’t want Adams anywhere other than on the bench. Stu Armstrong pushing forward to bring in Smallbone into CM and giving Alcarez the chance to create. I suspect what we’ll see is fanboy Manning retain his place. Smallbone replace Sully who could be injured. And Adams keep his place so he can be in the shop window for January.

Late to the party here, but thought I’d add my five penneth. City passed the ball well, did create some very good chances and with better finishing would have won that game despite the possession stats favouring us. Nevertheless, we do look very comfortable in possession and if we could create more chances, leading to more goals we’d be a formidable team. I’m disappointed in RM picking his fanboy Manning when Bree has excelled at LB. Apart from Manning having a stinker of a game, in general we looked more unbalanced in my opinion and Bednarek had to stretch wide to cover for him on more than one occasion. Perhaps that’s why Russ was so downbeat…he can see the gulf in class but hasn’t the guts to keep his mate on the bench? Baz had his best game so far. KWP was easily our best player. But I would also highlight Downes who as always just gets on with his job really well as an unsung hero. Adams is just turning up for a pay check - awful player - a striker who has no positional sense or anticipation and in most cases way off the pace. He’ll be very lucky to get a Prem contract, but if he does I’d take the first offer. As it stands, we’re gaining points which will see us in the top 6 easily baring an absolute disaster. Top two might be a bit too much of an ask, but then there will be teams that drop off in the second half of the season…who knows? In summary, I’m enjoying the wins, but would prefer to see a little more pace in attack and more than one goal per game.

Going to this one, so hoping for a convincing win. 2-0 or more. In the real world we’ll struggle to break them down and not score enough goals, lose the plot shortly after coming out at half-time and gift them a draw or a win by faffing about too much across the backline or in midfield. Rinse/repeat.

Edozie as usual is a bit of a nothing player…always trying to do too much, not getting his head up and finding a killer pass. Ends up going nowhere and offering little. We had 77% possession and far too few shots on target. Massive lost opportunity to close the gap on the leaders. These matches will be the difference between us and the top two.

Fuck me Baz…did you get a labotomy at half time?!

Manning = utter, utter shit.

Idiotic complacency of the highest order coupled with n old school Baz flap.

It’s not but you keep pissing about with ball in you own half you’ll start giving the Ref decisions

Bednarek getting manhandled to the ground for our corner - nothing given.

Pity we’ve not got a tall striker on the bench. Oh.

Too much pissing around with the ball in our half almost gives them an equaliser. Only a matter of time before we gift them a way back.