Bobbyboy

Only reason I could see to bring him back would be because of his understanding with J-Rod if J-Rod somehow needs help re-integrating into the setup. Those two (and Lallana) somehow seemed telepathically linked last season. That would be only reason I can think of that we might realistically want to do this.

The question is "is this the most united the club has been?" I don't think we can answer right now. Success papers over cracks very very nicely... so to me right now because it's going so well, we don't know if there are significant cracks or where they are. A bad run, shock resignation or wacky transfer window and we might start to see where any fault-lines are. And there may not be any. We may be really united, and not in a plastic Manchester sense. I just don't think we can tell right now because of the momentum and current circumstance.

We're not a typical early season wonder I think, but the fact we did it last year as well puts me more in mind of Norwich back in the late 80s/early 90s. They often seemed to have that great start and then fall away... except one time (93?) they kept it going enough to finished third. Not that historical comparisons mean anything, and football IS so different today, but that's what our start reminds me of the most.

Why doing so well? Because ten years ago Rupert had us a radio station and top-notch catering. That kind of stuff really pays off down the line as we are now seeing. Also having a billionaire owner.

So the observation was that they seem to be very consistent at scoring two goals, win or lose, in the last couple of months. So that means September and October I think. Let's take a quick look at all their results in that period: Hull 2-2 West Ham Newcastle 2-2 Hull West Brom 3-2 Hull Hull 2-4 Man City Hull 2-0 Crystal Palace Arsenal 2-2 Hull Liverpool 0-0 Hull Oh yeah, 6 out of 7.

That thing is that Hull seem to always score 2 goals whether they win or lose, they're amazingly consistent at that the last couple of months. So we need to score 3. Simples.

#SaintsFC team vs @stokecity: Forster, Clyne, Fonte ©, Gardos, Targett, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Tadić, Long, Pellè.

Very good. Should be made a 'required reading' pre-requisite before looking at the national press for anything to do with us.

Lee is no longer in the squad though

Mane for Long.

So three own goals, a giveaway from their keeper, should've been a penalty that would obviously have changed the game and Sunderland would have gone on to win comfortably. Ok. Happy for the press and the rest of the world to believe that. The longer we stay under the radar the better.

No Sam McQueen?

To me January is about whether we can keep the central midfield intact. Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Cork. Davis also but he never seems to be linked to anyone so that's ok.

Unchanged

True, some things never seem to change... Kat in the director's box and lots of people saying "Pardew Out".

Depends on the wind I suppose.

I completely agree with the team but who is the third Davis filling the bench place?

Presume Chambers will be RB for them tomorrow?

Presence of McQueen but no Isgrove maybe gives us a hint that Lloyd might be on the bench tomorrow. Reed also.

Ward-Prowse for Davis. Hm...

Well, I guess the offence wasn't punishable by a free kick or penalty kick so it doesn't matter. Would be good to ask the FA for clarification of the incident since it appears there must now be a way that a keeper can punch and flatten an oncoming forward without it being a foul.

Gordon Simpson ‏@gordonsimpson · 2m saintsfc team (as per press TV screens): Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Schneiderlin, Cork, Davis, Tadic, Long, Pelle. Gordon Simpson ‏@gordonsimpson · 2m Subs listed as: Davis, Yoshida, Gardos, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Mayuka, McQueen #saintsfc

This, this and more this. 'Soccer' following varies hugely on a regional basis in the US, but NBC's generally excellent coverage has raised the profile as well as making all games so much more available. Now it's not about trying to make money from the few die-hard immigrant fans, it's actually about making it available because they know it's a good product and WILL in time be able to sell advertising very well. That said, nobody here in Louisiana cares. All Saints fans here, but it's the wrong Saints. And the wrong football. Everything else is all ducks and beards and stuff.

I think realistically the club have to at least plan for life without J-Rod. He's not playing right now, he may not come back fully from injury to reach last season's heights, he may end up at another club in January. Much as I think we should try and keep him and get him back to last year's standards, the club are probably being prudent in their planning and treating any serious comeback from him as a bonus.

What about the kid from Torquay???