Saint86

Day 25 of the transfer window, still no goal scorer, no active links to a goal scorer, and a club that is telling everyone that we're happy with what we've got and don't want to risk it. 🤣

VAR was used properly and the pundits make out like we've done Newcastle. It's not clear whether it was or wasn't hand ball, so ref's decision stands. Simples. I can't see us winning as it stands, Newcastle are squeezing us out of midfield and we can't get out by long balls as they're all bleeding giants... Playing to stop them scoring and then either aiming for a good counter or penalties at sjp is our gameplan? That or a jwp freekick...🤔😂 AA is probably one of our best chances to get at them tbh, said it in the prematch thread - we need pace and mobility to try and find runners or a good counter. Saying all the above, game looks like Newcastle will score, and once they get ahead I thj m it's over sadly. Mara has done well, sali superb. Good and bad from diallo and Alvaraz. Orsic anonymous.

Thoughts on orsic in his games so far? Maybe he need to adjust to the prem, but he needs to get himself more involved, sharper, and more aggressive for me.

We can't even keep hold of the revitalised academy gems in the premier league. Imagine what will happen in the 2nd tier. SR should be all over this, some of the best u18s in the country are at staplewood, no need to spend tens of millions on other club's hand offs.

AKA - this 😅

I was sat in the chapel with my mate (villa fan fwiw) and we both agreed that it was notable officiating against saints in the game. This was the last decision of real note i think, and it was clear that the lino should not have raised his flag and instead allowed the play to continue. Mara looked like he was in line when he ran through. If we had scored then var could have checked. As it was the referee and linesman chose to abandon the rules and deny us another attacking chance.

That's where you're wrong hypo - its actually termed "insane hyseteria" 🤣

Is anyone up in arms that Jackson is going to Bournemouth? if so, I've managed to miss it. I thought the general consensus was fans were unhappy we haven't signed a quality goal scorer to try and keep us in the league?

I'd be happy with this provided Alcaraz and Orsic are fit and ready (if not then you have to seriously ask what they've both been doing in training!) Would fancy this team to have a good go - and as a minimum i would drop diallo and start alcaraz! Ironically AA might actually do quite well against Newcastle. They sit there with an organised strong defence and are tidy in possession. I can't see long balls into Mara/Che achieving much against the likes of Burns, Schar, Botman - When we get a chance we need to be quick (i.e. counter or quick through balls) so maybe pace and movement might be the way to get at them.

Would imagine this place will be horrendous if we lose tonight 😅

He's now being linked to the Everton job... Although, I don't think he's enough of a masochist to follow us up with that job - not unless he wants a big pay day in 6months or so.

Agreed. Var and the attacker's not taking their chances. And then as jones said post match - bad defending on one set peice. Suspect some fans are still mad at him for referencing Brighton's low xG against us in his pre match presser... Can't be easy to hear even the manager embracing the modern game 😊 😍

He had a few bad kicks vs Villa but i wouldn't blame him overly for the goal. Decent delivery, free header, and placed it low down with pace from 8 yards out. Keeper has to cover the trajectory of the cross and stop a header for the opposite corner. People just looking for someone to blame if they're being hyper critical of that - and there are plenty of places to start before you get to Bazunu.

I bet you wonder why we even have cup competitions...😅🙈

IMO the critical mistake was not buying Ralph a striker and CDM cover in the summer. Do that and we're comfortably clear of relegation this season and likely mid table given the bottom half league table. As it was, they effectively hung him out to try until fan sentiment turned and made him into a good scapegoat for SR's transfer failures. Similarly, everything that has followed (since failing to sign a ST and CDM) has basically been reactive fire fighting... And by that, i even mean down to where we are recently - i.e. Jones (or any manager) would have had a significantly greater chance of winning more points had a competent CDM been available for their first few games, ditto a striker who could finish. SR ultimately are responsible for our summer transfer business and the general upheaval of both playing and off field staff - they've tried to change too much too fast, and simultaneously missed the most important aspects. Repeatedly.

Fundamentally all the recruitment issues are on SR. They hung Ralph out to dry in the summer, and if they fail to deliver goals this January I'm not blaming anyone but SR.

That's interesting and something I hadn't picked up on. Especially given he didn't have lavia fit for those games. I do think that Ralph would have kept us clear with a good attacker and cdm cover in the summer especially. But equally, I don't think Jones has failed yet - we do stay in games and it comes back to the same fundamental issue in that we are lacking quality at the business end of the pitch.

As would I. I think that team is close to our best current 11. Arguments for edozi / djenpo, or mara/Che. Whats happened to Stuart Armstrong.

They should have had a striker deal ready to go at the start of Jan. The longer this window goes on the worse this all gets and the more desperate we become sadly.

Ah I follow. Who knows. I would like to see alcaraz and orsic playing the next game. They can't be worse than the alternatives as a minimum. Diallo did some decent tracking back but gave the ball away so many times in dangerous areas... Has to be dropped I'm afraid! Edozi and orsic behind Che, with lavia/jwp/alcaraz - the league Cup game is the opportunity to trial this.

Orsic came on yesterday and played on the right / centre from where i was sat. He did very little other than make one of the most offside runs I've seen in years. Totally invisible other than that. I wasn't really looking out for him in fairness so may have missed anything else, but If he's meant to be our saviour it was all a bit concerning tbh.

We're going to be in a position where we're looking to pay hugely over the odds to a team for a cf who will also demand over the odds wages to join a struggling relegation threatened team. The player won't really want to be here / up for the fight. Likely becoming another financial burden. Makes the decision not to pursue the supposedly interested ings look even worse when you think about it.

We did enough to get at least a point out of villa yesterday, and arguably 3. He has made us a lot harder to beat and we stay in games as a result. But equally we aren't creating enough for the quality of our strikers to put away... We need a better CF and a better left winger!! Not down yet.

My overall take on the game is two fold. The referee was appalling, blew up at any excuse to give villa free kicks, even for the most innocuous decisons. Ultimatley coating us 3 points through dodgy officiating. We clearly lack the required quality in the final 3rd to take enough chances. With a better left winger and central striker, we wouldn't have needed jwp's goal 😔. What I would say is that our response to the var call was poor. We were all over villa prior to it, but following that call we totally dropped off - despite no tactical changes from villa or substitutions etc. No excuse for that. Was a close game apart from that. But ultimatley 3 points have been lost due to Michael Salisbury (always shit for us) and Richard West on VAR, and that could very likely send us down. Also, the policing response to drone was simply not good enough. Supporters in much of the ground didn't realise what was going on until it was finally announced once the players were basically off the pitch, and many fans could be heard to say, "what about our safety" (re announcement on the players safety). Which is spot on - seemingly no provions in place to stop someone flying drones into the crowd if someone desired.

An immediate confused reaction to this. I guess I should be flattered by the close attention! 🥰.