Saint86

Are there actually people that think sacking Puel was a mistake? 😨

Right now we play to his strengths as a team. He's an absolute engine, a great wind up merchant, he gets to sit deep (pick passes and arrive late to the box), and we're creating space for him to whip in crosses out wide. He wouldn't look this good in another side. Given his quotes last season (and Romeu's recently), i don't necessarily think he'll move. But i certainly wouldn't begrudge him a move to a top 3 team, the chance to win trophies, and a guaranteed england spot.

That Sheldon article really hasn't done us many favours

How would that be our likely run? We will play Man City and West Ham sure, but we can't play Liverpool and Chelsea before the final? And we have just as much chance of getting Everton as we do Liverpool, or indeed Chelsea. Also, lets not kid ourselves. We've had quite easy games prior to west ham - and at some point you do have to play the best teams - thats how cups work. Suspect the team will fancy themselves vs Man City at home. They'll know they were robbed at the Ethiad, they know they beat them in project restart, and they know we earned a good draw last time out. Plus the fa cup semi defeat and home crowd will give them a lot of motivation. Has the makings of a proper cup tie. A better way of saying it, is that we'll likely have to best 2 of the best teams in world football to lift the cup.

Been trying to think how to describe our football, at least when it goes well. In my mind we try to play a very aggressive/attacking form of anti football (i.e we stop opponents playing - as in, we play high up the pitch, will absolutely flood the central lines of the pitch/midfield and/or squeeze the other side to the bylines). When it works, we suffocate teams. And as soon as we win the ball we are on the front foot running at teams, probing around the box, recycling possession. Absolute joy to watch us at the moment. The team have really matured into not just the pressing game, but also defensive discipline, and using our possession of the ball. So much of it is about the wing backs / full backs (sod it lets just call them wingers and be done with it) - and their pace / recover speed. Equally the CB's we have now are significantly faster - when you compare all of that to Vestergard and Bertrand it really highlights the significant improvement this season. The tactics, the players, and the drilling/discipline/familiarity we have now are all really paying off. We don't need great players to kill teams with these tactics, every player knows their role in a set position and they function as a well drilled team - but the players that really fit the system are shining none the less - all over the pitch! And its not just the above, but the fitness of the players is immense, we've been playing extra time in the cups, then going to tottenham and united and running them off the pitch by the end of the game. Playing games with 10 men and still running teams ragged by the end etc. Its impressive. Its hard to see us struggling currently, at least until someone works out how to counter our play style effectively or we get bad injuries (hard hat prepped if this changes!!). The signs were there (just thinking about 2020 form) that it could click like that. But 2021 with the injuries and fatigue we really dropped off and obviously at that point the doubters/concerns grew in number and volume, but right i do think we really do have one of the best managers in the prem and i think more people are starting to seeing that. I just hope we can keep it up and keep him - I am sure united must be looking at him at the moment.

See no reason to change this appraisal, although Livramento has picked up again since he's been back. Still think our best two are perraud and kwp though. Perraud is class, great attacking and recovery stats from ligue 1 last season and you can see why now.

I thought we should keep Bertrand rather than let him go. I fully acknowledged we would improve with a fitter set of full backs but I didn't realise how much - and we haven't missed Bertrand for even one second this season!

Clearly Ralph is a miracle worker - what a team he is building / has built. Great performance from them tonight!

Squad was weaker than I knew. In fairness I just looked at the starting 11 and decided that Ralph was having one of his mentalist nights!

Don't say that. Billy will take offense!

Diallo the weakest player so far, couple of very shaky passes. I would also bring salisu on for Valery (if he had made the squad 😅) Che Adams on for one of our 2 strikers.

Have I mentioned that I love perraud? 😍

Well... We aren't losing yet... (touches wood).

Lol, I like your attitude... I don't know how long you'll be in a good mood for though.

Tottenham's problem starts with L and ends with Y.

Mariner named as the referee? What's he been like for us over the years?

Not if we get 8th - Then I'm claiming it 😇 (would be a push but if current form continues....!) To be honest, I would love to see us go all out for the cup! The way we are playing (and with favourable draws) assuming we get past west ham, it could be a special end to the season - too much to hope for?

Agreed. He is a class manager. The progress the squad has made under him is very telling, let alone doing it playing enjoyable football. We're lucky to (still 👀) have him.

I'd have bitten someone's arm off for Weghorst at £12m generally, but i think Che does a very good job for us.

Burnley shouldn't be considered as favourites to go down imo. Anyone who still thinks they are has not been paying attention. Everton, leeds, and brentford are all in free fall. Will come down to whether Watford/norwich have enough to get out of it. Newcastle is anyone's guess. Should stay up given the backing they've had and the fact that they can score goals and are now on form... but tripper is out and they've had winnable games recently.

Lets see what happens, we've got a lot of exciting talent and the backroom staff and recruitment has been very good the past few windows. If we sell a key player then i look forward to a couple of class new editions. Only players i'd be gutted to see us sell are JWP and Romeu as I think they are effectively perfect for our playstyle and it would be difficult to get like for like replacements (might get lynched for saying that). But reality is, that as good as Perraud, KWP, livramento, Salisu are etc, we can always go out and find more of them. There aren't many battling CDMs like Rom with his control, and JWP is turning into the perfect all round CM for us. Stu as well would be hard to replace, we've signed so many CAMs over the years, and none have had the impact he has.

Following back to back wins Burnley need 4more wins and a couple of draws from 15 remaining now (i.e. 14 from 45) they look good (as expected) wtih 2wins, 2 draws, and a narrow 1-0 loss vs Liverpool. Plus Weghorst is a class signing for them. Injuries could be key but they are weathing the catch up fixtures well. Newcastle are 3 wins and 2 draws from their last 5. They need 12 points from the remaining 42. I certainly wouldn't bet against either of those teams managing to hit 33/34 points. What i don't think anyone counted on, was just how appalling leeds, everton, and (to a lesser degree brentford) were going to be. Certainly looks like an entertaining end of season relegation scrap. And the last game being the Chris Woods derby as well - burnley will never have so many neutral fans! As above though, i certainly think the margin is going to be above 28 points.

Not in Portishead but I am based in Bristol, occasionally head down that way to let the kids out along the front. Somewhat partial to a pub lunch in the Windmill. Not a bad part of the world.

Sheldon's articles rarely add anything, but in this case he's probably damaged the team's chances... An odd move for someone whose job is to write material for saints fans... Ah well, i suppose he's got his name out there and garnered some attention for himself, who cares about saints.

Yes, but Burnley are a much better outfit than Norwich, have been playing well lately, and also have signed themselves a very good centre forward. Norwich are going down no questions asked and our loss at carrow Road was a proper cock up 😅