Saint86

Bet he can't wait to do his ACL...

Yes. Sorry Egg, but Wood is not that man. And also i don't think he suits the mobility we seem to be using now under Jones. Che may not be able to finish, but he covers tremendous ground, wins flick ons and brings others into the game, and is prepared to chase and press. I just can't see that being Wood for our system - he is just a simple big man up top, minimal mobility, and average finishing (of that).

What does he offer that Aribo doesn't do already?

Has the best xG conversion rate this season of the players i previously listed (https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/topic/59570-january-2023-transfer-window/?do=findComment&comment=3116658). He was level with Haaland on 1.3 and above Kane on 1.2. Also a decent goals per minute ratio. Now as we know, people don't like stats like xG and goals per minutes etc. But i would still say that yes, he is still a good finisher... though if we ignore the data though you'll have to trust peoples' word/perceptions 😋

Ings is one of the most clinical strikers in the prem - if we can't get someone comparative we really should be trying to strike a deal with villa.

Don't know much about Jackson. People don't seem very excited by him or his record? And we're going to go and spend £20M on him? Hmm. Not a promising start Or, is he good and i'm just skimming a few negative comments? Also, seems a bit strange that we are spending £20M on a squad player. As far as i can tell, the last game he started they lost 3-0 to Lech Poznan on the 3rd Nov? Seems to be regularly involved from the bench, and usually on the wing - may at least mitigate his goals return.

Lets not get too concerned. Wolves and Leicester are both garbage (as were we when we played them), and Forest were easily the worst side i've seen at SMS in years (bar us). But yes, they have built up some momentum through all of that - and as we've seen from two cup wins, that goes a long way!

He's a good player, and with a proper CDM and more experienced GK behind him. i am sure he'd have had a much better season and developed better. Will be a loss if he goes. But we can't really afford to let him go on the cheap - so if he won't renew its time to move him on.

I'd take ings back on a loan for the rest of the season, or worst case for circa £10M, and both of those if we're desperate and can't get anyone else in. Otherwise yes, i agree.

I agree with all of that tbh. You'd like to think we've turned the corner - it does feel like Forest was rock bottom for fans and players alike - but anything could happen before ethe season finishes. As a minimum, we've given ourselves a chance with the everton win, had we lost that it would have been grim. 3points against Villa and i have a feeling we would never look bac - especially if we can get a quality striker in. The only thing i would say is that I can't see Villa dropping back in under Emery, already he has them playing much better. And yes i concur, i can't see 38points not being enough this year - There is a lot still to go, but already i could see it being around 33/34points.

I'm not sure whether we really need that many points to be safe this year. we're 2 points from 14th place (17points), all those teams can't go on stellar runs of form to hit the mid/upper 30's surely? And if they do all manage to take that many points, chances are someone else has done terrible?

That is actually horrific. I've seen the football versions of it as well and they're so bad its unreal - there are some pretty funny/cringe videos of MLS football chants

I don't fear Newcastle. They're had a good season sure, but they aren't that good. They're solid and tough to beat, but teams are starting to take them more seriously and figure them out and they're subsequently finding it harder now. Their lack of squad depth is going to start to show, and they were extremely lucky to beat fulham at home on the weekend. Plus their best player is now out injured and you can be certain their board will tell Howe the top 4 is the priority - if there is any concerns on player fitness. They've also got to travel down for a tricky but high pressure away game at Palace on the Saturday, before then travelling down to face us again on the Tuesday. We have villa at home with no travel before the away fixture at SJP, so we should really be better rested and prepared. Against that, we are bang in form, in the headspace of treating all games as "must win" style cup matches, almost a fully fit squad, and we've got JWP pinging in 25yard penalties every other game . Its definitely there for us to win - and i personally think we're going to rock up on a wintry night at SMS after they've had a long journey down, stick a few goals past them, and then park a 5 man defence at SJP and do the equivalent of shane longing their arses late on. Its going to be saints vs united in the final, although sadly i don't think we'll beat Man Utd on their current form. Not unless we sign a quality CF.

Yeah a lot to like. I am sure his passing/touch will come with games. Probably tired / jet lagged and has a lot going on in his head with the excitement/nervousness of the move and moving to another country at 20 years old. Think we've got a gem of a player and i look foward to seeing him lining up in a midfield 3 with Prowsey and Lavia.

Don't share this... now i want him. Just cruel.

Quite. Although I'd argue kwp is also class. Re jwp, Imagine being played in a more advanced role, contributing to attacks, arriving late, spreading forward passing and crosses... Then romeu is sold and Lavia gets injured, and so instead you have to cover the cdm role and carry one of diallo or AMN on your back in central midfield.. Bad enough right? But then you have part of a fanbase that expect you to not only perform to the same proficiency as a cdm, whilst also offering the same attacking output... 🤣😂.

Transpires we've had this debate before, and you didn't grasp it then either... You think JWP is "Pony", fair enough... You won't get many people to agree with you, but fair enough.

Our form has picked up since Lavia has been fit and can play in CDM, which allows JWP to play further forward - which isn't new. For months fans have been bemoaning the lack of CDM cover and slamming JWP for being off form when he's had to cover the defensive duties and play deeper. I don't know what rock you have been living under to not realise that.

Results up until about half time at Crystal Palace were simply not good enough, and Jones has said that himself, but he's done well to turn it around since then. Fair play. Needs to keep it up now and move us up the table.

Pickfords salty adoring legions?

Definitely rode our luck in this game. But we were probably due some luck tbh.

First league win, and it really was an absolute must win game! Did it the hard way, but ultimately fair play to him and the team.

If you ever want to know which saints fans don't know what they're talking about on here, having a read of this thread is a great place to start. He is absolutely indispensable for us.

Also, what a great free kick!

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