Saint86

Is lavia meant to be the small one with big hair?

Why is AMN playing over perraud ffs. And bednarek in the 11 when salisu is seemingly fit and on the bench. Not good. Rest of the team looks solid. Like the front 3 and central midfield 3. Would expect we'll see a Paul > che swap, as well as an edozi > theo at some point.

A win would actually be massive given how other results are looking.

It was pretty obvious what he was doing with Lavia, the kid is class but is playing within himself - if he wants to be the best he has to keep rising to the occasion and offer more. I.e. Selles has challenged him to step up and do more if he wants to reach his full potential. He also said numerous times within his presser not to load expectation on 18year olds - which is fair as we have a young squad and expectations need to be managed. Fan's getting upset about it are being a bit silly tbh. Selles also eluded to the fact that Lavia has potential moves away in the summer.

If | | | | | | | - - - Very long pause - Yes i am going to say this... | | | | | | We win... Then we're not down regardless - we'll be on 21 points and within touching distance of safety 🤩

To the people who actually believe sports Republic will turn this slide around to the point where we'll do well in the championship - I'll have what you're smoking. On paper we should be fine... But everything they touch turns to dust.

1. Bednarek. 2. Maitland Miles. 3. Aribo That would be my picks in order. 4. Probably Moi - but could pick a few at this point.

Rasmus ankerson is in the process of systematically dismantling everything good about the club through his quite incredible ineptness. That's the reality.

Add his permanent appointment to the long list of Rasmus cock ups. Whether he is good enough or not (which remains to be seen), he should never have been made permanent until he'd earned it. Certainly not just after the Chelsea win - in which we were very lucky. I like the guy, and he may prove to he decent. But if he isn't ready we can't afford to be his learning curve this season. Flipping that, as said previously, have the players just succeeded in getting a cushty mate too play for? And equally, how is he going to sort the mess out and reset the club's form/tactics/morale when he was an integral part of it this season? He has no fresh perspective and that is a worry tbh!

Shocking officiating. But we've been dire in attack. Same old story there.

I can't be the only one who thinks our starting 11 is stronger that Leeds given there is no "Janny B" or Ely?

Looking at prem statistics (from the official website): Stu has a minutes per goal ratio of 550 compared to Ely's 900+ He has a superior pass completion rate, 5 times as many touches from only twice as many games (or 3 times as many minutes), and ditto 5 times as many goals (15vs3) 9 clean sheets to Ely's 2. 59 interceptions to his 7 163 tackles to 27 71 clearances to 11 Stu also has a shooting success chance of 8% to Ely's 4%, which is even more notable given Armstrong shoots far more from outside the box than Ely, and on that note Stu has 6 goals from outside the box to Ely's 1. Most telling of all... El7 has missed 6 "big chances" to Stu's 7... despite playing a 3rd of his total minutes. As the OP says, fans have their own views on different players, but I honestly cannot see a single metric where Ely seriously offers more than a fit Stu Armstrong 😅- which was your original point. We should be starting the likes of Theo and Edozi over moi.

Might be somewhat controversial but i would somewhat tweak the formation away from our standard norms. I would go for a 4-1-2-2-1 (i.e. glorified 4-3-3). KWP/Perraud as wing backs pushing up to support the wingers, but not necessarily tasked with overlapping and playing quite as attacking as previous - only if the opportunity arrives. With Lavia as a proper midfield anchor man. JWP and Alcaraz as our CMs - with licence to push up and support the attack/wingers. Sulemana/Edozie as either wingers - tasked with running at defences, carrying the ball, and crossing to che/Pall or the CMs arriving from deep. Che/Paul as the focal point. Baz KWP ABK Salisu Perraud Lavia JWP Alcaraz Sulemana Edozie Che Could also play this narrower - with the wing backs overlapping and a concerted press - with lavia and the two CB's providing a central core that will be hard to play through. In summary - try and get all our best players on the pitch and in their preferred roles...

I just can't agree with this. Stu is our best 10 by a long way - the issue is he isn't fit for whatever reason. He's able to hold onto and carry the ball, dribbles past players, links up well, and offers a goal threat. Something which is actually quite obvious when looking through their comparative metrics (be it personal or team): https://www.premierleague.com/stats/player-comparison The only case you can perhaps make for Moi vs Stu, is maybe that he offers more defensively. But then when Stu's playing the team wins more, generates more chances, has more possession, keeps more clean sheets and returns more points - so by inspection there is less to do defensively. I.e. - picking players with no attacking threat who are worse in possession invites more pressure onto saints.

Now you've torn it...

Slight niggle that the players have got the cushty deal with a mananger they're mates with, and they somehow feel they can get away with less. The defending / lack of effort for the Leeds goal was shambolic and very telling re what they thinks re required levels. Hopefully wrong as I like selles.

How exactly do people access these? Is it just a vpn and a paid up account?

I'm not convinced he's out myself. i guess we'll find out at the presser later. No idea re Macca - he is in the training photos, as is Stu.

Took this from one of the Leeds forums - A fair number of injuries for them. Leeds United v Southampton Saturday 25th February@15:00 | Elland Road If ever there were a relegation six-pointer this is it, as Leeds host Southampton on Saturday afternoon. The Saints may be bottom of the top flight (by one point), but Leeds recent form is worse. They haven't won in nearly four months, and are bottom of the form guide whether it be over six, eight or ten games. New Manager Javi Gracia does not qualify for a work permit, and whilst it looks like his appeal will be successful, it's doubtful it will come in time for Saturday. To make matters worse, they also face a defensive crisis. Max Wober is rated doubtful after dislocating his shoulder at Goodison Park last weekend. Although Cooper was on the bench, Skubala bought on Kristensen, citing the skipper was only fit enough for a cameo role. With no first team action since the Villa game almost six weeks ago, it's unlikely he'll start. Struijk too is a doubt. He was due to play last weekend, but complained of fogginess whilst training. Perhaps he was trying to escape, and ended up on the Yorkshire Moors. Ayling is expected to fill in at centre-back alongside Robin Koch, with Kristensen promoted to first team duties at right back. Marc Roca is rated touch and go. The 26yo ha been struggling with a muscular injury for the last several weeks. January loan signing Weston McKennie will again deputise, alongside fellow USA International Tyler Adams. Brenden Arronson and Georginio Rutter both completed 45 minutes for the U21's on Monday evening, putting pressure on Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison, who recent performances have been as appreciated as a Hull City season ticket. Rodrigo, Archie Gray, Adam Forshaw, Luis Sinisterra and Stuart Dallas remain sidelined. Southampton will be without Valentino Livramento (muscular), Alex McCarthy (ankle), Juan Larios (groin) and Stuart Armstrong (muscular). Striker Che Adams faces a late fitness test.

Hah, i don't disagree overly, and as you say - he's here/in now regardless - i think i would potentially have waited to see how he gets on vs Leeds, but the players seem to be behind him and i think he has something about him from the little we've seen. it doesn't change the longer term view though - Struggling to think of many decisions Rasmus "won't get too involved" Ankerson has got right so far. Given that, i could still see Selles keeping us up and getting booted, or him taking us comfortably down and being hired 😆. I guess that's a problem for 3months time.

Agree, pretty much said all of this post chelsea. In particular got moaned at for point out that Rasmus clearly didn't want Reuben - didn't appoint him post Ralph and tried to hire JM over him post Jones. Reality is that Rasmus obviously picked out and went on to hire Jones, and then staunchly kept him for too long... Its early days in Reuben's managerial stint and too early to truthfully say anything other than the early signs are good, but ultimately Rasmus will be appointing the next saints manager.... We've given him the job now for the season. But even if Selles does well, what do people likely think will happen come the end of the season? We seem to have a preffered candidate in line hence going for short term appointments? Another Rasmus special incoming, or law of averages he gets this one right - including keeping Selles if he performs well?

I did not know this! Love and light 😝

Looks pretty decent to be fair, but a long way still to go to make it to the top.

You also have the case of long standing users sending private messages asking to purchase account login details.... sad and desperate stuff really. You'd think it would also be very obvious when an account's posting style suddenly changes.... Back to the Leeds game however.... we're clearly on an upwards trajectory and well into the momentum curve now... hard to see anything but a Southampton draw or win in this one. Love and light.. 👀

If we get relegated (i actually think we'll survive), you get to look forward to promotion - And still, above that, you get to enjoy the exquisite joy that comes with fan's kit efforts/speculation.... and then the bitter disappointment that generally follows.