NewYorkSaint

We all underestimate the role of luck in football. If just one of the 15+ shots on goal goes in, we're 1-0 winners, and you can bet that the entire narrative of this thread would be completely different. It would then have been a spectacular away win against a strong side who we'd made look average. And yet everything about the game would have been exactly the same... EXCEPT for one microsecond adjustment or one slight rebound or, or, or... And every game is like that. The 'better' team, even the better team on the day, only wins maybe 60-70% of the time. That's because football games are often settled by a single goal. ...and in the circumstances that lead to any goal, there is ALWAYS an element of luck. Personally, I look at the overall quality of Saints play, the amount we dominate possession, and have done the past 10 games, and the long-term track-record of people like Ricky Lambert, and I feel pretty confident we'll make it. Yes, frustrating so many chances were missed... but brutal conditions, and taking the season overall, we are great goal scorers. There's no question we were the better overall team today. I don't think Norwich are going down. We're better than Norwich, even playing them away. We'll be OK. (Probably.)

We are so much the better side. Schneiderlin, Gaston, Lallana, Fonte, Lambert, Boruc... and SHAW... all had strong halves. Maya??!!! With Clyne on and fit, I think we'll win this.

Pretty sure there are going to be at least 2 more goals in this game!

I'm genuinely surprised that bookies have Newcastle twice as likely to win as Saints given recent form of both teams. If I could bet legally on this from the US, I'd be popping a few on Saints at 12 to 5... But we shd make no mistake: win a giant result for us. Draw wd be great too.

Very, very happy with that team. Lallana was our best player first part of season, and if he's back on full song, I'm excited. Puncheon, Ramirez available as impact subs. Slightly surprised that Jos in ahead of Jose. But he's been strong last few games. Maybe the early problems weren't so much him as lack of Cork. Exciting couple of hours ahead...

There's a difference between the decision, and the way it was implemented. I think it's pretty clear now that Pottechino offers a step up. So the decision to bring him in was the right one. Some of the critics seem to think you can never fire a manager unless he's performed terribly. There's no logic to that. If the owners are ambitious, you replace a manager if and only if you believe you can install a better one. So I have no problem with the fact that the decision was taken weeks earlier, that it happened right after a great performance, etc. Al that was actually really smart. What wasn't smart is that it would have cost Cortese nothing to honour Adkins with a much warmer statement, program guide recognition, and perhaps even a farewell ceremony on the pitch. Instead of "whilst we acknowledge Adkins contribution..." he could have said: "Adkins was a great manager. A truly great manager. He brought us up 2 divisions. The club will always honour his performance and his time here. We'll give him a great send-off. But I believe I've found a manager who's even better and can take Saints to the very top of Europe.... " That would have made the whole transition so much easier. He didn't do that. It's a real shame. But it was still a brilliant, courageous decision... ...and yes, it's time to move on.

Jack Cork was immense in that half... Yoshida on fire too... So nice to see Puncheon back so confident... If Saints hold onto this, there's going to be a dramatic shift in opinion about us. "Beat City. Best opposition seen by MU. Playing a form of high-speed football unique in the premiership. Top 6 side."

Watching from the US on FoxSoccer channel. Not quite sure why they have rights over here... I gotta feeling Rodriguez goes big today.