NewYorkSaint

Take a look back at the pre-match sneering and disgust. It's so unfair and unhelpful. Football is never as bad as it looks when it's bad, nor as good as it looks when it's good. There's soooo much luck in the game. We were lucky today. And unlucky before. But I really hope we give the club benefit of the doubt these next few weeks. Just need one win in the premier league, and one or two more exciting players in, and the world will feel v different. I give Jones and the team some real credit for that game. Confidence naturally started at all-time low. But after going a goal down, they fought back intensely. It was great to see. Lyanco, who everyone was piling on pre-match, was seriously impressive. And Adam A's blistering pace played a huge part in forcing the error for our second goal. Also saw JWP looking more like a captain than in recent weeks... some team-pumping and encouragement visible. Don't usually see that. All in all, proud of the team today, and remain hopeful we can still avoid the drop.

I'm not seeing any working streams. For once, it's not on live TV in the US... 😆 Anyone have one working?

It's really amazing to watch the group pile-on - on Twitter even more than here. People, this is our team. If a couple of mistakes had been avoided in last couple games, and this exact same team was picked now, you'd see people going. "yup... reasonable." The only big worry for me is: what's up with Stu?

May not be popular points, but I'll make them anyway. 1) I think we're incredibly lucky to have someone with Ankersen's vision running the club. He may well be the smartest owner in the league. Would you rather have just another rich owner or someone who's actually spent decades figuring out how to identify hidden talent and willing to construct a system of feeder clubs where talent can migrate all the way up naturally. 2) Where's the part in the video above that says success will come instantly? It isn't there. It's actually key to his model that it has to be first identified, then recruited, then developed. That won't happen overnight. When you look at the early signs though, there's a lot of promise: Lavia, ABK, Edozie for three. Plus we were a few hours away from signing Gapko, someone who no one on here was arguing for, for half the price that Liverpool just paid. I don't think this is evidence that what he's talking about is 'wank'. 3) I think we're all ignoring the role that luck/bad luck plays. If Lavia had stayed fit, and we'd brought in Gapko, we could well be looking at a very different situation right now. The trouble with football is that once things go against you, confidence drops, and the situation gets worse. You can see that so painfully in Che's loss of form. And last night it seemed to have spread to the whole team. Really, really hard to see. On the other hand confidence can come surging back with just a couple of wins. 4) I agree with everyone that so far NJ has looked a like a deer in the headlights. Definitely worrying. He's also been unlucky. The majority of the goals we've conceded since he came are down to specific individual errors. And we've missed many golden chances. With just a slight turn on that luck/confidence dial things would have been very different. His talent is supposed to be the relentless hard work he's willing to put in, coaching individual players. That is not something that would necessarily become apparent overnight. I'm really hoping it turns soon. If it doesn't, and he loses the dressing room, I agree that Ankersen may need to try again. He took a big gamble on NJ. Not every gamble comes off. But for me, at any rate, I'm willing to give it another month. 5) We're at the start of a new window. Supposedly our owners are at their finest in identifying new talent. They know how urgent this is right now. Before everyone talks themselves into a frenzy of anger, how about we see who they come up with and what difference that makes. They had a strong window last time round, and it was nearly sensational. I'm guessing they come up with the goods and we'll all feel a little better here. As confidence returns, there is still every chance we find our way moving slowly away from the danger zone. We're in the toughest in the league in the world, playing mostly against teams with far deeper pockets. If we can claim our place by OUTSMARTING them, that will be a really joyful thing. I'm hanging in there. I'm not sure about NJ. But I do think Ankersen and Kraft have what it takes. And that's despite my favorite John Cleese quote ever: "I can take the despair. It's the hope that kills me."

I asked ChatGPT to write Nathan's half-time pep talk. This is what it came up with... LOL: "Team, I know things aren't looking great out there, but let's not lose faith. We've got 45 minutes left to turn this thing around, and I believe that with God's help, anything is possible. "I know some of you may be feeling frustrated and defeated, but let's remember that God is with us in all things. He has a plan for us, and this difficult situation may be part of that plan. Let's trust in His will and have faith that He will guide us through this. "So let's go out there and give it our all. Let's play for Him and let Him guide our actions. Let's remember that it's not about the outcome of this game, but about giving our best effort and glorifying His name. "And even if things don't go our way on the field, let's remember that our ultimate victory is found in Him. Let's go out there and leave it all on the field, knowing that we are playing for something greater than just a win or a loss. "God bless, team. Let's do this."

The only thing you could say in Saints defense is that both goals had a freak quality to them. Gazunu would save the first 99/100. And the second was a freak own goal. Great cross, but v unlucky tip of the ball onto Perraud's legs. But our play in possession was only rarely good. Until we get our best players back, we're clearly going to struggle. I'd bring on Stu for Dalio. Next goal crucial.

Hilarious. But based on this result....WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP EIGHT TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY!!!!!

Moi has had some good moments... His overhead kick just now made the goal...

OK... it's a game of three thirds??? Please????!

Remember France in first half against Argentina? We're like that. Except a bit worse. LOL.

Yeah, but it's a game of two halves, innit?

One cool thing. It seems to me NJ has insisted on much more rapid decision making on throw-ins. There's evidence that the longer you wait, the more likely it is for turnover. It's been torture in the past watching our fullbacks take forever to throw the ball, only to give it away. I've noticed a big change this match. Sometimes whoever's closest to the ball just takes the throw right away. This is new. And I think this is a really big deal over the course of a game. If you can retain possession 20% more after throw-ins, that's worth a lot.

Can you say any more about your enticing info pipeline?!

I hope Lavia's OK. That possible injury apart, there was enough there to show a pretty dynamic team. One or more of two things has to happen, though. 1) get a lethal striker 2) NJ to find a way of unblocking whatever it is that is blocking Che and Adam A. There are brilliant strikers in there somewhere (certainly in Che's case, and maybe AA too). But their % of chances take just has to rise. One other big positive today. If there was a concern that our premier league talent would look down its nose at lowly NJ, that seems already disproven. There was a lot of fire evident today. Personally, I think we'll begin moving up the table after the break, and we'll all get a chance to be genuinely excited about the team.

Mara or Edozie on for Adam. I can only imagine how intense this must be for NJ...

Has everyone watched Ted Lasso? I think it might be the right analogy here! Hilarious opening episode in which everyone is rolling their eyes at his crazy appointment, and not without reason. And then, and then, somehow, miraculously the guy charms everyone, including the players and miracles start to happen. So I vote yes on Nathan. I understand the SR guys have known him well for a long time. They're really smart. They see what isn't obvious. This is our Ted Lasso moment!!!!

I think we're underestimating the smarts of SR. Finding some one who respects the use of data the way they do to shape recruitment, training and strategy... that's probably key. I also suspect NJ is a much better man manager than Ralph, who often seemed willing to publicly knock his own players. I saw the below as a comment on the Athletic story saying it's almost a done deal. Food for thought. Personally, I'll keep an open mind and be ready to give NJ my full support. From a Luton perspective.He transformed the playing fortunes of the club over his time with us from League Two outfit to an fairly well established Championship side. All on small budgets. The team he put together to get us promoted from League One was one of the best I've seen in nearly 50 years of watching Luton.The one big caveat is we are a small club and at Luton he is at one with the club. When he went to Stoke he was plunged into a much bigger (and possibly dysfunctional) organisation. From the outside he appeared to struggle with this, although that may be more Stoke's fault than his. How he can handle established players and big budgets would be my concern. There is a big step up between the EFL and the Premier League, possibly even bigger when you're making that step up from Luton.I hope he does well for you.

I heard stories that Walcott has been sensational in training the past couple weeks. It's just possible the manager has more information for this decisions than we do.... But I agree about the dive. A fantastic, battling second half performance. The weird downside of the injuries is that we discover we actually have a lot of quality in depth in the squad. Edozie! Lyanco! To me, the only truly weak link in that side was Diallo. With Maitland-Niles back next week and Lavia close, it's could get really promising!

To be in this position against the league leaders with five and a half of our best players missing... that's something. (the half is Che).

I'm happy to see Stu Armstrong start. He's due a barnstormer.

People say our problem is no striker. But I think it's the midfield. We REALLY miss Romeu. And Romeo. With Stu Armstrong and JWP just a tad below their best, our traditional strength of winning back the ball relentlessly and blocking most attacks has ebbed. Still, it wasn't really a humiliation today, and I still think we'll end up fine for the season. We'll get a much better sense next Sunday......

Next goal is crucial. If they score early, we could get hurt bad. If we can hold on and score around half way through the half, wd be amazing.

Can't argue much with that team. Diallo seems like potential weak spot, but otherwise, it's about as good as we can offer. It's a team, on its day, capable of both fire and magic. Here's hoping.

For what it's worth the betting markets think it's less than a 90% chance that City win. Roll a pair of dice. If they add up to five, then Man City won't win. 😉 There is a lot of luck in football. You never know. I for one will be watching with excitement - for at least the first 10 minutes.