sadoldgit

pudding

I am intrigued about the "sly" and would appreciate some examples.

In which case Hypo we are two peas in a pod!

Of course he is going to get a lot of headlines because he has just come in and scored 3 goals (but hasn't done much else). It is a bit early to call him the next Messi just as it is a bit early to write off VVD.

Glad I have brought some laughter into your life Hypo, you seem so down normally.

her

Because he is cheap and Ron's brother recommended him. Didn't look too bad on Sunday.

Don't worry Sid, anything that doesn't fit an agenda gets dissed and anything that does is flogged to death on the threads.

Well there is an interesting critique. You obviously give this a lot of thought "pal" and I would guess that I am not on your Christmas card list, oh well. It would be nice if more people tried the moral high ground rather than grub around in the gutter calling names. I don't see any making Yoshida a scapegoat but I do see people saying that they think he is error prone (including you).

noilly

Coming back? I haven't been anywhere.

I am confused here Hypo because there is a Hypo that also posts on the other site which I thought was you? Any, to more important matters, it is not an exclusive club and anyone who supports Saints can join. I used to meet posters from another forum a few years back and it was good to meet people that I had only chatted too online. Not sure why you are getting so worked up about it but I would imagine that the meetings would be between people who have or do frequent(ed) both sites. Is that a bad thing?

It isn't outside the realms of possibility. Ronald Reagan, George Bush Jnr, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California. Yes, it is a scary prospect!

But aren't decent full backs supposed to be able to defend and attack nowadays - and at the very least defend? From what I have seen of Cedric I thought he was ok. Can we afford to have specialist players at the back (not that Yoshi is a specialist but don't say that too loudly as a certain other poster will take offence).

He hasn't played for a while though has he and if he is rushed back he could pick up another injury. He wasn't looking Premiership fit before his injury so it wouldn't hurt to give him more time to catch up. Bertrand was given a game with the under 21s. You would think he would have a run out with them before risked for the 1st team.

You really do need to stop calling people "simpletons" when they don't agree with you Sherlock. Apart from not being PC, it really does nothing for your own posting persona. It has nothing to do with finding a scapegoat, it is a fact that he does make more errors than most that lead to goals against. Even you admit that he is "liable for a good gaffe." Sorry but that really isn't good enough if you want to compete in the Premiership. I think most of us would be happy for him as a back up on the bench, but not as a regular starter.

Most teams have pacy players though don't they? It isn't so much about a high line but compressing the team so that the other team don't have room to play. There was a big gap left through the defence staying deep that United exploited. In the first half we gave them no room or time on the ball. If the defence stay deep then the rest of the team have to play deeper too.

falls

Maybe a bit early for him even on the bench?

Alpert

Now that would be playing a weakened team.

Yeah, no point in turning up.

I could see the logic of the decision although I didn't agree with it. If Cedric isn't going to get a game against pacy wingers why buy him? The whole point of playing full back is to nullify wingers who are generally, erm, fast. I think Ron is overthinking his team selections this year and wonder if the poor run in last season has anything to do with it? We look much better when we let other teams worry about us. Although United eventually went on to dominate a large chunk of the game, they were no where near as dynamic as we were in the first 20 or 30 minutes and they only dominated because we sat back and let them play. I'd like to see a settled back 4 of Cedic Fonte van Dijk Bertrand and then mess around with the midfield depending on tactics.

Yep, it is. I wish it were otherwise as he is clearly a lovely bloke with a good attitude, but he does make too many mistakes that lead to us conceding. No one is error free but he just seems to lose concentration more than most and bam - goal.

It is the sign of a good player. You would have expected that from the captain but Fonte seemed reluctant to push up.