Vancouver Saint

So, I've been head down at work last couple of days, resurface to find we beat Newport 8-0 and signed a new CB (i.e got one of the positions we need right!) This after a great result and good performance against Man Utd. Think Lyanco looks like a hard bastard CB with some aerial ability and skill - just what we need. Give him a chance ffs! My biggest concern isn't ability as much as language - you want a CB that is loud and can control the back line - and communicate with the goalkeeper. But I guess neither FF or AM talk so doesn't make a difference. Me, for once I have some optimism for a result against Newcastle even if we normally don't travel well there.

Very pleased to have my skepticism proved wrong with a well-deserved point. Still think we have defensive coaching issues....we can't defend free kicks sent behind our defensive line, or corners...which is going to be costly unless we sort it out fast. But think Adams and Armstrong are going to trouble defences. Livramento, Stephens. Armstrong, Romeo, Djenepo all played really well. Blamed McCarthy for the goal. but after watching the replay just think it was unfortunate combination of scuffed shot, blocked vision and through two sets of legs. A result against Newcastle to follow this up please.

So no surprise we lose at Goodison - after an excellent first half with us looking good and pretty much everything working well, I asked myself, "so how do we f*** this up?" and the answer was of course, let them back in early in the second half. Surely, the brief from Ralph at half-time had to be - just fight for everything to stop them from scoring in the first 10 minutes and counter a very predictable reaction from Everton. I have been screaming for a stronger goalkeeper - I don't rate Mccarthy or Forster at this level - I agree a dominant goalkeeper would have claimed anything near his six-yard box...but their first goal was just 'one of those' that fell in between clear or leave and fell perfectly for Richarlson, so I don't blame McCarthy for that as much as Salisu not taking charge and getting his head to it. I don't blame him too much for the second or third either - second was right in the top corner, third super close-range and unlucky bounce off his leg. We were better than I thought we would be. Livrameno - fantastic! A. Armstrong looked really sharp and he and Adams look like they will make a good partnership. Walcott should have been subbed earlier. Romeo not at his best, JWP needs to mix up his corners. Djenepo played well, just needs to make that final pass or shoot. Man Utd 5-1 winners with their tails up next week. Let's win that - stranger things have happened.

Relegated if this squad doesn't change. 17th if we bring in a 10-15 goal striker. 17-12 if we buy a decent goalkeeper to go with him.

Can someone kindly summarise our 'ins' and 'outs' as we head into the first game. Moderators - these transfer threads are way to long IMO...no time to plough through the backlog...let's keep them shorter and fresher.

Much as I want to be optimistic, I cannot get excited for this season. How obvious is it we need a better goalkeeper than either McCarthy or Forster (statistically the worst two keepers in the PL last season bar one). Why did I think Forster was gone? Goalkeeper a key position and one of the (relatively) most affordable. If we can't get that right in the time we've had, what chance do we stand? Ings a huge loss. I think Adams is ready to step up but too early for Tella. We are really short of goals. Goodison not a happy hunting ground. 3-0 to Everton. Will lose our first three games then have a desperate panic to close a deal on a striker and a goalie before the deadline closes... Hope I'm wrong.

Well I am disappointed - especially with the timing. You can now add a 15-25% 'desperation' fee to anyone we want to buy that will quickly make whatever we had left of £25M look peanuts. Very little management can do about it if he wants out, except to have acted earlier in securing his replacement. How many replacements will score as many goals as Ings would even playing half the games? Anyway, onwards. Hopefully Adams will rise to the challenge and we will buy a goalkeeper.

So here it is. Kane gets injured in the first 20 minutes of the first game and is out for the rest of the tournament. Maguire never steps on the pitch. Henderson pulls up lame halfway through the second game. Rashford continues on his downward form as does Sterling. England, short of attacking flair and actual CB's in need of a goal in the third game to stay in the competition...have no striker option and no dead ball specialist (from which what percentage of goals are scored?...gotta be high). Southgate has got it wrong to leave JWP out - and, I believe, Danny Ings too who seems to have been forgotten in the debate. Scotland to beat England 1-0. Che McAdams. England to fail to get past the group stage.

Really nice kit both original stripes and yellow. Good job Hummel. Almost enough for me to trade up from my ancient Flybe shirt from Championship days.

Any livestreams for the England game - here in Canada iit's hockey or curling....OMMM

Agreed MLG. Think Southgate is a tosser and took the route of least resistance against a 'What no TAA?' press onslaught. Worse is not having Ings. I will be supporting Scotland with Che McAdams scoring the winner in the final...against England if that's possible. No Saints rose-coloured glasses here!

Thanks for this TWar - a ton of work resulted in a very interesting read. As you say, statistics don't always tell the full story, but some really good metrics here to back up what most of us all instinctively felt notably: - Our goalkeepers are terrible and we badly need a top class goalkeeper if we want to compete - Bertrand a great servant but his time is up...if we're being brutal, he should have gone earlier (a mistake to keep Bertrand and let Targett leave) - KWP a superstar...think his attacking value is underestimated in the analysis, his finishing needs improving yes, but numbers don't take into account how high up the pitch he allows us to play, or his penalties won, or assists - Good to see JWP get the statistical back-up. On top of everything he is a machine when it comes to consistency / lack of injury - Vestergard good stats...still should win more in the air for his height I think but this justifies his important role, even if he does make the odd mistake on the ground - Romeo...a big miss as we all know, but I agree with another poster above that the gap between him and Diallo is not as great as your interpretation (minor niggle) - Adams is going to be the star player next season...there I said it - Ings we all know is great - Redmond needs finishing school - Armstrong solid - Djenepo and Minamino still question marks...both 'lightwieghts' physically...better going forward and drawing fouls than tackling...if I had to choose one it'd be Djenepo ...he tracks back hard and can work on his finishing As always, statistics can't tell the whole picture and things like pairings and team dynamics, complementary skills etc (for example bit Romeo and JWP top stats but together lack pace in DM) GREAT JOB! Thank you. You'd expect Ralph and everyone has all these stats and more...but it makes you wonder sometimes.

This. Watching Manchester City pick up their trophy... best Manager in the world, deepest squad, commentators reckon their second team would finish 4th...how many of us remember when our teams were basket-cases together?

There you go. Soooooo predictable. Please let's not see McCarthy in goal for us ever again. Not all his fault that last one, but look at the difference between him and Fabianski - one great save from KWP helped change the game when we were on top and should have been ahead.

Let's be realistic - Hasenhutl would be great if he has a defensive coach to partner him (like the American football clubs have). Our defensive organisation is non-existent. It starts with the goalkeeper - we need one. Neither Forster or McCarthy are good enough to be No.1. We need a goalkeeper that can make a match-winning save for once and give the rest of the team somme confidence that if we do actually score first we can go on to win a game. Vestergard worth his place but needs a really speedy CB foil. KWP great. Need a new strong LB. Salisu good. Been a painful second half of the season to watch. Everyone must realise we need some major rebuilding this summer, not cosmetics.

I only saw the first half, then bloody DAZN crashed so only saw the (predictable) result after the game had finished. What I saw in that first half was a great performance, lots of positive play, especially Vestergard stepping up into the middle of the park and creating chances. We all knew we needed to score when we were on top (which we were - well on top). Point is, you could see Bielsa was unhappy with the first half performance of his team - I don't believe it was a masterclass in them holding back and letting us use our batteries up...although that's what we did. What I saw from their goals was another instance of McCarthy getting beaten near post when he shouldn't of which is the difference in a tight game, when whoever scores first likely wins. We out-shot them 18 to 15 (although tellingly they had more on target than us 2 to 7) with possession even. Not a Leeds masterclass or master plan.

Well, as Minsk says at the start, let's pray it's a treble of 3-1 victories. For that to happen we need Leeds to 'do an us' and not show up second half (or at all).

I thought Stephens played well today - some really positive runs and a couple of goal-saving tackles. He gets a lot of stick on here but let's give him credit when credit is due. Felt Ralph was slow to put energy into the side - I would have subbed Redmond and/or Minamino a lot earlier - Fulham were threatening to score for a while before they did.

Anyone else like to see what Jankewitz can do? (other than get sent off of course). Think the punishment outweighs the crime at this point. Someone clearly thought the was good enough so let's see it...before he leaves of his own accord.

So very predictable. Why do we try playing out of the back when we're crap at it? Especially against teams that are good at pressing.

This. We played really well and took the game to them that first half - unlucky not to be level at least. Tella playing better than I've ever seen him, Redmond a handful when he has confidence and takes his man on, KWP good...others doing their job including Forster. More of the same please.

What is going on - why so few posts? Is there a social media ban from Saints fans protesting our appalling 2021 form that I've missed? Great Telegraph article about why we've been so bad...taking our foot off the high press pedal (as we know injury and tiredness) plus worst goalkeepers in the league (both equally bad and need replacing according to stats). Hard to predict how this game will go. Either we go down to 10 men after 10 minutes as is our wont and it's a rout that inspires Fulham to a four-game winning spree (stranger things have happened and, after all, we are Saints) - or, we play with some real spirit against a deflated Liverpool team and win 2-0! Draw not impossible either...So that covers every possibility then. I would like to see Jankewitz play - enough of whatever punishment or issues there are with him and Ralph/the team. We need more drive and grit in midfield.

Unfortunately, as a result of the Utd game postponement - this becomes the game they cannot afford to lose if they want to stay in the hunt for Champions League football next season (wheras if they'd lost or drawn on Saturday they'd already be stuffed and heading to a nothing season). So they will come out all guns blazing I reckon. If we can survive until half-time at 0-0 or better there's a chance we might just rattle them and sneak a result. Don't think it's going to happen, but can always wish...

OMG - watched this without knowing the score after the game had finished...so nearly fast-forwarded after the red card...told myself I'd do that after the inevitable Leicester goal. So...watched it all through doing what we were probably all doing, not getting my hopes up - even into the last minute of extra time. So happy we took a point. A fantastic performance from Salisu and Walker-Peters, JWP and Armstrong too, Adams and Redmond worked their socks off, McCarthy earned his place... ...Now to get that ridiculous red card rescinded. Leon Osman, the tosser reckons Vardy would have got to the ball before McCarthy and other Leicester massage therapists on the panel agreed with him!

The only way I can see us winning this is if our team take the recent SF loss to Leicester personally and actually show some fight on the pitch that they want to win the game more. I missed the Spurs game but gather we were good in the first half...then did our normal disappearing trick second half. I am actually glad Ings and Bertrand are out. Bertie has been a good servant but his time has come (I look at Matt Targett at Villa and think that was a short-sighted decision to let him go to keep Bertrand). Ings looks like he's been looking outwards for several weeks now. So a chance to get others in to stake their claim before the end of the season.