Stoke 0-2 Saints - Match Thread

[macca155]

I guess Azaz will be most people's choice for MoTM, and deservedly so, but the quality of defending from Stephens, and sheer hard work from Downes, really made a difference.

Since his handbags at Pompey, Flynn seems to have been regenerated into the footballer we thought we had. Excellent game from him.

[Patches O Houlihan]

27 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I take your general point. But Welington has been fit and available ever since we sacked Still. Given how much of an upgrade he has been in the last few games, persisting with Manning in that position for so long was ridiculous.

Wasn't he injured for a bit after showing well in a game? Or injured while he was out with a ban?

[so22saint]

That was my favourite win of the season. Strong side, formation that put us on the front foot, some excellent football and some gritty defending.

Didn’t feel worried even after the subs 🎉

[Dank]

He scores on his arse, he scores on his aaaaarse, Flynn Downes only scores on his arse...

[Convict Colony]

MLG just cant enjoy the win

[Forester]

Don’t know why Stoke has a reputation as a poor away trip, I always enjoy going there and we have a good record.

Excellent performances from Welington, THB, Stephens and Downes, and a couple of vital saves from Peretz (not that we realised from our view that the shot that hit the post was a save at the time).

Stewart makes such a difference in terms of basics of link up play and occupies centre backs.  Gives us an outlet when we are under pressure.  If we are to make a late run to play offs he is vital in my view, whether or not he is scoring as he makes us a better team.

History suggests we will need to win 10 or 11 of our remaining 16 games to make the play offs.  Not impossible, but a long shot.

[coalman]

39 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

MLG just cant enjoy the win

Wait a second. Did MLG have something to do with FM26? I'd never have known.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

26 minutes ago, Forester said:

Don’t know why Stoke has a reputation as a poor away trip, I always enjoy going there and we have a good record

Not an easy train ride to get there. Today, we drove and parked right outside the ground today in the Holiday Inn car park which wasn't that clever as it took ages to get out. So, yes, there's better longer distance aways but today's team performance made it all worthwhile.

Downes was excellent. Bree was so good I'm not sure it's the same guy that left to go out on loan. In fact, the whole back 4 is confident playing as a back 4. Fellow's runs were penetrating and Ross up front creates a solid presence. We didn't miss AA or Archer one iota. Finn Azaz also had a good game. Atmosphere was also better than usual.

We can make those play-offs...

[Convict Colony]

37 minutes ago, Forester said:

Don’t know why Stoke has a reputation as a poor away trip, I always enjoy going there and we have a good record.

Excellent performances from Welington, THB, Stephens and Downes, and a couple of vital saves from Peretz (not that we realised from our view that the shot that hit the post was a save at the time).

Stewart makes such a difference in terms of basics of link up play and occupies centre backs.  Gives us an outlet when we are under pressure.  If we are to make a late run to play offs he is vital in my view, whether or not he is scoring as he makes us a better team.

History suggests we will need to win 10 or 11 of our remaining 16 games to make the play offs.  Not impossible, but a long shot.

assume you live in stoke 🙏

[Graffito]

1 hour ago, Dank said:

He scores on his arse, he scores on his aaaaarse, Flynn Downes only scores on his arse...

It was a sitter.

[Micky]

5 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

Thoroughly satisfied with everything today, no complaints at all, even the Sky coms team weren’t biased against us which makes a change for Goodman!

 

Satisfied with the referee? 

[Micky]

A very decent away day today, team were excellent.  But by god the Bet365 was quiet, very, very quiet, I've definitely been in much noisier libraries...!

[Dark Munster]

1 hour ago, Graffito said:

It was a sitter.

 

[Dr Who?]

2 hours ago, Graffito said:

It was a sitter.

Oh very good. 😊 

[Lighthouse]

3 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

MLG just cant enjoy the win

Surely nobody who supports Saints can believe there is a god?

[Mixedkebab]

What a beautiful day and stress free solid performance.

The only downside was the disgraceful Manning was brought on, if only him and Wood could be banished from the set up entirely it could make the squad reasonably likeable again.

 

[St. Ciervo]

I do believe I can predict a score or at least performance by just viewing the amount of pages on the forum. When there is a shit performance, the thread goes 25+ pages of commiseration. Today was highly enjoyable, and we are only on page 16.

I think the derby brought these players closer together in the trenches. Let's keep this mean streak up and get to Wembley. Attack!

[Saint_clark]

Just watching the extended highlights with Solent commentary, anyone else feel like Tessem is just shouting gibberish all the time? 

[Jack]

2 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Just watching the extended highlights with Solent commentary, anyone else feel like Tessem is just shouting gibberish all the time? 

Unbelievable that he’s made a career in broadcasting. Sure he’s a nice bloke but makes your ears bleed and chats a load of bollocks most of the time 

[leeham_69]

3 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Just watching the extended highlights with Solent commentary, anyone else feel like Tessem is just shouting gibberish all the time? 

he can't seem to formulate sentences quick enough for live commentary. unfortunately for him he sounds like Porky Pig when he gets excited. He's generally better on the post match podcast. I like him, I hate it when you watch other coverage and there's a biased ex player from the other team. At least he cares (and rips on Baz).

[hypochondriac]

24 minutes ago, leeham_69 said:

he can't seem to formulate sentences quick enough for live commentary. unfortunately for him he sounds like Porky Pig when he gets excited. He's generally better on the post match podcast. I like him, I hate it when you watch other coverage and there's a biased ex player from the other team. At least he cares (and rips on Baz).

It took me a while to warm to him but I think I prefer him to whispering Dave now. He can be quite critical but most of the time the stuff he points out is quite insightful. You're right that he's better at the analysis side rather than the passionate prose in the heat of the moment. Alongside Adam I quite like him. 

[austsaint]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It took me a while to warm to him but I think I prefer him to whispering Dave now. He can be quite critical but most of the time the stuff he points out is quite insightful. You're right that he's better at the analysis side rather than the passionate prose in the heat of the moment. Alongside Adam I quite like him. 

Agree.  Once you get used to Jo’s shouty, passionate style of co-commentary you realise his words are quite astute.  He’s a decent analyst and while he obviously wants Saints to win he’s got an objectivity many ex-player commentators do not.