Saints 3-1 Stoke - Match Thread

[Toussaint]

I must congratulate myself on my accurate score prediction, other than is scoring two more goals than I predicted and winning, not drawing, I was uncannily accurate. It’s a gift I have, don’t go messaging me for lottery numbers etc, I won’t allow it to be abused. 

[Toussaint]

6 hours ago, obelisk said:

Just arrived in Vancouver. Missed the game but read through the match thread after landing as if live. Talk about a range of emotions but with a happy ending. Three important points. It'd be even better if a point had been gained last weekend.

A happy ending seems like a good way to start any holiday. 

[Cabrone]

The performance may not have been up to last year but this league is all about momentum and who gets going the quickest. Follow this up with wins against Spam and Millwall and our tails will be up and performances will turn up.

[Wade Garrett]

One thing Manning needs to improve on is closing down wingers and stopping crosses.  He gave the guy acres yesterday and it's not the first time.

Definitely something to work on in training.

[suewhistle]

That was a hard watch but two good goals and we showed we had substitutes to make a difference alongside stepping up the speed of our play. Missing 4 decent players from last season but the various issues we've identified on this thread must surely be addressed. I'm taking the win when we weren't firing on all cylinders as a positive.

Sometimes I wonder whether Scienza wouldn't be better as a sub against tiring defenders who may already be on a card and less likely to get the softening up tackles he so often gets at the beginning of games?

[Jack]

31 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

One thing Manning needs to improve on is closing down wingers and stopping crosses.  He gave the guy acres yesterday and it's not the first time.

Definitely something to work on in training.

He’s made it to the old age of 30 without ever bothering to close down a cross, doubt he’s going to start now 

[austsaint]

34 minutes ago, Jack said:

He’s made it to the old age of 30 without ever bothering to close down a cross, doubt he’s going to start now 

Just the same, the space  he gave Saints old boy Gallagher before he crossed for the Galbraith goal was way too casual.   If we could combine the tight marking of Wellington with the attacking crosses and passes of Manning we’d have  an excellent LB.