Unusually for me I've suddenly had a surge of optimism about tomorrow. Not sure why but I think it may be the above that's responsible, and thinking about those two together at the same time has lifted my sagging spirits. Of course, if I turn up and find them (or one of them) on the bench, then the old doubts will return. So Claude, don't let me down. I usually sit (not literally) between happy clapping and neg head (hope for a win but never expect it), but recently the performances have tested my faith a bit. That is, until now. Tad and Bouf in an innovative experiment will play the ball forwards and passes will fizz across the turf like mini Exocets. How can we possibly fail?
It's being so cheerful keeps me going. Is I a miserable old git because I supports Saints? No I was a miserable young git at 21. It's in the genes from living in Cowes in the 50's. Dreary
Boro don't create many chances, but they only need one. We create chances but need dozens, before we score. Can't see a great game of attacking football, but any 1-0 to Saints will do. Penalty, own goal, ricochet of any number of players of either side. Anything that gives us the win. Desperate? You bet.
Oh, and just to really annoy everyone, the name of the team we are playing tomorrow is now spelt correctly in the thread title. You're very welcome.
Boro residents get it wrong too, that's why they use BORO. Most people spell Teesside wrong too. Loads of roads signs around here with Teeside. You can take the bloke out of teaching but you can't take teaching out of the bloke.
I might miss the beginning, owing to being on a 06.00-14.00 shift. Hope I don't miss our early opener. Not sure how well Boro defend crosses, but I would love us to hammer in a few hard and low crosses, just to see if we can get an "Inter goal", and to just mix things up a bit. Bertand hit one, not long after the start of the second half against Hapoel, and it was the first one to cause any problems, with the defender, trying to clear the ball, just hitting it high in the air, but still in the box. It would also break up the monotony of the flighted cross that, even if a Saints' player wins the ball, he can't get enough power on it to trouble the keeper.
Having just watched the highlights of Hull vs Palace I find it almost inconceivable that we lost to both these sides and even more mystifying that our manager said they were both 'difficult sides' or a version of that. Unbelievable Jeff. I am not filled with confidence.
Palace have been shipping **** loads of goals, yet we never looked like scoring. I am putting that game aside as I believe we can not be that bad again
We just haven't felt that way for a few seasons though? Last 2 seasons we would be wary but secretly expecting a win or draw at least. State of mind.
MATCHDAY!!! Doubt it will be a classic but got a funny feeling Long is gonna get off the mark for the season. Up the Saints!!
Easy for me to say when I'm not going but hope the crowd do get behind the team today. Could get pretty nasty if we go one down...
I'm already dreading meeting the guy who sits to my right. He never boos or anything, but boy does he like a moan. And he hasn't had many good things to say about Puel yet.
Yeah... well if the handover get here early then a tad earlier. Back in tomorrow at midday though My challenge today is to try and stay up most of the day... not gonna be easy but picking the lad up and taking him out to my Mums for the day. That should keep me busy Just having a look at the table and interesting to see we're currently joint lowest scorers but also joint 2nd best defensive record. Burnley have scored more goals at home than we have in total ... though they only have one away... which us against us Despite all of that a win will send us into the top half today! Incredibly tight still with only 6 points between 6th and 16th. Imagine it will split a bit more after these next 3/4 games. Be nice to be in the upper end of the scale going into the new year...
Maybe now we have Europe out of the way we can start playing some more decent football. For me ever since this business about Katrina possibly selling us to the Chinese, it seems to have shaken the lads a bit. Is it my imagination or do you agree they seem to be a tad unsettled?