I nearly put this in the Sheffield United thread, but thought I'd put it here. A summary point - not just from the last game, but Saints in general this season... It's nice to have a likeable team again. I get that we're not at the best level we've been at in the last five years and top 10 is probably a fortunate placing, but I see a team that goes out there, plays as a team, responds to the manager, works hard for one another and get along in training and off the pitch - and they do also acknowledge the fans too. After the last couple of years it is nice to feel that attachment starting to come back.
Totally agree. Ralph has changed the squad dramatically. Boufal is living proof of the great job going on behind the scenes. Makes you wonder at what sort of lazy egotistical prats Lemina & Hoedt are!
Maybe we're not at the level we were at, but we're not far off it IMO. Djenepo looks like a fantastic signing. His goal against Brighton was very good but his goal on Saturday has really got me excited. That was Mane-esque. He showed excellent strength to get away from the Sheffield United defender who was intent on dragging him back. And then the skill and pace to get past the other defenders was fantastic. And of course the finish was cool as you like. I've not been as excited watching a player since Mane. We've still got issues at the back but so has pretty much every team! Even moneybags City! I think we'll surprise everyone this season - even our own fans!
I said up there with Leicester, West Ham and Everton disputing the lower end of the top ten and I haven't changed my mind. Ralph's game management is worth up to 30 points a season alone.
He is the dogs dangly's, spotting Djenepo getting overrun at LB and swapping it around so early won us the game. Brilliant that he reacted so quickly. Hughes/pellegrino would have stubbornly stuck to their ****e tactics.
I'd still go with Yoshi over Danso at CB. Danso needs to be eased in. And two local derbies might not be the ideal time to do it.
Couldnt agree more, i was behind the goal as Djenepo scored that fantastic goal on saturday and it even got a miserable old sod like me excited ! It was so good that immediately afterwards i was trying to describe the goal by text to friends and family who werent at the game and my biggest problem was knowing how to spell the lads name, my son was jumping up and down next to me whilst shouting out to me how to spell DJENEPO and me bellowing ' whaat' between each letter ! It was such a funny moment. It was quite a tough game for Saints but they worked their socks off and were great going forward, so yeah like you Tom i feel pretty excited at the moment - hoping to feel the same on Friday evening !
I'll be at an opera evening in Rome during the real derby, so I'll find out the result when the fat lady sings.
We'll be flying back to Schipol from Sicily whilst the match is being played. Bought the flights before the fixtures were announced.