Match Day Thread Newcastle v Saints - Sun. 8 Dec. - 14:00

The radio commentators said the linesman had his flag up for offside (whether VAR would have agreed is another matter).

 

Well, very much a wonderful 'get out of jail' week ruined by the donkey and a bond villain. So predictable, but just as painful. On the bright side we didn't suffer any big injuries like a few of the teams around us. December is brutal, and very unforgiving. We limp march on.....

 

December is a fecking ridiculous month and it’s time the league had a look at themselves.

 

Back where we were a while ago
Playing ok, getting some results, but key moments at each end mean we often get less points than we should

Someone else who can score in open play might actually take a bit of pressure off the defence a bit in the final 10

Armstrong, Boufal, Djenepo, Redmond?
Surely they should be getting one or two?
Others missing sitters doesn’t help!

We’ve got to smash West Ham

 

1-0 would do

 

1-1 would be a smash.

 

Playing far better than we have been and shouldn't have lost here. Another stupid mistake messes us up.

I would be tempted to try and get 3 players in Jan. Lb, cb and striker, but then Adams confidence would be -90000 if we replace him

 

I don’t think we need a striker. We have several that can play there and play well in different ways. I think we need a CM too, with that CB.

 

Bad luck Saints, no criticisms today, good performance disappointed and unlucky with the result.

 

Oh well, at least we have politics all week to cheer us up.

 

Ralph really needs to work on the players concentration levels. We know the shortcomings of the squad, but we seem to switch off far too much in the final few minutes.

 

How much impact can a manager have though? Conceding late goals isn't something which has only developed under Ralph. It gets to a point where you just have to say that the players aren't good enough, and no manager is going to change that. (Sure you could employ different tactics - eg Pulis playing four CBs across the back four, with two holding DMs sat in front - but that covers up failings, rather than rectifying them.)

If we don't improve the side in January, it's just going to continue.

 

Yep a positive is that that is the last Saints defeat under a Tory government for at least 5 years

 

I blame brexit ............bastards

 

The quality of players are definitely an issue, but Puel managed to get a tune out of a pairing of Yoshida and Stephens for 6 months. I think you're right in that it's something that has developed over the last 2-3 seasons. Think its gone too far now to correct with some of the players that we have.

 

Once again copped it in the last 15 odd minutes...........

 

Wow, we're going to win every game for 5 years.

 

Most of these players have played three times in a week therefore I suspect with our pressing tactics energy levels dip towards the end of games.

We could have shut up shop and gone for the draw with 10 minutes left and brought on Romeu but we went for three and the gamble didn't pay off today but it might on another.

 

So, Andy Carroll. Has one good game a year, and it's always against us

 

Exactly. One defeat in four is hardly terrible. We would have liked more points sure, however we are going to be an "entertaining" side this year but if we can pick up four points in the next few games all of us will be happy.