I really liked what I saw of him earlier in the season, it just didnt happen for him and he was also in the side that played pretty poorly across the board. Nothing specifically about him made me think he was at fault. Thats why I worry that he hasnt been eased back into the side. To fall behind both Long and Obafemi with their scoring records is no small thing.
Totally agree and Merry Christmas to you too. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing the brave away supporters giving us a great sound on the Solent broadcast this afternoon! Brings a lump to my throat whether in the stadium or not. Well done folks. Just simply enjoying the moment, not even contemplating the next few games........,,yet!!!!’
My one concern is what do we do if Ings gets injured. It's not just his goals that he provides, it's his link up play and work rate. He's just a superb forward. We're seeing the Ings that Liverpool saw when they signed him.
He looks fit as a butchers dog. But really don't want to push our luck. Such a tough time of year. There's a few teams who have lost a lot of players in the build up to xmas, and all look weaker for it.
I'd agree. His injury record is really unfortunate and we cannot afford to wreck him with a game every 2 days. If we get 5 points out of the next 5 games I'll be surprised so I'd be targeting Palace above all others
Superb atmosphere in the away end. I was gutted when Villa scored, I was getting ready to roll out "How **** must you be, we kept a clean sheet". ****ing Grealish ruined that.
Villa one of them, we got so lucky that McGinn and Mings weren't fit, they looked so **** without them. But I'll take it, great performance. Armstrong, Peh, JWP and Stephens especially, battled so hard and it was great to watch. Weirdly the 9-0 was a positive, as they all seem to be working a lot harder.
Just got back in. Not bad for my first away match of the season. From the West Ham match where I struggled to name our best player for all the wrong reasons, to today where I struggled to name our best player for all the right reasons. Nevertheless, in part because of the criticism which I regularly aim in his direction, I will give it to Stephens. For 70 minutes he was immense. Yes he returned back to his normal self at the back end of the game, but I'll forgive him that. It's Christmas. And he was really, really good for those first 70. How refreshing to see PEH facing the opposition goal when passing the ball!
I was irritated to see PEH walking back after his missed chance towards the end. You're the captain, sprint back man!
How refreshing to see PEH facing the opposition goal when passing the ball! -------------- Passing, but not shooting. I think Cedric has a better eye for goal than he.
Went into a bookshop in Stockton today, just as the match finished.Yes I know, who knew people could read in the grim North. Real books with words, not just pictures. Didn’t realise that the owner was a Villan. As soon as he saw my Saints fleece, he said they were closed. Well closed to me. Managed to get a quick ‘ How rubbish are you if we can beat you?’ Still bought my grandson a book.He lives in the posh part of North Yorkshire, where books are common, with real sentences and everything.
I’ve been watching Jack Stephens closer than I normally do in this rerun. There was one occasion when the ball came to him for a comfortable defensive header, but instead of just clearing it straight up the pitch, he took the pace off it and put it down at Cedric’s feet, who could then put it down the wing.out of danger. Good, intelligent play.
Just been watching the game on Sky, Hojpoj took a nasty blow on the knee in the first half, it may have slowed him down somewhat.
Today was also the blue print which I would like from us in pretty much all our games against weaker opposition. Keep a compact shape. Cut out much of the backwards and sideways passing. Look to hit balls quickly to Ings and Long. Take advantage of set pieces. Rarely play it out from the back. Put the ball into the box from deep free-kicks. By all means look to implement the press against the better sides. Sitting back against them will invariably still see them break us down at some point. But the lesser sides, by and large, don't have the quality to do that - if you don't give them a helping hand, by exposing yourselves or giving the ball away in a dangerous position.
