Sounds like here not so long ago tbh. I didn't realise FF was a doubt before the game, maybe the painkillers helped.
so pleased for FF. Watched on a hookey stream and Saints fans sounded fantastic anyone actually there confirm re the atmosphere?
The idea of a Salisu - Lyanco - Valery back 3 is just so terrifyingly chaotic (for both us and the opposition) that I need to see it in action for the rest of the season please
Just back. Are we the most Jekyll and Hyde team ever? Solid at the back and....Fraser Forster. Super human today. ? No Ralph out on the thread today?
Mixed feelings about today. Overall a great day and a good win but not wholly convinced that a win was fully deserved. But we have FF to thank for that . Team selection was surprising but Valery works well in a back 3 (not seen him as CB in a flat back 4 yet) and Lyanco took one more step to becoming a club legend. Slightly annoying that we are still experimenting with line ups so late in the season but that is a criticism of the team consistency as opposed to Ralph's selection. What we wanted after last week was a reaction and we certainly got it. Whilst last week, no one had a good game, this week no one had a bad game! Ely worked hard and created a lot of space for himself. All 3 CB's read the game well and were very disciplined. Actually with one or other of the wing backs working forward, it was largely a back 4 of the remainder. My only real concern was why we defended so deep in the second half and conceded possession at every given opportunity. Still - it worked so who am I to complain... Shane Long summed up how we all felt with his celebration in the last few seconds after blocking the keepers clearance.
Anyone mentioned the ref? Thought he had a good game today. Also Lyanco I think he might be short of a few (try and just watch him) he appears nuts,fun but nuts.
Was it really experimenting with a line up? We have played a back three this season in other games and probably should have done so last week (or at least not 4-2-2-2) Broja has lead the line on his own as well. I don’t think it is many times Dropping Salisu because he hasn’t found a way to keep up his performances whilst fasting (which as a very highly paid professional he really should) is not experimenting. Dropping Tino because forcing him and KWP into the side has ruined the balance in recent weeks and our best results came with the full backs who played today is also not experimenting Making needed changes that involve switching to a system we have used already is different from experimenting with the lineup Unless you are referring to something other than the above ?
Agree with both points. The ref let the game flow and didn't keep giving fouls for every bit of contact, I'd forgotten how much more enjoyable the game can be when it's managed properly like that. We even got away with some fouls that would (should) have been bookings from other refs. Lyanco should be playing in every game just for my benefit. Love watching his enthusiasm and whether he's going to be a top defender or not, at this moment in time, I don't really care. I like having a character in the team.
I don't remember any passage of play where we had more than 10 passes. Yet there's only one stat that counts. 1-0
Ageed on Lyanco. His passion is amazing. At one point Valerie cleared it into the stands and Lyanco was pumping fists to himself and applauding. Love it.
Noticed Lyanco at full-time. Massive celebration, jumped onto Forster, then whipped his top off and walked round the pitch clapping all four stands, then ran to the front of the crowd and gave his shirt to a child, accompanied by a massive hug, before dancing off the pitch to the Bee Gees - Night Fever. The man is a loon.
I don't get too bothered about whether we deserved the win or not. Lots of games are won against the run of play, we scored they didn't, 3pts to us. In truth they were all over us like a rash for most of the game, the gap in quality was there for all to see. If Saka had scored early on it could have been a repeat of the Chelsea game but Fraser was inspired and the longer we kept them out the more determined and confident we became. IMO, we defended deep not through choice but because they were relentless and it was hard to get possession. Some of the Arsenal fans thought they were awful but I think they were actually pretty good and had enough chances to win comfortably it's just that they couldn't get past Big Fraser.
10 passes? I doubt we had more than 3 at any point Sometimes the result really is all that matters. Yesterday was a day like that.
