It’s like xG but for keepers. So he’s let in more shots that he would be expected to save than anyone else
Whats more concerning, and it's again something ive mentioned previously, is we don't have an adequate replacement. McCarthy is more experienced, sure, but I feel no more confident with him in goal than Bazunu. I'm sure he'll come good, but now is too soon for him in such a poor team. We really should've signed a more "oven-ready" keeper in the summer.
But then SR wouldn't be able to have a congratulatory circle **** for identifying the best young keeper in the history of football before selling him on for 2 billion pounds to Liverpool. Apart from when it doesn't happen, which seems to be every player they've signed for us.
. Bit harsh. Jury is still out on most of them. It’s concerning that we have the statically worst keeper in the league though. Normally I don’t really care about stats & xG, but in this instance the stats back up what we’ve all seen in games. Conundrum really. Do you keep faith in Baz and hope he can become more consistent. Do you play Willy who has been decent for us but is an OAP. Bit sad that yet again we’ve thrown a young keeper in without giving him support. This is just like Gunn, Gazzaniga etc. We seem to be adept at ruining young GKs
Jeez I remember writing how our defence under Ralph would make Donnarumma look like a sh*t goalie. I remember saying, what will people say when the new keeper starts letting in a load of goals. Saints fans complain too quickly about players. As soon as a player hits a rough bit of form, GET RID! It's difficult to find a competent Premier League player for an affordable price. All our players - bar KWP/Romeu - became worse during the last year or so of Ralph's management. But... Bednarek is a better defender than Lyanco. Redmond is a better winger than Djenepo and Elyounoussi. Romeu is better than Diallo. McCarthy is better than Bazunu. We know that, because we've seen it. When we were playing well, these players were a part of it. The replacements I mentioned, have never shown that same level of quality. Ralph got it totally wrong by saying we needed a squad overhaul. He was making excuses for his own incompetent management. We just needed two quality players to add to our already competent Premier League squad.
Bednarek is not good. It's why he isn't playing for Villa. Stephens is not good. It's why he isn't playing for Bournemouth. Redmond is not good. It's why he isn't playing for Besiktas. We absolutely needed a squad overhaul. The issue is that there is only so much you can do in a single window, because we had very, very few Premier League quality players, and it's a damned miracle (owing to one period of good play) that we did not get relegated last season. We weren't two good players away from anything other than a ****ty team with two good players.
Strong disagree. We’ve seen them all play well for Saints. If a player joins another team and doesn’t instantly start playing well, there are myriad reasons why. Doesn’t mean they are just not good enough. I’m sure Marseille fans are wondering why Caleta-Car isn’t playing much for Saints. Is it because he’s sh*t too? You write players off far too quickly. I remember you said Mitrovic wasn’t Premier League quality.
We have seen them play well for Saints. We have also seen them playing abysmally for Saints. More recently, it was almost uniformly the latter. No one was talking about how valuable Bednarek, Redmond and Stephens were at the start of summer, because we had just witnessed them be quite bad. Bednarek was awful last season. Redmond lost his gig to Elyounoussi, and he lost it on merit. And Stephens has never been good for any sustained period. It's seriously revisionist history to suggest that they were somehow the backbone of the squad that we now lack. And Mitrovic is absolutely having a great season, far better than I'd ever have expected at age 28. I didn't say that he wasn't PL quality, however; I said that he'd be an all-time great in the Football League, rather than a middling striker in the Premier League: https://not606.com/threads/the-general-football-thread.351194/page-891#post-15778717 Perhaps he has turned the corner; he's playing very well and has certainly exceeded my expectations. But he's also getting an unprecedented number of chances (he's recording more shots than Haaland, in fewer matches) and has four penalties (most in the PL), so I wouldn't exactly rush to declare him a consistent 15-20 goal guy at this level just yet, either.
Two quick things I didn't say, that you're implying I did; - I didn't mention Stephens at any time. You mentioned him, not me. While I like him, I agree he was never Premier League standard. - I didn't say that Bednarek, Redmond, and Stephens were the 'backbone' of our team. I'm just saying, and I always did say (it isn't revisionism), that they are all good players who have shown good form at one time or another. Bednarek played over 200 games for us. Redmond just under that. They are established pros who can do a job. I disagree Redmond lost his place on merit. Elyounoussi never was better than Redmond. Yes, Ralph seemed to prefer him, but it would seem that Redmond was one of the senior pros who was unhappy with how things were at the club. Also, Ralph was sacked, so using his team selections to support an argument about who was the better player, is somewhat flawed. Fair enough about Mitrovic, I take it back. I seem to remember you being more critical of him, but maybe I remember wrong. Anyway, as I said, plenty of players leave a club and don't do well for the next club. Villa fans complained about Ings, who was by far our best player. Schneiderlin was sh*t for Utd, Luke Shaw likewise (for a good while).
Dynamics change, relationships sour. Players who have been winning decide it’s hard work to run around a lot once a week and want to do something different, managers decide that reliable individuals can’t be relied on to do something different. It is so much more complicated than manager bad players good. we are struggling and it sounds like fond memories are overriding sound thinking.
The one thing I have found strange on this board is just how some of our better players seem to come under fire and are under-appreciated. There was a time under Puel where Tadic was criticised on here and , more recently, some people did not recognise how good Redmond was. Che is spot on. I do wonder whether ot not there is a cultural problem or at least a sense of entitlement amongst our playing staff. Whilst I agree that Ralph could no longer motivate the team and Saints needed a change, throughout 2022 it has concerned me whether he had to manage too many awkward individuals. The fact that the likes of Redmond, Bednerak, Stephens and Bertrand were bombed out does suggest that some of the senior players were probably too vocal in their criticisim. You can also believe the stories coming out that Ralph was not on speaking terms with some of his players in the end. Unfortunately, the appointment of Nathan Jones just seems to have exacerbated the issue. The tactics and "formation" allegedly used on Saturday seemed indicative of Jones not knowing what he was doing or the players are unable / unwilling to impliment his tactics. It is a long while since we have had a manager who seems this inept. I would also add that I cannot recall a manager with Saints who has not enjoyed a honeymoon period with the fans since the 1990 / early 2002s. Jones just brings up memories of the likes of Sturrock, Wigley and Poortvliet. I cannot see Jones turning things around and just feel that things will get toxic at St Mary's very quickly. Jones was not wanted by the fans and it now seems he is not wanted by the players either. He should never have been appointed and we should get rid. He is a terrible appointment,
I’m a sad case, and I’ve decided to rewatch all the conceded goals this season. Spurs 4-1 1st - would have taken a world class reaction save 2nd - no chance 3rd - no chance 4th - no chance Leeds 2-2 1st - a massive reactionary save was required again 2nd - no chance Leicester 1-2 1st - first one I say he could probably have done better on, but that’s 50/50. Whipped free kick round the way but in a position where the keeper would need to be set for a delivery or shot. Man U 1-0 1st - Not a chance, volley into corner. Chelsea 1-2 1st - Sterling made a mess of it which sent Bazunu diving. Got up, but no chance Wolves 1-0 1st - Total miss kick from the goal scorer where he scuffed it into the ground. Can’t fault him expecting the player would hit cleanly from close range Villa 1-0 1st This was just rank unlucky, great save from the original header, came off the bar, bit of a melee and then slammed in off the underside of the bar Everton 2-1 1st - not a chance, just rank defending. Could have come out for the free kick cross maybe? 2nd - smashed into the roof of the net. No chance Man City 4-0 1st - had to double watch, Cancelo hit it hard, and without Salisu in the way letting it through his legs, he would have probably had a better chance. 2nd - no chance 3rd - no chance 4th - smashed low and hard. One of those ones where you need a smidge of luck West Ham 1-1 1st Good goal from Rice, no chance. Poor defending mind Bournemouth 0-1 Clean sheet woop Arsenal 1-1 1st - Not a chance Palace 1-0 1st - Close in again, very little chance other than luck. Worrying how many teams get these close up lightly challenged tap ins against us Newcastle 4-1 1st - Piss poor defending, keeper little chance 2nd - no chance, poor defending 3rd - no chance 4th - no chance Liverpool 3-1 1st - bloody difficult one. Feel he could have saved it, but the bounce coinciding with his contact whilst moving and diving at full stretch probably put it in 2nd - no chance 3rd - no chance Brighton 3-1 1st - First one I would say clearly at fault. But Lallana scoring a header should also be frowned upon. Free header, not tracked… 2nd - At fault 3rd - No chance Verdict. The table is bullshit.
Yeah I totally agree. And you're sort of reiterating my point. Just because the players were having a bad few months, doesn't mean they have become bad players. Like you say, soured relationships, enthusiasm/confidence drops etc. Ralph was fantastic for two years, and so were many of the players. Ralph then started performing woefully for his final 18 months here, and so did most of those same players. For me though, the crucial point here is that it is easier for an individual player to recapture his best form, than it is for a manager to do it, because the manager is relying on others, while the individual player is relying mainly on himself. Even with half a new team, Ralph couldn't get back to his older, more positive brand of football. But with a new manager, I think at least some of our out-of-form players could return to their best. (Whether that's Jones or not, I don't know).
These are good points. Redmond and Romeu for me are the ones that were silly. They’ve both played big parts in keeping us up and were better than the alternatives. Redmond is miles better than Ely & Djenepo. Romeu is miles better than Diallo. This isn’t just revisionist either loads of us called it at the time.
I think that the fundamental issue is confidence. Burnley didn't have a good team but they were settled and confident in their style. If we had more of a goal threat we wouldn't be too worried as we would be like many of the other lower level teams. Also, we focus on the defence but it is the shield they are missing. A lot of the goals are being scored in space around the edge of the box.
