Win the next 2 and all good. Am going to Coventry game can't wait. Hope my presence in the stadium doesn't curse our unbeaten run. Bit worried bout that
To think we're always looking like we can actually get a result is helping my season so much more enjoyable anyway! As you say let's enjoy the ride!
Yeah I agree they probably have a better squad than us aswell, I just think we aren’t 12 points or whatever it is worse than them on paper. I said at the start of the season that we have the best back 4, Leicester the best midfield and Leeds the best attack.
Agreed. Biggest difference is that we had a dodgy start. That's to be expected given the circumstances, and Leeds went through it too. Leicester just had that extra bit of quality to hit the ground running.
yeah and I think now Leeds have adjusted to Farke style and we have to Martins they will finish quite comfortably ahead of us. But we will be in the playoffs and as long as Leeds and Leicester aren’t in them then I think we have a good chance
Our most comfortable win of the season was against Leeds. I don't think Farke is particularly better than RM; just Leeds have far better attacking players than us. It makes you wonder where our strength is. We are sort good-but-not-amazing, all over the pitch. Early season we thought we had a brilliant squad, but our best two attacking players; Sulemana and Alcaraz, have been very disappointing in this division. I don't know if its fair to put that on Martin, as other players (the Armstrongs) have looked excellent. Also Che wants away and Stewart is crocked. I just want to see us continue improving, which we are. We will drop points sometimes, but long term it looks promising, especially if we ever get a decent striker.
I think our strength is at CB and right back. Manning is **** but passable in this division. However we will concede stupid goals because we always pass it out from the back, meaning that our good defenders don’t have much of a chance because of where we lose the ball. I don’t think a decent striker will really help tbh, I just can’t see how we could ever be prolific with the slow build up play
Yeah agree defence is our strongest. And the passing around the back is improving. I don't know why we persist with it in the final ten minutes when we're under pressure, but there you go. In terms of chances created; it seems like we are going for quality rather than quantity. There are about twenty teams in the division who opt for quantity, because they rely on luck more than skill. So that means fast wingers, direct passes, and lumping it into the box at every given opportunity. We're top of the xG league, which I don't fully understand, but it must mean something.
The XG league is certified and 100% accurate. No doubt about it. We are top of the league and that's the proof we've been looking for
Just back from the game. Thought we were ok to be honest. Watford were organised and direct. The two centre backs were brilliant today. Charles has a good game generally. Still lacking ideas up top
Sarcasm, so witty Not saying its all important am I? But it's interesting, considering our fans say we create very few chances (I'm guilty of saying it too).
The truth is we haven't really killed of any sides this season, apart from a few games, we've also looked vulnerabke at the back in just about every game. People are saying we're easy on the eye but I find our ponderous build up play pretty tedious. Been watching Saints longer than most on here, so I'm probably just a miserable old bastard, but i really don't get what RM's trying to achieve.
It's a freak season this one, as people keep pointing out. If this was the 22/23 Championship season, then our 38 points would have us joint top with Burnley, 3 points ahead of Sheff Utd, the other eventually promoted side. There is nothing we can do about the form of other teams, but I hope this puts things into perspective.
You're probably still missing the Paine/Sydenham burst of pace then? Can't blame you, if so!! In fairness what we're watching now is miles better than for a few years now. At least we get some points!!
Be interesting to know (I cba to look it up) the budgets of the teams last year. I looked for this season and the three relegated sides (us Leeds and Leicester) all are spending double the 4th team (West Brom I think), and something like 4 times as much the bottom team in terms of wages. Not sure if this is normal with the relegated sides, but my guess would be it isn’t. So if ever there were a season for there to be teams smashing it, this would be it
Our current points per game, 1.9, over a whole season (87 points), would have gotten us promoted in 8 of the previous 20 EFL seasons. It is only one point fewer than our promotion-winning side. Our form ever since the run of four defeats, of 28 points from 12 games, averaged over a season, would put us way above 100 pts, and promoted in every single previous season. Right now it is looking like Leicester and Ipswich will smash 100 pts, unless they have a drastic dip in form. Even Leeds could surpass that total, on recent form.
More significant than spending power, for me, would be how long each relegated side spent in the Premier League. The longer you spend in the Prem, the more expensive/quality your squad should become, so therefore you will be more financially sound, but also even your fringe players would all likely be above-Championship quality. Players like Bednarek and Adam Armstrong. So last season, with three established Premier League sides going down, rather than the promoted sides, it has really had a ripple effect in both this season's Champ, and the Prem (with all promoted sides being a level below in quality).
