I'd take Downes back at the drop of a hat,one of the very few,if not the only player to leave the Club in recent years I feel that about.KMc would certainly make him an even better player.Potential future skipper too.
Just watched the winning goal again.What a thing of beauty and says so much about where this team is.Despite the time running down we know we have time to build something from the back rather than hoof it up aimlessly.Hladky to Clarke,to Morsy who even at that stage of the game has the energy to drive past an opponent and pick out Davis whose great cross is initially fumbled by Sarmiento but his recovery and toe poke home is ridiculous. BTW McCarthy was sitting near me in the directors’ box and I just wondered what he made of it all.I know he was dealt a dud hand but I really don’t think he’d have got us to this standard.
you are wrong Bigal, it is all down to luck. Nothing we do or achieve is down to hard work, brilliant coaching, fantastic substitutions & great players, no it is all just luck, luck luck luck !
As stressful as it can be watching us pass it around at the back, that philosophy has been key to our success over the last couple of years under McKenna. Sometimes, I think we can be guilty of overplaying it at the back - but then we'll spring forward, find the gaps, and create a goalscoring opportunity within a few seconds. We did clear the ball quite a bit in that first half, and Southampton were always there to win the ball back and keep the pressure on us. Just aimlessly kicking the ball up-field doesn't cut it these days, especially against a good footballing sides like Southampton. My concern with our approach is how we will adapt it to the Premier League, should we achieve promotion. You've only got to look at the likes of Burnley and Sheffield United this season to see just how big a step up it is to the top flight. Investment should be there, and I'd like to think we'd make a go of it and invest in several new players (rather than take the Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton approach of essentially taking the money and running). Interesting thought on Mick. First off, if he had the money and players, I don't think he'd have got us playing this style of expansive football. It's just not his style. I think we would've been a bit like his Wolves side - more direct and stretched the flanks a bit more with pacey wingers. Pretty much what we were doing under him, but with a better standard of player. This is hypothetical, but under him, I don't think we'd have been near the levels we're currently working to and probably would've been more in a West Brom type position (4th/5th) than top two. Under Mick, his teams would normally come undone against a good footballing side that is happy controlling games - like Fulham against us, back in the day. This season, we're showing a lot of similarities to that old Fulham side that tore up the Championship in the mid-2010s. I'd argue we're slightly better than that team as we're more unpredictable in that we can cede possession, soak up attacks, and then hit teams on the counter with fast, fluid movement.
At half time i thought if we dont get to grips with this we are going to get stuffed by 4 or 5 goals, we were being outplayed by a team with Prem experience and it showed but they also brought with them the Prem box of dirty tricks, such as collapsing like pack of cards whenever anyone went near them and kicking Town players after the ball had gone, they were tying their hardest to get Morsy sent off. The turnaround in the second half was amazing with the subs really making the difference although why Jackson was on the pitch in the first place i really dont know, Broady who was terrible at Blackburn looked his old self again and Ali in all his youthful rawness bashed and banged the central defenders about in the way Hirst does but Moore doesnt, i thought it was bedlam when we equalised but when we scored with virtually the last kick of the game it was absolute pandemoniun. Our players might not have the silky skills of some of the players in the relegated from the Prem Clubs but they never know when to give in and will fight right to the final whistle, some people on other Clubs boards say we are lucky and win by flukes but after 7 months and 40 games it obviously isnt the case and everyone is where they should be in the league with just 6 games to go.
Another fine, enthusiastic summary SD. Totally agree that Hutch was a different player with Clarke and Taylor.
Has anybody else noticed the dark spot in the middle of Leif's shirt every match? I used to think it was just a wet patch from continually chesting the ball down but I don't see it on anyone else. At 3:40 on the Blackburn Town in Five Added Time video, as you see the players leaving the dressing room for kick off you can briefly see Davis rubbing his chest in that area. Is he putting something like vaseline or whatever there to help make the ball stick? I don't know what he's doing but that dark patch is there every match!
The wet patch is usually Vicks VapoRub. Players who have allergies, such as hayfever, use Vicks to clear their sinuses and make sure they can breathe properly without having a snotty nose.
What a game. After an even start, once Southampton equalised, they controlled the game but they didn’t get the 3rd goal. Subs changed it (again) atmosphere was good all match but when the winning goal went it, it was pandemonium. Not a particularly late one for me yesterday - was home just after 10 but I was so drained today. If it was a normal season, we probably already have enough points to go up automatically but this season, 100 might not be enough. 1 game at a time - who’s next?
Nope, Downs not good enough!! Always a red card waiting to happen too, I would rather Morsy all day long, far more talented with the same aggressive streak!!
Whatever the outcome I sincerely hope you guys go up , you are doing a Norwich ergo Relegation to league 1 double promotion like Norwich Southampton Leeds Leicester
