Match Day Thread Saints v Stoke Sponsored by Richard Osman, Alexander Armstrong and Joe Rothwell

Leicester have led 35 times this season and failed to win 5. Leeds have led 29 times times and drawn twice. Not one defeat. Ipswich have led 30 times and failed to win 4 of those.

We have led 35 times and failed to win TEN times. So, yeah, I think we have something to point to.

 

When you look at the table, Birmingham and Huddersfield are relegation teams. They both managed to score 3 goals against Saints. Mid table teams managed to get easy points against Saints. If this is a league full of poor teams, then they still managed to show Saints up on a regular basis.

 

We have conceded 3 goals + 9 times in a league full of total ****.

 

Ultimately most of them know that if we don’t go up they will be off in the summer anyway, so it’s not the be all and end all for them. Putting too much effort in now and risking injury might be in the back of their minds I suppose. “Personal preservation” or whatever was the phrase Martin used

I’m not saying they aren’t trying or aren’t bothered but how much they are bothered will be very different to the average fan and vary player to player

 

Brooks at AM, Fraser right, Armstrong left? Or something more mental?

 

Probably all playing on the left wing like against Cardiff. Stephens in the free role

 

Whos going to score

 

The opposition?

 

Interesting...

 

Brooks in the Stu role? One of Edozie or Fraser playing on the right? Assume Che and AAdarma are being rested, maybe Aribo too.

 

I'm guessing Adams and Arma being rested for the playoffs

 

Glad to see we have rotated some youth in!

 

Not many goals in that forward line.

 

I think this is exactly the team I wouldn’t have picked.

Got to be a success.

 

Or those are the players Martin said wouldn’t play again because they aren’t trying

 

I don’t mind trying Brooks in the Stu role. It’s not Rothwell. But it’ll probably be Mara on the right, Adarma at ten and Brooks up top or something.

 

Adarna isn't starting either.

 

I actually thought Rothwell looked like he could play the Stu role for about 5 seconds against Leicester. There was a moment where he was carrying the ball and reminded me of how Stu does it when driving us forward.

Then he over ran the ball and lost it and got injured stretching to get it back

 

Stephens up top then.

 

I don’t have much of a problem with changing it and resting players. Nothing to play for. Be good to see how this back 4 play together.

Worried we won’t have a focal point up front with this team. But who knows maybe Mara has been on the weights. Plus I thought he said he wanted people who would run and fight…