Match Day Thread Saints vs Swansea, Saturday 18th Oct, 12:30

In the LC. Where there were lots of changes. We all know no teams take that too seriously. So league game?

 

Preston have the same points as Britol City. QPR just one point less.

 

Beautiful football at times and I thought he linked up with Welington really well and they switched roles a couple of times to give Scienza a run at their full back.

 

Thought he did the same with fellows on the other side a few times second half in the short time they were on together

 

We need to stick by Still for the duration of the season. There is absolutely no point sacking him and bringing a new manager in . It will take a season beforewe start seeing any significant improvement.

We are performing as anticipated. The club will not be turned around in one season. I am of the belief that Still needs to be judged next season and not this. He needs another season to stamp his identity. If we have no success in 26 /27 then we need to think again and that wpykd necessitate SR going too. I think we will get to the olay offs next season.

 

Martin managed to turn us around and most seem to agree he was useless. Martin's squad wasn't even that much better either. Yes you had KWP and Che Adams, but we now have Azaz, Fellows, Scheiza, Archer and a much improved Charles.

 

KWP, Che, Bednarek and Stu were four big players for us two years ago. And the likes of THB and Downes were fresh and confident, as opposed to carrying the scars of last season.

I do think we have a strong squad, one which should easily be good enough for a top six finish (at a minimum). But I don't think we're as strong as two years ago. We've arguably found a suitable replacement for Bednarek (ie Wood), but I'm not sure we have for Stu, KWP or Che.

 

I think some underestimate just how much impact last season has had on the players that were here and playing in it and how long it may take for some to shed it.

It's no surprise that some of the best players this season were either not here all or were out on the edge (loans etc) and not exposed to it.

WS has already highlighted that there is a lot of that in the team still - which he has to work with

 

He's not KWP, but I thought Jelert was very good again today.

 

I've been saying this all season, and it's why I never expected us to be blasting teams away, or walking the league.

The turn around from last season is too much for one window.

 

Some of the runs from Fellows remind me a bit of him albeit in wider areas, Stuey's direct running through the middle is sorely missed imo.

 

Him and Fellows on the right and Scienza and Wellington on the left next game for me

 

Jander , Charles and Azaz in the middle.

 

Che didn't even start every game, he was in and out. KWP obviously was brilliant. Bednarek no better than Wood as you say and both Fellows & Azaz have put up way better number than Armstrong.

I'd say there are pros and cons to both squads but overall they are very similar in that they are without doubt one of the top 3 in the league.

And the excuse of us being in a worse state going into this year is bullshit. Prior to Martin's season we had 3 or 4 years of constant decline, this time we had a fantastic season of promotion followed by one horrific season.

For all we moan about him, it is hard to argue against the fact that Martin was much better than Still has been in their first 10 games.

 

Unlikely I fear as it looked like Jelert pulled something in his thigh before he came off.

 

I think the scar tissue aspect is overstated personally. It might have some impact but nowhere the level that some wish to apply to it imo. Otherwise Sheffield United would have been affected last season.

The squad turnover is a much bigger factor imo.

I also agree that this squad is definitely worse than two years ago.

 

I thought I saw him wrapped up in a long puffy jacket at the end of the game wandering around the pitch after the game with the rest of team but at that distance it could have been just about anyone else.

Otherwise did we just have another player showing promise get an injury?

 

Before he went off he pulled up a bit and felt the top of his thigh. I thought at the time "that's him done" but he carried on for five minutes or so. May be (hopefully) nothing.

 

Yep, I liked him again. Very happy with him so far. But I would have subbed him earlier. Not for performance reasons, but to utilise our bench better.

With a bench as strong as ours, we can afford to make early changes and introduce fresh legs. With certain exceptions, we shouldn't need to worry about suffering from a loss in quality when making subs (which is what a lot of clubs in this division will suffer from).

 

Agree but in most games this season it's felt like our subs have made us worse.