That goes without saying. But at the end of the day, I don't think we can complain at the fixture list. It's pretty much been as kind to us as possible. We probably need something like 7 wins and 6 draw to survive - if we can't find 5 or 6 of those wins from those home games, we've only got ourselves to blame. The worry is the away games in 2019. It's this side of New Year, away to Fulham, Cardiff and Huddersfield, which we need to looking at collecting a decent haul of away points.
14 players were seen on the field against Watford - who bought them? 4. Claude Puel 3. Ronald Koeman 2. MP2 2. Mark Hughes 1. Nigel Adkins 1. Home grown 1. SFC 0. MP1
Basically, we play Palace on Jan 30th. If we get our house in order by then (which certainly means in the transfer window, and arguably means in the managerial hotseat too), then we've got the fixtures from that game onwards to save ourselves. Unlike last season, where we pretty much had all our nice fixtures in November, December, January and February, and in the end were wholly reliant on Swansea. Do I have any faith in that happening? No. But it doesn't mean it isn't possible.
Plenty of passion yesterday but the guys so clearly lack confidence. They're unsure in front of goal and panicky in defence. Best bit about the game was that someone's realised just how wonderful Gabbi is with the ball at his feet. Every single time he had it at his feet we looked dangerous. Regards Charlie, I'm old-fashioned. I think a striker's job is just to get the ball in the net. Nothing more. I don't need him to track back, bust a gut or be a team leader. I don't care if he leans against the post smoking for 88 minutes if the times he gets the ball there's a serious danger of it ending up in the net. Charlie did that yesterday. Several times a missed defensive header would have dropped to his head - but they didn't miss 'em. He got the ball in the net and it was disallowed. He did his job. Actually, the best bit of the game was meeting Davecg beforehand. Vin
This. Best bit about the game was that someone's realised just how wonderful Gabbi is with the ball at his feet. Every single time he had it at his feet we looked dangerous. Since Tadic went we have had no one capable of holding the ball up. Gabbiadini is streets ahead of the rest,for doing this.
I was also a fan of Gabbi trying to block Foster at corners (and not just because it meant he was in the vicinity to score his goal). Not blocking off opposition keepers at our corners has been as big a bug bear of mine in the last few years as not leaving a man forward at opponent's corners.
It wasn’t just the ref. The assistants got a load of throw in decisions wrong and corners. Doesn’t help. If we were on 18+ puts much of this would be less alarming but when you’re in our position details and poor decisions like these hurt more!! Better I think but still perplexed how we simply lost the ball so many times after 2 passes. Hope we keep Gabby in his slot, felt he actually wanted the game and the action. Perhaps one by one we’ll get the whole team on song. Time though not on our side.
Gabbi is my personal mascot for what a **** show Saints have turned into. He plays football the way I want to see football played and hasn't been able to get a game for two years. He was a shining light yesterday for me, mobile, hardworking and a threat in attack. He can poach and has a good left foot from distance. He was all over the pitch yesterday. Shame one of thosee curlers didnt hit the top corner.
One of the positives from this game is that we now have sorted out our primary front line of Redders on the left, Ings in the middle and Gabbi on the right. That with PEH and the newly rejuvenated Lemina now esconsed in centre of midfield we are slowly getting there Was very impressed by Yoshie yesterday who was desperately trying to organise our brittle defence...... What has happened to Bertrand?
I agree that Bertie is not in the greatest form but I can't see Sparky being brave enough to drop his captain and give Matty a chance.
Well he won’t have to make that choice next game; Bertie is suspended. Time for young Targett to show Fulham what they’ve missed.
Oh, I never realised that booking yesterday took him over for a suspension. Yes, I hope that Matty makes the most of his opportunity.
He's going to have to against Fulham as Bertrand is suspended. If Targett takes his chance that will give Hughes something to think about.
