Shelvey-Hayden is barely a Championship standard CM, let alone PL standard. But if Wilson and ASM stay fit, they'll still survive.
Yeah think I’d agree, but they are as beatable as we are I think, and can see AA having a great game there, not just cos of the obvious reason, just think he will cause them probs.
I can usually always see positives in players, but I`m continuing to struggle with Theo. I don`t see anything that he`s bringing to the party. It`s a double whammy - I`ve put myself in the place of the opposition, when they see the Saints teamsheet - they get a lift because they know he won`t do anything to hurt them.
Hassenhuttl has a better quality squad than Puel had, plus an extra season or two to mould his own team and playing style. I have to say I never really got the 'boring' thing with Puel, but even if it was dull, I'd rather be bored, than frightened, which is how I feel watching Saints these days.
I have to disagree with you Che there. If football was my job or family life, I am with you. But football is my escape, my passion. There is nothing better than being scared to crap and hiding behind the sofa (Fran where are you?), rather than a routine boring win. IMO of course EDIT: Just realised you are in Manilla? Isn't it 2:30am there atm?
Another plus today is that Villa fans are already turning I'm with you. I love football but only if its played the right way. I would rather see us relegated playing entertaining football and scoring lots of goals than playing boring football and finishing 17th. Back to yesterday, I've only seen the MOTD 10.5 second highlights but McCarthy has to take some blame for 1st and 3rd goals. Second one was world class. There was much talk beforehand about our transition play and how we had been working on counter attacks. Did any of that happen yesterday?
Correct! I’d take a couple of boring wins right now. Tired of being outplayed and thrashed every game. It’s embarrassing.
Think people are vastly overrating the quality of this squad. We have some talent, absolutely, but we're seriously thin in midfield and central defense, our goalkeeping is highly suspect, and depending on what Armstrong does/doesn't do, we may not have a consistent source of goals, either. Better squads than this have gotten relegated.
Disappointing game but still only 3pts off top spot (maybe 4 with goal difference). I’ll take that in May!!
I think the board made a dreadful mistake in sacking Puel. If we hadn’t been cheated v Man Utd at Wembley he would’ve had a cup final and anything might have happened after that. It’s worrying that a vocal minority can bring a decent coach down. Also we must remember to be careful what we wish for.
Definitely agree that McCarthy might have done better for the first goal. He must have seen the ball going over Salisu (did Salisu let it go over himself or was it just too high?) and I can’t help feel that he should have taken a couple of strides towards the ball and closed down the shot.
I thought one of the main issues was that he lost the dressing room. As fans I think we have an overinflated sense of self importance. The club didn’t sack him because some people complained, the team stopped playing for him. I remember the Branfoot days with fans screaming from the rooftops that he should be sacked. He was eventually sacked but months and months later.
To be fair Puel had a better side and 8th was a bit of a false position (we were closer to 17th than 7th), Ralph has done better in terms of points. But I also think we have been just as boring under Hasenhuttl in 2021 as we were under Puel and we create like 1-2 chances per game? which must be in the same ball park. Bar an absurd run of form in 2020, we have been absolute garbage to watch for about 5 years regardless of who has been in charge the rot runs deep.
I must be in this camp because I feel like we have now got the squad for Ralph to show what he can do and this season will be his real test. There are 1-2 signings still to be made so I'm looking forward, not at the everton result. There aren't many teams in the league with a 20 goal striker so that shouldn't be an excuse this time out. We have some talented new recruits and the ability to be tactically flexible and shrewd with the game management. He has been rightly criticised in the past but not had the tools needed, this season he needs to show that he can use what he has at his disposal. I've defended him strongly because he had no chance last season. Now we've recruited well, so over the next 10 games I want to see him mould them and start managing the team to a greater degree.
Sorry, I think your second paragraph is a romantic myth. We played entertaing football under Harry, going two nil up in several games resulting in 2-3 or 2-2 games, where a dull 1-0 would have kept us up. Had we stayed up Bale would have stayed at Saints and the shir if 2005-2010 would not have happened. So sorry your second paragraph is complete bullshit, that too many fans come out with. Remember that when your team is relegated and then you are losing 2-0 to Rotherham on a Tuesday night in April and sliding down again. Been there done that, no thank you
Like 2005?. When we let all our characters go and conceded a goal with just another shrug of the shoulders, a little concerning I agree.
