I saw my first game today and it was good to finally see Saints win. Flynn Downes and Ryan Fraser looked very good acquisitions. Ryan Fraser changed the game for us in the second half. If Che goes then we need a quality striker because our only goal scorer will be Adam Armstrong. Most of QPR's chances today were caused by Saints being careless in position and they counterattacked. They really were a pretty poor side in general. Their goal was well taken but it was still soft. Each time Saints scored they became complacent like they thought QPR would just roll over. Also after each goal they just passed the ball around without seeming to want to create anything. I don't know if they were told to do that but that is the impression I got. Despite the good start to the season I don't think the players are totally playing how Russell Martin wants. It looks like they are still trying to figure it out. A win is a win though. Even when QPR were through on goal my only fear was Saints ballsing it up rather than QPR doing anything of quality.
Pleased for him that he made some good saves as could see the whole “conceded with only shot on target” chat starting again
Thank you Loading. Interesting game. We took our chances and OPR could not. Baz made some important saves. Not our best game but a win is a win.
This sums up my impression exactly. I thought Armstrong's goal was incredible and feel that Russell has done for him was Ralph initially did for JWP. Good to see JWP scpring today. I felt that he might struggle at West Ham but hopefully the transfer will see him acheive his potential As for Saints' performance, my overriding impression is that the standard of football in the Championship has been really poor from what have seen. We have put in performances which have been far more professional than last season but I still think that we are relying on players who are not ready for first team football. I am more confident than I was three weeks ago but I still think we are not good enough for promotion. Leicester will win this league by a country mile and I feel Leeds will go up too. Maybe too early for Saints given the re0build that is necessary ???
I agree that the championship has been poor. My concern is less about us going up as i cn see us sneaking through the play offs but as good as our results have been I feel we would be torn apart playing like this in the prem.
I think this is a very good assessment of the players today. I will just heap a bit more praise on Bedders. Fought for every ball and done very well against a physical QPR strick force. Whatever happened in that period he went to Villa, he is back with a point to prove
I find this a rather strange comment, given that we seem to be outplaying every tram. Yes, we are still weak at the back, but I think that will improve. Let's see how we go against Leicester before we award them the title in August
I agree, but the majority of our PL level players have left. I do tend to agree about Martin’s style so far would be very naïve in the PL for a promoted team but let’s worry about that if we get there. Fraser reminded me of A Armstrong, small fast and quite direct but looks like a “proper” winger who could do with a striker with a bit of presence about him for him to be effective.
Would love to see Tall Paul up front with AA playing behind him like he did when Mara came on. Frazer and edozie as wingers Downes and Charles in CM. The only issue with this is I can't find a place for Alcaraz which is mad considering his talent unless he rotates with our top scorer AA. I am in the minority but I really feel tall Paul would boss this league and would give us that extra option rather then teams expecting a low cross every time.
I felt that he gets pushed off the ball too easily and sometimes looks like he has problems controlling the ball. That said, I felt he was marginally better than SAA who does not strike me as being ready for first team football. The younger players such as Edosie, Charles, SAA and Mara do not strike me as being first time players at the moment. Manning is better than i expected but feel he would be moved on net season if we went up. The team seems to be morphing in to a squad that believes in the manager and has a winning mentality but the technical quality of the squad is now more presentative of the quality of football in this league. I feel the older and wiser players are the ones more likelyto get us promoted that unproven youth.
I would agree with the above except for Charles playing as a cdm. We look a lot more confortable when he plays that role to when the other first teamers (stu downes) are playing it. He is definitely not a first team cb
I quiet liked QPR 's tactic of leaving 2 of their strikers on the halfway line when we had a corner, meaning we had to keep 2players back, usually KWP and shea and giving them the chance for a break. Never paid off for them but we could utilise Adam's pace more by keeping him up on opposition corners
I can't wait for the team to settle a bit once the window is shut and see a midfield/attack built off of the base of Charles and Flynniesta. They might be the best midfield duo in the league. Both ooze quality.
ABK seemed quite invested at full time, one of the first to walk around clapping the fans. Maybe I’m reading too much into not much, probably! And why would we need Holgate & Wood if ABK stays unless Bednarek goes? I’m assuming we will shift Lyanco by the end of the window. Maybe we do now need both if Stephens injury is bad.
I actually thought your lot were pretty good today. Very stubborn defence, and some effective turnovers. I mean, it's very 'park-the-bus-and-hoof-it-to-the big-man', but for what it's worth, it was effective (at times). The fact that you created just as many, if not more, clear-cut chances as the fancy passy passy team, speaks volumes. Like the look of your Armstrong, plus Smyth and Colback. Think you've got enough decent players be a solid mid-table team.
