Match Day Thread Saints vs Stoke City - Saturday, August 23 - 15:00 KO

Jeeze, talk about mad panic.

Ipswich are 18th and they're meant to be walking the league.

See how things progress after the transfer window is done. Today was a bit ugly, but there we are. Our midfield of Matty, Charles and Downes (who in particular was awful) were poor today, yet we all think they're a cheat-code midfield in this league. They probably are, but they had an off day.

No need to panic at all. We're not going to win every game, and the games where we're going to look off the boil are these early ones whilst we're still trying to work out who is playing for us, let alone systems, new tactics etc. Exactly the same as Ipswich.

We could do with a goal off one of the striker's arses to give them a bit of confidence, but all this "poor manager" nonsense. Really, seriously, chill out for a bit. If we're still **** going into October, then fine, but not now ffs.

 

Am I crazy to say that Downes was absolutely awful today. And I mean dreadful.

 

Been

Do me a favour.

 

Sorry mate...... but you really DO need to chill a little.

 

You’re not allowed to say anything negative after a poor performance, it’s called being a “neg head” I’ve been reliably informed many times.

 

No, he was terrible.

 

Great contribution

 

Nothing, that is his tactic. Bodies in the box and get the ball in. As I said it can be effective and we had 2 golden chances because of it, but you also have to watch 75 other crosses come to absolutely nothing and the recycling the ball left to right trying to get into a crossing position which is tedious.

 

I am not sure he has ever been the same since he decided he wanted to join Ipswich

 

Because we're actively trying to sign those attacking players and have yet to play the preferred formation because of it.

 

I hope and think you are wrong. I expect when he has his own team he will be providing a little more tactical guidance to the team than to just keep crossing it.

 

I hope Still doesn't say he's seen anything positive from that!

 

“Has his own team”

That’s top tier that.

 

Only positive is that it makes it even more bloody obvious that significant investment is needed, and in what areas.

Oh, and no one is spending £50m on Fernandes after that either

 

Can't disagree

 

Fair enough. Looked to me like it went underneath him and he possibly should have stayed on his feet.

I'll have a look when I get home.

 

You don't think a manager will get more out of a team when it includes players that he has chosen because they suit the way he wants to play?

 

I still can’t help but think why are we 4 games into the season without sorting this. They still arent here yet so it’ll at least be a few games till they play, it’ll be even more games until they start, and then you have to wait for them to settle into the squad. So by that point you might be looking at the end of September. If you asked anybody what we needed in the summer it would have been a striker and in classic Saints style we wait until the season has very much started before sorting it.

 

You're allowed to criticise the match performance, but saying after 3 games that Still is terrible and our new signings are the second coming of Ali Dia is wild.

 

I can see what WS is trying to do, but when pressed the team goes all Martin and can't get the ball forward at any pace.