Hoping that results go our way this week and that we remain out of bottom three, then I will mentally discount our game in hand against Chelsea.
I completely agree that Cork returning has made a massive difference. In addition to this we all know how well Shaw has played and I think he has brought that defensive balance. When Fox played I hardly ever relaxed as I was waiting for him to not pick up a player or make a similar mistake. I am not into bashing players and this is not meant to be one. My point is that with Shaw it is noticeable how much more solid Fonte and Yoshida are by not having to be pulled apart centrally having to cover for Fox.
We have turned a corner, but I expect we'll turn a few more before the season's out, and we probably won't always like what's waiting around some of them. I am really, really glad we don't have to play Chelsea at the bridge this week. Let's leave that one til we're safe.
There is still another tonking inn there. Someone will give us a good hiding and then all the doom merchants will be back. The season is a long way from over and I believe we will have several more ups and downs. I do think we will have another game or two where we concede 5 or 6 and some games where we'll smack some one four or five. We've just got to keep behind them and keep believing. I would take 17th now thanks.
this is one of the most gratifying stats from our recent good run. and 2, if not 3 of those goals were self-inflicted. in fact only one team in the league has conceded fewer goals than saints over the same period (stoke, with 2). we're starting to correct the early-season perception that we were this year's blackpool. here's to plenty more 1-0 wins.
I agree performances have improved greatly from what we were watching after 10 games. We are now performing as I expected us to this season. We still need strengthening in jan and we shouldn't fall into the trap of thinking the team we have us good enough to stay up at least we know that either fonte or yoshi are good enough as back up cb if needed and shaw looks more than capable at lb so it's not as desperate as it was but minimum requirement is a gk cb and maybe cover at rb for Clyne.
The good news keeps on coming - a few teams are getting close to overtaking us as worst defence in the league.
Have to say, on the evidence of that form table im very much looking forward to our trip to Craven Cottege in a few weeks. Could be the seocnd of three away wins that i think will keep us up.
Would much rather have had the run of fixtures we had at the start than playing the lower teams first. We were learning in the first 10 games, and making errors. Making errors in games you aren't expected to get points in isn't the end of the world. If we'd had more 'easier' fixtures in the first 10, I think most of them would have ended like Wigan.
