So this seems like a pretty defining run of matches. Both for our season and Ralph's Saints career. So how many points will we get from: Leeds (H) W Burnley (H) D Watford (A) W Villa (H) W Norwich (A) I'm gonna be optimistic and say that the return of Armstrong will have a huge impact and we'll pick up 8 points - two wins, two draws and a defeat.
Agreed, huge part of our season coming up. Do we know how many games JWP is due to miss? Really if we're to avoid being too near the bottom we've got to be looking at 10+ from these
A reasonable target would be 9, watch us get 3 (3 draws and 2 losses). Stu Armstrong is coming back, but JWP will be out for Leeds, Burnley and Watford. Although we are more solid than last season, we have to be the worst attacking side in the league bar Norwich. WUMing I know, I just don’t know where the goals are coming from, unless Stuey can single handedly turn it around.
The only good part about JWP being out for a few weeks is that it gives him time to get fully fit, and sort out whatever is wrong with his stomach.
I don’t think it’s wumming. I think a lot of people thought we’d struggle to score without ings, and it’s proven true. I still am pretty positive - we are playing well, we’ve just been up against the leagues best. This next 5 is the real measure.
JWP's third match will be Chelsea in the cup. (Red card suspensions include cup competitions. It's only yellow card suspensions which don't.)
Play like we did today and 10+ isn’t impossible Play like we tend to against the teams around us and 0 isn’t impossible I’ll go for 5 points
Anything less than six points will be a disaster. I think we'll do better than that. But I wouldn't be confident enough to put money on it.
Leeds (H) W Burnley (H) W Watford (A) D Villa (H) L Norwich (A) W As Libby says, the return of Stuey will kickstart our season, and I have changed my mind about his playing for Scotland. A couple of games under his belt before he starts against Leeds and he’ll be on fire. The other factor will be the enforced inclusion of Diallo to replace JWP. If he becomes the player we hope he can be in this period, we might find James having to fight for his place when he becomes available, which will be no bad thing, both for himself and for the team. The other issue is who replaces JWP as captain. I would give this to Romeu, as one of our players of the admittedly poor start to the season. An incredibly optimistic 10 points.
Yeah, I'm far more concerned about missing his set pieces rather than missing his captaincy (which I would suggest is average at best). Especially given how awful Leeds are at defending them. Maybe we'll find out that wonderboy Tino is the next Ian Harte...