What I would really like MP2 to do, is set the team up to play in a more positive way for 90 minutes and not just in response to going a goal behind. When we went for broke, on Saturday, we created a few problems for Burnley, as we have done with other teams, when push came to shove. This seems to be a recurring issue. We seem to be in a perpetual “stick or twist” mode. Do we push numbers forward and pile on the pressure or do both our deep midfielders stay deep and not provide any support for the strikers. When we are pushing forward, we should be able to trust one deep midfielder and the two CBs to deal with breakaways. Other teams can do this, why not us?
Where is the selective memory in my post? Every win (and draw) listed in my post has actually happened, on or after 1 January. Yes Bmouth did get thrashed by Huddersfield, for example. But I'm not conveniently forgetting that. I'm just pointing out that they have won three times in the league since 1 January, which is a nice up turn in form for them. They're now five points clear of us, whereas we were level on points on the morning of 1 January.
You're conveniently forgetting that we're atop the table in points on a post-Jan 1st Saturday at The Hawthorns (on goals scored tiebreaker, over Huddersfield). Eighteen teams don't have even one point under those circumstances, and we have three! Edit: we're also the league leaders in points taken against Brighton on a Wednesday in 2018!
I guess I also forgot that, if you ignore the Palace and Liverpool losses (like apparently we're meant to), no-one has picked up more league points than us at St Marys since 1 January.
For anyone curious, here is the table for the teams from 11th-20th, from Jan 1st on: Bournemouth - 12 West Ham - 12 Swansea - 11 Newcastle - 10 Palace - 9 Brighton - 9 Watford - 8 Saints - 7 Huddersfield - 6 Stoke - 6 West Brom - 5 So, during our remarkable resurgence, we have gained 1 point on Huddersfield and Stoke, 2 points on WBA, and we've lost ground on everyone else. We are, however, defiantly unbeaten in matches that we do not lose.
It is this that worries me the most and why I’m only 50:50 on our survival. I still live in hope however and will back the team whenever possible.
Interesting! Could mean that all the teams above us have had there run of form and ours is yet to come Shows how only 1 win changes things and 2 wins can see you looking at mid-table Can't say its not exciting
I've "liked" this, even though I don't! But I agree with you totally, which is a different thing but "Spot on,mate" isn't a button! A draw against Burnley was OK. But if we come away from the Stoke game with a 90th minute equaliser I won't be thinking the same. Too many drawn games will cost us - simple as.
Some strange logic (?) on here, it seems...... Saints are OUT of the "bottom three" ~ rejoice! OR Saints are IN the "bottom three" ~ slash wrists, sack manager, doom, doom! However, unless they have changed the rules in the Prem., relegation of any three teams occurs (only) at the end of playing ALL 38 x games. Unless, of course, the total points accrued by any team (before that stage) make it mathematically impossible for that team to reach safety. Glass half-full or even glass half-empty........ keep the faith! This club needs 100% backing (now!) more than ever
Dell - you won’t find too many who wear their sandals as proudly as I do. Very much a glass half full type of guy. I get crucified at times for my defence of the club and all its aspects and I champion the full support of the team as it is so badly needed on match days now. I am however, solidly looking at my glass and knowing there is 50% of liquid in it and I don’t know if that is on the way to full or on the way to empty. The posts placed yesterday by St Brendy (when he listed the wins for clubs since Jan 1st) and by Schad (listing the points since Jan 1st) have crushed the head of this particular nail. We haven’t won enough games or got enough points in 2018. The atmosphere at the club may well have improved amongst the staff and players since Van Dickhead left, but they have 11 games left to save our season. I actually believe they have 5 games truthfully. Stoke, Newcastle, Swansea, West Ham and Bournemouth. I go nuts on here if people needlessly slag off the club, but the discussions you are involved in seem to me about our chances of survival. Right now that’s a 50:50 for me. March could rip that another 30% either way. I’ll be backing the club at as many of the remaining games as I can.
Anyone saying we are improving doesn’t go to watch us. We are considerably weakened without VVD, as we have two Centre backs who like to air kick and let the ball bounce over them with alarming regularity...
Shock alert. Word class defender leaves and we don't look as good! Sorry Osvaldo, you are quite right. It's just that I've got used to seeing Saints without VVD (in body or spirit) since his injury that I no longer see it as a factor. We seem to think Yoshida and Stephens did OK in the second half of last season. We kept a number of clean sheets and had players scored from 12 yards more often may well have had a different view of last season. It's the inability to score which is the greater worry.
On the subject of "like" please see my previous reply! Exactly how I feel. In our history we have been in this sort of position and surprised even ourselves by breaking free with a final bound. We also have a history of meekly surrendering (2005; 2009 spring to mind). This season is beginning to feel like one of those, much though I don't want to admit it.
Even on current form and season form of 1 point a game we'll end up on 37 or 38 points. But I am hoping for a bit more from the last few games if we have our backs to the wall.
We have improved. That was easy to say, and also true imo. Carillo has improved us for a start, despite being yet to score.
