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Post by channonite on Apr 29, 2024 17:50:51 GMT
The final humiliation? We have been pretty poor against the top clubs all season, and now even the lower clubs can seemingly beat us at will. Unless there is a sudden upswing in fortune, then it really doesn't bode well for the playoffs.
The mere fact that Stewart seems to be inching towards a return smacks of desperation.
Would anyone like to hazard a guess as to what names will come out of the hat this week?
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Post by spot51 on Apr 29, 2024 18:28:22 GMT
Looks like this will be one of 3 games being screened live by Sky. Ipswich is one of the others plus a relegation decider.
Fair play to Sheff Wednesday who did really well to stay up BTW.
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Post by choixkoix on Apr 30, 2024 0:01:01 GMT
Go with playoff semi starting 11. That includes starting Downes if he's fit, he needs minutes even if its only 45-60. We know the squad players are going to flatter to deceive if given starts.
Dont try anything too attacking or too posession heavy, focus on fast transitions which is how we did for them at St. Marys.
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Post by bromleysaint on Apr 30, 2024 6:26:18 GMT
I am going up for it and if I read Mara in the starting 11 I will throw a tantrum.
I understand why he does not want to risk some of the players but they will have had a week since stoke and will have 8 days after - he has to go with his best X1.
I would have Edozie in that by the way.
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Post by baconleetravis on Apr 30, 2024 19:54:27 GMT
WTF happened to Leeds at QPR last week? They bottled what was a massive game for them. West Brom just needed to beat Wednesday to secure a play off spot and got thrashed 3-0. The current form table is really odd atm link |
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Post by jickster on May 1, 2024 8:12:50 GMT
I think it is a tricky one, on the one hand a strong team that gets a good result (draw or better) is a confidence booster going into the play offs.
On the other, if that team gets beaten (especially if badly beaten) then it's a poor omen for a potential play off final.
One thing we've seen over the last couple of games is that the Saints players lost motivation after the Cardiff result, you'd normally describe it as on the beach, but perhaps it's more like they took a day off to attend a funeral. Leeds have been shaky too lately but they do still have something to play for. Ipswich's win last night takes it out of Leeds' hands now, but if Ipswich were to lose against Huddersfield (unlikely admittedly) then Leeds would be kicking themselves if they didn't beat Saints to take advantage. Perhaps if Ipswich get off to a flyer the mood in the ground might be killed and the game might drift, but otherwise I would be expecting a defeat regardless of the team we pick to be honest.
One thing I don't think is worthwhile is giving players a chance to play themselves into the team. They are all too inconsistent for this game to really mean anything when it comes to the play off games.
I'd probably be careful with Flynn Downes, maybe just give him a run out for 25 minutes.
Apart from that I would perhaps focus more on keeping fitness levels up when choosing the team. If Ross Stewart got 10 minutes then it could be a boost.
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Post by theallseeingeye on May 1, 2024 11:11:07 GMT
The Saints way is for Ipswich to lose
Us to batter Leeds
Then lose to Leeds in final
But…. I don’t think both Leeds and Saints will get to final and I don’t think either will go up
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Post by saintsfan73 on May 1, 2024 14:31:09 GMT
I see Kiefer Moore scored Ipswich's promotion gaining goal last night. What a great loan signing from b'muff that was. How apt they they signed a 6 foot 5 beanpole in his 30s who has scored 7 goals since January and we signed Brooks...
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Post by jickster on May 1, 2024 14:49:54 GMT
I see Kiefer Moore scored Ipswich's promotion gaining goal last night. What a great loan signing from b'muff that was. How apt they they signed a 6 foot 5 beanpole in his 30s who has scored 7 goals since January and we signed Brooks... He's worked out well for them, but I do think that's only in hindsight. At the time I was far happier to have signed Brooks than if we'd signed Moore. |
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Post by saintsfan73 on May 1, 2024 14:57:30 GMT
I see Kiefer Moore scored Ipswich's promotion gaining goal last night. What a great loan signing from b'muff that was. How apt they they signed a 6 foot 5 beanpole in his 30s who has scored 7 goals since January and we signed Brooks... He's worked out well for them, but I do think that's only in hindsight. At the time I was far happier to have signed Brooks than if we'd signed Moore. Really? We didn't/don't have a single CF but have a myriad of nippy, slight and frail wingers who couldn't finish a fish supper. Therefore the best player to sign in January was (yet) another of these? I think most fans were calling for us to sign a striker. You should apply for a job at SR.  |
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Post by jickster on May 1, 2024 16:28:38 GMT
He's worked out well for them, but I do think that's only in hindsight. At the time I was far happier to have signed Brooks than if we'd signed Moore. Really? We didn't/don't have a single CF but have a myriad of nippy, slight and frail wingers who couldn't finish a fish supper. Therefore the best player to sign in January was (yet) another of these? I think most fans were calling for us to sign a striker. You should apply for a job at SR. Brooks had a good goalscoring record at PL level prior to his cancer diagnosis and he'd just come off a game in the FA Cup (can't remember who it was against) where he'd ripped them to bits. He looked hungry and keen to prove himself again and better than any of those rivals for his position. Strength in depth and improved quality there was a good idea. In comparison, Moore just seemed like a crock who couldn't get in the Bournemouth team. It hasn't worked out like this, but I'd have said that Moore was most likely to just be keeping Ross Stewart company if he'd signed for us. Rothwell, yes, he never seemed to fit the bill of what we needed, but I can't get too annoyed about signing Brooks. |
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Post by spot51 on May 1, 2024 18:33:23 GMT
Really? We didn't/don't have a single CF but have a myriad of nippy, slight and frail wingers who couldn't finish a fish supper. Therefore the best player to sign in January was (yet) another of these? I think most fans were calling for us to sign a striker. You should apply for a job at SR. Brooks had a good goalscoring record at PL level prior to his cancer diagnosis and he'd just come off a game in the FA Cup (can't remember who it was against) where he'd ripped them to bits. He looked hungry and keen to prove himself again and better than any of those rivals for his position. Strength in depth and improved quality there was a good idea. In comparison, Moore just seemed like a crock who couldn't get in the Bournemouth team. It hasn't worked out like this, but I'd have said that Moore was most likely to just be keeping Ross Stewart company if he'd signed for us. Rothwell, yes, he never seemed to fit the bill of what we needed, but I can't get too annoyed about signing Brooks. Brooks was shattered by Wales failing to make the Euros. He's not looked the same player since. |
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Post by spot51 on May 4, 2024 10:37:27 GMT
Pick the bones out of this selection. 3-4-3 or 3 5 2?  |
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Post by dontknowcantremember on May 4, 2024 11:36:01 GMT
Looks like he has shoe horned in all the grown ups. I think he is going for mental strength rather than tactics.
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Post by choixkoix on May 4, 2024 13:39:37 GMT
Aint that so Saints? Great performance. So resilient. Solid, good in defence and good in attack. In the 46th and almost most meaningless game.
Why haven't we tried the 3-5-2 before, given both our fullbacks are more au fait at being wingbacks? All our attacking was through the middle with us not using wingers, and much more spine to us than usual. I'm feeling Russ has been wedded to 4 at the back because we are well-stocked for wingers, and perhaps for next season that is what really needs to change. We created so much more through the centre. The defence had a padlock in front of it.
Downes was 10/10: peak Schneiderlin performance. Big up to Will too. KWP's assist and Che's assist were glorious. McCarthy had presence when we needed it. We did not miss Stu playing 3-5-2 for the first 45 minutes.
I have hope. The problem is that WBA have finished the season with some hot form. But I actually see a possible pathway to promotion now.
We need to give the manager his props. Each time this season he gets a clear week on the training ground, we see the team take a big step up in performance.
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