It's not for the first time this season that I've come away from a game thinking no one had a poor game! Ely just edged it for MOTM for me but so many candidates.... He gave so much he barely had the energy left to walk off the pitch when subbed. My only comment is that you know they are going to come at you in the second half, yet we showed no urgency to take possession. Then again, that's a mark of how improved we are defensively. For all their pressure, we never really looked out of control (unlike a few games last season!)
Just got back. Thoroughly enjoyed that! Cracking first half, not such a good second half but who cares. We won, and Ralph made some nice early, positive changes. Geneuinly everyone played well tonight, but I was particularly impressed by Moi, Romeu and JWP. Exciting times.
MOTM was Ralph today. Proactive, recognised the issues and changed them early. I just feel sorry for Madley that Villa weren't able to give him the equaliser he was trying so hard for them to get. Genuinely one of the worst refereeing performances I've ever seen.
Alex has done his bit for sure but I think a lot of that is down to the players in front of him, in particular Salisu and Romeu.
While I'm on Romeu, I think he's quietly been outstanding this season. Other players like Salisu and Tino have rightly been praised and Oriol has just gone about his business in midfield. He's such an important player for us and we really miss him when he's not in the team.
Totally agree. Romeu on his day is an absolute force. Was my MOTM again last night. KWP needs a mention too. The energy levels on that man are something else. There was a moment around the 80th minute or so where he was up in their half and cutting in across the middle of the pitch. He saw a perfect pass for Tino, but Tino was clearly knackered by that point, and it took him five seconds or so to get his arse in gear. KWP was waving at him in frustration, 'Oi, hurry the f*ck up!' I felt Elyou had his best game for us last night too. Nothing fancy, but for the first time was equal in playing his part. While I'm at it, the strikers both played very well, in particularly on the defensive side of things. Armstrong was like a whippet snapping at their defenders any time they tried to bring it out, and Adams, just seemed to be helping out at the back the whole game. I just love the fact that we are so dangerous down both flanks now. Been a long time since we've seen a Saints team so well balanced. Both their wingers, Bailey and El Ghazi were struggling to keep getting back. Leon Bailey for f*ck's sake looked like a school kid out there first half. One issue. Again, at least two or three times JWP's inswinging corners landed straight into Martinez's hands; quick throw, counter-attack.
I agree, but I also thought Leon Bailly was outstanding for us, particularly in that first half. He faded a little in the second half, but that was to be expected after his exerts in the first 45 mins.
On another note did anyone else think that last night was Prowsie's best game of the season so far? Looked much more 'at it' than any game so far. Maybe the time out did him some good. As been mentioned elsewhere the genuine competition for places helps too.
After all the Qs on SaintsWeb about if he should be in the team, I really looked closer at his performance, and ion doing so realised his value, he was outstanding, I thought one of his better games for us. I’d go as far as to credit Ralph for this way both JWP and Rmeu play, dropping deep, into the back ‘3’, really gives us more steel and ball retention.