<https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/topic/53589-the-positive-thread-doom-merchants-need-not-read/>
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"Firstly, let's get this out of the way: last night's performance simply wasn't good enough and we all know that.    \nHowever, I can't understand the fickleness of some fans on here. We win, and Puel is a genius that is building a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts that is bringing on the academy into the first team. We lose, and he's a clueless, dour manager that needs to go. There's no middle ground with some people.    \nLet's look at this with a positive spin:   \n- We are in the semi final of the League Cup - the furthest we have gone for many years \n- We have played in the Europa League group stages and came a few inches away from qualifying for the knockout round (if that Yoshida header goes in).  \n- We beat Inter Milan in a competitive European match \n- We are 12th in the league, in touching distance of 6th (and yes I know we are also in touching distance of 17th too) \n- Given that most of the teams around us have played 30-40% fewer games than us so far, that league position is pretty solid in my opinion and will only improve as our fixture congestion eases \n- We have seen the emergence of two talents from the academy this season in McQueen and Sims, plus solid appearances from Hesketh, Stephens and Olomola. The pathway to the first team is back open and that's something we should all be positive about.  \n- We've achieved all that with basically one in form (but still unfit) striker, our new star-signing missing for much of the season and yet to properly make an impact, and significant injuries to our second choice full backs (as well as our first choice full backs missing significant time).    \nThe performance last night looked like a tired performance to me, as did Saturdays. I think that is understandable - we've played more games than any other premier league side apart from Man Utd (although I've not heard Puel use that as an excuse once so fair play to him for that - caveat: I zone out listening to his pressers so he may have used that as an excuse....).    \nAfter the Bournemouth game we have 10 days rest to the next match and when we start again, there're no more Thursday night fixtures. If we have not improved in the league, and we are out the League and FA Cups come Febraury, March or April time, by all means re-post this back at me and call me out on it but I think we'll all see an improvement not only towards the end of this season, but also next season.    \nChin up everyone - it's really not that bad. "
<https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/topic/53589-the-positive-thread-doom-merchants-need-not-read/>