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11 Feb 2024 20:56:16
It's been a long time since I've expected Saints to win. It's been even longer since I've been excited to watch them play good football. It's been even longer since I've ENJOYED IT!
Even at half time yesterday. And all that positivity from five months' effort was gone. But even then I thought we could still get something.
But 8 goal involvements from substitutes is utterly obscene and shows our depth now. EIGHT! Rothwell 2G 1A, Brooks 2A, Mara 1G 1A, Edozie 1G. We won the second half 5-1!
Our two Bournemouth loanees were excellent and the fact they've come from the same club seemed to do wonders yesterday.
And just following it online from the second half, even at 2-3, I was still expectant rather than hoping, and I think Huddersfield were too.
Not only will that energise the fans, the fringe players, and galvanise the first XI regulars to pick up the standards, that must be massively deflating for both Leeds and Ipswich.
We were dropping to third albeit with a game in hand but have kept up the relentlessness and with Leeds playing Leicester in a few weeks, we could be a couple of wins clear before our dicey run-in.
I think it's just between us and Leeds now. Ipswich have nine points in nine games, but the three former Prem teams are all just winning and winning.
How epic could that game be at Elland Road to finish the season? And what's more, I can't wait for the game on Tuesday! We could pick any 6 of 11 MID/FWD players, and I'd still expect us to score four. 0-0 incoming no doubt.
26 Sep 2023 07:59:51
SaintGGsy has written an article entitled, Are Southampton Now Stuck In The Lower Leagues?
1.) 26 Sep 2023 15:16:34
Great article and agree with all your sentiments.
2.) 26 Sep 2023 19:16:13
Spot on
3.) 26 Sep 2023 22:50:03
Brilliant piece SaintGGsy. You should send it the Board undersigned by all of us!
Looking back, I was recalling the number of Saints fans who were heralding relegation claiming it would be the perfect opportunity to regroup and reset.
I argued with them at the time, because I never settle for second best but half thought they may have a point. As it transpires, it couldn’t have turned out worse. That’s not ‘I told you so’ - it just goes to show how utterly frustrated we all are.
We stick it on RM - rightly so - but the players should be ashamed of their lack of football intelligence and complete lack of courage. I wouldn’t want any of them in the trenches with me.
4.) 27 Sep 2023 00:37:28
The one thing that shouts from
Your article is FRUSTRATION with a capital F . how is it that a few devoted fans on a forum, can see through the problems with so much ease.
I have never known a team so predictable, so easy to beat .
and yes, where did it all come from. Out last great manager was RK. Ralph arrived with hints of success, but once it was obvious that Plan A was his only plan, we still stuck with him, hoping that plan B would arrive .
So our frustration is born from the fact that the inadequacies of Saints is obvious to us laypeople…
So we have to ask, are SR deliberately destroying our club? Because they are doing a very good job of destroying us!
We have in Martin, one of the worst managers I’ve ever known in any sport.
His belief in himself is surreal! He has simply turned Southampton football club into Swansea, in a matter of weeks, to satisfy his desire to prove to the world that he is right!
We have to ask ourselves, why would SR want to destroy our club?
We signed some great players last year, but just like this season, we are satisfied in keeping them on the bench… What is that about, it makes no sense
I am this post with a Phew . it’s a real and bizarre situation…
Please, someone save Southampton
5.) 27 Sep 2023 18:45:44
Thanks all, and thanks Ed’s for making that into a special article thingy, looks very cool!
What a sad spot we’re in. No hope for Saturday either, but at least it’ll be available to see live for the country to witness our embarrassment!
{Ed033's Note - Thanks, terrible period for Southampton supporters.
6.) 28 Sep 2023 11:40:20
Ed’s
I love to hear your take on all this. I think it’s accepted that Martin has a rather higher opinion of himself than previous and current results suggest.
I am all for giving an up and coming manager a chance, but all of us can see that he isn’t anything like that. He plays his way and absolutely will not divert from that path, even not picking some of our best players, for what seems that they don’t fit in with his way.
Teams playing us have found us out, so much so that they all seem to be loving every bit about playing us.
I can’t imagine the team talk lasts long .
‘Get at them, they will lose the ball in their half and we’ll be in’ …
The whole of Swansea was warning us that he took them from a play off team to a middle table team .
So what are we doing? Why have we taken him on?
He is awful, and he has an excuse for everything .
It’s never his tactics
{Ed001's Note - it was clearly a mistake to appoint him, he is one of those that talks about himself so well in interviews it will impress business people. But that is a totally different environment from football and what works there is almost certainly not going to work in football. For starters football is about teamwork, so someone who is so full of their own self-importance and talks themselves up is absolutely the wrong choice to manage. The manager needs to be all about the team and not I but we. In business that is not the same. That is where they are going wrong, as are so many clubs.
The problem is that they are recruiting via an interview method and so will likely repeat the mistake again and again until they bin it. The way to move forward is to identify the guy who has the attributes you want and headhunt him at the top end. Interviewing is only going to get you a limited choice and almost entirely is going to leave you with the dregs to pick from rather than the cream.}
7.) 28 Sep 2023 14:31:54
Thank you Ed for that insightful reply. It didn’t enter my head for one minute that any football club would use this interview process!
He certainly is an ‘I’ person. As you say, he must interview well, saying all the right things.
While I’m hugely grateful for the reply, it kind of makes things worse. Surely some research into his managerial history, statistics, media coverage, players opinions, would have meant he never even got an interview, let alone the job.
He can’t and won’t last, despite some ramblings today from the club saying they and the players fully support Martin …
Thank you again and thank you for putting up with our incessant moaning.
{Ed001's Note - no worries mate and it is common practice to use an interview practice to hire the head coach/manager/director of football but it makes little sense to me. Any club as high up as the EFL or EPL has a wealth of lower league and non-league staff to cherry pick. Why not head hunt the best person for the job, rather than limit your options to who is available to interview for the role?}
19 May 2023 20:15:35
Russell Martin. Cannot say I have an opinion or any optimism, but he's improved the two previous sides he's been at. Poor defensive record, probably a cheap option, fits right in!
1.) 20 May 2023 20:15:27
A poor choice! Another Selles, another RH! please plz please get a manager who plays attacking free flowing football. The supporters would really appreciate exciting football.
04 Jan 2023 16:42:41
Hi Eds,
How much truth is there to the reports that we have failed to land Orsic due to lowballing?
And how concrete are talks between us and Lorient for Terem Moffi?
Any other news of potential interest or incomings aside Tennis World #1 Carlos Alcaraz?
Thank you!
{Ed002's Note - The asking price for a 30 year old is high and no club has looked to match it at this time.
Terem Moffi (S) His "Agent" (and I use that term in the very loosest of forms) has offered him to clubs without the permission of Lorient who have no intention of selling. Last summer he was offered to Borussia Dortmund who were surprised when Lorient rebuffered their approaches. This month West Ham and Southampton have been led into declaring an interest but again Lorient are clear they have no interest in selling. A move in the summer may be more likely.}
1.) 05 Jan 2023 10:18:47
I wouldn't worry about players. more concerning is a decent manager. I can't believe jones still has a job after last night's joke of a game. He's a proper muppet. Said he was surprised by the booing.when people pay there hard earn money to go ad watch that filth. Hoff ball.the board need to act now.because if he is still there come Sat. With a proper mauling by Palace in the cup. There will b a riot at St Mary's never mind booing.
2.) 05 Jan 2023 10:58:20
I am so angry upset and depressed what has happened to my beloved football club. Gone of the days of Tim flowers matt le tiss Alan shearer ad the Wallace brothers. It's a year to the day sports Republic invested ad brought into the club. Look at the state of it. BROKEN. FINISHED From top to bottom. That's why we are where we are. A sinking ship. We can't attract a decent manager. One that's gunna dig of out of this hole. Ad as for players forget it. join a club that's gunna get relegated ad play championship football? Forget it .it ain't happening. It's done finished ad over.
3.) 05 Jan 2023 11:19:47
I share your pain mate. I felt desperate last night and the morning after I actually feel worse. Most of all I feel angry because the Board has colluded in betraying the history of the club and the fans.
Miracles aside - there is no hope. We are a championship squad - plain and simple.
Like the majority of the posts - we’ve all shared bad times over the years but there has always been something to cling on to. I see absolutely nothing positive and judging by the empty seats last night, fans are biting with their feet.
Even if we somehow managed to beat Crystal Palace and Man City next week, I could not forgive the disgraceful showing last night
4.) 05 Jan 2023 11:35:41
I agree with you fully .as I said I have burnt my season ticket. Refuse to watch that utter garbage anymore!. Ad if I go to St Mary's I will end up hurting someone. Preferably Nathan Jones.
5.) 05 Jan 2023 13:36:00
This isn’t an overnight thing that we witnessed last night, this is years of coaching flair and surprise factor out of players. Name me one player in the last 4 years who has joined us and gone on to be an outstanding premier league player.? The wasteland containing players we have broken is full!
6.) 05 Jan 2023 14:28:17
Only Danny ings .ad right now we need him . He was fantastic for us. 46 goals in 96 apps. Not a bad return. He was part of are spine when we could score goals ad win games. Now look at it. Kids running around in pampers. It's like the local youth club.
7.) 05 Jan 2023 12:48:13
Reports Ordic having medical after few agreed. Is this true?
{Ed002's Note - I cannot help with medicals.}
8.) 05 Jan 2023 20:28:17
Anybody no of a decent midfielder to play alongside jwp? What about weston mckennize from juventus. See villa were looking at him
9.) 05 Jan 2023 18:47:55
Fair enough but what’s the update if any on this transfer happening?
{Ed002's Note - Giorgio Scalvini (CB) Inter, Spurs, Juventus and Southampton have shown an interest in the young centre back.
Mason Holgate (CB) Southampton offer an option.
Michael Keane (CB) West Ham have a declared interest. Someone close to Everton sad that Keane may be an option if Holgate is not available.
Mislav Orsic (LW) Thge 12M euro asking price for a 30 year old has put off most clubs - Leeds and Southampton are keen - Inter a wildcard.
Chuba Akpom (S) Ex Arsenal player who has never found his niche. His agent, and I use that in the broadest terms, has offered him to Southamton and Norwich City in recent months. Southampton could push.
Terem Moffi (S) Lorient are not looking to sell but his leech of an agent has been going from EPL club to EPL club looking for a buyer - certainly he has spoken with Southampton, Arsenal, Everon and West Ham.
10.) 06 Jan 2023 09:32:53
Thank you Eds002. Very comprehensive
11.) 06 Jan 2023 13:13:20
Akpom incoming? Archer going on loan from Vila to Boro and medical today. Could this happen now?
12.) 06 Jan 2023 16:05:19
Another name in the frame? Daizen Maeda at Celtic: maybe a good word game n from Maya when he was at SM recently. Anything in this Ed’s?
{Ed002's Note - I really don’t know.}
07 Nov 2022 17:30:55
Jones now looks a near certainty. Think we can all agree this is not what we had in mind when looking at potential replacements BUT
Potter, Cooper, Mick Beale even, have been wanted by PL clubs in the past and have to varying degrees shown that they can do it.
But given who Villa, Wolves and Brighton have just employed and the potential, name-drawing ability and potential, it does feel like we're preparing for life in the championship already, which is gutting.
Having said all of this, Luton have tended to play counter-attacking football which would suit us, passing around the back has only caused us problems, and they've gone from the bottom of the football league to a championship play-off final almost entirely under his leadership which Nigel did similarly with us.
We need to back him, but the problem is given the time to work with a squad who will largely be unaffected by World Cup call-ups, if we don't hit the ground running and take 12 points from our first seven games after Christmas, we are done for.
His first seven after the WC are BHA, FUL, NFO, EVE, AVL, BRE, WOL. Horribly important introduction to the PL.
Very sorry to see Ralph go, but things can't really get worse.
1.) 10 Nov 2022 15:47:23
I have to say I didn't know a lot about him and didn't think we would go that route but after looking at a number of his interviews I think he fits well into the ethos of our club. He has a proven record of working with younger players and he says all the right things for me. Passiontae but more importantly he seems to be a man manager. I think he will be tuff where he needs to be but he will also put an arm around his players and get them to buy into the project. Getting players to fight for him is what he is looking for and I hope he gets that. We hadnt heard of Poch when we sacked Adkins, I remember thinking who is this guy and being extremly P****d off with the appointment. Oh how I was proved wrong. We have to get behind him now and show him how good our support is. I'm actually excited to see how the players respond to him. Ralph should have gone along time ago but I trust in the new owners and I imagine we have been looking at Nathan for a long time. I'm actually excited to see us against Liverpool (Although i'm under no illutions). Natahn is now our leader, let's all get behind him and get us fired up the league
2.) 17 Nov 2022 01:52:31
I have a similar take and support your comments 100% Saint Ben Basingstoke.
3.) 15 Dec 2022 21:13:36
There’s this attacking bloke who plays for Morocco who has had an amazing World Cup - his name rings a bell - Boufal I think it is. Be great to see him in a Saints shirt!
SaintGGsy's banter posts with other poster's replies to SaintGGsy's banter posts
10 Apr 2024 23:07:11
I hate this club. After Blackburn all hope was gone. Now we win and none of the top three do, and we're only just over a game back.
On this promotion / manager chat, the dream scenario is we win the play-offs, Amorim is snapped up by Barca, so Liverpool move for De Zerbi, and Brighton go for Martin. Other options are Iraola is snapped up by a top six La Liga side, maybe West Ham completely diverge from their plans with Moyes even, but we end up in the PL without a manager, and could potentially attract Potter, or failing that Cooper.
Promotion under Martin and I can't see us being better than three PL sides next year regardless of team unless we develop a counter-attacking style. Stay down with Martin and if we don't go up next year then we won't for years. Stay down and Martin is poached, maybe we get Cooper, but again it'll be a weak team.
Having said all that, who gave Luton a chance (points deductions aside) and can you imagine a play-off final victory at Wembley. Wouldn't say no.
1.) 11 Apr 2024 11:48:13
I like that dream scenario a lot.
I appreciate RM getting us to the playoffs and for his celebrations with the fans but given Burnley's experience, possession football is probably not the way for a relegation threatened side in the Prem.
Let's hope for an epic playoff win. All things considered, I think promotion now is best for the club.
01 Apr 2024 15:37:36
Today is simple. Win or it's the play offs. If we do win, we're seven behind with two games in hand, and bizarrely now it looks like it's Leeds plus one other (most likely Ipswich) but there will be more twists to come.
If we don't win, we need to mentally fully focus on a three-game shootout. Hopefully the other three run it close and whoever finishes third is crushed and can't recover for the play-offs, then we need to get past West Brom and Norwich/Coventry.
A draw and it keeps us still thinking 'maybe' - go for broke please lads and please don't leave it as a one goal game with a minute to go!
1.) 01 Apr 2024 19:31:59
We drew, I'm just a bit upset, we should've won, I'm trying to say how we can fix it? A new signing? I don't know stats show we are doing good but final results don't say that. Draws should be wins for us well some of them especially this one. We can't survive prem like this.
2.) 01 Apr 2024 19:37:13
Nevermind, we lost in the 97th minute. I can't lie as a fan I should be hoping we'll go through on playoffs. I don't think we will I can't lie. We'll bottle it. My friend calls us the Tottenham of the championship and he probably is right in this game.
I'll try keep believing but my hope is diminishing
3.) 01 Apr 2024 22:22:05
You have to admire the team spirit of Ipswich, they consistently win games in the last 10 minutes of play. As for Saints, spare a few crucial players for the final 4 games of the season and go into the playoffs with a physically fit and determined team. Let Adams leave now, he’s been poor all season and today went missing when we needed him. I would settle for 4th or 5th and playing West Brom because I genuinely think we’ll beat them. The final is a lottery often won by the team that’s best organised. I really do think we need a change of manager at the end of the season, pure possession football is not the answer in the premier league or championship. Shame we’ll lose Harwood bellis, Downes and Brooks but I do expect Fraser and Rothwell to sign permanently.
4.) 01 Apr 2024 22:53:02
2408 :
I love football and I don’t care who plays it, I enjoy watching it. Ipswich have created a team that not onjy keeps going, but make subtle tweeks to ensure they win .
we pass back first minute or 90th minute. Ipswich wanted to win and so changed things, not a lot but enough .
for a while we were both apologising that we had misjudged RM. but we were seeing him against lower teams. What a difference since our run of now losses . found out and no plan B …
As you say 2408 . Martin would be destroyed in the EPL .
there is a reason this man has never been successful and we are seeing it
02 Mar 2024 21:08:15
Regardless of yet another ridiculous game, ridiculous scoreline and ridiculously late goal, this is so much more fun than the last few years in the PL.
Yes we nearly blew a lead against a 10-man side in 20th, yes we've conceded early again for what feels like the sixth game in a row, yes we're conceding goals and yes we're underdogs to go up automatically, BUT
We've somehow found a way to win again - we were never winning these games (granted against better sides) in the PL. Given Leeds and Leicester didn't win, we've made gains on the day and it's still just about in our own hands if we can win 9/10 of the final 11 games.
But we also need to look at the ridicukous standards that have been set this year.
Leicester were so ridiculously good for half a season that alone should've sent them up. Three losses in a row and they're clinging on to top.
Ipswich managed to cling to Leicester, went on a five game run of not winning to sink to fourth and were suddenly cut adrift and now have found it again.
Leeds were way off it, won 9 in a row and are suddenly right in the mix, then one draw and they're out of second again.
Saints lost four early on, had to go 24 unbeaten to make the top two and then two bad weeks seemingly chucked us out of the contest again.
We're on nearly two points a game and are fourth in such a competitive league, it's bonkers. The main fear I have is those finishing 3rd and 4th are going to have so much taken out of them that the play-offs will be a real struggle - and if we do make Wembley, a potential winner takes all versus Leeds or Ipswich will be horrible to watch.
Either way, we may be playing crap, but that's football and we're still winning. If we win our next two games, and win them well, we're suddenly back in the mix - the top three have tricky away games next weekend, we could be within touch of Leicester by then ?
13 Jan 2024 21:01:00
All that worry and panic for nothing. Front three all in the goals, another clean sheet, 9 home wins in a row with only 3 goals conceded, a club joint record 20 unbeaten, and to make it outright we need to go to our manager's old stomping ground and come out dry.
Yes there have been the doubts and quibbles, but getting that side to become so defensively solid - since conceding 2 at Preston we've let in 8 goals in 17 games with max 1 goal per game - as well as getting previously unloved players like Fraser, Mara and Edozie in the goals - shows Martin knows what he's on about.
Ipswich's next game is at Leicester. If we win and Leicester win, we are second. Then we aren't chasing and it becomes a different ball game, but a few weeks back I said I didn't see why we couldn't stay unbeaten through to March, and with Swansea, Rotherham, Huddersfield, Bristol City, West Brom, Hull and Millwall to come, if we can keep winning at home and ticking along with draws and the odd win away, I think the chasing pack will continue to falter.
One very happy Saint here. Keep this side together through the transfer window and I think we are second favourites for promotion from here.
26 Dec 2023 21:49:09
Well I think the negativity surrounding our 14 game unbeaten run may be being pushed aside. Can't blame goal difference being a problem now, can't blame the defence - 3 straight clean sheets, can't blame the manager and can't blame the goalscorers - 8 different ones in 3 games.
That's now 16 without defeat, most in the top 4 leagues by far, 6 straight home wins, teams around is dropping points and most importantly performances are properly starting to move in the right direction.
No we aren't perfect but offer this to us in August and we snap their hand off, we're a team January signings will want to come to and our loanees will want to stay - Fraser and THB epsecially important that they do so.
Late goals, goals near and soon after half time, only downside a late Ipswich equaliser but they've deserved that.
If we keep winning at home and churning out draws or narrow victories away from home, the lack of defeats will continue to increase the momentum.
Our next dozen look fine - PLY H, NOR A, SHW H, SWA A, HUL H, ROT A, HUD H, BCI A, WBA A, MLL H, BIR A, PNE H shouldn't cause too many problems and I'd like to think we win all six home games and pick up maybe 3 wins and 3 draws away - 30 points or so.
Ipswich have a few tricky games upcoming and Leeds can be flaky, so an attacker in January and hold on to what we have and fingers crossed for the new year COYS!
1.) 26 Dec 2023 22:00:50
Very positive signs for the second half of the season. Think we need a full back, preferably one who can play on either flank, and an out and out goal scorer to have a chance of making the automatic promotion places. Love to see Ings, he is so suited to our play in the final third. Maybe RM is a top manager and it’s taken him 5 months to organise the team? Special mention for Downes, Bednarek and Harwood-bellis, they’ve been outstanding of late. Starting to feel quietly confident of at least top 4 finish.
2.) 27 Dec 2023 08:14:21
Conpletely agree.
I think Santa must be a Saint because the last 3 games have gone superbly for us!
7 points closed on Ipswich, 14 on the goal difference, ahead of Leeds and we are putting teams to bed.
March and April will be a tough run but we have a full month to bed in new players after the window, unlike our Sep struggles.
Couple of new players in, maintain our form and get results against Leeds and Ipswich away, then we really could do it! COYR
3.) 27 Dec 2023 10:05:30
Well. Last posted after the Coventry game and was still not entirely happy.
I go away. Miss 3 games. What has happened?
Brilliant results. Goal difference improves by 10. Even Mara scores.
Top 2 not so far away.
Well done Saints. Feeling much more positive suddenly for 2024
COYR
11 Nov 2023 21:52:55
Came here to say a very similar thing. Our next ‘tough’ game is the reverse of this fixture in February. Till then I don’t think we play a team in the top half. In this league we will slip up somewhere along the line but what a month or so.
Reflecting now on our losing run, in perspective they don’t look so shocking. Boro hadn’t won a game but are now mid table, Leicester and Ipswich are first and second, and the only real shocker is the Sunderland game which I still can’t fathom, and maybe that took a few games to come back from.
Maybe we all overreacted a little. Some more clean sheets would be nice, but ultimately losing on two long away trips and at home to the top two aren’t anything to be too ashamed of, and we now seem to have a settled and organised lineup. Also excellent to see Stewart on the pitch. Way things are going we might be able to offload Adams to a struggling PL club in January for too much money and invest wisely.
I’d like to think we can now go on a 20+ game unbeaten run but the championship doesn’t work that way, though shoring up a top 6 spot whilst keeping the top 2 within arms reach would be a nice place to be come the new year.
Go the saints! I’m actually enjoying supporting this team for the first time in about 7 years ?
27 Sep 2023 18:45:44
Thanks all, and thanks Ed’s for making that into a special article thingy, looks very cool!
What a sad spot we’re in. No hope for Saturday either, but at least it’ll be available to see live for the country to witness our embarrassment!
{Ed033's Note - Thanks, terrible period for Southampton supporters.
25 Sep 2023 21:20:03
There is definitely something amiss with our club. It seems so rigid - we must play this way or else - why can’t we bomb down the wings, cross it, big Paul with headers or knockdowns. There are reasons Sulemana and Alcaraz aren’t playing, why our best players aren’t performing.
I don’t know what it is, and I don’t think it’s just down to Martin, but problems feel deeper than we are seeing on the field right now, and it’s worrying.
{Ed033's Note - Thanks for the long post, i'll put it up tomorrow morning as an article
28 Jan 2023 22:20:34
Another winger with pace and little end product. GIVE US GOALS FOR GOD’S SAKE.
Doesn’t need to be anything magical. A half season loan deal to keep us up, and we’ll be in a much more inviting position if we stay up. Look what Gabbi did - none of us had heard of him and he had a spurt for two months which kept us up. Don’t sign a striker, we won’t know.
Che Adams and Adam Armstrong will not keep this side up. Mara has potential but isn’t going to bag 10-12 goals in the last 19 games. Maybe Orsic at striker is an option, but relying on JWP and Perraud for goals is a death sentence.
Also, generally speaking, it’s worrying that our 1.5th team (not quite a full second string side) barely beat a team in the championship relegation zone. Doesn’t exactly bode well.
26 Jan 2023 20:47:33
Saints fans: sign a striker
Saints board: signs a winger
Saints fans: close! Now get a striker to score some goals!
Saints board: signs a midfielder
Saints fans: ok, good player, now we need goals!
Saints board: James Bree
{Ed014's Note - ??
02 Apr 2024 19:53:46
We aren’t cutthroat enough a club at any level, and I just cannot see that the board will replace Martin if we finish fourth and don’t go up. They’ll say ‘we got XX points (87ish), that would get you promoted automatically most seasons’.
Ipswich have done an amazing job and I want them to go up. We need to cherry pick from this league and League One and get Martin to see the error of his ways to this point. I backed the side when we went unbeaten, but the amount of times we’ve failed to kill off games has now caught up with us.
I’d like to think we can keep S Armstrong, A Armstrong, Fraser, Aribo, Smallbone, Charles and Bednarek, have Larios and Stewart fit, and sign a CDM - we won’t keep Downes - a goalie and another striker as a minimum. If we get money from KWP and Sulemana totalling £30m+, we can go and pick up several good prospects and build, because as people rightly say we wouldn’t stay in the PL with this squad.
I also don’t think the club is built on a ruthlessness to sack off Bazunu. I loved his signing but one could argue that with a hint of anticipation he saves all three goals last night.
I’d like us to go and look at the impressive players from this season. Whittaker, Szmodics, Simms, one of them would suit us. I think szmodics would be an amazing player for us personally. But I imagine we will dip back into the Chelsea and City youth pool again.
24 Feb 2024 14:23:29
It’s amazing to look at this table and think we could end up with 100 points and still not go up! It looks likely there will be four teams with 90+ points, when in your average championship season you’re almost guaranteed to go up with around 87.
Regardless of the tactical issues etc currently needing addressing, we have little to fear bar those three away at the top three - I’d fancy our chances at Ipswich, hope we won’t lose at Leicester, then it would all come down to that final day where who knows what could happen.
Leicester are falling back, Ipswich had a run of 1 win in 9, we’ve lost 2 in 3, Leeds were about 7 back of us until February. There are more twists yet - Leeds won’t win every game between now and May, and I think Leicester are catchable.
Just enjoy the ride and hope that if it comes to it, we don’t bottle the play-offs ?
09 Jan 2024 20:28:19
I would sell if it becomes clear he isn’t going to sign a new contract. I also think that one of the bottom five PL sides would probably splash out on the old ‘played in the PL, can score goals, could fire us 6-8 goals and help us to safety’ and pay us £10-12m which I’d rather over him going for free in five months.
AS LONG AS we get a forward in that won’t be injured for the season. Ross ?
30 Nov 2023 21:38:32
Need to start somewhere. Yes we aren’t convincing but we are at least winning. And I’d rather that than playing well and losing. We need to hope confidence builds, and our unbeaten run stretches past 20 games.
An indication of where we are attacking wise. If we had conceded one goal more in each game played, we’d be 20 points worse off and only outside the drop zone on goal difference.
BUT we’re fourth, and are finding ways to win or avoid defeat. We’d all have taken this position after we were trounced by Leicester. Stewart’s injury record is worrying and with Che out of favour, we need a goal scorer in January, else with our run of fixtures to come, I’d half hope to be pushing the automatic spots by 2024.
09 Sep 2023 13:16:41
Our best 11 based purely on names should be something like;
Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Larios, Charles, Smallbone, Alcaraz, Sulemana, Adams, Edozie
Arguments to be made about the best CB pairing, Downes, Stewart when fit and A Armstrong (who I don’t fully like as a midfielder - I’d want Alcaraz as the further forward mid with two behind him really) .
But that above XI with any one of a few players changed within it should win this league at a canter IF we can learn to adapt and not keep giving the ball away 20 yards from our goal