26 Apr 2025 09:48:40
Saturday mornings don't feel quite the same at the moment - the buzz of anticipation isn't there.

So I thought I'd reminisce a moment and cast my mind back to the mid 70's when we hosted a Fulham side which boasted George Best, Booby Moore and maybe Rodney Marsh too.

My fondest memory was not our 4-1 (I think) win or Bestie getting sent off but of his glamorous girlfriend Angie (who became his wife) strutting round the pitch before kick-off in tight jeans and thigh high leather boots. Boy did I need a cold shower when I got home.

Funny how life works out, many years later and long after he'd retired, I played 5 a-side with Bestie through a mutual friend. It was in one of his periods of sobriety so he was behaving then!

So, turning today - I'm calling 1-1 and a similar performance to last week, except that we will score first.

1.) 26 Apr 2025
26 Apr 2025 19:47:33
Replying to myself - sign of madness, maybe, but thought I’d called it until the inevitable happened in time added on.

Not for the first time, I’m puzzled by the substitutions. I’m guessing it was to shore up things at the back but all it did was nullify any attacking intent. Fernandes and Sulemana were our most threatening players so why take them off - it’s not like we are saving them for midweek.

I think the modern trend of making umpteen substations confuses managers and players and frustrates fans. The Archer for Stewart change was logical and we get it - but the later substitutions helped turn victory into defeat.

Congrats to Wrexham - we will need to show a lot more fight and spirit if we are to compete with their energy and enthusiasm.

2.) 27 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025 08:29:39
I cannot understand why the team sat behind the ball for 40 mins, no team in prem league can do that and hope for a positive result.
Can anyone see any promoted team surviving in 25/26 prem league….? I can’t .
We will have the second best squad in championship, let’s hope we make it count

3.) 27 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025 11:36:05
I generally agree with you 2408, but I cannot see how you would assess our squad as being second best in Championship.

Aside from the fact we don’t have much of an idea as to what that squad will look like, all I see is bang average. If Ramsdale goes, we will be back to square one without a good enough GK. Then looking across the back line, Stephens and Bednerek are slow and cumbersome, Manning offers little offensively, Bree is a stop gap and even Harwood Bellis is laboured.

In midfield, Downes can only play the way he’s facing and Lesley O is mostly huff and puff.

Up front, we have no real idea about Stewart and Archer has done very little to impress.

So, Fernandes, Sulemana and KWP are our best players and they are all likely to move on.

Oh and Dibling, as I said before, he has potential but needs to man up a little - he’s a light weight and will struggle against the physicality of the Championship.

This is of course all subjective, as is your view 2408 that we are second best squad but for me, the single most important signing is a new manager - one who can restore confidence and self belief - one who can get 7/10 from players week in week out.

As for your question who of the promoted sides can stay up - I would think Leeds United. They know how to fight and haven’t been fortified by the disappointments of last season. And pound for pound, they have a much superior squad to ours.

4.) 27 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025 12:47:04
It pains me to say it but there is a part of me that thinks losing maybe the best option! If Rusk was to win a few I think the board would have given him the job full time as the cheap option. Now this may have proved to be an insightful appointment but we need a manager and players with experience to stear this rudderless ship back l. Then once we have added stability to the whole club we could look at adding the occasional player with potential to sell on and not rely on hope that they will all be world beaters on day one.

5.) 27 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025 20:00:02
Ramsdale ABK Bednarek THB Sugawara KWP will definitely leave, then 3 out of Fernandez Sulemana Onaucha Aribo Brereton Armstrong. That is a reduction in wages NI etc of approximately 450,000 per week!
Stephens will sign a new contract and be club captain, we will buy a right back and hopefully a dynamic midfielder, Rudoni plz.
That will still leave a very good championship squad, second only to Ipswich imo, just depends how many players they have to sell to balance the books.

6.) 27 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025 21:57:20
As I said earlier 2408, I seriously doubt your optimism. We lost our winning mentality way back in September and the players who don’t get sold or moved on are collectively and individually unlikely to recover.

2408, I hope you are right and I’m wrong, but all I see is a mediocre group of players who have forgotten how to play the game. Either that, or it has been drilled out of them.

At least it won’t be dull though - the team down the M27 will make sure of that!

7.) 27 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025 22:49:33
Fully agree that the next managerial appointment will be crucial. I very much want Danny Rohl, have to say that Eustace has done a brilliant job at Derby so maybe he could be considered?
I don’t agree that the squad is of poor quality but I do agree they have lost confidence, hopefully a focused and resolute manager will get them challenging for automatic promotion. ?

8.) 28 Apr 2025
28 Apr 2025 01:29:01
It seems Saints have uncovered another diamond in the rough with ex Man Utd Coach Eric Ramsay whose background looks impressive.nb (apparently Will Still does not possess a current Int.Coaching License at this particular time)! KOM

9.) 02 May 2025
02 May 2025 09:03:08
It seems if rumours are corrrect that Danny Rohl may prefer Lei. Why aren’t we bending over backwards to bring him in? He who delays will lose out imo