Fabrice29

100% correct. People who were wrong last year are desperately trying to be right this time. Haters going to hate. Bed wetters going to bed wet.

Yeah this is correct as well of course. Not impressed with BBD so far and him and Armstrong look far too slow in thought and movement for me. Think that's why Dibling is looking so good, his directness and decision making is just a lot quicker. Our attack last season felt a lot more fluid, yes because of space and time but also because they'd learnt patterns of play. Brooks, Adams, Fraser, Edozie, all out of the team now. Lack of familiarity leads to over thinking play and slower decision making all over the pitch which combined with the quicker players closing you down leads to games like today.

I agree with this wholeheartedly but the answer isn't bin the tippy tappy philosophy the answer is players on the ball making better decisions and doing it quicker. Almost every single team plays out of the back in this league and the ones that don't generally struggle, it's just choosing when and how it's done.

Okay, if this is the road we go down then people need to be well aware thats a different way of playing for our defence, midfield and attack and will need to show some patience as it beds in. If it doesn't click immediately then people cant just come up with another imaginary 11 and system that is so obviously the answer.

I agree there's some better players in that eleven and yes Fernandes for one should be starting against United but it's not as simple as just picking the best players and everything will sort itself out. I don't think it's a coincidence we've looked more blunt now we have a completely different attack to last year and I don't think doing the same disruption to the defence whether it be personnel or the position they are asked to take up would be particularly helpful to an already fragile bunch.

7 out of this 11 weren't involved last season. Ripping everything we did last season up doesn't feel a particularly good idea on any level. It wouldn't be good for the group as a whole in terms of morale and the idea that an 11 that involves nearly half of it who have yet to start for us at St Marys is the answer to our problems seems a bit fanciful to me. But hey, great idea on a messageboard though, top posting.

Conceded two after we went 4 at the back today fwiw.

Why don't you cut Stephens slack based on his previous performances out of interest? I don't rate him much but his performances last season and this have been absolutely fine.

So simple. Just pick the specific 11 you are thinking of in the pattern you are thinking of and you've cracked it. EVERYTHING ELSE IS WRONG OBVIOUSLY OMG WHY CANT EVERYONE ELSE SEE IT LIKE YOU.

I really wish I had such a simple outlook on stuff as this

Team makes sense to me. Guys who did well during the week wont get through 90 minutes. You would all want them on the pitch in the most important part of the game which you'd hope would be at the end. With 5 subs people need to move on from the starting 11 being so vital.

This is nonsense by the way. He actively talked about wanting to play in Europe again and got the opportunity to do so. Telling someone else what they should do with their career is nonsense on it's own but even more so when it involves clipping his ambition all because of some weird notion that staying here would make him a club legend for us and that's something he should aspire to over being successful.

Pretty sure he lives here and comes back for weekends. That said, I'd be shocked if he doesn't sign.

He left to join a team who had European football. He's not coming back but anyone wishing he does but in another thread wanting Dibling to be in the team needs to give their head a wobble.

You're like a pig in shit with this news, which is fair, but don't leave out you also said we were well in for O'Riley, amongst other stuff that hasn't happened.

I’m not sure smashing it into the box to the 6’7 striker you have just bought on would actually be a big surprise for our opponents.

Yeah I imagine pre season is a waste of time as well actually and definitely not an opportunity for people to impress and force themselves into the team. Anyway on a completely unrelated note, Dibling starts tonight…

Have you considered he has seen him in training every day for two pre seasons now and thinks he’s not very good as ‘any other reason’?

The point I was making was a semi jokey response to someone who suggested we should sign more players like Sugawara as if he was some hidden gem when in fact he was a starter in a European qualified team and top league. You replied as if I’m narrowing our scouting to Europe so no… it wasn’t in context and yes I will continue to be patronising where valid. I don’t really have an opinion on if we sign a striker or care where they should be from if we do but having a pop at me for suggesting we narrow our network only to Europe but then having a go at the club for not exploring Scandinavia is quite special and totally in keeping with you being unable to grasp words and context (and yes that’s me being a patronising twat again).

Okay if people are going to reply to comments can they understand the context what they are replying to first please.

A) Sugawara the full international and starter for a team in Europe and one of the top leagues in the world was hardly a difficult find. B) He’s played two games for us so deciding he’s a gem and others are not seems a bit mad. Especially those that we haven’t even signed yet. C) RB’s are slightly less in demand and slightly less specialist than strikers but if you do know any full international, starting strikers for European teams who’d be willing to join I’m sure Saints would be grateful for your suggestion. D) Signing off with ‘why can’t my club sign more players I like’ is great btw, especially considering B.

I’d use more relevant stats like chances created, the quality of those chances created and crosses completed rather than assists for this tbh if I were you.

We currently have 3 options for our right side. An 18 year old, Edozie who plays better from the left and AA who wants to play central (and has been concluded as out of his depth in this league by many) so I’d say signing a right sided player isn’t at all odd. Pretty sure based on Martins comments today that we sign a striker only if TP goes (or Stewart).

Edozie predominantly plays left side and is better cutting in and from the little I know about Fellows that’s a different position to him.

You can if you want to be factual. You cant if you don't.