Holmes_and_Watson

I thought Brooks showed a skill upgrade early on. A bit like Fraser, that faded a bit. Where Fraser's workrate would compensate and lead to some things, Brooks is a different type, and maybe didn't stand out as much. I put both down to them adapting into a controlled system. One that was trying different things to get the most out of RussBall. Towards the end, and when we changed most, Brooks' skill became more obvious again. With Edozie, we had a flash or two of outputs, before he was out the team again. Brooks is more capable in that respect. We need a range of different attributes in our front 3. No reason why he couldn't be part of that group.

It looks like their chosen path was to keep Abbott's process going as long as they could (even after it had actually concluded) with the goal of ushering her out. Preferably it seems by influencing the selection process (I think they had to bring in appeals not long ago, due to protests about how they were doing that), or by doing a deal. It looked like the compromise was that she would be allowed back in, and gets lots of tributes on the way back out. Abbott gets to stay part of labour, and maybe get something after. While Starmer gets to continue his purge, get to point out how much they've changed, while keeping a broader church onboard. Instead, the purge is more openly revealed and Labour come across as vindictively pushing out long standing MPs to bring in people with the same voice. While popular in some quarters, it also shows the that there are still divisions in his party, and how little the quarters are liked by the people calling the shots. Abbott has wisely chosen not to give them the out of standing as an independent. That pushes it back onto Labour to show just how much they listen to groups in their own party. Personally, I've rarely agreed with Abbott. However, she should be entitled to a fair process. If she is back in the party, then the local party should be free of influence to select her. Labour were only to happy to let in a previously apologetic Tory, which has haunted them where Abbott is concerned. Labour just look weak, pretending to have changed, while clearly not having done that when they could have. Deputy leader unsurprisingly backing Abbott, highlighting just how strong the divisions actually are. Starmer not getting involved in the process, but deputy doing just that.

While Forest brought in a shedload of players and stayed up... SR seemed to be keen on getting ahead of the curve by trying to bring in young players, who would be in other teams, but who were at decision points having been in top academies. Also data influenced signings of other players, influenced a bit from them being gems in other countries, talented youngsters as above there, or slightly more risk based signings of players - injury, fallen out of favour etc. All while building up our academy and lowering our wage bill. All of the above cost controlled to maximise sell ons ( even if false economy by multiple January signings). We've got 6 natural gaps already in the side. We need a DM over and above that. While, of, course, we can look at upgrading as well, we have to make sure we're not left overstaffed in one area, unable to move on others, while also being understaffed elsewhere. For example, we bring in 2 left backs, Bree and Manning stay and we struggle to get a Che replacement in, partly due to budget/ PRS constraints. If Martin is still in charge, and if he wants to play his system, it makes more sense to keep the core of players who got promoted playing it, than start the season with 11 Holgates. Practical, rather than romantic.

Jacket

Hang on! I put my savings into investing in a place where I could pet chickens and monkeys. A dream so many of us share. Are you telling me it's a place to watch monkeys petting chickens?!

Having been second best to Stu's hair this season, Martin is bringing in Lallana's beauty regime to make sure he is the best groomed next season.

Defender

Caught that typo, for you. 🙂

Welcome to the Saints, Mr Maguire. Lads, I'd like you to meet Harry... 🙂

Adam the Lama returns to Saints Adam the Llama returns to Saints An 'l' of a difference. 🙂

Beat me to putting up the baby shark video. 🙂

I vote for for Convict Colony whose modesty and selfless lack of self promotion is a credit to...[sees post above]... never mind...

When a like button isn't enough. 🙂 When we've really clicked this season, he's been a part of it. Always on the move, creating passing options, covering, supporting. As the season went on, he supported the attacks more. That also meant picking up different duties, supporting further up. Chuffed with his success this season. Martin must have been thrilled to have him in the squad once he'd seen him in training.

Friends Provident St Mary's Expansion has a nice ring to it. 🙂

Are we really? Or riley? or reilly? He has had a good season, and Celtic were expecting interest. Lots of attributes we like.

Disappointed there wasn't a holiday from Rishi to celebrate our promotion. 🙂

There are any number of clubs, where owners come in, make mistakes and it goes from bad to worse. In your case it seems that it was a combination of making some errors while also trying to fix things they didn't know about. Had we not gone up, there would still have been progress in a number of areas. As it is, you can use us an an example of the support you'll get to fix what went wrong last season.

Thanks very much for the update. Like Doctoroncall, interesting to see the different approaches. There's an opinion that styles could be standardised to get the best out of the recruitment parameters, interchangeability across clubs, and forward planning. But that doesn't necessarily suits all leagues, or the majority of players at our clubs. There's also advantages to having a range of skills available for development. Too much focus brings in weakness. Aligning players at different levels with clubs also at different levels is tough too. SR will want success across the group, not one club being used as a training ground for the others. Getting the best pathways for all involved is quite a challenge.

Hour

As part of the same group, we can share the good times, and support each other through the tough times. You kindly posted some of the reflections from SR on your season, and there's no shortage of plans in place for you. We've yet to really see the benefits of the group, so early days there. But plenty of areas could benefit us all. New York Saint's post has that nice pre season sense of optimism about it. Lots of challenges, and we've seen plenty of errors. But, and supported by Dragon's interview, willing to face them and learn from them over the long term. I don't think I've seen any criticism of his investment. Criticism focused on how it was spent. Dragon nicely downplays his football knowledge. Yet, pinpoints us getting carried away on any single batch of players, or overly depending on a single source of recruitment. He seems outwardly okay about his funds.

I've seen only a couple of appearances from him this season. He seemed fine. I was going to say that I'd therefore leave assessment to others. But not the ones who said his legs had gone, when our whole side was jaded when he was last here. Same for the others. Not seen much of Ings recently only from the bench, and even less from Lallana. If they are genuinely the best fit our recruitment team can find to help us stay up, then fine. I'd be a bit surprised if that was the case. If Barca are their usual selves, they will be doing a combination of paying big stars loads. While also pushing their previous group of big stars out the door through any means possible, and playing on the loyalty of others to pay them as little as possible. Like you say, I could easily see him wanting to be in Spain for the rest of his career.

His coaching will consist of getting players to agitate for moves away from the club, and build up their stamina to ... last an hour tops on the pitch. He's honest at least. Be nearer home, focus on his family and his coaching. On the plus side, we'd have someone with experience at the bestest club in the world under the bestest manager ever. Getting players to join big clubs actually suits the SR model. Free, and hopefully not going to be on Walcott wages. He provides an example of a career to aspire to (But then, so would a poster of Pele, and it wouldn't moan about not being put on the best wall).

Without a resale value, we'd have to fall back on his technical ability, experience at bigger clubs and love for ours. Tough one. 🙂 I was hoping someone would give him a call and ask who we could be looking at at Barca. Their cash problems can't have gone anywhere.

Not surprised these positions keep going. They've put a petition to keep it around, at the top right. 🙂