Holmes_and_Watson

Fox

Go SaintsWeb! Wait. You meant that in a bad way, didn't you?... 🙂

Oh, how we'll laugh when he's unveiled as Russ' successor when that time comes. 🙂 (hopefully a good while away)

Perfect. I was looking for something to go with my Joker make-up.

So unfair on Rishi, the mastermind behind giving someone £3000 to volunteer to go to Rwanda. At a cut rate, bargain overall cost of just hundreds of millions.

SaintsWeb Poll: You've pulled a Turkish. Is this? The end of a good night out? The end of a bad night out? Something you should stop, before you go blind?

Since we need re-enforcements there anyway, and relied on Downes being fit last season, hopefully the plan B option is well underway.

I'd like to think Charles is getting, and is receptive to, a lot of specialist training in pre season. Martin tried him, and was reluctant to use him for his core position. On one hand, he got 15 league starts and 17 sub appearances for a promoted Championship side. Excellent for his age. On the other, he was out of contention at the end, and will get even less time in the PL. It would be great to see him adapt to Martin's requirements, and compete for that position.

Disappointingly not a section on the online club shop. 🙂

A like wasn't enough for this one. Like a number of players, Che's overall game improved under Martin. Or we got to see other areas of it under that system. He already does a lot of the things Martin is looking for in that position. While always happy to see the squad improved, Che did enough to still be a part of it. I'd prefer to see us upgrade on Mara and Stewart (fitness), while keeping Che here.

These. No one should be the target of this. For any reason, and certainly not when standing for office. Whatever the party they are legally standing for. Simply drags our democracy down. Hypo's mention of acid reminded me of Jo Brand's 2019 comment: "Certain unpleasant characters are being thrown to the fore and they’re very, very easy to hate and I’m kind of thinking: “Why bother with a milkshake when you could get some battery acid?” She added: "That’s just me, sorry. I’m not gonna do it, it’s purely a fantasy, but I think milkshakes are pathetic, I honestly do. Sorry." I caught the show at the time. I remember a very uncomfortable silence. The part beginning "That's just me..." was what Brand said as the audience were still quiet, with the odd unsettled chuckle. It was a terrible comment, and everyone there knew it. It should never have been broadcast, as it feeds into the normalisation or targeting, with violence, of certain views.

Now why would I be clicking a link, clearly for the premier League? Oh yes, we're now in it. Contented purr... Any excuse really. 🙂

But taking that to the highest level, it would mean not being able to politically control events across the lifetimes of supreme judges, whether you were in power or not. Madness!

It seems to be a bit of everything, much like some other positions. Not just holding it up, but dropping deep to set up passing angles or collect and pass it. Not just be in the box, but provide an outlet right through the middle. I've seen him instinctively take up finishing positions in the box, when the ball hasn't reached him. As you say he can miss some of those, yet instinctively finish when it drops to him further out. He's not as clinical as some others. Although we have gone through periods where his conversion rate would have to have been fantastic, considering the service. Sometimes, he isn't where you'd expect. Sometimes, that's definitely the system. He's dropped back to set up the move. That sort of inconsistency is about what I'd expect for players in the system, and at the level we're at. There's a lot he does well, and some less so. Arguably, like Baz, it's what you'd think of as the key bit, that's not quite there. I think that's Martin's frustration. All those games where we created, but couldn't finish the chances. That's not just down to Che though.

Under Martin, I'm a lot less interested in the price, than what they bring to the system. For example, there could be a fantastic target man out there for £30 million. But, unless we change what we do, he isn't going to see much of the ball, and we'd be a man short in a lot of our play. Tall Paul might be an example of this. Che already ticks a lot of boxes, so I can see why we'd want to keep a starter, even if that becomes a squad player. Beyond that, very much up to the recruitment and data guys to provide someone who also ticks the boxes, while also being an upgrade. Unlikely we'll get everything we'd like. Which is where we are with Che.

I remember Blue Peter's "Build the UK's nuclear deterrent with a used washing up liquid bottle, and some cremola foam," fondly.

When will their baseless persecution of politicians, and their families, stop?!

SR have already looked at the manager options, before the play off final. They were sticking with Russ. With that done, we know what's going to be underpinning our play next season. And also on the players he wants to keep (returning loaners included). Other players may have their own plans. We don't know is how much Martin will be relying on the 3 at the back tactic, compared to the back 4. If we can keep the sharpness of the latter in the 3 at the back, then we may avoid cuffings. If it's the former, then Martin said to expect drubbings, even when in the Championship. Overall, he has faith in it to deliver enough points. To do that, he's going to need the players. Last season he made do with no Tella replacement, an injured Stewart and too light in midfield. SR will be giving him plenty of time, if they send out our squad like that next season. When we get the players in, is also important. Lots of late changes last season, which cost us in September. And that was outgoings, as much as anything. If SR do very late transfer business this time round, it's unfair to pin opening defeats and getting arrivals up to speed, entirely at Martin's door. It will be challenging, and some fans will express dissatisfaction immediately ( if they wait that long). It's emotive and we all want us to do well. I'd not be taking it as a barometer of the manager's future. Unless the dressing room is lost, we are stranded at the foot of the table getting hammered 9 nil every week, the stadium is empty and the underlying data says there's no hope, then I imagine Martin will be around for the duration. If SR buy into his philosophy only to go back down, then they can reassess on a rebuild then. If they can keep Martin from a Barcelona job, following the Kompany model. 🙂

Force of habit 🙂 Replace with Charles.

As it stands... 5-3-2 Lumley KWP, THB, Bednarek, Stephens, Fraser Aribo, Charles, Smallbone AA, Stewart 4-3-3 Lumley KWP, THB, Bednarek, Manning (drop 1 for Stephens) Aribo, Charles, Smallbone AA, Stewart, Fraser

Like everyone else, SR will be only too aware of PRS. Like most, they don't have the resources to pay silly wages. Like several, maximising sell on is a goal, requiring them to develop players or take in less likely signings all at a discount. Against that is every agent and club (us too)is out to get the best possible deals. I imagine we're not going to be short of offers to get players. Getting them at a cost SR are prepared to pay is something else. Hopefully scenarios such as other clubs about to fall foul of PRS is something we can take advantage of. It might not be the obvious stars at those clubs either. Could be players breaking through, as Livramento and Lavia were.

When Aribo was going through his less mobile than a freighter phase with us, J recall Martin saying they'd had an open chat about his future. I think his high wages were mentioned. Now bumped back up, they may still be pretty high for SRs liking. He's back towards his best since then. That said, it would seem silly to let him go. As it stands, he's a starter. He's going to be a very useful squad player, even if we bring others in. Contracted until 2026, so no rush there either.

I wonder what the ones they do catch at vetting have said, if people like this got through.

Not hiding it that well, since we get to read all about the same views every day (and now every 10 minutes, it seems) 🙂

"Route One football is part of my DNA", said Martin to 442. "I was a massive admirer of Taylor, and watching the simple effectiveness of Wimbledon later on, was something I knew I wanted to aspire to." Sorry, just thinking of a changed Martin in the PL. 🙂 I thought Baz should have been pulled out of the team, a lot earlier in our relegation season. His weaknesses were there and the team didn't make use of his strengths. I can't imagine the personal impact of going through that. Would we have gone up, if he hadn't got injured? Maybe. You'd have to weigh up a lot of incidents. McCarthy brings more presence and shot stopping. Alex also got the benefit of team relentlessly drilled to pass from all over the park. Baz was key to that. We got to play crisp passing moves higher up, as Alex would have struggled more there. And that suited us and pushed us forward. With no Baz for next season, we could well have to limit that passing right at the back again. As opponents hunt it down in pressing packs (see Farke at Norwich or us vs Liverpool), that might not be terrible. Either way, we're going to need more than a target man. Either formation Martin used relied on a mobile, hard working forward. One able to drop deep to bring in runners, be physical enough to hold it up and be mobile enough to get up and be on the end of things. If we want a player who just wants to receive it, Mara was an example. Sure, Woods offers more than that, but it's an example how limited systems are with 10 players using it.