Holmes_and_Watson

Chambers giving away a rather clumsy freekick right on the edge of the box for the Sportswashers to capitalise on. Perhaps they needed a shouty, if not entirely effective, presence in midfield today. I can only hope the Wolves fans are telling Conte to shush every time he moans.

Forster is a keeper I've always rated. He was excellent for Celtic, and early and recent form with us has shown plenty of his better qualities. Totally fair to say he did have spells of inconsistency, and what seemed to be a clear slump in confidence in between. He also had a bad injury. So, I'm certainly not saying that he shouldn't have had competition for the shirt, or always have been first choice. But when he's remotely on form, he's easily the more commanding presence behind the defence. I think he got the contract (and happy to be corrected) when Wanyama, Pelle and Mane left and extended it the following year. Davis would have retired about then, and I thought Forster was a clear upgrade at the time, and worth it at the time. It also showed we could also hold onto players (if only to sell them at a profit later). During the periods when he wasn't first choice, I got the feeling that the club were only too eager to shift him off the wage bill. That's understandable, but can't be a good place to be for any player, and with a goalkeeper, there's also the feeling that their errors are more exposed. If the scouting dept have identified an upgrade on Forster, then that will be good for the club and Forster can try and secure as good a deal as he can elsewhere. But I'm not so sure it will be easy to repalce him. So, if the club decided they couldn't and reached an agreement to extend his contract, I'd be quite happy. As Spyinthesky said, I'd much rather focus on securing/ replacing Broja.

I note their ultras call themsevles Demoni, giving a nice symmatry to the Saints. 🙂

This is why, for me, it would be disapointing to see Ralph depart in a couple of years (caveat of half decent results ongoing). For me, it's more gradually being able to shift the players considered to be deadwood in the squad, and smartly and slowly bringing in replacements. As opposed to the sorts of player overhaul seen more frequently in clubs with more resources to burn, where managers can build new teams more quickly. As this continues (caveat of not signing a bunch of clangers) it would become even more of Ralph's squad, and we'd see even more progression.

Retriever

Flower

Is this the expanded tournament, so that FIFA can give us even more quality fixtures? And not at all a desperate chance for their organisation to leech money from other continental governing bodies.

So sorry to hear this news. Our thoughts are with you, the rest of his family and his friends at this difficult time. Thank you so much for letting us know, as I'm sure he's been in the thoughts of many of us since he shared his news. Minsk's posts have been a highlight to posters and lurkers alike here. We'll miss his voice, but know that it will still be heard in every Saints cheer.

Grealish Cherry

Paul Scholes moaning on aobut their manager clearly looking like he's a sporting director who hasn;t had the managerial experience. COmpletely missing the point that if you have a manager with an effective style of modern play, it can take a while for it to work. Something the weight of previous man utd players/ staff never seem to appreciate. In coming managers can;t all be like Conte, who...oh, wait we beat Rant Boy's lot earlier in the week. Tee hee.

Another cracking performance. Not just the work rate, or the pressing, or the willingness to work as a team, or the talent. A combination of a lot of work, and we had chances to win that one. Very impressive, and it's this cohesiveness that other "bigger" clubs must look at and wonder why they can't do that.

Forster! Great save.

Another good chance created, but not finished. COYS.

Bit of a blast by Stuey

Bah!

Exhaust

Cycle

Doctor

Thanks very much for keeping the thread going. And a shout out to Minsk, who's still very much in our thoughts. I saw that we have some fixtures coming up against some teams below us. So that Match Day Comparison is looking all the better.

Measurement

War

He does not for me, outside naturally just having to rest players. I think we're considerably better balanced by having KWP on the right and Perraud on the left. That's not to say Tino can't get lots of sub minutes and starts if the fixtures are looking congested. No reason not to be able to keep all 3 fairly happy, with Small looking to develop in the months to come, and Valery more of a CB option at the moment.

Gutted by that. I was determined not to type "rue our chances." But I caved, and we went up and scored two... 🙂 Oh, the game... So many chances first half. But we allow teams to reset and counter for second halfs. But we were well worth that win overall. We worked harder, and wanted it more as a team. Conte can rant all he wnats on the touchline, but that's the sort of graft and spirit his lot lack. Not only that, we play some lovely stuff along the way. JWP and Stu were my stand outs, but there were lots of solid performances out there. Form Forster in goal onwards. Thrilled to bits. Oh and no sign the players are packing it in off the back of Ralph's Kicker article either. 🙂

If he was off they weren't robbed - donkey commentators.

surely?