The Left Back

Whatever order it's put in, it's not a great list. That run of clean sheets by Forster in his early days stands out, but my (vague) memory of that was that it didn't require a herculean effort by the keeper. It's surprising we haven't been able to upgrade on keepers at all really in our 10 years. I think we've probably had at least 2 stand-out names in every other position. Perhaps this summer?

Three in a row from the Stadler and Waldorf brigade. It amazes me why you lot bother (a) supporting Saints and (b) coming on here. It's like you enjoy being miserable. Yes I would. wouldn't you? Just checked with the bookies again as I assumed there have been some changes since last time. We are priced to finish 15th by objective experts who are financially invested in getting their predictions right. So who are these 'most' you refer to? We're doomed I tell you. Youth on loan and foreign unknowns. We've taken 1 youth on loan that I can remember in the past 100 years. And as for foreign unknowns, as someone else said, were you like this when we signed Tadic and Mane? (I know for every Mane there's been a Carillo, but it's that doesn't make it a bad strategy.) I'm not saying we're signing Eriksen but guys really, I'm worried about your misery levels. This is Saints; what do you want from a summer transfer window thread?

I don't think he's overqualified, just young, ambitious and talented. He's done the hard yards in many countries. Might be ready for a tilt at first team management and has been sold some sort of intention (not a promise) by us to blood him with Ralph and then give him a go. I could be miles out of course.

Don't know anything about this guy, but based on his CV he's got too much about him to be Ralph's assistant for more than a season. So I'd wager some decent money there's a longer term plan involved. Either replacing Ralph or managing another club in our pyramid? Either way it looks like a good appointment (on paper at least).

And perhaps a new club for you and some new supporters for us? Fuck me I've heard of glass half empty but yours is parched dry

Blimey there's some bed wetting on here. I don't know much about this guy but he's come from Man City, which means he's been trained by the best with the best to be the type of goalie our system needs. He's keeping good keepers out of his international side. He's causing upset down the M27. If he has a good pre-season he'll be our new number one and we'll know pretty soon whether the recruiters have gone Tino or Gunn. There's a lot been written about experience, but it's overrated. Willy, Forster and McCarthy have about a million appliances between them. Did no-one get the memo about the sort of players our new owners are in for?

It's going to be less money than he was on with us as he is now an old bench-warmer. But technically (and yes perhaps a bit of pedantry too) I guess it's not a pay cut because he was going to be on £0 if he didn't sign for them. Outside football but in freelance/fixed contract worlds, it's often more fluid than more conventional concepts of continuous salary, No disrespect but can't help feeling this is.a bit of revisionist history. I think Forster's mental and physical problems predated Ralph and his rehabilitation at Celtic was what saved him. Not sure Ralph had much to do with his decision to wind down hist contract (knowing he'd get nothing like as much next time) and leave (where his experience might offer him one last chapter).

We didn't 'let him go', he left.

I've just given up on it; we look totally devoid of ideas and fluidity.How KWP can't make that squad is beyond me? The Leicester guy looked out of his depth and Trippier is on the bench despite no playing for anyone for months. What it does show me is that if Hungary are anything to go by, Europe is stacked full of fast, technically excellent players who I've never heard of. So when the transfer window opens I'd be quite happy to see us making signings from around the so-called lower (less competitive) leagues. Ok I'll play. By nonsense do you mean the taking the knee or the booing?

Are you the only person left in the country who uses the term 'remainer'? It's a little out of date now don't you think given we left 5 years ago? And also a bit hypocritical given your request for no name calling earlier today As for the quality of your political history knowledge, it's so far-fetched and creative I'm surprised you're not referencing Hans Christian Anderson as a source. I think we all understand you are determined to defend Brexit at every opportunity, and who can blame you given how wealthy it appears to have made you. But you need to find a way of doing it that does not re-write history based on google searches. and maybe perhaps provide the rest of us with a few examples of the benefits we are seeing that don't involve your own bank account.

You really are talking out of your back passage now. Have you any idea of attrition rates in nursing?

He doesn’t need to you. You just are wrong.

You see I don't think it is pointless. At the moment we are priced to finish, on average among the bookies, 15th. So this is a whole industry of football watchers, heavily invested financially but without an axe to grind, estimating we will finish 15th. Firstly it's a good objective antidote to those on either extreme of this forum (we're doomed, or top 10 here we come). Secondly I like to see how this moves over the course of the transfer window. In the absence of any actual matches, this is one of the few gauges we have for what sort of a squad we are perceived to have, relative to our competitors. Having a pre-window snapshot of bookies' thinking gives us a base for what happens next. And thirdly; there are some bargains to be had if you want to take on the bookies - some of these clubs will do considerably better than these odds and some considerably worse. (If pushed I'd take a punt on Leicester at 20-1 with Betway right now)

While getting rid of Johnson would be very satisfying and long overdue, it wouldn't change the real challenges we face. Climate, trade, the Union, rising inequality, police, health service all need urgent attention, fresh. thinking and above all, leadership. None of the numpties being mentioned are capable of that. So the best we can hope for is that this tory-shambles precipitates a general election, at which either a new force emerges or an alliance off the centre-left stands together to bring about some long overdue change.

Find out tonight on the One Show. I'd be surprised if we get it, given the levelling up narrative, but we can but hope. As to what it means - I guess cash, spotlight and some dodgy art installations.

Lyanco, Vestergard and Stephens also have this in their games, which makes me think it's less about capability and more about systems. Ralph wants the CBs to get tight and press forwards rather than stand off; so sometimes they get caught out. Salisu gets caught out the least cos he's fastest and similarly Vestergaard was terrible at this and he's the slowest. Bednarek is a decent premier league CB who would be better suited to someone like West Ham than he would us, where high press and playing out with the ball are demanded. So it wouldn't surprise me if we sold him for a decent fee to a decent club and bought someone better suited to our style.

More likely they see your question for what it is; i.e. a fishing expedition.

You've got me excited with this idea. I'd love to see Jose cutting his coaching teeth with us, and giving us a year on the pitch as well.

Just had a thought, apologies if it's already been suggested before on this thread. Perhaps we need to see the coaches being replaced in the context of an early move in our owners' plans for the pyramid. Perhaps the incoming coaches are here to be groomed in the "Sport Republic way" on a promise of being manager one of the smaller clubs in the pyramid next? Or perhaps we'll end up bringing in a number 2 from one of our potential pyramid clubs with a view to taking over from Ralph at the end of next season?

I've made the classic blunder of watching PMQs then PM's statement on Sue Gray. Now have indigestion and am raging. We are a parliamentary democracy so the tories now have the chance to do the right thing and get rid of this spineless, morally-bankrupt, national embarrassment of a leader. I'm not holding my breath...

And 22 points from the 13 games before that is top 6 form, thereby lies the frustration, the quandary, the mystery. You speak about the future as if you've been there. Are you Marty McFly? Don't mean to be facetious but you can't possibly know that especially with such an unpredictable, streaky team like us and a covid-sized mid-season break.

I hadn't thought of that. It's a very valid point and might be enough to swing it for me. A decent transfer window, one more season and then probably time up unless he's done something magical (top 8 or cup win?) Hit the nail on the head

This is broadly my view. Which places me in more of a quandary about whether I would vote to keep him or not than I usually am. @Turkish based on your points, which are very well made, would you bin Ralph now or keep him? I think I'm still for keeping him, but it's nowhere near as solid as it was. I need to find a way of getting over the last 12 games, which are a mystery to me. At some point in the future I am expecting to look back and make some sort of sense of it. I'm not simply buying that 'it's what we do under Ralph' - there has to be more to it. And nothing I've read on here or anywhere else has helped with that. As it happens I had dinner with a Watford season ticket holder last night. If you think we've got it bad I would encourage you to seek out a Watford fan and swap notes. It will make you feel much better. He's less activated by the relegation, more by what he says as the complete loss of identity of the club and the alienation between owners, managers, players and fans. And yes, for those of you who asking, he will still be renewing his season ticket. Like me it's more about the ritual and being with old friends than anything else PS. It's good to read some solid differing opinions on an important topical issue without the name calling and trench warfare.

Have you got one of those app-type thingys whereby whenever @sadoldgitboasts you are alerted and prompted to respond? I've noticed it happens an amazing amount of the time - possibly something like 90% of his posts. It smacks of obsession. I know you are going to tell me all the reasons why it is justified, but it comes across as trolling/stalking.

My apologies, I misread that. Must be my age - I'm 57, so happy you think that makes me more tolerant than the younger generation. In some ways I agree. My kids (twenties) would not stand back and tolerate some of the stuff I witnessed when I was their age (homophobic chanting, throwing bananas at black players, chucking piss and coins at each other on the terraces, even abusing officials). Whether that means I'm more tolerant than them I'm not sure. I agree things are much much better than they were and we are heading in the right direction. But I also think expectations are much higher now. I don't see it as a particularly left/right issue and I think blaming the media is too easy as they are only really a mirror of the views of their audience. I guess there's always been a push pull between those who want more and those think we've come far enough. Despite my age (see above) I have often been described as woke. I have no real problem with that other than it's almost always a criticism or just name calling. I've highlighted the bits of your post I take issue with. I don't see social awareness as a competition - I've no idea if I am more socially aware than the average person, and I certainly didn't elect myself to be. I wasn't aware there was a socially aware elite, if there is I don't imagine I'm part of it (to be honest I struggle to keep up with pronouns and am not sure I know what the + in LGBT+ stands for)