coalman

This is why we can't have nice things.

The bright spot is that Charles and Sesay look good in the middle.

We had a shot at goal!

So far Armstrong, Fraser and Archer all failed to keep the ball when used as an out ball.

new season, new Baz

Blackmore "Fernandes is ill".... yes, sure, of course.

Christ... it's going to be painful watching Armstrong, Archer and Fraser completely fail to provide any creative spark.

He's worked them hard in training which is a nice change. And we potentially get to see a Charles/Downes/Fernandes central midfield which could be amazing even if unlikely to be what we can field this season. It's not all bad news but a little part of me will die when Stephens lines up in defence with Armstrong/BBD out wide. Let's see how they do after some actual fitness preparation.

Yes, but after 2 of the last 3 seasons it's easy to understand why we don't believe we can have nice things.

None taken you colossal bell end 😛

While I have reservations about some of the players we have I reserve judgement until they step on the pitch for real against Wrexham. I don't think we've seen Still put out his first 11 yet nor have we seen them in a competitive fixture. There are obvious concerns about our ability to create chances from the last couple of friendlies. But we're also going to be fitter and more organised at the back than last season. Today is another chance to build teamwork and fitness against quality opposition before shit gets real.

Ah, the traditional summer transfer window where we all turn on each other as we watch our best players depart as we miss out on a succession of targets. The transfer business is all a sideshow though. What matters is what Still has managed to coach into the team since he arrived. It sounds like they will, at least, be fitter than they were which is a positive. Hopefully we'll be harder to score against and put up a fight for the whole game. The big worry is whether we can create enough.

This thread turned into a barrel of laughs

Don't worry we'll find a way to get Armstrong in the side.

And have terrible records in teams that don't create chances for them.

It's obvious - our footballing quality exists in a quantum state that is impossible to know until we kick off against Wrexham.

From Dibling's viewpoint he's facing a pretty horrible choice. Stay at a club in a lower division that has been an unstable basket case but be close to home. Or move to a club in a higher division which will pay more, be further from home which may or may not be a basket case. Don't envy him that. I would've thought Everton wouldn't be a good match for him but who knows when agents get involved it will be life-changing money for a teenager and with no guarantees of how he'd be involved under Still it may be very tempting to make the jump. Particularly if lots of people around him are leaving.

What we need is another attacking player that tackles back but doesn't score or create. It's the Southampton Way

In his defence both were eminently forgettable.

While Sport Republic haven't been shy about opening up the purse strings they haven't been the best at recruitment. Right now we're holding onto the hope that Spors is the man but he was recruited by the people whose track record is so terrible. We're also carrying the burden of that record. Last summer we signed a lot of players who didn't even make the bench or were immediately loaned out. I think we will spend some of that. From the very limited viewing I've had Downs looks really good (that first time finish in stride was something else) and Quarshie has a lot of potential so maybe Spors is the man. Though, he also extended Stephens for 3 years so 🤷‍♂️ The longer we leave our recruitment the more disruption there will be to the team and the slower start we're likelier to make. Again this is suboptimal but sadly part of parcel of being a relegated team with a bloated squad on the books. It will be a real test of Will Still's tactical nous and man management for the first couple of months.

The trouble with these three is they aren't an out ball. Archer needs someone to play off. Armstrong and BBD won't stretch play out wide. Armstrong struggles to hold the ball up (and scored 3 in 16 last season). We need someone the ball is going to stick to so we can transition from defence to attack and while any of these three are useful up front they don't represent that option for us. They need people feeding them so they can finish. Fernandes isn't going to be here. Dibling may or may not. So it's hard to see where we're going to create chances from. If Edozie is off to Strasbourg then relying on an untested Robinson seems optimistic. And the last thing we want is the madness of trying to play Fraser through the middle as we tried during the Spain trip.

There's the Martin-stroke. Game changing sub and panic over. Any time now the meltdown and Pana down to ten.

Same as the first half last week. Expecting the same outcome. Martin is a natural at European football luring the Greeks in before delivering the hammer blow. Textbook.

If we get offers then Fernandes, Dibling and THB are off. We all knew that coming into the window and it was a pipe dream to say otherwise. The concern is who we keep and who we bring in. Right now - keeping Stephens and keeping him as captain makes me uneasy. Bazunu starting in goal makes me uneasy (though Castellon Baz was a hero). Armstrong on the wing makes me uneasy. BBD on the wing makes me uneasy. Downs came in and took his finish brilliantly the other day so I'm hopeful there and Quarshie looks a beast (albeit a slightly unpolished one). Charles looks good in midfield and could provide the partner Downes has been crying out for. But I just don't see us being solid at the back or creating enough chances without some incomings and outgoings.