OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

It may be too late but there are some seriously shitty teams at the bottom of the league. Wolves were awful today. There is still an outside chance we can sing that Great Escape music again but it won't be with RM at the helm. Staying in the premier league is worth at least £100m. I have zero confidence that SR are capable of finding a Poch or a Ralph but surely they realise they have to do something.

On another note, every time TP comes on for his minor cameo, he seems to get stuck in. At the end of the game today our best chance came when Ramsdale said 'fuck it' and hoofed it up to TP who challenged for the ball and it bounced off his back almost in to the path of BBD. He also got his head to a corner. OK, him and Archer up front aren't going to set the world alight but I really think they are our best option up front. AA once again proved he's not good enough.

It was very much buy a lot of stuff and hope some of it is good. I would suggest Ramsdale and Fernandes have worked out well. Archer has the making of being a star and Sugawara is also pretty good. Add the purchases of England call-up THB and Downes and that's over half the team. Hoping Wolves will feel obliged to come at us and leave gaps at the back. Just concerned we won't be quick enough to exploit those gaps, though am taking a megaphone to encourage the players forward and drown out RM's 'slow down' remonstrations 😉

+ THB makes four. We've got the potential for a good team and when Mr Ramsdale makes saves like he did on Saturday, we've still got a chance of staying up. He was brilliant on Saturday. One of the best goalkeeping displays I've seen from a saints keeper.

Thanks Midfield-General. Remember being near the half way line that day and we were all convinced there must have been a foul somewhere. Only afterwards, did we realise how bad that miss was. Truly mind-numbing. In fact, it was season defining. We were doing relatively well up to that game and then it all fell apart. Anyway, going this Saturday and looking forward to it. Difficult to get an away atmosphere going at the ground because we're all in a line but there's not going to be a better chance to beat this lot.

And I wouldn't put BBD ahead of him either...but we do have Sam AA and Tall Paul and I would like to see them (especially TP) given more opportunity.

The Man City game typified our approach to Tall Paul. Minutes to go, he's just come on and we win a free kick 20 yards outside their penalty area. Do we (a) Lump it in to TP to see if he can get on the end of it because that's why he's been brought on, or (b) Pass sideways and eventually back to our goalkeeper? Of course, we chose Option B! Play him with Archer because playing Archer with Adam A is playing two players with similar styles (except Archer is miles better).

Fulham/Brentford tonight. Inconsequential to us and only half watching but it's noticeable how both teams hardly ever pass backwards. There's a lot of shots from outside the box and hopeful crosses in to the middle but everything is quick with positive intent. These are middle of the table teams. Nothing special and the players certainly don't look any more skillful than ours. RM needs to watch other teams.

Watched the game live and thought we were lucky. Watched MotD and thought we were very lucky, but then watched the 30 minute highlights on Sky and it looked 50/50. This is what happens when wins are so rare. Watch them over and over again. My overall verdict - we were lucky. Ultimately, really like Ramsdale. His saves were a three point swing. Fernandes top player. Archer looking good again. Thought in defence THB had a good game and Sugawara's cameo was excellent. Always thought our squad can compete in this league but they've got to practice the quick breaks.

Agree with all this except the last sentence. I genuinely think there is talent in the squad and that they really care. They're just having the life taken out of them by the manager's bonkers tactics.

What can the fans do about it? The only time I've ever heard our fans sing in chorus: "Your football is sh*t" about our own team was at Palace in the Cup a couple of years ago when Mr Jones was manager. He didn't last much longer after that. I'd be surprised if RM's out the door before the international break but maybe it's time to let SR know from the terraces what the majority are thinking of this football. Five minutes to go and we're trailing against Everton. Boos are one thing but a song echoing around the ground attracts media interest and will attract SR's attention.

Anyone else think that losing to Stoke Reserves with most of your first team could have been curtains for RM? There comes a point when SR realises that no successor is better than what's happening at the moment.

Another telling moment was when Fernandes rifled a typically crap cross in to the centre and it spooned off a defender for a corner. It could have gone anywhere...including the goal. And that's the point. Yes, it's preferable to get the ball to the bye line but just get the ball in the middle and challenge for it. So many times we're 20/30 yards away from a team's penalty area and the next thing it's either with our central defenders or back to goalie. Pump it in there.

After his goal, surely it's Bree!

And there's no 'H' in Sugawara

Christ, they sound like two people sitting at home in their armchairs talking to each other while watching the footie. It's actually getting quite interesting but you wouldn't have thought so with these commentators

Not sure I agree with that either but we need a focal point in the centre.

Big Les certainly isn't our next Lavia and oh my God, Cornet is truly awful. I thought he came with a bit of a good reputation him when he joined us. Stoke are dreadful. We should have had 10+ shots on goal that half. Instead we've had what three...four

SAA seems to have dropped a long way down the pecking order. Like this team, though still think TP/Archer up front should be given a try. Don't know the Stoke players at all but my money is on >3 for Saints

RM is very good at being verbose without saying a lot. That could cover a multitude of players/formations. I'm going for TP up front with Cornet (if fit).

Totally agree. Genuinely think Archer is looking like one of the most competent strikers we've signed in quite a few years. He gets in to positions which people like AA, Mara etc etc just didn't see.

I reckon that's the point. It would have been negligent for SR not to have made overtures to various managers but it's how you make the overture that's important. "Hey Moyesy, hey Graham fancy giving us losers a go?" isn't going to work. But presumably managers also have agents and our recruitment people should be hammering down the doors of Moyes and Potter and presenting them with proposals they can't refuse.

Could have done with Palace not beating Spurs, but ultimately, Wolves & Palace are going to pick up points. We're now rapidly going to be left behind unless rabbits are drawn out of hats for Everton & Wolves. Yes we have a mediocre squad, but they're not a 1 point out of 27 squad. Would like to see two up front for these next two games (TP and Archer). We need to be brave 😉

And with Ralph, I always got the feeling he wanted the best for the club and had the club's best interests at heart. With RM, I've always had the feeling he's got RM's best interests at heart and the club is a stepping stone. This 'I'll live and die by my principles' nonsense is telling us he'd rather preserve his 'principles' and take us down rather than adapt to the situation we're in. Or perhaps he's just too stubborn to accept what's he's doing is wrong. A few posters have commented on the lack of footballing men in the hierarchy of the club. There doesn't seem to be anyone at the top to tell him to change direction even though we can all see that's what's needed.

And quite a few on this forum were predicting this is exactly what Pep would say! Don't listen SR. Russell Martin should not be managing our team