OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

Yep, didn't miss a trick there. Still reckon we should go fishing in the lower leagues for strikers with potential and find another Ricky Lambert. Once we're in the Championship, this is the perfect chance to find and attract the right players.

When we were relegated 2004/5, 34 points was enough to stay up. Looking at the remaining Leeds, Everton & Notts For fixtures, there's every chance that 33 points would be enough to stay up this year. Is there a positive mindset pill our bunch could swallow before they play Forest on Monday? Can someone mix up RS's wardrobe so that in a fit of pique he doesn't travel to the game? Like Saint86 said, this should not be a year to be relegated.

Makes sense he wants stay. He's only been at the club a few months and settled well so it represents a chance for him to build a good reputation. Could depend on how much we get when we sell Lavia, KWP and the like because I think SR will look to recoup some of their investments this summer and they may decide to offload anyone who'll turn a profit.

Yes there's no stress on this game. Fair play to all those going - it could have been a crunch game but not now. But the stress is only just beginning. The summer departures and arrivals will dictate our season in the Championship and our powers-that-be don't exactly inspire confidence that they're going to get the manager and new players right.

I agree we need a new manager before the transfer window but would also suggest our more successful appointments in recent times have been managers from overseas - Poch (no, not that one), Koeman & Ralph were pretty inspired choices.

I agree. S-Clarke always provides well reasoned posts and this is spot on. Sort the spine out. One attack, one midfield general, one defence is the spine (so we need to find an attacker!). Then, target the players we're going to keep and encourage them to stay (like last time, Rickie Lambert went with us from League One to the Premiership as did Lallana & Morgan). Given the likes of Lavia, ABK, Bednerek, KWP will probably leave, I hope we can keep Alcaraz & Sulemana. SR must recognise they've spent a lot of money on a lot of crap. We have to offload these players. Unlike Newcastle who haven't changed the team wholesale but are constantly evolving with additions like Isak, Pope, Guimaraes, we can make major changes but we have to get them right. We'll have the comparative financial clout in the Championship to buy in good players but what's worrying is they're offering new contracts to players like Ely.

And I'm seriously concerned that we are offering contracts to Ely, Diallo etc. This is a chance to rebuild around a small nucleus and get rid of so much dross. Alcaraz & Sulemana will hopefully stay, but the players we have at the moment could see us bypassing the Championship.

Good to see the substitutions have had the desired effect 😒

Is that the three tragic most substitutions in Premier League history?

Agree with this. MLT carried us season after season, JWP hasn't. Yes, he tries hard and is a set piece specialist but he is limited and not forward thinking. Seven/Eight years ago, he came up and pre-match gave my son his training vest and you remember stuff like that but he's not a natural captain and if he leaves, I'll wish him good luck but won't feel that's a massive dent in our prospects.

Yes Alcaraz and Lavia have been our two positive signings but can't see them hanging around. At least we should get some serious money for Lavia. Apart from the usual dross (which is nearly all of them), the ones I've been especially disappointed with are the players with potential who seem to have downed tools, particularly Salisu and KWP.

Totally agree with these threads. Must admit, I've no idea who Michel and didn't realise we have an 'in' here but this is the kind of manager I would like us to bring in. A Championship club with financial backing should attract some able candidates. Got the impression Ralph lost all authority/veto over player recruitment when SR came in and that seemed to coincide with him announcing he would leave in two years and our plummet south. Even if a manager doesn't have carte blanche on who comes in (we can't go back to those wheeler dealer 'Arry days), he has to have some buy in. There's a chance to mould a new team here.

What is concerning is that sooner or later they'll say 'this ain't working'. Then what? Do they modify their business model because that's all we seem to be now? Do they sell up? Are we in breach of the football financial sustainability rules because Championship Clubs (eg QPR) seem easier to target than PL clubs? Have to agree with you, I just want to support a team where I feel a connection, not just with other fans but also with the club. I also don't give a shit how many players we develop, I care about how our club develops and if that brings players along in the process, then lucky them.

This is the thing - just two months. With the current set up and tactics, we will struggle for points in the Championship. Having watched this lot against Sheff Wed, Lincoln and Grimsby this season, it's obvious we need a quick reset. But I don't get any feeling of urgency at the club. Decide on the nucleus of the team, flog the rest of them and buy a couple of comparatively quality strikers. Can our Academy be resurrected? Home grown talent are much more likely to give a toss than this current set. Attitude and motivation are key to a successful club.

It wasn't.....it is now

I agree - worst team I've seen and I'll raise you 18 years. Worst team I've seen since 1974 and there are many on this forum that have seen Saints a lot longer than me. The final glimmer of hope has gone. Only go to half a dozen home and half a dozen away games a year but won't be watching this bunch live again this year. Actually dislike them...and the weird thing is the only players I don't mind (apart from Lavia & Alcaraz) are the useless ones who seem to care ie. Che, Lyanco

Is RS taking the piss? AA should never ever be anywhere near a Saints shirt. As for Ely, he should never ever also be anywhere near a Saints shirt. I do hope the fans don't have to sing "You're not fit to wear the shirt" again...

Ah yes, of course. Despite the fact that we do badly against teams in a similar league position to us, fully expect to win this one. We seem to be able to do doubles against club this year....then on to Newcastle who must be reeling from yesterday's result. How they couldn't smash our record given the score after 20 minutes. Bunch of northern softie bottlers!

Genuinely one of the worst misses in living memory. Standing on the half way line, we thought he'd fouled someone. But I also would have him in the team. AA against Arsenal was a waste of a player. Tall Paul who can't jump against Jack Stephens who also can't jump sounds like an even contest.

Agree. Often when he's also talking about times when he had a full set of hair. He doesn't mention Blackburn much. Maybe he felt a bit of a mercenary going there...or did footballers ever feel like that

More recently, Charlie Austin??

For those that say "would you take a point before the game started?" isn't really relevant, because the question should be would you take a point when you're 2 up with 7mins + added time to go? We missed a real chance to negate the Palace loss but blew it - I should be grateful, the hope hasn't returned.

Could understand bringing on Lyanco at half time (though not taking off Alcaraz) but thought RB was taking a chance and being too smart. When Lavia came off thought he was taking another chance and being too smart again. This time it didn't work out.

Exactly...more the point. And Ely? It's 9 against 11!

After Tamesaint said we're 14/1 I put a couple of quid on but I notice even the bookies have drifted our odds to 16/1 after seeing our line up.