West end Saints

Whilst I appreciate we need to catch the 4 points up over the season, and we will be judged over the season on our total after the deduction, I think you can fairly consider how we are performing on points gained. We have gained 21 points in 11 games. 1 less than 2nd, 2 less than 3rd. Clearly playing at a level to be in contention. Even with the deduction we are only 6 points off top with better goal difference. Our squad depth will also benefit as the season goes on. Less than 1/4 way through the season. Since the FA ban threat has disappeared 7 points in less than a week, 2 clean sheets. Clearly in the race for autos, as well you know!

He is easily going to be good enough. The majority of teams would have him as a starter. Millwall, a top, physical championship side he was very good. Young players are inconsistent. With Janders return he can now be rotated as we have 4 very good CM for this level.

You are right, English is clearly defined. "An inhabitant of England." (Oxford English Dictionary). So if you want to use the dictionary definition an illegally arriving migrant is English on arrival! I am more comfortable with the citizenship criteria or even being able to play for the national team rules etc. But, I 100% wouldn't tell anyone they can't be English because of what their skins looks like. That is clearly racist and wrong.

Scoring our 5th on Sunday

Makes you think, how many bad people have entered the UK directly due to Brexit.

I am still struggle with balancing the extreme predictions (here and press) with the FA's response to Bielsa. B spied every game TE charged with 3 However, TE comes after FA's warning after Bielsa. The reporting at that time said the FA confirm they would conclude the matter without pressing sporting charges. Instead, they issued a formal warning to Bielsa, Leeds United, and a club analyst. However, the FA made it explicitly clear what rules governed the offense. They cautioned that any similar behavior in the future could prompt formal disciplinary action under FA Rule E3(1). This specific regulation penalizes participants who act improperly or bring the game into disrepute. Because the EFL had already sanctioned Leeds heavily with the £200,000 fine and a severe reprimand, the FA deemed the formal warning sufficient at the time. We have been sanctioned a lot more heavily already by EFL so the FA argument for starting with no punishment is valid. However the aggravating factors of not learning from Bielsa, the new rules , whether they find he bullied staff into it etc, and the public outcry etc will inevitably bring a punishment. I think he will get a ban. My guess is something like 3 to 6 game stadium ban, (maybe if upper end or little longer some suspended) and a fine. This will hit him and the club but is unlikely to be appealed, and also avoids him fighting any loss of employment case. I do think the FA will see the irony of a really harsh punishment could end up being less of a punishment for TE and more saints again, with him moving abroad.

I think those stats are misleading. The BLM protests were generally peaceful, and over a short period - the arrests reflect the exceptions, and of course, when sudden outbursts in large protests could have been higher. The illegal immigrant protests have been over longer periods, involved organised riots, setting fire to hotels, looting shops, and attacking mosques over sustained periods. Over 100 officers injured. There are people who will always join in for violent sport, get too agitated etc, across the spectrum however the nature of the EFL led right wing protests is violent criminals ( Tommy and Tommo) stoking crowds to make money. Police and courts have a long history of right wing bias.

Apologies if I misunderstood your earlier post, but read it as you saying any modern day racism is imagined. It clearly isn't - there is clear evidence that there is significant racism in society, employment, health, education and criminal justice - easy to find many studies and government reports. I don't know your evidence of your views on public disorder sentences, however there are clear matrixes written for sentence guidelines if there is any unfairness there are clear routes to appeal. There will be some sentences which appear unduly lenient / harsh even after sentence - these probably feed your fears - but if you had the full story - when pleas were made, other information supplied to police, previous convictions, impact statements etc - they maybe more understandable. Look at "Tommo", whatever you think of current offence, he has a conviction for a knife point kidnapping in large scale drug supply and committed these recent offences whilst already on bail for other offences included racially aggravated public order, so bail always unlikely.

Just curious, are you white?

Also worth remembering, People say Tonda hasn't been punished yet, this is about him, it also applies to a lesser degree the other way around for any mitigation, this is only about his actions. He is clearly the one at fault, but any punishment will only be for his direct involvement - anything he didn't personally condone / instruct , anyone taking anything further to impress etc can't be included. I don't know whether that will help him in the slightest, as it maybe it's 100% his fault, but just a thought. Also, I notice people getting set on Canada's example - why is this more relevant than Bielsa?

The ambiguous bit is that the FA have not decided this action needs to be banned, (think I am correct but not read everything on this ). Their 20 highest profile managers would not be breaking a rule. Hence EFL already punished us and this being a disrepute vague charge. I would not be surprised with any punishment suggested, but do wonder how justified a huge punishment can be (by them) when it's not deemed worthy of being against their rules? Also, whilst not seeking to play down how bad / stupid it was, I struggle with the outrage some show with the cheat label - as do feel that many of these players / managers will have cheated themselves

3 new attacking for a team who have scored 19 goals in 8 games, hate to think how many other teams need! I often see other forums surprised Dobbin isn't getting more game time but sure, over the season he will and will probably show why we bought him

He couldn't do it again could he?

Same fixtures last season update after 7 Away to watford drew (L) -1 Home to stoke lost (w) +2 Home to Millwall drew (w) +4 Away to Birmingham drew (d) +4 Away to Lincoln (top promoted side) drew (d) + 4 Home Swansea drew (w) +6 Home Bristol City drew (w) +8 So 8 points better off than same 7 games last season. Points earned from first 7 games , 7 last season 14 this

Sad I know, but I looked back at the first 7 games for the best seasons for a goal score over recent years. 26/27 Larin 7 total ? 23/24 Armstrong 6 total 24 19/20 Ings 2 total 22 11/12 Lambert 6 total 27 02/03 Beattie 0 total 23 Potentially the best start ever for a Saints forward? One every other game, from now to the end of the season, would get him to Lambert's championship total. But happy for him to stick with one per game and hit 46

If Jander is in form he is very good, but he had several games last season when his form dropped to a level that JWP would rarely drop to. Jander is not as physically fit and consistent as JWP. It's good to have both. JWP was good against Swansea, better than I thought so soon after arriving and with so little first team football. FD/JWP potentially the best CM pair in this league

Saints v Swansea, last season, drew +2 = 6 points up on last season's fixtures. (6 more points last season would have given us automatic promotion) First 6 games last season 6 points, this season 11 earned. If not for points deduction we would be top. Goal difference two better than any other side. 14 goals scored in 6 games. Larin top scorer 2nd highest goals + assists is 4 - with two of our players Azaz and Scienza. Tonda stated he consciously started with late / easy pre-season to allow players to process play off situation, so not a bad start! (Drew home to Bristol last season)

Same fixtures last season Away to watford drew (L) -1 Home to stoke lost (w) +2 Home to Millwall drew (w) +4 Away to Birmingham drew (d) +4 Away to Lincoln (top promoted side) drew (d) + 4 Gained 4 more points than same games last season. After first 6 games last season we had 6 points beat Swansea and we have 7 even after points deduction! Hardly a bad start yet! Finn Azaz, my player of the season last season, was unplayable against a very good Millwall, for some reason was awful in last two games. He makes a huge difference

Played well today in his first start. Probably our best players. Shea Charles hasn't always played at that level

It's not definitely weaker, I accept your view but the counter argument is that Larin scored,I think 8 goals last season and was unfit and not sharp, he has 5 already. I would not be surprised if mubama contributed more over a season than Stewart. We didn't have any back up for Azaz, we signed Dobbin and JWP who can play there. CM - Downes is fittest he has been. Bragg was just getting his first team experience during the winter and is likely to be better. Charles is a good player, and will have a very good career but played less than half our minutes in the second half of the season, and personally I rate JWP higher for the influence he will have on games, and delivery. I would say stronger. CB - too early to be definitive, we have lost THB and his passing , now have an experienced left footer and Abbott - I would say more competitive but undecided on quality So I disagree, it is very debatable and respectfully disagree

I think there are some very unrealistic expectations on here re forward depth. 1) Dobbin was signed (look back at Spors interviews) as cover for Azaz and as a forward. 2) last season was unusual, having two similar striker sharing the role. It only happened as both were unfit. Larin is fit now. Does any team have an identikit replacement for their main forward? Man City cover Haarland with different style forwards. 3) a dedicated forward is only likely to sign as cover for the best forward in the league if a) not very good, or b) young. We went for b). 4) our last promotion year forwards were Armstrong, Adams then down to Mara who played 500 minutes. Personally I am more confident with current version of Larin,Mubama and Dobbin. 5) again, last promotion, our 3rd top scorers were Edozie (still here!) and Fraser with 6. Do people think that none of Scienza, Azaz, Fellows, Matsui, JWP, Manning will get more than 6 to take the pressure off Larin and Mubama? 6) last season Stewart scored 8, Archer 4, Armstrong 11, so even if you assume that's 23 goals lost.. Larin is only 4 off his last season's total so I am very confident he will make up some of those. Dobbin scored 10 in a worse side,Mubama 5 in a worse side. We have quite a few adaptable quality players, who can swap around the attacking positions - Azaz, Dobbin, Matsui. I wouldn't panic if due to injuries for an odd game we even played something like Azaz with JWP behind etc. Also, I do not know how involved the younger players will be, I think this time last year Bragg was still months away from the first team. And there is always January....

Our young player dealings with Man City was a bit mixed but as our recent source of young talent we benefited from Charles, Lavia and THB. Bazunu was our main keeper for promotion season, Edozie has had some contribution. Plus we are about £35 million in profit from this group.

I am happy. Think we are in much better position than last season. When Dobbin signed the club specifically said he was chosen as he can play all forward positions, some reports I have read said he was best last season playing as CF. Dobbin scored 11 last season, same as Stewart. Mubama scored 5. Larin is much stronger than when we signed him.

Viking's record fee received is about £4m

I am dreading our current defence facing 6'3 forward from Millwall they will murder us