West end Saints

This is why I don't tend to get too excited or annoyed with appointments - relegated and sacked struggling in the championship (from memory) hardly inspiring at the time!

Wouldn't be surprised if someone like Gerrard.

Those moaning, who are the great players missing out??! This squad is clearly worse than our relegation season, hence I going to each game with very low expectations. Goal keeper better The defence a bit worse Midfield miles worse Forwards bit worse Our manager is underperforming but most managers would be relegated with this squad.

Agree, that's my only last target

You think we have had worse players than this? Which of this squad are good enough? Even for a bottom 4 side?

Our biggest, of several problems, is lack of premier quality players rather than the manager. Maybe a better manager would improve us a bit, but we have never had a team anywhere near as weak as this.

I am not convinced we would improve, I think our position is more down to poor squad, this is the worst team / squad - clearly Martin is doing badly, but I don't think he has got the team massively under performing. Who from our squad would get many minutes at even a relegation rival? Maybe three players. Pep would probably be relegation zone with this lot

I was concerned in the summer, a lot of money to spend on 25 year old who had played more in league 1 than prem. Wasn't convinced he was a good signing - at that price - and even less convinced after what I have seen so far, one of poorest players this season

Another, "we only one because one of our players is good and the other team were not allowed to score illegal goals" argument. Imagine for a second people using that the other way around for one of our defeats! We have had and will have games when we get less out of them than our play deserves, and vice versa, accept it happens rather than change what is important. Could of sworn I read multiple repetitive posts on here recently that pretty football or possession don't matter it's about winning - well we did! Enjoy it, our players aren't great and won't win loads!

Relied on one of our players (who repeatedly said RM's the reason he is here) playing well and an offside goal being disallowed, er ok. Imagine if we lost, would you accept someone making excuses saying it was only because one of their players was good or cos we weren't allowed to score illegal goals! Enjoy the win, this squad isn't getting loads this season!

I suspect our biggest issue is the quality of players rather than the manger. I doubt many would get into other sides in this division. I'm not yet convinced of Downes at this level, I was concerned when we prioritised his signing and his value , as a 25 year old who had played more in league 1 than prem. But was excellent last season, wants to be here, etc so hopefully will come good. But Archer, Cornet, Armstrong, brereton Diaz, PO - would they get many minutes elsewhere? Personally. I would have RM over Dyche every time. The club doesn't have the money to easily sack managers then deal with changing the squad for a new manager. Hopefully now we have that first win we can pick up enough points to keep in the fight, if that's the case I hope he stays.

I love his football, best for years - when it works. Some games we are shit, too slow etc. but the quality of movement, passing , making opponents chase shadows is great. Since he has been here it has worked more than it hasn't. When we play badly, and team lack energy, too slow or cautious etc the style always gets blamed (and is a factor). But we have always had bad games. Hope he has enough success to be here a long time.

Christ, drama queen reaction to one game! The same line up that played very well away to Newcastle and had 20 plus shots 80% possession - albeit against 10, but we're well on top before sending off. A good chance line up will change but anyway... Think Smallbone could keep his place, played well v Newcastle and was our best player over the last few weeks of last season - one so so game isn't the end of his prem career I'm sure

No Ivan Toney. Would be surprised if there are many changes. Would guess he would only want to introduce one of Fernades / Lesley at this stage - would be surprised to see both start . Personally I would keep Smallbone in, but this RM may keep Aribo. The interesting thing will be how he freshens up the forward line, change of personnel, formation or both? Archer clearly made a strong bid scoring two for a team not scoring. Listened to Adam Blackmore and Jo Tessems podcast - neither thought Dibling, SAA or Lesley are ready to start in prem.

I can't say this window has made me over excited or confident we stay up but it looks pretty decent and I don't understand the negativity. We got Downes, signed two decent fullbacks, Lesley and Fernades are both clearly expected to be starters and are still integrating. We haven't lost anyone who would be good enough for starting 11 going forward - with possible exception of Che, who many didn't rate and we have added Archer, BDD and possibly new Brazilian. Sounds like goalkeeper will be significantly improved. It's seems many of those getting very upset about our start are people who were certain we would get relegated, get thrashed every game, and there was no way we would have decent possession this season. So far two 1-0 defeats, worrying no points or goals but not looking ridiculously out of our depth. I reckon we may well go down, but haven't written off RM or this squad yet.

Agree with most, but thought Downes far from his best. First half he was misplacing passed, or just behind Smallbone / Aribo which didn't help them. Thought him and Aribo lacked their usual spark and energy to move play. Forwards too static too.

Is this a spoof account? I don't know the history, but doesn't feel like it is genuine. What is this about BBC after a saintsweb poster? Confused!

Still not very impressive! Is it ridiculous to suggest Armstrong or BDD will get 12?

Prompted me to look at top scorers for our last spell in prem for each season ; JWP 9 JWP 10 Ings 12 Ings 22 Ings/ JWP 7 Austin 7 Redmond 7 Pelle / Mane 11 Pelle 12 JayRod 15 Lambert 15 Surprisingly the most common top scorers total is 7!

Jesus wept , no-one is celebrating and thinking we are safe! Post says "first impressions ..not totally out of their depth" But whether against 10 or 11 did you think we would dominate possession away to Newcastle. I thought we would struggle, and thought a big defeat possible so can see some positives - maybe clutching at straws. If we lose Saturday, and start settling at the bottom, pressure will start simmering for the season. So don't think anyone picking up those keys yet

Weren't people saying that we could not expect to dominate possession in the premier league like last season and needed to accept it and change approach? Newcastle had less possession at home to us than they did for any game, home or away last season. Disappointed not to get some points but first impression is that RM and this squad not totally out of their depth and about to get thrashed every game as some expected.

Whilst they are not new signings, and not enough on their own, but I wonder how much the improvements and increased maturity of our talented younger players impacts on our transfer activity. I know Larios is seen as a player who will play in the premier league when he is ready. Dibling could easily be a regularly starter by the end of the season. Sam AA is likely to be getting a lot of game time. Smallbone - last month of the season / play offs probably our best players and only 24. Clearly I want us to add quality and think we need to, but in the comparisons to last season I would be very surprised and disappointed if those three can't add more than Stu, Brooks and Rothwell.

Clubs and agents are in constant conversation, and clearly know miles more than forums or journalists. If player or club thought that through putting feelings out, they could get a better deal, or a club the player prefers, they wouldn't just accept Saints without looking at any other options. And when have a club, when they are criticised over a poor start or a poor transfer window ever referred to previous rumours linking them with players? It's nonsense to suggest saints leak their interest.

This seems to be how a lot of racist views develop and has led to the recent far right criminality.

I liked our balance when we had KWP on the left and Livramento on right, not impossible to see similar with Sugawara