Saint Gifford

Nathan Jones apparently on Bristol City shortlist for their vacant position.

6 minutes, we could be playing until a week next Tuesday and still be nowhere near scoring like this. KWP excepted of course.

Yep, taxi for Mr Martin…………………

Yet again our game management is just shocking. That comes from the managers game plan, I am definitely no football manager, but even I could see that PNE were going to come out really strong with some strong arm dark arts. What did he say at half time, what were the instructions.

Morning Nathan.

Enjoyed the game, we are a very good squad, but just can’t help feeling we are missing something. Leicester and Ipswich look like runaway leaders. but we should be not be 13 points behind. Not exactly early doors anymore, but hope we carry on like this.

Lord Duckhunter. I’ve only just noticed, not sure when you did it but loving the Lego head just brilliant.

Disagree, we are a big club. We won’t win the champions league or Prem anytime soon I get that. I’m sure someone will correct me, but it’s only twice maybe three times we have been relegated from the top divisions. I’m also sure that we have been one of the longest serving Prem sides since its inception. We don’t have state funding and a long list of title's. But I still believe we are a big club that should be looking at some kind of FA cup run, Euro league football given time. Currently our stock has plummeted, but that’s not to say we have a great back story. I guess it comes down to the people that sign off the money. Jeezz we are not the cartoon owned club down the road just yet.

Dear Mr Solak I feel compelled to write to you about my beloved Saints. Yesterday on leaving the M4 to join the A34 I turned left and not my usual right. This is because I enjoyed the afternoon at a place called the Kassam Stadium ( or half a stadium as it was). This was to make my two boys aged 21 and 17 happy to spend time with there dad watching their beloved Bristol Rovers. Something the three of us rarely have time to do these days, as my youngest lad plays in the Toolstation league which also kicks off at 3 o’clock on a Saturday. As he had the day off as his team didn’t have a game this weekend because they are playing in a Somerset cup competition against a team called Yeovil town on Tuesday night. This is in a league called the Conference. Anyway I digress somewhat. I love my football and have been accused in the past of being happy to watch any game at any level. But I respectfully ask you to make note of my points above regarding League One, Conference football, Step 5/6 football, Somerset cup football, half built stadiums. Because unless you actually make a real effort on getting a grip on where your money is going. You will and I have no doubt be watching like I did yesterday that standard of football for a long time to come. Yours faithfully Dishearten Saint.

100% agree with you. However I’m not sure the board understands enough about football to make the right assessment.

Graham Potter will pick him for the World Cup qualifiers…………….

I’d have a refreshed Ralph back all day long. Im sure there were a couple of big clubs considering him at one point. Man U, Chelsea, although never a front runner if my memory is correct.

I hope RM is watching Newcastle V PSG now. Newcastle 34% possession scored 3. PSG 66% scored 0. I know it’s all about the game at the time, but I hope he keeps up his change in attitude about possession possession for possession sake.

It 100% works. I have no idea why clubs don’t do this more often. I’ve been Saints ( Chandlers Ford Boy) since I can remember. Lived in Bristol for over 40 years, took my boys to watch their local Gas when they were very young in the Blackthorn as it was then for a quid. They are committed Gasheads and both 17 and 22 now. Absolutely will not defect from their first experience of a football match ( plus it’s their home town I guess). Always gone to countless Saints games at home with them even now. Still Gasheads despite their old man trying to turn them to the Saints.

Still not in the RM camp. But just proves what a really really good team we are at this level. Just need to continue to play with the handbrake off now.

Fuck me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear, I’m desperately trying to stay positive. But we are in trouble………….

Nothing against the bloke, but he is a Foundation, at best youth academy coach. He seems to take his level 1,2,3 badges to the extreme. He has his Ufea and pro licenses I’m sure but that is no guarantee of success. He will I’m sure given time be a good manager at step 1 through 3 or 4. Probably never see him again after his huge pay off aka NJ. I stand by my belief that it needs more than some flawed badges and a one track idea that the FA seems to coach. This is on SFC recruitment not the individual that is employed.

At the time I thought it really harsh to dispense with Adkins, he was a fantastic manager at the time. The battle between us and Reading. ( how ironic Selles is now there if he still is, haven’t checked tbf) I’ve been shot down before, but the Marcus/Nicola period of SFC history has to be with out doubt one of the best. I would take Cortese back in a heart beat, over this lot. At least he instilled as he quoted, a corporate mentality within the club which ultimately transferred to the pitch. (Imo). I mentioned in another post, that I hope that at some point Katrina and her advisors or the family look to protect their investment not only financially but part of her fathers legacy. I’m only guessing but it must be why she is still keeping a small ownership in the club. I hope she does start to question where we are going.

Which makes me wonder if your point has legs. As I have thought for a while now. Made an awful lot of money over the summer, and I still think bought the club a bit cheap. Clearly has a love for football with his interest in a number of clubs. But the English leagues absolutely sucks money up, not like his other clubs. There will come a point of Return on Investment.

He’s the next England Manager after the euros. He probably would have taken a few jobs by now. I guess there is some financial benefit from Chelsea by not jumping into something else at the moment.

I get what you are saying and yes some players find themselves at a level they shouldn’t be at. However seeing both my boys going through the football pathway, my eldest didn’t get to academy level , my youngest did at 6 years old. Right place, right time, right grass roots manager, right scout at the right time. Yes some players make a lot of mistakes and probably should be dropped down a league or two. But there are a hell of a lot of players that should be playing at a much higher level than they are. Only my opinion, but for the most part I do stand up for players and what it takes to get a professional contract. The sacrifice the hard work the commitment, the disappointment the feeling of being cast aside and starting again when a coach or manager thinks they know better is really hard to watch. I agree there are so many pre Madonna’s out there, and I’ve not picked up on your post particularly, I’m sorry that I just happen to use yours, I’ve been meaning to mention this for a long time. To make it at League level you have to have an abundance of ability, and a lot and I mean a lot of luck. It’s unfortunate that when you land with a crap manager or coach that can define your career at that time. Maybe I’m too one sided towards the players but as Michael Calvin said amongst others. To make playing in the Prem is a one in 0.001% chance. Yes players need to take a hell of a lot of responsibility as they are the ones that ultimately cross the white line. But they are only taking direction from the bloke in the hot seat and the half dozen seats next to him. This is down to 100% the management / coaches and football directors and not the players in my humble opinion.

I’m pretty sure it’s only 20% and I stand to be corrected. But I would love to know what Katrina / family think of all of this. Of course her 20% wouldn’t give her much if any of a say. But just assuming she / family are the second largest shareholder of the club, I would like to think she / family would have an interest in what’s going on.

Swansea must be having a drink on us

And RM is a former defender???? Jeeezzz. Warnock before someone else tempts him to get us out of this mess.