CSA96

After having to watch us play that fucking Watford team four times this season, no replays doesn't sound so bad...

Yeah, sold out. Took the full allocation of 3,193

I'll put you down as a maybe?

This is how I feel right now too. Would just really like that Leicester game to actually mean something and be a huge moment in the season, rather than an irrelevance. Fingers crossed...

Maybe we will after all

It is. All part of Sport Republic's masterplan to make St. Mary's a more intimidating away day.

And in the programme. (photo from Alfie House; Daily Echo)

I spy a Puma

Lifeless, limp and toothless.

So, the back four is now... RB: Harwood-Bellis CB: Downes CB: Bednarek LB: Stephens ...

Play with two full backs! HT changes: Get Manning on for one of your CBs. Leave KWP in his actual position. Then put Armstrong out to the right and get Brooks off for Che, so we might actually have half a chance of holding onto the ball and not immediately getting muscled off of it.

Just seeing this thread now - RIP. Do remember his expertise on the Sala thread and, yes, him being questioned and told he shouldn't speculate on things he isn't an expert on. Classic internet. This is a great read: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8622099.stm

Sorry... what? Surely these two are incompatible, unless you are planning to play teenagers and a failed QPR/Boro goalkeeper who is now winding down his career in the biggest games of our season. The main focus has to be to settle the defence down, find the right mix up top and get some confidence back into the guys who have declined of late.

I don't think so. I think there's enough mitigation to keep him on (not advocating for it, just looking at some of the facts) - they could point to the fact he got 80pts+ (presumably by end of season) and that in a regular season, we would not be 4th on that total. Factor in that Luton, Burnley, Sheff U are not Leeds, Leicester, Southampton and I think he gets a second season where the points threshold for promotion is most likely considerably lower. Perhaps there's also an argument for some continuity after so many years of upheaval, changing the coach, losing backroom figures etc. He has definitely settled the turmoil down behind the scenes and created a more harmonious environment at the club. That might be worth something given we are losing Wilcox this off-season. But if we start struggling next season then I would expect they will be much less patient, for sure.

Because he did well and was popular at Manchester City and the new Manchester United CEO was the head of football at Manchester City? I don't even think he's really done a bad job here tbh. But you're not allowed to drop points without everyone and everything being sh!te anymore.

Daily Echo says it's an old Greenhams site and the new tenant was Polystar Plastics.

He got caught hassling young lads at Birmingham (one who would fetch big £££ in particular...) to sign with his agent and his name got muddied in football circles. Middlesbrough also accused him of dodgy dealings: https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/All/Middlesbroughs-new-bombshell-accusations-at-Garry-Monk/1540023

Seems that Downes is back now and so he won't be asked to play the deeper role of the three any more.

To spare a trip to the awful Echo website - comments in full here. Russell Martin gave a four-minute response to the Will Smallbone abuse earlier today: I feel really sorry for Will that it's got to that point and I don't like social media for that reason. It has become a cesspit of negativity and toxicity and a place where people feel they can say something they would never say to their face. About someone they don't know as well. Everybody is so quick to pass judgement and express an opinion. I am not on it but I have been made aware of it and some of the stuff I have seen, I just don't understand what human being says those things. It is to someone who, if you are a supporter, tries to give everything every day to your football club - a football club he loves. He has been desperate to play for this football club and he has been here since he was a kid. You then have to understand some of the things Will has been through on his journey and the pain he has been through. Whatever you think of him, he plays a lot because he is brilliant and he is a fantastic young man who is growing a lot. It has been a privilege to work with him and to understand his story and what he has been through to get to this point. Judge people as footballers but some of the stuff written has been disgusting. I'd love to sit down with that person and understand why. What is going on in their life that they feel they have to write something like that? I am really protective of my players. Will is one of the best people I have ever worked with so it makes me angry and sad that it has come to this. Will has dealt with it in a way he feels is fit and if I had my choice, none of them would be on social media - I don't see the advantage. There are a lot of, for want of a better word, idiots and unhappy people that want to project their unhappiness on other people. When I first started, it was the start of message board and online forums. The lads told me about it. The first three things I read about myself, one said I was functional but drone-like in midfield and they were probably right. I thought, 'I'm not reading that again'. Then you start questioning everything if you don't have a strong sense of self. I believe Will does have a strong sense of self with what he has been through so I don't worry about Will. I really hope that I get to celebrate on the pitch with Will having achieved something special and this means absolutely nothing. It would be a slap in the face for someone who wrote it. Of course, criticise players as footballers - but don't overstep the line. There are more important things in life, although it doesn't feel like it at times, but there really are. I love Will and we will support him however he needs but I have no worries and if he is on the pitch tomorrow, he will be great. I have also asked him to perform a different role recently and I think he has been great but that's my fault if you don't agree. Don't judge him on that if you don't think he has performed well there. But he is so tactically flexible and will continue to be. I am upset if it comes to that but I guess that is the modern day and age. I don't like my children on it and I fear for the next generation. There is no accountability at all and it makes me feel sick.

Jim Magilton has been sacked

Nah, I think we'll finish 4th. Maybe 3rd if one of the other two falters. Never said anything either way, just think this is/was a ridiculous thread.

Now as close to 5th place as we are to Leicester.

Absolute howler by Bazunu