Oisin

I may not be quite as confident as Wade but I agree about going strong. Really don’t understand this “let’s rest so-and-so” business. They should all be fresh this early in the season,and in 9 days time most of them have got a fortnight without a game. Lincoln will be up for this - we need to be disciplined, professional and bang on it to get the 3 points we want. The points are not a god-given right and it’s not a meaningless friendly. We’re not at the targeted 4 points a game even without the deduction. We’re just above the relegation zone and need to get in amongst the higher reaches of the table as soon as possible. Full throttle with team selection for the next 3 games before the break in my opinion

It’d take 4 minutes and come up with the wrong answer. Frustrating on this occasion but we’re better off without it

I’m going to risk saying it - please can we keep a clean sheet. Please

On the face of it, yes. But he’s already played half a dozen times for Borussia and has an international cap for Italy already. That would suggest he’s not your average 18 year old. Plus he’d have an experienced leader alongside him if he played. But I would be hoping for a more experienced option, personally.

Middlesbrough would have us kicked out for that

Tonda showed quite a lot of tactical adaptability across his front line last season. I think (but of course could well be wrong) that DM is for when he wants a traditional 2 forwards, whether from the start or as a game adapts. Azaz further forward doesn’t work. I think he still wants a second, back-up or rotational target man for/with Cyle. Where that leaves Dobbin other than a more direct style lw to sub on for Leo is a separate point. But as I see it Tonda wants options for 3 of the front 4 to go with a proper number 9. He has all the options now, but (other than Damion Downs) doesn’t have a replacement number 9. we don’t have unlimited funds, so it will depend on shifting Downs and Archer but if both (and possibly just one) are moved on I reckon we’ll see another number 9 style forward come in. Everything else now depends on who we lose. A gk if Ramsdale goes, a cb if THB, a cm if Jander, a winger if Edozie. And a rb if we lose both Sugawara and Roerslev. We can shift Larios and one of the right backs without needing to replace so I expect that to happen too. As I said, I could be miles off but I think that’s the logic

You neglected to mention Matsuki who was outstanding yesterday and Schlotterbeck who put in one of the best debuts we’ve seen in a decade. On paper/in theory Spors/Dragan/SR have put together an extremely impressive squad for this division. If we keep THB (or ensure the replacement is as good) and Jander I reckon we’re just a Larin rotation partner away from a side that should easily be good enough for promotion.

FWIW - against a good team there was loads to like and very little to dislike. May as well start with the negatives; Bragg 1st half looked out of his depth; Manning could have blocked the cross and then closed down the shot - his positional sense defensively is and always has been awful. Larin deserved his hat-trick. We started both halves terribly, deserved to go a goal down and were dominated until we equalised out of nowhere. Positives - pretty everything else. Average performances from Peretz, Downes, JWP, Dobbin, Mubama, Fellows Mannings offensive work just about makes up for his defensive frailties. And Bragg performed much better in the second half which in itself shows enormous courage and character from a young kid. Leo was more like himself, Wood looked good with some leadership beside him, Bree had one of his best games for us, Azaz ran the second half, Larin was a beast, the new cb looked outstanding to me - what a debut. But possibly my MOTM was Matsuki. Maybe OTT given Larins performance but I thought he was excellent; full of energy, barely missed a tackle or pass. Nightmare for the opposition. Finally, a special mention for Captain Jack who didn’t put a foot wrong.

So business left to do is presumably Exit Ramsdale and replace Exit Sugawara and/or Roerslev - 1 replacement if we exit both Replace THB if he goes (hopefully not) Replace Edozie if he goes (hopefully so) Exit Archer and Downs, replace with one if we manage to exit both Would leave us imo with a strong and balanced squad on paper - as good as almost anything else in the league. Then it’s just the simple matter of getting the tactics, mentality and performances right. And the players being as good in the pitch as they are on paper. Right now I’m fairly optimistic for the season, though strangely not about this afternoon

No

What’s in the attic? Toys

Terry Gennoe

No - Jack is not restricted or defined by a mere 2 positions.

But everyone still has a horrific accent that makes me want to rip my ears off

I’m likening this to when they finally brought out a law against driving while using your phone as opposed to that being covered by “driving without due care” etc. Only imagine they didn’t stipulate it’d be 6 points and left it for the first prosecution only for that person to find out the punishment is the same as death by dangerous driving and prison time. Is it wrong to do it? Yes. Did we do it? Quite possibly. Is it worth expulsion, the most severe punishment available in football? Really?? Of course it isn’t. It just isn’t on my level a proportionate penalty.

Surely the only way in which the final still goes ahead without us is if the punishment were to award Boro victory in the first game. Aside from whether it’s proportionate or not, a Points deduction this season doesn’t work as all finishing positions would be wrong; expulsion from an entire competition does the same and would surely mean we’d be relegated? The claims it’d raise for Oxford and Wrexham in particular would need hearing. Points for next season is viable. Awarding Boro the first tie is viable but could you reallly have Boro in a final after they actually lost? And couldn’t we (and indeed broadcasters) claim losses on EFL for hosting a meaningless game? And is there any sort of precedent for going to that level of punishment? Paradoxically, if we are shown to be serial offenders it actually weakens Boros case for replacing us in the final as all other clubs would have been impacted so it’d have to be a points deduction, otherwise Boro are the only wronged party to get any recompense. I still think fine, future or suspended points deduction and sanctions on specific individuals (all if proven of course) is the most likely outcome from this.

My hunch is we’re playing for the full 14 days (as is our right) and EFL want to expedite (of course they do, it’s urgent) so they’re trying to force the issue by pretending they can simply delay things if we behave unhelpfully. which is fine, only all the pressure is on the EFL here and it’s all of their own doing for not having a proper punishment agreed for the alleged offence Theres a World Cup soon and “the richest game in football” to organise. They don’t have the time. I sympathise with our (and especially in the circumstances) Hulls fans as it’s a sh1t show, but it’s the EFLs fault. And quite frankly if we’re not getting thrown out anyway (which let’s be honest would be a grossly OTT sanction that has no precedent and would cost them millions in litigation which they’d clearly lose) then they may as well declare it now rather than try to look serious and tough for the press to cover the fact their rules and organisation failings have created an total shambolic mess. We just have to sit and wait. Annoying as ut is, we just have to crack on and assume BAU

Just bumping this for a couple of reasons Firstly, I want to move the topic away from spygate because it’s totally tedious Secondly, I wonder how other people feel about SR now, because I have a new angle on SR which leaves me stuck in a conundrum. I essentially stand by everything I said above - terrible owners, failures everywhere, got lucky with the Tonda appointment which was in no way by clever design, and basically they’re a shambles. But … if supporting your team is about moments of pure joy, elation, excitement, celebration and life-long memories, SR have delivered in spades. 4 of my top 10 ever experiences as a saints fan, maybe 4 of the top 5 - yesterday, playoff v Leeds, semifinal v Man City (that goal and the 2 minutes or so after), and the Arsenal win. I rank Arsenal and yesterday as 2 of my favourite ever at Mary’s experiences for sure. Of course, the relegation seasons were awful, miserable and at times downright embarrassing, and until this January our recruitment of players and managers laughably bad. I’m also aware of the danger of recency bias. But having been too young to remember the early 80s, not born for 76, and too busy playing my own football for large parts of the Le Tiss era, I’m short of experiences that come close to rivaling the 4 I mention above. To have 4 such amazing experiences in the last 2 years, and in amongst such terrible ownership really is remarkable. So… am I glad for SR or not? Will I remember this era fondly or not? For sure I’ll remember all 4 of those games as long as I live, or at least the joy and elation I felt. Amazing experiences that I’m so grateful for, but am I grateful for SR??

Pretty much how I see it. I’d prefer to finish 4th all things being equal but would rather 5th and a full squad of fit and fresh players. The other thing the 4th-at-all-costs demand forgets is that it’s not up to us anyway … we could play a full side, get a win and still finish 5th. To me the risks of preserving with players who clearly need a rest outweigh the marginally possible reward of playing home 2nd. Bree, Jander, Fellows, Azaz and Scienza look in need of a break to me; Stewart, Larin and Stephens need managing as well. I totally understand some people will think differently, but I’m still not sure why the order of a 2 leg tie matters half as much as some seem to think. If there’s extra time, maybe … but beyond that? Certainly not enough to risk getting a tired Leo or Azaz injured for, when winning might not make any difference anyway.

Well, I know some people are very concerned about 4th v 5th but to my mind it doesn’t really matter and this is a free hit - Boro have to go for it so let’s give our guys’ tired bodies and minds a break and extra rest over Boro. I’d give half of them a good couple of days off to be honest. Not sure on the full 11 but I’d have something like Jelert Quarshie xxx Wellington xxx Bragg Robinson xxx Archer Edozie Sorry for all the fans making the trip up but I’d want all the key players on r&r

Before the season I’d have said us and Ipswich were two of the best squads in this league, and last night they both turned up. Both were a little tired and we were missing a couple of people who would have added some control (particularly Downes) but that was a great game and both sides performed really well, both sides went for it and both sets of fans added to it. Could have gone either way and naturally I’m frustrated we couldn’t hold our lead but to be honest it was a fair result. They were the best team I’ve seen here this season. I hope they go up so they’re not an obstacle in the playoffs and quite frankly as the best I’ve seen this season other than us, they deserve to. But equally on the evidence I’ve seen we’re a level above the rest of the playoff contenders and if we continue to perform as we have the last couple of months we’ll be promoted as well. Coventry deserve the title through their consistency but Saints and Ipswich are the best two teams in the league on their day - let’s hope we go and prove it 3 more times.

I have to say I think risking players in this scenario is worth it. There’s a chance. If the chance goes tomorrow than we can rest people Saturday. Im also not at all fussed about finishing 4th or 5th; I really don’t see that it matters anything like as much as people are making out. Stuff someone 3-0 at home first leg and the second leg doesn’t matter anyway 🤷🏻‍♂️ One final comment … who is the ref tomorrow and how many penalties is he giving Ipswich 😉

Bragg came off after an hour or so while Jander played the full 90. I think the midfield will probably be Bragg and Charles. I also think along the lines of @Saint Garrett - Azaz needs to play if he can.

Agree - Bree and Bragg were subbed and will be fine to start; Matsuki, Manning, Charles and Larin will be fresh. Jander, Leo and Azaz will be the most tired I suspect. Fellows too - he got through a lot of work. We could suffer a bit of a hangover from yesterday but something tells me Tonda will channel the disappointment in the right way and I actually think we’ll get a performance. I really hope the crowd are on top form as it’ll help. Last home game so we should give it our all to do our bit (I know there’ll likely be another in the playoffs)

We’d beat Wrexham in the playoffs IMHO. I’d actually worry more about Hull