Oisin

I’d keep the team unchanged barring injury. If players need a rest I’d rather it happened at the weekend. Both are extremely unlikely but we’ve marginally more chance getting to Wembley via the play-offs than the cup so I’d prioritise tonight.

Indeed - well and truly “debunked” 😂😂

You could argue it was the intention for Romelu to move to us but we messed it up by getting relegated. But actually this further illustrates what a terrible model it is. Players are humans who have their own plans … why on earth would he want to play championship football for saints when he can play in Europe for Leipzig. A multi club model can work if you have a global super power like Chelsea or Man City sitting at the top. Of course all the players want to play for the big club and the clubs are loaded so can anfford the gamble. But we’re not that. The model most like ours is that of Watford. And it sucks. It’s not successful, drives mediocrity, churns managers and players, creates disconnect between the club and supporters. It’s terrible.

Thought I’d let the euphoria die down before trying to analyse his performance … And on reflection it was genuinely excellent. Goal aside (the desire, the movement, the header) he looked like he’s going to be every defenders nightmare. Big, strong yet mobile, able to hold, to lay off. He totally put a shift in and showed constantly for the ball. He was on a mission. He’s exactly what a number 9 in this formation needs to be. And if he can get on the end of crosses with his movement and desire he may score some goals too. He even made a strong defensive clearing header too from a corner. Not enough evidence (I.e. none) to comment on his composure or finishing with his feet but based on everything we saw yesterday he’s the TYPE of player we’ve needed. He also appears to have the right attitude and desire (Mara), and enough skill, awareness and football intelligence (Downs) to be a major improvement on what we’ve gambled on before. I think he’ll be an asset. As much as anything he’ll occupy centre backs and thus create space for others. Its extremely early days but I’m really encouraged by what I saw.

I’d happily have him back, but the reality is we can’t afford his wages and the one part of the pitch we have sufficient players of quality is central midfield. So until or unless both those things change it shouldn’t happen (I’d say won’t, but we’re run by morons so am not prepared to vouch for them). If we had the money for JWP I’d want it spent on a CF and if there was any left I’d want an experienced CB.

3 things to sort this window: Number 9 - Sold ArmA, seemingly loaned Larin. Actually gone backwards. I mean, he’s a big lad but we’ve swapped him in for the only player we have who can score goals Leader at the back - sold Edwards. He wasn’t playing so I wouldn’t say we’ve gone backwards, but we certainly haven’t addressed the issue. GK - loaned out Baz and Loaned in Peretz. Not convinced by him yet, but obviously an improvement because he isn’t totally sh1t. I guess I’m glad I’ll never have to see Aribo or ABK again but Christ almighty that’s a pretty abject transfer window

I wish him, and us, lots of luck. Think we might all need it.

To be fair to this chap, he has all the physical attributes we’re looking for so just needs to improve his finishing. And that’s where our amazing coaching team will really show their worth. Van Persie can’t coach finishing for sh1t compared to Eckert et al. It’ll all be fine, mark my words.

Signing Lascelles would be far too sensible and pragmatic for SR. No resale value, just a disciplined, experienced leader at the heart of a defence. Exactly as we’ve never had since Fonte left. I’d love us to be one of those interested but would be surprised if we are

I have to disagree - this squad has been crying out for a proper number 9 for years. We need to loan someone in if we can’t find a permanent option. Experience tells us Ross will get injured very soon and likely be out for the season … which will leave us without any number 9 and trying to make ArmA work in that role again. We can cope elsewhere but not up front. It’s not so much the goals but the whole pattern of play, as evidenced on Wednesday evening.

It’s proved that saints find it difficult to do this … I think there’s one or two other clubs that have successfully obtained the services of a half-decent striker in the last 5 years. Congratulations for helping to confirm and demonstrate that saints are especially inept in this.

This would be a fair point, if it wasn’t for the fact that we’ve now used this rationale (or variation of) to justify our inability to sign a competent striker for 10 transfer windows.

Sorry, but from what I’ve seen of our right back options I’d be picking Bree. In a back 4. I’m no fan and I’d let him go this summer but he can at least defend which is more than Jelert can do, and Roerslev has been p1ss poor. And of course, Fellows is a winger, not a full back. Our options are really poor but he’s the pick of the bunch in my view.

If only it was just our weekends … we get a midweek booster jab too!

They need to go and I think whichever of us are stupid enough to go on Wednesday need to spend 90 minutes telling them that very loudly and incessantly. Seeing as I have a season ticket and have already paid I’ll follow my own advice - think it’s almost a duty. Feel at least 20 years too old to be behaving this pathetically but it needs to happen. It has to get toxic for SR. They are utterly toxic and need it back at them. And b0llocks to anyone who says it’s unfair on the players. There’s only 2 or 3 of the likely starting 11 that don’t deserve our ire for their dreadful attitude anyway.

Assuming he’s an option I’d keep Ramsdale. Of the current 1st team squad I’d keep Quarshie, Charles, Bragg, Jander, Fellows, Leo and Robinson. And Williams if we count him as 1st team squad. The rest I couldn’t care less about. To my thinking that leaves us with 4 full backs, 3 centre backs, 2 keepers, a winger and 4 forwards to find. And that’s after SR have spent well over 100 million. What a shambolic waste of time, money and effort

If there is genuine interest in ArmA I’d cash in. This whole club needs a reset, we need rid of the core group from the last couple of seasons and quite frankly we need a proper number 9. He is clearly of a good ability for this level, one of the few places on the pitch we have a genuine quality player for this league (not that we deploy him correctly). But we’re not going up and in order to facilitate the reset I’d be open to seeing him go.

There is no right answer … they’re all crap. I’ve decided to go for Wood and Quarshie because of being young enough that they can improve and my interpretation of attitudes; I don’t like THB’s basically. THB is probably just about the best but I’m so done with weak, entitled losers that I’d rather put up with someone slightly worse. Happy to be disagreed with though, it’s not as if Wood and Quarshie deserve a place themselves to be honest

I hope we don’t lose … if only because we’ve gone 4 at the back and I would hate for it to go wrong and spend another 18 months with a back 5

It’s comments like this that reinforce everyone’s opinion of you as being a) tedious and b) an idiot with zero footballing intelligence. We currently employee a 1 striker formation (and for starters, maybe we shouldn’t given our win ratio ever since we moved from 2 strikers under Ralph), but having just loaned out the utterly useless attempt at a number 9, currently have 1. And he is fit less than 5% of the time. ArmA and Archer are not strikers suited to a single striker formation. Every single person except you and, alarmingly, the coaching staff (or is it SR hierarchy?) who pick the team recognise this. We don’t have a fit number 9. Of course we need one. As we have for the best part of 10 transfer windows. Your comment is fatuous. And pedantic. Rather like you and everything you write here.

The players will now be customer success partners … Dont worry, the ability to succeed doesn’t matter in the slightest

Stewart is fit for about 30 minutes every 3 months. I wouldn’t waste those 30 minutes on a cup tie at Doncaster. I’d swap in Robinson for probably Scienza and may as well give Archer the striker spot for a laugh, but otherwise that team makes sense to me. Alas, it has one too few centre backs for SR … I mean the manager

Even if I were to agree with the above optimistic assessment, the point you seem to be missing is that every decision SR make is a bad one. If we do replace Bazunu, are you actually and genuinely confident it’ll be for a better player? Cos I’m not. They’ve had 4 years to resolve the same issues - keeper, defensive leader, striker, manager, coaches, players with character. We’ve actually regressed with all aspects of the footballing operation, spunking millions on failed players and managers in the process. With less Money to spend, against clubs with higher budgets next season (which we’re not competing against this year), less of a budget and total ineptitude in every decision making position in the club, it stands to reason we’ll be in a worse position next year to this. And we’re currently closer to relegation than promotion. We’re a shambles, and all the evidence points to us getting worse, not better.

I wasn’t at the final game at the dell so missed what would undoubtedly have been my favourite moment. So as it is I’m going for Liverpool 4-1 as favourite game, play-off final for favourite experience/atmosphere and as a small boy, Steve Moran’s late equaliser against Leicester in a 2-2. I was hooked!!

Thanks - some good saves low down, as well as the flashier high dives. Also saw him actually catch a couple of saves which is refreshing. The only thing the video showed nothing of which would be good to know is dealing with crosses and corners, I.e. does he clearly people out of the way and command his area. Would be useful to know that.