eurosaint

Guimaraes cost £40 mil and proven strikers will be at least as much so I'm not expecting that ! I think you've summed up our current situation pretty well though and our only hope is that a new manager brings a freshness ! This crazy World Cup season may just save our bacon (giving us time to get Tino, KWP etc.. back and sign someone who realises where the back of the net is) !

Ralph said he will be in the squad but probably not yet ready to start !!

My Arsenal mates said exactly the same thing, I responded by reminding them that they never complained in the days of Adams, Bould and Keown ! For sure Lyanco and Caleta-Car intimidated them in the second half but did they really think that we should stand aside and let them dance around us ! Their midfield / forward players are actually quite lightweight and I reckon some other teams may have clocked that so maybe we've exposed a weakness !

With 11 points from 11 games so far this season (with 10 new players) surely that is a sign of improvement over 4 points from 12 games at the end of last season ?

Pray tell what your expectation was / is ? Ps. I realise that you are taking the piss but reality tells me that we could jump above the lot which you mention but equally could fall below the ones I mentioned, as I said 'fine margins' abound !!

Well said.... There has been so much negative drivel on this thread and clearly many do not understand the reality of the Premier League ! Below the top 7 or 8 teams (comparatively awash with money !) the margins are incredibly fine and regularly hinge on a key mistake, unlucky deflection, missed sitter, lousy VAR etc, etc.. We are currently level on points with WHU (who spent £160mil in the last window) and above Everton, Leeds, Villa, Wolves, Forest and Leicester. In fact, (in the unlikely event !) that we scrape a win over Arsenal we could be in the top half 😉 ! I accept that things will evolve one way or another but predicting us to lose every game, moaning even when we win and demanding the managers head at every turn is draining the life out of us and does not inspire confidence in the youngest team in the league ! COYS 😇

They had Craig Dawson and the cat kicker (Zouma) missing, having spent £160mil in the summer window I would hardly use that as a stick to beat the Saints with 😬

I guess you must have missed last season's results when we drew 0-0 at home and beat them 3-2 away 🤨

I intend to use my triple captain for Haaland in my Fantasy League team this week ! That should put the mockers on his scoring ability quite nicely 😜

If that is a definitive philosophy then it ain't working for the 6 teams below us in the table right now 😔

Had a pleasant day at Wentworth yesterday, lots of black ribbons and the two minutes silence at 9.50am was immaculately observed ! No lack of respect whatsoever which leads me to wonder why football was treated differently to cricket, rugby and golf 🙂

I was due to be at Wentworth today but it was cancelled (and refunded) at the last minute ! Im staying with family so no cost implications but that’s not the case for many… Players coming from around the world too so I’m really quite surprised that it’s happened ! Whatever happens within the sporting world, I’ll live with, but inevitably some people will have suffered financially as well as short term inconvenience !!

That's exactly my point ! Refs should know the fine details of the rulebook and ex-pros should know all about the reality of playing at a high level (particularly "the dark arts" etc). The combination of the two would surely give a more balanced view and hopefully lead to better decisions !!

I think I'm right in saying that in the Newcastle, WHU & Arsenal incidents the refs actually gave goals in real time only to be overturned by dodgy VAR led decisions so it's pretty clear where the problem lies ! I've said for a while that ex-pros should be involved (obviously not where former loyalties could be involved) as surely they can be more objective regrading fouls, simulation etc, etc.. A mix of refs and pros could be ideal IMO.

I know quite a few Arsenal supporters and having asked their views on him, they were all very positive 👍 One guy in particular (whose judgement I respect) says that he really has been mucked about and under-used by recent managers so hopefully he'll do a good job for us.. His versatility should be a major plus as well !! Good window.. Good signing...

This is the way it should be.. He leaves as a Saints legend (having been replaced) and still has lots to offer in his homeland, a great deal for all concerned ! He will be welcomed back with open arms and rightly so ! Good luck, Oriel, all the best to you 😇

Don't you fecking start 🤪

I was there and never noticed any problems, the pitch actually looked fine to me ! Only heard about it later and was a bay surprised 😃

Seems a long way off - w/c 7th November !!

I agree, and it a reasonable assertion that there will not be three teams stranded this season ! It seems already that anybody can beat anybody and probably tighter than for a number of years now ! There could be trouble for some because of FFP rules (ie. Everton and Leicester) ! We have lost 3 strikers (Long, Broja & Tella) with only Mara incoming in that position so we deffo need another one along with a back up full back. If we manage that then I'll be hoping for a mid table (ish) finish ! COYS 😇

RIP David Armstrong - one of our legends 😥

That looks like a pretty good compromise to me 🤙

Surely the tactical change which turned the game around on Saturday was a Plan B ??? If not, what was it ??

I much prefer a back 4 but in some circumstances we should be able to revert to a back 3 with marauding wingbacks ! I don't see it as an experiment, more an alternative ! I remember the days when RH was castigated for not having a 'Plan B" so we can't have it all ways ! Surely having the flexibility to change formations when necessary can be a positive ??

I notice nobody has mentioned Steve Bruce 😮 strange that….