macca155

I'm not sure Armstrong is even Championship standard anymore. I really like his effort and commitment, so want him to do well, but it feels like his confidence is shot. There are very few strikers who score in the Prem. Adams is an international and has scored a few. A promoted side will probably take a punt, as he will be cheap. Best thing for him is to stay. He'll definitely score in the Championship and then maybe he'll take that confidence into the Premier league.

Money will be the big issue. SR will need to sell some big assets and reduce the wage bill. We can pretty much guarantee JWP, KWP, Tella and Adams are sold. Out of contract players Walcott, Armstrong, Salisu, and Elyounoussi. Want out, return abroad players Bendarik, Diallo, Lyanco and Orsic. That leaves Bazunu McCarthy Bree Tino Stephens DCC ABK Simeu (possibly), Perraud Larios Alcaraz Sulemana Aribo, Lavia, Smallbone, Djenepo , Edozie Armstrong, Onuachu Mara, Ballard Not too bad à squad for the Championship. Needs a younger Romeu in midfield but should be good enough. The big plus is Tinos return, Lavia's contract situation (hard to sell without City's permission), and a returning in form Smallbone Whether we keep all of them remains to be seen, but have to make room for Doyle and Ballard, so may see some moved on. I've probably forgotten someone but if I have they need to do more 🤣

I reckon yesterday quite a few season ticket holders took advantage of the 'sell out' to return their seats for resale. I don't blame them. I had a family group in front of me. Dad's with young lads. Clearly there to see City, and why not. No trouble, they were pretty much neutral. The young lads were genuinely thrilled to see Harlaad's goal. Those are memories you keep for ever. They clearly enjoyed themselves and might come back. I felt the same as a 7 year old watching Charlton and Best. The true misery of being a Saints fan hadn't been imprinted on me by then. It will be 24k crowds next year soon enough.

I was in the away section today aka the Kingsland. Its never bothered me but it really is an incident waiting to happen. So many half and half scarves. As to the match, spirited first half from Saints but eventually outclassed. No surprise there. Pep put Grealish and Mahrez as wide as possible. Then pumped long passes to them. Eventually it was going to work because they didn't have the inconvenience of a defender to beat. I'm resigned to relegation, but I'd like to see some fight. Let's at least avoid finishing bottom. Major surgery needed next year, not just in the 1st team. Whatever the malaise in the club is, it needs rooting out. The players and fans are broken at the moment.

Absolute crap, we might be 4 points from safety but that may as well be 20 points. Just can't see any hope now.

Onuachu really isn't very good is he. Who in the club thought he was worth 20 million plus.

I can see it now half time subs Orsic, Diallo and Aribo

In fairness Elyounoussi is starting to put a shift in but DCC is a liability.

Comfortable with Mara starting, he has looked like he is getting up to Premier League pace recently. Should cause West Ham some problems. Elyounnoussi over Sulemana is a weird one, big risk from Selles. Bench looks good!

Agreed, despite the fact that I keep trying to persuade myself it will somehow come right, the cold hard reality will probably hit soon.

I suspect its personal for him. He was at the club when we were last relegated. Probably trying to avoid a repeat. Be considered a Jonah otherwise.

Have you seriously given up? If it is OK with you I won't just yet. I concede pretty nailed on we're going down, but a glimmer of hope remains.

Lose two centre halves and still manage to draw 3 3 . Good day at the office. Still in the fight .... just.

9 teams within 5 points of each other. Its going to be dog eat dog down the bottom.

Fair enough, I am clutching at straws now.

It's easy to moan but the cold hard truth is that we are, by some distance, the weakest side in the Prem. Might challenge Bournemouth but nobody else. Poor managerial appointments, weak transfer windows,and crucially poor loan management, Has led us to this. History shows that even weak sides can survive the odd season. Everton last year a prime example. You just need to get your shit together and we haven't. Our strikers cannot score because they see too little of the ball, need two touches, and can't shoot accurately. When the ball does arrive, there are too many defenders to compete against. The ball needs to be moved forwards at pace. We need Tella and Smallbone, should have kept Stephens. Then spent the cash available on an effective striker. Stephens had his detractors but last night he could have played right back to counter their aerial threat. All this chopping and changing is killing the team. None of the changes seem to offer anything.

That was right in front of us, just a hard coming together for a 50/50 ball. Players didn't complain. Emphasised Brentford's approach, every player totally committed. They just happened to run into one of our committed players.

We're down aren't we, can't see the team getting out of this mess now. Knowing Saints they'll probably beat Spurs now, and the whole ghastly hope process will start again. Wearing me down. (They won't of course) Brentford were stronger, bigger, faster, more committed, and better led than Saints. A shame they resorted to time-wasting as they didn't need to. Couldn't see Saints scoring however long they played. We all saw this coming when Elyounoussi and Diallo were selected. One could be absorbed but playing both simply left us slow and ponderous. Frank made changes mid game to counter any progress we were making. JWP was relentlessly shut down and their forwards defended more than they attacked. They constantly target the back post and it was no surprise the goal came from there. Tella scored again. Why on earth didn't they call him back and avoided wasting 20 million on Paul Onuachu. He doesn't fit the system and clearly isn't PL standard yet.

Good point, would have liked to have won it, but had Saints hung on for a few more draws in other games we wouldn't be in this position.

No doubt it will look worse at 4.00pm tomorrow, steeling myself for that. Not terminal yet but be a brave person to betcagainst relegation for Saints

We have to accept that clubs like ours have to sell players. Low on my list to but a decent fee will help. I suspect Adams will be in the same category.

I suspect the summer transfer window will be all about thinning the squad, and repelling offers. Perhaps a new goalkeeper. I expect Tella, Smallbone, Edozie and Larios to start featuring, and hopefully a returning Tino. That doesn't leave much room for new players. Probably see a few shipped out. A & S Armstrong,Walcott. Diallo, Elyounoussi, Bendarek, Djenepo, McCarthy, Caballero. In addition a quiet loans for DCC and Orsic. Of course everything depends on league status.

Those 3 points will be remembered long after that performance is forgotten. Leicester were poor, marginally more than Saints, but in the EPL those are the tight margins you survive by. Alcaraz and Walcot were stand outs for me, but to be fair Bendarek had a good game as well. In contrast Elyounoussi struggled to cope with the pace of the game, and Adam Armstrong had another game to forget. The subs were very strange. When Alcaraz went off, just after half time, then Stuart Armstrong was the obvious replacement. Like for like. Walcot could have stayed on, he would have coped, and just replace a tiring Adams with Onuachu or Mara. I think these frequent multi sub changes mess things up.

I think Bendarek is an absolute liability, plus he is playing for himself not the team. Until DCC keeps his hands to himself he is equally a liability. Lyanco is reckless at times, but he does at least intercept well and has a modicum of pace and can pass. I totally concede,, I'm clutching at straws here. I'd have the Grimsby No 6 over them. Hexham calm and at measured. Do you really think we'd notice a difference with any of them?

I'm really struggling to raise the spirits for this one. However if I went to the Gillingham game after losing 3 2 at home to Bristol Rovers and being bottom of League one on -1, then I guess I can raise the spirits for this one. I 'd suggest McCarthy KWP ABK Salisu Perraud Sulemana Lavia Diallo JWP Ballard Onuachu Lyanco for Salisu if he isn't fit. I've gone with Ballard because all other options have proven to be crap. He may well benefit from Onuachu's lay offs. I mean he can do no worse really.