macca155

I think that's the point. Start the process now whilst they still have some value. Particularly with Onuachu and Sulemana. We know KWP will go. Dibling, Fernandes, and THB will attract reasonable offers. However you are right, Aribo, BBD, Stewart, Frazer, Bree, Taylor, will be tougher to shift. Equally we assume Charles and Ballard will just come back but the Tella scenario could repeat itself.

Problem is nobody trusts SR. A lot of the resources are there they just need to be managed well. Personally I would bin off ABK, Sulemana, BBD, Ross Stewart, Smallbone, Bazunu, Cornett, Taylor, Aribo, Larios, Frazer, and retire Lallana. None of those add anything extra and it will bring in some cash and release wages and a loan place. In some cases it will make space in the treatment room. Bring in Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh to support in midfield, he should be ready now. SAA and Jay Robinson also need to be considered. Obviously we have Shea Charles and Dom Ballard for next year but another decent Championship level midfielder would do no harm. JWP is warming a bench somewhere. In the summer Saints will lose Dibling, Onuachu, KWP, Ugochukwu, and regretfully Fernandes. Ramsdale will probably stay he has too many relegations against his name now, he needs to rebuild a bit. See where they are then at the end of the season and fill in the gaps where necessary.

It's not as if it's hard to work out why the club can't compete. Forest, Bournemouth, Fulham, Palace, and Brentford are showing how it can be done. Every week Saints are outclassed by players who are coached more effectively, have a far stronger tactical structure, and above all else are resilient to knock backs. I thought they played ok yesterday. It wasn't terrible and the defence did its job pretty well. However with Aribo, Bree, Armstrong, and Sulemana on the pitch, the team is weakened. They aren't bad players, far from it, but at this level the game is very fast, and they need that extra second to make a decision. That puts the team under pressure and allows players who do have a bit of an edge like. Dibling, Onuachu, and Archer to be too easily marked out of the game. KWP absolutely rinsed Palace down the left for the first 15 minutes yesterday. Palace simply doubled and tripled up on him. Knowing full well that the ball would eventually find Armstrong or Aribo. When it did it was played back or lost. Against West Ham the threat came from both sides and through the middle. Consequently the WHU defence was being pulled about and gaps appeared. Need more of that.

Palace were better than Saints, and comfortably shut down the game once they went ahead. Ridiculous decision by the ref and VAR, but I've a horrible feeling that even without that, Palace would have scored another winner. It just seemed inevitable. Last three games have been better. More organised and definitely in the game. Saints even managed to threaten the goal occasionally. The squad has no depth whatsoever. No Downes and Ugochikwa benched (why???), destroyed our midfield. No way should that be the case. No Sugawara, no service to Onuachu. KWP threatened for a while but Palace easily swamped him with no other distractions. It's desperate and I feel for Juric, he has nothing to work with. Priority now is being hard to beat, thin out the squad, and aim for 20 points. An admittedly laughable ambition right now, but at the very least lets avoid any more stigma or unwanted records. If we fall below Pompey's 19 we'll never hear the bloody end of it. That's the equivalent of 4 wins and a few draws from 19 games. Pathetic as it is, I would almost be moderately pleased with that.

Great strike from Eze, that's the sort of Premier League quality Saints don't have.

Wood has put everything into the last few games, probably stretching a bit today. Absolutely ideal situation for ABK to show what he can do. Ugochikwa for Aribo is bloody obvious. I guess Juric is having a good look at the squad. Still very much in this game. COYS

He really isn't having a good game, midfield is utterly useless. Plus the defence is being bullied at set pieces. Ugochikwa and ABK need to be on in the 2nd half, to dish some back.

Whatever we have offered KWP it isn't enough. That was brilliant

As someone said, they'll be man marking today. That's a big change to previous tactics, it will be interesting to see how they cope. I guess the aim with 3 forwards is to push Palace back and isolate Mateta...... now that is brave.

I'd leave young Sam at home, Palace are very physical side. Better to have Stewart on the bench, he is use to it. Onuachu to start with BBD to replace him when he tires. I know and share everyone's views, but he's all we have as back up atm. Alternatively Archer and Arnstrong as a 2 pronged attack, I like that even less. They need to maintain the pace and intensity for 90 minutes. That will require the subs being able to hit the ground running. That cuts out Aribo and Lallana. May see Manning and/or Bree brought in to boost the midfield. Plus who the hell is going to deal with Mateta. He's looked a real handful recently. If only we had a tall pacy centre half ... 😕 Another battling draw I reckon.

Downes seemed to be feeling his groin (ooh err) when he came off yesterday. That means Aribo will probably be in for him. That won't improve things. I did like the way Bendarek, THB, and Wood seemed to have license to push up in to the midfield to harass the opposition. That was pretty effective and rattled the West Ham players.

I enjoyed watching him today but I wouldn't get too excited. I'm sure he's working on a transfer move in January. Besikiltas seem to be interested. He's clearly one of our few marketable players and I can't see the board resisting that. He did well today but the likes of Beatie, Sir Ritchie, or Pelle would have buried at least one of those chances. He may yet prove to have that edge, but we haven't seen it yet. Still a disgrace that RM didn't play him.

Wellington is a left back. I suspect he'll be loaned out to a one of sister clubs. Can't see him being up to Premier League standard just yet.

Much better performance, far more direct and we gave West Ham a proper game. Some nice touches from Onuachu but he has to finish those opportunities. Ugochikwa was much better and once again Wood was really solid at the back. However the cold hard truth is that this side simply isn't good enough to survive. I hope I'm wrong but even this improvement won't be enough. When Bree, Aribo, and Sulemana came on, everything slowed down. Disappointing to see. Dibling looked sour and miserable. He's 18 just enjoy it lad and stop listening to your agent. He went straight down the tunnel at the end of the game.

Great half, Downes has less to do and can protect the defence far more effectively. Love the way Ugochikwa is man marking Soucek. Stuck to him like glue. Onauchu needs to enjoy the space he has so far, that won't last.

Brilliant analogy, made me laugh.

Just go back on to Ticket Exchange. There is an option to remove it from sale. Had exactly the same issue myself once.

My only motivation is to look after our main talent. I just don't want him kicked out out of the game. Keep the opposition guessing I guess. However your point on lack of alternatives is a good one. Armstrong is KWP I guess but neither prospect is particularly strong.

Flabbergasted they weren't asked to train on Christmas day., ridiculous. My expectations for tomorrow are low. Juric can't do much in a couple of days. Hopefully another battling performance for a draw or narrow win. Stop the rot and start making progress, that's the order of the day. Same team as Sunday except I'd have Dibling on the bench. That lad needs to be carefully managed.

Probably need to give the new guy some time to work that out. That was definitely a first don't lose performance. Saints have made ground on some of our competitors, that will do for starters. Must remember tovtakeca book on Boxing day

Great result, stops the losing streak. Terrible to watch but sometimes that's necessary Ivan can build on that

Some really tired legs out there now, starting to look leggy. Need a few lengthy injuries break the game up

Seem to be inviting a lot if pressure atm. Fulham won't squadercevery chance.

It's annoying that it is Fulham Saints are playing today. Slick, well coached, hard to beat side. They have emerged from a tough 4 game run unbeaten, and their confidence will be high. I fear they'll show very little mercy to a fragile Saints side. That said if Saints can play a more disciplined game, and avoid serving up goal opportunities on a plate, there is an opportunity to restore a bit of pride with at the very least a battling performance. The 2nd half against Brighton was a sign they had it in them. Hopefully we'll see a bit of that.

Well I'm 65 and I wish I looked like him 😟