trousers

It's almost as if they're making things up as they go along....

Juric has already stated in a previous press conference that he likes Stephens (indeed, I think he still referred to him as "the captain"), so wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see him involved tomorrow.

As long as the club makes us aware which hospitality box he'll be watching the game from

Anyone know why @Matthew Le God sometimes aborts continuing with a conversation before it's concluded..?

If only we had an actual CB (who's been fit enough to be selected on the bench week in, week out) rather than having to shoe-horn a midfielder into the defence....

So, with Downes and Stephens back in the frame, could this be the line-up that Juric has a punt on this time around...? Ramsdale (GK) KWP (RWB) Stephens (CB) Bednarek (CB) Wood (CB) Wellington (LWB) Downes (DM) Ugochukwu (DM) Fernades (AM) Kamaldeen (AM) Dibling (AM) (Note: I'm aware that I've not included an out-and-out striker, but it wouldn't be the first time he's started without one....)

I know I'm prone to have a subtle pop from time-to-time at the journos that cover Saints, but why (oh why) don't they probe the club more often in situations such as this? Week in, week out at pre-match press conferences they trot out the obligatory: "Any injury news?" question, and when the response from the manager inevitibaly makes no mention of Stewart's injury status (nor Larios's for that matter) no-one pipes up to ask for an actual explanation on why a "calf injury" has seemingly not healed in 5 months (and counting)....

Cue one of the first posts on this thread being some self-appointed smart Alec posting that the first page of the thread will be full of posts shouting "Just wish we'd play our best 11 in our best formation ffs!"

Indeed... Who scouts the scouts....? 🙂

And London....

I hate to do this to you but.... The River Exe is tidal up to Trews Weir so, technically, part of Exeter is on the coastline... Sorry! 😂

He's not been snapped up by a major European club yet then, à la Vincent Company?

Here's hoping we're as far ahead in terms of player mentality too...

Jason Wilcox started on 1st July 2023 and his first interview was on 17th July. So I guess we can anticipate something next week maybe.

You'd have thought so, wouldn't you? It wasn't so long ago that the club's media department would've been all over such an appointment like a rash from 'day 1'. Still, I'm sure our local journos are on the case as we speak in order to fill the club's media void....

I'm not saying they should; I was just outlining two different ways of looking at the situation. FWIW, I'm probably in the "get rid" camp.

Surely not....? #rhetoricalbanter

As you allude to, there are different but equally valid opinions on this. It could also be considered "brain dead" to keep someone who quite obviously doesn't want to be here and, seemingly, has a disruptive character trait when things aren't going his way. Yes, of course, there's a chance that he could be won around in due course, but keeping him on would be far from risk free in that regard.

Bring back Victor Wanyama to bolster the midfield. At age 33 he should still have a decent engine in him (?). His contract at CF Montreal expired on 1st January 2025 so is a free agent. In fact, we might as well bring him in now given how poor our midfield is...! F*** it... While we're at it, let's also talk Schneiderlin out of retirement. He's 'only' 35 (5 years younger than Ronaldo) so could probably cope with a swansong season in the championship...! And loan in JWP for the full set?! Straightjacket for Trousers! P.s. forgot Romeu (age 33)! Let's do this 😄 💪

Playing a system that doesn't result in conceding a mere 2 goals fewer than one of the relegated teams (Birmingham City) might have a positive effect....?

Well, at least that's the pre-match motivational speech pre-written for each game next season then... If that doesn't inspire our 'championship only' players to bust a gut for the club I don't know what will...

Mea navis aëricumbens anguillis abundat

Bit chicken and egg maybe? Quite often a player who's inconsistent needs consistent starts in order to become consistent? #toomanyconsistentsinonesentenceklaxon