VectisSaint

Completely out played in midfield, where we are usually so strong, JWP and Romeu really could not get a look in, and Villa were very strong there. Bit of a reality check, nothing really went right, our passing was off, we lacked energy, our interceptions didn't work. To be frank I think Gerrard with Coutinho just outthought Ralph today, but so many of our dependable players just were not at the races. Put that down to experience, draw a line and go again and (though it grates) credit to Villa.

No Long on the bench, we might struggle. 😉

Why? Has scored very few in last 2 seasons for a reason. More likely that Mings or Chambers will score to be honest (but I know what will happen now of course).

Why Smallbone, having a good game. Diallo is having a mare, Djenepo is just not very good, but he has improved as the half progressed.

Imagine there is complete meltdown on here with that lineup. Think we know what the priorities of the club are now. There is no logical sense in resting Forster for instance.

Sam Gallagher (undisc - thought I read 5m), Jankewitz (undisc), Callum Slattery (undisc), Harrison Reed (6m), Matt Targett (15.6m), Jordan Turnbull (undisc), Dom Gape (undisc), Jason McCarthy (undisc), Obafemi (1.5m). Slim pickings since 2015. Don't know whether loan fees would be included for players we loaned during this period. Did we benefit from any sell-on fees (Alex O-C)? Of course at the beginning of 2014/15 season we sold Shaw, Lallana and Chambers (68m for the three).

You need to look at recent results, yes there was a huge gulf at the beginning of the season, then it was huge between Ipswich/Saints and the rest, but things have changed. The group of teams below the top 3 have caught up (in terms of results/performances, not points). It seems to be the way in Ladies/Girls football, there are a few much more professional sides ready to go at the start of the season and others who need a few weeks/months to get organised properly. It was the same when I coached girls football, the standard of the top few clubs did not change much over the season, but some of the lower clubs improved dramatically over time, by which time of course it was all over (in terms of winning or doing well in the league). Gillingham, London, Crawley, MK Dons and dare I say it even Pompey are all capable of giving the Top 3 a decent game now. Have a poke around on the league web site (Fulltime) and look at the recent results. Ipswich have drawn 3 of their last 6, all against teams outside the Top 3.

Actually it isn't. Apart from Hounslow most other teams have improved since early in the season. Results against those outside the top 3 are no longer foregone conclusions, that is why Ipswich and Oxford remain well within reach, because they have dropped points elsewhere.

We can play Broja in the FA Cup (according to the rules), it is only the Premier League where he is not permitted to play (to the best of my understanding). Whether Chelsea and Saints agreed otherwise is open to question, but don't assume he can't play.

The focus has been on Ipswich all season, but actually Oxford are in a better position than Ipswich, taking games in hand into account. Think we need to win against both to be sure of being top.

No. He pops into people's houses to watch MoTD, never said they were in the UK. You can watch BBC from overseas, if you choose to set yourself up correctly, places like Switzerland for example (or is it just a coincidence that Prof has a profile icon (or whatever its called) that is the Swiss flag, I don't know.

I didn't say that I thought it was a good idea, merely pointing out what (I believe) has happened, really doesn't matter what we think, its a done deal. But this is what a #2 Keeper is for, isn't it? Cover for when your first choice is unavailable, long term injuries to keepers are fortunately fairly rare. McCarthy isn't completely useless, indeed the beginning of this season right up until the game he was injured he was far better than last season (as stated by many on here). What I do wonder is why it is taking him so long to get back to fitness, a hammy for a keeper does not usually take this long to recover, perhaps Ralph lost it with him after his last game and told him he was no longer wanted, he was certainly fairly pissed off at the time.

I suspect Forster already has other plans for next season, as do Saints. McCarthy will be our #2.

Pretty sure that he was offered a new contract based on being No 2, Forster was also offered same but declined. The theory was that we would be bringing in a new #1. So, based on that and that things have developed since the Summer Saints could, in theory offer Forster a new contact as #1, on the other hand his mind may already have been made up and he has plans for next season already in place.

Maybe Prof is not based in the UK.

Very much doubt that anyone (other than Chelsea) can buy him before 2023, without the agreement of Chelsea (it will have been written into transfer agrrement/contract) After 2023 Chelsea get first refusal. Don't actually think Man U specifically would be very interested and seriously doubt Tino would want to go there anyway.

But he wasn't in the form of his life. Last season he missed a lot through illness and injury and scored only 12 PL goals (compared to 22 the season before, in just 9 more games). The writing was on the wall last season, and hence why I think Saints didn't really push the boat out to try to keep him. I would have preferred him to stay but really we haven't lost too much based on last season, and it wasn't too surprising to see him struggle at Villa.

I'm sure you'll manage somehow.

The deal for Bertrand was nothing to do with Saints, he was out of contract.

I think the Bookies have got it wrong about Everton.

Thought Tino was very average today, he looked like he was not fully fit, wonder if he would have played if Perraud had been fit. He seemed to be very reluctant to go past a player for get upfield much, as if he was aware that he was going to be a bit short if he had to get back and defend. I'm not being critical of him, think he is a fine player but today was certainly not his best.

No mention of his left sided playing partner Danny Fox. I wonder why.

Winner of Euro Conference qualifies for the Europa. If Leicester were to win it might open up another slot (mind you they are not likely to win if they play Vestergaard, though they did win 4-1 last night)

Brunnschweiler was a youth (football) player with Saints before he turned to cricket, and has been with Saints since 2017, he is not a new recruit, just into a new role.

Not certain that there is the same rule prohibiting season long loan players playing against their host club in the FA Cup as in the PL. Short term loans have to get permission of their host club to play any game in the FA Cup, but this permission is not needed for season=long loans (i.e. Broja). From what I can see he is actually eligible to play against Chelsea in the Cup, but there maybe a clause in his loan agreement that says otherwise. I guess we won't know unless it actually happens. https://footballhandbook.com/can-loan-players-play-against-their-parent-club/#Can_loan_players_play_in_the_FA_Cup