the saint in winchester

Starting to think only DLT and I saw the game itself, thanks to a stream. Don't let the result kid you into thinking it was in any way close. It was a training ground match for City, a chance to give some fringe players a run about. As DLT says, we looked scared to death of them, and resorted to ball retention with sideways and backwards passing, just to get a little confidence. Saturday will indeed be much of the same. Even the commentator said he expected Saints to again defend fully in the first half to stay in the game and only start to play in the second. As others have said, our focus will soon be on Everton and Watford home games, where we need two wins.

The Telegraph says we will buy in a month? In November, before the transfer window opens? Are there any good free agents around, that we could bring in before January? Otherwise, we have what we have, and need decent coaching to get them to play to their potential.

He's the co-host on Tuesdays. That's why I don't listen in on Tuesdays any more. Can't stand his miserable tone. His standard rate is £6M a year, so £120k a week. I don't think his style of play would involve Djenepo or Boufal.

That would be a great To Do List, if only it could happen like that.

Not sure that's their remit. Maybe we need a good HR guy or legal expert to go through player contracts and find a way to dismiss them for non-performance with minimal cost to the club.

I guess this was what Ralph meant with "I take 100% responsibility." But surely we would have conceded as many with a 4-2-4 formation? We seem to be split on how to approach Tue & Sat - do we send out the same team and tell them to make amends, or do we drop many?

I honestly would prefer to have it laid out now, in return for relegaton. Don't roll out lines like "need to take the positives" or "learn what tonight". Pierre, say it. If you're removed from the captaincy or transfer-listed, the fans will support you. Just tell us what the problem is - be it player disharmony, be it domineering manager, be it hopeless coaching, be it lack of funds to invest, be it player power, be it no leadership from the directors/chairman. Just tell us the truth. You're losing the support of the fans. We suspected there was an issue, now PEH has confirmed it. So let's hear it, then discuss how to resolve it.

After 50 years of being a casual fan, going down maybe to half a dozen games a season, I took the plunge and bought a season ticket this year. Wrong decision. Probably won't go again, save the £10 train fare each game. Whatever PEH is alluding to (above), just say it, take the fine, and get the fans support.

Fair play to you, Lightie, sending YOURSELF up. I thought the same, I had 1-3 as my prediction. So glad I brought Vardy into my fantasy team and made him VC.

I'm pretty sure he WILL go. He will resign. We may never know the full extent of what has happened behind the scenes in the last few months, but Ralph won't stick around for more of this.

Good news. He could be very useful to us right now.

That's about the top and bottom of it, yeah. Just so Boris can "get the job done" by Oct 31st as he pledged to do. He doesn't know or care what the deal is, but that doesn't matter as long as he bulldozes it through.

Well said.

Worked for Sheff Utd last night! It did make me think we need to be more hostile, on and off the pitch!

That WOULD be a problem, yes. Ralph's enthusiasm and positivity makes others believe as well. So if he loses that, we are in trouble.

Hope we go back to a central 3 at the back, and - assuming Yoshi will be rested - that needs to include Danso. If he proves himself, make it a regular situation. If he's no good back there, then play him as a DM. I though Ralph was the one who wanted to get him on the bus - Austrian links and all.

If he could get his head right, Lemina is better than what we have. But he needs to get it all together - head, heart, stomach, the lot.

Borislav Mihaylov is immediately available. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50054475

Can't we just get Cortese himself? He likes a project. Reports directly to the (Overseas) Chairman. Day to day local management of the Club. No Kat to micro-manage him.

Bang tidy. Lose the hair parting, add a layered cut and she would be even better.

LOL, wouldn't have happened in our time, eh. We wouldn't have had this situation either : the Boss Baby types. Parents scared of their own children's behaviour, giving in to them either for fear of being hit themselves, or for what their young'un would do in public. https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/4149888/parents-scared-of-kids-tantrums/

I can tell we're the same age, Nick. I would say the same as you. Including the caning at school. We used to have what were called Form Orders, basically a ranking of monthly scores. The bottom 3 each month were sent to the Headmaster every month for the cane. I always tried my hardest because I didn't want the cane. Like you, I didn't tell my parents because they would have backed the school. I have no recollection of smacking my children, and I would never smack my granddaughter. It's not my place.

That's NOT good for us, whether we want to sell Guido, or keep him.

This. Sounds like Gao is late/reneging on paying the final 20%.

She can't sue him for broken promises unless it's a term in the contract. Maybe worded as "remaining 20% payable on (date)" and he hasn't met the payment date. She probably told him we were potentially a top 6 club. And we aren't, but he can't sue her unless there's a definite term broken.