Stud mark of doom

I suspect it’s just fans of Huddersfield and Saints (and stoke and WBA obvs). Think all the rest are safe barring an amazing change round in fortunes.

Bournemouth have lost twice in the last 14 premiership games.

This young lad made his debut.

Is there any chance that a large chunk of the £19m is only payable if we stay up? His record just doesn’t stand up to that fee. Did make me wonder if it was a way of suggesting we had spent a reasonable chunk of the VVD money.

Well, from memory, the actual great escape season was like this Relegation zone Relegation zone Bottom Bottom Cut adrift Amazing resilience Surely we have left it to late We are safe... but, no, everyone else has won miraculously No, we are safe Whereas if we escape this season it will be more like Mid table Mid table still but playing awfully Getting towards danger but all the “experts” saying we are far too good and players still talking about Europe Teetering above relegation zone - loosing lots of six pointers but still well in our own hands Just dipping into relegation zone but with games in hand Finally getting a few points and staying up* * I think unlikely I’m not sure they would make a film of the second one.

One difference - this year we had loads of cash we decided not to spend in January; last time we had to sell Beattie to generate a few bob and spent all the available cash to try and save ourselves.

We have to keep things in perspective. The last decade has been amazing to be a saints fan. I wouldn’t swap our experience with many other clubs. Having said that, I’ve taken my son to about 15 or so games over the last 14 months at SMS and he’s seen us score 2 maybe 3 goals and we’ve often been abysmal. That really doesn’t help at all.

Isn’t this now “small beer” given the ludicrous levels of TV money these days, in any case?

Can’t believe this hasn’t been selected for TV - it’s massive. Anyone know how to go about getting a stream these days? I think it got a bit harder than it used to be?

Our great leader seems to have decided to grow one. Let’s hope it’s a lucky appendage. Who was the last bearded saints supremo?

Speedie, Dixon, Perry Groves and Super Ken - the players we bought with the Shearer money I think. Very fitting. Or maybe Carrillo and three piles of cash.

This - definitely. Also, Neil Shipperly is looking like he could still do a job for us.

This is a great thread. Seemingly straight bat question based on some inside info no-one would have guessed, but entitled “wreck it ralf” to nudge readers in the right direction. Half way through we learn it is almost certainly made up nonsense. Everyone having a pop at Chairman Ralf, despite his great uplifting soccer-speak and fantastic overseas wheeler dealer stuff. This would never happen in Canada.

Bally?

Strongly agree. So much better than the crap we’ve had to listen to for the last two years.

First and probably last to have done both. First saints manager to be subject to a “first saints manager to have?” thread.

Very informative - thanks for posting. Even more pleased with this appointment now. That record is very impressive.

Very pleased. I was starting to think we wouldn’t get it over the line. Just what we need. We now have a fighting chance.

He is taking too long. He has to go. Hughes out.

Funny enough, WSC publish a fans prediction at the start of each season. A fan of each of the clubs in every league predicts who will be champions and who will go down in their division. The only two seasons to date we have been in the prem when no-one has said we will go down - 2004/05 and 2017/18. Sadly I think these may also be the two seasons when our board started believing we couldn’t go down.

I seem to remember the parachute payments are much better than last time we went down. Four years rather than two? We might need it.

Pretty sure they don’t “pay off” managers. They just keep paying them, so no lump sum.

If we go down, McCarthy will be quickly snapped up. Forster will presumably be stuck with us on a big long term contract - I can’t see anyone swooping for him?

I was glad they couldn’t check for offside in 76.

At present, the cure is much worse than the disease. I’m not sure what is wrong with the odd awful decision. They go both ways.