Stud mark of doom

Jones now 6th favourite for the chop - joint with Klopp. corner well and truly turned.

One of only two star players I can remember us actually holding on to through a transfer window - the other being VVD. Needless to say Bale was brilliant until he actually left, and almost helped us up.

Tbf it was covering the last 2 games - the first of which was possibly the worst performance since the Branfoot days. I thought the tone was about right.

I think generally when that type of goal goes in, one of the attackers almost gets something on it. We had no-one near it!

A couple of things came back to me as I watched the latest instalment of our slow motion car crash last night. 1) something looked up even before we kicked off against Lincoln. I couldn’t really put my finger on it but perhaps there was not the usual well drilled prep going on on the pitch. It looked like the players were just milling about and not getting the expected instruction from the training bods. No organised routines. It had a touch of a Sunday league pre match atmosphere about it. 2) in one of the interviews at the time of restart Jones made a big play of having “done is homework” by watching 5 (maybe it was 6) of our previous matches on video. I’m not familiar with professional sport but this was after a 5 week break and my thought was - surely he should not have only watched every single game, but also with colleagues done quite a lot of analysis on all that play. The Premier league is about eking out that 1pc advantage over highly competitive opponents. This guy has to go asap.

Amazing- other than Ings (and, of course, the manager) I might stick my neck out and say that on paper that side looks weaker than our side last night. Such a pity the moneyball geniuses running the club forgot that scoring goals is quite important.

On this day two years ago we were involved in another 1-0 home fixture. We beat Liverpool 1-0 with an early goal. We were also 4 point adrift - but of first place rather than safety. Mismanagement of the highest order. Nice light show though.

Really worrying. Are there any managers with a track record of keeping a threadbare squad up? Let’s not rule anyone out. Premiership experience essential. Have to have done it three or four times recently.

He’s done the right thing, moving from a team packed full of superstars, at Saints, to one further down the league where he might get some game time.

Thanks

What’s happened to the new big screens we bought for the start of last season? last I heard they needed to do repair work as it had rained on the roof since the stadium was built, so they missed the target of the start of last season. But still no sign of them yesterday.

All five of the new signings look good and possibly significant improvements. After years of more epic fails than hits in the transfer market that’s a real step in the right direction, both immediately and with the prospect of future transfer window choices. If we had started with those five playing we’d have strolled it. Ralph cost us 2 points with that team selection.

I agree Rory wasn’t a record signing sort of player - but that was more to do with our spending rather than any problem on his part. It was pretty much the going rate for a solid reasonable proven premiership player who still had age on his side. Exactly the sort of player we rarely sign because they are too expensive for us. I think we got what we paid for. Probably doesn’t even come close to any list of our worst record signings.

Big Lawrie used to say a good team was made up of the right mix of “roadsweepers and lead violinists”. Shane falls in the first category, but is one of the best.

I seem to remember this is written up on the side of their stadium - it’s the equivalent of us marching on/in. So, the question you should be asking is why the likes of Liverpool singularly fail to march on/in, whereas we effortlessly manage it every year.

For those not there - quite a long inquest afterwards with players round the ref, captains consulted etc. looked like it might end like that Leeds game a few years back when after a spot of blatent cheating Leeds let the opposition score - but no, not this time. what on earth was going on - we clearly had the ball passing it around before play was stopped.

Anyone got their’s yet? At what point should I get worried?

https://www.premierleague.com/news/2612174

If results over the remaining games replicates the sides’ recent form over the same number of games - Burnley - 44 Saints - 41 Leeds and Everton - 39 Would suggest it could be a “high points to survive” season. Unfortunately I suspect the very high price on saints to be relegated might reflect the lack of money on us versus the other sides over the season. Feels more like a 33/1 or 50/1 to me.

Thanks - so close! Maybe I hit refresh at 9:29 and then 9:31!

Anyone know at what point they sold out? I was on line this morning (my earliest possible date) but no luck. Would be interested to know the cut off for future planning.

1 Klopp 2 Pep 3 Ralph Also our longest serving since Chris Nichol. It’s great to have some stability at long last.

If you could avoid that airport in future it would be much appreciated - thanks.

In addition to all the goals I remember them hitting the woodwork three times and FF making several blinding saves. sounds like XG performed at a similar level to SFC today.

I think he has crossed a line today - the club should sever any ties with him. Extremely sad.