SaintBobby

I can think of better things to spend the money on. Especially as money clearly is tight. On the basis of what we’ve seen, I wouldn’t take a punt.

I think the key question is whether Ralph has learnt anything and can adapt. If we go into next season, having sold a couple of top players and not really replaced them, with a “one more heave” strategy, we won’t do well. But can Ralph adapt? Obviously any signings will matter, but also whether he can change, adapt or improve the way we play. Jury out on that, obviously!

It’s all a bit flat at the moment, but I think they’ll be 3 worse teams

Maybe. Although I guess they haven’t sold out of general season tickets either. I was pretty pleased when they brought in the Saints bar option. I was willing to pay a lot more than c£600 for a season ticket but not £3,000 per seat in a box. That said, I’m sceptical that I’d be up for paying £200 or £300 each season just for a cushioned seat.

Possibly. Although they've failed to sell out the Saints bar allocation in the last few seasons.

Lampard underperformed, for sure. Got to think Chelsea have a reasonable chance of the title next season with Tuchel. He's beaten Man City three times in the last few weeks, no?

It’s terrible timing. It’s also a weird price point. I have season tickets in the Channon suite/Saints bar. They are £1,600 a pop. A pricey, luxury item for sure. But in addition to the coveted padded seat on the halfway line, you get 3 free drinks a game, a reasonably adequate lunch, a free programme and access to the lounge 2 hours before and after the match, interviews with ex-players, lots of screens showing Sky/BT Sports (and the early/late kick off matches). No real queues for the toilets - and for smokers you can pop out for a smoke at any time. Appreciate that it’s not an option for everyone and the atmosphere is pretty dire in that part of the stadium, but if people are tempted to buy a very expensive season ticket, that seems a way better deal than £1,000 to just get a cushion.

At the Leeds match, one of the staff in the Saints bar/suite told me they expect the “standard” match against reasonably decent European competition at St Mary’s on the weekend before the season starts. Hardly a surprise, but thought I’d pass it on.

Looks to me that you might be able to imagine both sides settling for a draw. That’s enough for West Ham - a win doesn’t push them any higher - and may well be enough for us to maximise our league position, depending on scores elsewhere. Probably only impacts the latter stages of the match and only then marginally, but maybe makes the 3/1 on the draw a bit tempting.

Have West Ham definitely qualified for Europe? If Saints, Spurs and Everton all win, doesn’t that leave them 8th? Is that sufficient? I’m losing track of the qualification rules - especially with this third new Euro competition.

It's a "must win" game.

I thought that it is no longer a red if a penalty is awarded? Deny a goal scoring opportunity outside the box and it's red. Inside the box is penalty and maybe a yellow. Or have I made that up?

Well someone claimed at least 5 or 6 Burnley players would walk straight into the Saints starting eleven. Combine that with what we already have (our best 5 or 6 players, presumably) and you’re surely putting meaningful points on the board. You’d only need 10-12 more points on what Saints currently have (a mere 20-25% uplift) for us to be in the race for CL spots...right now. Given how good those Burnley players are - the ones who would walk into our starting team - I’d have thought that was a very modest aspiration, no?

His team are useless. I’m amazed they’re safe tbh. Obviously others think if we only had 6 of their players, we would have beaten Fulham more handsomely and would presumably now be chasing a Champions League place. The mind boggles . Keeping that Burnley shower of shite in the top flight is remarkable. Probably worthy of being the 3rd best manager in the division.

Tella possibly MotM despite only being on for 30 minutes. Salisu looks like a beast. Def want him to start.

In yet more evidence of the wealth of world class talent at Sean Dyche's disposal....they have just been spanked 4-0 at home to Leeds United. No obvious tactical errors in how Dyche set up the team. They're just pretty damned woeful. I think I've only seen 7 or 8 Burnley matches this season, so maybe I haven't seen them at their best, but they look like real relegation fodder from what I have seen. I guess several clubs this season - Saints included - are just glad that those bottom three teams have set the bar for staying in the division so pathetically low.

Assume we can all agree this one is a "must win"?

Probably not no.

Fulham are in great form. With the run they’re on, they will cruise to a 6-2 win and Saints will be relegated.

Not going to lie, that Skates game was fucking hilarious.

Their other 6 starting XI players must be dire then for them not to be better than Saints.

We get it. It’s fine. You think Burnley have a better first team than Saints. You therefore think it’s no great shakes that Dyche has managed to get about the same points haul as Saints. Others - me included - think Burnley have a worse first team squad than Saints and Dyche has therefore done a fine job - yet again - in piloting them to safety.

He's not bad, but I'm not much of a fan either. If he was a cheap option from a Championship team and aged 19-20, I might be tempted. But he ain't. It's also not obviously a position we need to stengthen in.

A shedload of difference. Ings and JWP are way, way better than their Burnley equivalents. No Burnley player is heads and shoulders above their Saints equivalent - with the possible excpetion of Pope. But upgrading your goalkeeper from a 7 to an 8 isn't a big deal, Upgrading your striker from a 6.5 to a 9 is. In my view, only 1 Burnley player definitely gets in to the Saints team. Put Ings and JWP into the Burnley team though and you transform it. I think seveal other Saints players would make it too - KWP for example, Vestegard, Romeu, Armstronng are all very good shouts. Not absolute head and shoulders over their equivalents, but they edge it. If Walcott was at Burnley, he'd start, I fancy. Clearly, Burnley are the new Fulham.

On reflection, Ralph probably is Premier League manager of the season. Not only does it look like he will keep us above the juggernaut known as Fulham. But he also stands every chance of matching the mighty Burnley toe-to-toe, a majority of whose players would apparently walk into the Saints starting XI. Props to the man.