austsaint

I’ve done it once. Back in 2012, last game of the season, Saints had to beat Coventry in the Championship to confirm automatic promotion. I put 200 AUD on Coventry thinking the 2k collect would numb disappointment if the unthinkable happened. 4-0 Saints.

Yes, fair enough - perhaps what I should have said was that even with the lifeline Potter has given him, he likely won’t start many Prem games in the future. It will be interesting to see what happens with him in the summer. My broader point is one of admiration of JWP. He has maximised his earning power; his premier league appearances; England representation (senior and age level) through technical skills, graft and hard work, rather than athleticism or silky skills. Some credit to Ralph who kickstarted a stalling career.

JWP would be handy for us in the Championship, but it obviously won’t happen. His days as a starting Prem midfielder are well behind him. You have to marvel at the way he has continued to command such a high salary, starting with the 100k (pw) plus he was on in our relegation season given his limited output, free kicks included recently.

It was the final straw for me today - with Juric. Bad enough to be so rigid about playing the 3 CBs, but when it repeatedly includes Aribo and Bree (God almighty he’s an awful player) then alarm bells must ring. Likewise, the continuing inclusion of Smallbone? Juric can’t be next seasons Manager.

Yes, it’s been a decent spiral in CB quality if you take a line through the likes of Claus, Svensson, Fonte, Toby, VVD.

Fact checking seems to have gone out of fashion all over the place. Let the Farmer have his day in the sun - he’s another still grieving the loss of Russ.

I base that idea on the evidence of the last month or so where playing 3 CBs hasn’t worked, particularly when non-CBs like Bree, Manning and Aribo have played. The other factor in our leaky defence has been a weak midfield, culminating last week with the pairing of Smallbone and Aribo. I’d be happy enough with Downes and Les Ugo - I posted before the press conference , so wasn’t aware of the Downes/Juric “reconciliation”. Having Aribo as the fresh legs replacement is the right way to go. Clearly having Fernandes play that central attacking midfielders role is his best position, but in the absence of Downes, Fernandes has the ability to play that box-to-box role while sacrificing some of his attacking game. I’m wondering what has happened to Gronbaek? Looked ok in a couple of appearances but seemingly not fancied by Juric.

Fernandes is your man!

I’d like to see Juric declutter the tangle of full-backs and centre backs. Ramsdale. - KWP and Wellington and two specialist CBs. Strengthen the midfield by playing Les Ugo with Fernandes slightly advanced. Sulemana, Gronbaek, Dibling, with Onuachu up front.

A bit optimistic to think we’ll keep Fernandes. But your point is well made - both the loan moves of Edwards and Charles have worked well for all parties, and both could/should be first team starters (for us) next season.

I don’t think there’s a person on this forum who would disagree with your last paragraph.

You can add Sulemana, Les Ugo and Onuacho to the misused players under Martin.

I would have preferred Martin to have shipped out Smallbone and retain Alcaraz.

I’m less convinced (than I was) that Juric is the right man to lead the Championship campaign. He has had long enough to assess the players yet picked Smallbone as a starting central midfielder and Aribo to partner him. I doubt any person at St Mary’s today, or tapping away on this forum would have done the same. Then there’s the rigidity around playing three centre backs - one of them being Bree, wtf, and at times Aribo helping out at CB. It’s true there’s a greater threat going forward but the midfield and defence continue to be a shambles. I know IJ has been dealt a mountainous task, and he hasn’t got much of a deck to shuffle; the Downes situation hasn’t helped. Just the same, his team selections, subs and formations create serious doubt he should be in charge next season.

I like that line up. Play Fernandes just in advance of Les Ugo. With two specialist full-backs to call on, it’s time Juric changed formation

The thing I learned watching back those highlights, apart from the evidence that JWP wasn’t/isn’t a dirty skate, was just how much we miss a striker like Ings (as he was then) and a midfielder like Romeu.

Really, is your first sentence about Sulemana? I thought he was impressive again - just about our only attacking threat with Dibling marked out of the game and Fernandes a little quiet by his standards. I like Juric, but he got things wrong today. As others have mentioned, a mistake to play four full backs and Bednarek at the back. Especially since we’ve been gifted an excellent LB prospect in Wellington there was an opportunity to have KWP and Wellington flanking two centre backs and strengthen the midfield. Later in the game it was somewhat demoralising to watch Bree, Manning and Smallbone knocking the ball around at the back with minutes to go and the score 0-1. I’m not sure whether Juric is playing Smallbone because we are stretched with injuries and the Downes situation, or whether he rates him, but his credibility is going to be dented if it continues. I thought he should have brought on the Dane earlier to chase the goal we needed rather than WS.

I think you’ve skewered him quite nicely. There might be a bit of self deception going on for the boy from Fareham.

I like Juric, but today’s set up was weird. It was an opportunity to play KWP and Wellington as FBs with Bednarek and Wood/ABK at CBs, to establish balance and a more orthodox central midfield. When Sulemana (who was very good) and Ugochuku came off, it was obvious we weren’t getting back into the game. The sight of Manning, Bree and Smallbone knocking it around at the back at games end was a bit demoralising. I don’t know whether IJ is playing Smallbone because of the lack of midfield depth or he rates him, but it’s going to dent his credibility between now and seasons end if it continues.

Judged by the IJ Burnley presser I don’t think we’ll see AA play for Saints again. Juric gave the impression that AA wanted to go. He’s had so many chances at Prem level and always come up short - he may well be a thorn in our side next season but we must seek out a better player; one of Spor’s first tasks. Only wish him well - he is a tremendous Championship attacking player.

Surely (if it’s Juric) he won’t play 3 centre-backs. Take Bree out of there; take the 12th man Smallbone out of the side and play an attacking player like Gronbaek, and it’s not a bad line up. Someone better in goal than Baz would help. I’ve got a feeling though that there will be several new faces starting the first game of the 25/26 season.

Downes not dynamic enough for IJ but Smallbone is?

I haven’t given up on Downes, and the idea that he can only play in a Russball side seems crazy. There is a midfielder in the squad who appears to be a possession/ recycler only, but it’s not FD. I think he has suffered from not having a defensive minded midfield partner, last season and this. Charles wasn’t ready; and Smallbone and Aribo don’t fit that role, particularly WS. Although Les Ugo has been inconsistent - Downes and he in partnership looks the best central midfield pairing we have for the rest of the season. I hope he stays, with Shea Charles and a newbie to help him out.

Yes, I’ll settle for the SAA sale, and for that matter a big price sale of Dibling in the summer, if it means we could keep Fernandes, and even Ramsdale. Fernandes staying (against the odds) greatly increases the prospect of automatic promotion next season.

Similarities to Bertrand were immediate. I’m already worried about how we keep him at season’s end.