Rebel

the Leeds fans I have talked to say he is not the most physical or fastest of strikers despite his height - he's more of a second striker. So he might not be what we need most which is a centre forward. It sounds like he's more a taller version of what we have already got in Armstrong.

I not sure clique is the right word - but I do think there is something wrong with the player culture at St Mary's. We seem to have developed a loser culture and that needs to be changed. By coincidence I would have happily seen Stephens, Manning, Archer, Downes, Stewart, Armstrong, Fraser and THB moved on last summer and replaced by more physical and hungrier players. I think the individual players needed a reset somewhere else as much as the club did. The team needed a complete revamp or rebuild - whatever you want to call it.

here's the tweet from Alfie: "In an ideal summer 2026, I'd enthusiastically keep Charles, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson and Armstrong. I'd hang on to Quarshie, Edwards and Wood. Roerslev if fit. I think I'd replace everyone else. Complete culture reset. Probably impossible though."

I have to admit I am not a Jason Wilcox fan. I don't think he's anywhere near as clever or as good as he thinks he is. Just copying Manchester City's masterplan at another club in a different league and with different environmental factors doesn't make you clever - it makes you a bit stupid really.

It was a tweet not an article - and then a series of replies to his tweet. The original tweet basically said he'd get rid of most of the players and rebuild the team around Jander, Scienza, Azaz, Fellow and Robinson I think. And then in the replies it was suggested THB, Stephens, Armstrong, Manning and Downes were a clique causing problems. More by other people than Alfie House but their omission from his list of players he'd keep said a lot. There a piece on the Ugly about it.

Teams have worked out how to play us by pressing the midfield space and inviting the back 3 to pass the ball between them until they make a mistake. And without a tall centre forward to lead the line and play direct to we become very predictable. We are relying on Scienza to magic up a chance. Fellows being back will give another attacking threat but we will still need to change it. It's time to ditch the back 3 and go to 4-2-3-1 with Scienza, Azaz and Fellow behind Armstrong. Jander and Downs in midfield and 2 fullbacks who can take it in turns to drift into midfield or join the front 4 - giving us a 2-3-5 when attacking. This would also give us more 'bodies' in midfield to play out to and the option of using the fullbacks to carry the ball forward and open up the pitch for a pass into Azaz, Scienza or Armstrong - or feed the wingers in front of them. Jander can also drop deep to pick up the ball and carry or pass it forward.

Yes - we definitely need a striker to provide cover and an alternative to Armstrong. Ideally someone physical with pace who can play as a number nine. I don't think Stewart will really play again this season - apart from maybe 1 or 2 substitute appearances at the end of the season. It looks like Archer is on his way out either on loan or permanent in January. And Downs should go out on loan somewhere to get more experience and toughen up. Josh Maja will only have 6 months left on his contract at WBA in January - maybe he could be a relatively cost effective solution if he's fully recovered from his injuries. As for Matsuki we should either play him or send him out on loan. I would have played him over Aribo at the weekend.

I think the players are part of the problem - along with the succession of bad managers we have had. I think its pretty obvious managers like Jones and Will Still didn't have the gravitas, track record, experience or playing careers to impress our bunch of useless players. There were also rumours that Ralph had 'lost the changing room' before we was sacked and was accused of being arrogant. I don't think he was helped by not having a proper coaching staff around him though. But I think there is a problem with our players - a rotten team culture - which started to go wrong under Ralph after the two 9-0 losses. And I think its still there - they give up too easily, heads go down at the first set back, they don't give 100% and there is no leadership in the team. A succession of bad management appointments hasn't helped - Jones, Selles, Still particularly. Martin was probably too matey with them. Juric too distant and hard. As for Jones he talked a lot about high pressing and front foot football - but his idea seemed to be the long ball forwards and then try and win the second ball. Old fashioned lower league football. There weren't any patterns of play - and no idea what to do with the ball other than boot it forward. A massive drop from Ralph's sophisticated high press. Right now we need an experienced manager - someone who has real credibility and a track record to impress the players. Or someone like Pochettino with gravitas and charisma who can turn the team culture around. But we also need to give him a coaching team - his own men - around him to support him. And back him in the January transfer window with a physical centre forward and a decent goalkeeper.

I think we all knew Nathan Jones was the wrong manager when he said 'them' and 'me' in his first interview instead of 'we' or 'us'. He didn't really seem to want be want to here of even like the club. And then he seemed to completely waste the extended (was it 6 weeks) winter break to impose any structure, tactics or way of playing on the team. He seemed to relish in alienating the players and the fans. Sports Republic should have replaced Ralph in the summer or stuck with him in January and backed him in the transfer window. I am pretty confident that if he'd been give the extended winter break he would have turned things around.

I am starting to think Sports Republic have no idea what to do when it comes to the manager. When they sacked Russell Martin last season the obvious answer was to pay the compensation to Sheff Weds and appoint Danny Rohl. Instead they went for the cheap option and appointed Juric - with I think no plan to keep him beyond the summer. In the summer when they let Juric leave they didn't really seem to have a plan of what to do next. The obvious answer was to pay the compensation to Sheff Weds and appoint Danny Rohl. Instead they went for the cheap and 'aren't we clever' option of appointing Will Still when they baulked at the money Sheff Weds wanted for Rohl. Right now the most obvious answer is probably to appoint Michael Carrick - he has a good track record with Boro and took over there when they were in a similar position and did a good job. The problem is I don't think he wants the job - and Sports Republic are trying to clever again in giving the job to Eckhart. From the outside I think one of the problems is a lack of a clear strategy when it comes to football - or clear lines of responsibility. I can't help thinking Rasmussen keeps interfering on signings and managerial appointments which means between him and Spors we have a mess of players, playing style and management philosophies. At times it seems its mandated from above to play 3-4-2-1 - but that makes the signing of players like Fellows and Azaz an odd decision as they suit a 4-2-3-1. It looks like they will stick with Eckhart - and delay making a decision - until he wins enough games for them to say 'aren't we clever' or loses enough games that they have to sack him. In reality I don't think any of the good or proven managers out there want the job - the squad is unbalanced missing a centre forward and a good enough goalkeeper. There is a good chance of being sucked in to a relegation battle and a very slim chance of making the play-offs and getting promoted. And if you don't get promoted an already unbalanced squad will get ripped apart in the summer as Sports Republic will need to cut costs by selling the best players to raise cash - and getting rid of the overpaid players on the cheap. Saints future is starting to look a lot like Norwich's present.

I am starting to think we should go for Marco Rose if we can convince him to come to Saints - and keep Tonda with the first team as a coach. Surely Russell Martins self-belief, fan club and connections will talk him in to the job at Norwich. It will be funny to watch them both get relegated if they do go that option. And I can see Rogers ending up at Leeds if they sack Farke - the delusions on both sides would fit well there what with all the 'big I am' b*ll*cks they both spout and their mutual arrogance. Gary O'Neil to Boro makes sense as well. Leaving us with Michael Carrick or some German coach - so why not Marco Rose. But it will probably be that Neestrup bloke from Copenhagen. Although being successful in Denmark with Copenhagen is kind of like being successful with Rangers or Celtic in Scotland - its expected really.

its just as likely the bookies know O'Neill is out the of the running now so are happy to use the media to encourage people to put a bet on him - knowing they wont have to pay out.

Is Josh Maja someone we should look at in January to resolve some of our problems upfront? Unless he signs a new contract between now and then he will only have 6 months left on his current deal at WBA so would probably be reasonably low cost to buy. At age 26 he's a good age, but at 5ft 11 he's about the same height as Archer - but seems to be much more capable of leading the line - and more physical. Another one to take a look at could be Yuri Alberto who is still at Corinthians - but he could be expensive. And still only 6ft. tall.

All Sports Republic has to do this summer really was appoint Rohl as manager, sign Viktor Johanssen for a sensible fee to fill the hole in goal and bring Romulo over from Goztepe (on loan or for a reasonable fee) to give us the centre forward we have been missing for a couple of years and fill the massive hole up front. Simple really right!? It was all easily in reach given Spors relationship with Rohl and Sports Republic's ownership of Goztepe. Instead I can't help feeling they tried to be too clever in signing players like Downs and Quarshie for resale value - and too cheap when it came to paying Shef Weds compensation for Rohl or brining Romulo over. Until we have an owner that puts signing players for success on the pitch above making money out of 'clever signings' and player transfers Saints downward spiral will just continue.

My guess is he's referring to Kraft and Ankersen -and maybe one or two others.