S-Clarke

They'll be absolutely fine, they'll probably be in and around it, but players like Saint-Maximin and Wilson will ensure they do enough at the other end to keep their heads above. They're the sort of players who can nick you a goal when you're not even in the game, as we saw today. Priceless players.

I don't see anything wrong with the goalkeeper today? That wasn't the problem today. Moussa in particular for the first went walkies and left KWP to do all the defending. Salisu should have probably done better. 2nd goal was a blatant break, they out numbered us and we were caught high. That's why we concede goals and why we always will, we play high and we press from the front. It's risky and there are rewards if the forward players take their chances.

He's talking about Palace.

There was no way in a month of Sundays we deserved to lose that today, we did everything right in that first half in particular. Pressed, attacked, broke, got in behind. It was spot on tactically and Bruce was totally bamboozled. Sadly we have Moussa in the team who is just not going to do it here, I don't see anything in there other than long legs that he doesn't even know what they're doing. He'd be a great 5 a side player, but I don't rate him. Tino I thought was a bit selfish today? Held on the ball a little too long at times, but he still oozed class - especially first half. He does tire a bit as the game goes on, but that's to be expected for someone so young. Elyonoussi, first half in particular, was popping up in some great positions. Yeah, he's slow as all hell but he was clever in his movement today and that created some openings. Adams and Armstrong didn't really work today, Adams bustled around a bit but lacked any refinement in his game. Armstrong made some runs, but seemed to be outside of the box too much. Once Newcastle regrouped, as they were always going to do, we struggled - especially in midfield. Romeu was awful in position as well as positionally I felt, there was too much space in there and it allowed Newcastle to break on us - the gaps between the lines were too large. Overall, we deserved something from the game without doubt. Lots of promising play - Elyonoussi, Tino in particular. Need more from Adams and Armstrong in away games like that. I think we've got something about us, definitely a vibe and verve about how we play. We just need to start taking the opportunities when we are on top.

KWP LB, Tino RB. Ely in for Theo. Broja on the bench. I think those are the changes we wanted to see. (although maybe not the left back dropped, he's been sound)

Much more positive so far.

Arsenal are nothing more than a mid-table side, weird to see really given their team of the early 2000's.

I think we'll see a lot of opportunities crop up now, opportunities we didn't' think were possible a month or so ago. Clubs have to trim their squads, register the final squads etc, so there will inevitably be movement - just got to hope we're all over it in terms of the 'midfield' options.

Good post, I share your fears as well in terms of the youthful focus, which like you say aren't going to fix any of the experience/mental issues we face. But It's probably the only way we can go at the moment, it's still a huge gamble but somewhat exciting. It's a sink or swim season really. I think the club have been brave but time will tell if they've been daft. I'd say this is the ultimate test for Ralph as well, isn't it something like 8 new additions? Much bigger squad in certain areas and lots of players to develop, which he prides himself on....so this is up his street now, I hope and expect to see him in his fore.

We were in L1 and the Champ when he was in his pomp with Utd. Think he's only played at St Mary's once and that was a cup game.

I'll agree to disagree with you, we're clearly on polar opposites on every single topic.

Really weird post. We've downgraded in experience, yep. Impossible to say at this stage if we've downgraded in quality. We were an incredibly poorly run club between 2016-2018, no doubt about it. But I think it's harsh to still say we are badly run. Since we've rid ourselves of Kruger, Reed and Wilson we are much more sensible in our approach to signings. We have been incredibly hamstrung because of bad mistakes of the past, but those mistakes from the past don't mean that the current people in control of the club are running it badly today. Quite the contrary actually.

No surprise to see him straight into the U21's. Top quality.

He was touted as a bit of a wonder kid, I think he came through their academy. Valencia have turned into a bit of a crazy club though. Firing managers every year, huge player turnovers and they've now announced enormous losses in the 400m euro mark I think. Apparently this lad is frustrated because he doesn't get to play enough. Only 20, stacks of potential. And a huge, huge marketing opportunity.

Sounds like the club and Ralph agree. Reading his comments he still says we are short in the '6' and we are looking.

I still don't think the situation will have changed come then either, if no one wants either then we are stuck. Going back on your point - Ralph came to a club with Gunn, Forster and McCarthy in the ranks. He made the decision in the summer of 2019 to dump Forster and go with Gunn and McCarthy as the two. Sadly, Gunn had an absolute nightmare so we had to revert back to McCarthy. Then Forster came back, Gunn went out on loan and we had Forster and McCarthy as the two. Now Gunn has gone for good we still have those two. I have no doubts that as a club we have been actively looking for takers for Fraser for a number of years, no doubts at all. Sadly there haven't been any takers on the wages he is on and he didn't want to take a pay cut, so that leaves the power in the players hands. We either have an expensive asset sat doing nothing, or we integrate him in the squad and use him where we can with the view of addressing the situation when his contract expires. That's where we are at. This goalkeeping situation is a left over mess of past bad decisions, so let's not make more bad decisions by stockpiling more goalies. They're both average, no disagreements there, but we will have to bite the bullet and pay for our mistakes of the past with Forsters contract in particular.

And we almost contrived to throw that away as well! Wasn't that the game where Ewin was in the dugout as Koeman was in Hospital? But yeah, this is not a usual result ground for us. We played 9 men for most of the second half last season and still contrived to lose. But as others have said, records and runs are there to be broken. Although I said the same before Goodison.

Of course we had a choice, but the board we have aren't idiots so they decided it would have been a silly idea to sign a third goalkeeper when we already had 2. Let's think about what that would have given us. McCarthy - 50k ish p/w, Forster, 80kish p/w. New keeper - 50k p/w? (going rate). That's almost 200k on goalkeeper wages and we can only play 1 of them, and only rotate between 2. If you think it's a sound business decision to have someone sat not involved or playing, but being paid 50k p/w then by all means go and suggest that to a business and see if they allow that to happen. We have to be very careful with our signings and make sensible decisions with regards to squad building. That would have been a stupid idea, as much as we need one, we're not in a position to get one. I don't know how else to spell it out really. But of course, it's Ralphs fault isn't it.

I was bored, so I started a new save in 2021 and bought him in.

The point you keep making about Theo is irrelevant. I don't think he was a good choice for a free signing, but that didn't impact our ability or inability to sign a goalkeeper.

To calm everyone down, I signed him on FM for £9m. After 1 year he is worth £35m and he helped us finish 3rd. That may just be my management though.

Why is this so hard for people to work out? 3 first choice goalies on substantial wages would be daft. We bit that pill a little with Gunn, although that was offset because we either loaned out Forster or Gun. But if neither of Forster or Alex have any takers then we are stuck. As much as I'd like us to get a goalkeeper now I can understand why it would be stupid, and akin to opening staplewood and throwing millions of quid into thin air. Which we don't have.

They've just been dumped out of the cup on pens. Expect a reaction on Saturday. I'd expect us to press them as well as we have done in the last two games though, I think they'd struggle to contain the press if we're on it.

Jesus, wtf has happened to my memory. I've still got the pictures on my phone of the big screens at St Mary's showing that score! Still, a rarity and a nice rarity at that.

Edged that one, it was a fairly tight contest up until the 1st min. Don't think I've ever witnessed us win by that margin, don't care who it is against, it gives you a nice spring in your step.