stknowle

It always seems flat these days. Even walking to the ground there's no real sense of anticipation, no buzz. And leaving it's just shrug of the shoulder resignation.

That was awful. 1 star awful. Everything slow and ponderous and in front of an opposition defence given all the time in the world to be settled and organised. On the few occasions we got into shooting positions we seemed too scared/too reluctant to try. Carry on like that and this is only ending one way.

As you say never going to be as black and white as that but I'd go for win the league ONCE with carp 1 0 wins then onto entertainment and mid table finishes every season thereafter.

And it wasn't Villa, it was Everton.

I don't rate him as a cb and would prefer never to see him play there for us again, but the pen wasn't really his fault.

I genuinely didn't realise he'd come on. My stream had no sound but I did not notice he was on the pitch.

YEEEESSSSS GTFI that was ****ing good goal!!!!

This is quite plainly ********. I don't think anyone thinks Cedric has improved breathtakingly since he left. I do think some - including myself - think his leaving and now almost certain non-replacement leaves us a bit weak at right back and would prefer that he hadn't left or had been replaced now that he has.

And turned to the crowd laughing/fist pumping when he got sent off.

Been coming all game that.

Hard to disagree with the fella who suggested Isgrove needed to be given a run in his place though.

Exactly how I see it, plus the other glaring weakness at right back.

Right he's definitely gone then. I reserve the right to be concerned that we might not get a replacement in during this window and that if we don't we are taking one hell of a risk.

So you agree then that the potential sale and and non-replacement of Cedric is an issue or 'concern'. Some sense at last.

Yes everyone who has expressed any 'concern' about transfers on this website has also said "in Ralph we trust" on this website and it is impossible to think Ralph is a good manager but at the same time be a bit worried that if we sell - for example - Cedric and don't bring in another full back we might be a bit short in that area.

Exactly this. No mass hysteria just understandable concern based on the premise that we don't bring anyone in. Hopefully we will, but we haven't yet so it's a perfectly legitimate concern.

It would. We seem to have rapidly progressed from a phase in our history where we were regularly picking up huge transfer fees for our players to one in which we are grateful to get any sort of transfer fee whatsoever.

HTF we let Mane go for that was ****ing ridiculous. We sold him right at the start of the transfer window as well IIRC.

Not comfortable at all with Cedric leaving and no replacement coming in. Supreme complacency if that's what happens.

Dreadful. He must’ve got in that plane full of excitement and anticipation and it now seems certain he’s ended up dead in the water. Fate is so random and sometimes so cruel.

Yep, fairly pathetic digging out any of our players after that.

Yeah, looking a really good player. Certainly not one that'll be sold for less than we paid or loaned out just to get some of his wages off the balance sheet.

GTFI. Tortuous ending but saw it out and totally deserved to. Well played Saints, we are really looking like a decent outfit again with strong performers all over the pitch. Nothing short of miraculous after a season and a half of virtually relentless dross.

You can coach the passing, the skill is natural and he's got loads of it. Got to be worth a try now we finally have a decent manager.

Fair enough. You may be correct and hopefully you are because we need to be able to switch to a 4. He's improved massively since Ralph came in but he is s-l-o-w which doesn't get exposed as much in a 5.