Badger

Yes, f^ck it, I was going to drive down from Gloucestershire but I reckon it would be better for the planet if we all cycled. Better leave in a minute as I've not been on a bike for nearly 50 years. Global footprint and all that.

I think the question could be left at the bit I've highlighted. I'm unaware and would welcome anyone identifying his achievements/track record for being brought to the club under Les's guidance in the first place. We were linked with the bloke at Norwich, and on reading about him he was involved in clubs who made progress under his watch. Ross Wilson was at Huddersfield and was linked with us in the press for about 18 months before he arrived. Interestingly their rise seemed to take off after he left.I don't think he was involved in bringing David Wagner to the club for example. So what have either Wilson or this other character done to merit their roles at Saints? Genuinely interested. Yes - hope Ralph can identify the players we need, and that we now have someone capable of securing the deals. Lets not have another summer of dither and bumbling.

He can play 'Kleber Chala' to Elynoussi's 'Delgado' perhaps.

Very interesting. This also includes Benteke in the team of the week, should we try signing him as well? Is that Harry Krishna on there too ? Wonder what became of him he was quite famous in the late 1960's if I remember corrrectly.

I think Jarrod Bowen may offer a bit more to suit the RH style (albeit from the limited bits I've read/seen).

Not greatly optimistic regarding permannent fees, and several are likely to have to gon loan. Hopefully we might be able to use some of the surplus younger players as bargaining with Championship clubs (Reed, Hesketh for example).

Burnley are exactly the sort of nasty niggly team that could grind out a result against City and throw the advantage back to Liverpool. And Leicester at home won't be a formality. On balance City appear to have the harder run in, leaving aside Liverpool's CL commitments.

Must call for an all night vigil.

Who do you recmmend ? Austrian midfielder - Wolf ? - is meant to be agood prospect from a report I saw earlier in the season. Don't suppose Salzburg would like to take any of Elynoussi, Hoedt, or Bouffal in part exchange would they ?

We don't need to. We've had Les Reed for a decade, I thought Ajax came over here to see how Les did it. As for this season, yes would like to see Ajax v Barcelona in the CL Final.

On the subject of pubs near the ground, what became of The King Alfred ? Normally park the other side of Northam Bridge but walking from the town end noticed it looked to be locked up and closed.

Or, a couple of poor seasons even.

For me it's a combination of: Poor defence generally, as individuals and as a unit, all error prone. Mentally fragile and nervous edge to their game. Tactics - seem prepared under previous managers to sit back and invite opposition to attack us. Is this deliberate or due to fatigue ? Hard to eradicate that pattern. Tiredness and fitness levels effecting both energy and concentration (add the MF to this also perhaps) - didn't seem to happen when WGS was manager. Hopefully a summer training session under Ralph will sort it out. Just not "savvy" enough to manage a game out, need an Alan Ball or Jimmy Case figure leading on the pitch, but not there. Might also want to add the fact we never give ourselves a 2 or 3 goal cushion when we are on top. If we did the last minute goal conceded might not be as critical.

but despite that they still carry a goal threat, and the ingredient our defence seldom copes with , pace up front.

Sheff Utd in good position for automatic promotion. Delighted for Billy Sharp. And that Leeds might miss out.

Better than Harry Maguire though, and sometimes reminiscent of a young Franz Beckenbauer. Or at least some suggested this a couple of seasons ago.

Problem is that he has one game like that a season, the rest of the time he's average and ineffective. If dropped or sidelined when his form drops there's a sulk to contend with. Depending on recruitment in the summer I'm not sure we can afford the luxury of both Boufal and Redmond as regular starters. Throw JWP into the mix and despite his recent surge in form we are very lightweight.

So that's Wilson and Glover, two without a track record between them.

Hope I'm wrong in some of these: Saints - 43 points - Relegated -Brighton Champions - Liverpool (hoping City) Other two CL spots - Spurs and Utd Promoted - Norwich and Leeds (hoping Sheff Utd) Playoff winner - Villa (hoping Bristol City) FA Cup - Man City Champions League Final - Spores (just a horirble feeling) Pompey - Up via Play offs Eurovision - A Barnier-Junker duet singing a remake of "Long Live Love"

I read he still has a home near Liverpool.

Hadn't heard of these characters before reading that. Wonder what our European Operation Officer does for us, is he the head of scouting in Europe for the Academy ?

Hoping for an Ajax v Barcelona final then.

I expect Pascal Gross will be higher up Ralph's shopping list though.

I wouldn't worry about the missed opportunity with Ziyech. Had Reed recruited him and then put him in a squad under Puel and Pellegrino, Ziyech would now be on a salary of £70,000 per week but out on loan in Spain.

Leeds won't be selling players if they come up though.