Badger

Fair comment, to a point, although I suspect we managed to get over that hurdle for Ramsdale. Even on a budget, I feel we could have done better.

Everyone knows this bar RM and our scouts it seems

Bit unfair and misguided to suggest the owners have been tight. They’ve opened up the piggy bank - within reason - the fault lies in how we’ve spent it. Archer, BBD, and Wood !!! Can’t believe we couldn’t have found a CF up to the standard needed for their combined fee.

This was Ralph's undoing, think it will be the same for RM.

Incredible how he's polarised opinion. Should be called Russell Marmite.

Therein lies the problem.

Realise Ramsdale and Dibling are excluded from that but you need another cunt in your line up to make the team sheet Subs: Cunt, x 9 Manager : Bearded Cunt

Wondered the same. If not punishment then possibly a concern his focus isn’t right at the minute

Who’s the penalty taker today ?

Looks a bit lightweight and weak in midfield, and unless Dibling fulfills his promise (tall order for an 18 year old after only three games)not a great deal of threat upfront.

Apart from tackling and ballwinning of course

Perhaps Wellington is the intended back up if he doesn’t end up at Goztepe. Not that Wellington can be described as a ‘shoe in’ , but will probably be in contention.

This is where we have to agree to disagree Gio. Unfortunately I don’t share your unrelenting enthusiasm or confidence in RM to turn things round. Hope he can for all our sakes as I dread where or who they’ll turn to next, and it could very well end up in 2023/4 free fall with three managers in a season. Mention of Eustace, less experienced than RM even !

Relax. I’m reliably informed Nathan Jones put the table football on a bonfire at Staplewood.

That’s a good and thought provoking post, or essay which could inspire a lot of debate. For me the main difference between “then” ( 1960’s to perhaps 2014) and more recent times and “now”, is that in the past there was a tremendous sense of ‘in it together’ , players, manager, fans. This was especially true at The Dell, even with Branfoot fans identified with many of the players, even the ‘overseas’ players (Monkou and Kachloul spring to mind) appeared to be motivated and care. Now it’s more difficult to identify with players who in your heart you know are likely to piss off at the first opportunity. Agree with you about supporting the team on the field, and wish this could be cranked up a bit. This is perhaps over to the younger generation, I’m getting a bit too old for it all, but did my ‘apprenticeship’ and served my time on various terraces and stands at The Dell after many a beer. That said supporting Davies, McGrath, Channon, et al was a lot easier to get worked up about than the current crop.

Do you think by any chance that 3) might in some way be related to the first two ?

Saw the BBC Gossip Column , and reference to it on the Russell Martin thread, mentioning our interest in John Eustace. Would hope that it’s bollocks from an unreliable source. Could we really sack an inexperienced manager after a run of poor results and replace him with …. an inexperienced manager who has never managed in the EPL before ? If that’s the level we’re looking at, might as well stick with RM.

Thought that was decided after Blackburn away last season.

Fair point.

Can categorically say "no".

Players don't go from Germany World Cup squad to shit in just over a season normally. But perhaps ABK is the exception to the rule.

Sad news and it does always strike home and remind me how vulnerable we all are when I see players of my childhood, or in Shaw's case similar age, going. I remember him being highly rated in c 1979-81, and wondering if he or Steve Moran would break into the England set up first. Sadly neither did, although Shaw did get a call up. Don't think either reached the early promise shown in their careers. Had a read of a few things on this news, and especially after Holmes put up the picture of the Villa squad. Obseravtions : Ron Saunders always a miserable bastard but had quite a good record up to leaving Villa. Also hadn't realised Jimmy Rimmer was their GK, quite underestimated, and possibly unfortunate to be around in the era of Banks, Shilton, Clemence. Incredible thing reading about Villa winning the league in 1980/81 - they only used 14 players all season in the league (42 games then as well), imagine Klopp, Wenger etc dealing with that. Finally, making it Saints related, one of the Villa players mentioned was David Geddis. Think we were linked with him before he went to Villa from Ipswich (£300,000) late 70's.

All part of the modern era unfortunately. Gone are the days of Lawrie taking to the dugout in suit and full length leather coat, or WGS with shirt, tie, and blazer. Blame Pep again for that 'just come off the allotment' type appearance, and scruffy fuckers in t-shirts. RM has adopted his own scruffy style, looking like he's just parked up his VW Campervan for a summer of surfing in Newquay. in may ways I wouldn't give a monkeys if he stood on the touchline in his underpants, just get the team playing, and winning.

Totally agree we needed another striker ( a proper CF in my book not a short arse who runs around a lot). Dreadful scouting nad recruitment in that department. ,

I don't go along with the clamour for Ings. West Ham rely on him being fit enough for a 10-20 minute sub appearance from time to time. We'd have to rely on him being fit most of the season. A tall order given his track record, and not a sensible option given his likely wage.