cf saint

Var is a corrupt disgrace

Redmond so far, JWP, Hoj maybe by end of season depending on final few games.

Thanks for continuing to produce the blog on Saints I always read. Expressing the frustration of so many.

Sporting seem to exist to provide a daily dose of craziness tbh - the episode when the players were attacked will likely be the main issue but suspensions, reinstatements, corruption claims etc etc fill the sports papers every day. So I agree it is likely to be a legal mess it will probably end with the players moving. As we know from VVD clubs dont have a strong hand and in Portugal there is not the TV money to help, especially as Sporting missed the champions league. That said I think Martins is the only one I would like us to go for but I suspect he is going to a CL club.

Really poor from Liverpool players not to go to Karius after the game- fair play to the Liverpool fans for applauding him when he went to say sorry. He lost them the final and has likely ended his career but he is human and my TV feed didn’t show one first tema player go to him, first one was Bale.

The others who stand out in the Sporting squad are Gelson Martins and Carvalho. Carvalho has been talked about as coming to the premier league for years but was closest to joining West Ham so not sure he is for us. Other than Martins most of the rest are older than the profile we us sign especially after Ralph’s reaffirming that we aim to offer players a pathway. Martins already linked to Liverpool as well

The squad is not awful but clearly a few need to go and some key players added. The players the club should get out are - Carrillo (as others have said likely loaned); Boufal (flashes not worth the disruption) and Davis (with thanks for great few years). I would like to add Forster to the list but if he is really on the wages claimed I can’t see anyone taking him. We may lose some or all of Cedric, Bertrand, Gabbi and Yoshida. Irrespective of those or others going we need a quality strong CB that can lead, and, if Yoshi goes, some pace also. I doubt we find one with all three attributes but most important is leadership. Other essentials are some pace (I assume Promes is expected to provide this) and a striker we can hope to get 15 goals plus. So of the typical match day squad it could be 3 or 4 out and 3 in that would be enough to rebalance the squad. On Hughes I think he has done brilliantly but I can’t help thinking like Pilchards on his thread that if we keep him we are accepting mid table mediocrity rather than best outside the big six. That said no gambles on unknowns so if Rogers or someone similarly qualified would come and be announced early in the summer, great. If not Hughes to provide some stability.

Easy and nice option would just be to swap the designs/colours of the home and away kits from this year - so the away is basically the 80s away kit.

1st half it was clear we were just trying to park the bus but even so the set up/ line up didn’t work. Lemina anonymous and no movement to link to the front two. I actually thought Hoedt did ok first half as only he and Hoj seemed to even want the ball. One thing I noticed is how often we got in each other’s way - especially to deal with routine headers. I think a midfield three of Hoj, Rom and Lemina plus three CBs is too much - can see the idea behind it but when we have 6 players in that area and Hazard still mom shows it didn’t come off. Second half much better after the first goal and a step change once Tadic and Redmond came on. Not sure why Hoj off but after that at least Lemina showed some hints of talent. Defeat expected and at least didn’t go out with a whimper.

I live overseas so my own purchase history is awful so I bought a membership after Wigan, more in hope than expectation that is may help if it went almost to general sale. I have a ticket based on the nonsense “history since 14/15” but as far as I can see any new members since Wigan without a qualifying game history could not even buy a ticket. Insane. The club seems like he players....they have given up. Anyway arrived in London, looking forward to seeing old friends and who knows maybe an upset. COYS

Portuguese media saying no contact between Silva and Benfica but no hint of New Saints link that I have found yet.

I guess better late than never.....hope Silva interested and in onboard in next couple of days

This, especially re Gabbi....Awful.

This is my This above...

This. For “our” goal Gabbi was just slow getting going in the box....maybe rusty but not good nonetheless. Overall good point, players seem up for it. So basically a good Sunday- if we get rid of MP (I still would) we have Silva as option, if we don’t at least the the team seams willing to fight for him. Ps JWP mom...deserved at least an assist today.

I have hoped he would come to us after seeing him work miracles at Estoril. The football here he played was exciting and successful. I don’t doubt he will be off as and when a bigger job came along but he needs to stay longer than 6 months in a job now after Hull and Watford. Get him in.

Wow let’s see reaction.....what a assits by Bouf

Bit of confidence for FF at least...so far

Few seem to have point to prove today - PEH excellent

I normally agree with your posts but I have read before this view Portuguese dont rate Silva....not many of those I talk to fall into that camp. I made the point at the time that I thought he would fit us and still do. But i think that option now gone. I do agree with those who say he is ambitious and will jump ship when a big club comes calling however.

Out. Just out of his depth. Awful appointment. I think almost everyone gave up on seeing the team...again.

What a goal

As a couple of others have already said, good post. The lack of forward running to link midfield to attack was still apparent- couple of times it seemed a sea of nothing in 25m or so between Gabby/Long and anyone else in the middle. Couple of other points - thought VVD looked more rusty than lacking commitment and Austin adds nothing to the team the way we play/are trying to play.

Same as I said last summer - Silva. However, unless we lose all the remaining games and end up 15th or so I think Puel stays - and given the injuries and holes in the squad he has had to deal with he probably deserves to stay.

Hard to put it better than that. With any bit of luck we would have won but having Zlatan is pure class. Oh for VVD. Best part today was the way we worked going forward. Was a long trip to get to see the game but I left proud of the team - knowing he best team lost.