Saint Fan CaM

Mmm, I scored fairly high initially and think it’s too early to judge fairly. Why? Because they’re playing alongside sub-standard players from the last two seasons like Stephens, Manning, Bazunu etc. The exorcism of mediocrity in the first team didn’t go far enough sadly.

Nah, that can’t be it - Still has Cap’t Jack to provide all the necessary support he needs. Plus Lallana. 😉🤔😂

Simply put no, although I understand why the OP might suggest it. But this is the way of Saints player recruitment over the last 4-5 years. Sign player X - oh player X is worse than previous players, let’s sign player Y - oh player Y is worse than X and the players before that, let’s sign player Z - oh, player Z is worse than X, Y and all those before. Shall we re-sign player X as they’re definitely better than Y and Z? And so it goes on…each successive signing a further decline in quality, but that doesn’t mean the first one was actually decent.

Agreed…how he has managed to retain his position in the first team, let alone be Captain is reflective of the predicament the club finds itself in. Steeped in mediocrity.

Perhaps the point is, if they were of the standard expected they would be able to hit the ground running?

He’s clearly not the tallest keeper, but that’s not the key to why he’s so bad. He has lead in his legs, a severe lack of anticipation, poor positional sense and crisp packets for hands. None of that makes for a decent keeper even at league one level. Not surprised he’s already scraping the floor of the shite GK chart.

Yes we did, but on what and to what end? Didn’t buy a GK when we were faced with relying on the statistically worst GK in the previous Championship season and a senior GK that is well past his prime (but still better than the no.1). Didn’t buy a big, strong, mobile striker who knew how to shoot on target but instead chose to rely on forwards crocked, scarred or too young. Didn’t buy two top quality commanding midfielders - a box to box playmaker and a defensive enforcer, but relied on players that had mediocre previous seasons. And lastly we continue to play two CB’s that are probably collectively league one standard and a full-back mate of RM who can’t defend. Yes, we’ve bought 10 new players, but how many are making the first team? I mean what could go wrong? Oh…it already is. Last point. Hulls squad is valued significantly less than ours, but guess what…it’s fit for purpose. Ours isn’t.

And what I’ve said is successive Managers have not been able to do this at Saints for several years - why do you think that is? Do you believe player recruitment has been optimal over the last 5 years? Its not just the Manager mate - it’s deeper than that and history would suggest that a new managerial appointment will not stop the rot.

Spors may well be implicated, but ask yourself how long he’s been in place, how long Still has been in place and compare that to the real problem - the quality of players in the squad. And by quality of players I don’t mean the £ cost of players…it’s value that counts. Look at the value of Hull’s players…cheap but effective. Same goes for Pompey. Teams that have several vocal leaders on the pitch…McBurny firing the rest of them up. Who do we have in that mould? Stephens? He’s part of the problem.

It’s so easy to be blinded by the easy answer - one man…one problem…sack him. Yes, he’s responsible for some aspects - picking Bazunu, Stephens, THB and Manning to start to give one example. But then when he tries changes such as bringing in Downes because Archer has failed he’s criticised again. Still is not exempt from criticism, but he is not the root cause. Five years of abject shit entertainment presided over by several Managers demonstrates this, unless of course you’re blind to the decline under SR.

You’ve not read what I’ve said - the main issue is with the players or the make-up of the team. If new signings do not improve the team or indeed don’t even get picked because they’re no better than what the Manager has at his disposal is that his fault? If the team are incapable of following instructions is that the Managers fault? It’s far more complex than the ‘sack the Manager’ brigade will have you believe.

Interesting that your example is from League One - probably on a par with the level of football we’ve been witnessing.

It’s more than Still - it’s mostly the players. I suspect it’s other aspects of the club also in terms of attitude, attention of detail, professionalism, etc. But for me the biggest issue is the players. They’re unfit, largely unable to deliver the basics, devoid of having ‘a fire in their belly’, scared of getting injured and most importantly, incompetent at key tasks in big moments. Replacing Still will not solve most of these issues - squad quality has been eroded. It will not stop Bazunu making basic GK errors, it will not stop Manning switching off and not closing down a winger putting in a cross, it will not stop Stephens being an ineffectual Captain, it will not stop THB being awful in the air, it will not stop the midfield go missing or be incapable of transitioning the ball forward, it will not stop our forwards being lazy cnuts with little movement in the final third…etc…etc…etc. Finally, ask yourself this - if the new summer signings are better than the existing players (they should be) why are at least half of the relegation team players still in place? It’s an indication of the failure once again to replace vital components of the squad with better and/or more competent players…a continual erosion of squad quality until we reach a level befitting of the make-up of the team.

It’s going to be an embarrassment let’s be honest. I’m not sure I can be arsed to watch.

First thing Still needs to do is get Bazunu, THB, Stephens, Manning and Fraser out of the team - I mean drop the fuckers back so they’re not even on the bench. Get them training away from the first team. They are part of the shit that is metaphorically sticking to the sole and not allowing progress. After replacing those guys with new players he needs to devise a system that allows the transition of the ball forwards through players that are mobile and not inclined to pass the ball sideways or backwards. If he and his coaching staff can’t do that then Spors needs to grow a pair and get them out. Unfortunately I fear even these extreme measures will not be enough…the club is rotten to the core and there’s little to suggest further decline is not on the horizon. There are some worryingly similarities to when we fell out of the Championship to League One last time.

AA scores in the 95th fucking minute. Shambles.

Fuck me - nearly 4-0.

Trouble is, I don’t think it’s all on the Manager. However why play the worst CB pairing from the relegation season? Why play the statistically worse GK from the last Championship season? Why persist starting a full back who can’t defend? Why leave the best playmaker on the bench? The list goes on and on and on…

3-0 … what the actual fuck? Totally outplayed and outdone tactically. Just abject shit.

Every fucking time - Stephens to Manning…Manning back to Stephens.

When the Manager was changed the entire first team should have been changed. This bunch have no clue how to win a game of football.

What a bunch of utter twats. At this rate we’ll be fighting relegation!

Manning did his usual thing of standing off the crosser of the ball. That was the first mistake. Then Bazunu did his usual crisp packet hands thing by parrying the ball straight to their player. Both scarred players.

Some of us were warning that the squad had not been exorcised enough of the losing mentality…the scars if you like. There are far too many players strolling around with the intention of breaking through 11 oppo players without anyone having the skill to do so. And then you have a manager who leaves our best players on the bench until the 75-80th minute. It’s a shitshow and no mistake.

Always perturbs me a tad when I see a strong bench - I start wondering why the players on the strong bench are not actually starting the game? I mean is there some aversion to playing our best players? 😏🤔