Saint Fan CaM

I’ve waited before posting my thoughts to really take stock. Firstly, I’m not surprised by the result or the position we’re still in. Three Managers and we’re still playing the same boring football with lack of ideas and pace that we’ve seen for nigh on three years now. This has to be either persistently deficient coaching or lack of basic footballing quality…possibly both, but lack of quality is a definite and epitomised by the gulf in class showed by Lavia. Let’s look at our starting 11, starting at the back… Bazunu is nothing special…just ok. Bednarek is a joke. ABK is OK. Perraud is OK. JWP is OK…nothing special except for his free kick ability. Useless taking corners, pressing or creating goal scoring chances. His passing stats are great when going backwards or sideways - shows little creativity. In other words a luxury player. Lavia is very good…our only truly Prem class player. Ely is a joke. Stu A is OK. Sulemana is at best OK, but likely not good enough. Tall Paul is a joke. What about the Subs? Walcott is OK. Diallo is OK, but nothing special. Adam A is a joke. Alcarez Is at best OK, but likely not good enough. There is a huge lack of quality in that collective and not enough guile/fight/fitness to make up the difference. Chelsea result was a fluke…three points gained from a chance free-kick utilising JWP’s only decent attribute. I’ve thought we were likely relegation candidates since seeing the first few games with Ralph at the helm, because there was no change to our playing style/tactics over the summer. Nothing has really changed now Selles is in place, except the players love him! Not really inspiring when underperforming players give their Manager a vote of confidence! We’re down. It’s OK though…I’ve given up hope and in that knowledge I’m not expecting anything from the Leicester game. In fact I don’t expect us to win another game. We’re that shit.

Yes, I think those who avoid the swaying in the wind approach to supporting the club and manager are being level headed and sensible in their expectations. Let’s not forget that it was not so long ago we were talking of inevitable relegation at the hands of an incompetent manager and a nice, but failed one before that (in Ralph). We’re still bottom of the table with a huge, almost incomprehensible mountain to climb to survive. We may not succeed yet. What Selles has done is shown what CAN and MIGHT be achieved with the squad at his disposal. Our squad. The best we can do now is to support them as best we can and hope that’s enough. If not…well we gave it our best shot and hopefully we start again. But there’s Leeds first. Let’s just get behind RS and the team completely.

I didn’t make my thoughts completely clear…more about the continuity and the Managers expectation of the defensive unit. They’re not my favourites by any stretch, but there’s a reason these guys are picked other than being ‘favourites’.

Did I say anything about ages? Nope.

Think we’ll see Bednarek and possibly even AMN starting to provide a bias of experience in the team, rather than a young side on average. If it gets a result, who gives a monkeys?!

Sure we were up against it in the 2nd half as Chelsea threw everything at us and the Ref did his bit too, but I believe you make your own luck sometimes and that’s what I saw from our team…they fought for every ball…put bodies on the line…and put in a really courageous battle for their gaffer. That’s what a relegation scrap requires and who knows, we might still go down, but we definitely will do without those sorts of performances. Selles IS the real deal.

Yep, I got the DVD also, although to be honest I can’t remember what it was about (not sure I ever watched it!) and anyway it was consigned to the bin years ago! We exchanged a couple of PM’s with him on Saintsforever - seemed a harmless guy, albeit either a fanatic or fantasist or possibly both.

I do wonder whether he’s just not fit enough to play in a PL game…even against lower level opponents he looked very off the pace. Not sure what to think about a DCC connection - can’t believe any decent Manager would disqualify a really decent player from appearing because of another players connection. In a large squad just don’t think he’s showing enough to get selected and perhaps he doesn’t care?

I’d take that!

Interesting isn’t it? Not the first time Bednarek has been singled out for praise by a football commentator. As a senior international it’s clear his potential to effect how the defence performs must be recognised. The Chelsea game showed what can be achieved from a more cohesive, spirited and organised set of players willing to fight for the cause. Evidence was in abundance with Perrauds reaction to his goal line clearance and the sheer fact that AMN was actually positioned perfectly for his game saving block.

Can’t really underestimate the importance of this next game…it’s huge. I don’t care how we win but win we must - one point would not be a failure, but of little use in our need to climb out the R zone. Psychologically a win will do wonders and set the team on a war footing for the (on paper) more difficult games. Both teams will be looking to employ the maximum level of shithousery and being at home, Leeds will have the advantage with their fans screaming for a card for every nudge. Predicting how this one will go is almost impossible - anything could happen… heart says 0-2 Saints. Head says it’ll be a scrappy affair and they’ll get a break near the end 1-0 Leeds. If we get an early goal I think we’ll win. I hope Selles is all we need him to be and gets the squad in fighting mode again because it’s going to be a very hard game.

You may well be right, but let’s take that a step further. Perhaps Rasmus has been extremely canny here…perhaps Selles has been nurtured during his time at Saints as a long-term appointment within the SR Group? When comparing each applicant for the Manager role including Selles they saw a CV that matched others but also as a known quantity within the club/group so presenting much less risk. Now his time has come to step up.

Just watched the Perraud and Lavia double block, then there’s the AMN block too. Loved Perrauds reaction…true diehard spirit right there that I love seeing in a Saints shirt regardless of outcomes. Bloody brilliant. I have to say the very best thing the Club can do now is appoint Selles Manager to season end…he has earned the right…the players have earned him the right. His whole demeanour, presentation and obvious know-how is a breath of fresh air after the walking disaster Jones. I’m completely supportive of Selles now, but not just because of the win.

I think the fact I wrote still indicated I was talking about more than this game…it’s a continuing trend despite bringing in new attackers. It’s great to win by a single goal but as we well know, sometimes that’s just not enough.

Yes! Loving Ruben this week. 😘 Brilliant from JWP, but still a worrying lack of shots on goal from Saints. Overall, excellent game management from Selles…better than Ralph even.

Come on Saints

Last kick?

Ref doing everything to give them a chance. Dickhead.

WTF James?

Come Diallo - put in a massive performance.

That’s about 30 minutes extra time then.

James - get your players to keep moving round so the muscles don’t cramp. Be a Captain.

No way - every right to play the ball.

How can that be a yellow for Mara? It was a perfectly reasonable fucking shot on goal. Hope the players ok, but the lad didn’t deserve that!

Brilliant move and pass by Walcott.