Saint Fan CaM

^^^ this…

I’ve said before…our main problem last season was a lack of goals scored rather than those conceded. With the attacking pace of most other teams, coupled with the style of football we played which led to too many turnovers in midfield, it was inevitable we would concede a few. But given the number of 1-0 defeats that would have not been so much of an issue if our attacking prowess was a lot better. I know this probably doesn’t sit right with some here, but Lyanco was most definitely not the reason we were relegated.

Standard Saintsweb response to SR managerial appointments seem to follow a well trodden path… Denial…(it’ll be someone with a great pedigree) 😘 Anger…(what the fook are they doing?!?) 🤬 Resignation…(oh well, it could be worse I suppose!) 🤨 Acceptance…(its happening, there’s plus points, might as well get behind the bloke)😐 Impatience…(what’s the hold-up…we need this guy now?!) 😉🤣

Well I have to say the club are doing a good job of trying to bore the pants off their supporters in this close season. There’s been no hint of anything official and newsworthy regarding Wilcox, the retained squad list, new manager, coaches, development of facilities etc., just media speculation. I know relegation is a kick in the teeth and there’s lots of stuff to sort out, but surely they must realise supporters want to be kept informed about how the ‘big rebuild’ is progressing? 🤔 Or would that be impatient and too much to ask? 😉🤣

How to stretch a short paragraph out to a full article using just speculation and an unsurprisingly emotional view from a fans blog that has no bearing on reality.

Bad stuff doesn’t happen to clubs like Everton…rules are bent to accommodate them.

A shame when one player gets singled out, but he is synonymous with the degradation of the quality and balance in the squad over the last three seasons. I’m sure he tries hard to deploy what is asked of him by poor managers, but ultimately his performances have been sub-standard to the level required.

Difficult to get excited by this news - the guy left an age ago in relation to the priorities of the current re-build of the upper echelons of the management team, the coaching staff and the squad. SR's tagline should read, "...no news is good news"!

And particularly if as reported the lad is happy to be back playing with us, presumably if he gets playing time assurances.

That’s how I see it. Saints hold all the cards on this one and don’t need to negotiate downwards. We’ll struggle to buy the experience and goals this lad will offer at the price, which is a concern in itself because there’s going to be some knob who thinks they can pick up a player of equal ability for £15m (again).

One things for sure, I’d rather keep Che than Tall Paul and that’s from a Che doubter.

Sometimes an average manager comes together with an average team and their sum is better than the equal parts, so magic is created. Such as it was for Rodgers and Leicester until time took its toll and so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rodgers fade away over time. Saints couldn’t keep hold of their decent managers and so a different type of decline occurred - bloated squad and ever decreasing poor managerial appointments. Ultimately both clubs faced the harsh truth of poor tactical leadership in the face of unrelenting financial pressure in the EPL. Both clubs have now got hugely important decisions to get right in the next managerial appointment. It will be fascinating to compare the outcome of the appointments in terms of player trading, adopted playing style and the results over the coming season.

I wonder which Prem club is looking for a pre-season friendly against a soft Championship team to get their strikers used to firing on all cylinders? Softie Saints always a good bet to bag a few goals and come off unscathed without injuries.

Yes agree with this to an extent, but I think fans will be a bit less accepting of a third failing manager being appointed, especially if we find our team bottom of the table after three games for example. The tolerance levels are historically low right now I reckon. Everyone is hoping Martin and a new look squad will tear up the Championship - personally I think there will a rude awakening for many as we’ll struggle to adapt and another season of failure, changing management etc will ensure an even more toxic atmosphere in SMS.

The difference is there’s only one player in that group prepared to get stuck in and tackle, rather than stand-off and watch opposition players stroll past. Guess which one?!

Nothing wrong with data and statistics - it’s how it’s interpreted and used and by who…that’s the issue. It’s no good giving stress analysis data for a bridge construction project to a baker…you’ll end up with a fucked up bridge. Same with football…give a bunch of data to a non-football man like Rasmus and he’ll end up relegating the club. What I’m saying is, perhaps this is a smarter move than it initially looks…get a football stats man in to analyse the data and make decent INFORMED decisions.

I just don’t think he fits with the style of play or tactics Martin will employ…too immobile, although he can see a good pass now and again. One things for sure, there appears to be a lot goals scored in the Championship (I’m sure some stato will correct me if I’m wrong), so chancing our arm on a striker who has lost his way seems a big risk. Despite all of this, we’ll probably end up keeping him another season to ‘replace’ the departing Che.

Tella?

Interesting that they talk about a deadline…I wasn’t aware of one???

Some would say JWP circa 2022/3.

I think the issue with him is that his best qualities don’t match the style of play Martin and Wilcox want to bring about…he’s all about running at defences rather than controlling the ball and releasing it to a teammate. Don’t know, but reckon his pass completion stats and his assists are low so that alone would rule him out.

Perhaps there’s a cunning plan to place the new Northam screen in front of the away supporters? 😘

He’s an easy one to dismiss and forget as he had so few chances under Jones and Selles, however we’ll be hard pushed to get a player with his trickery in the Championship and may look back and appreciate him more. Having said that, he’s been around the club for a long time and it could be said he’s an integral part of the malaise the club finds itself in. And now we’ve got some young and hungry attacking talent coming through, it’s best for both parties for him to move on.

Err, hang on. All 'real rumours' are essentially made up bullshit right?!? If they were not they'd be facts! 🤣

Obviously 17th, but there would still be three teams below them in the table. For Saints to move out of the RZ (by having three teams below them) they would have to better Everton's result.