Saint Fan CaM

Should be interesting if you’ve any interest in Saints Academy and how the lives of lads who embark on a football ‘career’ are affected.

Agree - can’t say Cooper fills me with any glee whatsoever, but who knows he could be the next best thing.

I can’t see them pulling the plug before Saturday now, so suspect that whatever the City result he’ll walk Sunday or Monday if he’s going. Personally I don’t think it would make any difference to the outcome of Saturdays game in any way as a caretaker wouldn’t be blamed for a City drubbing, so might as well get on with it now.

I think there is some doubt whether Adams and Armstrong are of the right quality to be classed as EPL standard strikers - neither have exactly lit up the league in the same way they did in the Championship. However, equally it’s clear that whoever gets to play in the front line (and in midfield) are hampered considerably by the style of football we play and this has to be directly attributable to Ralph (and his coaching staff). Whatever they’re preaching in training is in general just not working and I don’t think anyone who’s watched the last 20-30 games can argue with that. Further to this, wins we’ve had have been at least to some extent because the opposing team have had a bad day and the planets aligned in terms of us having a fully fit squad with our top players starting. Or in other words, a broken clock can still be correct twice a day. 😉

Ever hopeful Saints fan: "...so if I put £10 on at 22-1, that means I could win £220?!" Realist: "...no, it means you'll win nothing." 🤣

I'm suspect you're trying to be clever here - I'm no qualified coach that can provide a detailed technical explanation, however purely by watching how other teams play you can see a distinct lack of cohesive, organised style and tactical nouse - for example... passing (triangulation), movement off the ball into space, running channels to invite passes that are actually made, executing more forward passes than sideways/backwards, pressing as a unit (for some reason this feature has diminished dramatically lately and even in defence players stand-off attackers). We've progressively become the most boring team in the league and even our most exciting players have regressed. Have you seen how many times even a simple pass is made BEHIND the receiving player so slowing down any momentum - surely that's just a basic facet of play that should be drilled in training? I assume you watch the games - what do you think?

We’ll, I agree that Adams and Armstrong are poor options, however I more strongly believe that the manner in which we play (i.e, style) does not match the strengths of any of our forward line. And if there were improvements in the playing style and tactics, I also believe we would see an improved goal tally from a number of players in the team. Ability is there - lacking direction.

Absolutely agree with the above two posts. I don’t think our best 15 players are worse than Villa, Wolves or Everton’s. I do think that those teams have tactics and playing styles that are significantly more suited to EPL survival than ‘Ralphball’. It’s the coaching and man-management of the team that needs an urgent overhaul. The performances as well as the last 28 results bear witness to this, not to mention the bizarre team changes such as the latest splitting up of our best performing CB pairing since VD left us.

I was thinking more November 5th…do they burn well? 😜🤣

I thought he was and no, we probably haven’t got the budget, but then again can the owners afford a costly and damaging relegation? Right now that decision must be on a knife edge!

Frank is the only available and logical man at the moment.

Well let’s start with how many goals we’ll likely score? None. Then what the possession stats will likely be? 72% City. How many goals have City got in them? Judging by the Utd game and examples of our inept rudderless defending, at least 7. Think is the easiest game of the season to predict a sound loss…they are just too damn good and we’ve got clowns for a management/coaching team.

I think the point with Romeu is that he and JWP had formed a good understanding in terms of who covered who and when. The high press clearly had started to take its toll on Romeu’s older more punished body. Lavia looked to be the ideal replacement, but a young body is always going to be susceptible to injury when faced with EPL pace.

Think it could be a very, very bad result for us. But Ralph will still survive. Thank fuck I’ll be on an aeroplane and oblivious!

Dropped more points from a winning position than any other team…still got that record hanging over us. Thanks Ralph.

Wrong side for him to score from there. How the hell did we get a corner there?!

Utter utter shite. If they don’t sack Ralph we’re down. 100%.

Err, it’s not good but you’ve got a couple things wrong there. Armstrong has been one of our better players showing some creativity. The team selection makes no difference - we always play the same boring, ponderous tactics and JWP is complicit.

Getting overrun and outnumbered at the back, passing inaccurate, slow build up play - will be our undoing…probably just before half-time.

Trouble is he tells them how to play - no risks etc. We look like the f ing away team FFS. I really despair of this boring shite.

AMN has been utter shit. Passed to more Everton players than Saints!

JWP is a damned liability to any potential attacking move! Everton looking dead certs to win this. We’re just giving them the ball back time and time again.

6 changes to the team sheet with AMN starting. Looks like an attacking team, but very young average age. Salisu on the bench!

I assume that’s a prediction rather than a wish?! 🤣

Saw a report this morning that said Lavia was back in training with the first team, however I doubt they’ll risk him for the weekend.