Saint Fan CaM

The way things have been lately, just waiting for something extremely negative or at best overly underwhelming to be announced. The enduring hope that sits alongside being a long term Saints supporter is that there’s an announcement about a new top striker signing or new big investment…yeah right.

Go to admit I don’t know enough about him and how he scores the majority of his goals. If Blackburn have unlocked his potential then it’s essential that our style of play is able to maintain the system that suits him. We don’t have the luxury of hoping another Ch’ship striker will come good in a years time.

Clearly not (although I’m not sure I’d class him in the same league as Batman or Spider-Man 😂), but then an experienced and skilled player who knows how to score goals playing a few games a season is more valuable to Saints than he is to Liverpool. Look, I’m not saying the guy is the answer, just that the right deal may be a worthwhile punt providing we still get a great striker and AM.

Surely if he’s ‘destroyed’ his knee his career would be over…certainly at the top level? If that’s true and our medical assessment shows he’s not suitable for NJ’s plans, we’ll politely decline the opportunity I’m sure.

The problem usually is that over the last few years when ‘problem’ players leave, Saints seem to have a knack of signing a lesser option which inevitably leads to an overall drop in 1st team quality and eventual flirting with the relegation zone. Ings and Romeu are the most recent examples but there are others. I guess what I’m saying is that sometimes even a ‘problem’ player is better than a lesser skilled player. A great example of this I think was Le Saux at LB - old legs when with us but positionally he knew exactly what to do and used that to maintain a very high level of performance.

That’s what decent dead ball delivery into the box gets you! 🤣

Yes agreed he has something - as does Mara - but so far it’s not transpired into consistency and success. It will be interesting to see if NJ and his coaching team can find the key that unlocks these players potential - if they can we could have a better side than we’re currently anticipating. But I still think an experienced Ox could help these players, if the deal was right…i.e free transfer and salary commensurate to his pitch time.

Wayne Thomas screamer from 35 yards out almost on the right wing - no bend, straight as an arrow, keeper rooted in shock. Was sat midway up in the Kingsland right behind the line of trajectory and I’ll never forget watching that ball go in and the microsecond of silence as everyone realised what had just happened before the place erupted! A close second was the screamer from Martina C vs Arsenal. It looked a great goal from where I was sat opposite side in the Kingsland, but it was not until the replays on the screen that many realised just how magical the bend on that strike really was!

I don’t think he was better than Theo when they were younger, but Ox has developed more. Thing is, if you had the choice of signing Moi, Djenepo, Aribo or Ox, who would you go for? I think most would choose Ox. For me therefore it’s a definite yes if the deal is right for Saints and on the condition that we still get a proper Striker. With that in mind if there’s still a chance Broja is in the mix then it’s break the bank time because he would be perfect for NJ’s plans IMO.

We’re not going to have three preferential CB’s and then a backup more capable than Lyanco. If he goes we’ll probably struggle to replace him with anyone of similar or better quality at the moment. Be careful what you wish for.

Don’t know the guy, but 20 years old and 5’10”” tall doesn’t sound like the type of player we need.

In terms of leaking info, that could come from any part of the organisation. I was told by someone with a very good source at Staplewood that Ralph did not take advice from anyone…this was pre-Selles I think. He was not an inclusive Manager it seems so I suspect the players had no willingness to take control on the pitch when things were not going well. If we need evidence to support this just look to the 9-0 defeats…tactics going wrong…nobody on the pitch gives a monkeys and hey presto it’s open season. The real culprits were the Board for not making a change sooner.

Striker and attacking midfielder/playmaker early doors in the window. Forget the DM - I think we’re OK there and I’d rather we focus entirely on getting those essential forward positions sorted. If I see us trying to sign a DM or another full-back before securing a better strike force I think I’ll lose it!

Yep, like that one he managed to miss at his near post against Sheffield Wednesday. A L1 team, with L1 strikers. It’s a weakness that he’s just not been able to improve on, irrespective of the standard of the opposition.

I think Sheffield Wednesday’s strikers showed more dynamic movement and willing than our lot. Certainly their buildup play was quicker and their goal was a really great move/finish. They must be sick losing on pens.

Good summary. I think most would agree this is the season where we’re in a precarious situation. The unknowns of injuries, a World Cup break, change of Manager, a critical transfer window and not too many clubs being out and out dreadful. Some of those things could be big positives for us IF it all goes according to plan. For me there are three absolute essentials we need to nail to have a chance of avoiding the drop… 1. Getting Tino and KWP back into contention and on top form. A big ask before our crucial run of games early in the new year. 2. An outstanding transfer window where we upgrade our attacking options significantly. Probably the most important improvement - if you don’t score goals you don’t win games of football. It will be the toughest as many other teams will be looking to upgrade too and we’re not a good option right now sitting in the relegation zone. 3. That Jones can get this squad of players to (a) be more dynamic and free flowing in attack, (b) be more aggressive in the press, which also means more stamina. Time will tell, but time is of the essence when realistically there’s little margin for error now. If you’re a betting man would you put money on Saints getting things sorted? It’s not something you’d risk your house on that’s for sure!

Totally agree - if you look at that Everton goal it will show what we don’t do enough of and to my mind is completely different to the manner in which most of our attacking moves take place. Much more dynamic, with the scorer arriving later into the area and receiving a well placed pass allowing a clinical strike.

“My strikers score goals”. Mmm, well one of doesn’t, so either AA needs to shape up or ship out. My bets on the latter as he’s just not getting better…same lack of positional sense and not dynamic enough. Blimey, the Wednesday strikers had a better go.

Hopefully precautionary - he’s run himself ragged.

Where the fook are the yellow cards for their cynical fouls?

OK we’re 3-1 down, but already this is looking more positive.

AMN looking very handy at RB

F-ing foul on Edozie as he clears on the edge of the area and Ref ignores it.

So Che nicks the ball off a sleeping Pool defender and Ref calls a foul?!? WTF?!

FFS. Shit defending again but the difference between our strikers and theirs is a World apart. We don’t stand a chance.