Saint Fan CaM

Looks the real deal, but can’t see him being favoured ahead of Adams or Armstrong in a 4141 formation…i.e. when has a loan striker ever been favoured over TWO permanent players? He’ll get games from the bench pretty much all season I suspect (sadly). One thing is for certain, he starkly shows the difference in quality between a true Prem quality striker and the Championship level purchases we’ve made in recent times. I wonder if buying AB for say £30m would have been better business than the combined purchases for Che and Armstrong, had that been an option of course?

Don’t think Ralph can favour an on loan striker ahead of Che or A Armstrong, so expecting a 4141 again with Che up front. Can’t see Stu Armstrong being match ready, but definitely on the bench. Rest of the team picks itself really as I don’t think Ralph will play Timo ahead of KWP for some reason - personally I think it would work a treat and cause many more issues than using Redmond on the right. Macca KWP Stephens Salisu Perraud Romeu Timo JWP Diallo Djenepo Che The above team has both attacking and defensive qualities and stands a chance of keeping the scoreline respectable.

Wetsham are too good for us at the moment sadly… think it’s 1-3. Really need Romeu and Salisu to do a job on Antonio.

I thought Lyanco could play DCM - he would almost certainly be in the Romeu mould? If so and he gets the chance to prove his versatility, perhaps there’s less of a need to waste money on a less flexible, squad player?

As has been mentioned on here numerous tiles, the placement of away fans in half of the ‘home end’ of our home stadium has been and continues to be a significant shot in the foot. Coupled with this is of course the placement of the most ‘vocal’ element of Saints home supporters - stupid decision to allow these two factors to essentially work against each other in the first place, but once set it’s almost impossible to change it seems. What this has to do with standing at games I fail to see. A small minority of fans want to stand for most of, if not the entire game. How the club is supposed to turf out a large contingent of season tickets holders in the Chapel, just because some nippers want to stand up is beyond being reasonable or sensible. Just cannot see it happening anytime soon.

Think it will take a little while for him to find his feet and that will depend on who he partners and how many games he gets. I think Ralph has some interesting selection dilemmas now across the squad which is of course a good thing providing he doesn’t become tinkerman v2. Looking forward to seeing the Gorilla play for us.

Well who saw this coming?!? OK he's a youngster, but if anywhere near Tinos level a very good signing. Love that we're seen as a better option than Everton. Hope he plays as well as he talks and is a huge success for us. Next? 😉

I admit I was way off this result…really thought we would be spanked, but Ralph actually used his squad to maximum effect and that galvanised the team it seems. No powder puff performance this one…they battled for every ball and the press was near perfect. Great result and nice to kick off with points.

Unfortunately this. There’s rumours circulating that we’re looking at a younger Celtic AM as SA is off.

Got banana skin all over it this one. They’re a good team. Having said that we really should be putting three past them and a comfortable win. Expecting big changes to starting 11 including Forster and Redmond as dead certs.

In the utoob vid didn’t see get bullied off the ball, didn’t see him losing the ball trying to dribble it out. Did see evidence that he can hold the ball and muscle his way out of trouble, or pass the ball out accurately. Saw he could hold the ball when being pressed. Saw he could defend his space. Saw he’s not afraid to bring the ball out of defence if necessary and he’s mobile. He also tends to play on the left, so he’s a Vesty replacement and I would wager a better one all in…not much in it perhaps, but certainly no worse. Good chance this guy will be a starter ahead of Salisu to play with Bednarek.

Jeez, I can’t believe some of the premature pre-Madonna’s on here! You say Hoedt and I raise you Mane! Give the f-ing guy a chance why don’t you? I maintain that it takes two CB’s to tango…with Bednarek or Salisu he may be a revelation…or even Stephens…who knows?! Fact is at the moment if either Bednarek or Salisu make a howler, Ralph has nowhere to turn to change the pairing. This will give options. It may be a disaster, but we’re sailing so close to the wind at the moment that I doubt even a £30m signing would make much more difference to the outcome of this season.

Just play the best players available. Timo in front of KWP could make a big difference IMO. Oh and don’t piss about at the back trying to pass it out from Forster! Forster KWP Bednarek Salisu Perraud JWP Romeu Timo S.Armstrong Adams A.Armstrong

Thing is it can work for the first 50-60 minutes, but then it needs to change to counter the opposing teams tactical changes. But Ralph doesn’t have the managerial nouse to know what to do. He doesn’t have a decent assistant manager to bounce ideas. This is the fundamental reason why we are so poor in the 2nd half of a game we’ve started to dominate. If we maintain the form from the last 27 games, relegation will loom large by Christmas, so something needs to change.

Don’t think we’ll see much of their goal and I dread to think about how our defence will cope. We’ll be on the backfoot for a large portion of the game…I reckon 0-5 is not an unlikely score line.

Thing is it's not just one game...this has been going on for many months. Much prefer stable management but Ed Howe looks like a good option right now!😉

Do you know what I hate the most? Commentators that don't hide their delight at Everton scoring and 'getting on top'. Then continually reminding us of all the problems we've experienced over many years.

Brilliant goal created by Adam's and finished superbly by Armstrong. Timo is an absolute handful with skill aplenty. CB pair looking OK at the moment but I suspect there'll be a mistake or lapse of concentration made before the game is over. Would love us to beat the baggies to win our first opening day match since forever. COYS!

Given the position he finds himself in after doing well deputising, I suspect he’ll want a move to a club where he’ll be first choice. As he plays on the same side as Bednarek this could be an issue as I reckon Ralph rates Bednarek highly and will be loathe to promise Phillips a consistent starting place. Not sure this is going to happen on that basis although all other factors seem favourable.

My view is a CB is as good as the CB pairing he is part of…I.e. Phillips could link really well with Bednarek or Salisu and be much better than the Vestergard pairing. We just wouldn’t know until it was coached and tried. On that basis and the fact that Phillips has Prem experience I think it could be a good signing.

Thing is, unless society faces up to bigotry and associated abuse the situation will never improve. If the 9/10 stat you quote is correct, it is a likely huge improvement on where the society view was in the 1960’s and that wouldn’t have come about without demonstration, personal testimony and societal reform. To look at this another way, at what point do we as an intelligent, caring species consider a certain level of abuse acceptable? To the individual on the receiving end the answer would be nil. Anyone who considers themselves to be an intelligent caring person should always refrain from attacking another person because of who they are irrespective of their own views. Zero tolerance is the only way.

So you liked Djenepo or Redmond? 🤣🤣🤣

Have to admit I was initially sceptical about this one, given Adams took so long to adjust to the Prem after being prolific in the Champs. But judging by the utube clips AA seems to be quite a different style of forward…two footed and has the audacity and skill to attempt some pretty impressive shots outside the box. He also looks quicker than Ings. Time will tell, but I am optimistic that he’ll do well for us providing that swagger and guile is not ‘taken’ from him….he needs space to do his thing.

I know pre-season friendliest are not the absolute indicator of how good the team are going to be, but I can’t help but think the 1-3 loss to Athletico (not exactly the best Euro team) is an indicator that we’ve not really moved on from the dreadful 2nd half of last season. For that reason I can see us losing to Everton…probably 3-0 or possibly 3-1 where we go ahead but then collapse later in the game. I hope the reality is quite different and we’re able to muster at least a draw.

Don’t know why you say that…Origi is a better option than Long or Obefemi IMO.