Saint Fan CaM

That guys got hidden layers in his game.

Matchday 15

With his heart condition a factor, he’ll need his agent to revise his salary demands otherwise he’ll go next year for free, but be lucky to get a job outside of the lower leagues. His reputation as they say will precede him.

I remember watching our last Championship season opening match at Highbury (a SW supporting friend had a spare ticket in the home stand) and saying to my mate that I couldn’t understand why the SW manager was not getting his team to press us harder…we were bossing the ball (of course). Then as the season wore on it became obvious that more and more oppo managers were figuring out how to combat RM’s possession biased system - the risks increased and our weaknesses were exposed. That’s the problem with RM - he puts his players in proverbial straight-jackets.

Buying talent prior to sales is possible, but only for those clubs that have a large budget and are an attractive pull to top players (promise of trophies etc) - risk is minimal. We have neither of those attributes sadly, even when in the PL, although it becomes marginally easier. That’s not to say a clear-out is not required or indeed possible - after last seasons debacle it’s imperative.

Nobody is saying he’s a bad Manager. He gives the best cuddles. Football style however is as boring as [insert expletive of choice here].

That lad looks class and just what we need. Way out of SR’s budget I suspect and he looks like he’d be more likely to get into a PL side.

Fantastic. Next stop Goztepe.

Takes an analyst to know an analyst you could say. 😉

In terms of squad size and wages, we could afford to lose Wood or Stephens, Manning and BBD and bring in a Tadic type player (assuming one exists and is willing to come here). It’s not rocket science - is it?

I was got by auto-correct 😉 - meant to say Archer rather than Fraser actually. AA - BBD - Archer…one has to be shipped out and the other two never being on the pitch at the same time. I actually don’t think it matters a jot which one goes. Don’t disagree with your point on Fraser, but I think Still might be panicking a bit with the lack of genuine creativity on offer in the squad and Fraser is one of not many that can get around defenders, shoot or pass. Basically he’s looking for options which are quickly diminishing.

Oh we’re starting to prepare for that eventuality already, don’t you worry. Mid-table beckons for Saints this season unless a surgeon’s knife is taken to the squad.

Not looking too promising is it? This equates to mid-table mediocrity with the players at Still’s disposal. In AA, BBD and Fraser we have players that are too slow, with no footballing brain - they’re poachers…opportunists. Having all three on the pitch at one time means we’re missing at least two creative, skilful players. The squad is still a dogs dinner.

Strange given Suga and Bree both waiting to be used. Perhaps he wants to see what Edward’s can do at FB if needed? 🤔

Dibling replacement being lined up? Plays like him - lots tricks, fails to see an obvious pass, no end product. 😉

Stephens doesn’t think that fast and has no inherent footballing brain to instinctively know what the least riskiest play should be. In his own mind he has all the time in the World to choose his pass. He’s as thick as…

Talk about simple! I didn’t say don’t sell players, but it’s certainly a recipe for continual decline if you keep selling your best players and replace them with inferior quality. If you don’t believe that is the reason we’ve just witnessed the worst season in the history of this club (and indeed almost the entire history of the PL), to find ourselves relegated with a bloated squad, then you my friend are not just myopic - you’re blind! By the way, we’ve been successful before without incurring the wrath of FFP (and so have plenty of other ‘smaller’ improving clubs).

See, I just don’t get this logic…in my mind it’s utterly bonkers, even if it were possible to raise that much from three mediocre PL level players, which I don’t think we would. I mean what benefit do you think supporters will get from that? Even if £100m were raised, how much would be spent on new players - 20%, 50%…it’s never been 100%? We should be doing everything possible to keep hold of our best players and replacing the weaker players with better. It’s how a team advances, improves, stops the endless roundabout of managers, wins competitions, etc…etc.

There’s Aribo too that could do the #10 role.

Take out Wright, Bednarek, ABK, Lawrence, Sesay, BBD, Fraser, Dipepa, Ballard = 9 = 27 man squad to go. Easy. Personally I’d take Fraser instead of Manning or possibly Taylor, but I doubt that’s going to happen.

Exactly what I previously said - he can shoot (hit the crossbar with a lovely strike in the Gills game), pick out a pass and I think Stills will value those attributes.

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”… 🤭😉

I would like to give Edozie a go - low risk. I also think Aribo was not used to his strengths last season and has a shot on him - he’s much more aligned to a no.10 than a CB FFS! I’d add to that list Bazunu, McCarthy, Manning and Wood, but I doubt any of those will go any when soon.

Isn’t he Club Captain rather than Team Captain? I thought there was a difference but I may be wrong. Generally I would argue there are too many quiet ‘nice boys’ on the team and not enough with a vocal ‘scrapper’ mentality. It’s the one useful attribute Stephens brings - poor otherwise.

My word, makes you realise how poor team management has been. As far as Manning is concerned I hope Still is saying… ”The boys that want to defend can get back to defend. Yes Manning, that means you”!