Saint Fan CaM

Unless you’re a ‘big’ team, then the ball holding attacker gets the benefit and it’s a pen or at the very least a freekick.

That Lino was never going to give us anything - nearly all 50-50 decisions went their way.

Absolute cunt of Ref - there I said it.

Some lovely cross field balls being played - been a long time coming.

I like that there’s a bit of fire coming back. THB just gave Fernandes a rollicking. As I type BBD is miles offside from a brilliant Suga cross. Just very poor.

That Lino must be a massive closet Pool fan….he’s not giving us anything.

How the fook did TP miss that!?!

Lino calls offside against TP incorrectly. Where’s VAR when you need it?!

At last - Archer scores a scorcher!f

Someone mentioned the Wednesday game as the last time we bossed a pressing game. Well I was at that game and the one thing Wednesday didn’t do was press us hard. I said to my friend I couldn’t understand why they were sitting off us so much. This evening we look like Wednesday in that game - no game plan, no press, too much respect, unfit and no idea how to forge a credible attack.

Need to switch to four at the back - Manning off. Put an extra body in midfield, tell Downes not to venture forward. Get Onaucho on for Archer who’s an utter waste of a shirt.

2nd to every loose ball. Our press is as loose as a Pompey lass. And positioning is all over the place - like strangers.

Good goal 0-2…Manning deflects it away from McCarthy. But their play in attack is everything we are not. Setup and coaching is just abysmal.

Downes having a better game.

1-0 and the commentators are happy again. Balls up from Bedders.

Manning with a completely rubbish pass forwards.

Excellent block by Bedders. Get that wrong and it’s pen/game over. Dibling has great chance…and fluffs it.

Meh - only need one chance. 🤭

Not a sight of goal yet. But brave and working hard. I’m proud.

Yeah and where was Manning? Half way up the field and totally ineffective!

Bloody hell - the two other games have seen quick goals scored. Please Saints - fucking boot the fucker out and don’t piss about in our area!!!

Rusk: “OK lads the gaffer has been sacked and I’ve not had a chance to train with you, so just go out there, forget everything you’ve been told to do by that fraud and go have some fun.”

My yardstick for success starts with the actual managerial appointment. Get that wrong and all bets are off, so it’s crucial a manager with significant PL level experience is acquired. Also will be hugely important in reconnecting with the fanbase. Assuming the above is sorted then its… 1. Get the squad tangibly fitter asap, although clearly we’ll only likely see this in performances in games - e.g. not conceding late in games. 2. Get shot of as much deadwood in the squad as possible in January - e.g. BBD, Sulemana etc. Resist the calls to sell Dibling/KWP/THB. 3. Obtain more points than Derby’s total. We don’t need that kind of stat hanging around like a bad smell forever (which it probably would). Beyond that winning enough games to put the scarers on the other teams around us might actually see a miracle - i.e. it would be great to go into a game thinking we might actually have a chance of some points. 4. Ensure the tactical approach to PL games is tangibly better than the debacle we’ve witnessed with Martin. Forget what might be appropriate for the Championship - what matters is repairing the confidence of the current squad in the PL and that means setting the 1st team up in the best possible manner starting with selecting our best 11 players playing in their natural positions. Then ensuring there are clear instructions on how to transition from defence into midfield and beyond without giving away the ball cheaply in our half. Take the shackles off our creative players so we move forward with pace 90% of the time. Don’t ever rely on a 1-0 lead to win a game…be ruthless. Thats what I’ll be looking for - yes, we’re almost certainly relegated, but I want to see our team LOOK LIKE they’re fighting for a place in Europe.

I would love to see SR call his bluff and manage to persuade Jose to come in for the remainder of the season. He’s stated he wants a lower league team with potential - that’s us. No more messing around Dragan - you want to play with the big boys, go make a statement appointment rather than another risky hipster one.

Think Rohl is the best we’re realistically going to be looking at. Yes he’s just another mid-table Championship manager, but one with a much better history and experience than the last two chancers. He also knows the club inside out, which come to think of it might be a reason he turns us down!