Saint Fan CaM

Err, yes...yes we do.

Straight out of the 'Inspirational Coaching for Dummies' book written by D. Brent!

Why? I am really looking forward to your answer - I think I must have missed something here.

Great post. Love it when someone does their homework.

In answer to the OP - no. However, I do think the money spent on Rodrigues could have been better spent - we should never have placed so much (monetary) faith in a lower league player when what was desperately needed was to raise the overall competency level in the squad. You don't do that by recruiting more L1/Championship level players - we needed to be buying 3-4 players of Ramirez's stature.

Another round peg in a square hole. It'll probably happen before too long then.

Enjoying life and still supporting Saints? HTH.

For those who are wishing for Shaw, be careful what you wish for. Based on the games I've seen him play in, he has a long way to go before he is at a dependable level to cope in the Prem. In fact, I would go as far to say that Fox is a better option at this point in time and that's saying something.

Still about I think, but not a part of the 25 squad.

The answer to the OP will only be provided by a series of tests utilising Yoshi with alternately Fonte and Jos, plus analysis of his fitness in comparison to other CB's. This is the way NA works. So we will not be able to guess until we actually see him play. Even then, it'll be pure guesswork as the Management of the club don't want to risk giving any advantage to opposing teams and it's clear that strategy is paying off now we've got so many points on the board.

Woah! Wait up there people! What happened to the 25 man squad then?! I've lost count to be fair and can't be arsicled to find out, but surely there can't be too many spaces left in the squad for over 21year old players?!? However many spaces there are, perhaps we need to be thinking about raising the quality in defence maybe!???

I did say PARTLY to blame. Point is, to come out after the game and start pointing the finger of blame at KD when he had no chance saving their goals is daft.

I would wager Nigel will not do anything of the sort - to change one of his dependable senior players at a time where he needs experience to shine through would be close on suicidal for the team and his career. Gazza may be one for the future, but he's by no means the finished product and ready to take responsibility for a defence that is extremely shaky and lacking confidence at the moment.

Absolutely agree with this. Couldn't believe the number of plastics pouring out down the aisles when they scored the 2nd with so much time left.

Dear oh dear. The wrist-slitting bashers are really out in-force tonight. SKD is a perfectly good keeper if he had a decent defence in front of him. Fox was partly to blame for KD's 'pass' - he strolled back so slowly it was inevitable that he would be beaten to the ball. Their 1st goal was not KD's fault - nor was it Clyne's fault he slipped. 2nd and 3rd goals came about because of defensive errors (Fox/Guly/Fonte) and KD didn't stand a chance.

At this level you cannot blame the players for being played out of position - week in week out. Even when there's a chance to play JayRod down the middle he STILL gets positioned on the left and yet it's perfectly clear that it's not working. Either give Rickie a break and see if he's up to the task or don't play him atall. When Mayuka and Ramirez are available, who's going to give way? JayR should not be picked to play wide before these guys or Lallana, Puncheon and dare I say it, even De Ridder.

As others have said, I was underwhelmed by his signing and particularly for the money we paid. He really needs to be Rickie's back-up now we've got so many alternatives. Today at 2-1 up, I would rather have seen Chaplow come on than see JayRod look lost out on the wing - it just ain't working and we'll get punished time and time again if it's not sorted out soon. And if NA doesn't sort it out then I will start to think NA has not got full charge of his team - woe betide NC if it's proven that NA is being tampered with.

This!

Unfortunately, Fonte did not have a great game and it looks like he's being found out now. Maybe Yoshi is the answer - let's hope so. I saw KD blank Fonte at the end of the game - I would imagine he's starting to feel the pressure all round. As far as today's game is concerned, there is no way you can add KD as a scapegoat for any of their goals AND he saved RVP's pen FFS. Fox sits off too much, however next time watch and see who is with him helping him out - no-one...he's often left exposed and cannot risk getting drawn into the offensive player. Whenever he tries to get forward, there's nobody watching his back. It's a tactical issue that NA needs to sort out and then I think Fox will be OK.

Get a grip all you bedwetters! Who would you rather be losing 2-3 to - ManUre or Bristol Rovers FFS?! We've just put on a magnificent game of football and taken the lead against one of the best teams in the world. We've just seen some outstanding performances from most of our players. We've basically lost against two men - RVP and the Ref! Come on! I was thoroughly entertained and Saints didn't roll over. Only poor performance was (once again) Fonte. The only slight issue I have with the subs is that (a) JayRod was once again put out on the attacking left instead of down the middle and Mayuka should have been on the left or right and (b) I cannot understand how Guly gets a game when he should be under a disciplinary ban - at 2-1 up against Utd you need someone like Chaplow to chase every ball and battle out for the win. Anyway, I re-iterate - anyone who did not enjoy that match cannot in all honesty call themselves a true Saints fan - the team did us proud (although Fonte's continuing mistakes and panic cost us in the end).

PLEASE - don't sing the Maxi song. Do something original FFS or just do the clap clap thing (far better than copying a 'pool song).

This story is as likely to happen as us beating the Mancs 6-0 today. So there might be an ounce of truth in it I s'pose!

1-3 to the Mancs. We're not there yet and we're not old Saints Prem team we once were that used to be their bogey team. IF we can play our new signings we may get a sneaky draw, but I still think that NA will not have had enough time with them. One things for sure, if we start JayRod out on the wing it'll be slim pickings down the left.

A good OP and one which continues my post a little while ago about 'evolution or revolution'. It's clear that an aggressively ambitious club such as Saints will require a squad that expects a more rapid turnover. While Pardew recruited well, I would argue that it took NA to find the glue that bound the squad together and ultimately work well for him. The achievement in the Championship was assisted by the L1 promotion experience and I suspect the players in the team then had a particular affinity. The continuation of that team spirit is going to remain important and players such as KD, Jos, Adam, Morgan and Rickie will be important in achieving that.

Has Jos ever played as LB? Wonder whether Yoshi could be CB with Jos at LB or visa versa?