Saint Fan CaM

Yep, that’s the essence of my feeling. Think he’s proved he’s got the skills, knowledge and charisma to lead a successful campaign at a reasonably high level and with significant constraints placed in his way. However, it’s going to be Spors and the recruitment team that determines how well he can turn around the shambles of this season. Losing the players that could actually make a difference in his system next season (Rambo, KWP, Fernandes) could be very telling indeed.

Tend to agree, however I also think that by rejecting the old ways we’ll hopefully naturally get recruitment right again. I think SR thought the benefit of the possession football was that you don’t necessarily need highly skilled, fast or physically dominating players, particularly in the Championship - just ones that can pass accurately and these can be found relatively cheaply. So yes, Saints have focussed on building a squad for a possession based system but largely with ‘bargain basement’ limited quality players (yes MLG, I know we’ve had our pants pulled down forking out stupid amounts for Sulemana etc.). Going forwards it’s absolutely true - to exorcise the old system and build for the future, we need to bring in all round better quality players.

I am quietly excited by this appointment, largely because it will supposedly see the end of an utterly inappropriate style of football for our club. Whether or not the Club matches this appointment with a squad of players that can actually do the business remains to be seen. As I’ve said on many occasions, you can appoint the best Manager in the World, but he/she will only be as good as the players at their disposal. Im looking forward to seeing what the summer window brings. Welcome to Saints Will.

Just listening to Rusk’s pre-match presser. Everything points to him playing 5 at the back again and inviting pressure. With no THB and no Bednarek, there’ll be a right dog’s dinner of a defence. Also probably means no Tall Paul so we’ll not score a goal. It’s another disappointing game on the horizon for Saints fans I predict.

I think it’s 9 strangely enough. 😳

Not quite. Priority one is change the style of play with a coaching team that know how to attack at pace and organise a defence. Priority two is move on any player not suited to or not able to adapt to the new style. For example, Welington wins out over Ryan ‘back pass’ Manning every day of the week. If that ends with fewer players leaving then so be it.

We certainly need better than Sulemana and Dibling as providers - need to be of Fernandes quality. Most of all though we need a decent coaching team that know how to train the players to attack at pace and shoot on target. Trying to walk the ball through 11 players has to be binned or I’m in danger of losing it, which at my age is not a healthy option.

Just one example of many within the bizarre nature of this season. Like a recurring nightmare that you wake up from thinking its real.

I kind of agree with this, particularly keeping hold of Stewart to gain some ‘payback’, however there are two caveats or unknowns. Whoever the Manager ends up being (likely to be Still) there’s a good chance we’ll be playing a different style of football (hopefully) and so would it be true that AA, CA and Stewart will fit the new mould? Maybe, but it depends on a number of factors, starting with the players ability to soak up a new system and deploy it within a new team setup. Then there’s the risk of keeping a player beyond his useful sell-by date (not necessarily contract date) - i.e. is AA too ‘damaged goods’ now to be retained by Saints and/or does CA need a move to get his mojo back, because his form has fallen off a cliff? And are the players themselves telling their agents to get them out of the club pronto? Worst case scenario, we may end up with just Stewart as a recognised striker - I dread to think how our season will play out if SR/the Club cock-up this window in that case. Their track record bringing strikers is let’s say…poor.

Wonder who will have the binoculars trained on the Director’s box on Sunday? Will we see the attendance of not so Cleverly, will it be Will Still still or will Danny Rohl into town in a late bid to claim a seat, a champagne lunch and the keys to the Managers office? Your guess is as good as mine folks, but one things for sure…there’ll surely be a party to celebrate the last game of the English Soccerball Super League season. (apologies I went all @Turkish there for a minute).

Mmm, it was eerily too similar to the first team - there’s a huge job at hand if that style of play is to be exorcised from all levels of the club, if indeed that’s what Spors intends. I hope so, because I’ve really had a gutfull of it.

At this level I don’t think the quality of players makes as much difference as the game strategy employed. When we moved the ball forwards at pace hunting as a group we looked good. For far too much of the game it was ‘Russball’ playing slow ponderous possession football out from the back with little to show in terms of attacking ideas or intent. And in defence we were too passive - no press. As the game wore on Ballard got frustrated and tried bulldozing his way through several players aka Dibling/Sulemana - obviously didn’t work. For their part City looked OK but not remarkable - we gifted them both goals…firstly with a poor pass out from defence by Sanda…second by standing off a player about to cross (aka Manning) and then switching off at the back ball-watching as it floated over everyone’s heads leaving the attacker a free header 8 yards out. On the plus side, I think Dipepa and Sanda have a lot to offer going forwards. Both looked very comfortable. McNamara looks an OK keeper - better than Baz at shot stopping. Players that don’t look good enough to step up - Larios and Ballard. As someone else said, we probably missed Robinson in the middle.

Game lost now with 2.5 minutes of extra time left. City streets ahead in terms of tactical play.

Everything being routed to Dipepa - too much really. Sanda has saved the day twice in quick succession.

I was expecting Abu to look pretty good but he’s been poor too. City still looking for a third. Ballard thinks he can run through 3 players.

Larios picks up a card. Poor game from him.

Ballard offside - on his own. Looks dejected and beaten.

12 minutes left - not looking anywhere near scoring a goal. Not what I was expecting to be honest.

Decent chance for Saints - a quick transition forward rather than pissing about at the back.

Really like Dipeper and Sanda - they will do well in the Championship if they get their chance.

Dipeper has his first shot on goal - a good effort tipped over by the keeper. Corner? No.

Larios is just a young version of Manning…back pass is the first thought in his head. Ballard totally ineffective - seen hardly anything of the ball.

City nearly score a third. Keeper does well.

Saints make sub - some prolific scorer for U18’s apparently. Depepper?

Saints corner. Still trying to walk it through 11 players into the net.