Saint Fan CaM

He’ll probably claim he taught them everything they know - just that they’re catching on now!

Doesn’t matter how good we are in atta k when you’ve got Baz, Stephens and Manning in fucking defence!

Baz moves like a fucking elephant - again.

OMG - 5-0 and not even halftime!

Eckert is showing he’s the real deal - this is not just about the players waking up - he’s affected how this team are playing…no doubt in my mind.

My word Scienza is an absolute monster player. Best in the league.

I love to think how our score is reverberating around the other clubs right now!

It’s a fucking demolition!!! Azaz with a cool finish!

Fuck me - Jander! We’re looking like fucking Barca!

Beautiful drive from Armstrong and what a great strike from AA!!!

Great goal from Saints - and yes it’s fucking Manning…fair play.

Why didn’t Azaz take it first time?!?!

Baz starting to fuck around at the back.

More likely he’s the next fire sale item to raise some cash for January.

True, but where does he turn? He is so invested in SR / Ankerson to provide the footballing direction that I’m doubtful there’s a way of him divesting himself and the club from their control, short of selling the club of course.

It’s an interesting one - as a sportsman and public figure I’d say he’s fair game for discussion on a football forum when he didn’t achieve the standards many thought he might reach at Saints. Having said that, I detect a certain level of bitterness in some posts - “he left us therefore he must tainted in some way” - which is not particularly pleasant. Move on - he’s gone and he’s not coming back. Well until his careers nearly over that is - then SR will snap him up! 😉

So you don’t believe players collectively have the ability to disrupt a dressing room? Or that they don’t keep in touch with other players that they’ve connected with at the various clubs they’re employed at? I think you need to drag yourself into the 21st century and try to be less naive.

To be fair that’s not what I said. He wanted high press, fast flowing football, but the players couldn’t or wouldn’t give it to him. In fact is it just coincidence they’ve seemingly gone up against a number of managers and under-performed?

That’s blatantly incorrect. The plan is to extend Eckhert’s interim period to provide additional assessment time and not rush into a wrong appointment. You and I may not like the plan - it’s risky for sure, but if he’s ‘the man’ and achieves 7-9 points over the next three games then it could be a genius and much less expensive move. Rusk is not the same man and had a significantly different set of circumstances to contend with, so the comparison is mute. As I say, Eckhert may reveal himself on Saturday to be a false dawn, but I’d rather he was given the opportunity to shine with little risk, than SR rush into another really shite appointment (the options being touted are largely shite and indicative of how far we’ve fallen).

Do you really think players don’t use their phones to keep in touch?!? Get real - Stephens could have wielded influence if he so wanted.

I’m not sure where the complete dismissal of Eckhert comes from. I’m not saying for one minute he’s definitely the man for the job, but if he takes 9 points from the next three games why would anyone doubt that for whatever reason he’s got what it takes. He may well be the exact fit required to get us firing on all cylinders - who knows? He’s proved he’s a good manager at U-21 level…why not see if he’s matured enough to do it at senior level? One thing’s for certain - if SR had rushed into an appointment they’d have almost certainly got it wrong. I’m chilled about the situation right now…2pm Saturday I might not be quite so relaxed mind! 😉😂

Everything Jones said in that interview was extremely revealing in terms of how much the squad was so broken and disfunctional. I think he did TRY to get the players playing in manner that he wanted - high press and fast flowing etc., but they either couldn’t or wouldn’t. Yes, I don’t doubt his ‘victim type’ personality didn’t help in asserting himself around certain influential players and yes, he lacked Premiership level experience, but it was SR who selected him and handed him a poisoned chalice. He was told that they wanted him for his past experience, but the 1st team had other ideas and my guess is those influences are still, at least in part, still holding court with SR.

Best in what? Looks, beard appeal, after match claptrap, style sense, football tactics, results, passion, ability to coach players…I mean the list goes on and on??? Or is it all of the above? If so, Ralph = 1st, the rest = a drawn 7th.

If Jones has an ounce of sense he will know that a relentless high press will unsettle the team and serve up a calamity goal on a plate. He’ll know that allowing Baz/THB/Stephens/Manning/Downes to fanny around with the ball will not provide a threat atall - neutralise the transition forward in the first half and it’s game over. Let’s not forget where they sit in the table compared to us - any talk of a win is verging on the optimistic. Having said that, if Tonda gets his act together and the squad responds, we can win this. More likely 1-1. Lets get ready to rumble!

You do realise we’re not exactly the most attractive club at the moment right? Terrible owners and group structure, a large squad of seemingly unmanageable players that blow hot and cold depending on whether they can influence the manager or not, a toxic fanbase due to 3 years of mediocrity and failure and performances that are struggling to get the club out of the lower half of the Championship. If we were to appoint Vierra I think we should be very grateful indeed - there’s not too many better qualified candidates.