Saint Fan CaM

No VAR - to our advantage?

Prediction.

Only 4-0 then?

As expected, lots of focus gushing praise on Pool…even through AA’s interview.

Yeah, let’s hope he’s just trying to look and sound nonplussed by playing a ‘big’ club, rather than thinking “oh shit, here we go again”.

He’s on to a hiding whatever he does let’s face it. At least he gets to allow players that don’t usually get a look in, well, have a look in and show him they’ve got something to offer. In some respects if this team show more intent going forward the result is immaterial.

Manning aside, I actually think that’s a reasonable teamsheet. Robinson should be getting more time really, but I guess they don’t want the World seeing he’s our best player.

Ouch. Double lube job.

I would urge Still to leave the scars on the bench. We all know though that Cap’t Calamity will be first on the team sheet swiftly followed by Manning and AA.

He’s not a bad player…worse than KWP and about the same as Bree/Sugawara. Looking at it from a squad perspective, the overall quality of the team has been reduced once again with his signing.

Fixed for you.

Mmm, I scored fairly high initially and think it’s too early to judge fairly. Why? Because they’re playing alongside sub-standard players from the last two seasons like Stephens, Manning, Bazunu etc. The exorcism of mediocrity in the first team didn’t go far enough sadly.

Nah, that can’t be it - Still has Cap’t Jack to provide all the necessary support he needs. Plus Lallana. 😉🤔😂

Simply put no, although I understand why the OP might suggest it. But this is the way of Saints player recruitment over the last 4-5 years. Sign player X - oh player X is worse than previous players, let’s sign player Y - oh player Y is worse than X and the players before that, let’s sign player Z - oh, player Z is worse than X, Y and all those before. Shall we re-sign player X as they’re definitely better than Y and Z? And so it goes on…each successive signing a further decline in quality, but that doesn’t mean the first one was actually decent.

Agreed…how he has managed to retain his position in the first team, let alone be Captain is reflective of the predicament the club finds itself in. Steeped in mediocrity.

Perhaps the point is, if they were of the standard expected they would be able to hit the ground running?

He’s clearly not the tallest keeper, but that’s not the key to why he’s so bad. He has lead in his legs, a severe lack of anticipation, poor positional sense and crisp packets for hands. None of that makes for a decent keeper even at league one level. Not surprised he’s already scraping the floor of the shite GK chart.

Yes we did, but on what and to what end? Didn’t buy a GK when we were faced with relying on the statistically worst GK in the previous Championship season and a senior GK that is well past his prime (but still better than the no.1). Didn’t buy a big, strong, mobile striker who knew how to shoot on target but instead chose to rely on forwards crocked, scarred or too young. Didn’t buy two top quality commanding midfielders - a box to box playmaker and a defensive enforcer, but relied on players that had mediocre previous seasons. And lastly we continue to play two CB’s that are probably collectively league one standard and a full-back mate of RM who can’t defend. Yes, we’ve bought 10 new players, but how many are making the first team? I mean what could go wrong? Oh…it already is. Last point. Hulls squad is valued significantly less than ours, but guess what…it’s fit for purpose. Ours isn’t.

And what I’ve said is successive Managers have not been able to do this at Saints for several years - why do you think that is? Do you believe player recruitment has been optimal over the last 5 years? Its not just the Manager mate - it’s deeper than that and history would suggest that a new managerial appointment will not stop the rot.

Spors may well be implicated, but ask yourself how long he’s been in place, how long Still has been in place and compare that to the real problem - the quality of players in the squad. And by quality of players I don’t mean the £ cost of players…it’s value that counts. Look at the value of Hull’s players…cheap but effective. Same goes for Pompey. Teams that have several vocal leaders on the pitch…McBurny firing the rest of them up. Who do we have in that mould? Stephens? He’s part of the problem.

It’s so easy to be blinded by the easy answer - one man…one problem…sack him. Yes, he’s responsible for some aspects - picking Bazunu, Stephens, THB and Manning to start to give one example. But then when he tries changes such as bringing in Downes because Archer has failed he’s criticised again. Still is not exempt from criticism, but he is not the root cause. Five years of abject shit entertainment presided over by several Managers demonstrates this, unless of course you’re blind to the decline under SR.

You’ve not read what I’ve said - the main issue is with the players or the make-up of the team. If new signings do not improve the team or indeed don’t even get picked because they’re no better than what the Manager has at his disposal is that his fault? If the team are incapable of following instructions is that the Managers fault? It’s far more complex than the ‘sack the Manager’ brigade will have you believe.

Interesting that your example is from League One - probably on a par with the level of football we’ve been witnessing.

It’s more than Still - it’s mostly the players. I suspect it’s other aspects of the club also in terms of attitude, attention of detail, professionalism, etc. But for me the biggest issue is the players. They’re unfit, largely unable to deliver the basics, devoid of having ‘a fire in their belly’, scared of getting injured and most importantly, incompetent at key tasks in big moments. Replacing Still will not solve most of these issues - squad quality has been eroded. It will not stop Bazunu making basic GK errors, it will not stop Manning switching off and not closing down a winger putting in a cross, it will not stop Stephens being an ineffectual Captain, it will not stop THB being awful in the air, it will not stop the midfield go missing or be incapable of transitioning the ball forward, it will not stop our forwards being lazy cnuts with little movement in the final third…etc…etc…etc. Finally, ask yourself this - if the new summer signings are better than the existing players (they should be) why are at least half of the relegation team players still in place? It’s an indication of the failure once again to replace vital components of the squad with better and/or more competent players…a continual erosion of squad quality until we reach a level befitting of the make-up of the team.

It’s going to be an embarrassment let’s be honest. I’m not sure I can be arsed to watch.