LuckyNumber7

That's the case at every Premier League ground, it's nothing new at all. In fact our fans are incredibly timid and passive these days compared to most PL fanbases. For context, over the last 6 and a bit years since Koeman left, our home form has been absolutely dire. In that period we have won only 36 out of 118 home games in the PL, over an extended time frame we have been utterly turgid and devoid of belief and that has filtered down to the fanbase, and I say this as someone who until very recently was very much a 'Ralph in' guy. It's been a long time since supporting Saints was any fun whatsoever, yet we're arrogant for a few moans and groans? They are lucky that's all they're getting, at most other clubs it would be worse but I think apathy has long since taken over. I think the vast majority of Saints fans realise our place and just want to see a team that we can really get behind, that gives it's all and is competitive. Right now we're playing and acting like a lower league team that's out of it's depth in the PL. I'm 39 and for all but 7 of my years supporting Saints we've been in the top flight, so to keep getting told by the club's own hierarchy and it's mouthpieces how grateful we should be just to be in it and how small we are is pretty galling. The whole club reeks of a lack of belief and ambition like we don't belong here, I'd like to think SR would change that.

Erm, we beat Leicester actually. Personally I'd go with a 4-3-3/4-5-1 as we really need to shore up the midfield area. Djenepo Che Aribo Diallo AMN JWP Perraud Salisu ABK KWP Bazunu

Ah my bad, fair enough. I still stand by the point though he was only here because of Cortese and his stock has risen hugely since. He has no deep connection with the club or reason to come back.

Absolutely no chance. He was here for less than a year so it's not like he ever had a really strong connection with us. He left for Spurs because they are a much bigger club with far more chance of success. He can hold out until a bigger job is available. Why on Earth would he want to join us for a relegation battle with a squad full of kids?

Glad I don't have a ST any more, feels like the club would be a lot happier if SMS was just filled with away fans. Never known a club treat it's own fans with such contempt.

I saw the first half of the Stoke game yesterday and Smallbone was pretty anonymous at best. Their fans don't seem too impressed... https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/305919/smallbone

I don't think I'll ever be able to forget the image of him kneeling for BLM. Just sums the guy up for me, seems to be trying too hard to jump on whatever bandwagon will make him popular at the time. Plus I can't stand his whiny voice. Comes across as very insincere to me.

I don't regret voting Tory at all at the last election to get Brexit over the line. Now that's done I don't see anyone worth voting for. Clearly the current government are in a mess, I would have voted for Rishi who is at least competent, but Truss is just a simpleton. Conservatives only have themselves to blame for choosing her over Sunak. Labour are obsessed with identity politics and Starmer just looks weak and limp wristed, don't like him at all. I probably won't bother as it stands.

Even if we made the assumption that this utter nonsense is all true, it still in no way justifies Putin's actions of bombing civilians out of their homes and flattening cities - the same civilians he is supposedly 'liberating'. Putin has shown himself to be an evil cunt, and no sane or right minded person could support what he is doing, unless they have an agenda.

I got back from the US last week and was surprised at the level of support out there tbh. A lot of Ukrainian flags hanging from houses and buildings both in cities and rural areas, messages of support on trucks etc, floral decorations. I realise that has no bearing on government decisions and the like but for a conflict such a long way away they do genuinely seem to care.

Yes I was at Wembley, and the Liverpool first leg and the Arsenal away game in the quarter final. The cup run was good granted but we were like a different team in the league. I was in America at the time of the Inter game at SMS so unfortunately missed that, but as alluded to most of our best performances were away from home as we were set up to defend and absorb pressure. Doesn't change the fact that the home performances were dire and depressing. The Leicester and Burnley games you mention were two of only three home games all season where we scored more than one goal. In the remaining 16 home games we scored 8 goals. It absolutely was boring.

Because it largely is a fact, as a season ticket holder I was bored stiff throughout that season. The only decent attacking displays I remember were a 0-4 win at a dreadful Sunderland team and 1-4 win at Watford. Aside from that it was utter dirge, especially at home where we failed to even score in the last five games and in general seemed to be set up not to concede rather than take the game to the opposition. On the whole he did an ok job but there's no way I could have sat through another season of that boredom, football is supposed to be an entertainment business after all. Bringing it back to Ralph, this is where I'm losing faith in him as earlier in his reign we played some attractive attacking football on the front foot, if not always getting the results. Now in his attempt to shore up the defence we are becoming dull and negative to watch and the results aren't improving, that can't continue for much longer.

Agree with this. I am still just about in the 'Ralph in' camp, and prior to the Wolves and Villa games there had been decent signs of improvement. However we can't have any more desperate performances like the one at Villa Park, we need to get our identity back and at least have a go. With the new coaching setup and a lot of new players, I'm prepared to give him up to the World Cup break, if there's no consistent improvement by then it will be time for a change.

Can't believe all games have been cancelled, the queen dying has no relevance to football at all. So glad I'm currently out of the country so can avoid the incessant media circus.

Just scored his first league goal since December 2020!

Doku was brilliant at the Euros, not seen him since but surprised he's not gone on to a bigger club. Would love to see him at Saints but seems unlikely. As for Wirtz, he is the next big thing in German football. I expect he will move to Bayern or the like for big money, no chance he comes here.

Bayo joined Lille last month.

Perfect evening really, delighted for Payne and Ballard! Highlights here https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/carabao-cup/12680187/cambridge-united-0-3-southampton-carabao-cup-highlights

Yes, consistently bad. Also a little bizarre to blame his shortcomings on Salisu.

Huge upgrade on Bednarek, looks to have a very high ceiling. For the first time in years it feels like we might actually have a decent CB pairing.

Agreed on Valery, obviously not ideal but he'll do for one or two games until we hopefully sign some cover. I'd rather 4222 with Valery at RB than continue with the horrible 3 at the back. Also think we should be targeting a LB to compete with Perraud rather than another RB when we already have KWP and Tino.

I mentioned Iheanacho the other week, he is quite clearly better than what we have and it feels like it could be doable. He is still struggling for regular game time at Leicester and they need money. A proven PL goal scorer and still at a good age. I hadn't realised the links to Joe Shields too. Would be a genuinely exciting signing imo, I hope Saints are at least asking the question.

Polish international doesn't mean much really, the bloke has showed consistently over a number of years now that he's a complete donkey. When was the last time he had a really good game? I agree we shouldn't have signed Lyanco last summer but he's not nearly as bad as some make out and I'd much rather him playing than Bednarek. Quite frankly I'm sick of seeing the goals flying into our net with Jan sat on his arse.

Bednarek has been the one consistent in that cluster fuck of a defence the last few years, so I'm not sure why you're happy to have him around. I'd be happy to never see him in a Saints shirt again. As for potential strikers, I wonder if Leicester would be willing to sell Iheanacho.

I think we all agree that Che is our best striker, but that really isn't saying much. I like him but at the same time I'm sure with some decent scouting we could do better. Problem is if we sell, then we need two strikers of at least equal quality to Che/Broja and I struggle to see us getting that. Selling Che in itself isn't a major issue for me, it's how we replace him. Rather than throwing toys out the pram I'll wait until the end of the window to judge in the hope that SR know what they're doing and have a plan up their sleeves.