sfc4prem

You're absolutely spot on. It is galling to hear that from the top of the club, especially given clubs like Brighton have shown positivity and creativity striving to thrive in the PL, rather than just surviving. The condescending, negative tone of Martin is worrying. It shows a lack of ambition and drive that may well then spread throughout the club.

The anxiety and fear of gameday is back, sans any form of hope.

There's just been a weak and brittle feeling to Ralph's teams since he's been here, interrupted by some brilliant patches where it has all clicked. I'm sad that those patches seem to be anomalies, rather than indicators for what could become our permanent mentality. As it is, we are vulnerable and passive, and we need something to change.

Potentially season ending, that.

That we're even requesting this of Ralph is a damning indictment.

Our policy used to be to only sign players that would improve the first team. Oh how I long for those days. It is criminal that Valery, Bednarek and Stephens are all considered starters for us, still. No progress.

Fuck, Ralph and his players were saying that for the previous 10 games prior to the summer break. How many times will we fail to respond?

It would be a baptism of fire, agreed.

All of our centre backs would against Kane and Son, to be fair.

Lewin's made of glass, isn't he?

You're pretty lazy and useless then, aren't you, if you don't earn enough to do that? 'If' is a loser's term.

Still a Tory though

Isn't it true that Broja didn't enjoy his time here and that relations soured in 2022?

I've always pondered about Bednarek. When we signed him, was he viewed as back up? What did we pay again for him, £5m? I wonder if we ever considered him to be a first choice centre back when we bought him... Salisu is still learning the ropes. He is very young and clearly has talent, but is prone to errors and nervous performances. I'm not worried about him, I think he has bags of potential. I think we need more potency up top. One thing I feel we really miss is someone that can make runs in and around the pocket between the striker and midfield. Currently we look very pedestrian, relying on runs from our fullbacks. When they're cancelled out by the opposition having rigid positioning, it leaves us looking inept and toothless. I do wonder how we can go about fixing this. I do feel sorry for Arma.

There's a tall player for Leicester who needs game time... he was good for Denmark in the last international competition, too...

This was about us not being able to break down a team that, for the most part, sat behind the ball and closed us down. Sound familiar? Teams have us sussed.

I'm not nervous as we are complete underdogs. This time, though, we're underdogs with a real bite. Reckon we could do them if luck is on our side.

I've already given up hope of keeping Armando. Purchasing a player of his quality is out of our price range and simply doesn't fit in with our approach. We're the ones that scout and bring in unproven/unfulfilled young talent. Broja is now a proven talent of excellent capacity and potential. Enjoy him while we have him, but don't get too attached!

This bunch of players really gave it their all when many of them haven't played for a while. I thought Smallbone had some excellent moments, as did Valery, who was excellent throughout and kept it simple when needed. Many players looked like they really wanted to seize the opportunity to stake their claim. Caballero - an excellent save, but also cost us a goal and nearly two! Not commanding enough but excellent reflexes. Perraud's goal. Phwoar! Scorcher. Hoping for a favourable draw!

Just popped on to NorthStandChat to see what our closest rivals thought of the game. Many still enjoy calling us 'Stains'. Interesting.

Carragher and Neville dropping some realism in with some fair points, actually. They said the teams above us (maybe Wolves aside) have better teams than us overall (West Ham maybe not?), so Europe would be a stretch given their points advantage over us. Didn't like the 'club that size' lark though, hit a raw nerve hearing their condescending view of us.

Is it just me or are the streams toilet tonight?

Which side wants it more? I reckon that's what it'll come down to. Normally we're pretty hot on pressing and going for the jugular - I'm sure Ralph will have us in the same mindset on Friday. Can see us conceding if we're not careful - it would likely come down to complacency/lack of concentration if we do.

Such a shame with Ings. As people have said, he could have gone down in Saints folklore had he stayed and won any form of silverware with us. Instead he's a bit part player for a heavy investing but underwhelming Villa side, and is losing his hair even more rapidly in the process. What could have been. We move.

They only conceded 3 against a scintillating Liverpool?