beatlesaint

Yeah, look the guy was loaned out to Bournemouth ffs, he played just 15 times and they didnt want to buy him at the end of that season. There's a reason for that, he's not Premier League standard so all those "picking on Stephens again" people, its not picking on him, its pointing out the bloody obvious. A few times in that last 10-15 mins yesterday the ball went to him and all urgency just dies, he had no idea what to do with the ball. RM loves him cos he plays Russball superbly, slows things down, passess short, gets it back, passes short again. I bet he plays at least 30 games this season, shoe-horned in at the expense of someone better. Two cventre backs and stick the Chelsea lad, Lesley, in that place to bring the ball forward. No brainer.

This is exactly what Russball is. The problem we have is some of those players are just not good enough to retain the ball at this level. Guy that sits near me kept saying first half "its a good job this is only Notts Forest playing like this" but in a few weeks it wont be, it'll be a top half team and we'll be in the mire big time. Unfotunately we fanny about with the ball for so long then lose it as soon as we try to venture a little bit forward, so we start again and so on. These tight little triangles they love to play work against an average Championship team but they didnt work so well yesterday because in this league you just dont get the time. Thats what RM has to suss out, and quickly.

Well this is exactly why he needs to go out on loan, we aren't finding out in the Premier League thats for sure.

For one he didnt play anywhere near the full season, secondly he's a year older so presumably would have learnt a little more and thirdly he might just play in a team thats encouraged to run at the defence.

Edozie should really be following Charles out on the loan route. A full Championship season could be the making of him.

The ironic thing about the strikers was last week against Newcastle Clinton Morrison (yeah I know, might be pinch of salt) said that Saints played too narrow, they didnt go out wide and open up the pitch to stretch Newcastle's ten men. Yesterday they stayed out wide..... Personally i think Armstrong is better out wide, cutting in. But to me he looked like Armstrong of 22/23 yesterday, not the one from last season which was always the fear.

Well the lady next to me came from California so think yourself lucky ! 😅

That little 5 minute rush of subs where RM did all he could to keep Stephens on the pitch was very strange. Take off a full back, move Capt Jack to fullback. Sees the Forest winger tear him a new one so brings on a proper full back and moves Capt Jack out of harms way. Just creepy.

Yes, it was a fkin ridiculous statement given he’s never played in this league….or anywhere for 18 months. RM is a twat sometimes

I guess so 🤷🏻‍♂️

Tbh it’s up to the outfield players to stop needlessly passing back to a keeper who isn’t great with the ball at his feet. They by and large cut it out at the end of last season so it can be done.

That’s how I understand it yeah

Christ I hope not 🤦🏻

I'm assuming thats not happening and the Dutch guy is coming in tbh, but yeah if that does happen its Plan B for a striker

Dont you think the central striker will be our second Premier league club loan right at the end of the window?

You say that Charlie old son but that sub appearance he made towards the end of last season, everyone knows the one, was one of the most pathetic, lacklustre, couldn’t give a shit performances I have ever seen ! Lack of ability is one thing, if you put in the effort there is a “but”. In his case there wasn’t, and RM should never have picked him again. Will not miss him one little bit.

No wonder he gets injured a lot !!

If this goes through and we get £10 million for him for me it kind of offsets the ABK transfer fee not happening cos lets be honest who the hell would have thought £10m for Mara ?

Good grief........he's not worth that honour if true

Yeah, sounds a bit suspect doesn’t it?

Yeah well it’s clubs like Wolves and us who would get hammered if they broke the rules while Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City etc can take the piss.

Isn’t it a sad state of affairs when the words Mara and natural number 9 appear in the same sentence. Thats barely manageable in the Championship let alone this league. His absence yesterday hopefully means he’s ready to board the plane back to France imminently

You’re right actually, I was surprised VAR didn’t try to find a reason to at least even things up shall we say 😉

If he's in goal there will be about 30,000 people there who will also be a bag of nerves !

It comes from the manager, nobody buys this kind of quiet, polite exterior that Howe shows in interviews. He's a shit house, same goes for his tanned lapdog stood next time like they are joined at the hip.