beatlesaint

3 CBs but once again not one of them is Stephens. I’ll give Still one thing, he’s not obsessed by the magnificence of Capt Jack ! For that alone I hope he turns things around.

He's not playing many minutes. He started the other week at home to Palace and was hauled off at half time, not sure if he's got on the pitch since then tbh.

Well you've kind of answered your own question on the Spors "hate" The 2 x positions everyone knew we needed was a chanpionship proven keeper and most of all a centre forard. We got niether and thats on him. The Downs thing? The guy cant even pass the bloody ball to one of his own players, how the hell is he gonna turn into Harry Kane under a different manager?

The size of the crowd for this one will be fascinating. As I type this, lunchtime on a Tuesday afternoon, I have about zero enthusiasm or desire to get my sorry arse in the car and drive up to Southampton Saturday lunchtime.

Can’t be, one reason Stephens got his new shiny contract was his leadership skills on and off the pitch. Surely he’s pulled the squad together and built up a strong one for all, all for one attitude. 🤦🏻

Despite the 2 x 9-0's the rot really set in when Chelsea beat us 6-0 at home in 2022. Ralph seemed to lose all his belief and confidence after that, he was never the same and niether were we.

Yes that was the story I saw in a couple of places. If its not working out for the lad I really dont know what happens now unless Everton decide to send him out on loan and he comes back down south in January. But this isnt like last time with Chelsea, Everton have paid serious money for the boy, they'll be no contract torn up this time around. If its true the people giving him advice are not acting in his best interests whatsoever.

Trouble is LD, like with Still at the moment he's had one transfer window and some of the players that he has bought in look to be good whilst others SHOULD be good as they have already done it in this league. I cannot see how fans will be patient enough for any manager to rebuild this club over the 2-3 seasons that many transfer windows would take. He is not frightened to drop players if they have a bad game (THB & Captai Jack as examples) and he is obviously trying to change the culture of the club. At the moment its not working. Now would it seem to be working gradually and would things look a lot more positive IF we had beaten Swansea, won at Blackburn and got a point at Bristol City? If we had a striker who could find that netty thing at the end of the pitch we would have gotten 7 points out of the last 3 games. That would have pout us joint 6th, and we would all be relatively happy with that right now. Despite him saying "oh I didnt want a striker" he bloody well must have. The club has been crying out for a centre forward since Ings left, nobody can dispute that. He has been let down badly by this Spors fraud and SR. Christ even the owner said we need a centre forward and the money is there!!!! I have wanted Still to succeed, I still do really cos I think he might be the manager you speak of, he wont bugger off at the first opportunity. But those changes he made yesterday made me seriously doubt him. Its not all on him, how many managers have we had since Ralph left? It cannot always be the manager thats the problem surely?

Absolutely right, yes its not all his fault, of course it isnt BUT he is supposed to be an excellent leader on and off the pitch. Well, he may be great at organising golf days (no good a day out at an Escape Room, they'd never get out of one) but he didnt exactly organise yesterday when we were leading when he came on to "steady the ship" (we all know which famous ship left Southampton....). He has shown me no signs whatsoever that he can pull this group, or any group of players together as a captain. Can you imagine Jimmy Case for instance putting up with this ffs?

I hoped by this morning I would have felt better......i don't ! If I could get a refund on the balance of my season ticket then I bloody well would. Fuck 'em !

For those turning on Solak be very careful what you wish for ! Just look at Sheffield Wednesday ffs. Dragon’s error, major that it is, is putting his faith and money into SR.

Well you named it a few days ago, it’ll be that bloke who’s been in America for a while. Eric something or other ?

Taking Leo off isn’t so much the issue. Had he made a like for like change then fair enough. But to bring on Captain twat of all people? Sorry, just no !!!!!

100% agree

I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt up until now. Poor keepers, no centre forward etc but sorry, I’ve turned after this. Anyone who can take off our best player and bring on Jack fkin Stephens can just go !!!

If we don’t win this after that substitution then he can fuck off and I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt up til now !!

I recall saying at the start of one season that James Beattie couldnt hit a barn door and he went on the score 20 goals that season. Therefore - Damion Downs couldnt hit a barn door ! There, you're welcome 😉

If we can find a manager who can do the following then Still can go - Turn McCarthy or Bazunu into a consistently competent keeper. Turn Stephens into a decent defender Extract THB’s head from his own arse and remind him he ain’t all that like he was 2 yrs ago. Turn at least one of our mis-firing strikers into a goal machine. Stop players missing from less than a yard out. Stop players passing the ball around either backwards or square without getting anywhere. Toughen them up and put a stop to the mental fragility that is prevalent throughout the club. Stop the players making stupid mistakes. Unite the club and fanbase. Should be a simple task shouldn’t it?

The glaringly worrying thing for me is this from Still last night - "Do you worry that the players are not questioning themselves like you? WS: I hope they are, really hope they are. But when you hear them, when you listen to them, when you hear comments, I'm not sure that's the case. We might have to have a very honest and direct conversation about it so that people realise what has to change and what needs to be done. I don't mind having it, but people are in a frame of mind and have been in that for quite a long time. To change takes time, and a lot of change." Now the thing is part of the reason Captain Jack was given a new contract was because he is supposedly such a magnificent leader and voice in the dressing room ! This statement shows that reasoning to be absolute bollocks !! Stephens is PART of the problem not a solution to the problem. If he was this just wouldnt be happening !!

We are in this position because when they should have gone out and signed a decent and competent keeper in the summer they decided some guy from Norwich who sounds like he might be worse than Lumley was a better choice cos Bazunu and McCarthy are such excellent, top class keepers ! Ditto Downs and the centre forward situation. Absolute incompetence to ignore both !

The problem we have is Solak admits he's not a football person so he has to put his faith into others. These others are spending his money, and we all know how easy it is to spend when its not your own cash. Solak stated we needed a centre forward and that the money was there. This all sounded very promising. Until of course this hipster Spors decides to spend Dragon's dosh on a 4th rate striker who had scored a few in the German 2nd Division. The proven in the Championship route was once again ignored and if this was the best they could do you might as well have kept Tall Paul who did manage to score in the Premier League eventually and was sold just as we get a manager who likes crosses into the box! You couldnt make this shit up. I feel sorry for Solak and I do still feel a bit sorry for Will Still. The rest of them, nah, Spors and co. can take a running jump.

Has this guy won a fkin competition or donated £100k to Saints Foundation in order to play in the first team? Absolute shite.

To be fair if someone has a bloody awful game Still doesn’t hesitate in dropping them !

If you sacked him now it wouldnt matter if you could bring Jurgen Klopp in, he wouldn't be able to stop them missing open goals from a yard out either !

It was quite amusing to hear the Sky commentators not understanding why he hadnt been bought on given his height.....obviously hadn't seen any of his earlier performances !