Saint86

Jones has to change this. Formation is horrific.

Pathetic line up tactically. Bednarek not match fit marking space, no one tasked with tracking the runner.

Yeah. Had a mare there 😁

Salisu... Ah no wait, I am blind, he's there... 😅

How can he seriously expect us to stand a chance with that line up and players like lavia on the bench ffs. It's a semi final, 90min from Wembley! As others have said, all I can think is we're planning to park the bus, play on the counter, and try to either nick a goal or go for it late on. Its a brave strategy. Will leave a lot to do if we let a goal in by inviting Newcastle onto us. Game over if it goes 2-0. Bednarek cannot be match fit either - he may have a stormer, but to me starting him in defence is absolutely asking for it.

Just seen the team. Wtf. I do not like!!

Che gets the time, he just can't recover... Or more to the point, he could be trying all week and still not score... 🤣

Hmm. I found this on there and now i am not so smug.... I suppose, unlike Che, he did ultimately score.

A man after my own heart 😍

No. That is too generous. This job should have been done in the summer. But, they will ultimately have done it now when it really mattered - so fair play for that. I don't think anyone can doubt they're investment / backing of the team. It is fantastic to finally have owners that are intent on putting money into the club and who have an active plan to improve us. All said with the caveat that i hope this doesn't leave us financially stricken if it all goes wrong!

He's also technically an inferior player by some distance (bar finishing lets not even get started on Edozi's finishing)! An awful lot of words to summarise a lack of end product 🤣😅 Gallows humour aside, i think he'll be an exciting if frustrating watch, but i am glad we've signed him and look forward to watching him play and develop.

He's going to be a very frustrating player to watch i think. A long way from being a finished product, still quite raw, but a lot of pace. Could be very effective in some situations, and could be very disappointing vs good right backs / centre backs (with a bit of pace / nous) about them... i.e. your Kyle Walkers etc. I don't think the fanbase will have enough patience given where we are sadly.

We haven't signed anyone yet. Rumoured to have agreed the Jonno quick transfer, linked with any remotely available target man striker in Europe (doubtful we'll be able to give the one that may eventually sign the standard Southampton tailored presentation on their abilities and role in the team 😆).

We're signing johno quick aren't we?

We will lose Salisu, KWP, Lavia for sure. We'll keep JWP, and players like Lyanco, Alcaraz, Orsic, Edozie, Perraud, AA, Che, ABK, Livramento (if he can even walk 😭), bazunu, macca, diallo, djenpo, DCC, Ely etc. Its good enough for the championship. Plus we'll see players like ballard and dibling etc. There is a lot of crap in that league and only a smattering of quality at the upper end. Things would have to go seriously wrong for us to not finish top 3 imo. Not even certain that we'll get relegated as yet.

Its hard to say that SR haven't put money into the club and focussed on restructuring off the field - in that way they are good and have been good owners. Our other transfer do represent broadly good business in the medium-long term. The stick that they will be beaten with is going down without getting in a striker. But equally i would expect us to get promoted from the championship if we can keep most of this squad together - and equally they'll get a year of playing together, doing well, developing, and building confidence. Not ideal, but there are worse things. I still think SR will deliver a striker however.

Imagine that will bring some disappointment to the toon; they've been so please with the red card and Murphy's antics.

I am right in saying that DCC' suspension is served vs blackpool as it was a red card? But yellow cards count only in the carabao cup? I wouldn't want to murphy and on that pitch if we're most likely going out - can see someone going in on him hard late on for the sake of a meaningless yellow 😋

Look. You see. Optimism isn't dead on here. Someone thinks we'll stick it out until May 😂

I'm sure I read an article in the athletic criticising saints for missing out on this 😂

Now look, may just be me, but that seems an awful lot of words to just say, "you can book your free cervical screening today..." How would phrasing it like that be offensive...

I feel this may be a tad reactionary...😅🙃 Lets wait and see what the final week brings. I wouldn't write us off yet even without a striker. I reckon Mara and Alvaraz might be able to do the business if they get a run. Our core midfield 3 of Lavia, JWP, Alvaraz is solid. And frankly Edozi, AA, and Mara isn't that bad against the lesser sides. Ultimately if we can keep teams like Newcastle to one goal against, then with JWP on the field, Edozi (and our clear play for free kicks generally), then we've always got a chance... And at the end of the day, relegation scraps are strange things, especially ones with this many teams involved. With a quality striker and CDM i'd be confident of staying up 🤷‍♂️

They are selling Gordon to chelsea though aren't they. Watch us dither about for the next 5 days and then get smashed by Everton on deadline day.

Yeah agreed. I don't think Baz has been that bad and he gets a lot of flack on here when ultimately he's been hung out to try by the defence first and foremost. He's got a tough mentality about him and will improve all the time. Its not rocket science basically. If Ralph had been given a serious striker and CDM cover in the summer we'd still have him as manager and be sat in mid table. SR have sacked him and still not addressed the underlying issues - we make chances and do not score!!! And without lavia we simply do not have the required defensive cover in midfield without sacrificing one of our two best players to act as a glorified anchor man - And at least there is an acknowledgement that lavia needs to be protected by the club - If he winds up injured again we are down regardless. SR quite simply have to get a CDM and striker. If they don't and we get relegated, they are the only ones to blame - they will have failed two managers and spent a fortune skirting around the most important positions!!!!

Quite. Our starting team should be Mara up top, edozie and AA on the wings, and a midfield 3 of Alcaraz, Lavia, and JWP. The only way i would change that, is if we're up against someone with enough pace to nullify AA, in which case we add more physicality or skill instead of playing him. Still badly need CDM and a quality striker. We will go down without those. Absolute worst case, get Ballard/Dibling on the bench and give them some minutes late on to see if they can score. They're at least in form and scoring for the U18s / B-team!