Saint86

Poor team selection here. Why is it so obvious to everyone bar the manager that we should have KWP at right back, Livra at RM? Not walcott...

Absolute pony. That was Livramento's fault - people don't need to make excuses for him.

Play our best right back and that attacker gets covered and that isn't a goal.

I plead guilty your honour 😖

Why have you quoted my rambling post about Hassenhuttle's job security in a thread about the marching band?🤔

Steve Bruce isn't a bad manager. He's better than shit like Howe and Lampard at any rate!

We'll be seeing Newcastle linked with everyone. But he's the kind of player they should go for. Youngish in his career, able to join and become a mainstay as part of their project and grow into an established keeper at the top of the league.

If he wants first team football, you'd think he'd come to saints. Good competition at West ham and he isn't getting past Lloris. Newcastle could well come in and blow us out of the water though...

Wait, now you can see who reacted to your comments!!! Huge news in the annals of saints web! On the takeover front though... is anyone else feeling like we're the kid on the playground that no one will pick to be on their team?

I don't think its a stretch to say they can buy enough quality players to lift them above saints over half a season sadly. Wonder who the new manager will be? I feel for Brucie, but can't imagine he's long for that job. Suspect they can attract some interesting names. I wonder if someone like Conte would be tempted with the money and opportunity that project would offer.

We just dropped 1 space nearer to the relegation zone ^_^

Not under southgate in a major final you don't 😆

I actually think a fair amount of those differences stem from the mangers' styles of play, and also the quality and confidence of the teams in general. He's come into his own under Hassenhuttle and was our best player for much of last season - sadly that combines with one of the weakest saints teams in recent history. A lot of people give JWP significant flack on this forum, but he actually has merits when compared to Rice and Philips. Those 2 are far more defensive than JWP, and for Southgate that is ultimately what dooms him because Southgate wants to play 7 defenders, 1 target man, and 2 pacey wingers. The players than JWP will be competing for are for a more conventional CM spot, and thats basically Henderson and Bellingham. JWP is a very competent player who does a lot of ugly work for saints. He is exceptional for dead ball delivery, stamina, and fitness. He's also a fantastic little wind up merchant who also keeps his cool and has a very good disciplinary record - recent red card aside. But generally speaking, those are actually all important attributes for tournament football - and being arguably the best free kick taker in European domestic football really is a valid skill to lay claim to in a knock out tournament - it wins you games or stops you losing. Given his overall ability, i think that with another manager (who doesn't pick a squad composing of majority defenders/defensive midfielders) he'd probably have gone to the euros - A tournament that was noticeable for its lack of quality dead ball specialists. He also unlikely to have bottled his penalty in the same way the others did. And say what you will, England score goals from dead balls - just take the world cup where i think it was our main attacking threat? Obviously its football and we're all going to have different views. But i'll wrap up and say he should have been included in place of one of the 4 right backs this summer 🤷‍♂️ On the Rice and Philips comparisons - The saints player that occupies their role is Romeu, not JWP.

"Yeah... but...2020 calendar year (without the obscene injuries)" 🙈 Also, lets not forget, that game for game, we have more points than last season...

I've really enjoyed the tie ups with former players recently. Enjoyed having Tessem involved, and Surman as well. Also Hammond has been around the club a fair amount the last couple of years.

To be honest this works out quite well. He gets a nice bit of motivation out of the squad and may get a goal etc. And it gives him a couple of matches to make up for the 3 he'll miss. Then get gets a bit of a break for a few games. Also means Diallo and Armstrong should get a chance to get some minutes under their belts without having to all be rotated around the permanent JWP.

Now that is team!

Gareth Bale is the best left back you ever saw play for saints...? come on mate behave! He couldn't even get in Tottenham's team for the next couple of years at that age. Luke shaw mops the floor with him for saints with respect to ability whilst at saints, as does Bridge. And livramento at right back... most of the forum want him put in the right CAM so KWP can play right back 🤣 In no way shape or form should anyone be considering him as saints best ever right back! Also surprised there is no spot for Sadio Mane, especially given you've included a 16year old theo? Mane was absolutely unplayable at times and is hands down one of the most dangerous players i've ever seen at saints.

I've just watched Murphy, Lineker, and Wright on MOTD agree unanimously that it was a red card and the right decision? It was a red card. If Jorginho's foot is an inch further back JWP would have made full contact on his ankle at speed and out of control. It would have been an ankle breaker. Do we only want to send players off for dangerous tackles when a player gets injured? I can't even see how our fans think its contentious tbh, makes you realise how perceptions vary. I thought he was very lucky to get a yellow as it happened, and JWP's reaction said similar from him... then i remembered there is VAR and sure enough he got his orders. A shame though. And its a total injustice when we get crap like the man city decision going the other way against us.

If we're in the shit after Norwich i think he's not long for the job.

I said this at the time. He was offside and obstructed his view of the incoming player and goalbound effort.

If we're in the shit after the Norwich game i'd say his time is up.

Losing JWP for these fixtures is an issue. Luckily Stu is almost back. Very silly tackle from our captain given the importance of the coming games.

Its not like he's been given a run of games to settle in despite being the only senior left back...

People shouldn't put that loss on JWP, it was a bad challenge. but we were tactically awful for the first 45min, chelsea had 20 shots, 9 on target, and looked like scoring with every attack, with 2 other goals ruled out. Yes his tackle took away any chance, but chelsea should have won that game all day long.