Saint86

We always do these polls after a bad performance and before we play again - so they are highly skewed (i presume innocently). Purely out of curiosity i'd be interested to see how they turn out after a game like the Chelsea win as there is definitely a marked difference in forum users and their moods depending on results.

In fairness Egg, the points you make above are about squad quality (on which i do partially agree with you - i'd love us to have another CDM and a quality attacker). And not the manager - which is the point i was reacting to. But regardless, we rebuilt the squad this summer - and with that we've beaten Leicester, got a solid draw vs Leeds, outplayed United where we were unlucky to lose, beat Chelsea fairly comprehensively... So how long do people want to take? Are we going back to last season when it was frankly a totally different team? And are fans complaining about the squad quality or the manager's quality? Because I don't think its reasonable for it to be viewed both ways given we've never been in a relegation scrap since he's been here... so are some of our fans now basically on the Sports Republic out bandwagon? 😰 Anyway, the reactionary extremes between Chelsea and Villa are imo ridiculous, i don't think that saying effectively that is misbehaving 😅🙈. We played well against Chelsea, and we had a bad game vs Villa, but that does not a certain relegation make. Reality is that some people had us pegged for the relegation zone, no wins, and manageress by the international break before we even kicked a ball.... and if our squad is as bad as you make out above, its a genuine wonder that all 6 teams below us haven't also gone and sacked their managers - especially as most of them have had easier starts than us. Any preseason talk of giving this young side the time it needs seemingly going out the window because Tyrone Mings is 6ft 5in and we couldn't outmuscle a bigger villa side. Man CIty away is on the 8th October. I look forward to reading the comments in the days that follow....

The bed wetting after the villa game is truly something to behold.

Bad night by all accounts. My take was that we tried to play our physical more direct game against a team that are bigger than us and reasonably solid. We had no effective out or way to break them down, and the game was a turgid dire display severely lacking in quality. The lesson here is that we can't try to bully teams that are bigger than us. On Ralph to have realised that and to have transitioned to a more effective style of play. Which we didn't. Personally think that was one of the worst games of football I've seen saints ever play at this level. A truly terrible advert for Premier league football from both sides.

The call up for Philips is concerning. Should be nowhere near that squad - played about 10min this season for city and suffered horrendously from injuries this past year. Suggestion there is that Southgate still sees him as the preferred player out of him and JWP.

I assumed that was what ANM was largely for? Failing that, Lyanco or even DCC could sit in CDM role with JWP/Diallo/Armstrong in front of them. I wouldn't be too concerned. We're a different beast this year physically - ABC and MS are giants in defence, and we've got a GK who can finally kick long which means we can use Adams as a proper target man and get runners off him - equally the pace and power of our back line (and bazunu's sweeping) means we can properly push up and press teams without the same fears on the counter. We won't be easy to beat IMO, and that means we'll get more points as we can hold onto wins. Even if Villa get some of their refereeing bias, and even if Ings turns it on - i still think we will have a chance to win the game, and i still think we'll finish above villa this year regardless.

After ABK, I have no doubts we can sell salisu and buy at least one player as good as / better than him.

I think there has been a couple of examples historically where they've been activated, but for the life of me I can't remember them. I would say its very likely lavia's will be activated. City don't like old players, and in 3-4 years time he'll be some player, whilst city's existing CM's are approaching their 30's.

Yeah it was Frank.

I would wait for Leicester to win a game before saying stuff like "they can easily come good" 😛. There is something very rotten building at that club. The fact remains as well that they've clearly let down the players they've kept through a lack of signings (so any with ambition will now all want out). This will have also damaged their attractiveness for new players. Reminds me of saints a few years ago. They could very easily find themselves going down this season, and regardless, it's going to require a rebuild now to refresh the playing squad.

What have chelsea's new owners got to do with many city's buy back clause on lavia?

Time out for a bit of oddball appreciation.

Given it was for personal reasons, i just hope everything is okay on the private side of his life. If it reflects his own mental well being, then good for him. I know of plenty of people in life who've made a move, it wasn't what they've expected/wanted, and then they are welcomed back. Tends to build relationships well for both parties and instils trust and confidence going forward. Hopefully this is what has happened in this instance and we've got a very exciting player on our books for years to come.

You can't help but notice MLG carrying on as normal in response to JT there.... maybe we should ask him on twitter how his Garner transfer saga is going.

Just the two in so far then?

Wasn't there already a thread covering Sam Edozie?

Almost at page 300 - who saw that coming!

How does that work then?

And people said Ralph was doing a bad job with those players 🤣

Fundamentally for Ralph's playbook - we needed pace and power at the back (we have added that), and quicker movement in CM (we've added that). We can now push up and commit to pressuring teams more. So those improvements have all improved our attack. Increasing creativity in midfield / attack (Aribo, AA on the left) etc. also helps us. Its taken a while, but the new formation is the way with these players.

Caleta-Car, Caleta-Car, F'king hates pompey, knows its a scar...

Would love to see us host them for a pre season, would bring in a good gate as well.

A lot of stress on here this morning 🤯. We've had a good window and will be fine for the coming season, particulary as few of our key players are involved in the world Cup. If Che stays fit we're laughing (compared to previous years) with the attackers/midfield we have behind him, and Mara can lead the line if needs be (and did for bordeux). As can aribo. And if Che picked up a bad injury I'm sure we'd be in for someone in January 👍 A lot of people saying we need an extra body up top, but we weren't pursuing that - gakpo was going to be an AM for us... Not sure the club were looking for an extra "Che" today, unless they've kept it very quiet or broja is coming back on loan. Never got the impression from the gakpo quotes that he wanted the move, felt a bit more like he was being offered up for sale. Its not a huge loss if we don't spend £30-40m on a player that doesn't particulary want to be at saints. If he does want it then he's got a few hours to make that point clear to PSV. He's a good player, but we'll be fine without him imo.

Openda scored again last night, Lens now 3rd in Ligue 1, level on points with PSG after 5 games and with 14 goals scored. Was only £6.75M 😑 Can't believe more teams weren't all over that transfer.

Saw oasis at the Rose Bowl (don't believe the truth tour - so I'd guess circa 2005). The number of plastic pint glasses filled with piss that were hurled across the crowd was beyond count. People seemed to delight in it. I remember someone not too far away from me getting hit by one square in the back of the head/neck. Fortunately the people I was with recieved only the occasional spray. Needless to say you were constantly worried about errant piss cups... Well until you'd given up caring.