Daft Kerplunk

not sure, but he does have a pineapple on it

and how bad it was too

Decent showing, McCarthy always a brain fart away from a fuck up. Liverpool obviously don't need to sit deep (low block for those who use fancy new terms) against us, which many teams in the Championship will so that's the test once we get back to the league after this little free hit. Plenty of food for thought for Will with many of the players tonight showing more than the first teamers selected so far.

He's young so probably doesn't have one yet but I can't imagine he saw Downs and thought, yes, that's the player for me to make a difference. Spors, go get him for me. Spors, the Barclays IT guy and Rasmus will stay in good jobs whilst the front man gets the chop for not being able to get a decent tune out of the bin fire he's been given.

Seems that the wonks at Sport Republic believe they've cracked football in the same way Les did when it comes to signing players. The biggest failing of all is not signing decent forwards or creative players, and after last season's abject failure to score goals, it is amazing that a strong centre forward or two wasn't the number one priority. We needed creative players as well but our forwards are nowhere near good enough. Their biggest failing is not learning what they need to prioritise and that is probably down to the same arrogance shown by Les that they didn't need to learn because they already know everything they need to. Imagine spending the amount of money they have and still not being close to where they need to be. Embarrassment to themselves.

There seem to be quite a few comments on here about Will Still buying the players. That's not how football works in 2025 lads; a committee makes the decision and that'll include some tech nerds who've probably never stepped on grass with a ball nearby but they sure know data sets. Not saying he's setting the world alight but the players at his disposal have been signed for him to work with, not that he has chosen the players himself to coach.

You appear to have forgotten that we went on a run of barely scoring goals under Puel. We had better players under Puel but on more than one occasion we were absolutely dreadful. The appointments since are more indicative of the people running things, not that he was the right manager.

Some positives on paper, looks like we should get more goal contribution from midfield, which will be needed to balance the weakness of our front line options. Better defending as a unit and more attacking pressure on the opposition should mean Baz is less exposed and hopefully the GK coach will help him improve. Shame we had to lose Fernandes, really good that we got rid of a heap of players who've had negligible impact, still a few left so perhaps they'll go on loan. A decent war chest seems to be there should we need additional players in January for a promotion push. An optimistic 6.5

Anyone criticising this squad is utterly wrong, as many of the forum said this was a squad good enough for top positions 😂😂😂 They were good enough 2 years ago after all. I was good in bed 2 years ago, now I can't even get it up; things get worse as you get older 😂 literally, not idiomatically. Where I would agree with people like @Farmer Saint is that it was a team built for the Championship. Spors, you have much to do old bean.

also needs to learn how transfers work and that in 2025, the manager isn't the one determining fees or transfer policy isolation. Then think about how relegation and points total have no impact on transfer fees. Thick. As. Mince.

A line-up that shows how far we have fallen if ever there was one

can't even do that

Final third play continues to be a shocker. Watching the Espanyol feed with views of their impressive stadium makes you realise just how crap St. Mary's is and that it desperately needs an upgrade. Just like the attackers in the squad.

I think you are confusing marketing with PR

Could've at least used a proper pro-level football too and not a fairground hook a duck prize.

No way Alderweireld or Van Dijk, or Mane would've joined without Koeman either. The best thing about Still is that he has grown up in a football culture that overall produces better top level coaches/managers. The English game is producing decent technicians, albeit often at the expense of flair, ingenuity and sheer will to win, but our top level coaches are not there. Will Still is fortunate to have learned to coach is places that develop top coaches.

Whatever happens, there needs to be a complete vibe shift at the club, more of the same is going to go exactly the same way. Solak seems to have begun this by bringing in Spors and getting rid of people behind the scenes, next is the player cull. Since the days of Les not having Paul Mitchell to guide or a legend of the game in Koeman to attract players, recruitment has overall been a failure. Seeing posts about how this team would be good in the championship highlights it. Our standards and expectations should be far higher. Being above Brighton and Bournemouth consistently should be a requirement from us as fans, not this weird passive and shit Martin Semmens narrative about how grateful we should be just to exist. We can and should consistently be in the top half of the Premier League given the potential of the city and area. Hopefully Dragan sees this and wants a team that can deliver it, and one that gets rid of the likes of BBD, Armstrong, Stephens, Bednarek, Smallbone etc. and perhaps because they are young, Fernandes and Dibling (if he is up for being coached and motivated) will stay for at least a season more, Ugochukwo realises he's not getting first team football at Chelsea so decides to leave and stay here, Ramsdale is up for it as the leader of a new era then we can have some optimism.

Will he still be standing as our coach come the end of next season's successful championship which sees us at the pinnacle of the table ready to get back to our rightful top tier level? Better than he ever did before.

Saints are indeed chronic

He was more referring to how lovely fans were despite the team being absolutely shit. In Italy, they'd be fearing for their existence. That was what he meant.

This fella needs to be a miracle worker, or just really great. A major clear out needed - playing staff and backroom staff because they help create the conditions where this level of crap becomes acceptable and tolerated. Far better players need to be attracted. A quality manager is essential. Failure to get promoted next season could see us be like Derby in more ways than missing their target of 11 points in a season. At least he has 6 weeks extra to prepare knowing what division we will be in next season.

The slide had definitely started before they took over but Martin Semmens said these guys had been chosen to take us to the next level. Well, who knew that next level would be shitter than shit. But at least MLG somehow thinks that after multiple failures, they somehow will come good. Absolute dog shit so far.

You just have to hope that there are people above who have actually watched a player, understand their character and mental suitability for playing football at a high level who make the final decisions. Vegard Forren was a player I remember having a conversation with someone at our technical scouting team, and that player had all the stats to show he could play in the Premier League, but clearly did not want to move from Norway at that time so didn't have the right mentality. The tech team couldn't believe it didn't work, a human centred approach may have been more helpful that just stats.

Absolutely. To develop truly good players, you need to develop a winning and high achieving culture. A focus on youth and pathways needs a sharp end that is setting a goal for excellence in the first team. That way you can attract and retain better quality, you win more and lose less, and when those players who have developed join the first team, their value will be higher so the rewards are there for the money men, but the football side is also in better health, and the fans are also on side because they see the football purpose. A football club should have two motivations; having the best possible football team over the long-term and a great fan experience that sees fans fully connected to the club, not just customers to rinse.

Let the failures own it and don't drag the kids in to this season. Mass clearout needed on the pitch, first team staff and behind the scenes on the football side. Plenty of people there still associated with the failures over the last period. Same on the board side, people like Tim Greenwell slimed his way to the top, surrounded himself with yes people and has been involved in plenty of poor decisions over the past 7 years, and very much part of the swamp that needs to be drained.