Daft Kerplunk

The atmosphere and situation for the players is almost certainly very cosy, from the fans but also at the club where they'll still be treated like deities of some kind. Not that it is easy to avoid being like this as the players have become used to being treated like little princes, and wouldn't adapt to an environment with higher expectations on them to not be so entitled and earn their millionaire lifestyle. This is all about the character and on paper, players may be able to play football, but for years, there has been a problem with our players attitude towards just being good at their job. Where's the desire to win and show up? The manager has responsibility to a degree but the players are letting themselves down consistently. That's endemic and Will Still leaving isn't going to change that situation.

Classic McMansion

Semmens was an incredible bullshitter for sure. He convinced many he was great because he spoke well but he landed us with this lot, and he was behind the Gao takeover too. He was the architect of where we find ourselves and no mistake.

Last season, we were one of the worst teams in top flight histopry. We have won 4 games in 17 months. Last season inevitably has had an impact on the football club and Will Still doesn;t seem like the sort of person that is going to get the club back in a more positive state. BUT, who could? Sport Republic are shambolic, the coaching staff and recruitment staff are dog shit because for the occasional Fernandes that is a lovely player to have, there's a Downs in a position where we desperately needed quality. Utterly inept people running the football club and there is zero chance they get anything right. If Dragan wants the club to succeed, he is probably going to have to have some bollocks and part with the likes of Ankerson etc. and start all over again. We are only going in one direction and it isn't up.

It's like he's watching the game on TV and there's a broadcast delay, and he's taken some strong analgesic cough medicine

I think we all know the club's approach of only looking at possible resale value is flawed and Damion Downs is looking like the next in a long line of poor recruitment choices. However, as a human being, he does not deserve any abuse though, he is a Spors signing so Spors is the person who should accept responsibility and take the deserved shit based on what Downs has shown so far.

Seasoned pros yes, but I don't see, or have never seen evidence of these players being 'leaders.' Apart from Roselev and Wood who we haven't seen enough yet, these are players who go or have gone missing when things get tough. or in the case of Stephens, get sent off. Just because someone has played for a long time doesn't automatically make them leaders in the way they need to be. None of the above players are or ever have been players that drive the team on.

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.