saintwbu

Often think of the lads who were thrown in and got relegated from League 1 for us. Most were so obviously not ready and can’t help but think it probably didn’t help them in their careers as many have gone on to have pretty mediocre careers at best, which given our academy record is a bit of an anomaly. One I really felt for was Kanye McLaggon who was breaking into the team and doing well at the end of that season but ruptured his achilles, and then the Liebherr’s took over during his injury and we never saw him again. Was in the Welsh leagues last I saw.

At the end of the day, the ‘we’ve won 1 game in blah blah blah’ and ‘we’ve only scored this many goals in this many games’ stats mean absolutely nothing, nor do the number of points we have. The only thing that matters is how many points we are from exiting the relegation zone. At the moment we are one win away from safety, and all the while that is the case, we are in with as good of a chance to stay up as anyone.

Mad if anyone doesn’t want Bertrand back to be honest, head and shoulders above every other defender in the team. Their defence will be completely makeshift, if we can get Bertrand and one of our injured strikers back I feel we’re in a game.

I agree, I thought Vest may be the answer but last two starts he’s been sluggish. I think if things pick up and we stay up he may still come good, but for now he can’t play. A very frustrating day but it’ll pass and we’ll all calm down. But **** me Pierre Emile Hojbjerg may be the most overrated and under criticised player in our history. WHY CAN HE NOT PASS THE BALL TO A ****ING TEAMMATE. Honestly, the amount of times he passes to the opposition in every game makes me think he’s match fixing, astonishing.

Definitely not Long, makes sense for it to be Stephens but just looks slimmer and hair looks different

Presume Ings' transfer becomes permanent in January? given that it's compulsory and not an option to buy. Would seem unnecessary to wait until the summer to finalise it.

Completely agree. There's a difference between watching the team and supporting them. Being at the ground isn't an automatic entitlement to groan every time we do something other than score a goal. Support them loud and proud and it will have an effect.

Who are the guys either side of Hoedt behind him? they’re U23’s as well aren’t they?

Has to be this imo, easy for the crowd to pick up and will get a couple of laughs, perfect.

If there’s one team that aren’t going to be pulling out centre halves out of position and turning them round constantly then it’s Cardiff. We need a big brute who can win every tackle and every header, and he’s our man.

Don’t see how anyone can say he’s gone backwards. Last year it felt like playing with 10 at times, this year I get excited when he’s on the ball as he seems to beat his man almost every time he gets the ball - last year he wouldn’t even try to, he’d jockey and drop a shoulder and then turn back and pass it to a teammate. His final ball is lacking at times still, but sometimes his options are extremely limited. Improving but needs to improve further is how i’d class him this season. Definitely worth his place.

Valery should come in for Cedric imo, he’s bigger, better in the air and stronger. Cedric was so poor last night again, after an improved performance against United. Cardiff will have a field day just chipping it to the back post for someone to tower over Cedric.

JWP played a great first time pass round the defence for Gabbi last night in the first half, probably our clearest opportunity created from open play? thought he had a good game personally, and we should’ve scored twice from his deliveries.

Agree completely, forced his way into the team the last two seasons under managers that didn't fancy him to begin with - and without him and his goals we'd have been relegated in both the two previous seasons. Amazing how quickly a fanbase can forget stuff.

Could've scored 5 or 6 goals, conceded 3 very soft goals. Pretty much the summary of our season, so good that Ralph got to see it in the flesh I guess. Tighten up that defence and we're on our way, how he does that I don't know but he's paid the money so fingers crossed he knows a way.

Ralph Hasenhuttl he is the one for meeeee (Yannick Bolasie runs down the wing for me)

I rang them for a similar situation at Leicester last week and they just said they’d reserve it at the King Power for me. Give them a call first thing tomorrow.

I’m sure he got paid handsomely but I wouldn’t wish his arrival on any new player. The most negative point in our recent history and a complete unknown quantity in himself, was up against it from day one. Really wish him all the best, whether it’s with us or not.

I’d imagine if we are interested, we’d be keen to play it down at the moment, especially as just the mention of it yesterday by Wilson got everyone on social media going crazy. Not really our style to tout publicly, and also probably wouldn’t be a good thing for him either.

I know what you mean, but my theory is releasing it today or yesterday would raise questions as to why he’s not taking control vs Spurs tomorrow. ‘Signing’ on the day would make it more acceptable to not take control that night. But as it’s Saints I do have a similar fear at the back of my mind too!

I like him! tend to think we’re better when he starts, never hides from the ball like some do and very rarely gives it away. I realise he hasn’t justified my opinion in his sub appearances this season but when he has a run in the side I really like him.

I like him! tend to think we’re better when he starts, never hides from the ball like some do and very rarely gives it away. I realise he hasn’t justified my opinion in his sub appearances this season but when he has a run in the side I really like him.

A lot of people talking about Long getting binned. Evidently missing the point of a high press system and that Long is one of the few players genuinely suited to that system! Also regarding ‘so and so is not good enough’ I think we saw enough before and after Poch to show that sometimes systems like this value the team more than the individual, plenty of players have played well for us and Spurs who before or after Poch were deemed not very good, his system brings out the best in them. Danny Rose and Schneiderlin are two cases that spring to mind.

If he’s into playing youngsters and likes a high energy press, could well see a few shifted out and a few of the youngsters recalled from their loans i’d imagine. Sims and Reed in particular would be very suited to a high energy game.

Say what you want about Puel but to suggest players were getting worse under him is completely ridiculous. Ward-Prowse and Redmond both got their first England caps under him, Hesketh and Sims burst on the scene initially, Van Dijk was an animal before his injury that season and Romeu had probably the best season of his entire career. All of those players (barring Virg) have spent the past 2 seasons on a huge downward trajectory.