Saints 1-2 Stoke - Match Thread

[die Mannyschaft]

Why can't we buya forward who has proven ability and can score 15-2] goals? Ridiculous stupid possession boring football.  How on earth are we going you beat Pompey at home playing this crap. Saints are a slow, boring, negative weak team. We don't even cheat , no play actual, falling to ground to stop attacks. Whatever has happened to football!

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

1 hour ago, Sparkkyy said:

But we’ve got proven goalscorers at this level according to some. You know who you are. Very quiet this evening. Clueless clown

But a lot of us have been asking who's going to score the goals for us this season and the answer is not our forwards. Downs did not get in to the right positions today, Stewart tries to knock the ball in with his knob when a header might have been a better option, and AA should be nowhere near the team.

Too many on this forum were taking Stoke for granted. They just looked more the part. Pissed off how teams time waste nowadays and maybe a rugby system where the ref calls on assistance and the games carries on should be considered because this is getting out of hand (the pundits call it game management - fuck them). That stated, I'm enjoying the games a lot more this season even though we could easily have been 0 points from three.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, Miltonaggro said:

And that was probably his worst game for us today! 

It will happen very soon, he'll be off and Saints will wait till next season to get any players, by then it will be too late. 

[Andy Hill]

Bloated squad full of average players -  be lucky to make the play-offs.

[Morse]

The same old SR problem writ large today. Recruitment. The players they're finding are not good enough to start. We're weak at the back and toothless upfront. And SR appoint Spores who has knows nothing of the Championship and Still who is equally untried. Meanwhile Stoke City appoint a proven Championship manager who knows the championship and how to get a tune out of the dross he has to work with. As unattractive as Stoke were they will be top 6 come May. 

[OttawaSaint]

SR have destroyed this club. From a team with a squad decent enough to stay in EPL to this.

Nathan Jones, Selles, Martin, etc. A slew of gutless, talentless, clueless, slow paced, slow witted players.

A laughing stock of a club.

Edited 9 hours ago by OttawaSaint

[Patches O Houlihan]

14 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Ironically,  for a start, Wood looked far too slow. I would have kept faith with Quarshie and, with his pace, kept him as the last man when we were pressing and Stoke were down to 10. Instead of Stephens, who has  little pace. 

I would also have started a PL right back, Roerslev, as right back and had a right winger, Fraser, playing on the right wing. I know, who'd have thunk. 

I would not start Armstrong as a down-the-middle CF when he has proved time and time again, that he can't play there. So, I would have started with Stewart as CF. As we now have a proper CF, I would have played Manning as left full back so that with | Fraser on the right, we have crosses and a threat coming in from both wings.

I completely understand about the various positional choices.

But aside from Quashie (who's had a shocker the last two games, and as a young player might have had his confidence destroyed had he screwed up again today) all of those players played a part in the game.

Whilst we would all like a bit more quality, the 'deadwood' for me is players that can't get into the 18 for the match day. Wood seemed to be doing OK judging by Blackmore's commentary, but I can't claim to have watched him closely. He definitely got some good blocks in. 

[gio1saints]

24 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Ironically,  for a start, Wood looked far too slow. I would have kept faith with Quarshie and, with his pace, kept him as the last man when we were pressing and Stoke were down to 10. Instead of Stephens, who has  little pace. 

I

Quarshie would have caught the fucker before he got the ball. That goal was EXACTLY why we bought him to stop happening.  It was a straight foot race and Quarshie’s extra pace would have won and it would have been a draw not a loss. And he was benched instead. Fecks sake. 
Oh and all those 359 crosses that Stoke  put into our box? And the 15 quick kicks Down the middle to isolate a CB against there quick forward? Who is the biggest fastest guy in our squad who will eat those all day? Why didn’t Still know this was a tactic and play his best player against that tactic instead of benching him? Got to go down as manager error. Stupid error too. Quarshie was born to play against Stoke ffs. 

Edited 9 hours ago by gio1saints

[Convict Colony]

2 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

SR have destroyed this club. From a team with a squad decent enough to stay in EPL to this.

Nathan Jones, Selles, Martin, etc. A slew of gutless, talentless, clueless, slow paced, slow witted players.

A laughing stock of a club.

Honestly we have had like 4 maybe 5 yrs of not shitness, shitness is our level

[bugenhagen]

35 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

If still doesn't want to play 4 at the back whose gonna tell him we don't have the players to play 3 at the back.

Also while the centre forwards are getting blamed I feel sorry for them as I see other teams cf getting incisive passes played through on the run into space, we shuffle it out wide and wang it in the mixer.

Also hitting the 1st man the most award today goes to manning @Chez will be doing his nut, Romain Perraud mark 2.

[Maggie May]

Let’s try to stay positive. Ipswich have made a worse start than us.

We went on a losing streak under Russell Martin and still went up.

There’s uncertainty surrounding players and I’m certain Still wants additions to fit his style.

We hit the woodwork twice. Robins is a decent manager and Stoke will be up there in the playoff mix. 

[Convict Colony]

Just now, gio1saints said:

Quarshie would have caught the fucker before he got the ball. That goal was EXACTLY why we bought him to stop happening.  It was a straight foot trace and Quarshie’s extra pace would have won and it would have been a draw not a loss. And he was benched instead. Fecks sake. 
Oh and all those 359 crosses that Stoke  put into our box? And thise 15 quick kicks Damien the middle to isolate a CB against there quick forward? Who is the biggest fastest guy in our squad who will eat those all day? Why didn’t Still know this was a tactic and play his best player against that tactic instead of benching him? Got to go down as manager error. Stupid error too. Quarshie was born to play against Stoke ffs. 

Agree he is the only CB with wheels, the rest are similar and have no recovery

[S-Clarke]

It was a bit of a disjointed mess really, I don't feel we ever had control of the game. The first half was pretty even, but Stoke had the edge and looked like a threat on the attack - much more than we could muster. 

The clear issue with this team is a lack of ability to play the ball between the lines, the guys just have no idea how to do it. So often our approach play is predictable as we go side to side because we have no one stretching the game or with the ability to split the defence with a pass. When teams sit in with a strong defensive unit, like stoke did, you need width, pace and the ability to move the ball quickly. Our players in unable to do that and it won't change.

I would happily take an offer for Downes tomorrow. He blotted his copybook with me last January and if I'm honest I don't think he fits what we're trying to do now. His work in the midfield sums us up, as he moves the ball too slowly - russball is engrained in him and that's never going to go.

To be done on the break against 10 men is embarrassing, non-league/pub league stuff, let's be honest. That should never happen. But this team always seems to produce things that should never happen, bad things - not good things.

So we're pretty much as we were really. Our attack, no matter how many people keep proclaiming it's ''good for the championship' - it isn't. It's utter fodder. Individually they have good records, but collectively it's a mish mash of a mess and it will never work together. 

We need at least 2 wide players, game changing ones who start - not kids. And a 10, again, a starter - not a kid.

I'd also use the money for a striker. Downs is a project, but he needs better to push him. And Stewart isn't that.

So, a big week upcoming. We need to spend big and sort the attack out, if we don't, we will struggle to finish Top 6 with this outfit. This last week of the window will confirm us as playoff hopefuls, or Top 2 promotion chasers.

[Chris cooper]

Don’t come on here often anymore.. but that stoke side is fucking shite !! 
we’ve needed a striker since Broja ..downs couldn’t trap a sand bag .. we need a goal scorer .. if we don’t buy summit decent with the Tyler funds we ain’t going back up .. 

which tbf I don’t care 🤷🏻‍♂️.. championship is more fun !

[ErwinK1961]

2 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Quarshie would have caught the fucker before he got the ball. That goal was EXACTLY why we bought him to stop happening.  It was a straight foot trace and Quarshie’s extra pace would have won and it would have been a draw not a loss. And he was benched instead. Fecks sake. 
Oh and all those 359 crosses that Stoke  put into our box? And thise 15 quick kicks Damien the middle to isolate a CB against there quick forward? Who is the biggest fastest guy in our squad who will eat those all day? Why didn’t Still know this was a tactic and play his best player against that tactic instead of benching him? Got to go down as manager error. Stupid error too. Quarshie was born to play against Stoke ffs. 

When he took Wood off (who I thought was our best CB today FWIW) for Stewart, I’d have take off THB or Stephens for Quarshie as well to protect against the quick break.

On the crosses into the box, thought the CB’s defended those well today.

[SambaMaverick]

No one player above a 4/10 today. Still has to learn very quickly that you can't play that way, but has been dealt the hand of four shite strikers and two servicable wingers - one of whom had to fill in at right-back. Patience required, but not on the transfer front - we need incomings now at both ends.

[Football Special]

On 19/08/2025 at 14:34, Football Special said:

Agree with you Derry. It is also worth noting that the football God's dictate that a Saints v Stoke league fixture at St Mary's usually  finishes as a 0-1 defeat so we must allow for that. 

Nov 2015 - Saints 0v1 Stoke 

May 2017 - Saints 0v1 Stoke 

March 2018 ‐ Saints 0v0 Stoke 

April 2024 - Saints 0v1 Stoke 

Just scoring against them would be nice. 

Why are we always so fucking shit at home to Stoke? Can change managers, players, divisions but we always manage to end up with the same outcome , definitely a bogey team for us 

[stknowle]

5 minutes ago, Chris cooper said:

Don’t come on here often anymore.. but that stoke side is fucking shite !! 
we’ve needed a striker since Broja ..downs couldn’t trap a sand bag .. we need a goal scorer .. if we don’t buy summit decent with the Tyler funds we ain’t going back up .. 

which tbf I don’t care 🤷🏻‍♂️.. championship is more fun !

Please ‘come on here’ more often from now on.

[gio1saints]

4 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

When he took Wood off (who I thought was our best CB today FWIW) for Stewart, I’d have take off THB or Stephens for Quarshie as well to protect against the quick break.

On the crosses into the box, thought the CB’s defended those well today.

Agree we dealt with the crosses reasonably well but putting Quarshie on was surely a no brainer. If there’s a team designed to suit Quarshies attributes it was Stoke. I’m livid a team could beat us with such a basic plan - go long lob crosses in the box : repeat. 

[SambaMaverick]

7 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It was a bit of a disjointed mess really, I don't feel we ever had control of the game. The first half was pretty even, but Stoke had the edge and looked like a threat on the attack - much more than we could muster. 

The clear issue with this team is a lack of ability to play the ball between the lines, the guys just have no idea how to do it. So often our approach play is predictable as we go side to side because we have no one stretching the game or with the ability to split the defence with a pass. When teams sit in with a strong defensive unit, like stoke did, you need width, pace and the ability to move the ball quickly. Our players in unable to do that and it won't change.

I would happily take an offer for Downes tomorrow. He blotted his copybook with me last January and if I'm honest I don't think he fits what we're trying to do now. His work in the midfield sums us up, as he moves the ball too slowly - russball is engrained in him and that's never going to go.

To be done on the break against 10 men is embarrassing, non-league/pub league stuff, let's be honest. That should never happen. But this team always seems to produce things that should never happen, bad things - not good things.

So we're pretty much as we were really. Our attack, no matter how many people keep proclaiming it's ''good for the championship' - it isn't. It's utter fodder. Individually they have good records, but collectively it's a mish mash of a mess and it will never work together. 

We need at least 2 wide players, game changing ones who start - not kids. And a 10, again, a starter - not a kid.

I'd also use the money for a striker. Downs is a project, but he needs better to push him. And Stewart isn't that.

So, a big week upcoming. We need to spend big and sort the attack out, if we don't, we will struggle to finish Top 6 with this outfit. This last week of the window will confirm us as playoff hopefuls, or Top 2 promotion chasers.

Very diplomatic

[Jack]

2 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Why are we always so fucking shit at home to Stoke? Can change managers, players, divisions but we always manage to end up with the same outcome , definitely a bogey team for us 

Most of the teams in the league would’ve shithoused a win against us today. If you miss that many golden chances and gift some more at the other end, you’re going to struggle. 
 

At least we actually created a few, and should’ve stuck several away. We urgently need to stop giving away shit goals, we’ve forgotten what a clean sheet looks like 

[Lord Duckhunter]

49 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Adam Armstrong started well first 5mins- and then -

We kicked off

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Wow that was a massive wake up call for me. I watched a lot of Stoke last season and they were dire but they deserved the 3 points today and I could n't have picked a worse first game to take my grandson.

We were inept in every department starting with the manager who unbelievably started with AA up front by himself.

I was happy when Still was appointed, a breath of fresh air and  just what we needed, I thought but his downbeat press conferences and his persistence with Arma playing through the middle is a concern. The two new signings (yes I know its early days) haven't exactly hit the ground running. Edwards (QPR's player of the season) has already been dropped and Shea Charles (Sheff Weds Player of the season) has been average at best. In fact everywhere I looked today I saw ineptness - even Fernandes tried to be too clever and left us exposed.

There will be players arriving this week but I am not sure I have much faith that they will improve us. If I was a Coventry or Boro player right now I would take a lot of persuading to come to St Mary's.

[Football Special]

5 minutes ago, Chris cooper said:

Don’t come on here often anymore.. but that stoke side is fucking shite !! 
we’ve needed a striker since Broja ..downs couldn’t trap a sand bag .. we need a goal scorer .. if we don’t buy summit decent with the Tyler funds we ain’t going back up .. 

which tbf I don’t care 🤷🏻‍♂️.. championship is cmore fun !

How I'd love another Broja style loan this week, that has to be our best bet for getting genuine quality rather than buying,  just can't see it with SR recruitment involved 

[Oh no Mick Mills]

26 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

Kicked the ball whilst diving towards Lewis Baker for 0-1. Better keepers do better than that. I wonder how many points Johansson is worth to Stoke over a season…

So frustrating that many of us fans identified Johansson as a top keeper ..a match winner when he was at Rotherham and we could gone and got him 2 or 3m. 

Nope not our recruitment team..oh no..they're way too cleverer than that. 

He won it for them today. 

An incredible save from Taylor at nil nil then the bowl out to assist the 2nd and bang.. killed the game. 

 

 

[lambtiss]

14 minutes ago, SambaMaverick said:

No one player above a 4/10 today. Still has to learn very quickly that you can't play that way, but has been dealt the hand of four shite strikers and two servicable wingers - one of whom had to fill in at right-back. Patience required, but not on the transfer front - we need incomings now at both ends.

Fraser did not have to fill in at RB. We had a PL right back on the bench.

[bugenhagen]

20 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

Let’s try to stay positive. Ipswich have made a worse start than us.

We went on a losing streak under Russell Martin and still went up.

There’s uncertainty surrounding players and I’m certain Still wants additions to fit his style.

We hit the woodwork twice. Robins is a decent manager and Stoke will be up there in the playoff mix. 

Deep down I know what you say make sense, but I will still (no pun, an accident I swear) rather be going out with your sister Maggie May NOT tonight 😉

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

29 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Quarshie would have caught the fucker before he got the ball. That goal was EXACTLY why we bought him to stop happening.  It was a straight foot race and Quarshie’s extra pace would have won and it would have been a draw not a loss. And he was benched instead. Fecks sake. 
Oh and all those 359 crosses that Stoke  put into our box? And the 15 quick kicks Down the middle to isolate a CB against there quick forward? Who is the biggest fastest guy in our squad who will eat those all day? Why didn’t Still know this was a tactic and play his best player against that tactic instead of benching him? Got to go down as manager error. Stupid error too. Quarshie was born to play against Stoke ffs. 

Got to agree. SR seem to be buying players for physique rather than those who can kick a football. As a centre back, Quarshie covers quickly and can head the ball so don't have a problem buying him and playing him but Downs - what is he offering? Sad thing is, can't see him improving and making the grade.

[BarberSaint]

Stoke were much better than Wrexham, but still pretty average I thought.

Baz - 5/10 although perhaps could not have set up the striker for the first goal

Fraser - 5/10 - Probably highest score he'll get. Very workmanlike.

Stephens - 5/10

Wood 5/10 - ok in parts, iffy in others.

THB - 6/10 because he got the goal, but otherwise just ok.

Downes - 4/10 average at best. Doesn't really do much.

Fernandes - 6/10. Busy, not his best game.

Charles - 5/10 ok in parts but really need to see a lot more from him.

Welington - 5/10 when he was on. Manning 5/10. Needs to make runs and look to cross from the by-line.

Robinson - best player 6/10 - does need to work on decision-making and perhaps releasing the ball earlier at times

AA - Oh well. 4/10

Subs

Stewart - starting to look worse and worse. 3/10

Archer - same old - 3/10

Downs - 3/10. Worryingly poor.

Mads. 5/10. Improved us immediately.

We really need some creativity.

 

Edited 8 hours ago by BarberSaint
Forgot the new guy.

[EssEffCee]

What happened in the chapel towards the end of the first half? Looked like a couple of Saints fans fighting amongst themselves?

[SambaMaverick]

Really not sure about playing both Downes and Charles every week. Neither really have the ability to break the lines quickly and will be bypassed by a lot of teams humping the ball long, no need to have both in there most weeks.

[Vancouver Saint]

Well that should be the reality check Will Still needs. I missed most of the first half but thought we were way too ponderous at home to not be surprised to go 0-1 down to a mistake (again)...then a terrible second goal to concede. 

Bazunu? Everyone says he's had a good season and he made a match-winning save against Wrexham - but that second goal should just never go in - has to be saved. 

The difference was some appalling lack of finishing (Flynn Downes - how? Stewart - wha? Our other Downs - hasn't give me any confidence he has a nose for a goal) and the goalkeepers.

Thought we looked flat, grey and slow and Stoke were more up for it than us which is unforgivable.

Ref opened the door for us with a soft red card and we couldn't take the opportunity.

It's a long season, but we will have to do much much better to be top-two challengers.

[SfcPhil]

Still haven't seen us win since the playoff final. Going to the Pompey game as well.. 🫣

Why do we seem to overcommit to every attack and when we lose it, there's literally one defender back? Happened more than once today. We look like a team that's still trying to figure out a new style.

On another day Robinson, Flynn, Stewart and THB's other header goes in, but in truth we didn't deserve it. Stoke completely did a number on us with their dark arts and took their chances.

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

Bad in both boxes.

We need some new signings but can't say I'm optimistic we'll get them right. The two we signed early on are both on the bench! If they can't get ahead of this shower of shit, what was the point of signing them? Money wasted.

We need quality, sort it out Spors, it's your job.

☝️ ☝️ ☝️ 

[Baird of the land]

57 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

 

I'd also use the money for a striker. Downs is a project, but he needs better to push him. And Stewart isn't that.

Only saints would spend 7m on a project

[Gloucester Saint]

15 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

What happened in the chapel towards the end of the first half? Looked like a couple of Saints fans fighting amongst themselves?

Back to the bad days of 08/09, that happened several times notably in the Doncaster home game where proper punches were traded.

Football is never worth getting to that stage of disagreement about but SR’s player trading-driven model where the profits on individual transactions trump the health of the club and what is on the pitch was always going to be highly divisive.

Unfortunately, there is always supporters who defend the club blindly and others who become too confrontationsl and water/electricity meets. 

[EssEffCee]

7 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Back to the bad days of 08/09, that happened several times notably in the Doncaster home game where proper punches were traded.

Football is never worth getting to that stage of disagreement about but SR’s player trading-driven model where the profits on individual transactions trump the health of the club and what is on the pitch was always going to be highly divisive.

Unfortunately, there is always supporters who defend the club blindly and others who become too confrontationsl and water/electricity meets. 

Seemed to be a few missiles lobbed between home and away but there was definitely something else going on too.

[Andy Hill]

When will one of AA, Stewart, Downs, Archer and BBD actually score a goal this season ??  

[OneMrsWallace]

AA has zero confidence, needs shifting on. He never recovered from handing that shirt to the woman who bet against us. BBD just awful. Stewart - maybe but probably not. Archer - who cares. Downs too early to say but this is not a squad that is going to fire us to promotion. SR better get their cheque book out quick. Otherwise they need to step aside and let a genuine investor take us forward. Yes, be careful what you wish for etc but I just don't see a genuine plan to show they are truly invested in this club or have any sense of direction. 

[Miltonaggro]

Should have said on earlier post. Fair play to Robbins for the way he has set up and coached Stoke. Horrible niggly workmanlike side and and top level shithousery - a Championship masterclass. Schooled Will Still today. Mention in dispatches for Johansson too, superb display of committed goalkeeping, underatted if anything. 

[Gloucester Saint]

9 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Seemed to be a few missiles lobbed between home and away but there was definitely something else going on too.

Stoke are quite lively away, saw a documentary years ago where they were playing at the City Ground and the police were kettling them into a pub. Their ‘Naughty Forty’ tried to ignite the pub. The camera crew were quite shocked but the football intelligence officer shrugged and said ‘they try this regularly’.

Their rendition of Delilah is marvellous.

But it does sound like the atmosphere is turning sour again at home games like 2007-9 did and the club had really better make sure they win the Pompey game or it really will turn toxic and unpleasant.

Edited 7 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Miltonaggro]

4 minutes ago, OneMrsWallace said:

AA has zero confidence, needs shifting on. He never recovered from handing that shirt to the woman who bet against us. BBD just awful. Stewart - maybe but probably not. Archer - who cares. Downs too early to say but this is not a squad that is going to fire us to promotion. SR better get their cheque book out quick. Otherwise they need to step aside and let a genuine investor take us forward. Yes, be careful what you wish for etc but I just don't see a genuine plan to show they are truly invested in this club or have any sense of direction. 

SR have been very fortunate to have been able to flog young players since taking over at Saints with their ‘if you throw enough mud’ model. Any success seems to be inspite of, rather than because of. Tick tock on Spors. 

[Crab Lungs]

1 hour ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

So frustrating that many of us fans identified Johansson as a top keeper ..a match winner when he was at Rotherham and we could gone and got him 2 or 3m. 

Nope not our recruitment team..oh no..they're way too cleverer than that. 

He won it for them today. 

An incredible save from Taylor at nil nil then the bowl out to assist the 2nd and bang.. killed the game. 

 

 

I do agree.
When people bang on about spending untold millions, it really irks me sometimes. 

Our fundamental problem - and it has been for a long time - has been actually identifying the likes of Johansson, Azaz, Rudoni etc when they’re sub-5m, not now when it’s bloody obvious.

That said, Johansson was bloody obvious from the start.

Oh no, not our recruitment team though. They know better. 😬

Thats on them - and has been for years, probably post-Koeman.

 

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I don’t think you can blame Armstrong for anything this season. Seriously how can you?

He’s made runs, he’s pressed, he’s had shots at goal, put people through etc. But when you’re against at least two defenders a foot taller than you and largely playing on your own, what do you expect?

You must be joking.  His performance against Wrexham was as inept as you could see.  Absolute fucking dogshit.

[OneMrsWallace]

4 hours ago, The Kraken said:

I’m still waiting to find out what a Will Still side is. Under Martin, for better or worse, at least you knew what they were trying to be. This team doesn’t seem to have any sort of balance to it, just a bunch of players shoved together in a pretty turgid system. Needs to get a grip, that’s 3 league games and a cup game where it’s so often looked massively disjointed and so vulnerable on the break.

Agree. It feels like Juric all over again. I guess Still will argue we haven't bought the players he needs to make his system work. He did say something along those lines after Ipswich. If that remains the case when the window closes I don't see him lasting the season.

[Miltonaggro]

54 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Got to agree. SR seem to be buying players for physique rather than those who can kick a football. As a centre back, Quarshie covers quickly and can head the ball so don't have a problem buying him and playing him but Downs - what is he offering? Sad thing is, can't see him improving and making the grade.

When he came on today he was a yard behind every play - timing (a key part of a big striker’s game) completely absent. Didn’t get a touch or deserve to. 

[gallaghert366@yahoo.com]

1 hour ago, Andy Hill said:

Bloated squad full of average players -  be lucky to make the play-offs.

Play offs    

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Crab Lungs said:

I do agree.
When people bang on about spending untold millions, it really irks me sometimes. 

Our fundamental problem - and it has been for a long time - has been actually identifying the likes of Johansson, Azaz, Rudoni etc when they’re sub-5m, not now when it’s bloody obvious.

That said, Johansson was bloody obvious from the start.

Oh no, not our recruitment team though. They know better. 😬

Thats on them - and has been for years, probably post-Koeman.

 

It’s getting the balance and the context. Downs and Quarshie are the type of signings you make as a gamble post-parachute payments to a solid but uninspired Championship core if you stay down. You never add them as gambles to make a few quid on top of a large and hugely failed squad. 

It is basic business common sense. Lowe signed Morgan in 08/09 - didn’t stop us going bust and down, but he was a young and inexpensive asset to build on. That’s not where we are yet, although the next week will tell us if we are heading there again. 

We need another 5-6 like the Brentford right back, probably a blend of loans and permanents, who start the next league game. Some of the forward players with PTSD from last season need to go out in loan with us paying nearly all of the wages for their sake as much as ours - BBD, possibly AA, perhaps Stewart. 

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, Crab Lungs said:

Kicked the ball whilst diving towards Lewis Baker for 0-1. Better keepers do better than that. I wonder how many points Johansson is worth to Stoke over a season…

Criminal we haven’t signed him.  Especially with Ramsdale gone.  Bazunu is nowhere near good enough.

[S-Clarke]

8 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

I do agree.
When people bang on about spending untold millions, it really irks me sometimes. 

Our fundamental problem - and it has been for a long time - has been actually identifying the likes of Johansson, Azaz, Rudoni etc when they’re sub-5m, not now when it’s bloody obvious.

That said, Johansson was bloody obvious from the start.

Oh no, not our recruitment team though. They know better. 😬

Thats on them - and has been for years, probably post-Koeman.

 

Haven't we totally overhauled it this year though? Sacked the lot of them, Spors brought in his own people. The contract renewal for Stephens and the two project signings do concern me though.

But let's see where we sit in a week, then we'll know for sure what the score is. (Southampton-Nill probably)