Derby 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[AlexLaw76]

5 minutes ago, Lymington Saint said:

Was at the game yesterday. There were moments when we looked really good especially before Stewart went off. Then seemed to lose shape. Still clearly likes to play with a target man. Desperately need cover for Stewart. Downs was dreadful. Simply unable to hold the ball up. Think we are all forgetting how much of a mess we were in last season. Going to take a while to sort it out. Still needs to be given the season in my view and then take stock

What does that mean?

Still has had all pre season, massive budget, top Championship players brought in, to complement some very good championship players we already had.

The mess...little to do with

Edwards, Quarshie, Wellington, Jelert, Roeslov, Charles, Jander, Scienza, Azaz, Fellows, Downs (I know)....

Wood and Stewart barely played last year, Arma went out on loan (but is a proven top scorer in this league).......

Edited 14 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[M271]

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

 

There was one guy stood not far from me, and there's always a handful of these twats at every away game, who had obviously been on the marching powder and was trying to impress his mates he was stood with. He spent the last 15 mins of the game continuously shouting the most  embarrassing shit aimed at Downs even when he was nowhere near the ball. It's just a good thing that he was so far back and up in the corner of the stand that there's no chance Downs himself could have heard it.

Yeah we really have some crap supposedly fans, don’t know why they turn up they don’t encourage the team. Continuously moan and shout negative comments at OUR players. At the final whistle I heard some boo sounds as the players and manager came across to applaud our fans, I initially thought there must be a Luuuuuuke or Rooooot type name they were reacting to but no it was boos for the team. I saw some of the more sane fans having a go at the booers who were in the vast minority. I can understand booing after a 3, 4 goal loss and the team not trying but after a draw where we played well for large parts of the game?

[Give it to Ron]

16 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

What does that mean?

Still has had all pre season, massive budget, top Championship players brought in, to complement some very good championship players we already had.

The mess...little to do with

Edwards, Quarshie, Wellington, Jelert, Roeslov, Charles, Jander, Scienza, Azaz, Fellows, Downs (I know)....

Wood and Stewart barely played last year, Arma went out on loan (but is a proven top scorer in this league).......

Because his play and teams need an outlet hold up player to bring the others in to play. The first ten minutes yesterday I saw some great play haven’t seen from us in ages. Once Stewart went that’s it gone.

I saw in that ten what we could be but can’t without a striker we didn’t buy - he now has to adapt with what we have if that’s an u21 or Aribo I don’t know .

[AlexLaw76]

6 minutes ago, M271 said:

Yeah we really have some crap supposedly fans, don’t know why they turn up they don’t encourage the team. Continuously moan and shout negative comments at OUR players. At the final whistle I heard some boo sounds as the players and manager came across to applaud our fans, I initially thought there must be a Luuuuuuke or Rooooot type name they were reacting to but no it was boos for the team. I saw some of the more sane fans having a go at the booers who were in the vast minority. I can understand booing after a 3, 4 goal loss and the team not trying but after a draw where we played well for large parts of the game?

Given what has happened under SR, we clearly have a very compliant and placid fan base.

Remarkable really

Edited 14 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[saintant]

23 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Because his play and teams need an outlet hold up player to bring the others in to play. The first ten minutes yesterday I saw some great play haven’t seen from us in ages. Once Stewart went that’s it gone.

I saw in that ten what we could be but can’t without a striker we didn’t buy - he now has to adapt with what we have if that’s an u21 or Aribo I don’t know .

Spot on and it's one of the big differences between us and Coventry who are regularly scoring 4, 5 and more every game. They have a big strong centre forward who scores goals, holds the ball up and brings his team mates into play high up the pitch - we don't now that Stewart is injured again which was always likely to happen. For whatever reason Downs is well off what Spors expected of him and that's not going to change anytime soon. More poor decision making from SR.

[warsash saint]

3 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

 

There was one guy stood not far from me, and there's always a handful of these twats at every away game, who had obviously been on the marching powder and was trying to impress his mates he was stood with. He spent the last 15 mins of the game continuously shouting the most  embarrassing shit aimed at Downs even when he was nowhere near the ball. It's just a good thing that he was so far back and up in the corner of the stand that there's no chance Downs himself could have heard it.

Sounds like the same cockwomble that was stood in front on me at Northampton - works in the club ticket office apparently !!!!

[warsash saint]

2 hours ago, Jack said:

What’s really doing my head in is we keep employing managers who seem not to see the glaringly obvious us fans talk about:

Bazunu was never going to be good enough - it’s cost us points 

Manning can’t defend for shit - it’s cost us points 

Stephens is shit….

Downs is beyond shit…

Arma can’t play up top on his own…

Archer can’t play up top on his own…

It all seems so obvious but takes a manager 2 months and shitloads of games without winning to work it out?

Hasn't he won us points????

[gio1saints]

9 minutes ago, saintant said:

 For whatever reason Downs is well off what Spors expected of him and that's not going to change anytime soon. More poor decision making from SR.

Don’t agree it’s more bad decision making from SR. They made enough bad calls already. This ain’t one of them. 

SR - via the recruitment team - Brought in the German based International centre forward - recommended by Poch - who just scored a winning International penalty and had decent scoring stats in bund11 - and who fitted the age size price potential category ——and who was clearly known to our German head of recruitment. So just how was that a bad call? Recruiting the guy who made the call - Spors  - was a bad decision you really mean I suppose?
 

DD was a Speculative buy - yes. But If we wanted a guarantee then we’d buy Haaland but we don’t have the ££. DD is the type we have to try. 

Nothing in his history or set up suggested he’d be as bad as he has been - or indeed any worse than a common or garden championship £8m striker. To berate SR for his presence and his play to date is dog whistling. Berate them fairly for not buying ( or more realistically not having  the ££ to buy a ) guaranteed goals” striker if you like - but not for buying Damien Downs for £8m. 

[Give it to Ron]

8 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Don’t agree it’s more bad decision making from SR. They made enough bad calls already. This ain’t one of them. 

SR - via the recruitment team - Brought in the German based International centre forward - recommended by Poch - who just scored a winning International penalty and had decent scoring stats in bund11 - and who fitted the age size price potential category ——and who was clearly known to our German head of recruitment. So just how was that a bad call? Recruiting the guy who made the call - Spors  - was a bad decision you really mean I suppose?
 

DD was a Speculative buy - yes. But If we wanted a guarantee then we’d buy Haaland but we don’t have the ££. DD is the type we have to try. 

Nothing in his history or set up suggested he’d be as bad as he has been - or indeed any worse than a common or garden championship £8m striker. To berate SR for his presence and his play to date is dog whistling. Berate them fairly for not buying ( or more realistically not having  the ££ to buy a ) guaranteed goals” striker if you like - but not for buying Damien Downs for £8m. 

So why is he playing like his feet are tied together?

We didn’t need to spend big there were players out there but they didn’t have sell on value and that doesn’t meet the business model SR have - just sometimes you have to deviate from that.

Gambling on Stewart’s fitness and Downs to come good in a position we couldn’t take a chance on is on SR don’t agree with you here.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, gio1saints said:

Don’t agree it’s more bad decision making from SR. They made enough bad calls already. This ain’t one of them. 

SR - via the recruitment team - Brought in the German based International centre forward - recommended by Poch - who just scored a winning International penalty and had decent scoring stats in bund11 - and who fitted the age size price potential category ——and who was clearly known to our German head of recruitment. So just how was that a bad call? Recruiting the guy who made the call - Spors  - was a bad decision you really mean I suppose?
 

DD was a Speculative buy - yes. But If we wanted a guarantee then we’d buy Haaland but we don’t have the ££. DD is the type we have to try. 

Nothing in his history or set up suggested he’d be as bad as he has been - or indeed any worse than a common or garden championship £8m striker. To berate SR for his presence and his play to date is dog whistling. Berate them fairly for not buying ( or more realistically not having  the ££ to buy a ) guaranteed goals” striker if you like - but not for buying Damien Downs for £8m. 

Is this a fact? I'm pretty sure it's not but you may be able to point me to where you got this info from. I'm berating the SR top echelons as a group but, for this decision, I blame Spors entirely. He claims that we'd watched Downs for a while and he was the one we wanted which leads me to think he wouldn't know a decent footballer if a prime Messi tapped him on the shoulder and said 'sign me'. I'm actually starting to wonder if Spors is in Will Still's ear encouraging him to give Downs game time because he genuinely believes he'll come good soon. He won't and this is up there with some of the worst signings this football club has made. Season after season we ask for a decent centre forward and, when we actually sign one, it's Damion Downs - you couldn't make it up. Stewart was starting to show we can be a good side with a guy up top leading the line, holding the ball up and knitting things together but the world and his wife knew he was made of glass but Spors thought Downs could fill the void. Nah! 

[Sheaf Saint]

9 minutes ago, warsash saint said:

Hasn't he won us points????

His ability to hit a free kick shouldn't be the only reason he's in the team.

We saw in 2023/24 what a total liability he is in defence. He's obviously never going to get better in that regard either. 

Players with his kind of limitations need to make up for it with effort and professionalism. To allow Derby an unchallenged cross into the box because he was busy arguing with the lino is simply unforgivable.

I get that he started the season as understudy to Welington so was never intended to be first choice at LB this season, but we have Jelert now who surely must be a better option there.

[saintant]

Just now, Sheaf Saint said:

His ability to hit a free kick shouldn't be the only reason he's in the team.

We saw in 2023/24 what a total liability he is in defence. He's obviously never going to get better in that regard either. 

Players with his kind of limitations need to make up for it with effort and professionalism. To allow Derby an unchallenged cross into the box because he was busy arguing with the lino is simply unforgivable.

I get that he started the season as understudy to Welington so was never intended to be first choice at LB this season, but we have Jelert now who surely must be a better option there.

This. You wouldn't expect a school team player to do it but Manning, an experienced pro, couldn't stop himself. Needs dropping as a disciplinary measure at the very least and his defensive play is below what it should be too.

[Appy]

We are so bad at stopping crosses from teams, we almost encourage it, have done for a few years. 

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, Appy said:

We are so bad at stopping crosses from teams, we almost encourage it, have done for a few years. 

Agree, we continue to concede headed goals from crosses. The guy who scored yesterday was allowed a free run and jump - we have to be blocking and hampering these big lumps before they get near the ball - it's within the rules because most other sides do it.

[gio1saints]

19 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

So why is he playing like his feet are tied together?

We didn’t need to spend big there were players out there but they didn’t have sell on value and that doesn’t meet the business model SR have - just sometimes you have to deviate from that.

Gambling on Stewart’s fitness and Downs to come good in a position we couldn’t take a chance on is on SR don’t agree with you here.

You are ignoring Adarm Armstrong and Cameron Archer in the list of strikers. As well as BBD and Tall Paul who were all still in squad when we bought DD. On paper that forward line up looks the best in our league. 

In that context DD does not look like a wild gamble by SR but a fair enough proposition. That he has not played well is not SR fault. 

SR can and should be blamed for overall strategy - but the buy decision on DD looked like a good idea to me - in that context. With the benefit of hindsight clearly not - yet - but I’d probably make same call again in that time frame if I was SR. And DD is not finished as a player. Whatever the hell has mushed his brain up let’s hope he can get over it. 
 

[Wade Garrett]

39 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Don’t agree it’s more bad decision making from SR. They made enough bad calls already. This ain’t one of them. 

SR - via the recruitment team - Brought in the German based International centre forward - recommended by Poch - who just scored a winning International penalty and had decent scoring stats in bund11 - and who fitted the age size price potential category ——and who was clearly known to our German head of recruitment. So just how was that a bad call? Recruiting the guy who made the call - Spors  - was a bad decision you really mean I suppose?
 

DD was a Speculative buy - yes. But If we wanted a guarantee then we’d buy Haaland but we don’t have the ££. DD is the type we have to try. 

Nothing in his history or set up suggested he’d be as bad as he has been - or indeed any worse than a common or garden championship £8m striker. To berate SR for his presence and his play to date is dog whistling. Berate them fairly for not buying ( or more realistically not having  the ££ to buy a ) guaranteed goals” striker if you like - but not for buying Damien Downs for £8m. 

Downs not a bad call!!  Bullshit.  Another stat driven signing recommended by a fucking geek who has never played the game.

A bit like our manager actually.

[Wade Garrett]

11 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

You are ignoring Adarm Armstrong and Cameron Archer in the list of strikers. As well as BBD and Tall Paul who were all still in squad when we bought DD. On paper that forward line up looks the best in our league. 

In that context DD does not look like a wild gamble by SR but a fair enough proposition. That he has not played well is not SR fault. 

SR can and should be blamed for overall strategy - but the buy decision on DD looked like a good idea to me - in that context. With the benefit of hindsight clearly not - yet - but I’d probably make same call again in that time frame if I was SR. And DD is not finished as a player. Whatever the hell has mushed his brain up let’s hope he can get over it. 
 

Fuck me, what a load of bollocks.  The guy is dogshit.

[Give it to Ron]

11 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

You are ignoring Adarm Armstrong and Cameron Archer in the list of strikers. As well as BBD and Tall Paul who were all still in squad when we bought DD. On paper that forward line up looks the best in our league. 

In that context DD does not look like a wild gamble by SR but a fair enough proposition. That he has not played well is not SR fault. 

SR can and should be blamed for overall strategy - but the buy decision on DD looked like a good idea to me - in that context. With the benefit of hindsight clearly not - yet - but I’d probably make same call again in that time frame if I was SR. And DD is not finished as a player. Whatever the hell has mushed his brain up let’s hope he can get over it. 
 

Armstrong and Archer are not focal point strikers are they ? Target men is what was required to compliment them and BBD was played wide and clearly Onauchu was off all summer we all knew that. Why buy wingers if you don’t have a target man?

SR gambled and got it wrong again 

[Charlie Wayman]

5 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

You can relax about promotion this season.

Or for that matter, any season, with this manager.

Nathan Jones survived for 14 games in all competitions, this fraud has had 12 so 2 to go? Hopefully

[die Mannyschaft]

7 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Armstrong and Archer are not focal point strikers are they ? Target men is what was required to compliment them and BBD was played wide and clearly Onauchu was off all summer we all knew that. Why buy wingers if you don’t have a target man?

SR gambled and got it wrong again 

Just watched EFL highlights ans half the goal in all leaque and from forwards who get ball delivered to them either high or on deck. Control the ball 1 or 2 touches then back it into the goal. Its not difficult and plenty of competent forwards in the leaques. If we cant get these players then just copy the tactics, goals galour each week. 

[S-Clarke]

We look like exactly where we are in the league, a mid-table also-ran Championship club. We have settled into our true level under Sports Republic. This is now where we stay.

[Baird of the land]

21 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Downs not a bad call!!  Bullshit.  Another stat driven signing recommended by a fucking geek who has never played the game.

A bit like our manager actually.

A signing dictated by the mythical resale value overlord. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

had decent scoring stats in bund11

Are you sure we didn’t get confused and signed someone from the 11th tier of German football? 

[Oh no Mick Mills]

25 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

You are ignoring Adarm Armstrong and Cameron Archer in the list of strikers. As well as BBD and Tall Paul who were all still in squad when we bought DD. On paper that forward line up looks the best in our league. 

In that context DD does not look like a wild gamble by SR but a fair enough proposition. That he has not played well is not SR fault. 

SR can and should be blamed for overall strategy - but the buy decision on DD looked like a good idea to me - in that context. With the benefit of hindsight clearly not - yet - but I’d probably make same call again in that time frame if I was SR. And DD is not finished as a player. Whatever the hell has mushed his brain up let’s hope he can get over it. 
 

I've already posted something similar on the Damion Downs thread .

I watched 1 full FC Koln game on You Tube just as we signed him. 

He played for 70 mins and to be fair got 1 assist in a 4 nil home win against Kaiserslauten. 

Other than that he barely touched the ball and when he did he gave it away badly on a couple of occasions.

He had  a terrible first touch which one of them ended up being so bad it became a through ball for the opposition attack to have a clear run on the Koln goal. 

I'm a punter ..a fan ..not a recruitment guy and I admit it was only one game, but the alarm bells were ringing for me due to SR overall incompetence.  

 

[Baird of the land]

When did 10 league goals in bundesliga 2 become decent scoring stats.

[Oh no Mick Mills]

5 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

We look like exactly where we are in the league, a mid-table also-ran Championship club. We have settled into our true level under Sports Republic. This is now where we stay.

Sadly it does feel like this now. 

They've squandered our Premier league status and are now allowing smaller Championship clubs to overtake us. 

Look at at supposedly basket case Leicester,  everyone thought they'd struggle.  

Look at the quality in their team compared to ours. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Oh no Mick Mills said:

Sadly it does feel like this now. 

They've squandered our Premier league status and are now allowing smaller Championship clubs to overtake us. 

Look at at supposedly basket case Leicester,  everyone thought they'd struggle.  

Look at the quality in their team compared to ours. 

Helped massively by bringing in a half decent, not spectacular, manager from within this league .

 

Edited 12 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[Saint86]

15 hours ago, saintant said:

Have you considered it could be because we ourselves are also in that same lower half of the league?

If we are mid table, it can only be down to the manger frankly. Our squad is far better on paper than most other teams. Derby were in league 1 18months ago.

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

If we are mid table, it can only be down to the manger frankly. Our squad is far better on paper than most other teams. Derby were in league 1 18months ago.

To a degree, yes, but also squad wise we are severely lacking in certain areas.

Up front specifically, our blind spot in that area will allow many clubs at this level to overtake us. Derby have a better centre forward than us, so do Wrexham and Birmingham. We will draw lots of games because we cannot put them to bed, we are inadequate in such a key area.

I'm not calling for us to sign Moore or Morris as the fix all by the way, but why are we not picking up Stansfield when Birmingham did, and why did we get the American striker we did over the one Derby got? They're operating in different leagues ability wise.

The club seemingly put all their eggs into the Ross Stewart basket, and took a gamble on an unproven young player, and that is once again a decision that kills us stone dead.

We are now in a position where we tread water until January, keep somewhat in touch to 6th, sign a striker for the 2nd half of the season and we may sneak it. But the fact we're wishing the January window to come already, after we spent £40m at this level, is mismanagement of the highest.

[Jack]

1 hour ago, warsash saint said:

Hasn't he won us points????

Wrexham yes, he came on for a bit and scored a FK. Watford away, it was his defensive fuck up that gave them their first equaliser, that can cancel out his FK. 
 

He never gets close to stopping a cross, he’s the first to put a foot on the ball and slow us down, he’s slow, and clearly he’s unprofessional and/or stupid for walking to the lino for a chat rather than defending first. Not good enough IMO

[Gloucester Saint]

55 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Downs not a bad call!!  Bullshit.  Another stat driven signing recommended by a fucking geek who has never played the game.

A bit like our manager actually.

Damion Downs is the worst call since Charles called Camilla for the squidgeygate tape.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

Damion Downs is the worst call since Charles called Camilla for the squidgeygate tape.

I kind of feel a bit sorry for Downs really, in the same way as I felt sorry for Bazunu/Larios/Edozie etc when we threw them in and expected them to compete from day 1 at the highest level.

We destroyed Bazunu/Larios and Edozies careers at the highest level, and we've probably done the same to Downs.

We are really making a mockery of our 'development' tag in recent years. Genuinely decent young players in the Lavia/Tino mould will run a mile from us in the future. Our entire model is broken.

[BARCELONASAINT]

23 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

If we are mid table, it can only be down to the manger frankly. Our squad is far better on paper than most other teams. Derby were in league 1 18months ago.

Will Still is clearly out of his depth and has not been helped by shit recruitment in vital areas of the pitch.

We took a punt on DD who my son said the minute we bought him was a massive mistake and that he was a terrible player and could not believe one of our scouts had recommended him. (He should know, he's a professional scout)

Where is the leader on the pitch, i just can't see one anywhere, i just don't understand why we have not bought a true leader.

Again in defence we lack a leader, an organiser.

Goalkeeper has been an issue for seasons now and yet we have gambled again

[Tom & Gerry]

Desperate times desperate measures. I think I'd rather play Jack Stephens centre forward than Downs. At least he can head the ball, control the ball,  put himself about,and has scored a goal this season,  would probably get sent off though.

[BARCELONASAINT]

5 minutes ago, Tom & Gerry said:

Desperate times desperate measures. I think I'd rather play Jack Stephens centre forward than Downs. At least he can head the ball, control the ball,  put himself about,and has scored a goal this season,  would probably get sent off though.

why not, we have shoehorned him in every other position!

[Osvaldorama]

2 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Nathan Jones survived for 14 games in all competitions, this fraud has had 12 so 2 to go? Hopefully

FFS absolutely guarantee Jones will fucking beat us this season. When do we play that lot?

[gio1saints]

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

[Osvaldorama]

3 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

The only “feeble minded” ones are the gormless scouts that recruited a striker that has never played football before 

[egg]

8 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

FFS absolutely guarantee Jones will fucking beat us this season. When do we play that lot?

Very real possibility. Our strike force won't get past the collosus that is Kayne Ramsay. 

To be fair, I'm pretty sure that Jones would het more out of this group of players than Still. 

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

Zero hindsight. Questioning spending that much on a young inexperienced player with potential as the main striker signing this summer happened when he was signed and certainly a few weeks into the season before the window shut. Saying it wouldn't be sensible to rely on Stewart given his injury record isn't prophecy either as most people would have said that at the time too. 

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

And here he is with his usual absolute horseshit. 

I dont think I have ever known a forum contributor to be so fucking wrong about everything every single time.

It's a talent, I'll give you that.

Edited 8 hours ago by CB Fry

[Chez]

6 hours ago, Lymington Saint said:

Was at the game yesterday. There were moments when we looked really good especially before Stewart went off. Then seemed to lose shape. Still clearly likes to play with a target man. Desperately need cover for Stewart. Downs was dreadful. Simply unable to hold the ball up. Think we are all forgetting how much of a mess we were in last season. Going to take a while to sort it out. Still needs to be given the season in my view and then take stock

Armstrong and Archer up the middle on their own just doesn't work, so if Stewart is going to miss games we have a problem. We either gives Downs more games and hope that faith is rewarded or...well, I am not sure what the alternative is to be honest.

Didn't see the game yesterday - did we play 4 or 5 at the back. BBC website says four, but seen some posters referencing wingbacks. Can you confirm?

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

Or buy a striker at the time fit for the league at a quarter of the price?! 

Moore or Kone would have been cheap buys to hold up play as Still wants it.

[Badger]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

This seems to be a bit of an apologists post on behalf of SR, or at the very least one trying to make some damage limitation.

I don’t think it’s hindsight to be critical of the player or the signing. I think many questioned the pedigree of the player, and the fact Koln - recently promoted- didn’t see him as an important player for their future and he seemed readily available without too much competition.

The only surprise is that’s he’s worse than anyone feared he might be.

Unfortunately Saints track record in signings only goes to add to the ‘expectations’  of the doubters at the time.

Archer another poor signing, called by many at the time including me. (In the interest of balance though I thought BBD might be worthwhile based on his scoring record at half a season at Sheff Utd). None of us can be right all the time, but our recruitment of strikers is a pretty pitiful success rate. 
 

Nothing to do with hindsight. 

[Lymington Saint]

11 minutes ago, Chez said:

Armstrong and Archer up the middle on their own just doesn't work, so if Stewart is going to miss games we have a problem. We either gives Downs more games and hope that faith is rewarded or...well, I am not sure what the alternative is to be honest.

Didn't see the game yesterday - did we play 4 or 5 at the back. BBC website says four, but seen some posters referencing wingbacks. Can you confirm?

Seemed to switch from a back 5 to a back 4 mid way through the second half. Agree with the comments about Aribo. Worth a try. He will at least put himself about and hold on to the ball. Real shame about Ross Stewart. Looks a decent player when fit

[SouSaint]

6 hours ago, M271 said:

Yeah we really have some crap supposedly fans, don’t know why they turn up they don’t encourage the team. Continuously moan and shout negative comments at OUR players. At the final whistle I heard some boo sounds as the players and manager came across to applaud our fans, I initially thought there must be a Luuuuuuke or Rooooot type name they were reacting to but no it was boos for the team. I saw some of the more sane fans having a go at the booers who were in the vast minority. I can understand booing after a 3, 4 goal loss and the team not trying but after a draw where we played well for large parts of the game?

What is it now, 4 wins in our last 46? I'd say the club, players and crap owners have got off lightly so far. 

[Badger]

1 minute ago, Lymington Saint said:

 Real shame about Ross Stewart. Looks a decent player when fit

It’s called the ‘David Connolly Syndrome’. 

[AlexLaw76]

2 hours ago, gio1saints said:

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

We could have bought 4 Kieffer Moores for the cost of this lad

Edited 7 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[egg]

16 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

We could have bought 4 Kieffer Moores for the cost of this lad

Kieffer Moore was never the answer, although he'd have been a better answer than Downs. 

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, gio1saints said:

Lots of people with great hindsight abilities on here - as usual. We bought a big striker but the  big striker didn’t score loads immediately . Must have been the wrong big striker so yes it’s SR fault. Of course that’s what it is you feeble minded idiots.

Same People who predicted Damion would flop. There’s always some who like a stopped watch predict failure in every recruit. Well good for you he’s not playing well. 

And who in addition suggested we should buy, let me see who is a current big CF scoring lots of goals at the moment and in our price range?? Well that’s not your job is it. It’s the morons at SR job isn’t it. 

Same people thought DD was a bad buy @ £8m. Who predicted RS would never recover and if he did would relapse with a hammy. Congratulate yourselves on your gifts if prophecy why don’t you. 
 

I might be wrong but I suspect DD has got worse as a player since he joined. Somethings not right. I think it’s psychological - But that’s SR fault not his I imagine you’ll say. Or Will still fault not him. Or both but mostly SR cuz we ought to have bought 3 big guys or maybe one £25m guy and a spare in case he broke his leg all who wants to join the second worst ever EPL team.

Captain Hindsight’s smart after the events the lot of you. 

Don't be a tool, you're totally missing the point to flap your arms around and shout down at others.

I'd say the overall feeling in the summer was frustration because we didn't sign an experienced goal scorer, it wasn't because we'd signed Downs personally per-say, it was because he wasn't backed up with a more seasoned option.

That was the stance. We should have never bought Downs to be our single option. Just like we shouldn't have bought George Long to be our backup keeper, as look at the mess we are in now.

So it's not about hindsight, people called this as it was at the time. Stop trying to play the 'I'm better than you' card, as it is the most ugly card you can play.