Southampton 0-2 Preston - Match Thread

[wild-saint]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

I don’t know, however it does seem weird that you’d have a preferred formation, have the players to play it yet persist with a completely different formation that isn’t working 

It’s really odd plus playing Armstrong up front knowing he is completely ineffective in that position. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Not sure what else to say that has not already been said. In a nutshell, Still has to be replaced with a strong experienced Manager who has the balls to tell SR to stick their ‘group system’ or whatever it is up where the Sun don’t shine. Otherwise, sacking Still will mean nothing because we’ll be playing the same turgid shite football that we’ve seen under 4 successive managers and coaching set-ups.

Then there’s the topic of striker - I’d get Antonio and/or Bamford in on short term contracts…they honestly could not be any worse than Downs (who is pathetically poor).

Other than that, I don’t give a shit anymore. The whole fucking club can implode for all I care in its current form.

[StrangelyBrown]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

This really is an issue for us. We rarely kick up a fuss and demand better.

Tomorrow we will have won 1 game in 365 days... and our fans either left early or quietly filed out at the end... a club like west ham would have had a riot and been trying to stop the directors box or throwing missiles at it... Yes SR have been awful as owners, yes Still was terrible and out of his depth, yes some of the players are weak links... but the fans also have to accept a degree of the blame as our home support especially does need to be better.

Trouble with our fan base is the majority can't even bring themselves to sing OWTS when we're winning let alone be vocal about our failings. Too many happy clappers happy to clap the team off for mediocre performances.

It costs a fortune supporting saints and it's about time the weak minded entitled millionaires who make up our team felt some ire for another woefully pathetic performance.

[Chez]

There are too many players that don't want it enough. I could see a real lack of desire and fight. That's bad, but we also create fuck all. We have plenty of nice footballers, but the blend is terrible. Where is the physicality we began the summer talking about?

Still has run out of time. This wasn't good enough.

 

[dsrdorset]

I hate the lack of passion and fight from the players. It's a disgrace. The manger is clueless. 

 

But, worse than that, I think I have stopped caring. Season ticket holder since 1992 and never been more depressed coming back from a game. If the players don't care, why should we? 

Goodnight. See you in League 1. 

[Convict Colony]

Honestly at least with lego, juric i knew what they were trying to do not matter how shit they were executing it.

With still there is no identity, its like we always leave it up to the players about how to progress the ball and attack.

[die Mannyschaft]

9 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Not sure what else to say that has not already been said. In a nutshell, Still has to be replaced with a strong experienced Manager who has the balls to tell SR to stick their ‘group system’ or whatever it is up where the Sun don’t shine. Otherwise, sacking Still will mean nothing because we’ll be playing the same turgid shite football that we’ve seen under 4 successive managers and coaching set-ups.

Then there’s the topic of striker - I’d get Antonio and/or Bamford in on short term contracts…they honestly could not be any worse than Downs (who is pathetically poor).

Other than that, I don’t give a shit anymore. The whole fucking club can implode for all I care in its current form.

4 managers same boring negative analytics football. At least we lost this time with a crisp xG so cant win with high or low xG

[die Mannyschaft]

3 minutes ago, dsrdorset said:

I hate the lack of passion and fight from the players. It's a disgrace. The manger is clueless. 

 

But, worse than that, I think I have stopped caring. Season ticket holder since 1992 and never been more depressed coming back from a game. If the players don't care, why should we? 

Goodnight. See you in League 1. 

Here here what a load of rubbish. Definitely league 1, I cant see a way to avoid it with these stupid coaching tactics and subs 

[Edmonton Saint]

We spent over £50 million in the summer compared to Preston who spent about £1.5 million, yet once again we put in an embarrassing feeble effort and were schooled by a team with much lower resources .

The difference ? Preston have a gameplan and a way of doing things, where as with Still we don’t, I’ve  not been certain of his style, or what he’s being trying to achieve since he’s been here .We don’t seem to have a style or identity, and if Still can’t galvanize these players after being heavily backed, then he is the problem. 
 

Get him gone now.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

4 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Here here what a load of rubbish. Definitely league 1, I cant see a way to avoid it with these stupid coaching tactics and subs 

Who wants mid table obscurity? Either we chase for promotion or we have to escape relegation. We need an interest.

But we do need a cohesive "You don't know what you're doing" chant...because he really doesn't have a clue and SR need to know...and I don't concur with these views that he is ordered to play a certain system. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

THB just walked down the tunnel at the end of the game. Absolute coward. At least the others had the courage to stay on the pitch and listen to the crowd

 

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, sambosa75 said:

This c*nt has got to go.  Complete rabbit in the headlights.  One of the worse sides I’ve ever seen to beat us by 2 clear goals.

Just shows how ineffective Saints are asa unit. No point having one player running around creating when no movement at correct time from others. This is cloned football at its best. Why can't Saints play for longer than 5 minutes slots. Does the club have to put £1m in the meter every 10 minutes. Why do we pass across our box all the time, pass rather than shoot inside box. 

The coaches need to study the coaching handbook on shooting practice and forget the rest, especially passing and looking around.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, sambosa75 said:

This c*nt has got to go.  Complete rabbit in the headlights.  One of the worse sides I’ve ever seen to beat us by 2 clear goals.

Just shows how ineffective Saints are asa unit. No point having one player running around creating when no movement at correct time from others. This is cloned football at its best. Why can't Saints play for longer than 5 minutes slots. Does the club have to put £1m in the meter every 10 minutes. Why do we pass across our box all the time, pass rather than shoot inside box. 

The coaches need to study the coaching handbook on shooting practice and forget the rest, especially passing and looking around.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, sambosa75 said:

This c*nt has got to go.  Complete rabbit in the headlights.  One of the worse sides I’ve ever seen to beat us by 2 clear goals.

Just shows how ineffective Saints are asa unit. No point having one player running around creating when no movement at correct time from others. This is cloned football at its best. Why can't Saints play for longer than 5 minutes slots. Does the club have to put £1m in the meter every 10 minutes. Why do we pass across our box all the time, pass rather than shoot inside box. 

The coaches need to study the coaching handbook on shooting practice and forget the rest, especially passing and looking around.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

THB just walked down the tunnel at the end of the game. Absolute coward. At least the others had the courage to stay on the pitch and listen to the crowd

 

Roy Keane should be sent a recording. Give his feedback over Sunday lunch.

Pass the salt.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, sambosa75 said:

This c*nt has got to go.  Complete rabbit in the headlights.  One of the worse sides I’ve ever seen to beat us by 2 clear goals.

Just shows how ineffective Saints are asa unit. No point having one player running around creating when no movement at correct time from others. This is cloned football at its best. Why can't Saints play for longer than 5 minutes slots. Does the club have to put £1m in the meter every 10 minutes. Why do we pass across our box all the time, pass rather than shoot inside box. 

The coaches need to study the coaching handbook on shooting practice and forget the rest, especially passing and looking around.

[Costa del Solent]

Took my 7 year old son today. He’d been to the Brighton friendly and pestered me to go since. Wanted to go to a league game. He was just totally dejected - not sad that we didn’t win, but just disappointed at what he was watching (as were we all). Easier to put him in a City or Liverpool shirt like most of his friends so that at least he can enjoy football. Seems a shame to introduce him to all this shit 

[Nordic Saint]

7 minutes ago, Edmonton Saint said:

We spent over £50 million in the summer compared to Preston who spent about £1.5 million, yet once again we put in an embarrassing feeble effort and were schooled by a team with much lower resources .

 

The big difference is they didn't waste their money on players like Downs and Azaz, and they got some decent players on loan from Premier League clubs, like Harrison Armstrong and Lewis Dobbin. Also they've got a solid spine to their team whereas ours is spineless. At times today, we had 3 or 4 players queueing up to play in their preferred position on the left wing and no one in the penalty area for them to cross to.

[Danbert]

This is beyond a joke, I don't understand how we can be this bad. It is utterly pathetic.

[Football Special]

12 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Not sure what else to say that has not already been said. In a nutshell, Still has to be replaced with a strong experienced Manager who has the balls to tell SR to stick their ‘group system’ or whatever it is up where the Sun don’t shine. Otherwise, sacking Still will mean nothing because we’ll be playing the same turgid shite football that we’ve seen under 4 successive managers and coaching set-ups.

Then there’s the topic of striker - I’d get Antonio and/or Bamford in on short term contracts…they honestly could not be any worse than Downs (who is pathetically poor).

Other than that, I don’t give a shit anymore. The whole fucking club can implode for all I care in its current form.

FAO Itchen centre season ticket holders kick your seats with force to break them and. Lob them towards the directors box , do your bit , your football club needs you 

[Monk]

Oh dear…

I mean that was shambolic, I would love to spend the next four to five paragraphs tactically pulling Will Still apart. However on this occasion I won’t, you all know my opinions on him and he validated them yet again today. The sooner he’s gone, the better. He doesn’t offer much other than the odd hipster football vocabulary.
 

but… as for the players? That was absolutely appalling and cowardly.

I’ve heard of a story from last season (in the women’s game) where the players disliked and disagreed with the managers set up so much they defied the instructions. The group led by a loan player, moved to a different formation and targeted the opposition through a different method. 
Now, they didn’t win the game but they ended up gaining a point which at the end of the season contributed to them staying up.
 

The point I’m making is that, 99% of footballers know when something is or isn’t working. Yet, nobody from our squad appears to take any accountability. I didn’t see one player converse with WS on the edge of the pitch or lead a small briefing when the ball was out of play. I think our football IQ as a squad is shocking. 

I do have to go after DD, not for the missed oppo across the six yard. Just the complete lack of effort and intent. Take Tall Paul, at least he would try and bundle players over, impact the ball carrier with a half arsed press or jump with/next to the opposition player climbing for a header. We seriously need to consider him playing in the B/23’s team for a run of games. 

Ultimately, I just hate how often I feel like I’ve fallen out of love with my club. Even when we were proper shit, I still loved it and cared. Today, I just seem to have so much anger and hate directed at it. 

Would love to know what was said with Nathan Wood if anyone’s any wiser? 
 

 

[Nordic Saint]

Just now, Danbert said:

This is beyond a joke, I don't understand how we can be this bad. It is utterly pathetic.

The team is spineless. We bought loads of midfielders, but we don't have a decent goalkeeper, centre half or centre forward.

[Gloucester Saint]

Agree with most of that @Monk, Still is a fraud.

I’ve gone well beyond anger, just nothing there really other than gallows humour. More interested in how Cheltenham and Torquay do, the autumn rugby internationals, and now focusing towards the Ashes (and probably disappointment).

Edited 19 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Southner]

I'm jolly well cross. 

[Vancouver Saint]

18 minutes ago, Costa del Solent said:

Took my 7 year old son today. He’d been to the Brighton friendly and pestered me to go since. Wanted to go to a league game. He was just totally dejected - not sad that we didn’t win, but just disappointed at what he was watching (as were we all). Easier to put him in a City or Liverpool shirt like most of his friends so that at least he can enjoy football. Seems a shame to introduce him to all this shit 

This the saddest post of all. My little grandson trots out for his practices in a Saints shirt - fortunately for him nobody has a clue who Saints are here! 
But seriously, your post is the saddest of all because we are losing a whole generation of supporters unless we turn things around dramatically...

[aintforever]

We looked like a team without a manager, which is basically what we are because Still is a complete fraud. In all probability they will hire someone worse but we might as well roll the dice, law of averages say that they must get one managerial appointment right one day.

Just put Still out if his misery.

[Mboto Gorge]

1 hour ago, Micky said:

That's exactly what I'm saying. We won't get a top striker in the January window. We need to limp to the finish line this season, and then seriously address the striker, goalkeeper, spine next season.

We aren’t addressing anything with that fucking bellend spors and his oh so clever signings and out of the box appointments. Hopefully he goes too, the prick 

[Southner]

27 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Who wants mid table obscurity? Either we chase for promotion or we have to escape relegation. We need an interest.

But we do need a cohesive "You don't know what you're doing" chant...because he really doesn't have a clue and SR need to know...and I don't concur with these views that he is ordered to play a certain system. 

If WS is being ordered to play a particular system/formation, how absolutely dense does the dictator/SR have to be to not see that it's clearly not working? A hugely egotistical and amateurish move, though I don't think it would suprise me. 

[EBS1980]

Curious why the SR chants were sang at 0-0 today but then weren’t sung after that?!

[The Kraken]

9 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

I’ve gone well beyond anger, just nothing there really other than gallows humour.

It’s this, isn’t it? Perhaps one of the biggest transfer spends in this division ever, and we’re looking at relegation as a reasonable possibility. Like you I’ve gone beyond other emotions and it’s now just a dull ache and an expectation to not win any game we play in the league. Will Still has proven he is utterly useless for us but the next one through the door will be no better I’m sure. Absolutely scandalous running of a business.

[Monk]

Thoughts on Nathan Wood’s conduct? Admittedly despite being an absolute donkey of a player has been one of our better players.

 

 

Edited 19 hours ago by Monk

[AlexLaw76]

Seen posts on here suggesting that Still is being 'encouraged' to play a certain system.

That cannot be true, can it? But then, all of the previous managers', bar Ralph, chopped to 3/5 at the back. But I still cannot see this being true, despite this obvious bit of reality (or, I just don't want it to be true).

This is an awful system, but we bought players to play 433/4231. We saw success in this very league with 433/4231

What the fuck is going on?

 

[OttawaSaint]

34 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

THB just walked down the tunnel at the end of the game. Absolute coward. At least the others had the courage to stay on the pitch and listen to the crowd

 

I hate that prick!

[Football Special]

28 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Just shows how ineffective Saints are asa unit. No point having one player running around creating when no movement at correct time from others. This is cloned football at its best. Why can't Saints play for longer than 5 minutes slots. Does the club have to put £1m in the meter every 10 minutes. Why do we pass across our box all the time, pass rather than shoot inside box. 

The coaches need to study the coaching handbook on shooting practice and forget the rest, especially passing and looking around.

I made this very point earlier on in the season on transfer thread, we do not have anyone to aim the ball to, clueless strategy by clueless people, SR must be intended sabotage , no other explanation they can't be that incompetent 

[LGTL]

6 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

This the saddest post of all. My little grandson trots out for his practices in a Saints shirt - fortunately for him nobody has a clue who Saints are here! 
But seriously, your post is the saddest of all because we are losing a whole generation of supporters unless we turn things around dramatically...

My 5 year old nephew is in Vancouver and always wears his saints kit to training, so there's at least one other! Like you say, nobody bats an eyelid as we're so insignificant. 

[Football Special]

22 minutes ago, Monk said:

Oh dear…

I mean that was shambolic, I would love to spend the next four to five paragraphs tactically pulling Will Still apart. However on this occasion I won’t, you all know my opinions on him and he validated them yet again today. The sooner he’s gone, the better. He doesn’t offer much other than the odd hipster football vocabulary.
 

but… as for the players? That was absolutely appalling and cowardly.

I’ve heard of a story from last season (in the women’s game) where the players disliked and disagreed with the managers set up so much they defied the instructions. The group led by a loan player, moved to a different formation and targeted the opposition through a different method. 
Now, they didn’t win the game but they ended up gaining a point which at the end of the season contributed to them staying up.
 

The point I’m making is that, 99% of footballers know when something is or isn’t working. Yet, nobody from our squad appears to take any accountability. I didn’t see one player converse with WS on the edge of the pitch or lead a small briefing when the ball was out of play. I think our football IQ as a squad is shocking. 

I do have to go after DD, not for the missed oppo across the six yard. Just the complete lack of effort and intent. Take Tall Paul, at least he would try and bundle players over, impact the ball carrier with a half arsed press or jump with/next to the opposition player climbing for a header. We seriously need to consider him playing in the B/23’s team for a run of games. 

Ultimately, I just hate how often I feel like I’ve fallen out of love with my club. Even when we were proper shit, I still loved it and cared. Today, I just seem to have so much anger and hate directed at it. 

Would love to know what was said with Nathan Wood if anyone’s any wiser? 
 

 

Let's not waste our time or energy on the kid Will Still, he's a youngster well out of his depth, let's focus in on those those who sabotage this once great football club, anyone associated with Sports Republic should be very clear, do not show your faces at St Mary’s stadium again 

[Convict Colony]

9 minutes ago, Monk said:

Thoughts on Nathan Wood’s conduct? Admittedly despite being an absolute donkey of a player has been one of our better players.

 

 

honestly no issue

Someone was probably being a twat to him so fairplay he gives it back, to react like that doesnt come about from someone saying you played badly.

He's been a "better" players, made plenty of mistakes but not the issue or maybe he is indicative of the issue given he is the starting CB

Edited 19 hours ago by Convict Colony

[Oh no Mick Mills]

11 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

This the saddest post of all. My little grandson trots out for his practices in a Saints shirt - fortunately for him nobody has a clue who Saints are here! 
But seriously, your post is the saddest of all because we are losing a whole generation of supporters unless we turn things around dramatically...

Exactly. 

My 12 year old lad is a real passionate Saints fan but he's gone from crashing out over defeats to just being numb and disinterested now. ..this club are literally breaking its own fan base...Wankerson must be so proud. 

[OttawaSaint]

34 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Roy Keane should be sent a recording. Give his feedback over Sunday lunch.

Pass the salt.

Roy Keane's football nightmares.

RK: fuck's this?

WS: the lads are practicing floaty crosses...

RK: you fucking red head idiot!

RK: an' who the fuck's that 

WS: Oh that's Manning's beard coach

RK: I'm going to chin him!

[SWLondon Saint]

7 minutes ago, Monk said:

Oh dear…

I mean that was shambolic, I would love to spend the next four to five paragraphs tactically pulling Will Still apart. However on this occasion I won’t, you all know my opinions on him and he validated them yet again today. The sooner he’s gone, the better. He doesn’t offer much other than the odd hipster football vocabulary.
 

but… as for the players? That was absolutely appalling and cowardly.

I’ve heard of a story from last season (in the women’s game) where the players disliked and disagreed with the managers set up so much they defied the instructions. The group led by a loan player, moved to a different formation and targeted the opposition through a different method. 
Now, they didn’t win the game but they ended up gaining a point which at the end of the season contributed to them staying up.
 

The point I’m making is that, 99% of footballers know when something is or isn’t working. Yet, nobody from our squad appears to take any accountability. I didn’t see one player converse with WS on the edge of the pitch or lead a small briefing when the ball was out of play. I think our football IQ as a squad is shocking. 

I do have to go after DD, not for the missed oppo across the six yard. Just the complete lack of effort and intent. Take Tall Paul, at least he would try and bundle players over, impact the ball carrier with a half arsed press or jump with/next to the opposition player climbing for a header. We seriously need to consider him playing in the B/23’s team for a run of games. 

Ultimately, I just hate how often I feel like I’ve fallen out of love with my club. Even when we were proper shit, I still loved it and cared. Today, I just seem to have so much anger and hate directed at it. 

Would love to know what was said with Nathan Wood if anyone’s any wiser? 
 

 

Couldn't agree more with all of that. I've been saying that about Downs for a while, he needs a run of games where he's told what to do if he doesn't already know, you can hear the manager / coaches much easier in the u23s anyway. We can only wish we had tall Paul back instead!

Our players just seem to have given up completely, particularly the ones who've been here longer. At least Scienza, Fellows, Robinson seem to be *trying* to make things happen, but the movement and energy from most of the others is hopeless.

We just seem to revert to Russ-ball at the first moment of pressure and then everything goes backwards at every opportunity. Someone needs to get into the defenders heads it's OK to play optimistic balls into the channels if we then press up after it, do that a few times and it opens up the midfield as you force the defenders to worry about it. When players make runs in behind, give them something to chase and the oppo something to think about. Too easy when it's all in front of them going round our back 5 + 2CM.

Switch it PROPERLY, in 1 pass, don't go round every defender first as it takes so f***ing long they're back in position by the time you've got the ball to the other side.

I could go on but I can't be arsed, much like our players. Who is even captain? I don't see anyone picking their teammates up, bringing conviction we can get back into the game, driving us forward.

[Football Special]

24 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

The team is spineless. We bought loads of midfielders, but we don't have a decent goalkeeper, centre half or centre forward.

Go back to the transfer window thread, made this point multiple times, there is zero strategy, we do NOT have a team and will continue to lose.to teams with very basic championship players, we've been sabotaged , no way the people.in. charge can be this incompetent and clueless,if they are resignations on Monday but never show your faces at St Mary’s again 

[SWLondon Saint]

28 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Agree with most of that Monk, Still is a fraud.

I’ve gone well beyond anger, just nothing there really other than gallows humour. More interested in how Cheltenham and Torquay do, the autumn rugby internationals, and now focusing towards the Ashes (and probably disappointment).

Save yourself the grief and don't have any expectations for the Ashes other than hope to avoid 5-0 again! 😅

[Football Special]

14 minutes ago, Monk said:

Thoughts on Nathan Wood’s conduct? Admittedly despite being an absolute donkey of a player has been one of our better players.

 

 

Towards the end? I was behind the goal In The Northam, he looked really put out by the your not.fit to wear the shirt song and reacted  to it, fucking hell Nath you have no idea how much this team is hated by the fanbase, generations my family have been going, kids don't want to go anymore,  you are part.pf that you bunch of absolutely useless cunts , no fight in any of you 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

There are too many players that don't want it enough. I could see a real lack of desire and fight. That's bad, but we also create fuck all. We have plenty of nice footballers, but the blend is terrible. Where is the physicality we began the summer talking about?

Still has run out of time. This wasn't good enough.

 

This is a major issue that continues to be overlooked.

[Mboto Gorge]

14 minutes ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

Exactly. 

My 12 year old lad is a real passionate Saints fan but he's gone from crashing out over defeats to just being numb and disinterested now. ..this club are literally breaking its own fan base...Wankerson must be so proud. 

Same with my 13 year old, he doesn’t follow them any more having been a season ticket holder with me previously. Last season finished him off, after the previous prem season being almost as painful, he now couldn’t care less how they do. 

[saintant]

31 minutes ago, Vancouver Saint said:

This the saddest post of all. My little grandson trots out for his practices in a Saints shirt - fortunately for him nobody has a clue who Saints are here! 
But seriously, your post is the saddest of all because we are losing a whole generation of supporters unless we turn things around dramatically...

SR deserve to lose a generation of supporters and more and that's what they'll do unless something is done to remove them from our club. Even seasoned fans have had enough so why would anyone expect youngsters to follow this shit show of a football club. There is absolutely nothing to like about the club right now and the future looks bleak with these idiots in charge.

[Vancouver Saint]

29 minutes ago, LGTL said:

My 5 year old nephew is in Vancouver and always wears his saints kit to training, so there's at least one other! Like you say, nobody bats an eyelid as we're so insignificant. 

OMG that's funny - my grandson is 6 - his dad, my eldest son is the one inflicted with Saints-supporteritis - a chronic disease as we all know. Would be an amazing thing if they actually met on the pitch!
There's actually quite a big Saints supporters following here Vancouver being a port city and some Southampton imports...

 

[Gloucester Saint]

15 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Towards the end? I was behind the goal In The Northam, he looked really put out by the your not.fit to wear the shirt song and reacted  to it, fucking hell Nath you have no idea how much this team is hated by the fanbase, generations my family have been going, kids don't want to go anymore,  you are part.pf that you bunch of absolutely useless cunts , no fight in any of you 

At a club that’s had Mark Wright, Fonte, VVD, Michael Svensson, Dave Watson, Chris Nicholl, Toby, Dean Richards, Claus, McGrath, Monkou and so on in that position, he’s got some nerve. Not in our top 100 CBs, learn some humility.

[EBS1980]

18 minutes ago, saintant said:

This is a major issue that continues to be overlooked.

Azaz 6’1

Fellows 6’0

Downs 6’4

 

[stfrancisofbenali]

11 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Same with my 13 year old, he doesn’t follow them any more having been a season ticket holder with me previously. Last season finished him off, after the previous prem season being almost as painful, he now couldn’t care less how they do. 

No excuse. I blame the parents. Get the lad to grow a pair and dig in for the long haul. Or would you prefer to take him to Highbury/Anfield?