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On a slightly related theme, I once went on a stag do which started at Northlands Road and was gatecrashed by Aymes, Smith and a couple of others. Absolute carnage.

Strange really because he certainly was last season from the time we switched to a 4, all through the unbeaten run right up until he was injured in the 43rd match and was unavailable for the last 3 games. When we played 5/3 at the back he was like everyone else crap, and that includes THB. Manning was awful defensively and when replaced by a proper defender (Welington) we looked a different side. Welington's injury let Manning back in, and in an attacking side he was able to cover up his defensive inadequacies with his many contributions at the other end. We also benefitted from Bree's return, make no mistake we were woeful defensively before the switch to a back 5 or 3. All four of our defenders played well in a system they were comfortable in and with protection from Downes and Jander/Charles. Very noticeable to me that Jack has his first mare for a long time as soon as we are without Jander/Charles (or adequate replacement). We were awful first half yesterday, but so we were in a good many games last season even in the unbeaten run, we developed the tools/knack to come out fighting second half, and that was reflected yesterday as well.

He’s hardly likely to announce it.

Has Taylor Hardwood-Bellis expressed his desire to leave? The Portuguese "The Sun" equivalent doesn't bother me in the slightest. If he's here come September - amazing! If he is sold - then SR have one hell of a job on their hands to replace him and hope we get promoted.

Fake

Jander has to start alongside Downes if fit, with Bragg on the bench. Azaz also to start instead of Dobbin. Wouldn't change anything else.

ok disagree it is. It should be but remember we used him in the PL during the pathetic 12points only fiasco, will the club ever learn? Seems unlikely

Felt like an awful lot of adverts today?

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree Stephens has runs of being fine and totally without issue, then he has a brainfart that gets punished and then goes back to being fine again. He's not amazing, he shouldn't be your best CB in a defensive partnership but he is perfectly capable for the job we need here of being an experienced defensive partner to THB (or whoever replaces him). As proven by the fact he's been part of a 20+ game unbeaten run in both his previous Championship seasons with us. Our defence looked pretty solid with the current back four and Peretz last season and I'd sooner let them sharpen up and settle back in than start the chopping and changing in game two because somebody made a couple of mistakes in the first 45 minutes of the season In an ideal world, yeah I would upgrade on him (and many others) but the suggestion that he's not good enough to start for a playoff side in the Championship is nonsense for me. This should be his last season as a regular and then next summer he becomes a squad player I would expect

Home win

Likely, although Ahmedhodžić is certainly a decent centre back and could do a job to fill the gap left by THB. Ideally, those two together would be solid.

IMO Wood is better than Stephens but not as popular i guess. This just highlights the serious lack of judgment at SFC that instead of signing a better players than Stephens we gave him a new deal... madness (Not TE`s Fault) I repeat Stephens is not good enough and never was, this is the issue and it needs to be addressed or the Stephens shitshow will rear its had again as it always does

One of the broadsheets printed a rumour after we moved to the Rose Bowl that the Hedge End restaurant would get a call coming up to the lunch break if Hampshire were at home with order for two buns, fries and no burgers. Shane’s lunch was allegedly a chip butty. 🥪 No idea if true or not. Same article said that during the difficult first season when we were relegated at Northlands Rd, there was a drinking club called Australia & USA = Warne, Udal, Smith and Aymes. When you’re THAT good, it doesn’t matter and what a brilliant player.

We needed an upgrade on Stephens to partner Harwood-Bellis, but the likelihood is we'll end up with a downgrade on Harwood-Bellis to partner Stephens. All very Sainsty.

Can’t understand why there hasn’t been more discussion on the departure of our key analyst, Eduard Schmidt last week. “Southampton and I have mutually agreed to terminate my contract. Comes quicker than one might have expected after what felt like a fairytale for the most part." In the light of our poor set-up against Watford I wonder if his departure made a difference. Also. Spygate … FA investigation… Key analyst leaves -“quicker than one might have expected “. I know Adam Blackmore says no linkage. Does he know that for definite?

Do you think Nathan Wood isn't going to make mistakes if he starts routinely? He absolutely will. The bloke's brain is on dial-up, you can see the hamster running on the wheel in his head every time he does an interview. Wood is a handy Championship player who has his uses at this level but I always feel like he needs to be matched to the specifics of an opponent. Ultimately, Stephens, Wood, whoever else are second division players doing second division things. If they didn't have those sort of brainfarts then they wouldn't be playing at this level Chucking people in and out of the team after one bad/good game is the sort of crap that Will Still was doing and was (partly) why he lost the plot behind the scenes. Watford was bad but it is also one game out of 46, we don't have backup CBs who are better than Stephens so he should continue for now. If he has a honking run to start the season then yes, give somebody else a go. Overreacting and throwing someone onto the bench because they had a bad 45 minutes in the first game of the season is not good man management and I'd hope Eckert is better than that. I'd be more concerned if he started chopping and changing and using the most players in the division like Still was

Can't see how being particularly crap would make you popular, well apart from Skates fans that is.

as many as you want, but only 5 loanees can be named in a match day squad.

Crazy isnt it? but he`s popular apparently so standard of performance doesn't matter 🙄

I don`t play FIFA or FM or whatever else. It had nothing to do with someone keeping their job but as you bring it up, its surely better to play players who are up to the job not doing it for popularity because these "popular" player may cost you your job if they perform to the shocking standard Stephens performed at.

He's always been error prone and yet he's still in the side season in,season out.

What an incredible honour for the guy.

Stephens should of been upgraded 3 seasons ago. We need a Wanyama type defensive mid who can play alongside either Downes or Jander, No nonsense tough tackling leader with a bit of physical presence about him. If THB is off again new CB that lad at Feynoord will do. Also if we can do something in the loan market and bring in a Premier league CB who is out of favour and better than Stephens I'd do that. Anyone at Chelsea we could loan ? They have shitloads of players... How many domestic loans can we have? I'd still be tempted to shift Archer, Diaz and Downs and get someone in similar to Larin to rotate.

Holy shit, Wood is no better than Stephens, Would he get into the starting 11 of any other team seriously looking to be promoted?

I'm just being realistic and pragmatic. If you want to lose the dressing room then a sure-fire way to do it is over-punishing popular members of the dressing room for a mistake in the very first game of the season when the team as a whole was rusty and not firing Football management isn't just FIFA or FM where you select the team and press play, it's managing the group dynamics of a dressing room 24/7 and getting into it quickly with the long-term club captain after a summer where you're lucky to still have your job and your players prepared to publicly back you is probably not the smartest idea