Backrow91

Cmon make it happen. We even have ready made chant😂

Ralph has done well keeping us in this league hamstrung by a poor previous owner and players not good enough on stupid contracts. Unfortunately, too many social media warriors want instant success and this club is never gonna deliver that. We will always, whilst being a non billionaires plaything, be a team that at best will punch above its weight. How many times is it said that we have to find a way of staying in this league by being clever/ doing something different etc. Of course results will ultimately dictate the managers fate but I hope that Ralph is given a chance under new ownership to show that he can get it right. If he doesn’t they will make the decision I’m sure. The sheer number of “bed wetting” comments right across social media really does show we have a lot of so called fans that really do not get how clubs are run, especially ours. Ye gods imagine if they were all “jump on the bandwagon” Manc fans…. The drought in the South would be over! The crowd at 2v1 on Saturday is how it should be….. I’m waiting for when Ralph says it as it is and uses his favourite word at the mo and calls out some of our “fans” for talking SHIT! (Mind you that prob would get him fired!)

So When I started this thread I was keen to know whether the evening would be “scripted” …..after watching I don’t believe it was! Firstly kudos to the panel for turning up…..after Saturday I was starting to think the event would be cancelled😉I have to say a huge dose of realism from the panel (not unexpected to be fair) and a lot of our fan base just do not get the fact we cannot compete with the bigger boys and now even clubs our size or just above. It is not FIFA 23. We have to have a model that generates money. Like it or loathe it they have set out a way of trying to achieve that end. I too want more success on the pitch but the way the Premier league is we are finding it increasingly difficult to find players that will do that. Not an excuse for the club but we are where we are! I said to my “current “ season ticket holding mates that we are very close to being back in the competitiveness position that we were when we were still at The Dell. It was holding us back. We competed more then on the pitch I felt (remembered) as the majority of clubs did not have the quality of player that we are up against today! Oh and the fans played a part at times which of course helped massively. Doubling your support inevitably brings more of a casual fan that perhaps isn’t as hardcore! Is that a fair comment? And that is why we do not consistently sell out. As a club we are getting left behind again. All that was spoken about by Ralph re passion and effort is true but from a fans perspective that effort all to quickly collapses when things go against us. You can see from all of the disillusioned comments on various threads that it won’t take much for there to be a very downcast atmosphere at the ground. We still have a few weeks left in the window..let’s see what happens but there is every chance we will be struggling in the table…. on Saturday we will see a set of fans that get behind their team in a very vocal way…. I just wish our fans could, would be allowed to do the same! Ever the optimist……

DJ Toast your comment may well have been tongue in cheek it may not but no need to ask that question, other than choice, as the following is a genuine response to a recent complaint (copied without permission but father in law won’t mind! 🤪)

Is anybody from here going? If so is it a question on the night from the floor or do you have to submit your questions beforehand? Not sure of format…having never been able to attend one. With the general unease amongst fan base an ideal chance to ask some difficult questions….. there will be the usual ground expansion, move the away fans, horrible kits brigade but surely team selection, tactics, why haven’t we addressed the glaringly obvious CB issues will be more what the fans want to hear. Well ones on here….. If anybody on here is going and has had to send in a question show some balls, unlike our defence, and don’t ask it if it was a “nice” conformist question….. throw ‘em a curve ball and be controversial…. It’s what we want to hear!

If that was the first choice eleven that’s played well recently I would have been disappointed more so than I am. To rip the spine of the team out, the players coming in not “match” acclimatised then it was going to be a big ask against a team that has shown some fight recently. We obviously set up not to go hung ho and pick our times to attack even if that didn’t make for a pretty game (but how many games with the big boys have you watched as a neutral when it’s been utter crap to sit through) To be fair to Ralph it nearly worked today. Unlucky with the Prowsey free kick and follow up, possible good shout for a pen....looked like VAR even showed the checking for a possible offside in the build up so I thought they were going to give it! It was Moss on duty and I dislike him big time o not surprised! and of course the two disallowed goals (both correct) Another point on the board and now on to a really tough one......onwards.

I shall buy you a big wooden stick for Christmas😉

Absolutely keep the current crest......didn’t mind too much when they updated the ball and I would like to see 1885 incorporated into the badge. Where would it go though? Maybe a subtle 1885 on one end of the scarf? Somewhere on the shield? .....always thought we should show how old we are as a club...... mind you I don’t fancy any Latin phrases!

Perhaps if we are awarded half a goal for hitting the woodwork then a 4 1/2 to 3 win would look a little better?

The injuries certainly helped Villa back into that game. We seemed to want to protect what we had. The four goals that we scored were superb......no arguing and anybody that hasn’t seen them will enjoy MOTD. I would have liked a longer look at that VAR decision for our “offside” goal as the lines just didn’t look right! Grealish went in with a high foot the same as Diallo and the ref, who I thought had a poor game, bought it.... The third for them stemmed from what I thought was a foul where the ref looked like he was going to give us free kick and then played Villa on........ a strange one but that seemed to sum him up. There were a few tackles that he could have carded on the Villa side and then as we know the players play differently. On that note well done to JWP as he got an early yellow but he just managed himself superbly. Watching Danny go down it appears that he caught his studs in the pitch and sort of sat down on his foot which stretched the knee.......an anxious wait I fear.

Apparently we are in discussions with Leeds, Leicester, Aston Villa and Everton about joining a European Super League......oh the arrogance of these Top 6 clubs 😉😇🤪

So yet again we have to endure commentators who fawn over the “big boys”, bring themselves to climax just by shouting out certain players names, not do their research on us and then subject us to the weekly ritual of us having to play “nine nil bingo” (I confess to having missed which minute it was brought up in this week! ) .........well we can but hope that after watching us completely dominate this game we actually get the credit that is so richly deserved. But alas as we all know it will be an Everton off day....... very simply fellow followers......ENJOY!

Started brightly and then the quality that multi millions gets you took over. It felt like we could do a Spurs!!!! The fact we played ourselves back into that match (more shots on target!) was great to watch. The cheer that went up for the equaliser was like being at the ground 😂😂 Also, why was Werners handball not looked at by VAR?

Tongue in cheek but I wonder what mess will need sorting out there?

I think it’s a Saints fans thing where we are always thinking we will muck it up! As my father in law said at the 92 min mark......”I think we are good enough for at least the draw now!” 😂😂

Yeah it wasn’t pretty BUT it was one of those matches where the result was the priority. We were never going to go hung ho against the Burnley tactics of getting it forward quickly..... yes the squad needs additions, yes we didn’t look 100% confident, yes it wasn’t a game where we played pretty free flowing footy but clearly the work done in the week was about making it difficult for them! Me I’m just pleased we are up and running. I am sure as confidence grows we will approach different matches with different tactics and we will see more progressive play. I just hope that all is well behind the scenes and that we are looking to help Ralph with squad additions.

Brighton or saints?

Tyre kicker? Could be. Remember the days of Pinnacle having a period of “exclusivity” look how that turned out........nobody on the forum seems to be ITK (or if they are.....not in a position to comment) What games are being played out behind the scenes? Whatever happens let’s hope it is for the good of the club.

Agree with you Badger..... I would imagine he will release a very pc media statement. He certainly does not fit into the Lovren / VVD category for me. Never a player that has “ got me off of my seat” but more a steady Eddy. Having popped onto a few Spurs forums I do wonder what they think they are getting. Let’s hope we get the better end of the deal.

I’ve often wondered if Ralph has seen the potential to switch position for any of our players. Stephens being one those. I think he has the attributes to be a CDM. On a separate note, as and when PEH gets his move does anybody think he’d receive a warm welcome Back (assuming crowds in) or otherwise?

Much better second half......we have a manager that seems to know How to find a way around different obstacles. Sheffield certainly were a stubborn unit and what’s really pleasing is that Ralph kept us at it. We didn’t let that match fade away into some sort of meaningless pre season friendly Type game. That extra “prize” money will pay some wages I’m sure! ......and I quite liked the look of the kit and we won wearing it so no monkey on our back there!

I will go off track on this one but share the “meeting” of a Saints player and a skate mate whilst at work. When I used to work for a bank I got to meet several players in my job.......one particular day (blast from the past) Jelle Van Damme was in the building, sat waiting in the client reception area. I was stood up talking business with him when my skate mate came running down the office......stopped close to me and adopted a crouching position and let rip an almighty fart! He thought he was being funny.......only for JVD to lean forward from behind the pillar, where he was sat, looking at my mate the skate with disbelieving eyes......said skate mate then turned from being a “blue” to a very bright shade of red! All manner of things were going through my head.....embarrassment, how would I explain this complaint to management etc The stunned silence was broken by JVD who said very quietly “Does he come from Portsmouth?” A brilliant had to be there moment and said skate mate got away with it with an apology..... he skulked off, tail firmly between his legs (like they normally do) and JVD had a good old laugh!!!!! Although many years ago we still bring up the subject every now and again..........

Pretty sure this is what happened at Turf Moor........poor old Bournemouth scored but overturned for a penalty to Burnley at the other end!

Didn’t really get out of second gear......a lot of games in a few days telling?....oh well the ones that wanted Bournemouth down have their wish. Personally wasn’t fussed. If we could just be that little bit more ruthless we wouldn’t half take the pressure off of the Defense. I just like winning 😇

This.....plenty of discussion with my father in law re Che. I think there is a good player “In” there but it’s up to both Ralph to find it and for Che to show he wants it! I like him but do accept father in law comments that he is slow and does not anticipate as much as he should......Maybe he has needed the season to settle/adjust following an obvious jump in playing level.