Fitzhugh Fella

For once I am am in 100% agreement with you.

Wrong. it was 55000 and 2 years running, the second joint with Best

Regarding the Jack Stephens contract non announcement the club told him the announcement would be made when the club were on an upward trajectory. At the time he signed the club was not doing too well. When the club then went on their downward spiral that opportunity never arose. Quite understandably Jack Stephens thought the delay not very respectful which I am inclined to agree with. So much for transparency.

I am a Long fan but if we are thinking of offering him another contract it shows a lack of nous and ambition by the club. It was a mistake to give Theo a two year deal (most fans said that at the time), and if they sign Minamino that would be another. I just don’t trust the manager’s judgement anymore. The goalkeeper situation has been mishandled and why weren’t we told about Stephens’ new contract when it was signed? From afar it looks like the club is still being run haphazardly with a manager who makes a lot of poor decisions.

Well I am a pretty “dated” sort of guy unfortunately. Nothing whatsoever against foreigners most of whom have far better technique than home grown players. I just think to lead and inspire a team in front of English fans then you have a certain kind of commitment and awareness. That sort of leadership quality is more likely to have been nurtured in this country than abroad. And no CB I didn’t vote for Brexit as I think Europe to be a civilised place to live and bring up your families but I still reckon when it comes to grit and determination on a football pitch you are more likely to find it homegrown. Just my opinion of course apologies in advance if that view offends.

Our overwhelming need is for a leader. Someone who is mentally tough who can instill a bit of backbone and fight into the rest. That person won’t be found in Serie A or the like. Anyone know what Jimmy Case is doing these days?

Deckchairs being rearranged while the captain on the bridge steams ahead as per normal. Blaming the lackeys while the boss survives.

Not sure why you think he was a tosser. Most of the players at the time thought he was a decent bloke and I found him pretty decent too. I'll concede he was a "terrible manager" though.

Don’t think I have ever gone into a close season so despondent and pessimistic about the future if we keep RH (which I think we will).

Beats me how Redmond (1 deflected goal in 13 months plus loads of poor performances) sneaks into the team. Goes to show how low our standards have become. He wouldn’t be near anyone else’s PL first team.

Calm down. Lot of pissed off people in Liverpool because of the stitch up over Hillsborough. Booing the establishment is one way to show their frustration.

Because they weren’t garbage mid season, they actually looked half decent which begs the question how come they look so awful right now? Answer - they are being led by a tactically one dimensional manager who is out thought most weeks now he has been found out. You want more of the same next season then you continue to stick the telescope to your blind eye.

So we had “a very weak squad” did we? Not according to Ralph who a few months ago expressed himself satisfied with it. And the fans haven’t been chanting for his head at all apart from the last 5 minutes at Brentford. They have been loyal and supportive all season but don’t let that fact get in the way of your narrative. Oh and hardly any pundit tipped us to go down by the way. And finally, I think you meant “summarise”not “surmise” and “cue” instead of “queue”but apart from all the above your post was spot on. I look forward to more brilliant analysis and comment in due course.

Great post

So Brentford are now regarded as a more attractive club to manage? My Ralph has truly elevated us to a high level. I can’t see the Board getting rid. We are going to have to put up with this tactically naive man and just hope next season there are 3 worse teams.

Not quite true. Brentford fans threw a flare into the Saints fans at 3-0 and then it turned nasty

According to those “in the know” on Twitter, it seems FF has not been offered a new contract. For me his woeful kicking let’s him down and that is a commodity every PL ‘keeper needs these days.

Shouldn’t all the back patting taken place at the season’s end?

I admit to being fickle about Ralph ie like him when the going is good and frustrated when we perform abysmally, but 3 days after the Palace game and in the cold light of day, I have finally come down permanently on the side of the fence that thinks a parting of the ways would be beneficial. We all like how he has taken the club to his heart, his passion and commitment can’t really be faulted, but his idiosyncratic decision making (Long over Armstrong the latest) is actually holding back progress and he seems unable to grasp basic facts like the Salisu long throw tactic is never going to work. New ownership is a good time for new direction under a different manager.

Ralph’s tactical genius can be summed up in 3 words. “Salisu’s long throw”!

Gutless, clueless, no ambition or leadership. Not sure Ralph knows how to solve these deficiencies.

I’ve met Benjy who is the new journalist and was very impressed with his determination to write some insightful punchy articles. Like Carl he has moved into the town so he means business. I note he got an exclusive with MLT after last week’s events so he’s already put down a marker. His problem is the Echo is poorly regarded these days but he knows that and is under no illusions that he has a tough gig. Getting your feet under the table at SMS is no easy task either as they have had an easy time with journalists since Covid and Carl left. We need good investigative journalists to hold Ralph and Co to account.

Just goes to show you should never meet your heroes. I am so relieved I have never met Turkish for instance.

That’s what I thought. The irony of being criticised from a Saints fan stood with the Leeds fans sums the poster up to be honest.

Yep spot on. Saints were 8/1 to beat City ridiculous odds for two teams in the same half of the same division, but the financial gulf is now massive and destroying decent competitive football in this country. Grubby Arab/Oligarch money will be the death of the game. Should have let them all breakaway to a Super League.