Fitzhugh Fella

Have you been hibernating throughout 2021?

The past gradually counts for nothing - we are nearing 2022 and the last 9 months have been depressing, confusing, illogical and mind numbing. I’ve lost faith in him completely and just because “there is no one else out there” I think it’s time the Board appointed someone who at least recognises a square peg from a round hole.

Selling Ings was a “no brainer” according to a lot of fans although I accept we had little choice in the end. Talk of Ralph’s small squad last season makes me smile when I remember one of his early boasts was he liked to work with small squads. His myopia when it comes to the shortcomings of Redmond has convinced me he simply isn’t up to the job. A shame because I once believed he was the new Poch but he has himself to blame for some truly illogical team selections, stubbornness and questionable man management. My dear though is the Board have tied themselves too closely to his sails.

Is “Don’t Rock the Boat” by the Hues Corporation your favourite record?

Dragging up old posts to mock views made without the benefit of hindsight is a little sad. Football is about opinions and who is ever right 100% (besides Turkish)? For me that was a miraculous unexpected point but maybe we could have done better with a different team? We’ll never know, but I will settle for the result we got.

He is best when he sticks to basics but he can’t help himself being too clever. Someone needs to burgle Nathan Redmond’s house and destroy those photographs.

I can forgive his errors because he is the one player in the team who leads from the front. Without him we are too meek. He shackled Antonio superbly today.

https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/gerry-obrien/ good lad Gerry. Was in the same darts team. Liked a pint too.

Should have signed someone in the Jimmy Case mould. We lack leadership and mental strength which in the PL are vital commodities.

Mignolet rumoured on Twitter 15m

Yes it bodes well for the future and fits in with our stepping stone philosophy but the immediate task is to keep in the PL until these promising youngsters mature. Plus not all them do make it. Been looking for signs that Mitchell the forward we signed from Birmingham is on the verge of breaking through but he has stalled since his signing.

Has anyone got any idea re pubs that sell decent beer?

One of the most arrogant myopic posts I have ever read on a Saints forum. It would have been better if you had just explained why you think Ralph is doing a good job rather than insult a large swathe of supporters who happen to have a different view to you.

No not at all. He’s probably as good as we could get/afford but he will take a bit of polishing and patience. He needs to be more aware of others in better positions. I am basically pleased though.

I watched a fair bit of Armstrong last season and think this a very fair assessment

Sorry forgive me for having a view. It’s not personal but I don’t think he is a good manager or good enough the keep us up. I came to that conclusion towards the end of last season. I may be wrong, I sincerely hope I am but that’s just the way I feel. And I’m not sure how the player selection process goes but I believe the manager (quite rightly) has the largest input in transfers.

£28m is only a good deal if the money is spent on an adequate replacement. Judging by some of the names being banded about I am not sure I have confidence in Ralph’s judgement. Fans were quick to celebrate unloading Ings for a decent fee but if it’s frittered on below average, unproven wannabes from Europe then I fear for the future. Personally - although I am not convinced he is PL standard - I would go for Armstrong who, if we get relegated would at least score us goals in the Championship. Crucial few days coming up.

This aged well

Although I am pleased it seems we can still compete in the market and attract players over other clubs I would argue more needs to be done this window. All 3 new signings have yet to play one minute of PL football and they are bound to need time to settle. So that leaves us with what we finished with last season minus Bertrand and Minamino. We remain a brittle erratic team that needs more grit and experience for what is bound to be a tough year. If all our players turn up and we keep Ings, Vestergaard and Ward-Prowse then there is hope but to pin our survival odds on two academy players and an import from a struggling French side is not enough. The goalkeeper situation is a concern too. Surely Ralph can’t continue with alternating?

How exactly does the buy back clause work? Chelsea fans are saying they have an automatic right to buy him back for 20m.

So why if he thinks we are ok upfront why bid for Armstrong? He has either changed his mind, is telling fibs or doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.

Forgive me for using a bit of sarcasm in my first post. I apologise if it has annoyed you.

Not scoffing just pointing out we have entered into pre season slightly weak in certain areas. Don’t know why pointing that out ruffles feathers but it’s a fact and not ideal. Not even being critical of the present regime as their hands have been tied by the inadequacy of the previous bunch (Les Reed), but as fans we should recognise we are facing a bit of a mountain over the next 9 months. Meanwhile Ralph’s comments at the end of last season when he said he needed a deeper squad raised expectations which so far have yet to be realised. There is time of course but in an ideal world it would have been preferable to have had more than one signing so far.

Sticking with our square pegs in round holes philosophy I see

We’ve signed one player who has replaced one outgoing. Hardly critical business. Theo was done months ago too. We are still much weaker than we were on the last day of the season when we were in a total mess. Bit premature if you to start congratulating our close or pre season.