Fitzhugh Fella

Wow strange opinion. Yes we dominated the 2nd period but only because they sat back and let us come onto them without us ever looking like scoring. First half they were streaks ahead and looked so much coherent than us. A positive for me was Boufal who worked his socks off and tried to be creative but we have problems all over the field at the moment. Shaky keeper, long-standing central defensive issues, a turgid midfield (Romeu excluded - he had a stormer) and a forward line who need introducing to each other. Our one asset, the manager has had a brain storm in the selection department and seems to have developed a stubborn alter ego. Other than that everything is hunky dory.

Carl Anka of the Athletic has published an excellent article on the rivalry and completely trashes the dock strike myth, in fact it was the Portsmouth dockers who were scabs. Check the article out, its behind a paywall but I think the Athletic is doing a weeks trial

Once spent a very interesting day in his company when Saints played at Doncaster. There was no doubt he was a fan first and foremost but he also dug very deep when the club were in trouble and lost a lot of money too. Certainly deserves to be recognised as a true supporter of the club in hard times. He was without ego too - for him the survival and the welfare of the club was the most important aspect.

Thomas Brolin anyone? Also LMac tried to sign La Ling when we were pushing to win Div One but the board did not back him. I seem to recall he said he could have got us over the line. Back in the 60s I remember Rod Thomas full back from Swindon, Wilf Smith full back from Sheff Wednesday. Keith Newton from Blackburn. Later Colin Todd knocked us back in the 70s. Howard Kendall was one Ted Bates chased, also a guy called Phillips from Dundee around the time we signed Jim Steele.

No we released him at the end of last season.

Your memory serves you well

Thanks Master Bates, interesting stuff. I wonder what he is up to these days as his trail has gone quiet since he quit playing in 2008. Amazing that he got over 100 caps, he can't have been as bad as all that. It didn't help that Jones had departed by the time the permit came through.

The Rovers fans gave him a big welcome at Craven Cottage on Saturday. They obviously liked him. He came on for the last 12 minutes and was tidily efficient.

People are too quick to blame the whipping boy Jack Stephens for all our ills. But Angus Gunn was massively at fault for our first and Vestergaard culpable for our second (and a bit for the first). Bertrand was caught napping for our third (sometimes he comes over as far too laid back). Ralph was guilty of trying to be too clever, playing Ings out wide with Adams inside, a reversal from the Cologne fixture when the pair had more impact. We all rate the manager, he's a smart, shrewd guy, but I hope he doesn't swallow all the hype that has built up during the summer and I think he will miss his sidekick.

Has anyone seen any mention of the fee we will have to pay?

Met Carl last week and read his excellent first article last night. Grown up journalism from someone who takes his job seriously enough to move to the city to ensure he gets the feel of the club. Definitely worth checking him out.

Can’t really see the point in developing a youngster for Barca if after a season he goes back to them.

Probably the one player who if staying could benefit us the most. This is very frustrating but I knew Reed's miss-management would hurt us long after his departure. Ralph must be equally as frustrated.

Disappointed that in this new transparent era the club haven’t explained his absence. I was always under the impression he and Ralph were joined at the hip.

We've all sighed at fans forums over the years, full of daft questions, evasive patronising replies and the uncomfortable don't want to be here presence of the managers, but this was so different. I have never seen a manager so apparently at ease with all that's around him. Ralph is obviously part of the hierarchy and the communication channels at the top look really fluid. Even impressed that Nelly made the effort despite her English is not really that good yet. I am the first to criticise the way the club is being run, but watching that was a real boost. Lessons have been learnt I think.

It was refreshing listen to our new CEO. Plain speaking

Wasn’t trying to make out I was in the know. The rumour was that there has been a bust up between RH and his nos 2. I really don’t know if it’s true, I was hoping not but it seems strange and I was hoping someone on here knew something. I am very sorry if my post irritated you.

I'm going to bump this because there are a few rumours floating around that his absence means something is amiss. Could just be player gossip mind and there could be a perfectly good reason.

Does anyone know why Danny Rohl is not in Austria?

Way off in your wages.

I was talking to Graham Hiley today and he reminded me that Leon Crouch saved us twice. Once when keeping us afloat while the Pinnacle/Le Tissier so-called consortium wasted all our time, while before that, blocking the executives plan to sell us to SISU.

Hoedt is off to Austria - Ralph is giving him another chance.

I have a feeling Charlie might just sit tight and see his contract out, and who could blame him really, when this time next year with no fee he could still negotiate a decent wage. Fans need to accept you can't just discard when contracts are in place.

So trivia fact: Che Adams takes Micky Adams alphabetical pole position in the all-time Saints players A to Z!!!!

Sam is completely recovered from the ankle injury I am happy to say.