Fitzhugh Fella

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.

I've watched him quite a bit and this is a reasonable analysis

OK Fair does. Honest answer? Well accepting I am biased, there is still part of me that would not write Sam off just yet. I watched him play frequently for Blackburn and Birmingham to see he certainly had what it takes for the Championship and, despite what some on here say, the fans of both clubs really appreciated him and Che Adams hardly got a look in (which he was none too pleased about). Of course there is a big difference between the two leagues but the fact there is at least one PL side "in" for him at present, plus quite a few top Championship sides sniffing, my view is shared by some managers too. He needs a break (he did not get one last year owing to injuries, relegation battle, new manager etc) but because strikers of his build and athleticism don't grow on trees, I am reluctant to write him off as a top-flight player. However I don't think he fits into RH's plans and as he is the boss I think it best Sam moves on and hopefully comes again with renewed confidence.

My post did not say that, I was merely pointing out a fact and leaving the readers to draw their own conclusion

This post is bound to provoke a fair bit of derision but I will make it anyway because I might like to revisit it one day . Just over 12 months ago Sam G was regularly keeping Che Adams out of the Birmingham starting line-up (under the 3 successive managers Birmingham had 17-18).

This. He needs to go and probably will but I think his leaving could come back to haunt us.