Fitzhugh Fella

To be honest this needs to be sorted out quickly for everyone’s sake including ours.

Making an enemy of the Serbian Government would have me checking over my shoulder on a regular basis for sure. More power to his elbow.

Not too fussed getting convincingly by a League Two team? Glad you are not our manager. And you obviously weren’t at Cambridge last year when Dom Ballard scored on his debut.

Meaningless passing is one thing but when it’s done with pace and the ball is moved first time it can at least be half decent to watch. I was a critic of Martin’s style at Swansea but let’s give this time to develop. It’s a long time since I have seen a Saints side so comfortable on the ball.

One man’s moan is another man’s constructive criticism. I was there last night and I saw plenty of positives. We now have a style of playing, an identity which the players seem to have bought into. There was a lot of attractive passing and possession but once we got near their goal it fizzled out in an anti climax of poor final balls or not enough options in the area. So lots of work to be done. When the board went up with 9 minutes on it my heart sunk. This is going to be painful I thought. But we held on to the ball the whole 9 minutes so that meaningless possession was quite useful. It must have been incredibly frustrating for the home fans. One final comment. It was nice to see Russell Martin came out about 10 to 8 before the teams emerged, and come over to applaud the fans before going back to the dressing room. He seems very savvy when it comes to getting the fans onside. I was and remain dubious about tippy tappy possession football and playing out from the back but I am going to keep an open mind. It worked last night. Now going home via Birmingham to take in Solihull v Eastleigh in the rain.

Why can’t it close quietly?

My big worry is RM’s insistence on possession based, play out from the back football. I just wish he would mix it up a bit and not be so reliant on one system. I’d like to have more faith but it’s just that I don’t think the current players are good enough.

The whole window has become very tedious

My bad. Africa geography obviously not my strong point

No one is disputing Salisu’s abilities as a player. On his day he is right up there but he has a history of throwing his toys out of the pram going back to a refusal to play for Ghana and only relenting when he was told he would start for them in the WC. It seems he was calling the shots which further suggests Hughton has one hand tied behind his back. As for his attitude at St Mary’s as he was deemed if I recall “not in the right frame of mind” plenty of respected commentators (Blackmore, Tanswell and House) inferred his absence was not owing to an injury. It might have suited Salisu to hide behind this excuse (not wishing to put off future suitors) but I can think of hundreds of ex-Saints who would have gladly played on one leg to help us in our hour of need, a characteristic severely lacking in Salisu’s make-up.

Sorry are you saying historians shouldn’t swear? 😳 That being said I come on here first and foremost as a fan. And as a fan I was appalled at Salisu’s “attitude” last season as the club fought against relegation. To down tools as he did in our moment of need was unforgivable. God knows what some of the true legends such as Terry Paine or Mick Channon would have made of such behaviour. But I tell you one thing - had you asked for their opinion there would have been more than one expletive used in their reply.

I would never sign Salisu. Very good player when he wanted to be but terrible attitude and what harm he must do in the dressing room because of that is unimaginable. I hope he doesn’t try and send the fans a message of thanks etc because he let us down in our moment of need. He can fuck off quickly as far as I am concerned.

I think you should copy your post because I have a feeling you will be pasting it after most matches.

I am going what all the players what played with him have said. All the youngsters like Wallace Le Tiss Shearer etc have all said how he nurtured them and how they looked up to him. You don’t have to wave your hands around, he had an aura. He’d been there done that and was wily. He was tough, experienced and could play. He could tackle scrap and mix it. At 20 grand he was LM’s best signing. If we signed him tomorrow I would fancy our chances of going up. As it is mid table beckons as things stand.

MB was a one off as his future career indicates. We have lacked a leader for years now. I’m talking Jimmy Case style. JWP doesn’t fit into that category unfortunately and Stuart Armstrong is as far from being a leader as anyone can imagine. He’s far too quiet, he blows hot and cold and is far from robust. Nice guy I’m sure and has intelligence and guile but Jimmy Case he ain’t.

Really? Stuart Armstrong a leader? Introverts rarely lead.

I know where you are coming from. I know its fashionable to mock the Scousers and they do irritate the hell out of me but imo they retain a modicum of sportsmanship (who can forget the Kop applauding when MLT turned Mark Wright inside out before scoring) and as you said the Sun boycott is a lesson to us all. Give me Liverpool any day over the insufferable Newcastle fans who think they got their club back when the Saudi bone saw boys bought them.

I think they just had a buy back as apart from a percentage from a sell on but I stand to be corrected.

Yes I agree - but its not imperative or crucial for us to survive (unlike last time we were relegated is my point). Like you I know from a playing aspect and a planning one too it would be nice to know where we stand with the season starting in 10 days.

Football is a predatory business with a dog eat dog, big fish eat little fish mentality. We are seen (hopefully incorrectly) as a vulnerable injured and stricken beast having been comprehensively relegated and vultures are circling looking for bargains. We should not get outraged. Fortunately we do not “need” to sell. No doubt SR know what they want for each player and if the buying club doesn’t stump up they will go without. We have to accept we are no longer a big fish however. No doubt we attempt to rip off League One clubs in a similar fashion. It’s a rat race football and it’s going to get a lot worse now the Saudi blood money is taking effect.

From the horses mouth. Lawrie told me he was on the verge of signing Trevor to partner Kevin Keegan from Manchester City on transfer deadline in 1981. Terms had been agreed and Francis happy to move but John Bond stalled (didn't want to lose him) telling Lawrie he couldn't find chairman Swales - and we missed the deadline.

Actually we have 11 days

Well said

So supporters must never criticise their ream is that what you are saying?

In a trench Stephens no contest. Salisu is brittle, temperamental and lacking in character. When he chooses he can be a fantastic defender but throwing tantrums when the going gets tough like it did last season means he is a luxury. We need leaders and Jack would be a candidate.