mitch01

That interview was a disgrace. I really like Blackmore but he should be embarrassed that was broadcast.

Doesn't it all come back to haunt them later on though?

Be disappointed if we were in for Maeda. Out of the Celtic forwards I'd much prefer Kyogo. He's a very good finisher. If it's true we were in for Moffi and Beto, Maeda would also seem a very different type of player, not nearly as physically imposing.

He's clearly been a bit taken aback by the speed and intensity of the abuse he walked into. And he's not going to quickly let it go. Fair enough I suppose.

Djenepo goal reminded me of Long vs Villa in that epic first half under Koeman.

Football is such a weird game

I like Ralph a lot and will always respect the total commitment and care for club he has clearly shown since he joined us 4yrs ago. He's presided over a period of big change and our squad is now in a much, much better place. At it's best some of the football in his time has been excellent. Some of the defeats recently though have been pretty dispiriting but I feel overall he has guided the club with a lot of resilience under tough conditions. I do think now is the right time for a change, and I hope (and suspect) that we've had a list of exciting replacements ready for some time. I know not everyone feels the same but he goes with my thanks.

One of the new signings (can't remember which, maybe Aribo), said Redmond came straight up to him on his first day of training and said to remember always to be confident in his ability and never hide, or something to that effect. Didn't sound like the kind of thing a disruptive influence would do, but not privy to any of the other info. Has always seemed like a wise and solid character in interviews too.

Still can't believe a Portsmouth fan filmed that and decided it would be good to put on YouTube. Total self-evisceration.

Always been a fan of Redmond. There was a time (end of Ralph's first season) where he could have caught fire and really pushed on to the next level. Never quite happened but he's a player I generally always wanted on the pitch because of how good he was technically. Remember him being a bright spark when the team was struggling under Hughes, meaning he turned things around from the dark days under MP within a year - testament to his mental strength and resilience. Good luck Redz!

Did not know about that. Not good if true.

Good article on Bednarek in the Athletic. It bothers me that people find it so easy just to dismiss the contribution of someone like him. He has been important for us for a number of years, basically since he volleyed the one in against Chelsea for Mark Hughes. It was time to move on and I'm glad we have, because our other CBs are more aggressive and I think will make us a better team overall, but there's nothing to suggest his attitude has been an issue. If anything the article suggests he's overly self-critical. Someone said he sarcastically clapped the fans at some point which is obviously a mistake, but it's one SKD made too and I know if I played football in front of thousands of people for years I would do something at least as bad and I consider myself to be mild-mannered. Thanks Jan!

Who's Lawrence? Captained the team last night.

Djenepo was good. Aribo was good. ABK was good. Hopefully this simplifies Ralph's formation quandary for him, we immediately had so many more options when we changed it. The danger will remain that when the pressing isn't spot on it can go thoroughly pear-shaped, but at least we looked a threat playing that way

Jimmy Jay Morgan looks a prospect from highlights on the site. Sent some lovely through balls in yesterday's game. Anyone know much about him?

I disagree! I actually think he's been a big part of keeping us the right side of the line on a few occasions (Hughes season, Ralph first season for example) But there you go.

I'd like Redmond to stay. He is good. I reckon this would be more reflected in his stats with a better team around him, which I think we are building - but I concede this is only my intuition. (For context, I've been right about JWP but wrong about others eg Gaston Ramirez...). I don't rate Walcott particularly and wouldn't mind seeing either of the other two wingers leave either. Generally I think Redmond gets a terrible rap from fans, perhaps a hangover from some v bad performances in the Pellegrino year.

Haven't seen loads of Aribo but he looks like exactly the kind of player to cause trouble in the fabled 'red zone'.

I don't understand how anyone can say that he wasn't casting doubt on the massacres, or excuse his behaviour given that it is the case. Some people are just tuned up to believe they are so perceptive that they see a more accurate world view than everyone else, when tragically the world is actually full of the problems they doubt exist and good people are wrestling with them. Sadly MLT is one of this new breed of dangerous nutters.

Just dropping by to post for the first time in a few years and say 1) KWP was unbelievable today and 2) Saints under Ralph is as much fun as I can remember as a Saints fan of 20yrs.

Apologies - very insensitive of me! It was my first thought though, falling backwards with his foot beneath him. Praying for a good news week from Ings’ scan and Biden’s election to counteract the gloom.

Reminded me of the way Owen did his knee in the World Cup 2006 vs Sweden. Really hope not.

Remember when people didn't rate JWP 😅

Strange to read this having been at the game. I thought we played very well with ten men, and the feeling seemed to be shared with those others in attendance. Actually enjoyed the game and thought we were well-organised and NUFC struggled to break us down in the second half, until an individual error late in the game from a player who hasn't played a league game in 5 months. Not the usual sense of inevitability and inability to hold teams at arm's length. Felt we were the better side before the sending off. Fans were great all the way through. JWP was fantastic, again. I think we're on the right track and I'm enjoying watching us play again these days. Maybe I'll be proved wrong and we'll plummet and be relegated / narrowly avoid it, but I don't see it based on the evidence.

JWP was fantastic today. Quite a satisfying day at St Mary’s overall despite not getting the winner - first of those I’ve had in a long time. Stephens makes a huge difference at the back, somebody who can play 3/4 different passes forwards or even take it into midfield himself. Massive difference to JV who has his own qualities but really limits that part of our play, which has a knock-on effect everywhere. Feeling good about the team again - onwards and upwards!