John Boy Saint

Sorry folks even with the additional 1hr 56mins - I’m still no closer to getting it 😢😁

Well that’s my day buggered - because I still don’t get it, and I have 4 hours in the car today to mull it over and likely get home tonight still none the wiser. Still I guess it will pass the time when the novelty of seeing windscreen wipers sloshing back and forth wears off.

Apparently Coady doesn’t like playing in a back 5 - which is the way of Wolves, hence why he wanted to look elsewhere.

Give a couple of players that for time wasting in quick succession and we might get to see more than 45 minutes of actual football. Always makes me laugh when the ref has had enough of the goalie swinging the lead as he has been for the last 20 - 30 minutes, and decides to book him in added time.

If you were at the game on Saturday getting a full view of the pitch JWP was quietly. sliding in to right back while KWP was given more freedom to run the right wing.

With 2 at CB your responsibilities are more defined “that’s your side - this is mine” stick a third person between them and unless you are perfectly drilled there is a chance of uncertainty. Sadly Jan is that uncertainty, I can’t say he has presence back there. Kotchup and Salisu are a pair of big lads, both are mobile and in a 2 the concentration they will both have to apply will add to the solidity. After the changes looking down the pitch the pair of them seemed to have more purpose. Anyone able to think back to the Che Adams City game - Bednarek and Stephens were the back 2 - their roles were defined, their concentration was running at maximum, they were repelling wave after wave of attack from probably the most lethal attack in the league. Yet as the game was getting to its conclusion and another attempt was snuffed out - the pair of them were smiling at each other because they knew what the other was doing and they were comfortable. Like as has been said already let’s see what happens on Saturday.

Going on the post match Solent interview Ralph seemed very much under pressure from the player mistrust story in the press last week, on top of that the section of the home crowd singing “sacked in the morning” at 0-2. Ralph always looks stern when listening, probably a language thing and concentration, plus not being use to getting useful information in the “heat of battle” when it’s all going wrong.

Given the powwow that occurred in the dugout with the new backroom team, that seemed to trigger a turning point - you would hope that sort of nonsense is confined to the bin.

He should not be anywhere near VAR he has retired as each week goes by he gets further and further away from being able to make the right decision through not being on the whistle “on the battlefield” PGMOL continue to make shit up as they go along knowing they are untouchable.

Lots been said already - I thought all the new lads looked good (Bollocks is Lavia 18 - he played beyond his tender years) Once they were all on the pitch, and the random variable had been relieved of duty in defence, we looked like we had purpose and even some steel. I mentioned in the Adam Armstrong thread that when he came on he had an abundance of options to work with. We might actually be alright lads. Couple of little things - when JWP had that nicely positioned free kick in the latter stages Meslier looked decidedly uncomfortable behind the wall he was bobbing about hoping he might have a change to get whatever suddenly zipped over the wall. A very sweet moment in the Chapel, a Dad and his little lad looking very smart in his new 3rd shirt, very likely at his first game. He was taking it all in no need for a bribing iPad. At half time they came back to their seats with a tray of Nachos, As extra time was being played out the Dad made a move to leave no doubt to beat the rush at full time with the little man, as Dad set off he stopped, normally a cause for grumbling at blocking the view (Dad was very apologetic) but his little lad had turned round and picked up the half eaten tray of Nachos left as rubbish under their seat to put in the bin - everyone around us noted this and commented to the Dad what a great lad he had.

Thought he looked good yesterday when he came on probably helped that there were options everywhere for a change, Mara, Aribo, Lavia, Adams, even a switched on Djenepo (who to my mind ran himself into the ground). Whereas previously help has been lacking around him.

No need to rush him in from the start just yet - keep him hungry, he has enough about him to bring on and scare the life out of the opposition especially when they are flagging.

Just an aside - given the heat today Listening to Solent driving home they interviewed a new lad from p*mpey. The interviewer asked “what were the conditions like out there this afternoon” his reply could not be doubted. ”Disgusting!”

McGuire in the refs ear once more - Attwells reaction hands on his head looked “oh do stop whining on”. 😁

Brilliant! Crickets and bugs on a stick - yummy! 🤪 One of the best street food meals I’ve had was from the stalls set up to feed all the construction workers building a bloody great big skyscraper in China.

Previously we have had no issue taking in a metal bottle flask in - As mentioned already, we also have a little stash of spare bottle tops in the bag that we are willing to sell for a modest £5 each……………well you can charge what you want once through the turnstile.

I don’t think he turns up to work wearing a silly hat, having mooned through the streets of Petersfield whilst ringing his bell! 😜

Damn - I was just round the corner from there yesterday afternoon, I could have gone in and asked whilst trying not to smirk. That said, despite being an object of all our mirth he does run that shop with the same passion he supports his team - so I think I would be heading out the door faster than I went in: as I wouldn’t have been the first “comedian”

Obviously never listened to what Lawrie Mac said about us fans - or Kevin Keegan on the video they play every week before kick off.

Frank De Boer was a car crash at Palace - replaced by a pensioner faster than you can say Roy Hodgson. Been less that glittering most places he’s turned up. Wouldn’t get AVB - the potential pay off payment wouldn’t be anywhere near enough (getting binned at Spurs and Chelsea in both too short order filled his pockets handsomely)

Its been more than 10 games though and aside from summer 2020 staying up has been a bit more squeaky bum than it should be. I recall an interview with Chris Marsden when Glen Hoddle came in, up until that point CMFG freely admitted that when the team took to the field the first thought was don't get beaten then don't get beaten by many, "if we won, that was a pleasant surprise"! He said Hoddle reversed that mindset and send us out expecting to win every week. By and large it worked - the performances improved. If we lost it hurt rather, than before "ah well". Being told we can't defend on Saturday, the same thing being said towards the end of last season, by the man in the position to stop the rot. We do seem to be stepping out to play in that old mindset.

Like I said he had been working within the confines of his resources, curious how despite being viewed as a lesser team, they managed to keep hold of Pope and Tarkowski (sp?) when they were viewed as better than Burnley, obviously money likely spoke. How much was down to Dyche as a person. I think he is football savvy beyond what some give him credit for - when he was at Watford and we played them, his managers programme notes were spread over 2 pages and were a good read, very different to the majority of programmes notes. If we were to get him at some point, I doubt there are many places to hide in training.

He is better than most of you are giving him credit for - he worked what the budget allowed - admittedly it wasn’t pretty, but until the take over and the lead up to it - he more often than not out performed his resources. the head to head between us is pretty even. Certainly not going “ooo yes please” - but ultimately none of us have any say in the matter. Cast your minds back to when we appointed WGS who’d just been relegated with Coventry the general consensus was “are you kidding!!”.

Hard act to follow

In response to your “Errrrrrrrrm” if you paid attention - I said his “BASE” salary - that’s before performance bonuses are added on like match fee, win bonus, finishing position in the league, staying up, qualifying for Europe, winning the Champions League, being league Champions etc etc Just the same as all of those on that list. Bottom line remains - if he was shown the door tomorrow he could have a comfortable life