WestMidSaint

That’s the most out of my mind I’ve been for a match in ages. Reminded me of Liverpool semi a few years back or Leeds in the 1-0 KD super show match a decade ago

If I was a Burnley fan I’d be very annoyed about Woods. Yes, decent money in, but what a nightmare to be strengthening a relegation rival whilst weakening yourselves. I actually think he’s an ok signing. They need a player who knows the league and can hit the ground running. I wouldn’t be surprised if he scored a few and helped them stay up. It’s a short term signing but then its the here & now where the need is

Expensive I imagine for a bit part player. Feels like another financial drain of a contract

Didn’t check in the slightest. I had my pass ready but they barely even looked at it. When I tried to show my wife’s i didn’t realised i’d actually locked the phone and showed a blank screen, they still let us in! we got there early (2:15ish) thinking it might take a while and we barely broke stride walking through the “check”. It was all just a big box ticking operation

Scored 2 which is great but we relied on wonder goals as other than that we didn’t create much or look like scoring “run of the mill” goals. We can’t rely on great strikes like we saw tonight. When you concede as many as we do, the above point is even worse. It always felt like we would concede a 2nd and obviously we did. Thought Lyanco looked panicked and flappy. Djenepro looked like a waste of space who was never going to do anything. The most depressing part was that we rely on brining on Long. Yes, we have injuries, but it’s depressing that he couldn’t do enough on loan in the Championship to get signed so we end up with him again. I feel so underwhelmed by this team, but somehow we’re 6 points clear of Burnley?! I expect them bottom teams to pick up at some point (illogical perhaps), but do think we should have enough to get to 17-14 without pulling up any trees. Ralph longest serving manager since Chris Nicholl is mad. Best part of 30 years!

Just finished the audiobook and absolutely loved it. Should be a must read/listen for any Saints fan in late 30s or older. So often I had goosebumps listening to how much he loved the club and never wanted to play anywhere else. Loved that he wore his saints vest under the Forrest kit v Pompey. Sounded like he managed the megalomaniac NC situation as well as he could and I’m glad the club invited him back into the fray. I’m sure every club has their Franny’s and they should not be forgotten. I still can’t believe what he achieved for charity and the length he pushed himself too. That section was moving and I don’t think he could’ve come across better. At no point did it come across as self publication, just an unbelievably decent man. It sounded like a significant proportion of his career was spent trying win around new managers which can’t be easy. Proper family man and proper Saints fan!

I'm going to drive up from Birmingham with the kids. Can anyone advise whether I should fight the traffic and book a local car park or if there's an easy train/park & ride option on the way up?

Think he’ll do well for them. Just the sort of defender I could imagine moyes loving and getting the best out of

At one point he was meant to be the next big thing. He’s never fulfilled his early promise and from what I’ve seen of him he appears to me to be a poor man’s JWP

On the basis that we’re not going to be getting any other creative midfielders, and it doesn’t look like anyone is going to sign him before the window “slams shut” we might as well get behind him a give him a chance. All those other players listed above have had their chance so he should have likewise. Bearing in mind the Champions League experience and how well he’s generally done elsewhere he’s as deserving as any of the others and whilst lack of pace is a hindrance, others have made an impact in the league without significant pace.

Whilst there are obviously plenty of positives the AM new contract is infuriating. I don’t go in for all the XG rubbish too much, but did see a stat that he is one of the worst culprits for conceding more than the statisticians “think” he should. In this case it matches what my eyes see so I think it gives the stat some gravitas. Theo’s contract is also disappointing. I felt last year he did well enough to be consider a decent loan. It should have been a one and done deal and there was not enough shown to warrant the permanent 2 year contract. At a time when we’re meant to be getting rid of bit part players on decent money this seems to go against the grain. At best I guess it’s another body in that they didn’t have to pay a fee for.

I liked AM for a time but last season his form seemed to drop off the edge of a cliff. By the end of the season it was a joke and looked like he wasn’t even trying. Whilst I’m sure he was, I think he was just that bad that I couldn’t get my head around how likely to concede he was. Whilst FF is no Niemi he would certainly start the season for me. If after 10 games he’s having a nightmare then reassess at that point. Roll on contract expiry dates

Lyon offering £5m for shaqiri would be a steal

Fascinating when he says he could get us investment but we wouldn’t like it?!

I believe in the power of momentum carrying positively or negatively from one season to the next. Given how badly we finished last season, coupled with the current squad I can’t see how it won’t be an entire season of leaked goals and missed chances , topped off by relegation. I would go so far as saying it could be an embarrassingly poor attempt at survival with little heart or grit. The only nugget of hope I’m holding on to is the final weeks of the transfer window. Surely the powers that be can see what we need and what’s coming if the don’t invest. It’s not about throwing cash around, it’s about protecting their investment. If we don’t get 2-3 decent players in I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Ralph go. This could be either him walking or getting the sack if the board decide the only hope is fresh blood.

Let’s hope if this happens we get a repeat of Ings, VVD and Armstrong rather than Carillo, Hoedt and Lemina. I’m sure it’ll be the first 3!!!!

For me, the disappointment is that he would rather be at Villa than Saints. When players were leaving for Liverpool, United, Spurs and Arsenal it wasn’t pleasant, but at the end of the day they were moving to far “bigger clubs”. Yes Villa have money but losing Ings to them is very different. They’ve had one good year after surviving by the skin of their teeth and still our best player, who supposedly has an affinity with the area is off. Part of the problem is it just goes to show how much further we’ve slipped down the pecking order. Whilst we will never know I do wonder what’s gone on or been witnessed by Ings to make him go there? I can’t believe it’s just cash and surely he’s not naive enough to think he’s going to join a top 4 project.

I registered as I finally had something unique to bother registering for. As I said, no reason why they would be lying as the player who initially relayed it doesn’t know me and would’ve had no idea it was going to get back to a Saints fan. Obviously doesn’t mean anything will come of it. Who knows whether Rafa being there makes it more or less likely???

I’m not sure if this has been posted already, but last Friday JWP was at Finch Farm. I’m told by a colleague who has a family member in the first team, that he was picked up at the train station by Duncan Ferguson, and when at the training complex looked very pally pally with people. There’s no reason why I would have been lied to with the above. Would be a plausible move I think (not that I’d want it to happen)