Saint Garrett

Hopefully the one benefit of the skates going 6 points clear at the top of the league, is the end of that shit 10 more years in league 1 chant… 🙏

I think it’s slightly different in this league. And we regularly play 3 up front, sometimes more like 4 in attacking areas, would be interesting…

West Ham fans can't stand him, and really want rid of him. "Stealing a living". We know he struggled to play on his own up front. He played his best football when he had Adams doing a lot of the grind for him. I don't know how he would fit in here if he was to join on loan for the second half of the season, but I can certainly see him leaving West Ham in January.

Really looking forward to this one. Any recommended pubs? Seem to remember going to a pub and walking down by the river last time I went there in 2011. Can imagine they'll be a few tweaks from Saturday. Bazunu; KWP Bednarek THB Manning; Downes Smallbone Stuey, Arma Adams Alcaraz Could make a case for any of Stephens, Holgate, Bree, Charles, Aribo, Edozie, Fraser to start Will be another tough game, but if we can get through 90 minutes without gifting something to them which we've done so many times this season already, I'm comfortable we'll come away with a win. I'd be a lot more comfortable though, if we can get the second goal!!!

Simply not true. Surely you can see a strategy with the below...yes there are a few outliers (Koulibaly / Aubameyang and to an extent Sterling), but the rest are under 25, most are 22 or younger. They've been f*cked by their best signing getting injured (Nkunku), their best player being injured 90% of the time (James) and they're in a transition phase. Don't get me wrong, clearly they could and should have spent the money better, but to say there is no strategy is just plain wrong. We've experienced young players going through the motions, and this lot are meant to be playing at Champions League level week in week out, competing at the highest level. Squads always need a balance. They've signed far too many young players which is very similar to us over the last few years.

TBF, I would expect most that are "slagging off our own fans" (I'd call it highlighting an issue that needs improving) are people who are actually at the games and have to listen to an hour of anti Pompey songs, some crap about libraries and not much else. It's impacted by the lack of songs we have for our current players, and it takes time to create the bond between player and fans. We've been through a lot of players (and managers) over the last years. The numbers are fantastic which is great, but the quality, as others have highlighted, needs improving. Hopefully we can use this thread to help improve it...

He wasn't as effective as a 35 year old Shane Long in the premier league which says a lot. Clearly he can do it at this level. If and when we go up, he might be a squad option and he will benefit from a year at Southampton in the championship. He came into a turbulent club, but he was given a decent chance. He's got his confidence back which is clearly massive for him. We've got to get promoted first though!

He was excellent last weekend. I think he suffered as the rest of the team did, in a learning phase. We seem to have made big strides in the last few months tactically, look at how we've popping the ball around. We saw moments of it in the early stages of the season, but we got a big bump back to teh ground in those 4 games. It's a real shame we played Leicester and Ipswich at home so early in the season. When all the players know their roles, and they pass and move and pass again constantly it makes all their jobs far easier. Not many teams could have dealt with us on Saturday, it's just a shame we haven't pummeled someone yet as that was a prime opportunity, especially if Arma got his third with that header. It's all coming together, which is no surprise after such a turbulant few years, and learning a completely new way of playing. It takes time, and was never going to happen overnight. All the players are playing their part, and Manning is very much part of this side now.

It’s weirdly crap, feels like last few seasons have sucked the life out of the fans. We also have a real lack of songs atm, There also seems to be an expectation now that we turn up and win and win comfortably. I’m not sure where that mindset comes from, this is a tough league,

How bad was the atmosphere tonight, I know it was cold and the first half was poor but one of the worst atmospheres I’ve experienced for years which says something!! Odd. KWP needs a song. Heard his name sung to conga song.a few times, which works and simple.

The obsession our fans have with singing about the skates does my head in, home and away.

We won't lose anyone IMO, unless we want rid of them. I can see Che Adams going due to losing his starting spot, and the fact he was practically gone in the summer, but that's about it. Think other key players will all give us to the summer at least.

Winning regularly always makes a difference, or having the hope that we have a good chance of winning. If we were losing every away game then no doubt numbers would be dwindling.

One of the few times where I don't care *too much* about the cup draw, and I normally bloody love the cup. A nice lower league new ground would be good, but we have very little chance of going far, and it just isn't the priority this year.

Some money to be made there then, especially Saints win and BTTS…

No-one ! Absolutely mad he's sat on his hands. I know he wasn't great for Man Utd in the end, but he's still a class act IMO.

No easy games in this league, but this is up there with "should win". Squad is looking strong, with plenty of competition for places. Ross Stewart to start this one ? Baz; English Cafu Bednarek THB Manning / Bree (Personally don't care) Downes Smallbone Stu Kamaldean Arma Alcaraz Ross off the bench.

Great thread which brings back so many memories. Amazing how many ppl (or alias’s) have come and gone over the years.

There seems to be a pretty open acceptance across the board that Stewart is the best striker in the division. If he can get fully fit, then we not only have a great striker for the rest of this season, but also one that we might not have to replace if we go up !

This needs to catch on, great tune, original, and works. 👌👌👌

Met him today, I slated the transfer back in August, but he’s been a great signing, seems to be a top bloke and really wants to be here, seems to have learned from his mistakes and probably knows this is an amazing opportunity for him to rekindle his career. Martin (and others) have created such an amazing togetherness within the squad so quickly, it’s great to see.

I think Leicester win the league regardless, so quite happy for them to go and win every game between now and the end of the season

Once RS is fit, and I’m sure that will take quite a while, it’ll be 6 of Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Stu, Alcaraz, Arma Sulemana Stewart Adams Fraser Edozie. Id guess the strongest on paper would probably be Downes, Smallbone, Stu, Arma, Sulemana, Stewart. with the others subbing in. I did wonder at the weekend whether Charly playing RW was a trial in prep for Stewart being fit, Good problems to have though in this league….

Hasn’t Lyanco picked up a long term injury? Or did I imagine that,

Seems like a logical appointment, don’t know much about him, but if Martin wants him then fair enough. Welcome to the club