trousers

Some might argue our defenders were some of the best in the Championship last season (on paper... I'm sure @Matthew Le God will correct me if I'm wrong ) but the system being played contributed significantly to our poor goals-against tally, less so the relative quality of the players (for a change). But I totally agree that we haven't had a premier league standard defence for many seasons now.

Not entirely, I agree...

Depends what level of shite they inherit I guess...? (If it's a good enough excuse for Sir Kier Starmer... )

One result after the manager had been in post for 14 days and the other result after the manager had been in post for 905 days. Yep, definitely comparing like-with-like...

Yup. She'd never heard of The Rhine and reckoned it "sounded more Asian than European". I despair.

This sort of thing genuinely makes me want to throw bricks at the TV screen....

You must be "talking nonsense " as he's not responded again...

It's almost as if they're making things up as they go along....

Juric has already stated in a previous press conference that he likes Stephens (indeed, I think he still referred to him as "the captain"), so wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see him involved tomorrow.

As long as the club makes us aware which hospitality box he'll be watching the game from

Anyone know why @Matthew Le God sometimes aborts continuing with a conversation before it's concluded..?

If only we had an actual CB (who's been fit enough to be selected on the bench week in, week out) rather than having to shoe-horn a midfielder into the defence....

So, with Downes and Stephens back in the frame, could this be the line-up that Juric has a punt on this time around...? Ramsdale (GK) KWP (RWB) Stephens (CB) Bednarek (CB) Wood (CB) Wellington (LWB) Downes (DM) Ugochukwu (DM) Fernades (AM) Kamaldeen (AM) Dibling (AM) (Note: I'm aware that I've not included an out-and-out striker, but it wouldn't be the first time he's started without one....)

I know I'm prone to have a subtle pop from time-to-time at the journos that cover Saints, but why (oh why) don't they probe the club more often in situations such as this? Week in, week out at pre-match press conferences they trot out the obligatory: "Any injury news?" question, and when the response from the manager inevitibaly makes no mention of Stewart's injury status (nor Larios's for that matter) no-one pipes up to ask for an actual explanation on why a "calf injury" has seemingly not healed in 5 months (and counting)....

Cue one of the first posts on this thread being some self-appointed smart Alec posting that the first page of the thread will be full of posts shouting "Just wish we'd play our best 11 in our best formation ffs!"

Indeed... Who scouts the scouts....? 🙂

And London....

I hate to do this to you but.... The River Exe is tidal up to Trews Weir so, technically, part of Exeter is on the coastline... Sorry! 😂

He's not been snapped up by a major European club yet then, à la Vincent Company?

Here's hoping we're as far ahead in terms of player mentality too...

Jason Wilcox started on 1st July 2023 and his first interview was on 17th July. So I guess we can anticipate something next week maybe.

You'd have thought so, wouldn't you? It wasn't so long ago that the club's media department would've been all over such an appointment like a rash from 'day 1'. Still, I'm sure our local journos are on the case as we speak in order to fill the club's media void....

I'm not saying they should; I was just outlining two different ways of looking at the situation. FWIW, I'm probably in the "get rid" camp.