VectisSaint

I think the Bookies have got it wrong about Everton.

Thought Tino was very average today, he looked like he was not fully fit, wonder if he would have played if Perraud had been fit. He seemed to be very reluctant to go past a player for get upfield much, as if he was aware that he was going to be a bit short if he had to get back and defend. I'm not being critical of him, think he is a fine player but today was certainly not his best.

No mention of his left sided playing partner Danny Fox. I wonder why.

Winner of Euro Conference qualifies for the Europa. If Leicester were to win it might open up another slot (mind you they are not likely to win if they play Vestergaard, though they did win 4-1 last night)

Brunnschweiler was a youth (football) player with Saints before he turned to cricket, and has been with Saints since 2017, he is not a new recruit, just into a new role.

Not certain that there is the same rule prohibiting season long loan players playing against their host club in the FA Cup as in the PL. Short term loans have to get permission of their host club to play any game in the FA Cup, but this permission is not needed for season=long loans (i.e. Broja). From what I can see he is actually eligible to play against Chelsea in the Cup, but there maybe a clause in his loan agreement that says otherwise. I guess we won't know unless it actually happens. https://footballhandbook.com/can-loan-players-play-against-their-parent-club/#Can_loan_players_play_in_the_FA_Cup

Nor is Ralph. He said he didn't know whether he would have the strength to go through with it when the time comes (or words to that effect). Think too many people are reading too much in to what he said in an interview. Just as I think people are trying to over analyse Semmens' comments about Ralph's successor. You can't really identify a specific candidate this far in advance, you can have a short list of ideal candidates, but what are the.hancesnof your top target actually being available in 2024,I don't think anyone is hanging around just waiting for the Saints job to become available, I would be seriously worried about taking anyone with that mindset.

If it was a myth it wouldn't have counted anyway. 😉

Ralf or Ralph? Let's hope no one mentions Marcus.

It is still what the BBC have published on their Gossip web page. According to the BBC Arsenal are rumoured to be sniffing around is perfectly correct, that is where he read the report. Try stopping being a pedant for a while, you may find it beneficial. We all know what he meant, but you have to be Mr Picky, God knows why or what you get out of it.

Almost every chance on Saturday somehow involved Armstrong, he set up several chances for others, and got into scoring positions 4 times, once with the almost impossible scissors kick which made de Gea work. Even Adams goal (just about the only chance that Armstrong wasn't involved in) would (probably) have been slotted in by Stu if it had come back off the post (instead of rebounding in). The one where he blazed it over the bar, only Adams was in a better position and even that was not clear cut. Adams and Broja fucked up several opportunities where there were players in a better position but no one is saying they should be dropped because they failed to finish. The argument made for Stu to be dropped is one of the silliest suggestions ever read on here (and there have been many), he is by far our most creative player, everyone misses opportunities, evident that our recent good run of form coincides with Stu returning to the side and being back up to something like full fitness. No one else would have got into those positions to miss (I think he missed 2 Saturday, the blaze over the bar and the one where he dragged it right of de Gea's far post). First name on the team sheet for me (maybe equal to Romeu/JWP).

Dates for most matches shown on the League web site (Full-Time), London Bees and Oxford still to be rescheduled Last game currently 1st May v Cardiff, Ipswich and Oxford meet the previous week.

Was he better than Harry Maguire?

To be fair he was previously with Fulham and Crystal Palace academies, seems to have stepped away from the academy system to get first team football earlier, and it has paid off. Spurs were also looking to sign him.

Tchaptchet joined Grenoble Foot 38 in French Ligue 2 in January 2022. He was a free agent and signed a two and a half year deal at the Stade des Alpes.

We probably won't know until they are guests on Lawro Predicts. Sadly these days they are more likely to be Liverpool or Chelsea than Saints or Pompey, but even more likely they don't give a toss.

Dani Osvaldo quite the game presumably because he felt comfortable enough to pursue his other interests (i.e. music), you could argue he wasn't at his peak in playing terms but probably was in earning terms. Eric Cantona and George Best also quite while at their peak.

Best Saints midfield ever (when playing alongside Bally). They were a perfect partnership, not many better anywhere, let alone Saints.

This really isn't much of an issue. All he is actually saying is that he has a contract that expires in 2.5 years, and he plans to see it out, i.e. he is looking to do what he agreed with the club. That will be after more than 5 years at the club, which is an eternity in football, let alone the Premier League. After that aged 57 he might put his feet up and retire, but he admits he doesn't know whether he will actually have enough will power to walk away from the game that he clearly loves. I'm sure it will all depend on how things are going at the time, if things are good he will probably carry on, but if not he will quit. Seems a pretty sensible approach to me, doesn't particularly relish doing this into his 60s or beyond, better to have some fun while he still can. The fact of the matter is, if Saints aren't improving in 6 months, 18 months whatever he will get the sack, but at least Saints know where he stands and have the opportunity to plan in advance for a handover, probably with Ralph playing a part in that transition. Gives us the confidence that we won't be going down the dinosaur route anytime soon, Fat Sam, Arry and Bruce need not apply.

Is Bednarek available? Still seems odd to me that he wasn't in the squad Saturday (understand why he wasn't in the starting xi). Almost everyone else was included.

Hashtag are in the 4th tier (FA Women’s National League Division One South). They used to be Basildon, but merged with the (men's) Hashtag United in 2020. Hashtag United history - https://footballpink.net/the-internet-club-the-story-of-hashtag-united/ Meanwhile Ipswich dropped another 2 points in the League (0-0 v MK Dons). Saints now 9 points adrift but with 5 games in hand and 4 behind Oxford with 3 games in hand. https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?league=872938

Basically said the same thing elsewhere, apart from JWP no first choice players played excessive minutes. You include Bednarek in the list of players that contributed 3 minutes in total, but Bednarek wasn't actually in the squad (neither was Perraud). I wondered why Jan wasn't in the squad, when most other first choices were (I forgot Perraud). Given Lyanco's unfortunate injury I wondered if there was something that kept him out, but no one seems to know. Incidentally Ralph reckons Valery had a very good game (Hampshire Live): "I must say, Yan Valery was fantastic today as a centre-back, fantastic job. How he has developed his game was unbelievable to see. He was the best player in my team today," he said.

Out of interest what draw would not favour Man City. If you are the best team any draw is favourable. I guess Liverpool away might be considered difficult for them, or Saints home or away, but otherwise an unfavourable draw is not very likely.

The only players who 'suffered' were Valery, Stephens, JWP, Long and Diallo. With the exception of JWP who we know is superhuman, none of those would be expected to be starters. Anyone know why Bednarek was not in the squad. With Lyanco doing his hammy might we be street he'd at the back again?

The more informative information is at https://www.sportpositiveleagues.com/pl-2021/. To be honest there is not much substance to this just a load of waffle and projects and policies, but fair play they are doing better than most. Good to know the players and staff will be cycling to training and matches.