Polaroid Saint

Big fan of The Platform - and then get the "special bus" to the stadium, just in time for KO! Quality range of crazy beers. Yes, it's a different kind of pre-match atmos, but equally as good as any beery pish-up pub.

That's my three posts for the day wasted. Although I do like Augustus Alpine. Smiles.

Line the pocket of Sir Rick Astley, obviously. Do not buy youum the Fat White Family album, even though it suggests it is suitable 'For Your Mother'. It isn't and they will only spend the money on Drugs. Or Rent. (Hmmmpf. Wrong quote dingleberry.)

Line the pocket of Sir Rick Astley, obviously. Do not buy youum the Fat White Family album, even though it suggests it is suitable 'For Your Mother'. It isn't and they will only spend the money on Drugs. Or Rent.

Really odd. Czech Republic have a team, as do Sweden and Russia. Then Canada and USA have theirs, PLUS 'Team North America'?!?! Which is what, without US and Canada, I don't know! But then this is the same mentality that brings us the 'world series' in Baseball. Good sport to watch though (Ice Hockey, not Baseball which I have yet to give any time to).

#kruegerwatch. Off doing the Hockey, here is an article about him/it/us. https://www.wch2016.com/news/team-europe-coach-has-seemingly-done-it-all/c-281751508?tid=281230896

Precisely, misinformed is all. It is worth trying to inform ourselves and each other. We need to keep reminding ourselves that the word "Race" is naive and simplistic short-hand, and is basically just an excuse to group of people based on their skin colour. Which then opens up all sorts of issues and preconceptions (and, at worst, prejudices). Conflating 'race' (i.e. skin colour) with geographic, historical or cultural influence on genetic make-up and/or ability is very common, and understandable, but ultimately pretty unhelpful. Of course, this is not the place (nor do I have the time) to delve into all the varying historical, cultural, economic and geographic influences that can, and do, affect both individual's genetic make-up and their physical abilities, but as other have alluded to, those things have much more baring on sporting prowess than skin colour. If we continue to use skin colour as 'short hand' then other, much more damaging, preconceptions will continue to hold sway.

Well put. "Race" doesn't exist. Cultural stereotypes however do. Skin pigmentation has nothing to do with athleticiam. Nothing at all.

[h=2]Les than zero - How the FA has regressed since sacking Les Reed[/h] Informative and interesting article. Sorry if posted elsewhere (did a search). http://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/2016/9/4/12792102/les-than-zero

'Diamonds' in the rough. Possibly.

Perhaps there is a slight, but identifiable, difference between being a "Fan" and being a "Supporter"? A fan (derived from fanatic, obviously) being filled with passion for their club, but maybe at the expense of perspective/being objective; and a supporter being more forgiving of any mistakes (perceived and actual) the club makes, but maybe not as emotionally committed? (See also, the difference between those of us who need to be avoided for just an hour after a loss on match days, and those of us who are miserable all week!!) Dunno, maybe it's merely semantics (or maybe one is "better" than the other!?), but it is sort of pointless short-hand I like to bandy about a bit in my head and see if it works. Probably doesn't but there you go.

oy vey!

Lovely. Proper teams, incredible cities. Add Nice to that and we are laughing (probably not qualifying, but laughing nonetheless).

G for travel ease K for non football fun

The Cuco always follows the Erwin. This is the natural order of things.

While I do think this is very good, the word/spelling is unsustainable. Little point in taunting the opposition with claims they have a spotless fiscal policy.

Was browsing the match thread without being logged in... ...God, I forgot what all these **** jockeys I normally have on my ignore list are like. You might be Saints and I'll fight for you til my last, but you are a bunch of whinging d!cks. Now I'm logged in you are all back on ignore. Gutted about the result, but we looked more than alright. Liked the new pasa heavy system, players seemed happy with it. We will win a lot of games this season playing like that. Okay, yeah, another attacking outlet would do the confidence the world of good. Our Travelling Fans in fine voice as ever. Well done to them too. Our online fans should take note.

Anyone who uses the passive/aggressive terms "sunshine" or "pal" to refer to other users on an internet forum automatically goes on my ignore list. It's just plain rude!

The Stig also has small hands. I know this for a FACT. All the Stigs have had small hands. None are Bolivian, although one is a blittering idiot.

Redmané looked good all game. Hodgepodge pure class. Tadic needs to chill out a bit. Long not at his best, but still a menace. Davis quality passing. Target did well. Pied admittedly better than Cedric, but expect them to swap and change through the season. The fact that Watford now go 36 games undefeated after taking a lead, goes some way to showing it was their defending not our lack of attack that meant it remained 1-1 (I.e. 10 men behind the ball at all times meant sending off affected them only a little.) Quite bouyed by that second half, despite feeling it is 2 points dropped on paper. Also think Puel knows his starting XI for Friday now though. Will a new 'attack minded' player be in the squad. Will Fonts be playing in Red or Black? Ah, football. You're back, for all your crappy home draws against 'lesser teams', I have still missed you.

Sweet. And the off-topic stuff is all nerdy grammar stuff. Almost the perfect thread!

Gawd. This is embarrassing. Mods, can you lock this thread and bin it or something. I came on here for random speculation, (plus the classic TSW distraction of off-topic over-eager positivity and ridiculously bleak predictions of utter despair), not to watch us turn on our own. (If we so that it should be strictly on a Wetters versus Goons basis). Anyone/thing today would be good just to lift the mood a little; contract extension, a world class Keagan type signing or even Robin Fridays pickled corpse, anything.

hehe. My point was (quite clearly) that claiming ANY ONE PLAYER 'hauled us over the line' is preposterous. I am glad you got that point: So much so that you fell into my 'cunning trap' and pointed out how preposterous it was when I swapped DAVIS for MANE! You have decided, based on your appreciation of the entire season, but focusing on the last ten games, that Mane's performance in those last ten games warrants special attention and praise - and that's cool; we all have our favourite players. I merely pointed out AN Other-Players performance in a vital game near the end of the season was EQUALLY important. Of course, I don't think Davis was our most influential player last year, I don't even think he was the most influential player in that game against Spuds (Wanyama was - I wonder why?). Truth is, I realised it was a good case in point to show that one man does not a team make; that's all we are really disagreeing about here, I happen to think we got to 6th as a team, you seem to want to praise one individual above all others. Would we have beaten Man City without Mane? THAT'S a decent question and supports your argument. Would we have won the other games without him? Yes, probably. But it's all conjecture, really and depends on your perspective when viewing our performances through the season. I, personally, think we fluked, no that's wrong, fudged sixth place when 8th looked much more likely with a few games to go. But was Mane the SOLE reason? No, not from my point of view, sorry if you find that an easy point to make, but often the obvious things are.

I did not know that. Then my ramblings have even more clout. Nice.

Whilst Mane was clearly a menace for the last five games of the season with six goals and running (some) defences ragged, it was a TEAM effort. The entire Saints team (to the obvious bemusement of the then manager) pulled together and won the four of five they were asked to, (with Tadic supplying nine assists those games). The most unlikely win, and therefore the three points that really made the difference between 6th and 8th came at White Heart Lane; where Mane completed just over an hour, had the lowest pass completion of any player on the pitch and no shots.Therefore, if you really want to reduce a team effort over 38 games to one players achievement at the end of the season, it should be Steven Davis you give the plaudits to. La.Sh!t. Just realised this is the Summer Targets thread and I've been drawn in. Balls. Ah well, I've typed it now. Sorry!