the saint in winchester

Yes, I must have been watching the same stream and heard that comment as well. Trouble is, we could have any number up front ready to break, but we just go round in circles trying to keep the ball. When we are losing, the approach seems to be 'keep the ball, hope they don't score any more' rather than 'right, we need to attack".

But is it budgetary constraints? Rumours abound of the lump sum we are alleged to have paid Ralph to go, or the ongoing contract to continue paying to him? Jones would have been a low wage, but £2.5M to pay to Luton, then a severance payment when he went. We had no budget, so when Seles said "I'll do it" that would have appealed.

I would agree. Do we have to pay compo? I think it's too late, we should have fired him 3 weeks ago. Right now, drawing names out of a hat to play in the next game is preferable. This guy might be a nice fella, but he is clueless and shouldn't be in charge of even a kids team. No idea of tactics or game management. Please leave now. Beg Potter to start early.

I'd go along with that. Trying to win the game rather than not lose. For that reason, Monica won't select it.

Irrelevant how we play, as Counter-Agent Selles will take off our best players to ensure we don't pick up any more points. He has been doing it throughout. When we need to hold onto a lead, he takes off Lavia. When we need to score a goal, he brings on a water-carrier to recycle the ball. He can forget hopes of a career as a No1 as he is clueless. I would honestly sack him now and let the squad self-manage.

That's pretty much it. Jones wanted a big lump up front and play hoofball, so they bought in Tall Paul. Then Jones went, and Selles wants to play 'patient build up football' and that isn't Tall Paul's jam. So we are back to using Che, Mara and Walcott.

I don't need Salisu to commit his career to Saints, just to try his hardest in the next game. Let's not exclude players simply because their contract expires within 6/12/18 months.

Then why call up players you don't intend to play? Call up 'squad players' and Irish club players to give them a taste.

Have to agree with that. Much as I don't want Bazunu to get injured, I can't understand why a benchwarmer gets used over a regular match fit keeper.

If you watch videos of him, he's a quicker version of Elynoussi. And we already have that in Sulemana. Comes in off the wings to finish. Maybe. But as other have said - we need to focus on quality in the 20-25M bracket, rather than quantity in the 5-15M bracket.

Now the Croatia manager says he won't select 'Orsa' for the national team until he is playing regularly for his club side (us) and is match fit. This has not worked out well for anyone, has it?

The summer will be all about releasing players. If we have an exodus, then we may need others. But if we have enough already, why spend more?

You think? What level of offer are you expecting? I'm expecting £10M. Tella will want to go there; we will have one customer and have to take it. Unless .... he picks up a host of suitors and a bidding war ensues. Then you'll be right, but I fear it could be Burnley bidding alone.

Lots of good comments from everyone. Have highlighted the key phrases there. Couldn't have put it better, after enduring that game from the cheap seats. Why are all the press conferences talking about 'team morale...great bunch of lads .." Who is coaching them? Do they not know HOW to play football with an intent to win? Why is it all about ball retention and possession. Brentford were nothing special last night and we should have beaten them. We just didn't know how, or try to. Brentford attacked for the first 10 minutes until we got the ball into their half finally. Once they scored their first goal, nothing happened of note, nothing at all. Relegation is a certainty.

Because, when he came on, he showed no interest in heading the ball!

Question : Lineker can't say a word against the government, and yet weekly Have I Got News For You rips the Government to shreds. That's a BBC programme, which I love. How does HIGNFY continue without government censure?

Might make the HT interval more intriguing. Famous Portsmouth fan gets ban after entering ladies toilets and 'identifying' as woman (msn.com)

The perfect scenario for Saints is that he returns to us, has a good mindset, determined to play to his highest level for us, and scores lots of goals, being a valued player. However - in reality - I fear if we insist he returns as we own him - he will not want to be back here, will play within himself, not get regular games, end up as a sub for final 5 mins of games, and we'll regret having him back. This is likely going to end with Tella preferring Burnley, and we'll probably accept £15m, Burnley saying 'take it or leave it'. We sent him out on loan to improve, and he has done just that, such that he will likely want to stay with Burnley.

It's too late for draws. Got to go for wins every time. We may lose some by over-committing, but you garner more points from WL (3 pts) than from DD (2pts).

I think the concensus is Bournemouth, Saints and Everton to go down, and I'd go along with that.

This thread seems to have evolved into an evaluation of Bazunu, whether he is wholly responsible for our position in the table. He kept a clean sheet on Saturday. His strength is distribution, a sweeper-keeper. He's not the biggest problem, and managers choose to select him to continue his development. Yes, we are NOT the better side on Saturday. We scored one good goal and then decided to defend to the end. A more capable side than Leicester would have overcome us. JWP needs to be released from penalty duty. Surely someone else can take varied penalties? We all knew where JWP would put that penalty, including Danny Ward. Anyway, a win's a win. We need to perform better against Utd to get anything. At this stage, I think we are the worst team in the league and I can't see us avoiding the drop. But I hope to be proved wrong.

Two reasons why I don't think so. 1. There is Youth 1/4 final in the next 48 hours, so a strong team will be played there. 2. Selles pointed out he has a squad of 30 senior pros pressing for team places, so I think there is little to no chance of the young'uns being added. Yeah, if we can't play them in these ties, when can we play them? This is where we are like Chelsea - a bloated squad not gelling.

Yes, he said it quickly, but I think Ruben said it in the press conference for this game. ------- McCarthy/Willy ------- Lyanco - Caleta-Car - ABK - Perraud JWP - Alcaraz Sulemana - Orsic ---- Walcott - A.Armstrong -----

But they won't, will they? Surely they will go half-assed and let us get the points if it means they can relegate the blue-noses by so doing.

I wouldn't rely on opposition press releases for Saints team news. Their info is out of date. Stuey back playing already, Larios and Macca back in training. Only Tino definitely out. That's probably true that Che faces a late fitness test, however. We will probably find out at 1pm, although I'd be happy not to be told, knowing we keep our powder dry and the oppo manager doesn't know until 2pm what our team is going to be.