sydenhamssocks

Absolutely! Time for the return of stripes, call it classic, traditional or whatever you like. Saints are red and white stripes for me. Mix it up and mess around with the away kits by all means but let’s get back to basics and give next season a refresh!

Niemi ?….……but he’s Finnish ………🤷🏻‍♂️

I agree with you, to be honest the coaches around him just now are more hangers on than useful. Kelvin etc should have gone a long time ago, but they’ve nicked a wage and kept their mouths shut. But I think Ralph is a very inflexible and single minded fella who is probably his own worst enemy. in the end it’ll catch him. Had there been fans in all this season I think he’d have been hounded by now.

You think Ralph is the right man, yet you’re next two questions point to the fact he’s not.

Yep, that’s the way I saw it too. Distancing a little , it’s self preservation time !

Fulham 6 points behind Newcastle with 14 games to play... that’s an achievable miracle if ever there was one

Where for art ....Gao! 😁

We’d have signed two gentlemen of Verona 👀

Absolutely!! I’m exactly the same. It must be why I always mention it when given the chance

😳 Phew, glad you said head just there! 😂

He’s played 84 games in Serie A and 33 internationals for Uruguay(including 6 at 2018 World Cup) since we released him after just 1 appearance for us. Obviously didn’t fit our criteria, but do wish he’d played in that cup final and dealt with Ibrahimovic ! C’est la Vie

Absolutely 100% !! He offers nothing now. In fact, one 25 goal season at Reading and a 13 goal return year alongside Pellè and Mane for us are his only 2 standout seasons. Over the other 15 and a half seasons as a professional with 4 different clubs, he has averaged just under 5 goals a season! A very poor record for a ‘Striker’. I don’t buy the ‘selfless’ running, the pace to get behind/beyond defenders and that he is Ingsy’s preferred strike partner. Those days are done. His presence has blocked the opportunity for us to bring a better player into the club in my opinion, particularly now when we could do with a reinforcement or two. Why Ralph felt he was worth an extension is a mystery. If Long wanted more regular football, then he would have moved to get it. He doesn’t, just happy to sit out his lucrative contract. The Shane Long appreciation society won’t agree but to keep on trotting out his anfield cup goal and his fastest ever perm goal as testament to keeping him, doesn’t do it for me. His aptitude for playing guitar and ability to ‘hold’ a tune, seems to have charmed every manager we’ve had since 2014🤦🏻‍♂️ Nice bloke by all accounts but I won’t shed a tear when he finally goes. All the best Shane 👍🏼

Mind you, if he did nudge Diallo in beside Armstrong and then Walcott alongside Adams, it could be a bit stronger 🤷🏻‍♂️

If we sign Tomsk and Orinoco to play alongside Wellington I reckon we’d clean up 😁😇

Send the first team up to Leeds and put a B team ‘plus’ out v Shrewsbury In the cup on the same night. There easy ha!

Absolutely! And for some of the reasons you mention , our left side is completely ineffective. Ralph needs look beyond Long etc with the young lads or a new face in January.

Absolutely spot on. Lack of real commitment to Ralph’s ideas from both of them for a while now it was never going to suit everyone we had in squad, but those who are buying into it and making things happen are becoming more and more obvious this season and if alternatives for these two could found in January, then so be it

If we lose at the Emirates I’m not sure it will be down to if Romeu plays or not. As you eluded to re: City game, they’ll be faves with or without him in our side. Think Diallo’s little cameos have looked good and in a three game week it might be an opportunity to put him in. I wasn’t advocating that Romeu ‘had’ to be back for city, Diallo may well prove to be a different option in that position, rather than an outside bet. The way Arsenal look just now I think if Diallo has that bit of quality we all hope he has, then it may enhance rather than compromise the chances of a win. Just a thought.

With Romeu a yellow away from a ban, I’d give him the night off completely back for City Switch up a little and start Diallo. Start Redmond over Theo and add B team 4 goal Tella to the bench. McCarthy. Bertrand Westergaard Bednarek KWP JWP. Diallo Armstrong. Redmond Ings. Adams subs: Forster. Stephens Salisu Tella. Djenepo. Walcott Nlundulu

The bench is now starting shape up alongside the starting 11. This gives us some depth and quality. Redmonds goal today a good example. Great win. Gunners next in our firing line !!

Absolutely. When Ings starts, then any two from Djenepo Redmond and Walcott on the bench gives us a chance to keep up the pace and continue to have threat over the last 15/20 mins without much drop in quality. Long etc off the bench to replace the tiring pressers doesn't cut it.

No need to rush Ings or for that matter Redmond back. Same starting 11 as Sunday will give us a bench that’ll worry Sheff U, the same as it did Brighton, who couldn’t handle the second half. Then switch it back to our ‘default’ 11 for Arse & City A win and Armstrong will be fine. He’s a very good player who creates so much but tires late on. ralphs sub timings are crucial for players like him. He's been left on bit too long recently.

Getting all your best players on the pitch together is an option we’ve not always taken. On current form this is our best 11. Redmond just outside that 11 for now. Not influencing the game as much as Armstrong or potentially Walcott. Come on Saints !

Game to be streamed on EFL Carabao Cup website for a tenner. Details on site.

Just mentioned in another thread that I think he links well with Danny, who looks like he appreciates Armstrong being on the pitch. He’s a smart player who is more of a key component than he’s getting credit for. For the money we paid, he’s more than good value.