saints-cris

A very useful point in the long run, not many of the sides in our position will get anything there. The confidence a (well overdue) clean sheet will bring will be huge too. Very impressed by all three CB's, JWP and Romeu. Proper shift put in by everyone. Most encouraging aspect about this is that we are looking so much better without our first choice full backs. Once we get Bertrand back and possibly a new RB, we will hopefully do even better.

OUT: Hoedt, Cedric, Forster, Gabbi, Davis, Long IN: CB, RB, Att mid/winger Wouldn't be arsed if JWP and Austin go too. Stephens out on a loan maybe. Wonder if Boufal would do well under Ralph rather than buying a new player.

Completely agree, throw in a better CB, a new RB and Bertrand back, and suddenly we look miles better.

Very possible we end up in the bottom three by end of play today but won't be panicking just yet. I can't see us not being busy in January, no doubt Ralph will want a couple of his own players in so that gives me cause for optimism. Would like us to get back to full strength for tonight, some of the players got a rest for the City game so it would be nice to get some points where we're not expected to. McCarthy Bednarek Vestegaard Yoshida Valery Romeu Lemina Targett Redmond Armstrong Ings

Its now on Saints Twitter, FYI.

This bit made me laugh.. "Forster would be a very astute signing for Leeds, and at 6-foot-7, he’d add some real presence to the Leeds’ backline."

People slaughtered us for wanting him sacked when we came 8th (clearly didn't delve a little deeper). Now a different fan base are going through the same dross are wanting the same. Makes me chuckle. Ultimately it's about entertainment, and of course the results. Their results are OK, but entertainment is very low. Therefore, it won't take long before fans get fed up and bored. One bad run and it all looks very bleak. I doubt he'll see out the season, and maybe then people will see we weren't wrong in our decision. Even in spite of Pelligrino and Hughes I felt getting rid of Puel was the right decision - we just replaced him with duds.

Massive game. One we cannot afford to lose. However, a real chance to win two games back to back since April 2017. They don't score many, but if they get ahead they will dig right in to protect it so we have to get the lead. Throw in Lemina for Romeu, and perhaps a striker for one of our defenders. Another week of training under Ralph, full of optimism and energy.

Not a surprise to be honest - doubt we'd be able to afford him anyway.

I approve of all of this. It's simple, at any level the fitter you are in a sport you are more likely to give yourself the chance to succeed. We have conceded SO many late goals and get over run late on, that fitness has to be addressed. And god forbid they have to train at a different hour - they still have it so so easy. Their performances don't deserve luxuries. They can have days off when they start doing what their paid to do, win games. It's only been 3 months since they last did that. Hopefully, whether this is true or not, he weeds out the moaners.

I really do hope this one works out, and is back to our more successful appointments. Whilst fully aware that if he does do well, he will be off. But at this point I think we'll all take that; a couple years of enjoying it again, and with any luck our board have learned the lessons to make the next one a success. Very optimistic, but of course we need to get into safety first, which won't be easy and won't happen immediately.

I kind of expect Vestergaard to start. He did well in the Bundesliga, so I'd imagine RaHa would know what he's about.

Ultimately we can't lose this one. To go 5 points behind a side who most would expect to go down would be very concerning. Fulham and Hudds most likely won't be getting points tomorrow, IF we win things could look a bit more comfortable, but can't be expecting drastic change over night. Just hope for improved performance and if we can get a lead, to bloomin' well hold on to it!

With Hughes I'd say yes. New manager has given us a well needed lift and some cause for optimism, however first and foremost we really need to get some points on the board. Our players easily good enough to get to mid table comfortably, and hopefully RaHa will get us there. Even under Hughes we were able to take leads, lets just manage to not throw them away now. Plenty of time to go in the season, and a couple of smart signings (a defender that can defend) in January should see us safe.

Free hit, not even going to be slightly bothered if we lose this one; No manager, injuries galore, away at Spurs. Try to keep the score down / hope for a miracle. Kane is my FF captain. Macca Cedric, Yoshi, Stephens, Vestergaard, Targett Romeu, PEH, Armstrong Redmond Gabbi

Gone. Official.

Backed Utd to draw/win when we went 2-0 down on Saturday - printing money. If we're not losing with 10 mins to go its normally a safe bet to back us to lose, or draw if we're ahead.

Valery is obvious, Jankewitz (midfield) and Klarer seems a highly rated defender.

Least he gives a **** I guess

Adam Leitch has tweeted saying there's nothing in this, that we haven't approached him at all.

Has done fairly well since Swansea/Leicester. Be most interested how his Fiorentina side played, if anyone knows please share. [TABLE=class: wikitable] [TR] [TD=align: left]Videoton[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: left]1 June 2011[/TD] [TD=align: left]7 January 2013[/TD] [TD]88[/TD] [TD]52[/TD] [TD]17[/TD] [TD]19[/TD] [TD]140[/TD] [TD]63[/TD] [TD]+77[/TD] [TD]59.1[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: left]Maccabi Tel Aviv[39][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: left]11 June 2013[/TD] [TD=align: left]28 May 2014[/TD] [TD]49[/TD] [TD]31[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]8[/TD] [TD]91[/TD] [TD]45[/TD] [TD]+46[/TD] [TD]63.3[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: left]Basel[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: left]18 June 2014[/TD] [TD=align: left]17 June 2015[/TD] [TD]50[/TD] [TD]32[/TD] [TD]7[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]112[/TD] [TD]60[/TD] [TD]+52[/TD] [TD]64.0[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: left]Fiorentina[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: left]21 June 2015[/TD] [TD=align: left]6 June 2017[/TD] [TD]95[/TD] [TD]43[/TD] [TD]25[/TD] [TD]27[/TD] [TD]155[/TD] [TD]121[/TD] [TD]+34[/TD] [TD]45.3[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=align: left]Tianjin Quanjian[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD=align: left]6 November 2017[/TD] [TD=align: left]5 October 2018[/TD] [TD]33[/TD] [TD]11[/TD] [TD]10[/TD] [TD]12[/TD] [TD]50[/TD] [TD]54[/TD] [TD]−4[/TD] [TD]33.3[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Jardim has dropped to 11/4 n all.

Play well, probably take the lead. Lose late on. Lukaku to score. Blame hard luck, claim we're almost where we want to be.

I don't see Rogers being hugely unrealistic. If we can take their best players then we can certainly take their manager. His stock won't go any higher than it is now and probably bored stiff of playing in front of League 1 capacitys on some occasions. At this point, I'm not sure what he's hoping/thinking he can get in terms of a Premiership side. The top 8 are completely locked down with their managers all doing well. So what's left? Leicester if/when Puel goes? West Ham in a season or two? Whilst our position is terrible right now, I'd have full confidence he could get us back to where we need to be. The only issue is money, can we afford to bin off Hughes, pay off Rogers contract and pay him well? If we can't, then does that mean we can only look at mangers not in work currently?

Can't say I give a monkeys about this game, add to the fact that if we win we get the pleasure of getting slaughtered by City in the 1/4 final. Give some people a chance to make a case to start on Saturday. Gunn Valery, Stephens, Vestergaard, Targett Romeu, JWP, Davis El You, Obafemi, Redmond