Badger

I thought the response was poor when Smallbone went off, only Fernandes and Ramsdale really came out of yesterday with credit. Smallbone wasn’t much worse than the rest. But “toxic” ? Our support is anything but.

Deeney and Sutton are two of the biggest cunts in punditry. But both have been spot on in their criticisms in recent weeks.

Muppets in the boardroom, clueless managers, weak and mentally feeble players, then add the sheer noddiness of some of our supporters. Yes, SR are presiding over the greatest period in our history. It eclipses the Laurie years by some distance.

I think the 8-2 was played the Saturday after the FA Cup SF at Highbury in 1984. Yes they did. Another memorable thing was Frank Worthington scored one of the others. His goal brought the house down with people going berserk for his goal as he’d been on a goal drought for a few months but had contributed a lot to our form and had become a bit of a folk hero ( Frankie Goes To Wembley t-shirts at the time) That was Worthington’s last goal for us I recall , and also I think his last appearance. Think he was mysteriously dropped the next week at Stoke ( later rumoured due to his off the field discipline and antics)

Surprised Rasmus was there given we’re often told he isn’t involved at SFC. Shame he couldn’t have found something more suitable to do on a Saturday afternoon at Goztepe, or putting up a shelf at home.

Yes, had forgotten that. Played on a Monday night for some reason so it had been quite an effort to get to ( I was in Scotland at the time).

I was thinking something similar yesterday and wondered if a ‘Our Greatest FA Cup defeats’ thread was warranted. Decided against it as things are depressing enough already. So I’ll dump it in here. Although the Highbury S/F defeat in 1984 was the bitterest defeat the most humiliating I recall are: 3)Wrexham at home 1974. We thought we were comfortably mid-table at the time but carried on the slump for the rest of the season. 2)Grimsby 2022 - shocking, though like now we knew we were shit 1) Tranmere - we actually had a good team at the time. The moral of all this - yesterday’s result doesn’t even register on the scale. That’s how far we’ve fallen, losing at home to a team in a division below isn’t a surprise, barely a disappointment, and we’re used to losing.

I took the pricing etc to show their disdain for the fan base as much as the competition

Yes there were. The story was put out about food poisoning, but you have to wonder.

Is that an ‘Xkg’ squat stat from another Rasmus spreadsheet ?

Record breaking for all the wrong reasons.

Not taking issue with what you said, I agree that Smallbone does look weak. ( His tackling reinforces the stereotype). But no one would have said David Armstrong looked ‘sickly’ or weaker because of his bald pate. But then again Armstrong did carry a bit of bulk that Smallbone lacks.

Unless Rasmus has already tapped up Williamson on leaving Carlisle this week.

An interesting thing to come out of one of the interviews posted is a reference to an assistant and someone he’s worked closely with, Marcel Klos. Quick google of him and does appear to have followed Spors around in his appointments. So, perhaps another name to watch out for in the recruitment team.

Ivanka Juric should grab a few headlines and media coverage.

I don’t think Downes has ever really wanted to be here. He was instrumental in promotion and credit to him for the part he played in it. If you remember the ‘promotion party’ he couldn’t resist blurting the word ‘irons’ into an answer to Blackmore’s question. Went down in my estimation from that, I think it showed exactly where he wanted - and probably expected to be - this season. Quite pathetic if he is still in a strop due to Lego going. Not sure where he hopes to be next season, could well be back with Lego in a season or two. At MK Dons level or similar.

Are you saying we couldn't have spent the c £25m on Archer and BBD any better ?

We can demand all we like, but there won’t be many Championship clubs looking to spend £15m on a striker. The exceptions might be the three relegated teams, plus perhaps Birmingham. Our best option of maximising the value from him is as part of a deal with a player coming to us. Unfortunately any player of that value will probably also be subject to Premier League interest.

Have wondered if Vitesse might fit in with the Sports Republic model. A club playing below its usual level with potential. ( Would fit the Rasmus ‘broken’ model). Not saying this would necessarily be a good thing, and I’d rather they concentrate on getting us sorted, but can see mileage in it.

In the Spors translation, slightly concerned by the sub-titles and which was intended as correct: Translation of Serie A to ‘Syria’ ….

That’s a good findMLG, well done. Interesting bit , at about 1.30: “ we don’t want to have possession just to have possession “ Music to my ears

Thanks. Hadn't seen full article before but you're right.

Interesting that it states Group Technical Director , not specifically Saints. But pleased with the appointment if he is a move away from those responsible for this season's shambles.

I'd forgotten that bit, that was the Chris Nicholl/Tony Barton connection from their Villa days. Shame it didn't come off.

Thanks. I had wanted us to sign Rideout from his early days, remember his hattrick for England Schoolboys v Scotland in 1980, thought he'd be the England No9 for years to come. Disappointed we didn't bring him here but he went to Villa, and i didn't think he lived up to expectation. Thought he might recover his potential glory with us, but didn't really, perhaps eclipsed by the emergence of Shearer. (The he gained legendary cunt status by playing for Everton, and scoring against us for Tranmere just to rub salt in the wound).