Barsiem

I missed the news that Turner has been awarded a development contract with England https://www.ageasbowl.com/cricket/news/hampshire-paceman-john-turner-awarded-england-development-contract/

Biggest concern I have is that we haven't won a single game at a canter as of yet. Even today we had a nervy 15mins after being 2 goals up and looking like we were cruising. With our quality we should be putting some of the poorer sides like Wednesday, Rotherham and Birmingham to the sword On the positive I've never known a saints team score so many late goals in games. If games were 80mins long we'd be in the bottom half!

Anybody go? Brief write up in the echo but no real detail. MLT was there as well, which the either decided to keep quiet or perhaps more likely he was a replacement for Monkou https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23883364.pahars-makes-long-awaited-st-marys-return-will-attend-fixture/

I think I speak for everyone when I say #pleasepleasepleaseletthishappen

1-0 loss today sadly. We had a goal disallowed at 0-0. Leaves us in third - 3 points off top spot

Loving the tin foil hat accessory

2-1 win against Durham today. We missed a penalty as well

Back on track with a solid 2-0 win away at Watford! Most of the 2nd half we were down to 10 as well as Mott was sent off

Bad subs from Martin yesterday... why he kept Adams on and took off A Armstrong I don't know, but the really stupid one was taking off Sulemana before the game was dead and buried. That said, on another day we would have been 4-0 up by the point those subs were made

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23837387.hasenhuttl-explains-not-taken-new-management-job/ Hassenhuttl speaks! Interesting he states about not wanting to take a job until his desire is back, which is what I felt he was lacking for a good year before he left us

Plenty wanted him here... plenty didn't. Tbf, my main concern when he was linked was we shipped far too many goals, and his defensive record at Bournemouth was terrible, even with a great centre half like Ake. He studied and improved massively in his time off since Bournemouth and fair play to him.

I'm liking the above quote! I appreciate the jury is still out on Martin after that run of defeats, but he is the most proactive manager tactically we've had since Adkins imo. The tactical changes he's made for the last two games have shored the defence up massively (albeit we're still shaky at the back), and he has already made positive impacts in the 2nd half of games with substitutions to have us go on the attack or to protect a lead is something we haven't seen in years. Here's hoping the good run continues for a long while yet

Lost 3-1 at home today to Birmingham, and frankly it could have been worse! We were fortunate to go into half time only one nil down. Birmingham should have had two pennos in the 1st half for handball. One was given but it was a crap effort and easily saved by Rendall. We also scored two OGs so certainly didn't help ourselves. Birmingham dominated first half but we were much better 2nd half, without really creating much in the way of opportunities to score. We were poor defensively today, which is not something you say often about the ladies team. Libbie Smith bullied the centre backs either by holding the ball up or by running in behind. Also there were a few balls over the top Rendall could have cleared up but she was reluctant to come for - hopefully she'll learn from today. Worth stating the Birmingham were top flight 18 months ago whilst we were in the third tier, but today shows we're not quite title contenders as a team yet.

Think most people who go will be going for the love of Marian tbh, maybe Monkou as well, rather than the 99 angle

Irritatingly the points we scored last year in the CC (224) would have been enough to win it this year! Batting points across the board are down massively (Surrey for example scored 27 this year Vs 48 last) so definitely a year for the bowlers, even with the changes to batting bonus points this season Another good season overall. Shame we couldn't nab a cup and be a bit closer in the championship

Seems an ok price given you get a two course meal and a drink included.

Anyone know why Maresca turned us down? It was reported he wanted to stay at City for another year, but then obviously signed for Leicester a couple of weeks later

Didn't realise they both have another year. Tbf a bowling attack of Abbas, Abbott, Turner, Barker and Dawson should mean we bowl most teams out for under 200!!

Can't see wood being released. He's only white ball anyway. Crane is probably better off going elsewhere like Briggs, but we have no replacement so suspect we will retain. I suspect we want Turner for red ball next year, but there's an outside chance he could be on regular England duty pretty soon. I think there is a real dearth of county openers out there, so if we are serious about plugging that pretty huge hole overseas seems the only option

Out batting is definitely worse this year. Only 18 BP scored in 14 matches is terrible, and only the bottom 4 teams have scored fewer. Given we're currently third and won't finish lower than 4th that's pretty poor. Still there's is hope if Middleton, Albert & Prest can all kick on next year. I think we should be signing a world class overseas opener if we can though for next season. Abbas is great, but opener is a position we've struggled with for years

Tbf, more than one poster has claimed he was the difference between staying up and getting relegated last season, so it's not surprising people still think he's being viewed in those kind of terms (I've not read the thread recently so can't comment on recent posts)

Fair enough, but it's only a example. I ain't trawling through stats to try and prove my point 😂 I'd disagree it's has more to do with quality of teammates. Set piece coaching is a huge part of any teams setup, and lesser teams can and have used them in the PL to be effective offensively. The fact we had a quality dead ball specialist and yet rarely scored from corners or indirect free kicks is pretty damning imo

Very sweet to win at Essex. I'm still bitter about last year's defeat

It's a little tiring all of the "I told you so" type posts... We all knew JWP could be quality, but it's also fair to say we haven't seen him at his best since the early days of Ralph. Last season I can only think of Everton away where he dominated a game. We are now having it confirmed that the reason for that seemingly was the structure at saints and how he was asked to play. The number of assists he has from corners already is testament to this and yet another reason to lament the management / coaching in place the last few years. If we aren't going to utilise a player of his quality properly it's arguably better for all concerned if they are moved on to a club who will. Now £30m seems a steal, but for how he has played in the last few seasons it was a fair price in the summer.