spyinthesky

Is Roscoe (and Larios) actually training or still in the 'Recovery Position'?

I always remember speaking to an ex Manager who said that if the recruitment of new player was at least 70% successful, as a Manager you had a very good chance of making a decent team, as seems to be the case with the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth and Forest atm. Below that figure there were likely to be problems. Of course Saints arent the only team with recruitment problems but the club doesnt have deep pockets so the minimum 70% success rate in the transfer market is particularly important. I understand that when Ted Bates was Manager he personally watched players when they played at home and away to make sure they were consistent in their performances. Nowadays that really isnt possible as so many players play matches outside this country.

Fair point. I was aware that Plymouth could be brought into the equation but whilst I appreciate my comment was not geographically correvct, for my sins I have only seen Bournemouth, Pompey and Brighton as being our 'rivals' along the South Coast. I suppose it is a bit like saying which are the rival clubs on Merseyside which would then have to include Stockport County

Whilst not necessarily arguing against your choices, the fact is the club will have to sell the better players such as Fernandes, Ramsdale, Dibling perhaps THB to make up for the losses that relegation brings. Likewise if there is interest in players with a year remaining on their contract will probably have to be sold for financial reasons. KWP will unfortunately leave on a Free.

MLG But are we? They beat Swansea 4-0 versus our 3-0. They drew with a full strength Burnley 0-0 whilst our more or less full strength side lost 1-0 to a weakened Burnley team. Going back to pre season we were abysmal and lost to Oxford whilst Pompey beat them 2-0. There is the possibility that Pompey will strengthen next season whereas our better players will be off. I guess it will all depend on who is the Manager and what decent recruits will be in the team next season. I have the recurring nightmare that for the only time in my long association with Saints, we could be the lowest ranking side along the South Coast.

Cant wait. Would be great if the break was longer. Perhaps next years season ticket will include a series of sessions with a therapist.

Rosco and Larios will be back in the squad firing on all cylinders!!

I tip my hat to all those who make themselves heard at games especially this season as there has been buggar all to get excited about. I used to be like that as a youngster but age takes its toll and I have only been able to respond as I used to do at Wembley and West Brom games last season. It might be beneficial for the club to offer cheaper prices to those attending matches at the Northam end where standing is the order of the day which is similar to arrangements in Germany.

I dont think we are fit enough and that may be because their RussBall training was focused on ball work rather than fitness. Also when you look at pre match preparations and half time routines, for most Prem sides, they are far more focussed than our efforts which seem Sunday League style in comparison. Similarly work on throw ins and corners seem to have a strategy to them where as ours dont.

Trump once called his now Secretary of Health and Human Services..'The dumbest of all the Kennedy's'.. but then promoted him to a senior member of his Government,

As a card carrying Negative Nelly, I have tried to dredge up some positives from our recent forays in the Premier league 1. Saints supporters are still turning up in decent numbers both home and away....but for how long?. 2. Signing of Fernandes who is a bright spot in a desperately poor side.... enjoy him whilst you can. (Welington seems a reasonable signing too) 3. The commitment of the players. Collectively they are awful bit at least there is no sign of them giving up...yet!! 4. The improvements in/around the stadium. Think the club has made strides this year....but the major improvements need to be on the field of play. 5. Performances of the U18 & U21's. Watching clips of the games there seems to be one or two who could potentially make the grade. Like the look of Jay Robinson...but of course there is a big step up even to the Championship. 6. ????? That's it...............

Have to disagree with you about KWP although Ramsdale got him out of jail with the terrific save from his header. Saints are basically an average Championship side with a couple of players that are Prem quality. The team seem slower, very much less organised than almost all the other teams in the Prem and the difference in quality seems to be growing week by week. For what it is worth, here's my players ratings: 1. RAMSDALE 9 Three outstanding saves and no chance with the goals 2. BREE 5 An average performance 3. WELINGTON 5.5 Presume he was injured so taken off at HT 4. KWP 5 Thought he was OK but marked down a half point for the header back to Ramsdale 5. BEDNERAK 6 Won most of his battles against a tricky and speedy opponent 6. WOOD 3.5 Looked completely out of his depth which is quite worrying 7. SMALLBONE 3 I feel sorry for him but he was useless. 8. FERNANDES 6.5 Once again our best outfield player. Shame he wont be with us next season 9. TALL PAUL 4.5 Cant see what he offers to the attack 10. ARIBO 5 Like the majority of our squad, Championship standard. 11. SULEMANA 5.5 He definitely has talent but needs to learn to use it in the right way. Took his goal well. 12.UGOCHUKWU 4.5 An improvement on Smallbone but Chelsea were mugged if they paid £22m for him 13. SUGAWARA 4 Meh!! 14. DIBLING 4.5 Did a couple of nice runs but still poor in the defensive part of the game 15. MANNING ? Was he on the pitch 16. ARCHER ? Ditto MANAGER 3 Initial thoughts that he and his staff might improve on the previous Management team. Unfortunately we seem to be getting worse!!

I just wonder whether the Russians do have information on some dodgy stuff Trump got into when he was in Moscow years ago and/or if there is something Putin can offer to Trump and his family to grease their sweaty palms. All that said Trump is probably so ingrained in the minds of Republican minds at the moment that he could survive more or less all types of shit that could be thrown at him.

I am sure that Trump's core of support will follow what he does slavishly. By retreating back to fortress MAGA land, it creates a vacuum elsewhere around the world, particularly in Europe. The concern for countries in Europe is that Russia will regroup and continue to pour roubles into their war machine which, currently, exceeds all the defence spending of European countries combined. Unfortunately without the umbrella protection of the US Military we will face the same challenges that would have occurred in WW1 and WW2 without US intervention. Not a pleasant thought.

As another poster has said on here, when Bournemouth games used to get announced over the tannoy at The Dell, there was always a decent reaction when Bournemouth won. Our supporters also put their hands in their pockets when Bournemouth went through a funding crisis, so there was a degree of fondness to the team playing at Dean Court and we had no problems buying/selling/loaning players to each other. In some respects, I can perhaps understand that some Bournemouth fans might feel some dislike towards the Saints as quite a few Saints fans used to come up to The Dell and then SMS to watch higher grade football. What Bournemouth have achieved in more recent years is very impressive and a game against their current side with our best team from the Pochettino or Koeman eras would have been a cracker. A repeat of the first half at Dean Court could well result in a massacre and with the usual outcome in recent times of the final whistle heralding yet another home spanking with the away supporters in full voice, whilst those of us still in the ground trudging out thinking 'why on earth do we submit ourselves to this ritual humiliation'

Nail on the head as ever. The truth hurts every time I read one of your otherwise enjoyable match reports It seems we all turn up for a home game these days with very little expectation of a decent result and leave with the voices of opposing supporters celebrating yet another away win. I wonder if the club could advance time at the ground and ensure the game is played over 60 minutes to reduce the 'torture' time.

Whilst understanding your frustration, what's the option. I dont think Sports Republic have been shy in putting money into the club, its just been the way it has been spent on crap players.

Burnley may not be promoted and with a full side they will be better than our weakened side next season. Looking at Birmingham tonight v Newcastle they have comparatively more to offer especially if they strengthen. Even Pompey did better against Swansea and Burnley this season. This tells a tale.

I agree with your comment on fitness. Burnley were at it at a much higher pace than we were. We have no movement up front and I am afraid Tall Paul is nowhere near the answer and there is no one else in the squad who can provide an option as a central striker. I am dreading next week when there is every chance that Bournemouth will tear us apart.

Shame there was no action shots of the Saints 9 Wolves 3 game back in the 1960's

Looks like 5.736 seats not sold and with Burnley probably bringing around 1,200 and the Kingsland closed, probably a crowd of around 15,000. so expect a crap atmosphere and after giving Burnley their 50% net share after Vat, just enough to cover most of the pitch invasion fine after the West Brom game. Our friends from Burnley will also be bringing down a blast of cold air from Oop North, to make the experience even chillier🥶

So if I read the room correctly Devilish Donald is intending to annexe Panama (or at least the Canal), Canada, Greenland and Gaza in his first few months in charge. Possibly move on to Mexico and then look to a deal with his mate Nige when Reform win the next UK election, to grant devolution to Scotland so he can build more amazing golf clubs around the newly independent country. As Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia etc etc dont want to take refugees from Gaza, perhaps Dazzling Don can divert the planes which have dropped off unregistered immigrants from the US back to collect Gaza residents bombed out from their homeland over to the USA for temporary accommodation whilst Jared Kushner develops the Gaza Strip into the Miami of the Middle East.

Slightly off topic but did Dancin' Don ever submit his extremely complicated tax returns?

Having watched the goals on the Saints Official Website there seems to be a bit of talent there particularly Baylee Dipepa, who we got from Port Vale, and Jay Robinson who impresses me every time I see him play. Hopefully there will be a few from the team who progress to the senior ranks, provided they dont follow the path of SAA, Megohma and others

I think the performances of Edwards, Charles and many of our players last season really shows up the increasingly wide standards of the Prem versus the Championship.