Saint Troy

couldnt agree more! Spoke to my man u mates about it and said i think Man u, despite his start there, are mad to go for Ole over forking out for Poch. It leaves a good manager gap at spurs and the way ralph operates would be very inviting! Its a funny story though him even being here - mess of a club in some ways at the moment (not too much but not too stable either) and the i cant see he needed us as a springboard to get a better job. Maybe he did and thats what this is but he feels like a guy who likes to see people/a club progress in the same way Poch does. Interesting times and i think how he is supported this summer will show a lot about the future with respect to the ownership and manager

Do we know the terms of the loan deal- i get the impression a value has been put n him - can we cancel it if they want him? Not sure why im asking as i doubt anyone knows the intriicate details of such a contract - even the club didnt with Toby!

he doesnt fit what ralph says he is looking for in terms of age. That said he was great under poch, undertands pressing well and has great quality. If he came here for a sensible price id have to be in the camp of be cold to him to start but willing to warm up. Pathetic itmay be and i hate myself for typing it! A couple of years out of him (if he could stay fit) would really help us move forward while ralph brings through some younger attacking talent at the same time. Cost wise anything between 8-12 and its a really good deal. No idea though really given age, injuries and the mental transfer market - one year on his contract and needing a move possibly. Ive no idea really- juts more interesting than writing how much i hate him!

this. Especially when after a good end to the season with us he went on to have (for him) a very good world cup. Makes it even odder.

Could care less in this instance - call it karma. That said though it does raise interesting VAR questions - i wonder if the championship is such a competitive league and anyone can beat anyone on their day blah blah because the fortunes of the clubs are predetermined with poor refereeing decisions? OK it cant change everything but it really could make a big difference. One thing we will see more of though is how incidents are analysed. Look at those cardiff decisions - everyones happy to shout about the pulls in the box being clear but what VAR will have to do is look at every other interaction in the box as the ball comes in and if any cardiff players are grappling at all its a free kick the other way - its something pundits/ MOTD etc rarely look at at all and will be very interesting. It does mean decisions will take time and people have to just suck it up! I quite like the idea of captain led referrels in the same way as cricket - cricketers try too often to risk their use and are tactical with them but in theory it is for situaiton wher eplayers know there has been a clear and obvious mistake. Like shouting "foul" in the playground - i like this idea as it could try to return a bit of honesty to player.... perhaps. For cardiffs offside people are really ott with abise of the linesman. Yes as you stop play he is a looooong way offside but only one/two frames later and hes well level. Its a split second thing and if the lino cant see easily (the corner taker was in the way) then its really just an honest error that either you accept like an adult or use VAR. VAR for offsides is an odd one as people talk about it being completely clear. I dont want to see goals chalked off when a few fingers are out infornt of a defender - thats not really in the spirit of the original law if you ask me

this i find genuinely interesting. When i see those bursts of dribbling from him i start to picture him playing like gerrard and pushing the hwole team forwards but you are right that unless he is doing the basics of his position well (with respect to how ralph needs that position to play) then it doesnt matter about his bonus features

i think it would be liverpool vs man u / barca semi

Reading used to have to local kids teams take part in a penalty shoot out (in training goals next to the proper goals - ice hockey run from the halfway line style). Was still a bit rubbish of course but good for the local kids to be playing at their local big team ground and was actually more interesting to watch than anything saints while being able to talk to your neighbour through it. Think i only saw it at Elm Park when i went with a reading fan mate so no idea if its a problem on lovely new pitches which are maybe watered and prodded at halftime.

DO you know the figures for only league games? Thats what matters here now really and would be interesting to see. A draw and loss wit ha weakened team are a reasonable proportion of the 14 games in your stats really - its not that he wasnt trying to win them but its not like we went all out either so are a little unrepresentative

ps - vancouver saint - the lazy etc bit was not aimed at you despite quoting you - the rest of it was from agreeing with you though! haha just in case it looks like ive lost it at the end!

Its interesting to hear about the speed / intensity. I heard an interview with a female squash player a few years back that was really interesting. She was well aware of the speed/intensity differences in her sport but was also aware of the skill level, commitment and excellence etc. She said she basically viewed the two (mens and womens squash) as two different sports. I thought it was an interesting way to look at it - there are obvious comparisons (its the same game!) but if you just focus no the differences you will never fully enjoy or understand the product. Thats where we are now with football really - we're all used to mens footy, especially in this country where it is more intense than other parts of the the globe who love it just as much as we do. Treating womans football as a slightly different entity is probbaly whats needed to understand its quality. Having a dig at womens football is easy but frankly is lazy and ignorant. If lazy and ignorant is you then crack on

cant see obafemi starting myself. Hes been out a little while and is very young. You never know with ralph and his faith in youth but i think given hes been out he'll be on around 60 mins or so rather than from the off

its quite an interesting subject, it happens in all walks of life and all industries on some level really. I think it gets vey interesting though when its not someone directly involved eg whats happened at cardiff - thats more akin to a pay off of an agent than nepatism

given his (albneit v short) history here (chelsea and man C) im assuming we will be focusing on the Fulham game. That said its been a huge break so people should have some energy level. Not sure which way he'll go. Prob have to go hard at sall our games really to be fair as you never know with arsenal and our style it could be more winnable than fulham!

It’s not just a few forums though is it. It’s very big international news. I’m not saying I agre with it but you shouldn’t deny it exists. I didn’t go to line the street for princess dianas funeral, I didn’t take flowers for princess Diana, I was sad for the children as much as I would be and o es really who lose a mother, especially at a young age but I felt no need for a huge grief outpouring. But.... thousands did and the situation does exist. Whether we have done connection to celebrities that is out if proportion because we think we know them somehow I don’t know (I assume so as otherwise marketing with celebrities wouldn’t make a difference) but either way - just because you do t feel it (and I don’t!) it does still exist. Their manager was in tears last game over it. If their manager is that impacted he can impact them with emotion. For what it’s worth I don’t think thevfindingvof the body will have the same impact, if sbythjngvit provides a closure. I reckon 3-0 saints. PEH, redmond and Stephens

hugely oversimplified - if a geezer at scott_saints place of work died i doubt it would be covered by the press in such a way, covered on football forums in such a way etc. Its a different situation - its big news and accordingly has deeper ramifications. Im not saying i agree with it all by any stretch but to think the situations are entirely comparable is silly. The players will feel the emotion in the crowd regardless of their opinion. The manager was in tears at the end of the game - rightly or wrongly is irrelavant - it makes a difference

Interesting on Stephens - ive been defensive of him prior to now but is ralph saying he deliberately raised his arm to signal to teh ref. If so... silly boy... get on with it, clear the ball, youre a defender. Have a moan at the ref after if you want but dont go playing games in the 18 yrd box. Basics first

he has the capability of it. Austin doesnt really due to his physical makeup (inability to train regularly at full tilt) and so a 20 min slot suits what we can get out of him. There is normally someone on the bench who can come on for 90 mins in the case of a v early injury ahead of austin i think

possibly reading too much in to it. He says he must be able to do 90 mins or he wont get on the bench. Those 11 a sides wont be anywhere near 90 mins of intensive football so although hes done a good few of them it doesnt mean hes ready for 90 mins like ralph wants. He could be laying down a challenge a little but to him to push harder but i dont see loads in it to be honest. That said I suppose the one outstanding isue is that Bertrand was captain when he left with an injury and now i really cant see how he can walk back in as captain given opthers have stepped up their levels in teh mean time

Yes but in their defence you cant call the thread Bickering Tw ats as it would get too confusing having 30 threads of the same name but not being sure what slightly different things they are bickering about

Well sort of.... all they are is footballers and not fans, we have no choice but to remain.... and let’s not pretend the crowds were the same even. It’s been a rubbish couple of years and at 29 prob his big chance to play a top level and win trophies. Not complete that he’s not bothered I don’t think just wanted the club to appear to be trying.

once Lemina is back we will have once of the CM options (JWP/lemina) likely to be playing / back up as wingback along with Valery. Its not ideal to not have a nailed on first choice wing back but there is simply no point in trying to get rid of some squad size to bring in someone you dont completely want at the end of a window. Its not ideal, i agree, id rather have a first choice wing back but im actually happy with the rb options rather than someone else bloating the squad

i dont mind a bet on a 0-0 at the game - get some of your ticket back if its rubbish. Did it once when an own goal went in very ealry and absolutely nothing else happened all game so its not flawless haha

every time Ralph has the players for a length of time prior to the match im impressed. Hes got them working hard, playing how he wants and getting results. so there could be an individual error - maybe we're due one but even then we havean ethicnow that doesnt stop when 1-0 up or 1-0 down. Backing the boys tonight no problem - 6 clear of the drop by bedtime and a couple of players in tomorrow