kitch

Do we know that for sure?

Another thing that worries me about waiting is that, right now, Graham Potter is literally there. I could be wrong, but I think he'd like to come here. If we wait too long, he'll end up at Everton or Wolves, or possibly even Leicester.

I quite like Russell Martin, as a guy. I enjoy his insights and his thoughts, and I think a Championship team with some decent ball-playing staff would enjoy a season with him. I really enjoyed last year, despite the feeling that I actually think we underachieved. Promotion papered over the cracks somewhat, but he came up with the goods when it mattered and I'm grateful to him for the memories. But as a PL manager, I've never been more certain than any other manager we've ever had that he will NOT turn this around. He's wedded to his ways, and his ways are suicidal with the level of club he manages in the league it finds itself in. If he had a stronger, lower league team, maybe. If he was managing Man City, maybe, but stick him at any bottom 6 club in the PL and it's a one-way ticket back to the Championship. His sacking is inevitable. I'll always be grateful to him, and I would LOVE to be completely wrong, but I fear I'm not. It's a case of when, not if.

He likely will if people start piling in on him early in the season.

Thinking about it more, it does seem strange not to play KWP on the wing in the positions either Fraser, BBD or Arma are frequently given. He's a better passer than them, faster, better technically, better under pressure etc? There must be reasons why they never try it, but I'd be interested as to what those are. Suga and KWP aren't miles apart in ability, and while KWP is probably the slightly stronger of the two, he doesn't want to stay - Yuki is the future. I get why he'd start over KWP. Taylor is a natural leftback, and while not outstanding, he seems pretty solid and offers natural balance. Again, I can see why he was favoured on the weekend. But what I don't get is why you wouldn't use Kyle's technical qualities higher up the pitch, especially when - as a full-back - his strengths lie in the attacking side of the game. He's clearly a step up from Fraser, or BBD etc. Like I say, got to be reasons for it, I'd just be interested as to what they were.

When they announced Martin Tyler was off I thought "Thank fuck for that!" And now, I'd have him back.

I've got a hunch it was part of the initial contract to commit to renegociate a better deal for RM and his staff if we were promoted. Just something I've wondered, not rooted in fact at all.

RM's already said Stewart's not ready to start, but he plans to bring him on during the game.

I like Jack Stephens, seems a good guy. Great character. Lower/mid-level Champsionship centre-back. Shouldn't be anywhere near a Premier League starting 11. Russell has hung his coat on the wrong door, but because he's also a good bloke (on the face of it), he doesn't want to take it off again. That's no good, he needs to be ruthless.

It's on Discovery+. You can get a month free subscription, watch it and cancel again to avoid wanky streams.

It's a level too-far for him, personally. AA, Stephens, Smallbone...possibly Aribo - none of them are consistently fast enough mentally. That's the thing I've noticed the most since going back up; How these same players don't get as much time to play as they used to, and, if they do lose possession, how much more likely you are to be punished. Less so with AA, because he failures don't tend to lead to concession; they lead to a missed chance. I believe that's what relegated us two years ago, and I reckon it'll be the same again if we rely on AA again. Nothing against the guy, he's a proven Championship-level striker, but I don't reckon I'm wrong when I say that's his ceiling. (I really hope I AM wrong, though!)

When you put it like this I don't see how anybody could possibly disagree with you, but in the heat and emotion of the day (when you've just watched ANOTHER loss), frustrations can get the better of, well, the best of us. I'm nigh-on certain that if the club held a SaintsWeb meeting, with all of us and Russell Martin, by the end 95% would back him. But after a game we've just lost? I like the guy, but even I've called for his head at times! It's only 3 games. Let's keep the positivity up (because it's much nicer supporting this club when it's not depressing and toxic) and reassess after a few more games to see what (if anything changes).

TBH I read both of those as accurate. What we're seeing on the pitch supports the second comment, but some logic and common sense supports the first. I'm not saying we should all blindly follow RM, or that he's right in the way he's doing what he's doing, but we're not in the meetings. We don't KNOW what is said to players. With only 3 games on the board, it's too early to start to suggesting the issue is the boss. He's not even had a chance to reset things yet, and he's earned that in the bank from last season. If, after the next 3 games we're seeing rinse & repeat; Smallbone, Stephens and Armstrong still as PL starters, overpassing all over the pitch and possession for possession's sake, then I'd probably join the ranks of those who think RM needs replacing (or a wake-up slap at the very least), but the man's earned a chance IMO. He seems to be an excellent communicator and man-manager, I just hope he can improve the tactical side of his game. Needs to be more ruthless, more adaptable and more pragmatic. Seems a good man, I hope he can do it.

Dare I say I'm even more impressed to get Ramsdale than when we got Forster, and that felt like a coup at the time!

Got to be honest, I woke up this morning thinking that I'd had some kind of weird dream where we'd won 5-3 the night before (including a thunderbastard from James Bree), watched a midfield maestro play for us, had Adam Lallana come on at 60mins) and were about to sign the no.2 England keeper.

Same as when he lost it to Raya!

Got to be honest, it was humble pie-time for me when he came on. We've got nobody in the team with that level of composure (Fernandes probably the closest thing, but obviously he's very young). Such a different type of role to the ones he used to be used in here, too. I think he might actually be important this year. Shame he'll probably be broken.

If that's not a joke, it's the stupidest thing I've ever read on here regarding RM. So he has a hot new g/f...you think he hasn't had one before? The only difference is you know who his g/f is because she's a 'famous' face. I'm sure plenty of the coaching staff and playing staff are enjoying the company of some tasty ladies, doesn't mean they can't do their job! RM strikes me as a highly principled guy who, if it came to it, would sack off a love interest if they were coming between him and his job.

God no.

Well, yeah.To only lose £1m over two years on a flop is pretty good going. Look at all our others! Still paying for some of them now...

Don't hate the player, hate the game 😄

Anyone know exactly why Sugawara came off at H/T? We probably one of our best performers in the first half, bit worried he's picked up a knock or something.

6 - CDM 8 - CM 10 - CAM

If the rumoured £10.2m is correct, that is OUTSTANDING business!

McCarthy's a decent championship-level keeper, ideally suited to a team who play direct. He's good one-on-one, he's agile, commands the box pretty well, comes for crosses etc. That said, he's too easily beaten at the near post, and about as good with his feet as I am. If the club don't address the GK situation playing this style of football in this league, it WILL cost us. I hope they've got it under control, they seem to be doing well with other positions at the moment.