West Ham 1-0 Saints - Match Thread

[OldNick]

2 hours ago, Roo1976 said:

like he was ever the answer........................................

He created as many goal assists as JWP last season and many others that our forwards could not take. As much as his haters dont like to admit he is a loss, not the reason we are not staying up, but he would hae made a bit of difference

[OldNick]

I still cant fathom why this game was such a tepid affair, that WHU team were there for the taking, their fans are notorious at getting on their backs, we played as if we were out enjoying the sun on a boating lake. I was thinking that any moment we will take the brakes off and go for it. Nothing happened, where was the old fashioned way of putting a defender up and knocking the ball in, to create some kind of panic? It seems to work against us time and again.

Why does KWP check back and not whip crosses in, JWP playing sideways passes and back in our own half, it is incredible. The one ploy Jones played was too play JWP up as a 10 and it worked at Everton. His runs into the box and goal showed that's his spot.

No, we put him as a defensive midfielder who slows down the play. All those earlier games where some said Carr was a must (the same ones who think Orsic should be playing no doubt) 

As for S Armstrong what a complete waste, a player who fans put their trust in but he let us down tremendously, especially when he had the chance to shoot got a rebound and then looped it towards the corner flag!

Passive Selles,Im sorry but you are not the man for us.

Personally, I have felt for a long time that we are not fit for purpose for the PL. We are only there to be the whipping boys for the top 6 or ready players to sell to those teams. The media are not interested in us and basically we are only there for our egos, to say we play in the PL. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, OldNick said:

I still cant fathom why this game was such a tepid affair, that WHU team were there for the taking, their fans are notorious at getting on their backs, we played as if we were out enjoying the sun on a boating lake. I was thinking that any moment we will take the brakes off and go for it. Nothing happened, where was the old fashioned way of putting a defender up and knocking the ball in, to create some kind of panic? It seems to work against us time and again.

Why does KWP check back and not whip crosses in, JWP playing sideways passes and back in our own half, it is incredible. The one ploy Jones played was too play JWP up as a 10 and it worked at Everton. His runs into the box and goal showed that's his spot.

No, we put him as a defensive midfielder who slows down the play. All those earlier games where some said Carr was a must (the same ones who think Orsic should be playing no doubt) 

As for S Armstrong what a complete waste, a player who fans put their trust in but he let us down tremendously, especially when he had the chance to shoot got a rebound and then looped it towards the corner flag!

Passive Selles,Im sorry but you are not the man for us.

Personally, I have felt for a long time that we are not fit for purpose for the PL. We are only there to be the whipping boys for the top 6 or ready players to sell to those teams. The media are not interested in us and basically we are only there for our egos, to say we play in the PL. 

Agree with what you say.

When we sign kids in the summer (I know, we all thought the window was decent/good/amazing) - I mean, Bazunu in goal, WTF - to hiring Nathan f-ing Jones.

We completely deserve relegation.  100%

[derry]

I've had time to reflect, two spot on posts from James and DT. That performance was moronic. The team selection that led to it was moronic. The defending of the free kick that gave the goal away was moronic. Never mind the grappling attack the fucking ball you idiots. The number of set piece goals we have conceded by playing a zonal spectator defensive set up is on its own sending us down.

That team selection was a clusterfuck. I understand the moronic safety first, stay in the game bollocks, that worked didn't it? Just pick the best quickest, team and go balls out for it. We are in deep enough as it is without trying to be clever. That's the trouble with coaches, too much complicated theory. A much more simplistic approach is required. For example, Elyonoussie, a nothing player, nearly closes down, nearly tackles, nearly gets back, loses the ball having sucked everybody out of position, ducks out of challenges and is weak. We are not going to score with him as a forward or win the ball with him defending. I don't give a monkey's about the analytics. I see what I see, a nothing player.

Onuachu scored 17 goals in 19 games for Genk nearly all like his header yeasterday, in the box getting across the defender, so play him there, he's not a midfield grafter he's a goalhanger. Sulemana should have started with pace on the other side and Alcaraz on front of Lavia and JWP. That really is our only chance. Stop the obsessive go nowhere possession and move the ball wide quickly. get up the line and stick the ball into the box. Selles is picking the wrong team playing the wrong way and hoping for a goal whilst praying for a miracle. 

We are going down without a fight if we don't do something different. I'd sooner we went down fighting than losing 0-1 every week.

[miserableoldgit]

15 hours ago, JRM said:

I'd like to see them try charging £89 for Kingsland premium block 31 in the Championship 😂 

Don't get me started on Block 31!! 🤬

[OldNick]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Agree with what you say.

When we sign kids in the summer (I know, we all thought the window was decent/good/amazing) - I mean, Bazunu in goal, WTF - to hiring Nathan f-ing Jones.

We completely deserve relegation.  100%

When you say 'we' I know you mean. the club. Most of the fans don't. 

The owners are a bunch of fools, and I'm sorry I thought Semmens was doing a good job, but I lost my faith in him when it was said we had other parties interested in us with more money, but he chose them!!

Ankersen obviously used his smooth talk and gobbledy gook to make Semmens believe they were going to do a great job. In the 1980's/90's Peter Sellers made a film called Being There. It was about a gardener who talked in riddles and people believed he was a genius. (much like the modern art business now) seems to me that is our Danish friend

 

[John B]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Agree with what you say.

When we sign kids in the summer (I know, we all thought the window was decent/good/amazing) - I mean, Bazunu in goal, WTF - to hiring Nathan f-ing Jones.

We completely deserve relegation.  100%

Only the gullible thought it was am amazing Window I for one did not

 

For goodness sake we were in the PL we needed PL proven players not players who may develop into PL players in a few years time

 

The January window was even worse I do not think any player who came to the club in 2023 even started and I am totally in agreement with your comment on Nathan Jones

 

Getting rid of Stephens Bednarek and Redmond was probably a mistake too as was getting rid of Ralph without a sensible replacement was ridiculous

 

However I am not sure any manager could have saved us with quality of our strikers GK and CBs

 

 

[John B]

1 hour ago, derry said:

I've had time to reflect, two spot on posts from James and DT. That performance was moronic. The team selection that led to it was moronic. The defending of the free kick that gave the goal away was moronic. Never mind the grappling attack the fucking ball you idiots. The number of set piece goals we have conceded by playing a zonal spectator defensive set up is on its own sending us down.

That team selection was a clusterfuck. I understand the moronic safety first, stay in the game bollocks, that worked didn't it? Just pick the best quickest, team and go balls out for it. We are in deep enough as it is without trying to be clever. That's the trouble with coaches, too much complicated theory. A much more simplistic approach is required. For example, Elyonoussie, a nothing player, nearly closes down, nearly tackles, nearly gets back, loses the ball having sucked everybody out of position, ducks out of challenges and is weak. We are not going to score with him as a forward or win the ball with him defending. I don't give a monkey's about the analytics. I see what I see, a nothing player.

Onuachu scored 17 goals in 19 games for Genk nearly all like his header yeasterday, in the box getting across the defender, so play him there, he's not a midfield grafter he's a goalhanger. Sulemana should have started with pace on the other side and Alcaraz on front of Lavia and JWP. That really is our only chance. Stop the obsessive go nowhere possession and move the ball wide quickly. get up the line and stick the ball into the box. Selles is picking the wrong team playing the wrong way and hoping for a goal whilst praying for a miracle. 

We are going down without a fight if we don't do something different. I'd sooner we went down fighting than losing 0-1 every week.

Although your post is quite sensible whoever we play in attacking roles never seem to perform consistently in creating or scoring goals

[derry]

4 minutes ago, John B said:

Although your post is quite sensible whoever we play in attacking roles never seem to perform consistently in creating or scoring goals

Because no matter who we pick the ball is played sideways and backwards to allow the opposition to get goalside. The key ingredient is to leave the three attackers up and force the opposition to keep four with them and get the ball forward quickly and get more players up in support quickly. Everything is the mindset, quickly and aggressively not slow and passively.

[stknowle]

41 minutes ago, derry said:

I've had time to reflect, two spot on posts from James and DT. That performance was moronic. The team selection that led to it was moronic. The defending of the free kick that gave the goal away was moronic. Never mind the grappling attack the fucking ball you idiots. The number of set piece goals we have conceded by playing a zonal spectator defensive set up is on its own sending us down.

That team selection was a clusterfuck. I understand the moronic safety first, stay in the game bollocks, that worked didn't it? Just pick the best quickest, team and go balls out for it. We are in deep enough as it is without trying to be clever. That's the trouble with coaches, too much complicated theory. A much more simplistic approach is required. For example, Elyonoussie, a nothing player, nearly closes down, nearly tackles, nearly gets back, loses the ball having sucked everybody out of position, ducks out of challenges and is weak. We are not going to score with him as a forward or win the ball with him defending. I don't give a monkey's about the analytics. I see what I see, a nothing player.

Onuachu scored 17 goals in 19 games for Genk nearly all like his header yeasterday, in the box getting across the defender, so play him there, he's not a midfield grafter he's a goalhanger. Sulemana should have started with pace on the other side and Alcaraz on front of Lavia and JWP. That really is our only chance. Stop the obsessive go nowhere possession and move the ball wide quickly. get up the line and stick the ball into the box. Selles is picking the wrong team playing the wrong way and hoping for a goal whilst praying for a miracle. 

We are going down without a fight if we don't do something different. I'd sooner we went down fighting than losing 0-1 every week.

Good post, utterly sick of seeing the team sheet and thinking ‘WTF’ week in and week out under 3 successive managers. The whole thing can just fuck off, it’s depressing me.

[SotonianWill]

I don’t think I ever remember scoring such a little amount of goals. other than tottenham how many times have we created nothing and lost 1-0. 

[Hodgey]

We’re going to need a massive rethink for the Championship. There are a load of West Ham / Leeds / Brentford type teams there - you know, ones where we don’t look like scoring.

the Ralf playbook needs to be put in a safe and as we prep for the championship we need to think much more positively on how we score goals and equally importantly how to defend the standard free kick / corner we seem so susceptible to.

Both Jones and Selles have tried to tighten up at the back, all both succeeded in doing is moving our defeats from 3-1 to 1-0. 

We have players who can score in the championship, but they won’t if we play like this. That league is all about strength and speed. Lots of players we have won’t cope in that league but there are a fair few who should excel.

question is can we keep the ones who can and lose the ones who can’t, and find a manager. Work cut out…..

[Saint Fan CaM]

5 minutes ago, Hodgey said:

We’re going to need a massive rethink for the Championship. There are a load of West Ham / Leeds / Brentford type teams there - you know, ones where we don’t look like scoring.

the Ralf playbook needs to be put in a safe and as we prep for the championship we need to think much more positively on how we score goals and equally importantly how to defend the standard free kick / corner we seem so susceptible to.

Both Jones and Selles have tried to tighten up at the back, all both succeeded in doing is moving our defeats from 3-1 to 1-0. 

We have players who can score in the championship, but they won’t if we play like this. That league is all about strength and speed. Lots of players we have won’t cope in that league but there are a fair few who should excel.

question is can we keep the ones who can and lose the ones who can’t, and find a manager. Work cut out…..

Largely agree with what you've said and yes, we'll likely find ourselves mid-table in the Championship.  Yes, we have 3-4 players currently who would excel in the Championship, however even if we managed to keep hold of those players, would we still have a Manager who doesn't start them, opting for safety first?  I'm not convinced it's going to be roses next season...in fact wouldn't be surprised to see us battling relegation again such is the lack of quality.

[S-Clarke]

33 minutes ago, Hodgey said:

We’re going to need a massive rethink for the Championship. There are a load of West Ham / Leeds / Brentford type teams there - you know, ones where we don’t look like scoring.

the Ralf playbook needs to be put in a safe and as we prep for the championship we need to think much more positively on how we score goals and equally importantly how to defend the standard free kick / corner we seem so susceptible to.

Both Jones and Selles have tried to tighten up at the back, all both succeeded in doing is moving our defeats from 3-1 to 1-0. 

We have players who can score in the championship, but they won’t if we play like this. That league is all about strength and speed. Lots of players we have won’t cope in that league but there are a fair few who should excel.

question is can we keep the ones who can and lose the ones who can’t, and find a manager. Work cut out…..

Absolutley, if we go down to the Championship with the same approach then we'll hit the same issues. We struggled against Lincoln, Grimsby, Wednesday and they're in the league below.

As it stands today I could see Sheffield United, Burnley turning us over without much hassle whilst we piss around with the ball in the back 4. We've spent the last two years frightened of our own shadows in the PL, seemingly believing we were 'lucky to be here'. Let's hope we don't follow the same mantle next season as if we do then we'll be doing a Stoke, Norwich etc - and underachieving in that league is the most depressing existence ever.

[Cabrone]

Now need 13-15 points from 9 games just to be in the mix. City\Arse\Newcastle are write offs.

6 games to get 13-15 points.

Not going to happen is it.

 

[hackedoff]

27 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

Now need 13-15 points from 9 games just to be in the mix. City\Arse\Newcastle are write offs.

6 games to get 13-15 points.

Not going to happen is it.

 

Not with this bunch of backward passing bottlers and a hierarchy with no footballing nous.

[Toadhall Saint]

47 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

Now need 13-15 points from 9 games just to be in the mix. City\Arse\Newcastle are write offs.

6 games to get 13-15 points.

Not going to happen is it.

 

No

[saintant]

8 hours ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Understand the idea of managing the game in sections, but like having a flutter on the horses, the one that starts last never seems to get to the finishing post first. Surely you go at a team from the start and hope for an early goal. Also the mindset is different is you start closing down and forcing errors from the beginning. It all becomes much more positive. Look at how we played against Man U. And when players tire, you bring on others and hope you hold out. Setting up for a draw and hoping to sneak a goal does not work.

This x 100!!! I have been watching Saints for over 50 years and the conclusion I have drawn is that we are not and never have been a side that does well when we start games slowly. Our best performances, almost without exception, have been when we start fast and go at the opposition from the first kick. We have always been a team that likes to attack so let's do that rather than try to keep it tight from the off which rarely works for us.

[Sir Ralph]

Is getting relegated really that bad? We have no chance of ever breaking to multi billions of top 7 (Chelsea, Newcastle, Man Utd, city, Liverpool, spurs, arsenal). 
 

At least if we go down we will enjoy football, win some games and get rid of the hangers on at the club. League one and championship were my best football watching years.

We should get at least £150 million from sales (Lavia, JWP, Salisu, KWP, Adams) and our owners need to get the money back on their investment. Next season will give some of our you players a chance to blood in the Championship and we will be a big boy there. Frankly I’m bored of getting by each year with no prospect of success. Next year should be more fun challenging for promotion and playoffs than fighting relegation 

oh and better atmospheres!

Edited 3 April, 2023 by Sir Ralph

[John B]

7 hours ago, derry said:

Because no matter who we pick the ball is played sideways and backwards to allow the opposition to get goalside. The key ingredient is to leave the three attackers up and force the opposition to keep four with them and get the ball forward quickly and get more players up in support quickly. Everything is the mindset, quickly and aggressively not slow and passively.

It always surprises me why Football Clubs pay millions for coaches when they can get fans off a forum who will do the job and get winning results

 

Still some teams will have better players have better luck but three teams will get relegated be relegated but have perfect tactics

 

I 

 

 

[qwertyell]

2 hours ago, Cabrone said:

Now need 13-15 points from 9 games just to be in the mix. City\Arse\Newcastle are write offs.

6 games to get 13-15 points.

Not going to happen is it.

 

We've picked up 11 points in 15 games (45 available points) since Hassenhuttl belatedly left.

We're on course for 29-30 points in total.

We'll finish bottom. Deservedly.

Edited 3 April, 2023 by qwertyell

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

On 30/03/2023 at 20:06, SaintJackoInHurworth said:

I've just got a few comments to make...

• I don't think West Ham v Saints is exactly a MUST-WIN game in the big scheme of things - at least it is not any more important or winnable than any other games.
• On the other hand, however, a win would be massive!
• If we go down we won't suddenly be in some amazing dream scenario where we are one of the dominant teams in the Championship winning most of our games. The fact is that we will lose a lot of significant players as well as a lot of other staff; the club will find itself reeling from the impact and confronted by a post-relegation wave of depression. It will take time to turn that around. Relegation does not guaranteea glorious winning season next year!
• I don't accept that relegation is a foregone conclusion; we are one of the form teams in the bottom half of the table (especially in terms of the past six league fixtures) and our fixtures are no more difficult than those faced by Bournemouth, Forest, Everton, Leeds and even West Ham. Crystal Palace have got the easiest run of fixtures on paper, but they also have the worst form and have just sacked a manager who some believe has equipped them to perform beyond their true capabilities.
• Matches against relegation-threatened teams are also not necessarily the easiest fixtures at this time of year. An ideal fixture would be one against a team who have no threat of relegation and no hope of Europe. No-one is yet in that category with European football still a possibility for Villa, Chelsea, Fulham and Brentford and not just the teams above them.

Ni

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

Pathetic team. Going down.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Sir Ralph said:

Is getting relegated really that bad? We have no chance of ever breaking to multi billions of top 7 (Chelsea, Newcastle, Man Utd, city, Liverpool, spurs, arsenal). 
 

At least if we go down we will enjoy football, win some games and get rid of the hangers on at the club. League one and championship were my best football watching years.

We should get at least £150 million from sales (Lavia, JWP, Salisu, KWP, Adams) and our owners need to get the money back on their investment. Next season will give some of our you players a chance to blood in the Championship and we will be a big boy there. Frankly I’m bored of getting by each year with no prospect of success. Next year should be more fun challenging for promotion and playoffs than fighting relegation 

oh and better atmospheres!

we'll see. The Championship wasn't that much fun the last time we were relegated. The first season was a shit show and there was a possibility we could have been relegated but for a decent run when Burley came in. The play off challenge was good, but the following two seasons were horrific. It wasn't just `hangers on' that disappeared. There was less than 10k watching us lose at home midweek against Sheffield United. And I can tell you as one of those it wasn't great fun or a better atmosphere.

Our debts and wage bill are much bigger this time around. It's relative of course, but don't expect the summer to be about refreshing the squad, it will be about offloading as many players we can for as much as possible to avoid a financial meltdown. 

Edited 3 April, 2023 by Chez

[Kenilworthy]

5 minutes ago, Chez said:

we'll see. The Championship wasn't that much fun the last time we were relegated. The first season was a shit show and there was a possibility we could have been relegated but for a decent run when Burley came in. The play off challenge was good, but the following two seasons were horrific. It wasn't just `hangers on' that disappeared. There was less than 10k watching us lose at home midweek against Sheffield United. And I can tell you as one of those it wasn't great fun or a better atmosphere.

Our debts and wage bill are much bigger this time around. It's relative of course, but don't expect the summer to be about refreshing the squad, it will be about offloading as many players we can for as much as possible to avoid a financial meltdown. 

Absolutely. We remember the final seasons of our spell in the lower divisions with fondness because we were the biggest financial bullies in the playground. Next season we are likely to replace being humped by Manchester City and Liverpool by being humped by Preston and Bristol City - which I remember all too well. I will still be going but it will not be enjoyable.

[aintforever]

10 minutes ago, Chez said:

we'll see. The Championship wasn't that much fun the last time we were relegated. The first season was a shit show and there was a possibility we could have been relegated but for a decent run when Burley came in. The play off challenge was good, but the following two seasons were horrific. It wasn't just `hangers on' that disappeared. There was less than 10k watching us lose at home midweek against Sheffield United. And I can tell you as one of those it wasn't great fun or a better atmosphere.

Our debts and wage bill are much bigger this time around. It's relative of course, but don't expect the summer to be about refreshing the squad, it will be about offloading as many players we can for as much as possible to avoid a financial meltdown. 

But the situation this time should be different because we are not a PLC, Lowe couldn’t take a punt and try and get us back up. This lot have invested a load in these new players so it should make sense to stick with the project and have a good go at promotion. I think there is enough in that squad to make some money from sales and put out a decent side capable of challenging, if we get the right manager (big if I know).

It all depends on the owners.

Edited 3 April, 2023 by aintforever

[Pamplemousse]

The Championship as a division is shit. We would be absolutely fine. 

[bpsaint]

2 hours ago, Sir Ralph said:

Is getting relegated really that bad? We have no chance of ever breaking to multi billions of top 7 (Chelsea, Newcastle, Man Utd, city, Liverpool, spurs, arsenal). 
 

At least if we go down we will enjoy football, win some games and get rid of the hangers on at the club. League one and championship were my best football watching years.

Yes it probably is. On the surface of it things may seem as simple as we get relegated and then absolute boss the league next season, however the Championship and League 1 are full of teams like us, who have had a spell in the sun and now are fighting to get back there. Sure we won’t break the top 6/7 with the funds those teams have at their disposal, however if we fail to prepare for our spell out of the Prem properly then we along with about 20 other teams join a fight for just 3 promotion slots. 
 

The League 1 and Championship promotion seasons were amongst my favourite supporting us, however we had a budget way beyond that of many sides, and had a Premier League quality spine in the team. It’s a bit more of a even playing field down there now with FFP, and we’ve certainly got some dross we need to get rid of before we look like we’ll be a threat down there.

Then of course you have to factor in the job losses across all departments in the club, especially if instant promotion isn’t gained and the parachute payments dry up. Not to mention of course the effect the drop in attendances has on the wider city economy, and the job losses lower footfall brings.

Realistically being a top tier side brings a certain prestige to a city, and the whole thing runs deeper than just playing in a lesser league next year. Frankly relegation will be a disaster for us.

Edited 3 April, 2023 by bpsaint

[SotonianWill]

does anyone know if parachute payments are based on a stable set figure or a figure based on the wages of a team? 

if it’s a set price we’d surely be in a better boat than everton and leicester currently, with us recently buying young players on fairly lower wages we could put more of the money towards doing a burnley and coming back up.

some of our high wage players seem to have a decent chance of being shifted. orsic could go back to wherever he came from (they were even interested in january), walcott contract running out. JWP if needed would easily be sold. we’d inevitably be left with a load of shit but we can hope right? or have I looked at parachute payments in a completely wrong way. 

 

looking at this after writing, even if we have more money to spend with ankerson and semmens record we’d still be f*cked

[SotonianWill]

7 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

The Championship as a division is shit. We would be absolutely fine. 

I’ve been to watch quite a few games and teams i’ve seen would easily blow through our team with their directness and overall style of play. we’ve struggled against wednesday and lincoln of L1. we shrugged our way through blackpool of the relegation zone. 

[Pamplemousse]

10 minutes ago, SotonianWill said:

I’ve been to watch quite a few games and teams i’ve seen would easily blow through our team with their directness and overall style of play. we’ve struggled against wednesday and lincoln of L1. we shrugged our way through blackpool of the relegation zone. 

The bottom half teams are awful. Honestly we could have Nathan Jones in charge of our Championship team and probably finish 6th. 

Only issue would be that we would be a big fish and teams would inevitably raise their game against us, a bit like us against Chelsea, Man Utd, Spurs etc.

[Dellman]

2 hours ago, Sir Ralph said:

Is getting relegated really that bad? We have no chance of ever breaking to multi billions of top 7 (Chelsea, Newcastle, Man Utd, city, Liverpool, spurs, arsenal). 
 

At least if we go down we will enjoy football, win some games and get rid of the hangers on at the club. League one and championship were my best football watching years.

We should get at least £150 million from sales (Lavia, JWP, Salisu, KWP, Adams) and our owners need to get the money back on their investment. Next season will give some of our you players a chance to blood in the Championship and we will be a big boy there. Frankly I’m bored of getting by each year with no prospect of success. Next year should be more fun challenging for promotion and playoffs than fighting relegation 

oh and better atmospheres!

Those of us who remember last time will say 'yes, it really is that bad'. No, we didn't boss the league and come straight back up. We struggled and struggled and then got relegated again. It was five years before it was enjoyable.

[Micky]

19 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

The Championship as a division is shit. We would be absolutely fine. 

What will 'we' look like by the time 'we' get there. Probably some way different to how 'we' look today, anything of quality will have long gone, it's not going to be an easy ride next year, not by a long shot. 

[AlexLaw76]

The last time we went down to the Championship, we believed we would 'Walk the league'

Struggled to 6th after 2 years and fluffled our lines at the first hurdle, before further relegation...

Edited 3 April, 2023 by AlexLaw76

[Fitzhugh Fella]

4 hours ago, Cabrone said:

Now need 13-15 points from 9 games just to be in the mix. City\Arse\Newcastle are write offs.

6 games to get 13-15 points.

Not going to happen is it.

 

No HTH

[sydenhamssocks]

4 hours ago, Cabrone said:

Now need 13-15 points from 9 games just to be in the mix. City\Arse\Newcastle are write offs.

6 games to get 13-15 points.

Not going to happen is it.

 

Don’t think we’ll get anything at Brighton either… so..No. ☹️

[Turkish]

We’ve been down for months. That Jones period screwed us.

sports republic and their employees have been a disaster so far. Got every major decision wrong. It couldn’t really have gone worse so far could it. 

[sydenhamssocks]

22 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

The last time we went down to the Championship, we believed we would 'Walk the league'

Struggled to 6th after 2 years and fluffled our lines at the first hurdle, before further relegation...

And 7 years had passed before we saw the premier league again. It won’t be easy. 

[Chez]

1 hour ago, aintforever said:

But the situation this time should be different because we are not a PLC, Lowe couldn’t take a punt and try and get us back up. This lot have invested a load in these new players so it should make sense to stick with the project and have a good go at promotion. I think there is enough in that squad to make some money from sales and put out a decent side capable of challenging, if we get the right manager (big if I know).

It all depends on the owners.

You could argue that the owners took a punt when they forked out another £50m in the January window...and look to have lost.  A bit like last time with Lowe, the summer might be all about avoiding financial ruin. 

[OttawaSaint]

56 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

The Championship as a division is shit. We would be absolutely fine. 

Said Nottingham forest fans in 1997... 

[The Cat]

Outside of the mega rich clubs football goes in cycles. It's our turn to be a bit shit now, it might just be this season, a couple or maybe a few more.

But it won't always be the case and we'll probably end up getting promoted back to the top flight again at some point as one of the current darlings of the league implode and go the other way.

I'm looking forward to playing different teams, having more games, visiting a couple of new grounds and others I haven't been to for a while, no fucking VAR and most importantly games on a Saturday at 3pm.

Football to me isn't wrapped up purely in results. It's going to games with family and friends, bumping into mates at away games and in the pub. Singing stupid songs and going mental celebrating a goal while bashing your shins up. It's driving home in the dark from an away game you regret going to half an hour into the match.

None of that is available on a forum. But all of it will still happen no matter what league Saints are in.

[Chez]

54 minutes ago, SotonianWill said:

does anyone know if parachute payments are based on a stable set figure or a figure based on the wages of a team? 

i

Parachute payment have nothing to do with the wages of the team.

Relegated sides get a percentage of the equally shared element of broadcasting rights each Premier League club receives. That's the combined UK (£32m) and International rights (£49m), so £81m in total. The percentages are 55% in the first year (£44.5), 45% in year two (£36m) and 20% in the third year £16.2m).

So we are going to go from Prem money of £115m(that's the £81m equal share plus the variable merit payments) to just £44.5m. 

 

 

[Chez]

21 minutes ago, Turkish said:

We’ve been down for months. That Jones period screwed us.

sports republic and their employees have been a disaster so far. Got every major decision wrong. It couldn’t really have gone worse so far could it. 

Literally the only thing they have got right since they got here was signing Lavia. That is it.

[gordonToo]

Ask yourself this: why should the fans care when the players clearly do not? And what would you say to the player who was happy to swap his shirt on the pitch in full view of the cameras as though it was just a testimonial match. Quite honestly the club does not deserve to stay in the Premiership on that performance and without a complete rethink of the set up I can't see them surviving in the Championship either.

[aintforever]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

You could argue that the owners took a punt when they forked out another £50m in the January window...and look to have lost.  A bit like last time with Lowe, the summer might be all about avoiding financial ruin. 

Might be, or might not be if the owners think it makes sense to take a punt on a swift return. We just don’t know.

[Jonnyboy]

11 hours ago, OldNick said:

He created as many goal assists as JWP last season and many others that our forwards could not take. As much as his haters dont like to admit he is a loss, not the reason we are not staying up, but he would hae made a bit of difference

Agree, with Redmond and Romeu still in the squad we would have had an increased chance of survival. 

[Sir Ralph]

2 hours ago, Dellman said:

Those of us who remember last time will say 'yes, it really is that bad'. No, we didn't boss the league and come straight back up. We struggled and struggled and then got relegated again. It was five years before it was enjoyable.

The context this time is quite different. We have valuable players to sell and a wealthy owner who wants his investment back. I’m not saying we will walk it but challenging top 8 to my mind is more enjoyable than fighting for 17th in the PL each year. 
 

the teams relegated last year are 1, 7 and 11 with Watford in 11 being 6 points of the play offs. This concept of us dropping like a stone down the championship I don’t see.

to be honest I think a relegation is the only way of sorting this squad out. Otherwise it will be sticking plasters for another season

Edited 3 April, 2023 by Sir Ralph

[Osvaldorama]

The 05 relegation side would batter this side imo. 
 

Never seen a more naive clueless team. Useless all over the park 

[Pamplemousse]

2 hours ago, OttawaSaint said:

Said Nottingham forest fans in 1997... 

The gap between the Premier League and Championship is wider than it was 26 years ago...

Not that I want to go all MLG but if Bournemouth can bounce back, so can we.

I'd compare us to Fulham when they went down, think we just need to get the managerial appointment correct.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 hours ago, Chez said:

You could argue that the owners took a punt when they forked out another £50m in the January window...and look to have lost.  A bit like last time with Lowe, the summer might be all about avoiding financial ruin. 

This is what concerns me too. Yes, beating Walsall to get promoted out of League One was a memorable moment, but the uncertainty before Marcus Liebherr came along was very real. Getting relegated will be a real headache. With the money we've spent on crap, I can't see how we're anywhere near financially breaking even this year. If relegated, we'll flog our better players for a song and be left with a load of overpaid, uncaring tw*ts. And there are also plenty of other clubs in the Championship and below that represent a better 'deal' for some wealthy investor, so yes, there could well be trouble ahead.