The Great Escape 2025

[Lighthouse]

2 hours ago, CB Fry said:

You want the whole season to play out before you decide that Saints fans expecting us to do as well as Ipswich (2 wins, tonked 4 nil at home this afternoon) was an unreasonable impossible dream? 

Ok then.

You seem to be getting very agitated by things nobody has said about events which haven't happened. I want Juric to suceed as much as the next Saints fan but if he doesn't I certainly wont be gloating or demanding his head on a spike. I'll that will mean to me is what I thought it might mean back in summer - that our squad really is incredibly sh*te.

[CB Fry]

8 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

You seem to be getting very agitated by things nobody has said about events which haven't happened. I want Juric to suceed as much as the next Saints fan but if he doesn't I certainly wont be gloating or demanding his head on a spike. I'll that will mean to me is what I thought it might mean back in summer - that our squad really is incredibly sh*te.

Yeah, that squad of players were the reason a middling bang average Championship manager got a team promoted.

[Saint_Jonny]

10 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Yeah, that squad of players were the reason a middling bang average Championship manager got a team promoted.

Twisting yourself in knots. If you genuinely believe the team had the quality to survive (survive, not just go closer than we are on course to do at the moment) without Martin from the start then I suggest you take off those Saints coloured spectacles and get a reality check.

Kwp, Stephens and Janny B are all part of the starting line up saw us fall out of the league and generally stink the place out in the run up to our last relegation. I could go on, but what is the point. You clearly believe we have a team of suppressed super stars. Let's see how they do the rest of the season. 

[CB Fry]

Just now, Saint_Jonny said:

Twisting yourself in knots. If you genuinely believe the team had the quality to survive (survive, not just go closer than we are on course to do at the moment) without Martin from the start then I suggest you take off those Saints coloured spectacles and get a reality check.

Kwp, Stephens and Janny B are all part of the starting line up saw us fall out of the league and generally stink the place out in the run up to our last relegation. I could go on, but what is the point. You clearly believe we have a team of suppressed super stars. Let's see how they do the rest of the season. 

Honestly what the fuck are you talking about.

[CB Fry]

14 minutes ago, Saint_Jonny said:

I could go on, but what is the point. You clearly believe we have a team of suppressed super stars. Let's see how they do the rest of the season. 

This is what I said on this thread

16 hours ago, CB Fry said:

We just wanted to be in the mix. You know, like Ipswich. Or are we going to pretend that was some unreasonable impossible dream.

 

11 hours ago, CB Fry said:

You want the whole season to play out before you decide that Saints fans expecting us to do as well as Ipswich (2 wins, tonked 4 nil at home this afternoon) was an unreasonable impossible dream? 

Ok then.

Ipswich - 2 wins, 32 goals conceded, far less than a point a game, lost 4-none at home, pretty underwhelming. That's where I thought we'd be. I say it right there.

We may have been the Prem relegation zone two years ago but Ipswich were playing Burton Albion and Fleetwood Town.

 

And now you are saying that Ipswich Town are "superstars" for achieving that meagre aim and it's unreasonable for me to hope we'd do as well as them and I need a "reality check" because it's so unachievable.

Jesus wept. Jesus fucking wept.

Edited 22 December, 2024 by CB Fry

[trousers]

As CBF says, pretty much everyone on here (and wider afield) was expecting us to struggle. I believe this was based on two things: (a) our mediocre squad and (b) the manager declaring he was going to play the same way with a squad that wasn't capable of doing so.

In other words, being in the relegation zone at this stage of the season is not unexpected. What is unexpected is being on a paultry 5 points and cast adrift. Being pissed off with our points total doesn't translate to: "we've got a squad that should easily avoid relegation". That's all CBF is saying.

'Success' for Juric will be getting us competitive again (with the other teams in the bottom 3rd of the table)

Edited 22 December, 2024 by trousers

[coalman]

20 minutes ago, Saint_Jonny said:

Twisting yourself in knots. If you genuinely believe the team had the quality to survive (survive, not just go closer than we are on course to do at the moment) without Martin from the start then I suggest you take off those Saints coloured spectacles and get a reality check.

Kwp, Stephens and Janny B are all part of the starting line up saw us fall out of the league and generally stink the place out in the run up to our last relegation. I could go on, but what is the point. You clearly believe we have a team of suppressed super stars. Let's see how they do the rest of the season. 

Stephens was out on loan at Bournemouth during our relegation season. Bednarek was out on loan at Villa until the midpoint of that season.

However all three of them did play in the side that went top of the Premier League in September 2020.

I wouldn't describe our team as superstars but they should be able to at least compete in the Premier League.

[Miltonaggro]

Juric sides are built on defence. Assuming none leave this window, when all are fit he will have the starting eleven choice from Ramsdale, Suga, Bednarek, ABK, THB, KWP. With alternatives / back ups of McCarthy, Wood, Taylor, Stephens and Manning. So a first five of current full internationals with back ups of current / former internationals and U21s. A huge amount of experience, and better than a good many past saints sides which beat relegation. What we should see from tomorrow is how Martin’s rigid system effected these players versus defenders being allowed to play a fully defensive game. Interesting.

[Toadhall Saint]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

As CBF says, pretty much everyone on here (and wider afield) was expecting us to struggle. I believe this was based on two things: (a) our mediocre squad and (b) the manager declaring he was going to play the same way with a squad that wasn't capable of doing so.

In other words, being in the relegation zone at this stage of the season is not unexpected. What is unexpected is being on a paultry 5 points and cast adrift. Being pissed off with our points total doesn't translate to: "we've got a squad that should easily avoid relegation". That's all CBF is saying.

'Success' for Juric will be getting us competitive again (with the other teams in the bottom 3rd of the table)

Good post trousers only thing is b, they are capable of playing that way just not in the prem where (as has been proven) the teams and managers are a considerable step up from the championship and will pick you apart at will.

[LGTL]

The re-writing of history by some of the Martin lovers is astonishing. Every single person expected us to struggle. Every single person thought the squad was relatively weak. Every single person expected a relegation fight. But the key word there, is fight. 

What every single person didn’t expect was a pathetic 5 points after 16 games, winning just about every negative stat in the history of the game and having to put up with the worst manager in PL history, on course to break the lowest points total ever. The only people who seem to think that this was in any way acceptable are also the same people now DEMANDING that Juric had better give us European form, otherwise we told you so. 

Absolutely fucking astonishing. A reminder for some of you idiots - Juric needs just 6 points to be better than your king. Just 6 points. Just 2 wins. 

Edited 22 December, 2024 by LGTL

[Lighthouse]

10 minutes ago, LGTL said:

The re-writing of history by some of the Martin lovers is astonishing. Every single person expected us to struggle. Every single person thought the squad was relatively weak. Every single person expected a relegation fight. But the key word there, is fight. 

What every single person didn’t expect was a pathetic 5 points after 16 games, winning just about every negative stat in the history of the game and having to put up with the worst manager in PL history, on course to break the lowest points total ever. The only people who seem to think that this was in any way acceptable are also the same people now DEMANDING that Juric had better give us European form, otherwise we told you so. 

Absolutely fucking astonishing. 

Nobody is demanding anything from Juric, let alone European form, I'm not sure why you've made that up. You can say everyone expected more than 5 points if you like but I'm not particularly surprised by it.

[LGTL]

7 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Nobody is demanding anything from Juric, let alone European form, I'm not sure why you've made that up. You can say everyone expected more than 5 points if you like but I'm not particularly surprised by it.

Because European form is what’s needed for us to survive. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when we inevitably don’t, people like you will be sharpening the knifes, getting ready to tell us how oh so clever you are to have backed Martin, and look how sacking him made no difference. 

6 points more is all that’s needed. Just 6. 

[Lighthouse]

5 minutes ago, LGTL said:

Because European form is what’s needed for us to survive. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when we inevitably don’t, people like you will be sharpening the knifes, getting ready to tell us how oh so clever you are to have backed Martin, and look how sacking him made no difference. 

6 points more is all that’s needed. Just 6. 

Who is demanding he keeps us up?

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Good post trousers only thing is b, they are capable of playing that way just not in the prem where (as has been proven) the teams and managers are a considerable step up from the championship and will pick you apart at will.

Yep, apologies, I should have added "at this level" at the end of point (b) 👍

[Oldandtired]

It starts at 2 pm today. 
 

 

🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[SWLondon Saint]

50 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Nobody is demanding anything from Juric, let alone European form, I'm not sure why you've made that up. You can say everyone expected more than 5 points if you like but I'm not particularly surprised by it.

Come on, 5 points at Christmas is the joint 2nd lowest total in Premier League history. And those Sunderland teams were in chaos on and off the pitch.

Our squad, while weak, is not one of the 3 worst squads in Premier League history. You could certainly argue it's better than Ipswich's this season at the very least.

Not being surprised at 5 points is definitely letting RM off easy. He's now statistically the worst ever non-caretaker manager in history I think, and you can't just blame that on recruitment. Look at Luton's squad last season for example, they were true no-hopers and even they had more points than us.

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

Nobody is demanding anything from Juric, let alone European form, I'm not sure why you've made that up. You can say everyone expected more than 5 points if you like but I'm not particularly surprised by it.

So after Bournemouth when many wanted him gone and you were saying he should stay, you were doing that in the expectation that in the subsequent 10 games you wouldn't have been surprised for us to gain 4 points. Clear.

Basically your going in position is this is the worst Premier League squad there has ever been. 

Personally I don't think that's remotely plausible and it points to a weird affliction suffered by on a few on here that they will trash our playing staff to absolute shit just so they don't have to admit that Russell Martin might just be a mediocre manager pitifully out of his depth.

Edited 22 December, 2024 by CB Fry

[rallyboy]

Win today, beat West Ham, and we'll have witnessed the most miraculous thing to ever happen at this time of year.

[trousers]

Just now, rallyboy said:

Win today, beat West Ham, and we'll have witnessed the most miraculous thing to ever happen at this time of year.

Jesus wept

 

 

 

 

[Toadhall Saint]

1 minute ago, rallyboy said:

Win today, beat West Ham, and we'll have witnessed the most miraculous thing to ever happen at this time of year.

True

[Lord Duckhunter]

Lego has demoralised the fan base to such an extent that we’re now cheering goal kicks. 

Nobody thought it would be easy, but from the very first game of the season it became apparent that our managers vanity project was only heading one way. 

 

[Wiggles31]

The 3 above us all play the big 6 clubs in their next two games. Need to win the next 2 to have any hope in hell. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

[West end Saints]

Current points and games until end of Jan, will leave you to add your predictions!

Saints 6 points

H whu

A palace

H Brentford

A Man U

A Notts F

h Newcastle

A Ipswich

Total for Feb 13?

 

Ipswich 12

A arsenal 

H Chelsea

A Fulham

h Brighton 

H mancity

A Liverpool

H us

Total 15 ?

 

Wolves 12 points , Maybe 5 more from theirs

Leicester 14 +6= 20

Still don't think we stay up but we have new manager and potentially easier fixtures so would be good to at least be back in sight by start of Feb so we have some interest in the table going forward 

Edited 24 December, 2024 by West end Saints

[Saint86]

Is there likely to be points deductions for any of the teams involved this year do we think?

[St. Ciervo]

3 hours ago, West end Saints said:

Current points and games until end of Jan, will leave you to add your predictions!

Saints 6 points

H whu

A palace

H Brentford

A Man U

A Notts F

h Newcastle

A Ipswich

Total for Feb 13?

I think we could get 8 points from that run. Modest, but Herculean given the Martin scar tissue.

[HKsaint]

I am positive so long as we do not concede any further goals. 

[Toussaint]

On 22/12/2024 at 12:33, CB Fry said:

don't have to admit that Russell Martin might just be a mediocre manager pitifully out of his depth.

He could only dream of reaching such dizzying heights.

[Eric The Red]

19 hours ago, West end Saints said:

Current points and games until end of Jan, will leave you to add your predictions!

Saints 6 points

H whu

A palace

H Brentford

A Man U

A Notts F

h Newcastle

A Ipswich

Total for Feb 13?

 

Ipswich 12

A arsenal 

H Chelsea

A Fulham

h Brighton 

H mancity

A Liverpool

H us

Total 15 ?

 

Wolves 12 points , Maybe 5 more from theirs

Leicester 14 +6= 20

Still don't think we stay up but we have new manager and potentially easier fixtures so would be good to at least be back in sight by start of Feb so we have some interest in the table going forward 

I think 7 points from those 7 games is a reasonable target for us, a vast improvement on the first 16 games but not really enough to say The Great Escape in on. Get 10+ from that 7 however and I might start to have some hope.

[Saint_clark]

It's the worst period for him to come in really, right into a run of games that are "easier", with not a lot of training time in between. 

We should have sacked Russell at the end of November. (I would have sacked him in the summer, but hey ho).

[Jonnyboy]

Not a chance in hell.

[LiberalCommunist]

We don’t need to survive for this to be a success. We just need to find a new plan so we can build. Going down with Martin was genuinely my biggest fear. 

[Francis1947]

First of all and most importantly....a very Happy Christmas Day to all fellow Saints fans on this website. May you all have a great day surrounded by family and friends and be happy and content. Also it's a bit of an opportunity to eat alot and drink a bit !

I think we all feel this just might be the start of a new era under a new Manager. Is there a chance of a Great Escape  The odds arae against us....but maybe just maybe eh !!!!

Just a thought. Many on here have seen a lot more of Bella-Kotchap than me and are of the opinion that he really is our best central defender . I havent enough knowledge or opinion to make a judgement on his past behaviour and the reasons he's been unselectable. 

Wouldnt that be left field if this guy threw him into the team for tomorrow. A bit far fetched I know and he probably hasnt seen enough of him or any other player on the training pitch....but ?

Any thoughts ?

[Francis1947]

A P.S. on my last post.

I meant to post this on the West Ham game thread ! Apologies. My excuse is too many g and t's already and it's only 11 am on Christmas Day morning !

[HKsaint]

Let’s build our team around Rambo, ABK, Downe, Sulemana and Tall Paul.  

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, Francis1947 said:

A P.S. on my last post.

I meant to post this on the West Ham game thread ! Apologies. My excuse is too many g and t's already and it's only 11 am on Christmas Day morning !

Happy Christmas to you and yours Francis! 

[UpweySaint]

3 hours ago, HKsaint said:

Let’s build our team around Rambo, ABK, Downe, Sulemana and Tall Paul.  

Based on what exactly? 

[Pamplemousse]

We could win our next 2 games before the end of the year and Juric will already be more successful than Martin.

He really should have been sacked after the Wolves horror show.

[Dark Munster]

21 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

We could win our next 2 games before the end of the year and Juric will already be more successful than Martin.

He really should have been sacked after the Wolves horror show.

He should’ve been sacked after the Bournemouth horror show.

Cortese would’ve sacked him after the Newcastle match. Maybe even before it. 

[Turkish]

6 hours ago, HKsaint said:

Let’s build our team around Rambo, ABK, Downe, Sulemana and Tall Paul.  

On 3 players that have done nothing in nearly two years of being here?

[Roo1976]

On 21/12/2024 at 14:29, SaintStinger said:

I know were doomed, but I would really like to avoid this list so 20 points is the minimum.

https://theanalyst.com/2024/09/lowest-points-totals-in-premier-league-history

bloody hell Villa 2015........................christ on a bike,forgot that .

[SaintTex]

i choose to be optimistic...or why else watch the rest of the season?

 

just 8 points from 17th with 21 matches to go... why not dream a little?

with a little luck tomorrow and friday, it could be 5 points from 17th with 20 matches to go

 

[SNSUN]

11 from safety and Leicester currently beating Liverpool. If Juric keeps us up it'd be the greatest sporting comeback in history. 

We're playing for pride, that's all. I really hope SR don't spend stupid money in the window next week. 

[Lighthouse]

23 hours ago, Roo1976 said:

bloody hell Villa 2015........................christ on a bike,forgot that .

Which is all we’re realistically hoping for; that this season will be forgotten rather than remembered by the rest of the English footballing community.

[OttawaSaint]

Yeah, even if we somehow start winning. The big clubs are having off days against our rivals. 

When we play the big teams we either get eviscerated or the refs and VAR do us. 

Edited 26 December, 2024 by OttawaSaint