Match Day Thread Mighty Saints v Spurs - Sunday 20th Sept 12pm BT Sport

I think you are right. The 3-1 was away that year and he got me tickets in the Bompey end with all the family of players. Talk about sitting on your hands and smiling at the right times.

 

Also known as Oscar Gobern day.

 

We’re all tactical geniuses mate. I have a wipeboard in my kitchen with arrows all over it.

 

So do I, but the wife put it there and it’s the directions she and the kids drive me every day.

 

Looking at the results over the weekend, I think that the most noticeable two trends are the fact there are so many goals in matches and the unpredictable nature of them. I am not convinced that the problems are unique to Saints. The new season recommenced in a period no longer than the winter breaks taken in other countries. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the games are no played in front of crowds so home advantage no longer exists.

The defence has been a problem for a number of seasons now and Ralph needs to recruit before it is too late and we are marooned near the bottom of the table. I think their performance has let Ralph down badly.

The other point I would like to say is that I think this league will be abandoned by the end of October. With another outbreak on the horizon, I think a lockdown is inevitable. The biggest threat most teams will face will not be on the pitch but on the bank balance. It will be very worrying for a number of lower level league teams and don't doubt we will see a few more Burys this season.

 

So are Bournemouth!

 

Yeah, I think that’s spot on. I just hope Ralph realises this quicker than he realised it last time.

 

Raises an interesting question too. It's all very well having VAR to rescue us when a player drifts a fingernail's width offside, but surely any observer would realise that those two first half non-goals were a warning. Because obviously someone hasn't been watching the right videos and worked out that Kane and Son are pretty good at what they do. Mind you, their secret is out now, so no other Premier League manager is going to be so foolish. So Ralph has been selfless again, just as he was last year when he exposed Leicester's weaknesses!

Now, can we just sign a mean bastard to protect our back four. I don't want to like him or hope he marries my granddaughter, I just want someone I wouldn't want to meet on a dark night to stop Bednarek and Stephens being exposed.

 

Is Jimmy Case available?

 

His son Justin maybe an option.

 

Had me going there

 

So there was a game on....how’d it go?

 

It actually went 3 ways.

To some it was disappointing, but all is not lost

To some they were glad as they want us to be relegated.

To some the end of the world is happening.

 

40 minutes of hope, 50 minutes of total depression.

 

And to some of us, it went really well for 45 minutes, after which we lost all interest in football and forgot there was even a game on.

 

One question....did we sell the whole team who kept winning at the end of last season.....and if so, why?

 

Hampshire won so chins up!!

 

They did win in a past it's expiry date dead rubber, excuse me that i'm not doing this..

 

Are we up here in paddle free mode?

 

I've a feeling that Ralph may have come up with this ultra high defensive line with a Keeper-Sweeper as a way to try and cut out defensive mistakes around the box that leads to soft goals. Unfortunately it has led to making it far too easy for the oppo to get in behind resulting in one on ones with the GK. I hope that he recognises the faults and ditches the experiment, otherwise we will be picking the ball out of our net much more than even before.

It could be that Salisu comes in and makes a massive difference in organising that back line but it's a long shot given his lack of experience but at least we know that we have another system that can get results with the existing players.