Match Day Thread Interlude: Granny checks her phone (Tuesday 6pm)

I sort of see what you mean, except Obafemi - striker, Ings - striker. Minamino - left wing, Redmond - left wing.

The trouble is, Ralph only has a very paltry set of options. Sometimes he'll get jammy and they'll work, most often they won't. That's the issue. It's a choice of **** or vomit and hope for the best.

 

Just about on the money summary. We all have ideas about what should/could happen in the summer. As long as Ralph is still there we will be ok. It's going to be a couple of years of middle of the table with triumphs and blips in equal measure. It's been a queer season with far more positives than our second half of the season indicated. This year we hit a brick wall at full speed, and gradually it's going to get rebuilt, but not necessarily in the right order from many a point of view.

 

I was very disappointed in the result although I felt that the game was going to end up as a goalless draw. Someone nailed it on the head but saying that the performance summed up our season and I think this is true. The summer is going to be crucial for a number of reasons, not the least being the fact that the squad is crying out for a break. I also feel that the team that starts off in August will be radically different as I think we will struggle to retain Vestergaard, Ings and JWP. The first two will certainly be prime targets for other clubs and I feel that Spurs will continue their interest. The JWP situation will be fascinating as Liverpool have been tracking him for a number of years - I would have thought his value would considerably exceed any money paid for Ings.. I can see all three of these players being poached. Not too convinced by either Diallo or Djenepo and I would be tempted to trade them both in. We know Bertrand has gone and it would appear that Long, Gunn, Vokins and Valery are out of the door too.

It will be interesting to see just how many new players will be brought in this summer. A couple of fall backs, central defender, squad player for the midfield and another forward will be the minimum. I think that the next time fans see a Saints team line up at St Mary's, half of the starting eleven will be unfamiliar. I still think that Ralph's position is not as safe as some would imagine on here. A big summer for Saints, in my opinion and probably the biggest close season since Puel took charge.

 

Maybe Ralph will walk away from the task here, unless he is going to be heavily backed in the summer in making the side stronger and capable of a top half finish and not permanent residents occupying the lower tier of the PL, which SFC has a history of doing. How long has he been here? Two and a bit years. That is quite a bit of time as a footballing head coach these days.

As for the the players you have identified as possible departures, how about this scenario? West Ham's Rice joins one of the top PL sides, JWP could go there.

 

JWP to West Ham? Are you trying to be a troll?

 

Actually no. The first part with Rice going to ?????? is quite likely, though wouldn't you agree? Secondly, I must apologise to you for mentioning WHU as I think they rank as something like your second most detested team.

 

Rice probably will go to a bigger club at some point but I will be dismayed if JWP (and Ings for that matter) think that West Ham is a big enough step up. Yes, they've had a good season but I don't think the level they've shown is sustainable.

 

It will be interesting to see if either JWP and Ings make Southgate's final squad for the euros. Who could edge them out? Bamford and Phillips of Leeds, simply because Leeds have had a better season than SFC, as ability-wise alll four have strengths to improve a team. Whether there is room for all four in the final squad, I do not know.

 

Heard he had a tweak in his groin ....

 

I have a sneaking suspicion that Ralph, Semmens, and the rest of us, are all holding their breath in hope of getting a positive takeover through sooner rather than later. My gut says that it might be sooner than we all think.

 

Seemed to me (as I turned over to watch Brighton vs City after our game) that the crowd there actually lifted Brighton by getting behind them even when they were 2-0 down, whereas FAR too many at St Mary’s just seem to either sit there silently (the number of people on their phones when the TV cameras panned across the crowd was alarming) or boo the players. I could hear the jeers when Stephens strode forward into a gap, but then (like a centre-half) was unable to pick out a Saints player. That must really help his confidence ..... FFS Saints fans (not here) get behind your team or just **** off and be a plastic somewhere else! If you’re passionate enough to stump up for a season ticket, have some passion, a bare understanding of the way the game is played, a belief that, despite our lack of investment and little funding, we can play with the billionaire-owned “big boys” and actually cheer your team. It’s little wonder to me when players like Danny etc look to moving to clubs where the fans are truly passionate (which is probably why the Saints players who went to Arsenal weren’t very successful!)

 

Mate,you've only got to look on Saints Web to see what a lot of Saints fans are like.bloody gaga lots of em!
Also, probably missed the point but are you saying Arsenal fans are more passionate? They could moan and whinge for England.

 

I don’t think Phillips and Prowse are directly competing for a place in the squad, Phillips is the stand in for Henderson while he is unavailable, given how little Henderson has played this season I reckon Phillips will be in.

I feel like Prowse is in there more for his set piece ability than his general work as a CM (even though I think he is bloody fantastic in general). I think his place will be assured in a 26 man squad.

I’m less certain about Ings, but I think he is more likely to lose out to Greenwood than Bamford, who Southgate doesn’t seem keen on. Kane, Rashford and Calvert-Lewin are assured. Ings, Bamford, Greenwood, Watkins and maybe Callum Wilson (who has had a good season under the radar and England experience) are competing for the remaining 1 or 2 striker spots.

 

No - exactly what you’ve said - Arsenal fans are worse than at St Mary’s. I’ve only ever been to the Emirates once (and sat amongst home fans) and I couldn’t get over the abuse and vitriol they have for their own teams! No wonder players like Walcott and Chambers struggled with that level of hate pouring out of the stands!

 

Yes LTL mentioned. My mistake; I listened to Sky commentary & they thought (initially I suppose) it was just rotation. Yep, I should know better!

 

Add the Facebook ****wits and their Ralph out sell the team bollocks.

 

Ah, no, JWP not going anywhere in my estimation. Certainly not there!

 

Have to agree with this. Unfortunately it is not practical for me to get to a midweek game from North London, otherwise i would be yelling as normal. Our home vocal support has been fairly embarrasing for some time.

 

It is because you and I are not able to get there. That's why it's nowhere near vocal enough.

 

It’s difficult to disagree- there were a few boos that I could hear from where I was in the Chapel. Seemed to be coming from the Kingsland/Northam junction. On another tack about our support I was very disappointed to see as we descended at full time from row AA that virtually every row was covered in litter. What is the problem with picking up your own ****? Even worse for the stadium staff during Covid-19. Have some self pride if nothing else.