Today is the perfect illustration to me for why no-one should talk about us trying to save ourselves. We clearly do not have it in us; not one bit. Similarly, those around us really do seem to be doing their best to help us out week after week after week (aside from when they play us!). Obviously we need to get some points on the board, but survival would be impossible otherwise with us currently 18th. But without any question, we need that survival line to be as low as possible. Even a 36 point target is looking beyond us now. If the Swansea's and the Huddersfield's go out there and take survival by the horns, then we're done; we won't catch them.
Tell you what, play Sims, Play Hesketh, play McQueen, play them now to the end of the season Really cant be any worse than the current shower of **** putting on the red and white - will be good experience for them too to take forward to next season.
When we were seemingly fighting relagation for season after season we always seemed to have some grit but not this one. I dont know if its because physically we are quite a non-physical team, but psychologically they just dont have it in them to battle. I think now I am completely numb and am already accepting that we are down, at least that way I won't torment myself, and if somehow we manage to stay up it will be a great feeling
For a club whose apparent vision is top quality youngsters, we do give them the shaft constantly in favor of over-paid, under-performing divas.
Sorry I disagree about the talent. I don't think we have that much talent we've sold them all. We have some good players but generally speaking fairly average. The good ones know they will be sold so dont really care. I am more concerned about whats happening in the board room - they are a disgrace, bunch of arrogant tossers
I don't know if its just our current formation but I'm getting sick of Betrand. He looks uninterested, slow and uncaring. What happened to the days of terrifying link-up runs up the wing followed by constant whipped and low crosses?
Hughes has had 3 weeks to try and get his ideas across and build confidence. Pellegrino had almost 38 weeks to alienate the squad. Pellegrino has had nothing to do with the squads mentality though, no, he's just a Manager.
Even more absurdly, Southgate was there today, and Bertrand looked like the last thing he wanted to do was impress the England manager. He passed the ball out of play more often than to a Saints player.
I have much sympathy for your point of view. This feels reminiscent of the time we went down with HR. A team with plenty of ‘talent’ no commitment. The difference this time round is we have in Mark Hughes a much more motivated manager in my view. It’s not all over yet, though it may seem like that now. That some players are just not cutting it does not help and had not helped all season to be fair. Expect changes in the team, he’ll not run out those who have let him, us and the spirit of SFC down today.
I mentioned this tongue in cheek earlier on in the match, but the amount of times we pass the ball out of play is a disgrace. These a paid professionals. And they are PASSING. THE BALL. OUT OF PLAY. This **** doesn't happen in Sunday league. It's almost as bad as foul throws at professional level.
Just on the train on the way back. Never once left before the 80minute mark but today I couldn’t put up with it any longer. Everyone was awful but honourable mentions to Bertrand who has to have the worst attitude of any captain in our history, Cedric and Lemina who were absolute triumphs in disaster
I'll be mightily interested in the team put out next time. It's clear to me which players are up for a relegation fight and who sees playing for us as a minor inconvenience in picking up their pay cheque. Too many players doing the bare minimum. Today was almost a blank slate. But the players doing the bare minimum are clearly just waiting for the season to be over so they can bugger off. It was a blank slate for Hughes today too. Hopefully he's a quicker learner than MP2 because certain players don't deserve to be starting games for us. I wouldn't be upset if today was the last time we see Tadic, Bertrand and a few others in Saints shirts. Not sure if this is even a controversial opinion any more after what we've been served up recently.
I note that Hughes has said that today is a learning experience for him (in terms of seeing those players in a live match, rather than just in training). Obviously it is far from ideal that we have a manager using game 31 as a learning experience, but that's not Hughes' fault. Most of us acknowledge that we waited far, far too long to make a change. It is what it is, so of course Hughes is learning things for the first time. But I get the impression that it will be indeed make next week's team interesting reading. (Given that we lack many (any?) players who stand out consistently right now, there's probably seven or eight changes that you could make a case for. Obviously I wouldn't expect that many to be made, but the options are there.)
not sure i completely agree. We have some great fans (like you) who support their team and the away support again this season has been great. I am pissed off with the fans that moaned a cup final and 8th place finish last season. This season has been dross but dont think fans need a reality check. Finishing in the top 8 the last few seasons and the continued progress made, we should nt expect to be where we are now. I agree there are a lot of knobs on forums and at the ground who take more pleasure criticising the team rather than supporting them.
Lemina needs dropping...................off a cliff. Can't believe how much class this boy has, and how he performs. Biggest shock for me over the past ten months. I always thought the manager appointments would catch up with us, but didn't think our recruitment would get quite as hammered with him & Wes. Been a liability more often that not. WTF. I feel a little sorry for Mark. He will get 'dogs' for doing what we've been asking for, because that 11 didn't show up. Inexcusable.
What a week of sport. F1 losing the plot, cricket team just losing and now Saints looking like they've given up. Keeping fingers crossed next week will see a miraculous turn around.
