Sorry if you’re offended @SaintinNZ , I was just taking your point and raising a question. I did think that was how we debated. Nothing malice in my point whatsoever. I have given my opinion on this thread and others. I find that people post their opinion when replying to someone else’s opinion most of the time, without discussing the first person’s Opinion. I am just discussing your point. Is that fair enough? If you don’t want me to discuss it with you, then I won’t. That’s fair too. What do you mean by “turn on the boss?” Edit: I think you mean, “Turn on Hughes” I never turn on a manager. I always back them and support them and the team until they’re gone, but as mentioned above I have already posted my opinion on Hughes. I don’t think he’ll be good. I’ll still support him though without moaning or slagging him off.
All fair points NZ. Not sure why you’ve got a bit testy. I genuinely am just throwing out a discussion. None of it aggressive or rude. Just discussion points. The reason I did it? People seem to be more forgiving of Hughes than the last two managers and a couple of points on your post seemed right to reply to. Zero offence meant @SaintinNZ
Apologies if I came across testy, more exasperated. Felt a bit like a fan bashing just for the sake of it but no offence taken and none meant in return. Aaaaand.. we haven't got anything to be 'forgiving' of or otherwise at the moment. I'm willing to give him as much rope as the rest of our managers. If come January we are 2points off the drop zone and I'm turning games off after 20 minutes because gardening is more exciting then I'll be no more forgiving of him or the squad than I was under Pellegrino. If anything, I think he will get less time than MP2 or Puel as he has fewer excuses. Experienced in the EPL and been at the club longer than either at the start of the season. And he hasn't got that Eric Black fella ruining everything like he did for the other two. Christ we've had some stupid theories these past two years.
If you read Saintsweb you will know that Eric Black and Dave Watson were responsible for everything bad in the world including global warming. Black has gone, so I assume that we will win the league and both cups if Watson goes as well. No, I have no idea what Watson is supposed to have done wrong.
I'll admit to being negative for large portions of the last 2 years. I don't know why, I just get sad sometimes. Usually just when watching saints under MP2. I'm not negative at all about this coming season. Quite firmly planted on the fence as it could go either way and probably will. I think we will enjoy spells of high and low this season but I'm fully expecting that to be better than the last two managers.
I`m curious how Watson couldn`t get Fraser sorted out, or improved, given his obvious pedigree with the England coaching set up.
Personally I think Fraz's weaknesses have always been there but not facing shots hid them. We have had a fantastic defence for large chunks of his time and when the team went downhill he was left exposed. Hopefully Burnleys backline will command the box for him at set pieces and limit shots better : )
Saintsweb think forsters form was to do with poor coaching from Watson ... who had nothing to do with McCarthys decent form
I'm still a little confused by the Gunn signing. We must now have one of the costliest set of goal keepers in the league. I get that he's a good keeper but still baffles me a little.
Has put us back in the position of having 2 good keepers again...now sadly that Fraser has gone off a bit. Need two good ones as you never know when one is going to be injured...see Burnley as an example. And Gunn is young and probably seen as a good investment. Going to be a challenge to keep both keepers happy if they stay fit. This may well be a real case of keepers competing for the spot...rather than a number one and backup.
What we are basically saying is that we don't trust Forster to be our back up keeper so we will sign a kid to replace him. Then we are going to try to sell/loan him to a team who will have to cover/meet his wage demands which are very high for a keeper we are basically saying isn't very good.
The thing with Fraser is that he has lost a vocal, idiotic section of SMS and I think it will be almost impossible to get it back. Like SKD at Sunderland (ask their fans what they think of him) he needs to rebuild his career elsewhere. I think that Burnley would be a great move for him and I could see him doing ok there.
I can see Fraser going elsewhere and doing well....you don't suddenly fall off a cliff. He has strengths and in another team that may work out....sadly some vociferous fans won't give him a chance here. McCarthy lets in a goal....not a murmur. Fraser does same and he'll get dog's abuse.
I don't buy this blaming the fans all the time. Fans get annoyed when goals go in and tbh Fraser isn't a very good keeper so some goals he lets in others would save. I can't see a team taking him on the deal we have him on. Maybe Burnley will loan him but they now know we are well over stocked in the gk dept so can screw us to a deal.
Make no mistake Fraser was poor last season and cost us a few points, I think that he was definately worse at SMS when he looked like a rabbit in the headlights on occasions and that was partly down to the negative reaction of a section of vocal fans towards him IMO.
He needs a fresh start, but we will definitely have to pick up some of the tab. However, that is better than paying all his wages.