I imagine we all are. That second goal was an absolute kick in the nuts, the sort that leaves you gasping for breath. You have to pick yourself up at some point though.
Play Fraser Forster as a forward... He's big enough, He gets paid enough. And he's used to picking the ball out of the back of the net!
Gabby did not buy into the new managers way of doing things, a bit like a dutch prick that plays for you, who did not want to honor his contract until the summer.
Yeah but he's not exactly going to say he thinks all his players are worthless, the scouts all suck and the Board is full of idiots, is he? I think that most likely the club laid out the situation to him, and I don't think he would have taken the job if he thought he could not keep us up. At the same time, of course he's not totally happy with the team. What manager would be? I think from the press conference yesterday he is fully aware of the major challenge he has in front of him. So yeah, I highly doubt the board was like, "Hey we can bring a couple of players if you'd like?" "Naw, I'm good." It was more like "Yeah...ummm... there's a good chance we won't be able to add anyone of substance this window." "Really? That sucks. Well...it'll be close but I think I can still manage to keep us up."
That's the suggestion from Guan/K Billy on Saintsweb: that Ralph was informed when joining that we didn't have money available, unless we were able to raise funds through sales. I'd expect the summer to be similar: we'll have to spend whatever we free up from moving players on. So unless we sell a Hojbjerg-level player, I'd expect far more outbound players than inbound. And that's if we survive. Really cannot overstate how much trouble we're in if we get relegated, unless there are massive relegation wage cuts for all of our players. With an owner unwilling/unable to cover losses, and with our wage bill, we'd have a very short window to get promoted (while hemorrhaging players) before our financial situation became absolutely dire.
Blatantly obvious we should have kept Gabbi. Even if he couldn't be arsed, even if he wasn't in future plans. Oh how we could have done with him in these troubling times, even just cutting in from the wings and looking pissed off!
Yeah, but that us a logical critique of his play. I agree with this. He's shown some flashes of skill, but mostly he is too tentative and not asserting himself. He needs confidence. At the same time, is that really surprising? New league, new team, new country and he is having to come off the bench. Lots of adjustments to make. Keep in mind, Redmond's confidence was shot for quite some time. I tried to be patient, but by some point last season, I was like ehh... it's not going to happen. I was wrong. Elyounoussi has not earned a starting spot, and especially with us often not using wingers, I have no problem with him being on the bench. But he has by no means been terrible. People are acting like he's aggressively awful when in fact the problem is more that he's been so quiet he hasn't been much of anything. Or questioning Hasenhuttl's competency because he dared play him as a late sub for 20 minutes. It's just kind of like... get real. Maybe he turns a corner, or maybe like Gabbiadini he never quite finds his way. But I think the expectations for him were too high. And having failed to meet those expectations, he's suffering from too much backlash. We lost the game yesterday because we gave up two somewhat soft goals. Even when Hasnhuttl said that himself and sent a couple warning shots to his defenders, no one is talking about that. They're talking about Elyounoussi. To a lesser extent, we also lost because despite having possession most of the game, we were unable to break down the Cardiff defense. I think it is fair to include Elyounoussi as part of the problem, but he is just one guy who played for 25 minutes. Gallagher didn't anything either. Long was actually actively awful for the entire game, not that I think people should scapegoat him either.
Don’t forget he couldn’t score, assist or run... (that said he’ll always be fondly remembered for the scrambled goal against Swansea)
He is taking more stick as we paid big money for him, and he was signed after many poor windows (and to replace our most creative player - tadic) But also he looks completely awful, like he doesn’t even know where he’s supposed to be on the pitch. I don’t think we are talking about the defenders as much, as we know their limitations already.
Don’t forget he couldn’t score, assist or run ____________________________________ Hey, that's our front lines pet names!
Sims has actually not been all that good, except for one game. And I'll just go ahead and make myself enemy number one by saying neither has Obafemi. When you consider their performance relative to their age and experience, they look very promising. But promising is not the same as good. It's remarkable how not bad they are, but they also aren't good. I trust Hasenhuttl. He's been playing Valery and Stephens. He getting Callum Slattery in games. So I think he is not only open to giving players chances when deserved but I think he believes in the value of giving youngsters time on the pitch whenever possible to further their development. Would you take a player who did not even start on a relegation Championship side (and was no great shakes when he did play) and stick him straight into your starting lineup? So why would Hasenhuttl?
I’m desperately trying to, believe me! Just had a look at the fixture list and having difficulty in seeing more than a possible seven points before the end of the season, the way things are etc. But hey who knows we could get more in a totally unexpected way and that is usually Saints way of doing things, is it not? So pessimistic optimism beginning to gather strength!!
Eight players out on loan, Forster still kicking around...we’re going to see more outbound whatever the outcome and we don’t really need that many players in. Just three or four bona-fide first teamers.
I think it is also worth remembering the statements when Les went and Ralph took over. To me, it’s clear the club are preparing for relegation, whilst hoping and believing Ralph can keep us up with what we’ve got. It’s a big gamble and we’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, I’d think that any fans going to the games need to get behind the players each and every game, regardless of the performance or result. Put the “I want to be entertained” and “this is sh1t” asisde for 12 games. We may well be needed to help the team and could make a difference if behind the players. You never know. Up the Saints.
Just? It'll take our board about seven years to sign that many bona-fide first teamers. In which time we'll have lost another eight, or will have long since ceased to be a PL team, or - most likely - both.
Well, that's the thing. To afford three or four bona-fide first-teamers, we're likely going to need to sell a couple bona-fide first-teamers. At which point we'll really need five or six.
Right...i've nearly come to terms with the result. Like everyone I wasn't expecting that. It's gone now and we have to beat Fulham, do that and I think we finish above Brighton. Only one problem.....watching us attack is like watching a bloke with no teeth trying to eat a steak!
I cant believe so many people are surprised by it tbh, it was prettty predictable that we'd struggle with the parked bus and get Warnock'd, or at least hardly a huge surprise.
They don’t all cost the earth, we’ll have income from the players out of the nine we can shift and the budget already allocated for the summer. Lemina might end up being a player we chose to trade with. Plenty of possibilities and all we have to do is have faith in Ralph and his vision for the squad
