Match Day Thread Southampton versus Middlesbrough - Friday 29 March - 15:00

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Oh didn’t realise he was out of contract. Yeah he definitely is off then, imagine it’s his last season regardless of what league we are in

At 32, I can't see any Prem team being interested. He certainly wont be getting much game time. Maybe back to Celtic.

 

[Saintmagic]

At 32, I can't see any Prem team being interested. He certainly wont be getting much game time. Maybe back to Celtic.

Yeah I was thinking back to Scotland. Wasn’t there quite strong rumours of him leaving in the summer? Want to say Torino but may have been on FM

Need Schad to do some sort of breakdown of finances but wouldn’t surprise me if we needed to pretty much halve our wage bill

 

[RSS]

What an unforgivable turd of a performance that was. ****ing pissed off with the complete lack of intensity again pretty much from when we went 1-0 up. Walking pace football is so easy to defend against. You’d never know that we are supposed to be a team fighting for top 2. Mix in a lot of shot shy players, and some utterly ridiculous attempts at shooting from a few yards out + how open we looked defensively and we are just not good enough for the autos.

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Yeah I was thinking back to Scotland. Wasn’t there quite strong rumours of him leaving in the summer? Want to say Torino but may have been on FM

Need Schad to do some sort of breakdown of finances but wouldn’t surprise me if we needed to pretty much halve our wage bill

Saying goodbye to McCarthy, Aribo, Che, and Bednarek would cut about 200k a week off the wage bill.

I read that first season down a club gets 55% of Prem money. Second season is 45%.

But yeah I'm probably wrong on that.

 

[LincolnSaint]

What an unforgivable turd of a performance that was. ****ing pissed off with the complete lack of intensity again pretty much from when we went 1-0 up. Walking pace football is so easy to defend against. You’d never know that we are supposed to be a team fighting for top 2. Mix in a lot of shot shy players, and some utterly ridiculous attempts at shooting from a few yards out + how open we looked defensively and we are just not good enough for the autos.

It's the same sort of malaise which we had last season. We were in the relegation zone, we had chance upon chance to get out of it, to attack it, to show a bit of blood and thunder but no. No one could be arsed. Exactly the same now, we've been finger tips away from the autos all season, but come a big game, a chance to capitalise, what do these losers do? Throw it away each time. The only one of these with a winners mentality was Charlie, but we decided against him because he won't play sideways football like Russ wants. This lot will crumble in the play offs. Season over.

I don't know what we did to the football gods to deserve this but we're really sorry.

 

[LincolnSaint]

Saying goodbye to McCarthy, Aribo, Che, and Bednarek would cut about 200k a week off the wage bill.

I read that first season down a club gets 55% of Prem money. Second season is 45%.

But yeah I'm probably wrong on that.

Would happily add Sulemana and Mara to that list. We'll never get rid of Stewart now though so that's sunken wages. Anyone know how much he's on?

 

[garysfc]

I’m not sure I agree that Stewart’s injury is the big failure. Che’s previous record in the championship and goals per minute at the very start of the season suggests he really should have been good enough - with or without Stewart. He just hasn’t lived up to it at all.

You’re probably right about Che but relying on someone with Stewart’s injury record & even fitness position, is rather finger in the air.

 

[shoot_spiderman]

What an unforgivable turd of a performance that was. ****ing pissed off with the complete lack of intensity again pretty much from when we went 1-0 up. Walking pace football is so easy to defend against. You’d never know that we are supposed to be a team fighting for top 2. Mix in a lot of shot shy players, and some utterly ridiculous attempts at shooting from a few yards out + how open we looked defensively and we are just not good enough for the autos.

Lack of intensity!
And despite a cornucopia of wingers only one player in the area until the last few minutes

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Would happily add Sulemana and Mara to that list. We'll never get rid of Stewart now though so that's sunken wages. Anyone know how much he's on?

Reason I said only those four is because they are all big earners. Would keep Bednarek and Aribo if they were earning less.

I'd also be happy to see Sulemana and Mara go, especially if we can get £10-15m each for them.

We should get 18m for KWP, 8m for Tall Paul, and maybe 18m for Charly.

But of all those I can only see KWP and Onuachu being in demand.

 

[LincolnSaint]

Reason I said only those four is because they are all big earners. Would keep Bednarek and Aribo if they were earning less.

I'd also be happy to see Sulemana and Mara go, especially if we can get £10-15m each for them.

We should get 18m for KWP, 8m for Tall Paul, and maybe 18m for Charly.

But of all those I can only see KWP and Onuachu being in demand.

Oh 100% keep Aribo and Bednarek. But I fear it's pretty pointless with Martin in charge. He'd keep us 4th with City’s squad.

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Oh 100% keep Aribo and Bednarek. But I fear it's pretty pointless with Martin in charge. He'd keep us 4th with City’s squad.

No you're just sulking mate. Russ isn't the problem. Our squad is 3rd/4th place quality and that's where we are. With a better striker we'd be top 2.

Honestly next season we can fine tune the squad. It took Russ a third of the season to know who he could rely on.

Stewart (if fit) is an improvement on Che, Larios/Meghoma for Manning, Amo for Sulemana, Dibling for Charly, and Ballard for Mara.

That's five improvements without paying a penny.

 

[saintrichie123]

No you're just sulking mate. Russ isn't the problem. Our squad is 3rd/4th place quality and that's where we are. With a better striker we'd be top 2.

Honestly next season we can fine tune the squad. It took Russ a third of the season to know who he could rely on.

Stewart (if fit) is an improvement on Che, Larios/Meghoma for Manning, Amo for Sulemana, Dibling for Charly, and Ballard for Mara.

That's five improvements without paying a penny.

And not forget, KWP, THB, Fraz, Brooks, and Flynn won’t be here either.

 

[garysfc]

We're going to blow this, aren't we.....

Obviously late to the thread but it was obvious we didn’t have control of the middle from about 20mins. I think Middlesboro sorta worked us or their plan started working. We were a little fragile or as said, not in control. 1-0 was always going to be a risk. Yep we missed a few chances (so did they) but imo, we needed strengthening in the middle & Aribo & maybe even Rothwell should have been introduced earlier rather than tinkering with front.

 

[garysfc]

Imagine being pleased with a 1-1 draw at home to Boro!

Is 4th in the table the sum total of your ambition for the club?

Don’t forget when we played them at their ground.

 

[garysfc]

So frustrating. If he had any acceleration he really would be a bloody good player. Won't ever be Prem level though with his tortoise speed.

He has an annoying penchant to play the ball back regardless. Plenty of times, he receives, has no one on him but hasn’t looked & immediately plays backwards, when a top quality player would turn & play forward. Very limited appreciation of surroundings.

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

And not forget, KWP, THB, Fraz, Brooks, and Flynn won’t be here either.

THB and Brooks won't, I agree. Flynn and Fraser I think we will sign.

KWP who knows? Was convinced he'd leave last summer. If we don't get offered more than 15m, then keep him.

THB is great, but any Prem-level CB looks good in the Champ. Look at Vestergaard/Bednarek/Rodon. So THB is replaceable. Brooks hasn't done enough for us to miss him.

 

[LincolnSaint]

No you're just sulking mate. Russ isn't the problem. Our squad is 3rd/4th place quality and that's where we are. With a better striker we'd be top 2.

Honestly next season we can fine tune the squad. It took Russ a third of the season to know who he could rely on.

Stewart (if fit) is an improvement on Che, Larios/Meghoma for Manning, Amo for Sulemana, Dibling for Charly, and Ballard for Mara.

That's five improvements without paying a penny.

Yes, you're right. I am sulking. 100%.

I might feel differently tomorrow, but as it stands right now I don't think he's the man for the job. And whilst some of those players may be an improvement who are we replacing Downes and THB with? The squad is going to be much much worse next season and so far SR's signings (barring the loans) have been absolutely awful

 

[garysfc]

Wouldn't it be a laugh if Stewart gets the winner in the playoff final?

You really think he’s going to add to his 12mins this season? I’m hopeful for next.

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Yes, you're right. I am sulking. 100%.

I might feel differently tomorrow, but as it stands right now I don't think he's the man for the job. And whilst some of those players may be an improvement who are we replacing Downes and THB with? The squad is going to be much much worse next season and so far SR's signings (barring the loans) have been absolutely awful

They're both replaceable.

 

[garysfc]

Ipswich 1 up already.

Yeah crap keeping but fair do’s, the ex skate took his shot early & got it on target. Simples?