100% with you there Fran. It is for that reason I rarely pull it. However, I am not saying it is (as spoken word is easier to interpret), but there does seem to be an undertone to the posts.
The most stupid comment I heard yesterday was delivered by the bloke behind me " why do we play Steve Davis? His level is average championship player at best"
My MOTM. Did his job all day. Unfortunately that job isn't scoring goals. Opened them up beautifully with his 1-2 and run 1st half We need 2 Gabbis
I didn't like the fact that I applauded something Forster did and my clapping was indistinguishable from sarcastic applause*. We need different types of applause...perhaps a call of 'I say, well done, sir.' *Absolutely, totally hate sarcastic applause aimed at a keeper....if it was me, I'd turn and throw it in the net just to spite them.
I thought we had a midweek match against Arsenal next....got a whole week to wait. Is that good or bad?
I do completely agree with your post about expectations of our club. The premier league is tough and no teams should be underestimated nor should we expect to beat. We are no Manchester City, Chelsea etc. For those of us who have supported saints for many years we can see how we have improved and developed and are a settled top half premier league club. I am very happy with that. However, in the past, under Cortese and just 2 years ago Reed announced the aim is champions league in 5 years. That raises expectations and supporters HEAR that and yet SEE best players being sold off each year and top managers leave. I am not saying that that shouldn't be the ambition of the club. (All clubs should have that as the ultimate aim) but believe by announcing this on more than 1 occasion, this contributes to a lot of saints 'fans' misguided criticism of the team.
I hope Claude has a very thick skin because some of the nonsense being written and said about him is way of the mark. He is a very good coach and manager who has been able to improve several of our players this year. We have had a very good season when you look where he started from. Yesterday's match was awful to watch but Hull were strong, physical and fighting for their lives so credit to them. They outnumbered us in midfield and defended well. Several of our players had off days and that happens. I am beginning to think that over half the population are stark raving mad and thick as bricks. Why else would they have voted for Brexit and now be demanding that Puel be sacked?
Well that was a poor performance, to give a privileged glimpse of the bleeding obvious. I think Hull deserve credit for the way that they kept possession, it was far from just desperate long balls forward. This performance has no bearing on next season of course and I am really looking forward to that. Regarding Ian's posting, I have long given up expecting to agree with much of it. This dates from long ago when in the Championship he said that he was absolutely certain that we wouldn't get promoted (we did) and that Pompey wouldn't go down (ditto), but here's the thing. Although some of his comments look a bit like trolling sometimes, I always remember something Dennis Skinner reportedly said regarding his political opponents; never question their motivations. I think his statements are sometimes utterly laughable but I defend his right to make them. The only thing is, if you make wild assertions you shouldn't be surprised if you get a lot of pushback from others who don't share them.
Having all the fans onside is important and we don't have that this season. Quite a few were underwhelmed by Claudes appointment and haven't afforded him much patience. Inconsistent performances have not helped and yesterday certainly didn't. I was hoping with fixtures easing and safety guaranteed that this run in would be a chance for the players to go out and entertain and play without any pressure, but it feels like Claude is still experimenting and tinkering. The substitution of Sims felt pre-planned and not a reaction to the game
I think putting on some pace in the shape of Sims and Long was the perfect response to the game. Gabby wasn't getting the service and putting on 2 fresh players (with plenty of time to achieve something) was a good move.....whether the starting line up was wrong is another question. Hull had been working like Trojans and every time the match stopped, several of their players were leaning on their knees to get their breath back....pace against a tiring team was the right option. Also very pleased to see Sims get more game time.
The way I see it, is that Puel has had more to contend with in his first season than most have in several season. A few examples Took over from a popular manager with a record tally of premier points He had a large percentage of players away on Euro duty for the start of pre season The club captain came back with an ego the size of Portugal Didn't get in Gabbiadini in the summer which he wanted Had Europa league for proper Had several big injury problems (VVD, Austin, Boufal etc) Fonte transfer saga Poor support from LR in replacing Fonte in a shoddy January transfer window VVD leaving for every top 6 club in the premier league Chinese take over saga, which I think is having a bigger effect than the club, manager and players are letting on. Yes we were poor yesterday, but I believe there is a lot going on behind the scenes that will hopefully get sorted and clarified in the coming weeks.
Claude's problem with the fans (which is unsolvable) is his basic personality. When things are sticky, some fans like to see a tub thumping manager....once more unto the breach, dear friends. They don't believe in passion if they can't see it. The alternative is to be charming and/or funny. Claude will never be what those fans wanted....he wasn't wanted at the beginning and his quiet personality was never going to win them over. He can only do his talking on the pitch and performances this season have been a curate's egg. The fans who are 'agin' him will latch onto the poor stuff and forget the good. I have been disappointed in the entertainment side of our play...where has the beauty gone (except in small snatches)....though we mustn't forget the players we have lost, both permanently and through injury. However, this season has had enough good stuff for me to be hopeful for next season. Unless Puel is unhappy (which could be possible), I can see no reason to get rid of him. I am surprised that anyone thinks he will be sacked after this season....they can only have delusions that we are Man United.
I bet a large proportion of those "fans" were against him because he is "French"! Nothing to do with his ability to Manage.
You are right to highlight the lack of entertainment on offer by Saints. What is frustrating is that we were starting to entertain when Gabbi arrived, and have now gone back to being duller than the stuff you wash crockery in.
I don't care if he spends every evening too drunk to stand up, snorting cocaine off his hooker grandmother's tits if he comes back scoring goals for us. Vin
And yet nearly all of us agree that the likes of he and Boufal need game time. Why on earth would Claude not use these games to afford that?
