Just hoping it’s entertaining at times and not embarrassing It’s a weird end to a weird season Come on you Saints, let’s play reasonably well and not get promoted
I still want to get promoted. I want to keep some of these players and I want the money! If we get relegated again we can do this again with a more pragmatic manager!
The Liverpool match you mention was my first ever match watching Saints at The Dell, thanks for the reminder.
My only hopes for this game is that we put in a decent performance and we don’t embarrass ourselves again and get hammered. A draw would be nice, a win even better and knocks for Gnonto and Summerville would be appreciated. Nothing serious but enough to keep them out of the playoffs.
A decent performance, ideally a draw or a narrow result, so that, should we and they get to the play off finals, they don't feel superior to us ("we beat you 4-0 last time we played") or have a motivation to tonk us ("we're gonna get revenge for when you beat us 4-0") Also, an Ipswich draw or win, or else a Leeds win and an Ipswich loss, so the result becomes academic and Leeds won't be motivated to be "out for revenge" because we denied them an auto spot. Basically, I want an outcome that can't be used to motivate the Leeds players.
I don't want to get promoted I want to see if Martin can build a team that looks more convincing with the style he wants to play He'll have a summer to work with those he wants to keep and replace those he doesn't Then if it doesn't work then its not going to work I'm not a fan of pragmatic managers, I want a manager with a philosophy, a team he's picked that fits that and to see the team play with a personality Pragmatic managers are the kind that stop you from getting relegated by battling against the odds I'll get my coat
Yeah, at times this season the quality of our offensive football has been much better than i'd imagined at the start of the season and I don't have an issue with the style. I think it is better when the players know what is expected of them and they go out with a clear plan but there are still defensive issues to be ironed out. I still believe that you can go far with an identity and a great team spirit although the latter is being tested right now and every player needs to go out and fight for each other and give their blood, sweat and tears for the cause.
Sure, but there are really, really, REALLY big gaps between: - a pragmatic manager - a team playing with an identity - a team that plays the same way, regardless if winning 5-0 or losing 5-0, because philosophy. Our issue is that RM is firmly embedded within Camp 3. I'm all for Camp 2 (in fact it's critical, and I don't massively mind RMs version of it, though it's flawed), with a dash of Camp 1 as and when required. Camp 3 has no real place in football unless your team is way, way superior to the others in your division.
I would like someone strong on point 2, with a dose of point 1. Russell is, by his own admission, entirely a point three purist. Which is a madness.
What I’m still not absolutely sure of is whether he is a 3 We’ve been at our best when we’ve mixed up the long and the short When we keep doing the same thing even when it’s clearly not working, is that what he wants or bad decision making / lack of ability on the pitch? Hence, this summer allows him to correct it or prove its not going to work I accept that in September I may be saying “You were right and I was wrong”
My only hope is that we don't get any injuries, ahead of the semi. Outside of that, i couldn't give a monkey's!
