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Thread | Nick ......and Jack Stephens....
at 06:44 21 Jul 2021
to NICK : A well-written article on Sam McQueen, which many of us whole-heartedly agreed with, but as another contributor noted, was sadly tainted by yet another side-swipe at Jack Stephens.
We all have our favourite players (I 've had many over the last 60 years) but clearly Jack doesn't rate highly on your list. You were always clear about your feelings over Maya Yoshida but now it's Jack's turn.
Given the players we have on staff, Jack wouldn't be first choice and he isn't faultless either, but perhaps he isn't as bad as you appear to paint him. Looking back on his Saints career - he is the longest-serving pro. still on the Saints books - he had different roles in his time at the Academy / U23 , but on occasions he has been a stand-out performer and
to my mind has a better role as DM rather than CB, but he is still well-worth his place in the squad.
Maybe you could write an article on Jack (?), and see how many fans agree / disagree with your assessment of his worth.
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Reply | Female presenters on MOTD
at 12:18 26 Jan 2020
YES it may " sound strange," and to be fair ..I have a similar feeling about ladies on Test Match Cricket commentaries. In their defence, I would say that I am often VERY impressed with their comments, knowledge and obvious experience in the women's game - but it's not the same sport.
I am a great enthusiast of the successful Saints Ladies side - unbeaten AGAIN so far this season - but there is a clear distinction between the two sports, and it seems as though they are being compared rather than recognsisng that they are NOT the same sport.
IMHO ..the best people to comment on Premier League football are players /managers / even referees (past or present) who have actual experience of the game at that level.
We are all ANALYSTS (to some degree or another) mine is not as a player at any level, but as a Saints fans for over 60 years. MY opinions (often in line with others) may be seen to be "correct", but I wouldn't expect to go on TV and comment on them.
Are the BBC is trying to be P.C. and show some sort of respect for the many ladies who both play and watch football matches every week? ( NOTE: many ladies can be seen at Saints game). One hopes they are not there as a some sort of "poster girl" to get extra viewers, that would be the worst sort of "acknowledgment" to them as women (!).
Perhaps- in time-attitudes will change, but just in the area of Prem. football the experienced opinions of of Shearer, Linekar or Souness - carries most weight to my mind. |
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Reply | The latest (non) deal
at 15:32 14 Oct 2019
1) I believe...that if either Scotland or N.I. succeeded in "leaving " the UK , they wouldn't be allowed back into the EU - just because a majority didn't like the idea of BREXIT.
As a "newly independant country" , they would have to apply for " the right to join the EU" , a process that might take several years.
2) the whole idea of having "a second referendum " is a denial of the very principle of democracy. iF there is a General Election (at any time) the "losers" can't turn around and refuse to accept the result just because they didn't like the outcome.
3) If another referendum went against the view of the Brexiteers - would they then demand a re-run - and go for the best of 3. If you vote for or against BREXIT .. you have to accept the result - whether you like it - or not. The alternative is anarchy.
Democracy is a very poor form of government - but all the others are so much worse.
(quote from Winston Churchill) |
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Reply | Austin allowed to leave
at 14:14 26 Jan 2019
We can't use words like legend or talisman about a player who only been at the club a few years...yet somehow Charlie fits the bill of "old-fashioned centre forward " we'd got used to along with Beattie, Lambert and Pelle (maybe Kirby and Davies for older fans).
Like those mentioned, in his own way Charlie is "a real character," and I for one will miss him when he goes, but with younger talents coming along he's here on borrowed time.
His career's been ruined by a couple of fluke injuries, and having to "re-make himself " when the next new manager came along. Nevertheless Charlie has managed to grab a goal or two in vital games and help win points. Right from the his last-gasp winner on his debut at Old Trafford. ..down to the most recent match-winning goal v. Arsenal.
Alas, with 30 soon on the horizon, and a lack of pace, he won't be able to handle a 90 minute game in Ralph's new style set-up. He'll be a real bonus for a club who play with wingers who can give him the right service, and I'm certain he'll score more goals.
If any of the clubs menetioned do bid for him, we may even get our modest fee back in the auction and even a bit of small change over. Good luck Charlie - you deserve some . |
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Reply | Hughes: defeatist or realist?
at 12:12 4 Nov 2018
We really need a few good breaks because whatever else one says, our "strike force" has been totally ineffective so far this season. Just 6 league goals in 10 games (with 3 to Ings and Hojbjerg (2) and one from Bertrand) but with Austin, Long, Gabbiadini and Redmond yet to open their account.
The fact that we are breaking records for "not-scoring" in games is a condemnation of our poor finishing when (once again) we are in the Prem. top 6 for shots made. We have never recovered from the loss of Pelle and Mane, and Boufal and Carrillo clearly did little to replace those talents.
Tadic was one of our most inconsistant players last season and he took an immense amount of stick from fans on this site (and others). The fact that he is showing up well in a v.g. Ajax side is perhaps shows up more of a difference between a poor Dutch league, and a very competative Premiership. Once again we started a season with 4 new players, and only Danny Ings having any sort of Prem experience, it will take time for the others to find their feet at this level. Sadly it's time we can ill afford.
IMHO Mark Hughes is a realist in that having had a good goal-scoring career himself , he also realises just what it means to have long, "dry spells" when you just can't score.
Whether he should go into the dressing room with hot cocoa and soft words - or wielding a baseball bat - is open to conjecture. I don't envy him the task.
You might console yourself with memories of previous "poor starts" (like James Beattie's in the 2002-03 season), who failed to score until the 10th game of the season, before going on a scoring streak ending with 23 Prem. goals in May - only one behind " Golden Ball" winner Thierry Henry. AH ...those were the days.
What we are looking at it football reality, and half-a dozen other clubs around us surely have some of the same questions. Defeatism is trying to find lots of excuses when you finish 18th in May. |
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Reply | I know we need a new striker but
at 06:34 18 Aug 2018
A month ago when the Danny Ings deal seemed to be "dead in the water", I wrote that having him and / or Charlie Austin available to partner Gabbiadini might be a good solution.
Of course "injury probelms "can affect everyone , but I'd like to see both DI and CA on hand to ring the changes when we are so desperate to start scoring goals regularly.
Even Redmond and Long scoring the odd goal would be a big bonus, and seeing Sam Gallagher getting some game time is surely only a matter of time. |
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Reply | Midfield trio
at 21:51 2 Aug 2018
it's a tough call as we have 6 or 7 midfielders to choose from a.t.m.
It takes time to develop a good winning partnership, especially with 3 players involved but I expect MH to ring the changes until he gets its right.
It looks as though Armstrong is the first name of the team sheet , now it's upto the others to compete for the remaining MF spots. |
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Reply | I know we need a new striker but
at 21:47 2 Aug 2018
successive managers have tried JWP in varying positions. Difficult to say where he's best.
He lacks the physique to be a "Romeu" but always had second place to Davis, and whenever he was picked to start it was often as a "fill-in " for an injured player.
Everyone praises his "dead ball " skills but he seldom has a chance to get a run of games and make his own spot. In a season when few players showed up well, he was either subbed in the second half, or got off the bench near the end. |
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Reply | Shaqiri
at 08:37 30 Jul 2018
Think a lot of people thought that the " Hughes Connection " might tilt the balance in our favour when he moved, but despite Stoke going down .....the World Cup showed us that he was in a different class to the rest of their relegated team.
If he were choosing between a club who played in a CL Final and one who almost went down, the a move to Liverpool must surely have been a "no brainer " from the financial , and career aspects.
Meanwhile I can continue disliking him - for the excellent performances he put in whenever we played Stoke. |
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Reply | Like a team that’s gonna win the South Shields challenge cup
at 08:31 30 Jul 2018
South Shields doesn't sound to be the most fervent soccer location, but if we assume that the U23s were playing against foreign clubs fielding players at the same level , then it looks to have been a good experience with an excellent result.
Right now our U23's have a good crop of up-and-coming lads who will soon be "over age " for that level and need ... a break into the first team squad / a good loan- out, or transfer to Championship / L1 club.
This will be a crucial season for future development , so interesting to see what happens. |
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Reply | Drinkwater in on loan?
at 08:18 30 Jul 2018
He had a couple of good seasons in Leicesters recovery / title win - hence Chelsea move.
Problem (as always ) is a player moving to a club that doesn't play the same formation, and let's face it an English player in a Chelsea side isn't so commonplace - is it ?
But then again the best way to di-fuse an improving side is for a Top 6 club to buy their best player(s), and them leave them on their bench .....cynical but true. Villa were never the same club after Delph left them and Leicester will miss Mahrez in the long run and the saga of " replacing Pelle and Mane " was never resoloved.
But going for Drinkwater ...(the next Steven Davis ?)....could be a good move (for Saints) and maybe the Lemina situation would sort itself out ... |
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Reply | It Could Be Nice For Boufal
at 08:50 21 Jul 2018
of course it could be a win-win situation for both sides.
If he succeeds in his loan role then his value will increase and we can sell him to Liverpool in a years time for some huge sum.
Otherwise sense may prevail - both sides will call bygones and he can continue his long-contracted career with Saints.
At the moment he is just a negative item on a long salary list. Paying half his salary to get game time elsewhere is better than nothing. |
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Reply | Ross Wilson
at 08:29 21 Jul 2018
Not so charming comments from "this charming man " who seems to have more input on Ross Wilson than many of us. If his playing history is true then I'm glad we didn't sign RW as a player, but then again a lot of people have made careers in football (and other areas) that they would not seem to be qualified for. I'm not sure what qualities are required to succeed in becoming POTUS, or Prime Minister other than the opportunity to try.
Some of the most successful coach / managers have succeeded despite their "wrong background". I grew up when Shankly was best manager in Britain for a 15 year period, I was reminded that his playing career with Preston was not so illustrious - nor his long managerial career before he took over at Liverpool. Arsene Wenger played barely 50 games at French amatuer level before beginning his coaching career. Whereas an alarming number of former top players have failed at the first hurdle, (Will be interesting to follow Lampard and Gerrard in their new managerial roles).
It's difficult to know what "qualifies " people for a job , but during my own worklife (now retired) three things encouraged me in different/difficult situations.
(1) Learn from mistakes (especially if they are other peoples).
(2) When you meet someone who has greater knowledge and experience than you have - shut up and listen(!) . You can learn more in an hour than a year in the job.
(3) When opportunities come your way, accept the challenge and remember that your past is not your future. It's your next chance to make good.
Back to Ross Wilson. None of what has been written about him suggests he should even have got an interview for the job, but he has it, and only time will tell if he is a success. |
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