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Thread | Olympic teams - who is not eligible and why?
at 17:18 22 Jul 2024
There's a difference of opinion between the Netherlands and Australia about who could/should be picked as an Olympian.
The Dutch have selected a 29 year old volleyball player who as a 19 year old was convicted of travelling to the UK and raping as 12 year old girl he had groomed on the internet. He served 12 months of his 4 year sentence.
The Aussies have said that anybody with a conviction for a sexual offence will NEVER be selected by them for an Olympics.
So, do we believe in the power of prison to reform characters and trust that the individual has - as reported - completely changed his ways and in now a mature adult and not a callow youth of 19? As such he deserves his place on sporting merit.
Or do we think that the moral outrage of his crime is sufficient for him to be forever barred from representing his country, regardless of his ability? If so, is there any hope of such a person ever being a "useful member of society"?
For the avoidance of doubt, I stand with the Dutch and think the Aussies are being very hypocritical given that they regularly "poach" talent from other countries, brush poor behaviours of their touring teams under the carpet on the grounds that "boys will be boys" and are generally ready to bend any rules if the individual sportsman/woman has talent and a chance. (Other countries, including us, do the same of course). |
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Thread | European sanctions for players who make racist comments?
at 09:43 18 Jul 2024
There's a very decent article on the BBC Sport site this morning about the Argentine players singing a song that is seen by many, especially Europeans, as racist.
One of the Argentine players filmed singing this song (post their Copa America win) apparently is on Chelsea's books (although I've never heard of him).
The suggestion is that Chelsea, or the FA or UEFA and perhaps even FIFA will impose some sort of ban or fine or both on him and any others judged to have used racist remarks even though not on club or league duty.
The BBC articles notes that supporting the international team is a "chance to be aggressively Argentinian" and that such behaviour is common place in league matches in South America. Apparently "unsettling the opposition" by any means is considered to be a fair tactic.
We've seen some Eastern European international and club sides sanctioned (mildly) by UEFA in the past but it seems that South America remains behind that particular curve.
Is it fair to impose club/European bans and fines for South American players on international duty? |
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Thread | Southgate gone - opinions
at 13:01 16 Jul 2024
To no great surprise Southgate has resigned.
Despite being the most successful manager since Ramsay he has clearly decided that he has gone as far as he can.
He leaves the team in a better place than he found it and in a tournament or two we will have good young players with experience and hopefully be able to take that final step.
He has also shouldered a lost of criticism, some deserved, most not, and I'm sure that was part of the decision.
For me he has had a successful time in post not so much for the quality of football (I think he has been naive at times and has picked players out of form or played them in a system they are not used to) but for changing the culture around the squad. He has made changes to the talent recognition process as well and relations with clubs seem to be much better.
I wish him well in whatever he does next. |
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Thread | Euro 2024 - observations and a final word
at 14:20 15 Jul 2024
First, on the day Spain were a better team and deserved to win.
Second, I struggle to understand the England set up. We put in a low block meaning that if we did win the ball it would be inside our defensive third. The "out" ball would then have to be either to a CF who could hold on to it long enough for help to arrive, or a fast counter break. With Kane in poor form and being easily brushed aside, the "long ball and hold it" was a non starter. With Kane clearly struggling, a fast counter was never going to happen. We saw when Watkins and Palmer came on, that Spain were vulnerable to a counter but until then, we did not have the players to exploit it.
Third, we played with the attitude of limiting what Spain could do to us rather than what we could do to them. Lack of confidence? Lack of plan? Lack of enough players of sufficient ability? The first two perhaps, not the third.
Fourth, we have the players in this generation to make a difference. Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Gheui should be the core of the next team. Kane is finished at this level. Stones had a good tournament but did not play like he can for City and that's what we need, a CB with the ability to bring the ball into midfield and draw defenders to him. Shaw/Tripper were competent as was Pickford. Walker is not going to make the next tournament and should be replaced. Given that we seem reluctant to throw the ball into the box, a player like Grealish to "win" free kicks in crossing situations is probably a luxury and I'd play a fast striker like Watkins in preference.
Fifth, the Spanish have moved on from tika taka. They now pass the pass less often before putting it in places to hurt the opposition. We need to do that. The WC is 2026. Too soon for a new generation coached in the Spanish manner to be in place but the core players above already have that and we need perhaps three/four more from the present under 21 and youth teams.(Incidentally the new defender we have from Peterborough looks to be exactly right).
Lastly, I hope Southgate steps down from active coaching but stays on as adviser. The team and process is so much better now than when he started and he has left a successor in a better place. Given where we were, he deserves a gong of some description so let's give him that and then look to a new generation of manager.
Overall, we exceeded expectation to get to the final (we lost to Iceland a few weeks ago) but we now know how far we need to go to win something. I think WC 2026 might be too soon, but Euro 2028 (which is here and Ireland) should be a taregt and then WC 2030. |
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Thread | Entitled idiot (with a broken nose)
at 14:24 18 Jun 2024
What on earth was Mbappe trying to do yesterday?
He gets injured in a genuine accident, claret aplenty, goes off with the trainers and then walks back on to the pitch and sits down.
His clear intention was to cause the game to be stopped and disrupt the opposition.
Personally I would have yellow carded him for coming back on and again for ungentlemanly conduct = red card and your own fault.
He might be a good player and on the magazine front pages by what an entitled k**b. |
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Thread | Iain Stamp and Matrix - scammers
at 13:17 10 Jun 2024
Part of my work is to help those exposing financial scams and scammers.
Recently the above "gentleman" via his company called Matrix Freedom have lost in the High Court in a claim that some 200 people can have their mortgage repayments repaid to them as the lenders are in contravention of "sovereign law".
The case was dismissed with the Judge remarking that the attempt to deceive the Court and the also certain deceiving of clients, was a matter that merited a criminal investigation.
The basis of the claims is that for an individual to be subject to the law of the land, he/she must be a citizen (in the UK a "subject") and that because the birth certificate prints a surname in capital letters, he/she is not a citizen/subject. As such the laws of the land cannot apply.
The 200 or so people Stamp and crew persuaded to go to Court, now face huge costs.
In the meantime, Stamp and his "sales force" claim to be collecting £500k a month in fees. (Minimum fee is £3,000 or 1% of loan, whichever is higher).
The "sovereign citizen" route to avoiding the consequences of actions that breach the law of the land, has been in the USA for many years and to date NO CASES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
It now appears that Stamp and crew (who have a history of repeated business failures) are trying it here and as can be seen from the case in question, the High Court struck them down and warned other Courts to dismiss claims as vexatious and without merit. That means that attempting to being a new case risks the individual being in contempt of Court and facing fines/jail time.
These scheme prey on the desperate and vulnerable. The ONLY guarantee is that a criminal gets a fee.
If you are having issues around debts then there are some steps to follow.
First - speak to the lender. They usually have plans to help people/
Second, try Citizens Advice or Step Change.
If the issues is tax related, speak to the Low Income Tax Reform Group who will put you in touch with charity based tax services.
Third, NEVER engage with these people or those like them. |
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Thread | Worst ever Saints team?
at 08:30 6 Jun 2024
I put up a thread asking you for your best ever Saints team. Those players who you have enjoyed watching and would like to see together via a time machine.
Is it too cruel to ask for a team of those who made you cringe or cry out in frustration? |
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Thread | Best Saints team you've ever seen.
at 14:46 4 Jun 2024
Pick 11 first teamers and two subs based on ALL the players you've seen turn out for us. Mix and match players who are alive, dead, played once or played hundreds of times.
Aim is to have the best team we could have ever fielded.
We'll start with keeper and a back 3/4/5.
Later midfield and forwards - unless you want to do them all together.
For me (all more than 100 appearances)
Keeper - Shilton
Right back - Soares
CB - John McGrath
CB - Mark Wright
Left Back - David Peach |
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Thread | Reality v Russell
at 09:11 28 May 2024
First, RM did change the way we played (even though he claimed he didn't) for the Leeds game and it worked. It frustrated Leeds and nullified their best attacking options and for that RM deserves some credit.
Equally I thought KWP played Summerville out of the game and when he was subbed off it was all over for Leeds.
Second, I've said all season that I thought RM would stumble at the last and he didn't and we were indeed the third best team in the Championship this season.
Third, he seems to have gotten carried away in interviews after the game claiming that it was "his" way which got us there and that next season "his " way will be enough to give us a decent PL season. I have my doubts on both statements. |
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Thread | Push me- pull you
at 14:15 22 May 2024
I've been struggling with an issue here.
All season I've been saying that RM is, in my opinion, a few percent short of what we need in a manager to get us promoted. He missed out on a top 2 place of course but we are now literally 90 (or 120) minutes from promotion.
I very obviously hope that we win on Sunday but I do worry that RM will feel that he has been vindicated when in my opinion, he will have been lucky.
Lucky because the division this season has had few teams of any quality so his preferred style of play has worked. When we met teams in the second half of the season who had had a chance to work us out, we saw some real problems. RM's fixes for those problems (Captain Jack in midfield, inverted full backs, AA on the wing) have failed to convince.
He needs a Plan B and perhaps several players if we do win on Sunday and then will have a real test in the PL. I am not looking forward to that. |
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Thread | Lalana to Saints?
at 09:41 17 May 2024
Did I read the BBC right in that he is interested in playing one last season for us? |
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Thread | I've tried, but I can't accept it
at 10:23 7 May 2024
The latest statement from RM is something I should ignore and move on from - but I can't.
He seems to be saying that he should have credit for keeping together a team when "two thirds" of the squad wanted to leave and that getting to the playoffs was all along the master plan.
I'm calling BS on that.
A first team squad is what, 20 players, 22? Saying that 12 to 14 wanted to leave is literally unbelievable.
We know that JWP and a couple of others (Tino, Tella etc) were sold because the club needed the money, Did they express a desire to leave?
We know that some were not wanted (Tall Paul, etc)
We know that some clearly wanted away but I doubt that was more than a handful.
A better measure might have been to ask the squad after the run of four defeats early in the season, who wanted away?
I just don't buy the statement and I see it as RM trying to buy compliments.
Then to suggest that a play off place was his "plan"?!
With arguably one of the best three squads in the league and his "system", to suggest that he had met his target is either delusional or he's seeking to weight his annual appraisal.
To suggest that a play off place is "success" screams a lack of ambition and perhaps (dare we whisper it) a lack of belief in his own system.
I really hope that we win the lottery/playoff and get to the PL> If so, I hope the owners have a good hard look at the managerial set up and alongside some investment in the team, consider improving it.
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Thread | My invite to a season ticket in the Northam
at 16:42 1 May 2024
Has just arrived.
Standing - at my age - no thanks.
So my reward for having bought tickets in the Kingsland this season is an increase of 10-15% in prices; being next to the away fans; having to go a long way around the ground to reach turnstile F.
I fear that the disaster I saw against Stoke will be the last game I will see at SMS.
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Thread | Do we complain too much?
at 12:00 29 Apr 2024
Those of us who follow Saints at more than a casual level have this season been led to believe that promotion was something that the owners wanted (despite the fire sale at the start of the season), was something that RM was brought in to achieve (but we don't like his style of play), was something that with our squad and loanees, should have simply achieved.
None of the above have proven to be anything other than vague hopes and misplaced expectations.
The position of the owners is a mystery even now. Are we a feeder club or one with ambition?
The position of RM is more complex. We, the fans, do not like the way he plays but we are going to finish 3/4 in the table and therefore it works against most teams in this league. It does however seem to have left the players bereft of confidence at a crucial time and perhaps (who knows) he has lost the dressing room. I remain of the view that he is a 98% manager and when you need somebody to be 101%, he's not the man.
Our squad has always been short of at least three players and now, at the sharp end of the season, it shows. There are failings there which, promoted or not, need to be fixed.
The threads here have pointed out all of the above, time and again. We have not held back in our criticism of owners, manager, players.
We have therefore become a self fulfilling prophesy, predicting problems and frustrations and then revelling in them when they come true.
How many posters here? A couple of hundred tops?
How many season ticket holders? More than 30k at each of the last few home games?
We posters here are in a minority and whilst that may be balanced by the degree to which we "care" about the team and club, we will always be a minority.
Many relegated clubs, especially those who lose a lot of players, are mid table for at least a season. Arguably we have therefore exceeded expectation?
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Thread | A loss of confidence at the worst time - or a one off?
at 09:06 24 Apr 2024
The Leicester game was terrible (for us).
RM saying he saw a good match for 60 minutes? Really? Did he have a TV on the bench and was watching Arsenal?
One of the BBC pundits said after 20 minutes that it was like watching attack v defence and that the defence was in panic mode.
No organisation, no shape, no aggression or fight, no heart in the team to buckle in and make it a contest.
Is this is one off reaction to losing - not to Cardiff - but automatic promotion? Or was it just a one off as we are prone to (Sunderland away this season?)
My worst fear is that this is the players giving RM a message that they are fed up with his way of playing - and him - and as a lot of them will likely be away in the summer, they have nothing to win or lose at the moment.
Take that into the playoffs and we may as well concede now.
If the issue is that RM has lost the dressing room, I really hope somebody in management /ownership knows that and takes appropriate steps. |
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Thread | Desperate Tories - or tactical masterstroke?
at 11:55 23 Apr 2024
The UK welcomed around 37.000 immigrants last year who did not have permission to be here.
Rishi and cronies want to send around 2,000 to Rwanda - a year - as a "deterrent".
In order to do so he and his whips bullied and arguably overrode the safeguards built into our democratic system. His Gov't ignored Parliament and bulldozed this through.
At the risk of triggering the latent racists among us and in the hope of sparking a genuine debate, is this the right answer? Were the means to achieve that answer justified by the ends? What will be the next Gov't (Tory Party) v Parliament issue be? |
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Thread | The rest of this season - and next
at 10:11 22 Apr 2024
Short of an unlikely series of results, we're in play offs and stating the bleeding obvious, we will get promoted or stay in the Champ.
If we get promoted, we'll have enjoyed a day out at Wembley and be looking forward to some good teams coming to SMS. My feeling is that the club has no money for serious recruitment and that a stay in the PL will see us lose more games than we win and survival may be all we can hope for.
Perversely if we do get promoted the style RM likes to play will be better suited to that league but again, I think teams already there play it better than we do and we will need something a little different. I am no confident that RM can provide "different".
If we stay in the Champ (and arguably we are perhaps a year or two ahead of the plan anyway) then I fear that many of the teams mid table this season will be real contenders. At least three of them Coventry, Boro and Hull have teams that are rebuilds from previous seasons and if they are kept they will be contenders. Add in the three relegated teams and promotion next season is not a guarantee.
I cannot see the owners asking RM to move on and I can't see him departing for "better opportunities" elsewhere. We are the best opportunity he's ever had!
I would hope that the obvious shortcomings of this season are addressed. We lack players of sufficient quality in some areas and I think the game management needs to be improved. If we accept that that we will make a lot of chance, score few of them, then we need to stop letting goals in. That speaks to needing a new CB and a new system. Personally I'd like to go 3-4-3 but again, not the RM way.
I'd also like to see less BS from the manager. Absolutely understand that he has to say one thing to the media and a different thing on the training pitch but some of his statements are embarrassing. Saying we've outplayed the opposition but lost 2-1 is utterly pointless. He knows why we lost - not enough shots or shots on target - and that's what needs some honesty.
My view is that promoted or not, RM is here to stay and whilst I hope some new players will arrive, unless they do, we'll be here again next season.
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Thread | Consistently inconsistent - the RM effect?
at 11:48 10 Apr 2024
I could not make the Coventry game, but threads here and watching highlights suggest that Aribo had a good game. The Boro match I did watch and I thought KWP had a good game. Scrolling back through these threads other players have been picked out for playing well in individual matches.
Is it the case that players have one/two good matches and then relative ordinary games.
Or is it that they have a good game and then get dropped?
Or they have a good game and the following week half their team mates change along with the system? |
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Thread | Football commentators wind me up
at 11:28 5 Apr 2024
Players do NOT "win" a foul or penalty - the opposition commit a foul.
Some commentators are reinforcing the falsehood that simulation (or as I would call it - cheating) is part of the game. Kids know this.
I watched an U15 match recently (my brother coaches them) and one of the opposition was constantly going over at the slightest touch. The ref spoke to him - nothing changed. The ref spoke to their manager at half time (stood next to us) - nothing changed. The ref eventually yellow carded him for diving - cue outrage and many swear words from their coach and supporters.
The lad who was diving had clearly been told/coached to do that and it must have been frustrating for his team mates as well my brother's team that he was like Bambi on ice.
I wonder where he learned that what he was doing was acceptable?
(My brother's team won 4-0). |
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