Ralph Booth

Quiet on the manager front. Have early targets now been ruled out? We’ve had a week head start on Boro & Norwich. So are we back to square 1? Are they negotiating for someone in a job? Int’national break affords time & Tonda can continue as interim of talks fail I guess #saintsfc

Thought Jander was fantastic today. Especially when Downes went off. #saintsfc

Real championship manager job frenzy now - for 3 of the larger clubs (assuming Edwards wants another relegation on his CV). With O’Neil unpopular with #saintsfc he must be a banker to go to one of his former clubs. Can’t see Russell Martin giving up his Rangers payoff. #ncfc #boro

Clubs usually have succession plans. I think Tonda Eckert was planned to be Still’s long term replacement. The opportunity has just come sooner than planned. Gives club real dilemma now. Promote 3 years ahead of time or go for experience. Go for experience I say. #saintsfc

Gone are the days of detailed succession planning for football managers - you shoot for who is available! #saintsfc if it’s O’Neil his playing career is irrelevant, what he does as our manager is all that matters. Have to back whoever it is.

Great night out. We’re still a bit of a mess, but luck & full on defending in the last 15 mins saw us out. QPR probably deserved a point. A win is a win. The last 25 should help galvanise the team. #saintsfc

It’s probably been choosing our tactics & starting 11 since August.

Doh !

Chat GPT based on my prompt of experience, immediately available, gravitas & history of improving teams - it’s Steve Cooper #saintsfc

Said we should persevere with Still. But I’m not sure what the game plan & set up was today. His interview with Solent was humble, honest & he admitted he didn’t have a quick fix for our situation. Clearly a clever & nice guy, but perhaps lacks the experience that improves & motivates. #saintsfc

Son thoroughly enjoyed his afternoon #saintsfc met Edwards & Quarshie, explored & played darts in Level 1 for the first time, bumped into Adam Lallana & watched the u21s play Madrid. Not a bad half term night out.

Plus I am sick of changing managers. Need some stability & consistency. #saintsfc

I don’t think Still is going anywhere fast. He stated once something like ‘the board want promotion ideally this year or next’. I think he has more time. Game management is on him, missing chances in games on players & perhaps training. Also needs to develop some team camaraderie. #saintsfc

Two poor sides. One that made subs to energise key areas going forward, the other took their best route to goal off & tried to shut up shop. Scrutiny & expectation of #saintsfc way bigger than ligue 1.

Promising start, followed by a capitulation in confidence… once they scored & grew in confidence themselves. Their attacking midfielders broke brilliantly & we don’t have the players off the bench to change games. Going to be a slog this year. #saintsfc

The main thing we need to change at #saintsfc is perhaps our expectations

#saintsfc came alive in the last 15 of the 1st half & should have scored at least one. Wasted chances continued but really the second half petered out through ‘death by bringing on midfielder after midfielder’ substitutions. 2 points dropped. Mid table.

With firing season upon us, I don’t expect WillStill-i-am to be going anywhere soon. He once responded to a question about promotion along the lines of, ideally this season, if not then next. With this season turning out to be a massive rehearsal for next year he’s board supported #saintsfc

Reading some posts from #ncfc fans on their way to Ipswich & in the pubs. Their derby whilst fierce & passionately contested on the pitch sounds much more fun than being bused to an industrial estate 3 hours before kick off #saintsfc our fault I guess - forced ours to be sanitised due to safety

Let’s say come end of November we are still mid table & off the pace, I think changing the manager is pointless. I’d rather stick & for once have some stability - Still will either learn & improve or his ‘adaptable’ style of play will be fatally exposed. Think we need to stick not twist. #saintsfc

I agree, I think Martin had personality and bonded with the team.You could see that in the training videos - the banter & high fives. Juric was devoid of it, Still also is pretty awkward. Those qualities really come into play when you struggle & lift the team. #saintsfc

We’ve had 2 starts this season, one in August, & it started again for us after the transfer window closed with lots of new players to bed in. Think end of Oct we’ll know if we’re mid table meh. Everything suggests we are but that’s 8 games post window. #saintsfc

Didn’t go today, but hear after Stewart subbed we were toothless. Made me think perhaps we didn’t fully appreciate the work & play Che Adams did in this league last time. Someone like him
Now battling up front whilst Fellows and Armstrong etc join in would make a huge difference. #saintsfc

Championship always been a bit anyone can beat anyone one, spread between playoffs & relegation not that big. Think this year there are many more evenly matched teams. Loads will have a chance of promotion in a packed field with no stand out teams. #saintsfc

Don’t have to particularly like golf or play it to enjoy the #rydercup the skill under pressure for these players today made it compelling viewing.

They say you can’t choose your family & the same can be said for who sits near you at the football. Not sure I can stomach another game if the bloke behind today sits there again. 90 mins of inane commentary & drivel. #saintsfc

Much more purposeful, more entertaining. Thought Jander was good, great engine. Didnt see why Boro are top of the league. Despite the positives we saw why we aren’t- 2 shots on target - draw was perhaps predictable before the game. #saintsfc

Sucker punch to concede that. But I think for once we are trying to play to our strengths, trying to thread the ball through or put it over the top to Archer & Armstrong. Promising stuff ! #saintsfc

£248 for my son & I to train it to Blackburn away. Just ridiculous! No wonder the coaches do well & they offer a good service. #saintsfc

Watched the ‘lowlights’ from
the Hull horror show this AM. Their players looked stronger & more determined. Wasn’t pretty or intricate- just simple, direct & committed. Teams will raise their game against us but I think rival teams think we’re a soft touch. #saintsfc