Pirates off the starboard bow. Home to Bristol Sat 5th April 3-0 'clock.

[Bertie Wooster]

I understand Santos has signed a pre-contract agreement with an Italian club. He’s been fit for a while but Schumacher is reluctant to play him because of his attitude in training.

Gethin Jones has signed a pre-contract agreement with an Aussie club but I think that’s common knowledge by now.

Shithousing till the end then.

Jesus mate. What's wrong with you?? This is a rumour (that may or may not turn out to be true). You can't wait to have a go at him can you..........
Its just so effing tedious....

I was literally before that suggesting he should be brought back in. Nobody knows why he’s not being selected but he is fit and available I'm told.

Whether this is true or not he won’t be remembered fondly.

He will by plenty, me included. Until this season he's been our best player over the previous 3 years or so.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

He will by plenty, me included. Until this season he's been our best player over the previous 3 years or so.

I'll always remember Rico fondly, with sadness as to how it soured.

[jimbo]

He’s been abused by our own fans, and struggled having been both rushed back from injury too quickly and made to play carrying injuries in the past 12 months.

If he has got a deal elsewhere for next year, I can understand why he’d be reluctant to get back playing now. A quiet 6 months is probably what he needs to get back to his full capabilities. I wouldn’t be overly keen on getting back out there now to risk him rocking up to his new club injured again.

Frustrating on our part, but I can understand it.

[The_Gun]

He’s been abused by our own fans, and struggled having been both rushed back from injury too quickly and made to play carrying injuries in the past 12 months.

If he has got a deal elsewhere for next year, I can understand why he’d be reluctant to get back playing now. A quiet 6 months is probably what he needs to get back to his full capabilities. I wouldn’t be overly keen on getting back out there now to risk him rocking up to his new club injured again.

Frustrating on our part, but I can understand it.

I’ve always been a defender of Santos, and agree that he’s been our best player over his time here. I also think that if you look at the improvement shown by JDC, Forrester and Johnston since SS has come in, it’s not unreasonable to assume that Santos would have similarly thrived with a reduced offensive responsibility.

However, if he has been showing up poorly in training and doesn’t want to play, which is speculation at this point, then that’s not on. Any player contracted to us should be doing their best to make themselves available.

[TANGODANCER]

Always supposing the rumours are true, that's the way it goes. The club looks after them through injury periods then off they go. Rico has been a real asset when fit, but loyalty comes with a price tag. Best of luck to him whichever way he jumps. Que Sera, what will be' again. Shame if it's true.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I suspect Forrester's injury means Schumacher will be asked specifically about Santos, and his answers will be carefully parsed and endlessly pored over.

If the speculation is true then maybe he won't play again - but then again if the speculation is true he's moving to Italy to be closer to London.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

[BWFC_Insane]

I understand Santos has signed a pre-contract agreement with an Italian club. He’s been fit for a while but Schumacher is reluctant to play him because of his attitude in training.

Gethin Jones has signed a pre-contract agreement with an Aussie club but I think that’s common knowledge by now.

Shithousing till the end then.

Jesus mate. What's wrong with you?? This is a rumour (that may or may not turn out to be true). You can't wait to have a go at him can you..........
Its just so effing tedious....

I was literally before that suggesting he should be brought back in. Nobody knows why he’s not being selected but he is fit and available I'm told.

Whether this is true or not he won’t be remembered fondly.

He will by plenty, me included. Until this season he's been our best player over the previous 3 years or so.

Disagree and I think personally we’ve seen in this run that whilst our defensive issues are far from all solved we haven’t missed him at all. Only in terms of the injuries and running out of options.

But in terms of best defence a properly motivated and fit santos would get in it but my issue is I don’t think that’s been the case for a while.

[irie Cee Bee]

Santos was forced by Evatt to be the focus point in his passing out from the back system which led to mistakes and giving up silly goals. God forbid if Forino or Forrester was asked to play like that. No wonder Forrester could barely get a game.

Would love to have seen Santos in Schuey's no nonsence defensive line. He has pace, is strong, and can defensively head and tackle. Only problem is that he seems to be a very sensitive man which can make you feel sorry for yourself instead of just getting on with things when criticized.

[BWFC_Insane]

Schumacher is the calmest boss I can remember us having since Rioch. Seems very in control of his emotions. Very cool on the touchline. Obviously the little puff out of his cheeks at the final whilst reveals a lot - he’s masking clearly but he’s been true to his word - calm in victory and defeat. I’ve appreciated his approach in both instances.

[Worthy4England]

Santos was forced by Evatt to be the focus point in his passing out from the back system which led to mistakes and giving up silly goals. God forbid if Forino or Forrester was asked to play like that. No wonder Forrester could barely get a game.

Would love to have seen Santos in Schuey's no nonsence defensive line. He has pace, is strong, and can defensively head and tackle. Only problem is that he seems to be a very sensitive man which can make you feel sorry for yourself instead of just getting on with things when criticized.

Yeah. This every day. ICB and I would add, for me, the scapegoat for the final v Oxford by the managers very poor tactics.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Schumacher is the calmest boss I can remember us having since Rioch. Seems very in control of his emotions. Very cool on the touchline. Obviously the little puff out of his cheeks at the final whilst reveals a lot - he’s masking clearly but he’s been true to his word - calm in victory and defeat. I’ve appreciated his approach in both instances.

Yeah, it's definitely a thing. In public, Parky was calm to the point of soporific but Schuey's definitely in charge of his emotions on the touchline. Also good with quotes too, quietly but clearly mentions things he wants people to know, like us playing three different systems on Saturday. It's a marked change from the garrulousness of his predecessor, regularly gabbling hostages to fortune. (How's that "nobody wll reach 90pts" prediction going?)

[Mar]

Santos was forced by Evatt to be the focus point in his passing out from the back system which led to mistakes and giving up silly goals. God forbid if Forino or Forrester was asked to play like that. No wonder Forrester could barely get a game.

Would love to have seen Santos in Schuey's no nonsence defensive line. He has pace, is strong, and can defensively head and tackle. Only problem is that he seems to be a very sensitive man which can make you feel sorry for yourself instead of just getting on with things when criticized.

Santos' qualities have probably dropped somewhat since his halcyon days. Not to say he shouldn't get another crack in the side, but I don't think we should expect miracles should he come back into the fold. He's a good player, we need those, so leaving him out just seems crazy.