Fitzhugh Fella

I know where you are coming from. I know its fashionable to mock the Scousers and they do irritate the hell out of me but imo they retain a modicum of sportsmanship (who can forget the Kop applauding when MLT turned Mark Wright inside out before scoring) and as you said the Sun boycott is a lesson to us all. Give me Liverpool any day over the insufferable Newcastle fans who think they got their club back when the Saudi bone saw boys bought them.

I think they just had a buy back as apart from a percentage from a sell on but I stand to be corrected.

Yes I agree - but its not imperative or crucial for us to survive (unlike last time we were relegated is my point). Like you I know from a playing aspect and a planning one too it would be nice to know where we stand with the season starting in 10 days.

Football is a predatory business with a dog eat dog, big fish eat little fish mentality. We are seen (hopefully incorrectly) as a vulnerable injured and stricken beast having been comprehensively relegated and vultures are circling looking for bargains. We should not get outraged. Fortunately we do not “need” to sell. No doubt SR know what they want for each player and if the buying club doesn’t stump up they will go without. We have to accept we are no longer a big fish however. No doubt we attempt to rip off League One clubs in a similar fashion. It’s a rat race football and it’s going to get a lot worse now the Saudi blood money is taking effect.

From the horses mouth. Lawrie told me he was on the verge of signing Trevor to partner Kevin Keegan from Manchester City on transfer deadline in 1981. Terms had been agreed and Francis happy to move but John Bond stalled (didn't want to lose him) telling Lawrie he couldn't find chairman Swales - and we missed the deadline.

Actually we have 11 days

Well said

So supporters must never criticise their ream is that what you are saying?

In a trench Stephens no contest. Salisu is brittle, temperamental and lacking in character. When he chooses he can be a fantastic defender but throwing tantrums when the going gets tough like it did last season means he is a luxury. We need leaders and Jack would be a candidate.

We have a lot of strikers but hardly any goal scorers

That’s because it’s all quiet on the incomings at the moment. Not getting rid of those who will inevitably leave (probably just before the window shuts) is harming our strategy I reckon. The window should open earlier and shut on the 4th of August.

Sorry to be a little political on a football forum but unfortunately sportswashing has meant football is now involved in politics. How about sparing a thought for the persecuted in Saudi and of course that poor woman whose fiancée was chopped up and then destroyed with a bone saw?

Disagree he would have fitted perfectly. He was never the bravest player and usually took the easy option ie turn backwards and play a sideways pass. Quick to blame others too if I recall. It’s funny how players get better after they leave.

Or selfish?

He always had an inflated view of his own talents though. He could play no doubt about it but was temperamental and inconsistent. His hissy fit now confirms this.

And as good as his great grandfather, Alf https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/alf-charles/

To be honest Southampton is a bit of a shithole and I speak as someone who regularly walk down Shirley and Portswood High Streets. Having lived in the town off and in all my life I’m staggered at the decline but a lot of cities in this country have gone the same route. But it’s mine and I remain proud to be from Southampton and I’m proud to be a Saints fan despite everything. I also very much welcome fans of the club wherever they live or come from. We need every fan we can get to counter the rise of Uber state owned clubs that are sports washing their way to financial domination. Anyone who “chooses” to support us needs a medal to be frank.

By mixing it up I mean the occasional long high hoof works (as long as you have a decent forward who has a bit of power). You still see plenty of goals scored via Route 1. Keeping the ball makes sense only if you have an end product or intention. Martin might be a great bloke and all that, he does come across well but I am not convinced we are going to be so taken in by the way he will set us up to play. I sincerely hope I am wrong, I really do because we all want to believe we have a bright future.

There’s no doubt Martin is erudite and plausible. He also sounds decisive and committed. But I remain concerned with his predilection with possession football and playing out from the back. Would prefer him to mix it up a bit at the very least. Dogma can be a weakness. We will know more after half a dozen games I guess.

Vardy off to Saudi Arabia apparently. A marriage made in heaven

We live in depressing times - open your eyes 😀

According to Fabrizio Tino is off for 12m

Next season they might withhold the fixture list for a laugh. Does it really matter? I suppose the answer is it’s always a good marketing ploy for selling STs to whet your customers appetites by a drip feed of info. For instance The Echo always did a photographic page of the players training the first day back (usually at the BT ground).

It’s quite something when none of us seem to know what day the players return for pre season. Nothing like keeping the fans up to speed.

I wonder come the season’s end whether RM as a manager will have a positive win over defeat stat.