suewhistle

How about SomewherenearTowerseySaint?

As a low level grass roots player I've often been frustrated with professional players' one-footedness, and there are plenty of examples (Che Adams anyone?), so I'm not sure extensive debate at this stage of his career with us is particularly helpful. I'm right footed but the best goal of four I scored last year was with my left from the edge of the box and that's because I didn't think about it; perhaps that's what Downs needs to do, or as Will Still said, 'overthink'. His movement is OK and that's half the battle.

That continues in a long Saints tradition of a crap game in the early rounds of the League cup against lower opposition. Followed often by a crap season.. I don't like to be negative but where are our goals going to come from with that forward line. I won't judge Armstrong today but Archer and BBD?? At least Ryan Fraser has strength and was trying which is always a saving grace and I suppose Archer was to an extent, but BBD? Our passing was poor, if we weren't doing aimless long ball, although perhaps WS was using this game as an experiment. We certainly need to keep or have somebody like Fernandes.

It doesn't deserve a thread of it's own but somebody above mentioned ABK in passing. Has there been any official sight or sound of him this pre-season; any video of him pretending to train? Can we palm him off to Eastleigh, or Sholing? He's certainly setting new records in the 'waste of space' category.

Yes, I seem to recall Dennis Hollywood's tackles finishing off quite a few players, again showing my age..

You could always go and watch the Rangers post match interviews..

I think somebody should confiscate Barbersaint's cutthroat razor, for his own good..

I'm in a mild state of Shakespearian era inebriation so am managing to avoid too much worry. Bench looks suitable for significant positive changes but I'm hoping Robinson avoids the need to be desperate and they can be used to add to a convincing win. Buzzy in the pub, let's hope we can maintain the positive atmosphere.

Trains are working! At least no engineering works on the Brighton line, I've checked every day for a week! 😉

I didn't see tonight's game but reading between the lines of the MBM I read it was poor performances all round, including the referee. No VAR so at least if we score we can look at the lino and then cheer without waiting 5 minutes for a debate to take place. I shall miss Glenn's VAR transcripts on L1-10.. 😉

I have absolutely no insight into the strategies of any of the parties involved, but if they were truly keeping him 'wrapped in cotton wool' he wouldn't have played that 60 minutes against the Brighton second team. Now that the season is actually starting we won't need to do as much time wasting speculation, which is something of a relief..

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/08/southamptons-will-still-ive-always-stuck-out-footballs-helped-me-integrate Another interesting interview with Will Still.

What's that in hands?

Which dressing room?

Obviously, like most commenting on this thread, I wasn't there..

Because hopefully we'll be back up and he'll be 3 years older and slower...

Maybe a better question on Stephens, and a polite way to express our disquiet (and they must surely know) would have been a question like "What was the rationale in giving Stephens a 3 year contract instead of 2?". ... and has he been to anger management classes..

I don't understand footballer valuations, but something is worth what somebody else is prepared to pay for it, so we'll see.. As for his contributions last year where people are being critical, I think we should recall a young Le Tissier who also didn't shine at tackling back. I can't recall the team Le Tissier came in to, but it can't be as bad and as badly managed as last year's shit-show, although I do remember Branfoot's decision to drop him at one stage rather being shown up. Maybe we all hoped for a little more from TD, but I remember the chuckles as he embarassed a few defenders and also the expectation in the crowd when he had the ball.

Yeah, it's near Slough.

I've just been researching where to watch the game in Torino, as that's where I'll be and my Italian friend hasn't a clue. Anybody got Che's number? I was hoping for an early night but just coming down now...

Maybe it's my inherent optimism, but the intensity of that training session session seems higher than those we saw under Martin?

I can think of one or two candidates.. We might even have the same ones in mind!

For all the talk of a cull, surely we have to wait to see who gets left behind over there..

.. yes, "continuing his transformation" might have been a better way to put it.

Well, that's my Saturday night out in Portsmouth shirt sorted then..