St Louis

Mick?

Interested as to why you think Reed ‘got lucky’ with those signings? For me, it’s obvious we need to also be signing proven established players like those two during transfer windows. I’d say that signing those two, and them hitting the ground running and performing to a decent level, wasn’t ‘lucky’ at all, the complete opposite.

I wouldnt say it's Will Still 'supporters', I would say its not feeling like the time is right to give up and ditch him yet. And I'd say I'm one of those. Based on a few things... like the fact I dont think chopping and changing managers/coaches/staff/squad every 5 minutes helps anyone (we have tried that for the last 25 years!) I also think this club is properly rotten/cursed/demoralised (whatever you want to call it), and 4 wins in 50 games, 1 home win in 12 months, etc shows that, and that has been the case long before Still arrived. My main reason though (which is highlighted well in the video embed above)... is that we are creating LOTS of chances in games, and lots of big chances too. We are just not sticking them away, and that isnt Still's fault IMHO. If we werent creating anything, then I would be more worried. I dont think we will go up this season now (we may scrape playoffs if we can start to turn it around soon), but I also dont think we are anywhere near as bad as our league position suggests. Fine margins and all that, and a couple of those chances stuck away and we win those games and are right up there. I understand that the bottom line is that we need wins and points, so my patience will wear pretty thin very quickly if this carries on, but I want him to be given longer for now, probably to reassess at the next International break.

Sorry if already shared elsewhere, but I thought this was interesting and worth 10 mins of viewing...

18th!? We can dare to dream... 😉 Perhaps that lofty height can be reached on Saturday?

Weirdly, I kind of hope he does. I know he's looked less than great so far, but I dont want him binned forever just yet. I still hold a glimmer of hope that he can be useful for us, at least until Stewart is back 'fit'. I'd love to see him have a decent game and get a goal for us, we need all the attacking help we can get! My preference (like everyone's I hope) is that he can turn it around still and grow into the team/division.

I'd assume Bree was the one who wanted the move, and I wouldnt blame him. He clearly has a good relationship with Jones (and plays really well under him), and was probably promised to be a starter, which is something he never really had here. I wish he was still in our squad, but good luck to him.

I can't believe how reactive modern football fans are, whether its a manager or a player! On this page alone, after just 2 games we have people calling Roerslev 'Class', an 'Outstanding Signing', 'looks an absolute steal', a 'Superb bit of business' and will be 'good enough for keeping us up in the Prem if we get there!' But... just 2 games later he's apparently 'Absolute Shite', 'worse than James Bree', 'Can't defend', 'Offers nothing going forward', is 'worse than Sugawara' and is an 'absolutely awful player'. The bloke literally signed for us 4 weeks ago! 🤦‍♂️

You don't think they considered the jobs he did in Belgium and France then, and the reputation he'd built?

Downes… recovering from illness. Downs… you’ve written off the new young striker already? FFS

My GCSE artwork was of one of Jim's celebrations (cant remember which) 😂 Wish I still had it! All I remember of it, was how difficult it was painting the weird big Draper Tools scroreboard thing that was in the corner at The Dell (if anyone remembers that)!

Might have been the xG, so expect a 0-0 with so few good chances

I know for a fact that the academy staff generally rated Robinson as the better prospect of the two, and most likely to make the first team. There was a little surprise with how well Dibling performed as soon as he reached the first team. So its always hard to predict, as young players develop at different rates. I'm really excited about Robinson, I love his confidence and how direct he is. He already feels like our most exciting attacking player in the squad (admittedly havent seen any of the new guys yet), but its great that we keep producing them 👍

Sad but 100% true. There won’t be one player in our entire squad who wants to be playing for Saints (I’m not saying they aren’t enjoying it while here, but it’s not the destination they dreamt of) The Premier League is now completely broken too, where a player like Isak isn’t even happy to be at a huge club, with great support and in the Champions League! The modern day player (like most modern day muppet fans and media too) just want Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, etc. So boring! Give me the Championship any day.

Ward Prowse has just been made West Ham Vice-Captain, so I would assume they expect him to be staying. I know things change fast, but guessing Potter doesnt plan on moving him on.

He's been free to leave for a long time... The issue has been getting another club to take him!

I thought it was unreal that he said that the same 5-fold gap in revenue exists between Saints and the smallest/bottom League Two clubs! Just shows how awful the Premier League has become and how impossible it is to compete with the 'big clubs', that gap is just too big now. The Champions League has played a huge part in killing top flight domestic leagues (all over Europe). And a billionaire cant just come in and save the day anymore either, we need to generate our own new/bigger revenue streams.

Maybe while he doesn't have a club, we are allowing/happy to have him train with us and use the facilities. I'm sure he's a great influence around the place. Even if we weren't looking to sign him up.

Going by todays training videos, seems like Fernandes trained, as did some of the other 'injured' players THB, Downes, BBD... but no sign of Dibling (unless I just missed him). But the video clearly focussed on Fernandes a lot, just to let us know he's still here, so you'd have thought they'd do the same if Dibling was involved too (given the rumours).

He had a decent season and scored 7 goals (vital late ones too) the last time we had a season in The Championship. He also scored in the Playoff Semi and assisted Armstrong's goal in the final. So I wouldnt wish him away too fast. We dont have world class players tripping over themselves to join Southampton. He's probably on relatively modest wages too, wants to be here, came through the academy, etc. I would definitely have him in the squad. Personally I would keep him over Aribo for example, for all of the reasons above.

Probably the only player they could guarantee would still be here, and I'm sure that does come into the thinking with any club marketing. Its also a heritage campaign, and he's been here nearly 15 years. And I know he's often the scapegoat for many, but he is the captain, didnt have a bad end to the season, will be decent enough in The Championship, will always fight for the club, etc, etc. We dont really have a 'star' player or 'golden boy' anymore either, maybe Dibling if they were certain he would be here to wear it?

Did they reject any? I'm not so sure. I imagine we took whoever offered the most money/perks. Given that 'Midnite' are the new training kit sponsors, I dont think the club has made any stance against betting companies and taking their money (makes a pleasant change!)

It was more the ‘no doubt about it’ part I was intrigued by. But yeah, you never know, perhaps a ‘76 inspired kit? Well kept secret if so!

To answer my own question… The BBC commentary by David Coleman included: “Stokes… oh he’s put it in! Bobby Stokes! And there’s no doubt about it now!”

Am I missing something with the ‘No doubt about it’ part? I’m wondering whether it’s something a commentator said when we won the ‘76 Cup? Or am I overthinking it? 😆