St Louis

I honestly prefer everything about this league than the Premier League. It's such a strange paradox as we feel we need to get back to the Premier League to play the biggest teams and earn the biggest money, but its a league that is no way as enjoyable to be a part of as the one we are in. There’s literally nothing I miss about the Premier League… VAR, the non-competitiveness, the media love-in/obsession with the ‘Big 6’, plastic fans supporting teams the other end of the country, over-saturation on the TV/Radio, etc? I definitely needed a break, and am loving a little optimism every weekend. Surely Burnley, Bournemouth and others aren’t enjoying it so much this season. Yes, I enjoyed the Pochettino and Koeman years as we were Top 5-8 for 5 years or so, but always knew we weren’t big/rich enough to sustain it, as the vultures then took our managers and players. The same happened to Leicester, and will also to Brighton. I think part of why I am loving this season is it brings back the nostalgia of 80's/90's football for me which I absolutely loved, where the league back then was way more even/competitive. And we are again playing some proper clubs with proper fans (Leeds, Coventry, Sunderland, QPR, Ipswich, Blackburn, Norwich, Sheffield Weds, etc) with all of us on a more even keel, with similar budgets and loyal/local fanbases, I love it. Ive had enough of Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and now Newcastle, they bore me so much and the media make it worse. Part of me hopes the European Super League does happen one day (and their fans can all enjoy it on the telly) and leave the rest of us to it.

I cant remember the last time he had a decent game either. A very dislikable player who whinges and throws his arms around all game blaming others, certainly not a captain who would inspire me. I think he is one of their biggest problems. As for Livramento... wow, what a player he will be. Really pleased for him, I just wish we could have enjoyed him for another year.

He's basically the top scorer in the league, and is playing really well in his current role. His workrate, pace and finishing have been superb and scare the sh*t out of opposition defenders. Why would we move him back into midfield? And back onto the bench?? Why are we always so critical of our own players (I'm not saying you are being here @east-stand-nic) but if he was scoring these goals for someone else, we would be crying out for us to sign him in Jan! AA can (and does) play wide of a Front 3 anyway, so I think he could fit really nicely alongside Stewart. And I have a feeling we wont see much of RS for a while yet anyway, he's missed a lot of football and has one of those injuries that can recur if not looked after. I think its exciting to have options and a player in AA who is looking confident, lets not dent it again.

Absolutely no idea at this point. Its been so up and down, and I dont know which direction we will go next. But personally I cant find too much to complain about (with the results) in the last 5 games, and if we win this Saturday (which I think we will) then 4 wins and 2 draws in the last 6 games is more than decent. I'm not overly happy with how its gone so far, and I did expect us to be doing better, but I've felt a lot more optimistic over the last 5 games than I did the previous 5! This is such a tough league (I know Leicester are an anomaly right now). Even last night you had Rotherham (apparently dreadful) beating last years Playoff Finalists 2-0, and Leeds losing to Stoke (who we beat 3 weeks ago). I just dont feel the doom and gloom right now that many others do. I was happy to take a point last night before it started (and even more happy with the point given the way the game went), and get to rest a few for Saturday, and I'd still take that.

Who knows... but if we carried on at that rate we would have 93 points, so you would think so.

Nah, I genuinely thinks hes just sh*t, but occasionally looks a little less sh*t.

Surely Alcraz has only been picked on reputation (very promising youngster, etc) as it can't be on his performances (so far this season)? I personally really rate him, and thought he actually looked a better player in the Premier League. I hope its just a dip in form, and maybe this call up will bring his confidence back.

Do you mean Eddie Howe?

Good evening Russell... Welcome to the forum...

He literally said "Janny B"

You do know AArmstrong scored today, and as the only player who even looked like scoring for us? 🤔

I think you needn't worry about that 😂

When you just stop and think about that stat alone, thats an absolute disgrace. A team that has just come down from 11 seasons in the Premier League... to concede 10 goals to 1 scored... in just 3 games... with 2 of those matches at home... with 1 against a team that was 2 divisions below us a couple of months ago. Something needs to change drastically and fast, or we will be cast adrift from even the playoffs, we dont look anywhere near good enough. Even our 4 previous unbeaten games we weren't convincing.

I’m wondering the same… from Gran Canaria 🇮🇨

Is that not Arteta in his Everton days?

Whilst I'd love him to stay, I do think we often view these decisions with our rose tinted specs on. As well as the guarantee of Premier League and European Football, I would imagine he could add £50k - £75k a week extra onto his wages and a signing on fee of between £3m - £5m. He would also have a much bigger chance of making the Euro's if he has a strong season in Prem/Europe, where as he knows he has zero chance if he stays. There is also a much bigger chance that West Ham will be in the Premier League next season than Southampton. And he's also a Skate deep down.

It is... https://twitter.com/Dominos_UK/status/1687062309900779520?s=20

He’s 100/1 on Sky Bet

He has been in Germany for most of the summer, as per his Instagram Stories. Slightly odd as we havent heard anything officially why, and he isnt hiding it.

Yeah, probably 😂 I'd still 'argue' that Baz is better with his feet, but McCarthy is better with his hands (just). Not a high bar for either of them to beat though. Definitely a big problem for the season ahead.

But McCarthy knows how to save a shot. Not ideal really is it.

Because it isnt a Football Manager video game. Any of these players could be with us this season, deals collapse, etc at last minute and we would want them fit. And if we are negotiating to sell the stars, then the buying clubs also wouldn't want a player with no fitness or game time (and an injury risk). We also have a game on Saturday and start the season next Friday, we need to use the squad and not burn players out, they all need minutes, but not too many.

Left Back (or LWB) usually, but cheers 😉 He definitely looks useful and all comments from other Championship fans (and Swansea) in particular sound very positive.

Is the game on Facebook too? As don’t think you can Chromecast to TV from the Saints site.

I grew up in Andover in North Hampshire through the 80's/90's and the vast majority of kids at school supported Saints. You'd still get the odd muppet who supported Liverpool, Man Utd, etc, but most of us were Saints. My Dad is an Andover man too and was on Saints books as a kid, and he has supported them all his life (he is in his 70's now), and he took my brother and I to games from mid-80's onwards (it was only a 30-40 min drive to The Dell) and I've been hooked ever since. I couldn't feel more passionate about the club if I tried after 40 years of support, but I do agree that its slightly odd that I dont know the city that well, dont really have an affinity with the city (other than Saints), but adore the football club (although they've tested me these last few years 😆) There are a lot of people in Andover like this. I now live in Bournemouth and have The Cherries just a 5 min drive away, but we still attend Saints matches, as do my kids now and hopefully they will stick with Saints (and not their local team, Bournemouth) as they grow up too. When I moved to Bournemouth around 2005, you would see more Saints shirts than Bournemouth, but that has now changes as people here have decided to support Bournemouth now (I wonder why!?) I think Saints are quite a rare 'city' club, in that there aren't many clubs nearby competing for the support, so we have a decent fanbase in Andover, Salisbury, Basingstoke, Winchester, New Forest, IOW, etc and I love that about the club.