santolijador

Yep I was wrong - they have played 2 pre-season games so far. 4-1 against a much lower league team, and 0-0 with Girona

Should add, this is their first pre season outing of the summer And they just signed Thyrys Dolan (who I'm not sure if we were linked with at some point over the last few seasons? He isn't playing today tho.

Not a bad team for them. Their best player is on the bench (Puado) and there are some new players in that 11. Finished 14th in La Liga last year - were tipped for relegation early, but got out of that battle just after the turn of the new year. In summary, it's not a team of scrubs, but likely not their best team either. Should add - their GK last year was incredible, sold to Barça this summer. Dimitrovic is supposed to replace him, but a tall order

New GK coach making a difference already

I'm going! I live nearby and know a few Espanyol members, who have promised me a ticket. Interestingly it also says that if tickets don't sell out, they can be bought on the door. Might be interesting for those of us locally based ( @BARCELONASAINT judging by the name? )

Sat through all of that. First half was pretty dire and shades of last season. Hopefully the contrast between 1st and 2nd halves points Still and Spors in the right direction with squad planning. Quarshie looks imposing, and showed off his speed at some point, easily catching up and out muscling the Eastleigh striker. Robinson best player on the pitch over both halves. Matsuki looked tidy and grew into it, a couple of well blocked shots, but on another day might have had a goal (seemed to always pop up on the edge of the box). Dibling quiet, Edozie played as I think most of us expect him to play, Archer wasn't great aside from the finish for his goal. That all said, none of it matters as its the first match of pre-season on a sweltering day for players just to get some sort of match fitness up

I wonder if the club want to take a look at Matsuki in that role too - he is drifting about, up and down the pitch and looks fairly tidy in and out of posession

Norwich are spending a lot and, on paper, look to be a contender for at least the playoffs. They look to be spending well ahead of Sargent and Sainz going. One to watch under Manning. Dipping into the Scandinavian market payed off with Pukki as well and it seems that they fought off Ligue 1 and apparently UCL competition with Kvistgaarden

Every decent squad has a couple of older heads who have been through both the good and the bad times with the club. Whilst legitimate questions are rightly raised about his footballing ability and standard, he very clearly wants to be at Southampton and wants the best for the club, and by all accounts is influential in the dressing room. He came through our last Championship season as Captain and went through that playoff win. What remains to be seen is how he is used, and if he has learnt anything from the last dismal year in the PL. I, perhaps blindly, (although no reason not to) have faith in Still to, if Stephens does play and is shit, make changes accordingly to lineups and so on. He has said he wants to play 4 at the back - we have plenty of CBs with Stephens, Quarshie, Wood, Edwards (not counting Bednarek/ABK as they are likely off) for Still to rotate and react to performances on the field. I believe that decent teams need a couple of influential players - Jack having been captain will be close to lots of player and play an important, but intangible, role I'm sure. I hope this is why he has been extended.

Sainz will end up at a top division club, I've seen reports here in Spain that he is lined up as the Nico Williams replacement at Athletic Bilbao - one of the few players that they can actually sign with their transfer policy...

Armstrong to Norwich Sargent to Leeds Piroe to Saints. 🤨

Jos Hooiveld on the streets of Norwich during his loan spell there. He mentioned that he was very keen on returning to Southampton and playing in the Prem, despite it being clear to all of us he wasn't quite up to scratch, and wasn't too happy at Norwich. Very complimentary about Southampton though.

Nah, he's signed up til 2028 I think https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/josh-sargent-signs-new-contract https://www.transfermarkt.com/josh-sargent/profil/spieler/393325

Sargent is unrealistic I think (unfortunately). Saw him linked with Roma, and more recently Leeds. I think he will reunite with Farke for them up there, but I suspect he will have suitors in the top divisions around Europe before Saints. That plus the money it would cost, it doesn't feel realistic at all.