Patches O Houlihan

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Seems an odd statement to make then. Alfie seems to think that recent injuries could have meant we ended up taking more players. Possibly THB and Downes being injured mean we take Aribo and one of the cbs? 

If you don't make the statement then we appear to be reasonably keen to sell everyone/anyone. Make the statement and every sale will potentially earn you an extra £1 mill because you have made the player appear to be in demand by his new manager and current club

18 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

So as it happens the idea the squad would be some sort of cull was a bit overblown then. 

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

TBF it was Still who sort of suggested that. 

If you wanted to negotiate for the sale of Saints player from a position of strength you need to make the buyer feel that it is a distressed sale: If the player is left behind after a statement like this from the manager then you are negotiating from a position of weakness...

Koln Fans on Damion Downs. Most seem to be angry with the club for selling him - a missed opportunity

"He needs time and experience. The quality is there especially with the ball at his feet. Not really a Target Man. The potential is there and he has been improving and developing through out the season. Would give him some time and maybe someone with experience by his side."

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"He is a good striker, but he needs to work on his first touch. But he improved in shooting and dribbling. His finishing is very good. I think you will have fun with him."

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"He probably needs another 1 to 2 years to realise his full potential. Dangerous in the box and a very good shot. First touch and positioning in space could be improved, he also needs to learn to use his body better. Probably best as a 9 or single striker."

Sounds like having Ross Stewart and Adam Armstrong to work with might be useful

Looks like it was a Huracan not an Aventador, and braking won't be quite according to specs with a blown out tyre. But either way it won't have come to a complete halt before reaching the impact site.

 It seems that while speed will have been a factor, the road was also in poor shape locally. An older lady had to be cut out of her car in the same spot recently. 

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

Im sure the club will rectify it given previous comments but the lack of pace in the side is frightening. 

Quashie is blisteringly fast - literally the fastest player in his league last year (as a CB)

Archer is quick but runs in the wrong direction usually. Armstrong is quick and does know which way to run.

Dibling seems to have the burst of acceleration that can get him past a player to supply a cross or through ball. 

Downs doesn't look like a slow coach but I'll reserve judgement once we've seen him play.

3 minutes ago, swannymere said:

I look like Messi in edited highlight videos.

Ramsdale vs Bazunu is a big bonus though based on these assessments 

2 hours ago, Chez said:

"There doesn't need to be a massive overhaul, but there will be addition of quality where it's needed"

I wonder if Quashie and Downs are the quality where it is needed or that might be some loans closer to deadline day?

Here's a thought. When we played under Ralph we were pressing high. There were loads of occasions when opposition attackers would break clear and be 2 on 2 with our central defenders. In those situations we really struggled; but we did notice a benefit in having big/quick CBs - ie when ABK or Salisu had one of their occasional good games.

We know that Bednarek and Stephens look like a fish up a tree in those circumstances, and that THB is not quick, and not a standout performer in those situations either. Ronny Edwards is also not tall or quick. Have we bought a CB equivalent of Kyle Walker - a player who's physical abilities enable him to get himself and the team out of a jam when it all goes tits up?

"Standing at 6ft 5in tall and boasting explosive pace, Quarshie was statistically the fastest player in 2. Bundesliga this season with a top speed of 37.04 km/h." SFC

Will Still & Johnanes Spors are both fans of the high pressing 'Ralph' style

3 hours ago, Turkish said:

Just one issue with this is that playing for US now means he'll probably get a month off and not start preseason training until the season starts, which means he wont be fully fit probably until early October. 

But if he is playing in a cup competition for the US in July will he be cup tied?!

Crash happened at 00:30 in Spain - tyre blow out in a Lamborghini whilst overtaking. His brother (also a footballer) alongside him. 

7 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Not really ideal that USA are going all the way to the end of this tournament, will limit Downs pre season a bit.

But on the plus side if they win the tournament his confidence will be high, and adding a winner to a group who lost 30 league games last season has got to be a benefit

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

It isn’t risk free, unless he costs £0

 

[pedant hat on] ...and his wages, and he might be a bad apple and poison the dressing room. Won't someone think of the children?![/pedant mode off]

Choadie Shifter

2 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Did he like some spurs stuff on instagram too when linked to them? We’ve been trying all season to get him to sign and he hasn’t. My concern is does next season at championship level do anything to increase his transfer value, not sure it will. Plus he will have 1 year left next summer. If he won’t commit we probably need to sell this summer to maximise the benefit. Sad really.

He was a shoe in for Spurs right up until Thomas Frank signed on the dotted line... Dibling not his sort of player surely

stupid internet

On 25/06/2025 at 11:55, Gloucester Saint said:

Good question - is a player more dislikable for not being able to do what the club signed them to do for good money and wages - Wesley Hoedt, David Lee, Lee Todd, Gavin Bazunu, Guido Carrillo - when they are clearly ability-wise League One players (Hoedt probably Championship tbf but never PL in a million years) or is that the manager, DoF and club scouts who should take the flak and it isn’t the players’ fault?

Or are the players who are plenty good enough and have a dreadful attitude - Osvaldo, Lemina - the ones we should really dislike? 

ahhhh 😠

On 25/06/2025 at 11:55, Gloucester Saint said:

Good question - is a player more dislikable for not being able to do what the club signed them to do for good money and wages - Wesley Hoedt, David Lee, Lee Todd, Gavin Bazunu, Guido Carrillo - when they are clearly ability-wise League One players (Hoedt probably Championship tbf but never PL in a million years) or is that the manager, DoF and club scouts who should take the flak and it isn’t the players’ fault?

Or are the players who are plenty good enough and have a dreadful attitude - Osvaldo, Lemina - the ones we should really dislike? 

I think we should note that Hoedt falls very easily into both these groups... monumental bell end.

For me attitude is the cruicial one, otherwise you'd end up hating half the team for the last 8 years

22 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I suppose it depends who is making the signings, the manager or the transfer committee team.

Cant see anything going wrong if it’s the latter in charge still, see Orsic, Onuachu, Brereton-Diaz and Sulemana as recent examples. 🤣

We have a new Technical Director who gives the impression of not being a tit, and has a pretty good reputation. He has spent a number of months trying to improve things. Hopefully we will continue to sell for high prices and do much better on the recruitment. A few more Fernandes & Rambo type deals rather than some of the oddballs Sports Republic seem to unearth.

I'm well aware that the proof of the pudding is in the eating of course

14 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Great watch and thanks for sharing, really encouraging insight into how he works. He appears to have great man management skills and clearly puts everything into it. Agree with other posters this is the best video of them all, the suite of content on this guy is all looking like we have made a great appointment. Let’s hope that excitement and hope that this is going to work bears fruit this season. I’m certainly feeling a lot more optimistic the more I look into this guy.

That's three chaps who've really rated a YouTube video that has been taken down, and I cannot see the title of to search for it! What was it called? What was the theme? Does anyone have a working link for it?

17 hours ago, LGTL said:

Every time I get pissed off with another monumental gamble, I go back and listen to Julien Laurens. This appointment is too important to get wrong. 

Then read this article. Explains the utter shit show that Will Still has successfully managed since the January transfer window - selling both first choice CBs and goalkeeper/captain. I'm firmly onboard the Will Still train now.

18 hours ago, goodymatt said:

 

I listened to the 1h40m Will Still episode of the High Performance podcast a good while back - I know Turkish is a fan 😉 and suspected that he might end up at Saints at some point. The BBC seven minute interview with Julian Laurens waxing lyrical is also worth a listen.

I can't claim to watch French football so went looking for knowledgeable Saints fans who do, and found these posts. Hopefully they will add something to the discussion.

16 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

That really would be a case of ‘watch out, Beadle’s about’.

You shouldn’t be able to lose him at set pieces at that height.

According to wiki Taul Paul is also 201cm - one front post, the other at the back for corners would be an opposition defender's nightmare...

2 hours ago, ApprenticeBillionaire said:

That's my fucking point.

How are you not getting that?

I literally SAID the only worse scenario would be that situation.

Hence "Ken Anderson".

So apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system, and public health ... what have the Romans ever done for us?

Our stadium doesn’t have a stupid sponsors name.

Our kits are still broadly speaking the right colour

The owner is not involved in embarrassing business pursuits or practices 

8 minutes ago, ApprenticeBillionaire said:

Ownership cannot get any worse. 

They have made some spectacular screw ups. 
 

BUT - Saints finances are in pretty good shape, they haven’t racked up a load of debt, and they have spent plenty on players (just the wrong ones at the wrong time)

You don’t have to have a long memory, or have paid much attention to other English clubs to know that it could be a lot worse.