Patches O Houlihan

...and Manning was starting behind Welington at the start of the season

This looks good to me. With Archer & Scienza coming on for the last 25 mins or so when they are too tired to kick our players up in the air any more.

You can easily imagine getting fed up with the rigidity of German training regimes when you play with freedom like this. Will Still is known for telling players to be themselves, simplify and just do what they do best, within a loose framework, so that, plus PL potential and to play in a team at the top of a league rather than the bottom may have been why we have been able to sign him. I think this season is going to be fun https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-7p_Xnpzd4/ (Video above of training ground/lower leagues is worth a watch just to get a sense of his playful playing personality)

So for you a city is coastal if it has a salt water planning regime. For me I discount a city as being coastal if it is has rivers on both sides and shipping has been 'constrained by draft' and 'restricted in ability to manoeuvre' for more than half an hour before reaching it. I'm happy to get back to discussing transfers if you are.

No need. I'm done. We're into semantics.

So where does the coast finish as far as you are concerned?

Firstly these are shoreline management plans that employ coastal erosion techniques and methods on the shorelines of the River Test and the River Itchen. Even if you are talking about the Ocean Gate terminal at the southern tip of the city it is still flanked by the Rivers Test & Itchen; as mapped by the Ordnance Survey which has its head office in Southampton. Secondly the plans you refer to are still employing these 'coastal techniques' at Woodmill Lane SO18 2JR approximately 3.5 statute miles down the River Itchen from the Itchen Bridge. Thirdly: Coast = where the land meets the SEA not a RIVER. If you asked an Oceanographer to name all the seas and oceans you wouldn't expect to see Southampton Water listed. The edges of Southampton Water are shorelines not coastlines. @suewhistle would you like to check my homework please 😉 Note: I'm aware that the screenshot definitions are Wikipedia. But you'll find the Oxford English Dictionary supports these definitions and there doesn't appear to be a comprehensive free access dictionary of geographical terms.

Watching that game back - we do really miss having a Romeu

McCarthy Bertrand Yoshida Bednarek Cedrick Romeu Højbjerg Ward-Prowse Michael Obefemi > Redmond Che Adams Danny Ings Is there an argument for starting McCarthy - he made some good saves. With so many newbies I'm glad that this is a home game so we don't have to bed them in at that shit hole

Please tell us that with your username your name is Ian, and you are an accountant with the correct figures at your fingertips 😁

Interested to hear what might indicate a 2-3 point deduction. Would you say your squad is stronger or weaker now than the one that was promoted as Champions in 23/24?

Normally I'd be more willing to consider 3/5 at the back. But in this game having not played it for a few years, at home, with our squad versus theirs, and 30,000 Saints fans paying very close attention it would be a brave manager willing to start the game with a defensive formation.

So what you're saying is we've loaned the new Juan Larios?

Maybe it was baby steps - he wasn't arrogant enough to try to hold back the real sea on his first go?

Is London on the coast? Most people would say no - and yet the Thames in central London is definitely influenced by the tides - that's why Teddington Lock was built, which marks the change between the tidal river and the freshwater upper sections. In fact by that Britannica definition the Oxford & Cambridge boat race would be a coastal event... I think we're both in agreement!

So you'd stick with 5 at the back?

Imagine if Ricky, Adam, Jose et al had been relegated immediately - it sounds like that doesn't it

It's worth clicking the link to have a read of Ipswich fan comments: "The ownership have had a smell of the Premier League and will replace anyone to get back there and stay there no matter how much we love the player, how much the player loves the club and no matter how much that player has done for the club. Different game now, sad to see" Chappers isn’t Premiership class that’s no doubt but if they want to get back there he’s just the sort of character we need at the club. 4 right backs no left back cover and no right sided CM cover is hugely concerning"It might turn out that we've played a blinder, but for a lot of us this was easily the best Town squad we've ever seen, and we've voluntarily torn it up in the space of three windows. Can only hope the newbies step up" "When Norwich yo-yo’ed in 20/21, we kept the vast majority of those who got us promoted two years before, and only improved in a couple positions. Beyond the emotional element, are you lot worried about the effects of losing this core?" "Some people say it’s progression, but unfortunately this isn’t we’ve got rid of a really good player fact we’ve got rid of lots of good players and not brought many better players in sad days"

😁 I'm sure he was given plenty of opportunities to sign a much more lucrative contract over the last 18 months

"Small pebbly beach located at the mouth of the River Itchen." [not English Channel 😜]

Someone did a search about Will Still's particular favoured style a few days back (sorry I forget who or where). Apparently besides through balls in behind he is a fan of crosses from traditional wingers - but cruicially played on the floor, not in the air - so either pull backs or played a little early and still with a little forward angle. This is why he wanted quick front men, and our box to box midfielders might fancy that too. Archer, Downs and Arma could all be classed as reasonably quick in this league, and Nessie is there to change up the style.

Not 'proper' Southampton either is it! (on dangerous ground here!)

I have a degree in Geography from the University of Southampton, and have worked as a professional seafarer for more than 20 years. You'd best bring your 'A' game to this discussion!

It's up an estuary (Southampton Water & the Solent) - just like Exeter is. That's why you have to drive a distance to have a nice walk on a proper beach or cliff

Strictly speaking Southampton isn't on the coast either