Patches O Houlihan

Wrighty managed to name check Gerrard in the preamble - sorry!

If we can get Ross Stewart firing consistently then we could be in for a very entertaining season. He seems to have a great attitude, and was handy before his injuries came along. You suspect that his style would suit Will Still, and may work well in combination with Archer or Arma.

Would love Fernandes to stay, more than any of the others, and definitely build the team to fit his play. But English isn't his first language, and he's only been in the UK a year, and is still playing U21 football for Portugal > we might find that asking him to be captain demands too much of his attention and degrades the quality of his play. Ramsdale, Stephens or Flynn Downes a better fit for on field captain. Jack can stay as club captain.

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

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." --- "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." --- "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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

[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

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

ahhhh 😠

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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...