Patches O Houlihan

So to confirm you think we should be starting 18yo Dibling before starting 20yo Fernandes (Man of the Match last night) or 23yo Big Les who looks like exactly what we need in DM. I'm really pleased we have all of them, but for me Mateus starts and probably Les too alongside Flynn.

Aboukhlal had already fueled the lusts of British clubs last summer, especially Brighton, at a time when the TFC was not necessarily opposed to the idea of separating from it, a few weeks after the controversial episode of the day against homophobia. The semi-finalist of the 2022 World Cup then had a very consistent start to the season (3 goals in 5 L1 matches) before being the victim of a ruptured of a cruciate ligament in the right knee. He returned to the competition last March. Normally he is a right winger. But in the cup final that they won he played as a 10 and scored Toulouse's 5th We may have some issues with regard to misogeny and he's unlikely to play in our rainbow kit Although he plays for Morocco he was born and has lived his life in The Netherlands (Moroccan & Libyan parents) playing for the Dutch at Junior levels.

Fernandes and to a lesser extent Big Les were demonstrating the quick feet and one touch passing that is necessary to make RM's style work in the PL. JWP can turn his hand to it from time to time, but doesn't look like he's been brought up playing that way like these two do. The quicker we can play, the more effective the style is; the issue of course being that you need skilled players, or else accept that mistakes will happen. It's crucial that we have a midfielder that can get balls through to Archer/BBD/Arma/AN Other Striker/LND otherwise our game goes nowhere, like we saw against Forest. If we can afford it I would love to have JWP back. But I think a striker or tricky winger is further up the priority list.

😉

I agree the fullbacks had a good game, but we could do with Taylor getting a little closer to his winger to block crosses from coming in. Looked Ryan Manning-esque in one or two moments

He's clearly a great talent, but he and SAA looked toasted by the end last night, and their games suffered a bit on occasion. I would hate to see either of them end up injured through overplaying in their breakout seasons - like we saw with Lavia, Livramento and Broja. Too early to start them for me. But 20-30 minutes most weeks; that would be great. See how things look in Nov/Dec and then maybe some 60-70 min appearances.

Now this might be an issue. Bijlow as we saw from clips was nailed on be our specialist defensive shithouse. Now that his transfer is off, you're talking about restricting Jack to merely abusing our opponents from the touch line?! You're suggesting placing the weight of the housery responsibility on BBD's shoulders. Let's hope the core 1:1 training he received in Chile will shine through. We have also been linked with another potential deputy though, and without the weight of the Captaincy he could really focus on his wind up game.

What do you think of Daouda Traoré Fred?

I understand you're probably feeling gutted not to even make the bench last night; but pretty harsh to belittle the debuts of Big Les and Lallana.

All his touches tonight against Cardiff. Big Les bossing it. Lavia crossed with Wanyama - you love to see it

Big Les certainly did look tricky tonight. All his touches this evening by the look of it. May well have played himself into the starting 11 at Brentford.

Put me down for a riverside property on the Beaulieu river

McCarthy did get voted Saints Player of the Year 2017-18. Fraser Forster was nominated 2015-2016.

He set up Archer's first goal too. Exactly the sort of forward ball, through traffic, on the edge of the area that we were so missing at home against Forest.

Ran the show tonight against Cardiff until he was subbed off on the 60 minute mark - presumably because he will be starting against Brentford at the weekend. The game went very quiet for the following 30 mins. Dibling set him up nicely for the first goal, but there was still plenty to do, and it was sweetly finished. Knee slide to the corner flag scored a 5.9 from the Portuguese judge and suggests a player who may have scored once or twice previously. 😉 😁

Kostić apparently not keen to come, so potentially a left wing/LWB spot available for Wee Man; assuming Edozie is out on loan. Taylor of course has done ok so far at LWB.

Matty Fernandes has been a nailed on starter all week I think listening to RM. 50/50 whether Big Les gets a start for me. 4-3-3 means Archer between BBD & Arma. Thought ABK did ok, but he did misplace a pass that would have been deadly in the PL. Edwards playing 6 at the end when he was already knackered was asking a lot. On the face of it a frustrating game for him, but you could see he is a higher standard than Wood. If it hadn't looked like going to penalties I think we would have seen SAA & Tyler subbed off, as both were knackered, but as it was they were left on to take them. Turned out ok due to Bree's Thunder Bastard. They both look excellent but for the next few months I see them as subs to get 20-30mins per game so they don't wear themselves out and get injured. Glad Archer got on the scoresheet. Assists for Fernandes, Taylor & Dibling (2) COYR

We need to get that Colwill kid signed up this evening before leaving Cardiff

For a month or two yes. Much longer than that and the endless hairpin bends, slow traffic, and crowds of tourists might get a bit tiresome. Restaurants, views and watersports are good though. Yes your millionaire footballer pad will be lovely but there's precious little flat land around there, so neighbours will be close, and you'll want security to drive you in and out of home games, and likely to watch the house/family while you are gone. Organised crime is still very much a thing there, and I know this from first hand family experience.

I've been to Trapani. The main street is quite pleasant but I can well believe that sort of thing goes on: Most of Sicily is the same.

Naples is a proper crime ridden toilet apart from the monuments, and they suffer with earth movement as they are on a geological fault. Bin men are always on strike whenever I have visited, and the waste piles up on every street corner absolutely reeking. My wife took a taxi into the town centre and the driver suggested she take her watch off and put it in her pocket in case they were car jacked for it at traffic lights. The Italian economy is in a bit of a hole, and the southern two thirds of it don't get very much of the monetary pie. The grass isn't always greener.

I think he has reading between the lines of some of his video interviews since the playoff final

Alfie House confirming Alcaraz deal is done, and it does include Victor Hugo to Goztepe. Immediately above that in my Twitter timeline this: Not ideal...