Patches O Houlihan

I'm hoping that we see the really strong solid guy who reads the game really well sitting in front of the centre backs with Jander and possibly Downes to do most of the running for him. [both have a good engine] He won't have forgotten how to pass a ball or spot an attack developing and hopefully he can be empowered to communicate that message amongst his team mates - like having a coach on the pitch.

You got there before me 😁

For those who haven't seen it. Posted 4 days ago: Half hour interview from 6:00m to 36:00m. Starts with highlights of our comeback win against Inter where he set up Virgil via the crossbar

Scienza and JWP fighting for free kicks. Manning shouldn't get a look in

Imagine his positive advice and influence on Shea Charles and Casper Jander - never mind the rest of the team. This news has really cheered me up.

Well done. I know that was hard for you 😉

I didn't think we'd see signs that SR 'get it'. But this might be one. For me he gets the Captain's armband within a fortnight.

Deal done yesterday it would seem

Can't you be cheerful or positive about anything? Isn't there already plenty to be cynical about?

Were we being softened up for it with that interview last week? 4-1-3-2 / Diamond With Romeu as the sitting midfielder. That could work

https://talksport.com/football/3693451/patrick-vieira-sacked-mario-balotelli-genoa-arsenal/ Viera chat

What about Patrick Viera? Has just departed from Genoa by mutual agreement as they are bottom of Serie A nine games in, and the team are getting booed every game. He managed them to promotion last season. Tonda Eckert was his assistant for part of that promotion season - get the old team back together but to get Saints promoted. Knows British football Respected as player and manager Currently not such a huge superstar he wouldn't talk to us (?) Would make Spors look farsighted potentially. Doesn't fit SR's usual manager mould which even they must admit isn't working Ballotelli doesn't like him - so it would seem he doesn't suffer fools

https://www.streameast24.com/live/england-championship/match/southampton-vs-preston-north-end/6905a1e16168b60d02d768a1 This works but quality is crap

The question was why didn't he start the season in the team? - not why hasn't he played recently

Speaks really well. Will be gutted if he leaves before we’ve seen the best of him.

He has little time left on his contract and older. So there’s an argument it’s better to build a team for the Prem with younger players. BUT - Sports Republic also get the benefit of adding value to those young players and so will sell them off before we really see the benefit… Also if the plan was to sell him he might have done easier training for the last few weeks of preseason to avoid a badly timed injury. So might not have been fully up to speed fitness wise.

Have you ever been parachuted into a disfunctional team as a manager and had to turn around the workplace mentality? I have. It was one of the hardest things I’ve achieved in my career - but they were only a team of 3, and had only been together 4 months. Imagining that he could turn around Saints whilst being asked probing questions by the press for 20-40 minutes per week without ever mentioning anything that happened prior to June is quite a big ask

We haven't seen movement like this to make a header this season

There's our Stewart replacement. McCarthy Mads Wood Quarshie Manning Jander Downes Fellows Scienza Armstrong Bazunu

Armstrong / Archer / Scienza / Jander / Matsuki / Jelert are all short players - when everyone is clamouring for a 'strong spine' this might be the reason why he hasn't featured more. Azaz, Fellows and Flynn Downes are all bigger players and Jander/Charles seemed to do a pretty good job together.

The problem with only buying <23 potential is that the good ones get sold quickly and the crap ones hang around. The only senior ‘leadership’ players are former manager favourites, or journeymen. We don’t have a Fonte or Romeu right now. I’m also wondering if the bid/offer spread is more favourable for lightweight small technical players than for big solid bruisers: Would explain why we have been Son In Law FC for ten years.

Someone on here just after the end of the window suggested that he was a Will Still pick - SR had bought their ‘investments’, Still couldn’t see a match winner and was persuasive enough to push the deal through. I don’t know the source for this. He definitely seems to be the type to take responsibility, roll his sleeves up and get stuck in - but because he is talented it is often very positive. Have loved watching him since I was first told we were just watching another Steve de Ridder video against shit oppo.

Ralph's style works when you have a pre-season to train it, and nearly all the league will play attacking football against you. But that's not the case right now - particularly if he triggered a recovery of sorts. Also the players are clearly in a shit state, and it would seem that Ralph led a very divided changing room based on interviews that have come out in the last year or so. I would rather remember the good times I think