Patches O Houlihan

On 12/07/2024 at 07:28, Harry_SFC said: Especially given our fixtures over the first month or so - potential winnable games that we can't afford to waste. On 12/07/2024 at 08:32, Patches O Houlihan said: So would you rather we followed up Newcastle away, with Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa away, so that we can afford to make a slow start?! But you also end up in a position of being on zero points going into match day 6 - so even if you're playing Ipswich at home there is massive pressure on the players; a few missed passes and after 15 mins St Mary's has the same toxic atmosphere that it had for the last few prem seasons. We lose, its October, and we're still on 0 points. All the good players tell their agents they want out in the January window... The reality is that we are far better with a season where all the 'miracle win' games are scattered evenly alongside the winnable ones so that you can balance momentum and positivity against the likelihood that we're going to lose maybe 50% of games. It's actually something that I'm pleased about; our fixture list seems to be fairly evenly spread with the exception of the last few games being particularly tough. Anybody who's had much practical experience of negotiation knows that it is all about power - the reality but also the perception. Without overwhelming power in the market we will play the same transfer game as everyone else. Which means that 'easy' transfers get done first, and the competitive transfers for the players we really want (that everyone else is interested too) take a long time to play out. The reality is that if we really were able to get all our transfer business done by the 3rd week of July allowing the whole squad to train together for a month before the season starts, yes we would go quite well for the first few games, BUT everyone would be moaning when they see all the cut price last minute sales and loans that happen in the last 2 weeks of the window and that we don't have the financial room to take advantage of. As with so much of life you can't have your cake and eat it.

That's the spirit! Lets show the West Ham lot that we can bring a negative attitude to games better than anyone in the prem!

So would you rather we followed up Newcastle away, with Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Villa away, so that we can afford to make a slow start?! 😜

Emergency over. SaintsWeb's resident rainbow knight Turkish can stand down. Minogue minor apparently bats right handed but appreciates the efforts of switch hitters

Can we just let ourselves dream for five minutes before accepting reality... a midfield of Downes, Camara & Matt O'Riley!

Minogue sisters as a classic 'big woman, little woman' partnership?

Paul Mitchell moves to Newcastle - article features Les Reed talking about Saints recruitment

in those circumstances I may not last 10 minutes 😉

Are you dissing Kylie's ability to play as a 6 or an 8?!

Maybe we're signing him for Goztepe? Like we did Lis

25 & 27 > Close but no cigar 😜

"Southampton and their south coast rivals Bournemouth are considering whether to offer Demarai Gray a route back to the Premier League less than 12 months after he joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, GIVEMESPORT understands. The 28-year-old winger headed to the Middle East from Everton last summer to link up with Steven Gerrard, and has gone on to score four goals in 25 appearances. Although Ettifaq are yet to receive any official offers, that could change in the coming weeks as Southampton boss Russell Martin and Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola have both contemplated whether to make a move for Gray, who still has three years remaining on his £94,000-per-week contract. Turkish side Galatarasay also hold a serious interest and could pursue a transfer, having missed out on Rafa Silva to Besiktas." Where are we finding the money for this deal? Or is Saudi so shite that the player will force it through no matter what?!!

and people have been doubting our scouts

Supporting Smallbone & ideally Longstaff in midfield

⬆️ This We really need a left footer on the left. 1) Shaw & Foden 2) Shaw & Gordon 3) Trippier & Gordon 4) Saka LWB & Foden (Maybe?) 5) Saka on left & Palmer or Foden on the right? 1) is what Southgate wants but is dependant on Shaw's fitness 2) Would probably be really effective, but politically difficult because you'd not be starting Palmer & Foden. (Is Gordon fit?) 3) If Trippier's not seriously injured this is what a brave Southgate might do. But he's shown little bravery since the tournament started. 4) If Trippier is injured and Shaw not fit this is what I think Southgate will do.

It was you who used it. Road sweepers and violinists was what Lawrie Mac used to refer to. You need both.

BBC iPlayer Link to last night's highlights. Watch from 38m30s - Analysis of how the disciplined Spanish midfield trio operate. Rodri sits, but when he comes forward one of Pedri or Ruis covers for him. Rodri is playing the 'water carrier' Rice role. You remember - the crucial 6 role in most teams. The one played by Lavia and Flynn Downes - and notably when they didn't play we would usually get humped.

So Palmer & Bellingham who have had free roles up to now are suddenly going to offer you the discipline of the Spanish midfield three. Bellingham is going to play as a 6 and not a 10? As an attacking right wing back you'd chose Walker, rather than have Walker play as RCB and have TAA outside him? Who's playing as the target man and who is the support striker in your team? Dunk and Saka are first choice defenders in your plan.

Are you smoking crack?! That midfield!

RM did try to sign him to Swansea, and they describe a player with his head on straight. He's just played the season of his life and not been picked for the Euros because of the standard of the league he's playing in (and also potentially because he's too creative and too young for the Danish manager) If I were him I'd want to continue that run of form and join a team where I would play more often than not. He's 23 so likely another big move before he hits 27/28. I'd say we are favourites if we have £20m + add ons available

Reading their forums its VVD / Wanyama level

Yes - that's why I quoted the article. More Celtic fan forum discussion here. Apparently he won man of the match in a Champions League game playing as a 6. So he has proper defensive midfield ability too.

Links to London might give us the edge over Atletico Madrid or Roma (?!!)

Matt O’Riley speaking in Sept 2022: “Russell Martin is the one who I am still in contact with the most. He was a big influence on me at MK. He's the first manager to really understand me as a player and more importantly as a person.” Full article worth a read Celtic Fan Forum MoR thread - discussion about Saints & Denmark squad