Patches O Houlihan

Or JWP

Not Stephens then

Downes & JWP in the middle will be barefoot all game! Feed Azaz and there’ll be plenty of through balls to run onto. Maybe Archer to start on the left (if he’s still here) with Scienza as a super sub later on?

Ugly Inside on JWP suggests: "He will bring versatility to the squad as he is able to play either in midfield or at right back, hence the rumour that Mads Roerslev may be allowed to leave... ...I am told that it is a free transfer, West Ham are willing to terminate his contract in order to get his not insubstantial salary off the books and that he is taking a big drop in wages to get the deal done. I am told that this deal is quite near completion, but as with all transfers sometimes they don't get over the line for one reason or another." https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/66691/ I would love to have someone bossing the midfield with the build, speed and skill of Virgil van Dijk in his prime - but do we really think that player is available and signing for us after Thursday 27th August...

Is JWP an upgrade on Smallbone who was at the heart of our midfield that year for promotion - fuck yes. [Is Peretz better than Baz?! Watching that brought me right back - I'm still traumatised by watching that intrinsically poor positioning so he is never in the right place and can never see the shot being lined up]

We would have 3 blonde son-in-laws and a blonde wrong-un in midfield this is true ...but collectively they have nice hair 🙂

Part of the reason for the crab play was because we were not playing at the top of the division in PL. When crap attackers play against good defenders the passing lanes get closed off and so a forward pass isn't on. He's a smart guy - just like Azaz. I reckon the two of them linking up down the spine could be very productive: CBs feed JWP. He feeds Azaz. Azaz puts it on a plate for Larin / Scienza / Mumba. Do you remember the first game of the Championship season under Russell Martin? We beat Sheffield Wednesday 2:1 convincingly and they didn't get a touch in the last ten minutes. JWP ran the show that day. Playing for a Saints team that deserved to be promoted last season, against Championship opposition is not the same as playing for Saints in the PL when we didn't have a pot to piss in (relatively) Walcott's game relied on pace - but it had gone when he returned. JWP's game has never relied on pace - he's about guile, intelligence and stamina. He has the potential to be a James Milner and play into his forties. Plus when we get promoted to the PL I for one would love to see him take Beckham's record in a Saints shirt.

Tonight was shit - but it was less shit than getting humped at Gillingham under Russell Martin

Listening to Radio Solent - Blackmore stood in the tunnel still waiting for Tonda and a player to come out for an interview: Didn't things turn around in January after Tonda kept them in the changing room for 40 mins and gave them some home truths? I hope we'll be able to get the fire back in time for Millwall or our season could be in trouble. Need to make these home games count.

In fairness we also bought Romeo Lavia, Charles, and THB is that 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 turn out well?

No idea but I do know that he likes to shit on Woods

Stephen’s managed to block off Wellie and then usher Bowen through to shoot 🤦‍♂️

Is anyone else watching the Fast Show's 'Channel 9' stream? I'm pissing myself laughing! Looking forward to an advert for the Orgasmagismo and Chris Waddle coming on as a late sub 😁

THB was suggested as a potential signing on that KUMB thread for Wham - surely the club would be sensible enough not to contemplate that. Anther suggestion was Dibling on loan from Everton... and we know Saints is the only place he feels happy and productive.

Fuck the EFL and Live in a Shit Hole came through well on the TV feed. I felt there was plenty of opportunity to give the cheat chant back last week and this week. After all a sneaky handball, cynically taking out Scienza, or diving are all likely to have as big an impact in a game as our work experience lad filming with his phone 300m away...

and we sold the fourth best, and lost to a contract screw up the firth best...

Johansen dislocated his shoulder early in the season and didn't;t play agin until their last game. Stoke signed Bazunu and he was out injured for months from day 2. So they had a junior in goal for most of the season. Stoke looked pretty good before that.

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He's got a foot like a traction engine!

Great pass from Downes - not used to that from him

I heard that Long signed his contract based on being No2 Even he would agree that Ramsdale is a step up whilst here though

F**k the FA and the EFL How long have they had to think about it?!

321 must be some serious highbrow television then.

When I was four I found a Chelsea sweat band at the swimming baths, and mum let me keep it. I can't think of a better reason to support Chelsea than that.

The transfer window follows the same patterns every year... Let's say we have £10m to spend on one player for one specific position. As the window develops we end up in a situation where: a) We can buy 'Player A' for £9m four weeks before our first game OR b) There is a 90% chance we can land 'Player B' who is 20% better than 'Player A'. B plays for a club that needs to sell but they don't want to be sat on a pile of money for weeks otherwise they will overpay for his replacement. So there is a verbal agreement, but things are kept on the down low until Player B's team is happy that his replacement is secured. We then pay £10m for Player B. We had to be patient and B didn't get a detailed pre-season but we got a better player with greater potential for a lucrative sale at the end of his time with us. Or alternatively would you rather we bought anther BBD or another Scienza?!