Fabrice Fernandes no.1 fan

Probably means nothing, but in a clip of training today the club have posted, there is an 11-man drill with a team that could easily be the first 11 for Saturday (albeit with a different keeper as Harry Lewis was involved) McCarthy Livramento Bednarek Salisu Perraud Ely Diallo Romeu Djenepo Redmond Broja Wouldn't be my choice of team, but would be intrigued to know why that 11 would train together when it contains so much of the first choice 11 of Ralph

I wasn't asking you, I was asking Turkish, hence the reply to him, but thank you. Which poll are you referring to here, I haven't seen a poll regarding the increase in racial tensions caused by the taking a knee gesture so would appreciate you directing me to it.

My personal view is that the action of players and staff taking a knee before each game is a positive and beneficial gesture. This is for the following reasons: 1. It has created a better dialogue surrounding the issue. Previous gestures and campaigns have been present, but often overlooked by the mainstream media. For example, the "Racism ain't Saintly" campaign, which many will be familiar with, gained little traction. This gesture of taking the knee has opened the dialogue. Now, more than ever, people are discussing the issue of racism within football and the ways it can be addressed and minimised. It has drawn attention to the topic and that is a positive. 2. It has raised awareness. Yes people knew racism existed before (both in society in general and in football particularly) but there is now a more open understanding of the racism players are facing. More often than previously racist comments online are being policed, racist chants are being condemned publicly and the stories of players being racially abused are being told. I understand if you were already aware of racism in football, then this may not have made a difference to you personally, but for some this will have. 3. It directly calls out and condemns racists. That in itself is something that makes the gesture worthwhile. You say that the gesture has "increased racial tension". I would like to please know why you think this? Racial tension was already a problem long before players started taking the knee (the abuse Sterling has received throughout his career highlights this), and has been for generations (only today the BBC are running a story on Laurie Cunningham which details that, as one of the first black players to represent England he was subject to racist abuse). Taking the knee will not end racism in football, and no gesture could ever be expected to do so, but it does about a conversation regarding an issue in football and society that does need dealing with.

Been going to games since the move to St Marys, so MLT just misses out as I never quite saw him in person! Niemi Clyne Fonte Svensson Bertrand Lallana Schneiderlin Oakley Tadic Lambert Beattie

1) We haven’t won any of our first 7 games, so maybe we could be doing something different, and the balance of our midfield seems to not be working in my eyes. We often end up with Romeu on the ball near the opponents box, which isn’t his strength. That and the gaps between the wide/attacking midfielders and JWP and Romeu has been frightening at times. 2) factually correct, but that doesn’t equate to him being a leader/organiser. He leads by example, but not in the same way JWP and Stephens do in terms of vocal leadership on the pitch

2 weeks to work on how we fix the midfield to stop teams being able to play straight through it! I’d be tempted to try a 3 of Romeu (sat in) with Diallo to his left and Armstrong to his right. Romeu to play more as a blocker and to then just give the ball to the others to progress (think Wanyama in his first season with us) We do need someone to step up as a leader with both JWP and Stephens out, Salisu seems vocal so hopefully he steps up now

Agreed! I thought that is the kind of save that Forster usually makes but Macca doesn’t, so if he can keep some shot stopping form for me he stays as number 1

I understand what you mean about the possibility of using an outright positive message, but the club does that with its support of Pride and the Rainbow shirts (inclusivity based marketing). This seems to be aimed more at addressing the issue of homophobia, so needs to be anti-negative. It is seeking to directly confront the homophobia that does exist in football and society by addressing it directly. Perhaps the club should take your advice and put a second mural in place, elsewhere in the city, where it is positively reinforces the inclusivity of the club and city. Shall I write to the club on our behalf and let them know? As to whether the mural "resonates with the intended audience", I am glad to hear you've checked with the designer as to their intended audience, and then also polled those individuals to see how much it resonates with them. Perhaps you could enlighten us all as to how you've reached this conclusion. Having seen your discussions with other forum members on other posts you have asked for sources and factual basis for their opinions, so surely you have some here?

That bridge has needed a new coat of paint for a long time, glad to see it has been done, and with such a positive message and design! Good job Saints

Felt like everything was either hitting the first man, or clearing the entire box, the middle ground where it would actually be dangerous seems to have vanished from his repertoire!

This is the sort of game we should win- against a similar level of team at home. My team would be: ------------McCarthy Livramento Bednarek Salisu KWP Ely JWP Romeu Tella Armstrong Adams Get pressing early with the front four high up the pitch

Good thing that is Chelsea's record not ours then 😉 Not the best draw, but one of those games where if they put out a weak team, we could manage to get a result! Looking through the fixtures for the next round not very many exciting matches.

The promotion of women's sport is positive in my opinion, makes it far more accessible for those who are interested compared to a few years ago and still is nowhere near the coverage of men's sport, even at a much lower level. If the accounts are joint that just means people who don't care can skip over the content that doesn't interest them. For those of you who find this confusing or annoying, it only takes a second or two to realise and move on, as I do for quite a bit of what Saints tweet (I'm not particularly bothered by ex-players birthdays for example!). The tweet causing issue above is from the SkySportsWSL account- which is dedicated to the Women's Super League. Also, Spurs haven't had a player called Williams since 1905, so if you had a basic knowledge of their squad from the recent years it seems pretty obvious it isn't a flashback style video of a men's game. Not sure how much clearer that could be while still giving the key details that Williams had scored for Spurs against Man City, in the Women's Super Leauge. Just because you (plural, some of the above commenters) specifically aren't interested in women's sports, doesn't mean it should be excluded from social media and mainstream sports apps and news outlets.

This is essentially a free hit, we can't expect to really get anything from the game but we have surprised them before! If it were my choice team would be: McCarthy KWP Stephens Salisu Perraud Moi JWP Romeu Diallo Djenepo A Armstrong Thinking being, Ralph has used Diallo as a "10" before in parts of games, and he offers solidity. Tino and Broja are obviously talents, but we need experienced heads this week, and the thought of them coming on after 65/70 minutes against tired legs is very exciting compared to the option of Long and Valery! If we revert back to 2 up top, would rather see Adams back in, than others, as he holds the ball up very well, which we will need as we'll have to work bloody hard to have it in the first place.

The anger in Jos's face, and all those around him practically forming an angry mob, because we only finished second that season is clear to see... Adkins was a quality manager for us, got us to where we wanted to be (the promised land of TV money), and was replaced by Poch because he was seen as being the next manager to take us to where we wanted to be next.

Excited to see if the youthful pairing of Leandre Griffit and Yoann Folly can step up Hopefully we come out fast and get pressing early. Still happy for Adams that he is able to play international football, but looking at it now it would've been nice for him and A Armstrong to have 2 weeks with Ralph working on pressing triggers and automatisms.

The thought of KWP at right CB gives me flashbacks to the years of Clyne and then Cedric being beaten by a header at the back post!

Turned my Saints 2021 Calendar to September, and of course it features Danny Ings' knee slide against Portsmouth. Such good memories of that game, but having to look at his mug every day for this month is not appealing. Have we ever had a calendar where we've actually still had the players in the later months at the club by the time we've got there...

Had a row of 5 behind us in the Itchen, they didn’t think they had much to celebrate, kept talking about how useless all their players are! Really enjoyed turning round to them with a big grin, all sat down when Adams scored

Can't see any reason why this would be a negative. It raises the conversation of inclusivity of LGBTQ+ in football, which the statistics on aren't the most comfortable reading (an increase of 95% in the last year) and replaces the usual warm up shirt which I don't think I could describe anyway. Hopefully the auction raises some funds for the Saints foundation too Overall I'm pretty impressed with Hummel since they've come back

For the sake of some novelty, Fabrice Fernandes and Rory Delap. Tactic being Fabrice will dry and dribble past the full back, fail, but win a throw in. Delap then launches the throw in, onto Vestegaard's head, and we win every game 1-0. Sensible answer is Niemi and Fonte- need to shore up the defence really

Although odd to see the away kit at St Mary’s, it does look really good, can’t really fault the 3 kits as a combination this year