gio1saints

I like his energy. I think he’s starting to look better than Charlie Alcaraz to me. Not really a winger more of an Inside forward on the right or central but he’s always busy and has got goals in him. End season he will be a £30m player carries on as he is.

Do we know if an official complaint alleging bullying was made by the staff member re. Tonda? If yes, do we know if an in-house investigation into the bullying allegation has taken place? And to what outcome? If no internal investigation has taken place that may be telling in itself. But IF the matter was investigated internally then the outcome would certainly be confidential - not made public basically. The fact that (1) Tonda remains in post and (2) The employee not only remains but has been confirmed as a permanent employee, tends to suggest that, internally, its not regarded as an issue of substantive additional process need ie an internal disciplinary ( although this MAY have happened already to Tonda and the outcome kept confidential ). If that is the context I think the argument that the whole issue is about bullying rather than circumventing footballing rules is weaker than you suggest.

I agree. The extended play off qualification also encourages more matches of significance towards the end of season so less foregone conclusion flip flops and sunscreen packed matches…..more competitive more points sharing. There are also more teams with exoected strong HOME form than I expected. Teams like Lincoln, Brum, Wrexham away will not be easy for any team. Add in teams like Wolves West Ham Boro even poor starting Burnley that’s already 7 Away matches which most if not every other team would be ok taking a point. That list does not even include top of the league WBA, ex TOTL Swansea, Millwall and even Watford! In other words, unless ( IMO ) Saints, Wolves and West Ham ( one or two of those) run away with automatic this is likely to be one of the closest Championship leagues ever.

I’m sure there’s an obvious answer to why Larin is not allowed to play 90 minutes but JWP or Bree or Downs can? Are the requirements on a #9 in Tonda team so onerous? It cannot be that Larin is not fit enough? Or is he carrying a secret injury? The minute he gets taken off I’m not expecting any more goals basically - and neither do the opposition basically. You need stamina - but surely he has enough? Is Tonda frightened when tired he is more likely to hurt himself - and we have no like for like - so takes him off early? But we kind of did last year with RS and was same story..

I agree that we do not seem to have a like for like replacement for Larin in order to rest him/ allow proper recovery for Injuries and suspensions. This is probably the most obvious omission - all things being equal - to this being a very good window. If there is no back up striker recruited it can only mean one thing: 1. We cannot find a target man suitable to come here. ( cheap, good, willing)

VeryGood professional. Good guy and popular with squad. Excellent left foot cross and free kick delivery. The more important set pieces become the greater esteem he’ll be held. Not the paciest full back ever to help him track back quick or recover so his on field positioning and concentration at all times needs be extra good- which because he’s human, it is not. That’s Only area I’d be trying to install some better habits if I was Tonda. At any rate : He is a Very very Good Championship player - certainly top six starting standard. Not going to ever be an amazing EPL player being realistic but would not disgrace himself in a well managed four at the back competitiveEPL team ie if Tonda was there.

He did it once with SFC a few years ago I recall. Gave them there all time unbeaten record and got them promoted via the playoffs after an iffy start. It’s all been a disaster thereafter . He’s got his iffy start with Foxes. He’s probably got 5 matches to go unbeaten and pick up say 10 points or I reckon even the absentee and broke bosses of LCFC will further augment his retirement pension fund very nicely thank you. I hope he does it. The more vilified he is the more I want him to do well. Go Russell!!

He has Mark Wright vibes for me. Think he’s gonna be a good ‘un.

Statement victory in many ways: 1. That West Ham result is def. behind us. 2. If we can score 5 against the meanest defence so far in this league we can probably score versus anyone. 3. Newbies Schmitt and JWP played and the standard did not drop - it was at least same and got better the longer game went on. Both look comfortable first teamers. No long wait to see if they are able. They are able no doubt so our squad has been notably strengthened. 4. Leo is back! Best player in this League imo. Every other Championship ( and a fair few EPL teams! ) would want him put it that way. 5. Cyle scored best MLT type goal I’ve seen for many years. Well done - at last a proper #9 - and he’s gonna score many more this season. 6. Finn Azaz has a deceptively laconic but effective style of play but no doubt he is a high quality difference maker- like Leo. 7. Tonda totally bossed the in game management and tactics. First fifteen aside that is.Made a good Millwall side ultimately look hapless and bereft of ideas. Well done Southampton FC!

There is no doubt he is still an excellent dead ball specialist. Manning has become extremely important in that regard particularly swinging in dangerous corners into the six yard box from the right hand side - but now having a right footer of - imo- superior quality we have got same for left sided corners and free kicks at the very least. Larin and Schlotterbeck will get great service. That, and he runs all day and rarely gives away possession means we have got ourselves a bargain. Welcome back JWP!

If Bragg or Downes get injured we’re in trouble. Makes the point that if Jander leaves and Shea already gone we are CM lite.

One way of looking at who is the most important player he have is by appearances. Last season was, objectively, overall, a good season apart from that fuck up at the end. Our most appearances on the pitch player last year was….yeah THB. Any accountants arguments to sell him better be damn good. I don’t want him sold. I think pay him more extend a year give him ability to leave us if we doing bad and or not gone up. But sell him now at very start of season? Our key CB? Not a good idea for me. If we short of cash sell someone else not that key defender and team leader. Strong defences win leagues.

What’s THB on anyway? Can we guess at £25k own or is it much more? Benfica might pay £35 not £50k pw my guess. Saints cannot afford an extra £520k a year salary for THB and would rather sell him at a loss and jeopardise everything? The cost to change THB is what we should be looking at. And yes - we don’t go up he can leave. Hell if we are bottom half at Xmas he can leave too. Deal? 🤓

Ah you are at it again ( technically it’s called a straw man argument - one in which you defeat an invented opponent) But what if, say, Manu Ytd came along and offered him 4x his salary CL football plus 2m air miles and unlimited smoke salmon sandwiches with his father in law at the TOD? He’d be mad to refuse and why should he- you’re right!!!

Now now. That’s not what I said. What I very CLEARLY said and which you cleverly misread was , and I quote : ” I propose to pay THB extra £25 per hour to be our assistant chief training session spy PLUS he gets a reserve seat for lunch at Staplewood with extra chips and free good coffee on alternate Fridays plus free tickets to Take That next time they play SMS “ IMO THATS as a significant gesture of support for the fact his father in law used to be a Man Utd player. And he’s fairly decent player for us. I think would do the trick.