gio1saints

Ah. I’m sorry. I did not realise you own the talking bollocks franchise on here. Duly noted.

Agreed. But obviously the thinking is that Archer can and will be tried to do it, or that we will not play like we did v Forest ever again, and /or our mf especially Dibling and Mateus to fill that space in penalty area. Or a combo including trying out BBD and AA at times in that central focus position rather than exclusively wide. And if all those fail then we have Tall Paul. And of course the return of that injured other CF we bought. Last resort it’s a Jan window buy. So there are options I guess although not entirely satisfactory but can’t have it all!

It’s occurred to me that Russell Martin is being softly marketed by SR as a golden hen coach. Players, especially young players, who have been trained by RM and his team are not just standard players. They have the ( marketing spiel) “added value” of being fully immersed in total, absolute hardcore, PB football. Just like certain Managers have become renowned for a certain style of play - Bielsa is a good example - Brand RM is for anyone out there wants a player who has certain automatic ball possession, physical capability, footballing courage & IQ and on field positional awareness characteristics ( to name but a few required to play PB football the way RM wants). SR want saints to win - but it’s certainly another money spinner if RM becomes renowned as a good teacher. He has not earned that accolade yet, but seems to me SR very much hoping he does cos even if we lose they win by the inflated fees the RM trained players may command.

Yiu are right. Getting insurance against Bubonic plague costs an arm and a leg. 😇

I don’t think we are going to win the league. Based on this Transfer window. BUT we might win most passes without a goal/ shot on target. And in my opinion these categories of achievement have been chronically undervalued. When you look at who they vote for Premier League Manager of the Year I bet you they don’t look at crucial data like that- wether or not we get Cornet or Wee Man back in the team.

I’ve said it before- these professionals should get themselves certified medically a week ahead of deadline day by an approved reputable FA listed medical authority. Certificate in hand it speeds things up, easy to insert a nul and void if he’s broken his legs in the last week or contracted Bubonic Plague that nobody knew about clause as well.

Why have you, in both example formations placed forwards in the penalty area (indeed in your second formation there are TWO! ) This is quite clearly discussed and trained relentlessly in practice. No standing in the penalty area. It’s like five a sides no stepping in the penalty area. How on earth can saints be expected to break the World Record for most passes without a shot on target if you put someone in the penalty area - clearly we will be overrun in midfield and there’s no chance of beating that “ most passes without a shot on target” Guinness Book of Records metric (MPWASOT for those in the biz).

ATM our CF option is Archer or Archer or Archer. At a push it’s Archer. With AA on the right and BBD on the left. And that one not Archer who is injured. And the very Tall one not allowed to play because…of a reason ( it’s cos he is too tall). Sometimes either of those two players can pretend they are the CF too - until RM scowls at them and tells them to leave those CB’s alone and stop bumping into Archer. Oh, and if our MF can get into the penalty area then it’s one of them is our CF. And they must also remember not to bump into Archer. Or the others in the physio lounge. This is a good plan. Except Archer will be mostly on the bench so some of our players gonna be way out of position if they keep bumping into him. Also of note is the Helpline number Saints are thoughtfully providing for Centre backs and goalkeepers visiting St Mary’s this season : “ Feeling lonely? Nobody to talk to? The game passing you by and you are not getting a touch?” Phone 0208 338 dial-friend- and one of our trained volunteers will, in a non judgemental way, talk you through why it’s ok not to see the ball or required to run or do a save in a match at St Mary’s if you are the opposition centre back or goalkeeper. It’s them NOT you that’s the issue. So don’t put yourself down. Registered charity number SR2024.

Interesting point. IF palace sell there too CB they may come in for one of ours. Jan the favourite but ABK not a bad alternate shout. IF that happened I reckon any bid over £15-£20m and either are gone. Less for Jan.

If I was Brentford after watching Saints v forest I might be tempted to play with a keeper, 2 full backs, 1 CB (he can chat to the keeper if he gets bored and lonely) 4 MF’s and 3 attackers. The ball is not going anywhere near the penalty spot is it so just push up. The not so secret plan is to Wait for the inevitable passing around the six yard box fuck up and take it from there. 😂🥳

Didn’t they get knocked out of Europe last night? Will that make them less or more willing to spend on TP now they only have domestic league to think about?

Extra 10 points for being unnecessarily rude to a fellow Saints fan. ✅ You could have said you disagreed with my comment but you had to make it personal didn’t you. Cheers. Appreciate your opinions also. Players who can play that modern wingback position - like Cornet can - or his ilk - as I said - are no doubt on the radar. Not Sry if that offends you.

We let Shea go with barely a murmur from Saints fans. We will probably let Kameldeen go and im guessing there’d be the same non reaction. I dare say sending out Sam Edozie on a good loan would actually be positively applauded. But KWP? He is a different level altogether. Our best player in first two matches. Our best player last season. Him leaving is a MASSIVE decision. That is the primary reason we are looking at Cornet ~ and players of his ilk ~ players who can play that KWP modern wingback flexible position that Lee effing Carsley so helpfully advertised. Id say the chances are that Juan Larios will also get loaned out - with no disquiet indeed applause - because otherwise what was the point of putting him in the shop window I mean on the pitch for 24 seconds the other night at end of match? As per ABK it was clearly a “I’m Saints fit and available “ piece of advertising.

If we get Cornet I think Sam Edozie will get loaned out.

Defoe-esque. Hopeful he can score as many for ys as that lad did in his career.

If they ALL do that recycling with zero threat we will go down whoever is playing.

Because I’m sentimentally loyal to the players that got us up and just feel it would be tough to ditch Will in particular, before he’s had a fair chance at the EPL - which he has earned imo. You are on the side of making ruthless decisions and it’s probably the more winning way overall. But it’s not all that loving and does not feel Saintsy to me. Respect that pov of course. I think JWP starts in our best 11 and certainly is in our best 16. Do I think it’s a good idea? Probably on balance not. He can rejoin next year if we are relegated. Glad I’m not RM. Or am I ?😎

Yes he does do that when playing as the 6. So We have two others already able for that ( Flynn and Les) . Question is : You think Will, Joe and Flynn will out-score him from MF this season same games played? I don’t. Add Adam Lallana and big Les to that list. Mateus is an unknown as is Tyler and I think those two will both score - but over 7/8 goals ? - love that to be true. JWP is nailed on for 6/7/8 goals at this level imo - let alone assists and more if he refinds his free kick mojo. Not even including pens. Don't want to lose Joe or Will but I’m a Saints fan wants goals from this team and he’s got some goals in his boots for sure. Plus who doesn’t want to see him break the free kick record with a Saints shirt on?

Agree. But if you are leaving your North East club in next 36 hours you’d normally be hanging around near your club in order to attend the required medical for whoever asks about you. Him travelling down south suggests he thinks if there’s any medical happening he needs be down here for it.

Kinhell. Didn’t take long for the Southampton effect to cut off his International career!

JWP only works, for me, if we are loaning out or selling some current MF and even attacking squad. His wages are high. But his quality is higher than our average quality for sure. And he can do things from set pieces we will benefit from too. The most likely would be Will or Joe, Kameldeen, Sam Edozie or SAA. These sacrifices would release space and wages for him. We should, however, probably prioritise a goal scorer first.

Yeah - pleased with Mateus and he is closer to an RM player than Tyler so you may be right and it’s him gets the nod. Both good players but Tyler seems more direct and perhaps I’m biased!😁 As for Les- well putting him in alongside Flynn plus Mateus feels good too but I think that may be a “risk” too many. Though I’d be happy with that starting line up also bringing in Tyler if we need more of a goal threat - which I marginally think we would without Tyler in team.

Caveat: he came on against tired Cardiff second team kids who would probably be queuing to get his autograph after match and too much in awe to get too near him. In EPL he would not get that space and time., However: I was delighted ( despite my previous small reservation that he may be psychologically blunted by his injuries) by his performance. He did immediately bring a sense of calm and direction and understanding of what it was Saints were supposed to do from c 60 minute onwards. He brought instant, confident, leadership. His regular vocal and sign language instructions to ABK in particular of when to advance who to pass to etc plus also obvious instructions to our kids of positions and where the ball must go is almost unheard of at Saints. Not seen that amount of vocal obvious confident ownership / leadership in a while at Saints - for all Captain Jacks qualities. And the less said of AM as skipper the better. He may not make 90 but it was pretty obvious ( to me) thats a genuine class above player out there with a unique experiential attribute we do not have elsewhere in squad. When you consider our go-to midfielder from the bench last season was Joe Rothwell I think AL’s impact will be a LOT more and in a LOT more ways, on and off pitch, this season. Great signing.

Yes good observation. IF TD has recovered sufficiently I’d give him 60 next match as a starter. He is a front foot attacking player and you know he is going to be direct and aggressive and try make a goal or goal chance happen. Unlike how we played Forest. Bluntly, in that regard, he can do that more effectively, more often, on his recent showings than anyone else in our team. IF we are in the lead by 60 ( due to his impact) then he may well have drained himself by then and by all means put on Joe or Will or Mateus even Les but I believe in risk reward - the lad put it out there last night. Give him his reward- starts the next EPL match.

RM said he had to play well tonight. Two assists plus his all round performance says he did. Just think he’s taken Will or Joes position for the next match.