gio1saints

I’d call beating Panathanaikos and Victoria pixen recently good results for such a meh set of players he has. It’s kind of lazy - and frankly a sign of how intellectually challenged some posters are - to constantly paint everything he is or does as bad. Shakespeare wrote ( in Hamlet if you are interested- which you are not as you probably think Hamlet is a fancy ham omelette ) but anyways he wrote “there is nothing either good or bad that thinking makes it so” You carry on thinking it’s all bad. I will carry on thinking for myself on that. Apologies in advance to all I’ve offended . I was having too much fun and that was a minor tap on the wrist compared to the pages of shit written on RM here. 🤣

Fair. Yes he’s meant to play off last man and it’s way harder when opposition camped in own half. But - the likelihood is that this is how most teams will play at SMS this season. Logically - Still would be wise to start home matches with at least one out of DD or RS up front. Ability to hold the ball in a crowded last third when there’s no space becomes a high value skill. I can see both playing together against the more obdurately defensive teams. I think general point - that I’d prefer the forwards get to touch the ball more often per match - is valid though and something that Still is and should continue to be looking to achieve. PS: Moore gave us a perfect example of how a seemingly limited player but with that specific skill set of being able to retain possession well in the final third can cause problems to any team even one with three decent CB’s. He will ruin the careers of some of the Championship CB’s he plays against if stays fit on that performance.

I don’t think he will be given the time, unfortunately. IF Rangers give him the time maybe they will be domestically competitive once more. The points they will drop getting to that stage ( like yesterday) may disqualify them from winning title this season but it’s not impossible they go on big unbeaten run so don’t write them - or him off yet. But they won’t give him that time. Out by Xmas most likely. Getting Rangers to play Martinball must be one of the toughest gigs in football. Youve got a million Rangers fans screaming at you to attack attack attack get it forward. You think SMS was difficult. Man needs balls of steel to take up that job. I only wish him the best because I call it courage and principles - agree with it or not - not ego or stupidity in what he does and why he does it.

One of the most telling stats on that match was regarding Cameron Archer. He came on for 25 minutes when we desperately needed a goal in that critical first match of the season a goal down. And he touched the ball just twice. That story of Cam invisibly being on the pitch as a goal scoring forward has gone on and on. It must be the case that the rest of the team are not good enough to find his runs otherwise how come he gets on the pitch? What’s the point of playing him if you don’t totally focus on giving the ball to the one guy who is supposed to be there to finish? Noticing same with Damion Downs. Nobody ( please don’t bore with the manning assist/cross or JR’s assist- other than that he hardly gets a touch) was head up thinking where is Damion let’s give him the ball see if he can score. First half AA barely a sniff also. I swear with my degree in football knowledge that if the rest of the team gives the ball to the forwards quicker and more often we will score more. I don’t mean always long I mean cut out 50% of the sideways stuff and put it vertically to feet or to channels for the forwards to show why they are on the big bucks.

I agree. Moore could go anywhere he liked across the line but consistently stayed the opposite side to Quarshie. I think maybe Saints were a little bit disrespectful of him because he played well enough to be man-marked by Quarshie and that would be that from him. Will did not make that call. Worked out ok but it was obviously an option he may have looked at and turned down-in play.

Gonna be a big player. Da dum! Looked a bit rusty distributing but glimpses of his pace and power were enough to let me know he’s got the athletic abilities we will need in this league. Especially at the end he looked bigger and stronger and faster than anyone. Big, fit,strong, speedy lad! Why he wasn’t put onto Moore I don’t know. Maybe Moore just stayed away from him? Would have loved that scrap!

Manning = JWP 😇 https://x.com/SkyFootball/status/1954171213896454620?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1954171213896454620|twgr^|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=about%3Ablank

Took a lot of stick slagged off everywhere he goes. 95th minute winner. Goal saving tackles first match of season when everyone was looking at him and expecting to see failure. Mark of the man. Respect it. 🙌

If we needed any more evidence NOT to play AA as the centre forward the first half sealed it. Anything we sent long just came straight back. Whether AA can start instead of Fraser I don’t know but frankly I’d prefer a BETTER player than either and with Downs ( first choice) or Stewart at #9. Wrexham worked themselves into the ground defensively and their game plan to utilise Moore was smart - but we were ultimately fitter and the better team. Sure they had some chances - but so did we- and the ref was an absolute c£nt. So many bad decisions against us it would have been an injustice not to get at least a point. Glad for Will, glad for Captain Jack and glad for Ryan manning most of all to Gav who basically got us the three points with his late save.

Ronnie was given a hard time having to compete with their best player- Moore. I thought he did ok mostly - not the disaster most here saw. Ditto Quarshie. Few bad passes but otherwise he showed with his pace and strength and height how much we’ve missed having someone with those characteristics. Think it was quite obvious the defensive line still not gelled but that’s more than balanced out by the long awaited return of …team spirit….last minute equalisers….and injury time WINNERS!

I hope we start 3at the back. Means Ronnie starts. Other formations I fear he does not. We’ve looked so lame in attack all pre season - apart from the last 30 minutes v Brighton when we went 3 at the back. Fingers crossed because it will attack the crap out of Wrexham if we do. As we should.

Always going to be us not wanting to sell our best players versus owners needing/wanting to make a profit. The middle ground makes nobody happy. Those advocating keep the best players and achieve glory ( the Romantacists) we all agree with in our hearts. The reality is we MUST sell our best talents. It is the only way. The other way is highly highly risky - we do not go up player values slashed - that could put us into freefall. The pragmatic way- is shit- but it’s the only realistic way any owners gonna take a punt on buying a club like Saints.

C 26 Wrexham players and staff off for a walk and chilling outside the hotel marina side. No sign of Deadpool as yet. All look very serious.

Sensible post from Grandoldteam Everton forum: They do have some precarious decisions to make, and they could really make a mess and lose millions depending on how things go for him and them. But he’ll most definitely sign a new contract if they price him out of a move. Moving on a free in 2 years sounds like a good tactic, but he’s not sitting on £5k a week for 2 more years when a PL team was willing to pay over £40m for you and everyone says you are the new Messi. They will offer him more cash and a release clause that sounds plausible so he doesn’t feel trapped. He’d be insane not to take it. When a career ended injury could happen in training, his parent/agents will all support him signing up with them. They will sell if they don’t get promoted next summer. No arguments with their stance. If we don’t want to pay what they have asked for, sack it off immediately. They have been very clear. He’s obviously for sale at a price. They haven’t warned us off. Elsewhere on twitter a blue tick account reckons ( paraphrased) the deal is at an impasse due to sell on %. The fee Everton would like to pay is £40m plus up to £10m in add-ons. Saints want £45m plus add ons AND a 25% sell on. Everton suggest 12.5% sell on. FWIW on sell ons: if Everton sell Tyler to Real Madrid next year for £100m then 25% of £55m profit is near €15m- buys us a good player - the Everton version is €7.5m less - it’s a big deal Add-ons are always bespoke deals - usually based on (1) appearances, ( say an extra £1m if he makes 20, £2m at 40 (2) goals and assists ( self evident) (3) international cap/s- with Tyler this is a big deal- gets first full cap his transfer value just goes up up up. (4) trophies and league positions ie Everton win a cup plus £1m, get into Europe plus £1m. So these may all add up to a big number but they are not guaranteed and even if achieved get paid over an agreed negotiated period of time. Id say add ons the Everton addons are less valuable apart from appearances -so if the headline figure says up to £10m the reality is we might get £1m- and that £1m is the value assigned as part of the negotiating package assessment basically.

Did you not like the second half v Brighton? It’s basically that team.

In that line up he is a right sided centre back. His right wingback is meant to work his nuts off up and down field - which means we probably use up four wingbacks every game such is the load. As for Archer at LW I’m guessing we may see him being the decoy for sugawara/wellington steaming down the wings…same as Adam on the other side..the wingbacks either cause damage helped by archer and Adam or indeed they are a decoy up front so Archer and Adam get close enough to shoot. They are forwards supposedly good at scoring so makes sense!

He’s a £45m valued by club player. Any new player Saints hypothetically bought today for £45m what’s he expecting to get paid? But Saints new contract offer probably does not pay him anywhere near as if he is that £45m player - simple as that. And you must know and understand why they won’t pay him that much too? Do you like your job? Mind if your employer pays you a lot less than what you can get for doing same job somewhere else? Think you might hold on a bit before agreeing the new pay rise contract the employer offered you as a consequence while you consider your options? Especially if the alternatives are 10x or even 20x your current basic salary for the same job!?!

FWIW : my analysis of forum performance from a body language pov. Trollope : 10/10 At ease in front of people. Was eloquent, smiling or neutral obviously open posture. Honest no eye fidgeting face covering blushing or tics etc. No disingenuous contradictory stuff going on while he talks - just straight footballers talk. His direct advice to players “don’t wait to give the supporters reason to support you” - and to us supporters vice versa was a brilliant line. So he has motivational abilities. His relaxed demeanour but close attention to what’s said and going on throughout forum was very evident. He scanned room often- he’s trained to be observant - good sign that is for a coach/ people manager. Conclude : This guy is a real find. Parsons : 7/10 . noticeably red faced & quite touchy. Felt he looked under pressure throughout not fooled by any disguise. He did a stock FD spiel so it’s also clear he does not want to reveal anything financially of any note- most of all anything negative. Like all Financial Directors basically. Relatively Unskilled at hiding he’s got a lot going on & appearing relaxed - but he’s a ££ guy not a performer so did not expect that. I suspect he is not too difficult to trigger and put on tilt. Hope I’m wrong but his comportment shouted :I’m stressed. Conclude : He’s under strong pressure , and not just from fan forum questions - that means from upstairs. Spors : 5/10 . For answering in not first language I give some latitude - but for someone who emphasised improving intra-club communication as a priority I felt his own communication and listening skills in particular were not especially impressive. His CV I like but in person his body language and general delivery was at a lower level than I was hoped for. He was very red faced - probably sunburn rather than stress but either are not clever or coping signals. Looked noticeably uptight and -to me- a bit nervous Conclude : The heat is on. Stand and deliver time for Mr Spors. Most important to me is Trollope is a good guy and will be very valuable to our promotion campaign.

Compared to most neurotypicals, probably, maybe I appear mad. 😇. As for did he take a pay cut- I’ve no idea I just threw out a wild guess as to how it might have happened. PS. My sister just sent me a vid of my questioning Spors and describing the team, the management and the management of the management as inadequate and incompetent. Oh dear I’m outed. People will now recognise me as the “ inadequate “ bloke from the telly. Might have to grow a beard or something. 🤣

I thought Spors gave a good answer to the Stephens question but why it needed be 3 not 2or 1 could not be asked as you only allowed one go. Not being privy to what he is actually going to be paid I’m going to take a wild guess and suggest the three years was a quid pro quo for a lower weekly basic. Sound like something we might do? Spors made the call. Parsons and the Board supported it. Funnily enough the absence of any comment on if Will Still wanted it may be telling.

…and see what happened when similarly important lynchpin Wilcox left us and was not replaced quickly..

Great memory! That second question they wouldn’t let me put in a follow up for but the crowd agreed with the sentiments ie Managerial oversight failure and what specifically is in place now to ensure does not recur. I think that Spors is a good recruit because Wilcox leaving and his non / too late replacement was one of the biggest mistakes ever made. Cost us relegation imo.

Had a little chat with Trolls.. Ges been v impressed with Bragg and Sesay in particular Of the youngsters.

Yes it’s a first. They won the right to do that in a raffle.

Too late🤣