gio1saints

Think that’s very close. Have a feeling Still will NOT drop Armstrong for this “ prestige” home friendly however, and he will start, instead of Downs. Robinson will be the fans main interest in which case. I personally would prefer Ronnie and Quarshie as a combo CB pairing as we’ve not seen that yet. And it might spare us the crowd groans when Jacks name is announced. Final score : 0-3. Or 1-3 if forwards get enough service. Which I don’t think they will given our lack of an AM - unless Ryan realises it’s last chance saloon and scores from edge of the box or something mental. Don’t be fooled though. We saw BBD do that last year. It’s an old pros trick - the “once a year highlight reel goal”.

Grok says it was in region if £20m and we apparently want £30m.

Just for once I’d like to see Saints put out a fresh no scar tissue want to win team : GB in goal, Downs and Robinson up top, Quarshie and Edwards at CB’s, Matsuki at #8, Shea and Sanda in the middle and top up the remaining positions with what you got left over from the squad. But the gist is : play these players NOT the ones we already know what they got ( or in many cases NOT got). They get thrashed - SR need to get the chequebook out . No point watching Cameron, Adarma Fraser and BBD being impotent v Brighton over and over again…

When Villa got promoted to the EPL they made Grealish their best paid player at c £125k pw. To reflect his status. Still sold him for a lot to City though the following year- for £100m - But they got promoted and a year in epl out of what was an obvious talent- like Tyler is. That was four /five years ago. It’s a parallel of sorts we might follow. And the prices perhaps too. If we truly believed in the lad. Grealish stats in the champ are comparable to Tyler. These are high stakes. oh and PS look where Villa are now.

Anywhere he goes he will earn more in a year than many do in a lifetime. A multimillionaire before he’s even 21. It does strongly look like he’s being advised to take the big money elsewhere. My question is : I think his current contract is £5k a week? Is that right? No idea what he was offered but surely Saints can do a one year extension at £50k pw or so and a promise to sell next year offers over £40m? Would that be a compromise?

Before I even consider asking that one What do you think the answer might be? You need to think about what JS might say -( he will be there) as you get one chance at a follow up. Am i genuinely asking him for information or am I asking to make a cheap dig at the club Captain in front of a few hundred people? I can almost give you word for word what both Still and Jack might say when I ask “why 3yrs?” so the follow up better be good else I’ve learned nothing.

oops

When you are as young as Tyler it’s hard /impossible to make a poor team good. But when you have the quality Tyler has, and his age, he can make a good team great. And can occasionally show class even in a bad team - but it’s rare and frustrating and not sustainable over full season in a poor team. People are conflating the rubbish team he played him with the player himself. And the position he was told to play and ultimately what he was told to do - and had to do / which was not his best skill set ( defending / tracking back tackling left wingers etc). This new squad should now be told in the championship - give ball to Tyler every chance you get. That’s about as complicated as it gets. Instructions to Tyler : do whatever you feel is good to make goals.

I think that’s a good point. Well spotted @trousers. His regular use of that term has many potential interpretations but in general, given the context, given his detailed body language and my assessment of voice tone pitch volume etc I think in summary it means “ it was bad”. A lot of what he’s seen “ is bad” and certainly must “ improve”. That’s my current analysis. Will let you know more after I interrogate him on the 6th at the do.

And if saints don’t do it presumably you will be one of the first on here complaining that they “ don’t listen” to fans. I agree it’s largely a PR exercise in being seen to listen and being open with supporters. I also agree that nothing said will change playing policy - nor Beer policy😵‍💫. BUT for those that want to get some insight into what our new Manager is really like it’s a great opportunity to ask him a direct question with a follow up. I will go to watch and listen intently to his response (s) and hence to make up my own mind about the measure of the man.

The questions are not pre vetted. But Blackmore does go in a bit too much that’s true. Ive got my ticket. I’m going to think hard on what to ask this time around. We got the Brighton match and possibly some transfers to come in or out between now and then but It will be a direct Q to Will Still I’m sure. And not one in which he can give a vague answer or a yes/no. PS. You lot moaning about what questions will or will not be asked. If you care so much why don’t you turn up and ask your Question? And if you can’t be bothered why bitch about what others have asked? When I go yes I squirm at the beer questions etc but at least those people with their SFC beer interests are participating. It’s like having a pop at the government but you never bothered to vote.

Good summary . I enjoyed reading your analysis and agree with most. Place I differ : I’m in the HODL ( Hold On for Dear Life) category regarding Tyler and Mateus. IF we can balance the books this season without selling either it would be a sign of SR’s true, naked, ambition. I’d admire that whether it worked or not. More than if they got a lot of profit this year on player trading. WRT to our attitude to the two lads I’d say “Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all “ Saints and us fans should give them all the love they can in order to help keep them developing here - not elsewhere. They ARE rare talents. They may go anyway as is likely but we should try EVERYTHING. Think on this : How many obviously destined to be top players have we seen sold off in bits and bobs over the decades as Saints fans? It’s countless numbers of top players…and how many times do we want to have that conversation on the terraces or down the pub or in here with fellow sufferers about “ just imagine if we had kept such and such young players with us for just another year ~ what a team that would have become..” I am a realist and realise it’s not going to happen. But as a Long term Saints fan I’d like to think I’m also a never say die idealist. I want to see a beautiful Saints team play beautiful Southampton football. Just one full season will do before I die. Not endless average or mediocrity or quite goods and total rubbish interspersed with a few good matches and one excellent half per season. And a Cup win or two to make us all feel better. Fuck that. Build and keep a winning team. Saints: Just one season more of TD and MF together please!

Nice and timely history lesson! It was a BAD start. Maybe we should be grateful this time uf it’s simply not quite as bad. People underestimate the acclimatisation that’s required in the league in the squad and in the club.

@Fabrice29 you are wasting your breath attempting to give posters here evidence showing that our last Championship season, far from being a dark period in saints history show was actually a free scoring success the line of which we rarely experience as long term supporters. The narrative is set in people’s minds that we were useless under RM. Because of last year. And nothing will dissuade them. Not even the gazillion goals we scored. And got promoted first time of asking.

Looks like a potential replacement for Kameldeen / SamE. Its frightening how impotent we look in attack - despite all the strikers we have with goals in their past history. BBD, Adarma, RStewart and Cameron have not made any fantastic impression on me in preseason. Nor watching them fail all of last season either. When they get the ball I never sense panic in the opposition. Ive literally only got 30 minutes one goal Damian Down who probably does not give a damn about anything except scoring ( good) Quarsie, Jay R ( and Tyler IF he stays) that I am paying to watch this season atm and hope will not be frightened to shoot and attack. I want those three /four to start and if the others are still around they can support them- from the bench- or by leaving and opening up spaces for other fearless & effective players frankly.

PS This was taken when we beat Everton in November last year - last time I got that happy at SMS probably!

IF he’s the starting CF for Saints - a team likely to be scoring a high amount of goals this year by bookies opinion, then 25/1 is great value. Not if he’s on the bench though. I’d rather see DD starting - and the other forwards are there to support him not other way around. Between him and RS anyway. I don’t want to rely on Cameron or Adam this season as the main scorers.

We have a potentially similar situation with Tyler. When he gets the ball he looks a “ fuori classe ” as they say in Italy but he’s not matured yet into the dominant player he “ might” become. I hope he will be our Jack Grealish and really shine this season and next before leaving g for that mega bucks move. He’s at least 1 season off being really worth £50m+ though imo. Right now he’s a punt at £25-£30m or so I’d guess - which I’d hope we say NO to of course.

Fernandes is worth it. He was obviously much better than all his teammates last year but he could not carry the whole team. Put him in any EPL squad even top six and he adds value. Irs simple a shame we get one like that but Saints were not good enough for him to truly shine.

Last time we went down a LOT of people here were expecting an immediate return to EPL-indeed as automatic. The reason given was largely our squad quality vs the rest and basically our ability to pay much higher wages because of parachute ££ etc. The more ££ a club has usually they win, that’s morally wrong but too often true. The balancing factor to that optimism was we had a new & controversial manager playing an ambitious but dangerous way and essentially he had inherited a bunch of losers - indeed the whole club was in doldrums. Im not sure so much is really thematically different from last time around overall - so I’m kind of surprised - but actually happy there’s this growing realisation that yes, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to get out this league. Everyone needs to perform at their very best if they are to get into top six. IF we start this campaign with some humility there’s a chance thousands of supporters will fall in love with their club once again. There’s a chance the players left may rediscover that Saints underdogs never say die spirit. And that, instead of arrogantly expecting to win every game “ because” - they go out and prove why they deserve to win. And we get genuinely happy each time we do. Good Time for a mental reset for everyone.

Good to see Saints using me as the poster boy for the Brighton Game in their latest online advertising. Might have to ask Matt to send me a copy if the positive comments I’ve had from those seen it are true. If anyone wants a signed copy from the official Saints poster boy for the Brighton match I’m happy to oblige. Be available to sign them in the concourse near the best beer place…🤣

I agree that club feel Baz and McCarthy are considered good enough to start season with. Whether that is correct t another matter. I do think we will see an incoming goalie though and my hope it’s for a #1 challenger -not a third or second choice - but maybe the ££ wages and fee will determine that as much as anything.

Agree that we will start with Gav and Alex. I think that’s it for Aaron at Saints. Good guy and good goalie, he will do well at Newcastle. The prospect of Dubravka in return does not worry me but it’s v unlikely given his wages. We had Willy Cabellero do a similar “ older, experienced gk” job for us and I’m still expecting that type of goalie to be brought in even if Alex may consider that his domain even now. The timing of the Moody contract suggests we have hopes for him so it is rather interesting. The type of goalie Saints pick up will give us further clues about their general strategy for the season. Picking up a no mark kid prospect, hiring an old done it all pro, raiding stoke for their goalie or trying to get Sunderland’s etc etc.

Nice @trousers- If it’s not what you say ( if you negatively criticise a player the club a tactic that’s generally all lovely on here as lots of people love to get in a crying gaggle ( whats the collective term for a group of moaners ? A “Wail” seems as good a term as any….) but just try personally defending anything on here that anyone else has determined is received wisdom and oh dear just bought yourself a ticket to Wail heaven. But that’s old news. Today’s Wailing novelty is HOW you say it THATS THE PROBLEM. ho ho. No initials for players names - half the posters here don’t even know who is in the squad so I appreciate use of their initials is actually a waste of time, others, realising that being offended nay even outraged and angry is the latest and best thing to be- about anything- but most of all about Saints can now take umbrage at initials. If you like this content please like and consider subscribing to SAINTSWAIL@SFC.com.

I’d be v happy with the fc koln keeper ex DD teammate but it’s v unlikely. Failing that £5-£7m will get Viktir Johannssen from Stoke, who we should have bought off Rotherham. The latter reputedly on £15k pw.