gio1saints

Great interview in the Daily Echo. First time I’ve ever heard one of our players quoted as saying “ I want to win every fucking tackle”. This guy is going to be the heartbeat of the Saints renaissance! Got winner DNA. Superstar material. “Quarshie Smashie” needs to be a feature on here - how many opponents can he smash this season ( or put more correctly how many tackles he wins) Depends on if he plays but I’m going overall for 1.5 players per match get Quarshie smashed. Players QS’d can be put in a special Championship smashed Hall of Fame. Spreadex are quoting 35-40 smashes for the season which is bit mingy and you should buy imo as I’d say nearer 60 cos I think he will play a lot, smash a lot. 😁🙏

That this €10m figure has been outed by Hamburg is a good sign. IF he ever comes good he might be a €50m+ world class CB. A 20% sell on clause when we unload him for not very much could be a result for both sides. A deal to be made I reckon.

More pace more height less experience more talk and, importantly, more higher ceiling on his potential. Can you imagine trying to get the ball off him once he’s reached speed???? If he is allowed to smash through the centre of the park with the ball ( which he won’t) it would be like a battering ram from Game of Thrones! He seems to have self belief about himself and what I’ve most liked is his propensity to open his mouth and play enforcer if needs be. About time we had another player willing and able to bully other teams instead of other way around. He likes a challenge for sure. V happy with him so far

Just testing who is reading and what’s the knowledge like lol. I do not endorse his policies but the gist is that I like it when we play cosmic alien football. It’s like a massively rare event, an eclipse of the Sun or a fancy meteorite shower - compared to so many seasons of average mediocrity. I can appreciate that even if it was versus lower opposition and that we were terrible in the EPL. Does not mean when it was glorious should be forgotten about. Or who the Manager responsible for it was. We by now all know the bad and the ugly- but let’s not forget there was also some good under RM!

Except when we score after a move in which everyone on our team pretty much touches the ball from goalie to back of the opposition net…🥰 I can remember some brilliant goals that made me swell with pride but then again I’d rather a flash of brilliance than a season of mediocrity or as my great friend once said “ better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep”. 🤣

We scored 91 goals in our promotion year - the year of the most turgid football of the last 65 years for some fans. But yeah he’s a bad Manager.

Incredible that so many people lack the mental capacity to understand what he’s saying there. If Klopp said it would it be something g to vilify him with? Liverpool 0–1 Inter Milan (March 2022 – lost on the night but advanced) 🗣️ “It’s not that I’m over the moon but I’m really happy because, especially in the first half, I liked our game a lot.” Even when his team lost, Klopp focused on good phases of play and energy levels. 🧠 Why does Klopp do this? He’s focused on building confidence and resilience. Klopp often uses losses as teaching moments rather than scolding. It’s part of his man-management style — defending the team outwardly while correcting internally. Easy to find other example of “ proper” top managers who have said pretty much the same thing. It’s not the sign of a bad or stupid manager that done make him out to be. Other stuff he said or did- maybe- but that quote-desperation time using that.

Good spot. Given Stills’ logic no way THB or FD are playing Wrexham. We have cover at CB but in the FD role we are def short. Perhaps why Sesay has been brought along? I don’t know too much about him apart from Still seems happy with him so far and he’s done ok.

JR has shown more attacking intent in his minutes so far than anything I’ve seen of BBDAACARSSE. Our current forwards are not attacking or entertaining. At all. They are boring negative predictable and disappointing. And on bloody high wages too which makes it worse. All seem frightened to do anything effective or unable - to do anything effective - with or without the ball. The best players make it look like time has stood still for them. It’s effortless. MLT would drift past players without pace just skill god knows how but he did it. We seen glimpses of that with JR recently and TD last year. Occasionally KS did it. Never two games in a row though or even two halves. But rest of them? Pedestrian ball passer -backers frightened to lose possession. They Cannot run cannot time a run make space for anyone or anything cannot fight hard cannot bloody shoot are rubbish in the air and completely silent all match ….wtf are they doing up front then go and get a job window cleaning or something else useful.?!? Not one player looks like he’s loving it and bringing his game to the table. Not one. Maybe Gav- just.,Quarshie is giving it some but the rest, really?? Wake up Saints! Yeah - I’m getting Into posting froth form for the season ahead nicely. 😁😇

Our players looked half a yard slower everywhere on the pitch -again - so all I can assume - desperately trying to find positives - is he is still beasting them in training and all this will come good latter part of the season. It’s obvious physical conditioning is being prioritised much much more than we’ve seen, certainly in last two preseasons. Friendly Results in that case will be affected for sure. Without fitness all the other football stuff won’t work so I guess he is resolving the big problem first- triage style.

We are desperate for a player to be able to HOLD the ball final third- and that’s probably why we don’t pass to our forwards. None of them can hold the damn thing.

Well that was awful. Only bright spots were GB and Shea. Negatives? So many but our entire forward line is basically weak. JR was the only player took someone on tried to make something happen. I can see Bree made case for himself in the starting 11 but frankly our attacking intent-and ability to attack - was absolutely rubbish. The best players were those who didn’t play! No cohesive approach to our play in either half. Just looked hotchpotch and there were many times we were totally dominated. They were by far the better team and the draw was a real fluke for us should have been 5-1 or similar and would not have been unfair. 15th in Spanish 2nd division last year. Got to be a big wake up call. 😵‍💫

Definitely this is a big problem. They’ve had I think 6 shots on target first half. We’ve been shockingly bad final third. Woeful.

GB and Shea best players for us. Best I’ve seen of GB! AA and CA largely anonymous. We’ve conceded far too many chances. MF too porous. Play like that away in Championship could easily be 3-1 4-1 down at half time.

Scruffy first five minutes.

I wanted to remind myself on sone stats from last champs season: Saints conceded 63 goals from 49 matches. Or c 1.3 goals per game. We conceded c. 4 shots on target per match - so roughly one shot in three on target went in! With Ramsdale in goal, or a gk of that quality- all things being equal, he will save more of those shots. Im assuming the opposition have the same 4 shots on target every match as last time we played championship. IMO : Rambo will let fewer goals per game in than GB and AM. Those 2 were the goalies who played last time. How many fewer? If you said 25% better that might represent 25% fewer goals conceded. Ie from 63 down 47 - 16 less goals! Getting to under one per match - which is a figure a promotion achieving team should be aiming for. Conclusion : if AR leaves we must get a starting goalkeeper replacement.- not rely on the previous goalies.

Really? I had no idea.

Because they are less likely to be chatted up if they are in Spain with teammates. And they might feel the love more surrounded by mates. Especially Tyler. Psychologically speaking it’s not brilliant. I can swallow the they are injured so leave them behind argument if you like but quite literally the only person not “injured” who is not there is Jan. Him leaving is hardly a revelation. Still seemed to suggest who was or was not going would be meaningful - I think it is despite the “injured” cover story thats developing as the bona fide reason. Sry to be suspicious on this just don’t look right to me.

leaving TD and THB out are the big surprises for me. I would not leave either alone in the UK away from the squad whilst we go on tour in a million years. I wont buy any they will heal /recover better in UK crap either. They needs to be bonding with the team not isolated from it. Bringing them to Spain -though unfit- would be a STATEMENT of faith in them and squad solidarity - not bringing them is the obvious opposite. V Disappointed as it means they are even more likely to depart, that’s clear enough-to me anyway.

Quite right @Chez! My factual errors aside I Just thought forum was sounding a bit boring and pretty much an echo chamber re. Jack Stephens so just put out a few reasons why maybe it’s was not such a crazy idea after all to not only retain but extend him. If there was ONE player GUARANTEED to get it for the local derby it’s Jack. And he is currently the Captain. ✅👍. I cannot imagine he will be saying “ just another game lads”….

You would have thought so - but there are examples of a Club Captain not being an automatic starter. Or indeed not making the first team much after being displaced. FWIW I’d make him Captain if he was playing - but I don’t think he will play as much as some think - my on pitch Captain in his absence would be AR - if he’s still here. I did not rate FD or AA or JB as Captains so as an alternate ~ and proviso is it’s someone who will def be playing if fit ~ I’d make MF - if it helps him stay another season with us - the captain. He would be a Lead by example captain rather than a shouty shouty. No shortage of energy running and skill or fight in him. Voice possibly only downside. But if he can play and skip as well as his compatriot at Man Utd does…

FWIW to those bemused at JS contract extension. 1. Club Captain for a reason. 2. Experienced academy product and a winner at this level. Shows you can make it through the Academy. 3. When he last renewed his wage was c £35kpw. I’m not certain if that included the relegation cut clause - but if not it means he would be on 40%-50% of that in this last year ie c£14k-£17.5kpw. 4. He (or his agent) negotiated a three year contract NOT got given and I’m certain with his age, experience etc he would be looking for at least that £14-£17.5kpw figure. If not more. How much more? (5) Otherwise-he gets a free transfer to practically any other Championship Club for a likely same or bigger wage plus a sign on bonus. (6) Try recruiting someone with his age credentials experience know how etc and pay them to baby sit a load of young players -plus be captain - it’s not easy it’s not cheap it takes time and oh btw probably a transfer fee is involved and higher wages.The only player close is Jan- and he’s leaving. (7) Bin JS anyway cos he’s rubbish? Why? Cutting out nose to spite our face He is Someone who, if THB stays if Wood stays Quarshie RE and Sanda turn out good will prob be on the bench all season? And be a happy team player. You just will not get find or get that package all that easy. Keeping JS in context was a very easy decision for Still and Spors. Get promoted he may even be sold at a profit for those of you still on the ££ issue.

Dont forget We’ve still got our potential MLT / Gascoigne at the club. I’d give him the #10 shirt. If he stays that is( Tyler). Don’t reckon him as a RW or a LW cutting in - but as an attacking MF -8 or 10 he could become ridiculous. With right coaching and support he’s the best we have.

Nicely put together analysis @SaintJackoInHurworth. 🙌. I found that really helpful in thinking about who may or may not be on the plane so to speak. FWIW : (1) Could Aaron (strategically) stay at Staplewood? Big clue if he does. (2) I think THB, RE, JB and MF may stay at Staplewood for (also strategically revealing) “fitness testing” purposes. Putting them into match situations overseas when he’s not had a proper fitness evaluation of them is a nice plausible deniability cover story. But it also suggests sellability. BK - surely not! (3) For that reason I think Quarshie and Sanda travel. (4) The experienced utility defender evaluation of CharlieTaylor by WS seems to be high - or is he being fluffed up publicly to be sold? That he was babysitting two kids at CB last match was relevant. (5) Trying RF as a kind of #10 was interesting. With Matsuki injured and still an unknown IMO it’s got to be TD and MF for that kind of task - so RF is a very distant third. Unless the latter two are being sold - hence let’s see what RF can do..can def see a purchase in this position as I feel JA -the next obvious one is gonna be sold despite his capabilities. (6) Has to take JR! (7) who he takes or leaves out of the rest of the attack will mean end of saints careers possibly. A shock is possible imo.

Not taking a young player like Tyler on the Spain trip is a massive message. He would/should be desperate to go. Even if he’s not fit I’m taking Tyler to Spain if i was Manager. Leaving him at home sends a “ i dont care” message about him and I’d rather Still did NOT give him that message. Even if he is likely to be sold take him to Spain is my view.