gio1saints

He’s on £25k pw at Celtic AFTER a big pay rise. What wages do you think he or his agent are asking for ( and that Saints cannot pay/ afford?)

I think it’s humiliating. Having to trial for Brentford v AFC Wimbledon? FFS. I think they are the lowest payers in our league… Imagine if he gets turned down by Brentford. He’s well and truly fucked. I don’t think that was a good idea Stu. Get back to Celtic mate and win some medals, play in Europe and get mass fannadulation & extra glory for a few years. Probably about same pay as what Bees would offer too.

I always study body language of players especially newbies. Based on what I saw Yuki will have no difficulties becoming a positive influence as an attacking right back. He knows where to occupy his area when to be wide when to tuck in when to put his foot on the ball, when and where to run down the line or diagonally or inside, has an eye for a decisive through ball and a good shot but equally knows when the simple pass to a mf or cb is best. can chip the ball into an area or to feet so technically is good and has high football IQ. We did not see him have to actually defend against a quality attack - yet- but first signs all very good. This aspect is going to be harder. Most of all he has an extraordinarily good sense of team spirit and understanding / cooperation with colleagues - which was excellent for a debutant and RM loves that. His muted celebration for his goal showed me he has low ego & is generally a respectful person -of everyone including lower level opponents that you do not gloat when you beat them. Plus he has a wicked sense of humour. 😍

Dibling & Sam both took the opportunity to show why they are so highly rated. Yuki looks like he has got a good engine and to get forward. Could easily have scored a second. Wood looked the part at CB. Charlies goal carbon copy of his goal v gills last year. Looked a bit leggy to me though. Eastleigh #11 and #12 both decent players though the 11 had a torrid time with Sam.

Yup my bad!

0-2 AA from good Ballard assist.

1-0 Aa! ( I think ) 😁

5mins gone should be 0-2 Saints. Eastleigh not really touched the ball yet.

Kwp not on the coach.

First sight of the lesser spotted Llama.

Just about to get on me bike and trundle over to the Silverlake….Hoping to see Suki, The return of Adz, new defence of Edwards, Taylor and Wood, Larios (if he’s allowed out that late ) but most of all hoping for a decent shift ( at least a half) from RS - which would reassure me greatly. Anyone have ideas on what refreshments are available on site? 😎

If I’ve got a chance to earn life changing money somewhere else even though I have a decent offer on the table I’m 100% gonna look at it. Wanting or not wanting to be somewhere would not be my primary consideration. It might be for us Saints supporters but let’s get real- Che is trying to get the most ££ he can now he’s on a free and it’s unlikely Saints are going to offering him more or even close than many other comparable clubs including Saudi as a wage and or a sign in fee. Not got an issue with that. Wether he’s good enough yes I have my doubts and prefer we get someone new- but this waiting game- totally as you’d expect.,

Majority of our next ( bigger) signings may come much later in window. 1. because we do need to unload some first and 2. Arsenal, for example will prioritise a fee for Ramsdale on the open market up until the bitter end - if they know they have us gagging for a loan of him if that fails. Chelsea same with Broja for hypothetical example(s). So we have to wait until nobody buys them. And then strike fast. The most likely quick “ buys” may well be from outside the EPL. Hopefully players like O’Reilly before Celtic start getting involved in CL matches and refuse to budge until they knocked out - and to give them time for decent replacement. I’d of thought Stu could do that job in a blink of an eye for them - and would love another few European nights so get on with it!!

GK is one position in particular I don’t mind us hiring a top of the range expert/specialist. Whether it’s to purchase ( unlikely with Saints) or to hire ( much more likely ) getting a goalie that everybody knows is shit hot between the sticks is a good investment. His reputation alone stops players shooting - compare and contrast at times with Gav last season. If Ramsdale costs £120k pw for a year that’s SR punting £6M pa on him saving us X points. He saves us 6 more points this season than Alex or Lumley who is going to argue he was overpaid? Alex did well last few games and would be a good back up - but a whole season as our undisputed #1 back in the EPL - I think him and Ramsdale can fight for that and I’m sure who wins. Or as I previously mentioned the ex Arsenal and current Juve Polish National GK may also be available for hire…

This would be fun/ mental : Wojciech Szczesny not happy with €4m pa offer from Juve to renew his deal. Was on €6m pa Looking to Saudi. Transfer fee would be ( according to transfermkt) c €6M. From saints perspective a loan or purchase deal with maybe possibility of being able to extend would cost us say c €3m fee plus say €6M in wages total €9m For a class vastly experienced gk that could keep us in the EPL. cheap. Totally sorted out the gk position. Still only 34. 😀

Whenever we make a big deal about a happy event it quite often acts as the sugar to sweeten the medicine we are about to take. In our case I think the sugar was Flynn signing and medicine is KWP leaving. The timing fans PR works better that way around.

Can’t believe I overlooked that! Given we seem to have bought the replacements for KWP and Jan , should they leave, but have not done so for AA might it be that Saints are highly confident of a contract renewal? We seem to have concentrated on sorting out the defence early but there’s a big elephant in the room regarding our attackers! Surely at least two new attackers imminent- and the announcement of an extension for AA.🙏And why isn’t RF training with us yet???? Thought that was a done deal.

Jan B and KWP. Both in final year of contract. Both key players for RM - like Che and Stuart. Combined transfermkt value : c €30. RM publicly quoted as bemoaning that Stu and Che entered final year without renewal. TWO NEW CB bought already plus BK to return and TWO NEW FB’s also. Would we really do that if KWP and JB were not leaving? The money we get for them two will pay for the new #9 and possibly the new attacking MF.

My guess is the Lamine camara link was the plan B ( or C) if Flynn did not sign. Cue he probably joins us this window!😂

Shea is Flynn’s understudy. End of conversation. When Flynn is not playing Shea should play that role. Cup matches, suspensions, injuries and illness cover. That’s going to be at least 10 matches already. Will CAN play that 6 role if needed but this year I’d pick Shea. There is no pressing need to get a back up for Flynn. There is, however, a #9 shaped gap in our squad now Che has gone - and that is clearly a priority, added to that there is also a Stuart Armstrong shaped starting role in first team that needs filling. I’d say Both those positions are ahead of any ideas of a back up DMF / #6 on the transfer front. Unless Shea is loaned out, of course, which is not impossible. NB I do not rule out that AL may be the Stuart replacement but with no disrespect intended to AL - I’d rather not and prefer to think it will be O’reilly.

Surely arriverderci Kameldeen if this Palace lad strolls up? Or if he doesn’t seems writing is starting to become visible on the wall for KS…

The point about Charley learning English is well made. In fact it’s make or break for his Saints career. As others have already mentioned he should be extremely willing and able to learn much from AL - but not if there’s no interest on his part in mastering the language sufficiently - which I understand is/was RM’s main point of frustration with him, talent unquestioned.

Like every saints fan I find the KS situation frustrating. There’s a player in there. He has Mbappe-like acceleration. But that seems to be it so far. Every match I saw him last season he looked like he was playing with weights around his ankles. Our PB tactics basically shackled him and he looked awful. It afflicted SE to a an extent also. RF was the only winger with the ability ( I think it’s mostly football intelligence and maturity) to adapt his game to the way RM wants team to play. He’s not as technically or physically gifted as the other two but was miles more impactful. KS is currently not a starter nor even an impact sub at present. Unless something changes in pre season he is on the For Sale list imo.

RM has already commented on Lallanas immediate and impressive impact upon training. That’s usually his “tell” sign that the player is going to be on the bench!🤣

Much overlooked aspect of Spains performances in this tournament was their press when out of possession. Spain have some excellent players - but so did most of the top teams - but none of them played as ferociously and as high up to regain possession as Spain, so often. And that was a key aspect of them winning the ball back and winning every game. * I hope our press can be as effective as theirs this season. All the EPL teams will be practising press activation. Those that do it best will have better results than the others - even with apparently inferior players. Hoping our team spirit and relatively ego free squad will stand us in good stead there. * ps and neither was it that Spain’s players were fitter than everyone else’s players. Yes, Spains players were technically competent and mentally alert when out of possession but It was the coaching and the team mentality that meant this was an automatic response not something that needed to be shouted at them from the sidelines. Big difference.