gio1saints

Given we have Sam E, Kameldeen and Ryan Fraser already at Left Wing not including Jay Robinson or Tyler who can both play there I’d say the vertically challenged Sainz is not what we need. At all. And bear in mind AA can and probably will play inside left as well as inside right up front. So who would be best to play with AA? My vote is for Josh Sargent who fits a #9 shaped gap we will have when TP inevitably leaves and is competition though probably an immediate starter in that role vs. RS. So of the two Norwich players it’s clear which id have. £15m -£18m should do it.

Please all his detractors: Jack does not need to be good enough to play against Mo Salah or Cole Palmer next season. He only needs to be good enough for the Championship players he is facing next year to get into Saints 1st team squad. Is he good enough to help nullify the Preston’s or Swanseas attackers for example? It’s a totally different and lower skill level required. And he will be more than fine there. Plus he’s the biggest voice we have in a silent team. What we do need is a goal scorer. Am I convinced by Archer and RS? No. Am I convinced AA is not past it after 3 goals in 16 at WBA? No. Am I convinced TP is staying? No. Sulemana? No. Will Sam E come back and tear it up? Unlikely. Will Tyler be around? Maybe. No. But we need some goal scorers - not resurrection jobs like BBD and that West Ham South coast holiday project we took in with Mr Cornet out of desperation. Oh for a Rickie Lambert! PS. I’ve a sneaky suspicion Patrick Bamford will be a Saint shortly..

I still think it will be Rohl because of the synergies noted by @Saint Fan CaM. The reason thats important is because it shortens the acclimatisation process you always get with a new Manager. My point is I think we were lucky that it worked with, relatively speaking, non synergetic RM. New Manager - and Saints - start with advantages if there are synergies, no doubt. FWIW - I don’t see Saints giving ANY New manager more than a dozen or so matches next season before they decide to sack him ~ if we are not on over 20 points. Which, with my pessimist saints hat on means that whoever we recruit now will most likely not be Manager in January anyway! And that the January choice, in all likelihood, should be the one we pick now! That suggests to me NOT to pick Danny Rohl ( despite the synergies and their advantages, because he would still need great luck, imo, to get the team on 2pts/match after a dozen games ) - but rather get someone with more experience.. Still think it will be him but suggest it probably wont be him in Jan. So the other guy- THATS the guy we should pick now.

We will “train well” again this week then probably get hammered by Man City. A lot of supporters concur that Saints are noticeably less fit than the opposition, most of the time. We have also been noticeable slower both physically and mentally than our opposition. We have also been noticeably unwilling to go all out to win 50-50 challenges and invariably get out jumped for headers. Our passing is noticeably less crisp than the opposition and our shooting …well I should say our absence of shooting on target, tells its own story. Our inability to mark, often from straightforward positions like set pieces has also been noticeable. I just wonder - and it begs the question - what exactly is the “ training well” line that all three managements have used as a default pre match interview line? This delusion has been going on under three successive manager/ coaching teams now this season? It’s clearly NOT. “ training well”. Training SHOULD BE : Training in improving stamina or how to run faster, or how to jump higher, or how to concentrate better, or how to defend set pieces better or how not to get outmuscled off the ball or how to shoot and score more often or how to tackle like your job is on the line more than the last match. It SHOULD be detailed specifics on the next opponents and required tactics and strategy accordingly. Nobe of this happens to anything like the necessary standard this season. So why do we still get fed this pointless nonsense on “ trained well”. I wish they’d retire that phrase until it means something.

An overused phrase from all the managers we’ve had this season is “ trained well”. Rusk used the phrase to describe Wellington today. Given we get beat most every week i make the connection that what successive managers at SFC have called “ trained well” is actually bollocks. Somebody ought to tell players and the managers that what they are doing is the opposite of “ training well”. My definition of trained well is when, following that training, the team performs well, and wins. If the training is rubbish then the performance will be as well. So, I have no hopes for the last three matches until I hear that the new manager thinks that the training is and has been shite that the sports science is and has been shite and turns the place upside down to start again.

My seat was very unlucky this season. My lucky neighbours from previous year moved and I reckon that’s what did it for us. Think I will move also. Or not renew. Please Saints people who read this forum ( yes, YOU!😎) give me a good reason to renew for next year as : 1. The footballing match day experience has been poor , very poor. The “ entertainment” is Pot luck and there is no guarantee we win each match I get it. But EVERY SINGLE MATCH except one to get beat and only a meagre set of draws? It’s not a good backdrop to sell next season from at premium prices. So- Season ticket renewing price adjustment, downwards, please. 2. The non footballing match day experience has deteriorated, badly. I initially thought that beer tent playing live music thing outside Northam was going to be alright - and no disrespect to the bands they are giving it their best- but all it does is creates massive logjams outside northam from people queuing for beer, from people queuing to get into the ground, from people queuing at the kiosks and people standing from a distance around and outside looking in plus others trying to get past the stewards and rubbish bins. The footprint available is too small for all that. There’s simply not enough room for all that’s there. In Real Estate terms Space= luxury = value added , and in this instance Saints have, sadly, gone in reverse - with that solution we have Less space = less exclusive = value reduced. Being turned into a sardine or having to waddle like a penguin to get from one end of Northam to another is not an upgrade worth renewing a ST at a premium or even same price as last year. So, Season ticket renewal adjustment, downwards, for next season, please. Use the goddamn parachute money to subsidise it if you have to, better spent there than on another BBD for instance!

You’re not taking this Manager thing very seriously are you? If SFC want to save the £20m it’s gonna cost to recruit a new manager and his team then sack them after 12 Championship matches when we have only 5 points and then go steal another manager and his coaches who play in another style and pay a big eff off compensation fee-why not save all that time ( and money) by letting Rusk and Adam lead the team into the Championship. Then, when we only have 5 points from first twelve games playing in the what’s er style you can call what we do ( uber pragmatic?) they can be sacked and some other lot with a wholly new playing philosophy can be brought in. And some will love it and others will hate it. And when it’s clear we’ve missed the playoffs we can sack these as well, and recruit Danny Rohl.

Silva was just being a c&nt. That was not true - we had more shots on target than them in the first half for example. They committed more fouls on us than the other way in first half for example. I know because I had a bet on both outcomes ( needed same thing second half to pull off a 102/1 touch sadly not to be). The only thing more offensive than his comment was his fouling players - and WE were the ones who actually scored first not huffed and puffed like they did first half. So, you can just feck off de Silva. You beat a team bottom of the league struggling in every way managerless and with morale on the floor and yet you feel the need to big yourself up and belittle us after the event? Little, pathetic man.

My thoughts: Stewart could have taken the shot but instead chose to fall over claiming a penalty via a push. Maybe Liverpool or a top team at home gets that penalty but on balance I think he should have trusted himself to shoot-and score..I’m frankly disappointed he decided to fall over. He got his chance- and he chose to fall over. Wrong decision for a winner imo. Someone desperate to make an impact after 2+ years out does not take a rain check on a possible direct shot with good chance of scoring in the penalty area. I was in Northam 41 so had a direct down the pitch view of the challenge. It was at best a harsh maybe penalty but we don’t get those usually… he definitely had the opportunity to shoot and gave it a no thanks. He’s a #9 he’s there to shoot and score ffs! Not happy with his mindset there one little bit. PS. I am not wanting to go OTT on him first start back long injury I know I know and he did run around a bit and it’s early days BUT, Me Stewart you must not act like a weak minded flake if you want to be our #9. Next time shoot, score, scorn the goalie rip off the defenders leg and throw it into the crowd on the way back to the centre spot and take your aclaim. Not roll around whimpering you fell over.. PPS. I 100% saw some of our players ducking out of 50-50 challenges. Unacceptable.

One overwhelmingly obvious point of his recruitment is that we WILL be. Spors will favour athleticism, height, power and pace as the default requirement of SFC players. Whoever is new manager not only MUST comply but ideally is already a believer.

He is too short to play in a Spors team at CB. Or even to be given a chance at that or dcm. Think he will be sold.

Thank you Holmes. Thing is my legs never been so hair free so I’m certainly returning. 😂🦵 My ITK credentials if I even need to say, are no better than average join the dots best guess logic I’m afraid despite my pretty tenuous inside contacts so it’s entirely possible I have made it up or totally misunderstood. At any rate I have a feeling deckchairs are out for Fulham. Great chance to score a goals and do a home win thing. Think Rusk and Adam will be leading a chorus line bow at full time to the Northam. ( that was also in my imagination/dream too in case anybody has misunderstood me). Anyhow just the possibility has left me feeling more 4/10 we will not lose than 10/10we will lose.

Interesting or nothing but my eyebrow briefly raised to hear, apparently, certain people enquiring what it’s like living in Soton.

There is a slight chance we may not lose Aaron entirely. 1. We make him best paid player in the Championship. And keep him at high EPL level salary or simply a one year bonus. Remove any financial reason for him to leave basically. Offer him a £5m bonus if we get promoted and EPL wages. Fuck differentials with rest of squad he’s a top gk. 2. OR a bit more longwinded - He might be offered an extended contract - then allowed to be loaned to Chelsea ( or similar European football playing team) for example in order to satisfy his top level playing and International aspirations for next season. This would mean his family could stay in the South and were we to get promoted at first opportunity he’d be able to come back to us and a part of the world him and family feel most comfortable with. Or sold to Chelsea for massive fee. Don’t see either myself and it’d be clutching at straws but good goalies like him are rare so I’d do pretty much anything to somehow keep him on board. Financially I think point 1. Is arguable. We can spend £12m including wages on a new gk who may or may not be any good - or basically pay what it takes to keep a gk we know will be best in the league from Day One. No brainer for SR imo. IF they can think in that pragmatic way.

If Gavin is not fit for pre season (IF) then I agree with the idea of recruiting a new first choice keeper for next season. IF he is fit then actual pre season should determine if he stays or if he goes. He is young still for a keeper don’t forget. With all due respect to AM -and GB frankly - especially a big “Thank You “ for the play off performances AM and to Gav for his crucial part in the unbeaten run and the fundamental “Russball” approach that got us up - but they have both trousered a lot of money whilst at SFC for not actually doing much goalkeeping last few years. That criticism includes JL who, good bloke that he is, if he cannot displace AM week in week out in training, cannot be good enough either. Im fluid about all of it except the first basic requirement- if /when Aaron goes we need a top quality first team starting new goalie. Not a kid not a reserve not a potential. A straight into the team starter.

He is injured.

yeah I see your (as per usual cynical) pov - maybe RM is airbrushing his history a bit about those recruits that did not happen. Maybe he did go on record at the time saying he loves those he's recruited. The latter if true ( probably 99% certain) is Manager talk 1.01 anyways. Thing is people knew at the time pre and early season he was not getting who he wanted - so I discount its retrospective PR work to make him look good for his next job ( though it does no harm). HE 100% wanted Delap -Who visited training ground and was happy with RM. And if we had Delap all that faffing around pre season with stupid formations without a proper CF - and getting beat every week - would probably not have happened. Maybe history would change. maybe not. So- the transfer fiasco was not his fault basically. He did not solve the stay competitive in the EPL puzzle with what players he had - that's his fault.

My understanding is that Russell really wanted : Liam Delap - Liam was happy but our ceo fucked it up, he wanted o’reilly but our ceo fucked it up, he even wanted Jordan Henderson and was refused. He got what he was allowed to get and they were not his first choice(s). Even the Flynn deal was nearly fucked up. To say the the bad recruitment was on Russell Martin is inaccurate. Guilty in other ways but in that : innocent.

Looks like we will need a new gk for next season or back to AM and JL….. Hoping Gavs injury is not a career threatening one if it’s an ACL …

I hope we get that draw-or better - but think that is pretty much the best we can hope for. West Ham under Potter will be DESPERATE for a big win and we could be the team to give it them. Our management clearly are not just chucking the kids on and going full on attack so it looks like keep it tight game ( yeah like we’ve not been able to do all season bar a match or a half or two..) has to be the limit of our optimism - to be all square going into the last third or so and hope to snatch a winner. Big up to all Saints fans going, keep the volume and humour up! 😁😇

with thanks to Siri and ChatGPT: The ten tallest players in the EFL Championship for the 2024–25 season are: James Beadle (Sheffield Wednesday) at 201 cm, Jake Cooper (Millwall FC) at 199 cm, Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle) at 198 cm, Lukas Jensen (Millwall FC) at 198 cm, Illan Meslier (Leeds United) at 198 cm, Harry Souttar (Sheffield United) at 198 cm, Josh Griffiths (West Bromwich Albion) at 197 cm, James Trafford (Burnley FC) at 197 cm, Jacob Zetterström (Derby County) at 197 cm, and Tom Glover (Middlesbrough FC) at 196 cm. At least one of these to get our average height up a bit.

He came out earlier did two great saves and has gone to neck a few beers before kick off whilst the rest do that running stuff

Love seeing Lallana shouting and being a super coach with his whistle in one habd ball under his arm in the other. He is personally training THB in the warm up. I think th.mb should have a word about that hair and thing though. Can’t be good for him. 😁 pS some super reaction saves from our Aaron in warm up. I reckon he’s good for maybe 6-8 saves today at least. pps : gotta laugh in a nice way at lallana. He doesn’t know wether to stretch and kick a ball or a sprint himself, clap the players or whistle/shout at them. He kind of does all of them at same time lol

Of course. Genius! Seeing the obvious before everyone else. IF Lallana can be an assistant I’m sure Crouchie could be Manager, easy, he’s got at least 6-10 inches height advantage. I mean, it’s a no-brainer for Spors. Crouchies agent needs to get going before TP’s money man senses the way the wind is blowing and puts TP up as player manager next season! Things are really on the up in the new Manager front I must say!

Villa are taking this pre match preparation super professionally😎. They will attempt to dismantle us in the first half to kill off the game ( and crowd) and then they will attempt to just hold us at bay to prepare for the PSG match. The longer we can keep it at 0-0 or tight- the better. They will not want to wear out there best players so there’s a sliver of a chance last fifteen if it’s still close. We can pressurise them. Sadly I think they will be well ahead by then but here’s hoping ! Think our starting line up will reflect the above likely way the game plays out so a solid starting 11 team and then if we are still in it to try to win. With attacking subs.