gio1saints

Given that RM rarely fails to use all five subs I can see a good case for why he’d want someone to come off the bench at certain times who is very experienced in pressure situations and is excellent at retaining possession, slowing the game down if needs be etc. AL knows how to do that And, like JWP, will play exactly the position and way he is told like a total pro. I think that’s the nub of why he’s here.

Any idea if Stuart is fit for the bench? I know he’s been back in training last week or so but it’s all v quiet. Think it’s more likely he’ll be saved for the two more winnable matches if his fitness is still an issue. But if I was him I’d want to get on the pitch v Germany in Germany with that atmosphere for what will be his last euros in all probability. Good luck to him and Che if they are on the pitch. Unsure if I really want Che to play a blinder or not cos his wages might just go up if we want to keep him but a sense of fair play tells me I’d love to see him score a worldie for Scotland versus the Germans! * * which, having watched him all season not really scoring worldies but with a decent return is rather unlikely. His last volley though was good technique though not under pressure.

IF he scores v Germany in that high profile game both his wages and loyalty / signing on bonus will be upwardly reviewed by his agent. That One goal alone could literally be worth £1M+ to him. IF he does score just have that in mind as he celebrates with the tartan army. He’s just trousered a Mil for kicking a ball whilst on hols in Deutschland. I’d be fucking delirious as well.

How much do you reckon it costs to keep Che? Best guesses if he stays or if he goes receive a No-prize. Im guessing £100k pw + on a two year contract with a £1.5m loyalty bonus. It’s mental isn’t it.

Jack Stephens last goal for Saints was in the match v Newcastle in December 2019. He played a deft one-two with JWP, did a feint that sent the entire Newcastle team off to buy chip butties before slotting the ball home from the half way line with a no-look outside of his left foot half volley that did not bounce before it entered the net. The ball speed was recorded as 247mph and its in the Guiness Book of Records accordingly. I don’t see Che topping that myself. 😇

If we do not improve the squad I agree it’s probable we will go straight down. I would not consider that a reason why RM should not publicly praise his players performance in interviews. He praises them all if asked - it’s not just Stephens and Will. He’s trying to keep them motivated & encouraged to do it again and more. What he thinks in private is not necessarily what we see or hear in public. I would not want him to bad mouth ANY of our players in public frankly - that’s for behind closed doors face to face with the player. Managers that do that are usually at the end of their tenure. We will see if Will and Jack make the starting eleven but it won’t be related to how much he loves them, he loves ALL of them, it’s his signature managerial style. Does not mean he’s soft or weak. The opposite. Takes more courage to love than to hate. Many admire his approach and I’m sure players like Will and even Stephens may well have played at levels above their natural ability level last season - in part due to the self belief RM has encouraged in them. If that’s the case this year remains to be seen - but I understand your scepticism.

Nice post ( except the “ sigh” bit) and you’ve covered the most likely response range of most fair minded fans out there. Though you may have missed out the fact that not every fan will have the same expectations as you. On the question of “expectations” we will all disagree. But that’s still not an excuse for the abuse. This season we may well get battered at times - and most people will have that outcome in their range of Saints expectations - but for those that don’t……

IF ( and it’s a big IF) we are considering a hold the ball win it in the air and score goals new centre forward option we already got one that might be worth a second chance. If RM plays to his strengths - in the more pragmatic style of the last four games in particular - it’s not inconceivable that Tall Paul could be highly effective- and surprising- to opposition defences not accustomed to players his height- I’m thinking Crouchie levels of being effective if you play to his strengths. He does not appear suited to the PB style of play that was our bread and butter all season but - who knows- we may have the South Coast Andy Carroll who for a time seemed unplayable and a world class CF. Scoff away but he’s our player and we don’t need to spend anything to try him.

I’ve tried to anticipate some worst case scenarios for Saints- and Russell. Long thread so turn away now if you hate these type of posts. Here’s one scenario : No wins by mid- late September and all this conjecture about if he will be poached to be overtaken by a “who will be our next Manager” thread. It’s not some amazing revelation that we will probably struggle - with whoever is in charge. It’s very very likely - but also predictable that an impatient and growing mob will not be able to control themselves or their anger- which will be directed at him. And SR. RM will take full responsibility as a Leader should, but it will be nasty and personal - as usual. This forum will be sick with the volumes of personal abuse being written. It won’t matter how we lost, the style of play or any of that bravery stuff. Or even if there are signs of improvement. There will be NO acclimatisation to the EPL time allowed. It’s likely to be instant results or out. That hypothetical scenario may not be too far off the truth, and indeed might be bookies favourite if one could bet on such negative eventuality. I ask myself is that what we really want to see this season? How can it be avoided? IF RM does not start winning immediately would SR & fans persist with loyalty? Flip a coin. Wait til Xmas probably. But some fans (you know the ones) will prob demand he’s out sooner. It’s a tough gig going up and even just surviving but I think there’s an equal chance Saints are going to make it harder if the chose to twist rather than stick with RM. In the subsequent scenario that’s he gone by Cmas or sooner we could end up with a three manager season: Hypothetical Manager #2 might be more of the same - a 30year old from Portugal, the Bundesliga or some obscure but done well lately La Liga team - and after he’s failed and is sacked a rescue mission exercise to recruit #3 Potter or similar might take place. Or they might go straight to a Potter type. My current evaluation ( subject to change and results of course) is that the chances of RM making it past Xmas are less than 50% - imo. Much less than 50% if we are averaging less than 1pt a game or much more than 50% if we average 1.5-2pts per game and are at top end of the league at Xmas.

The idea of Chris Wood, and Ross Stewart for that matter, is a logical solution to a very obvious problem. The obvious problem is that Saints are notorious for passing it around our own penalty area ( and even 6 yard box). It did not escape the attention of a number of ( lesser) teams in the latter part of the season and I do not expect it will have escaped the attention of EPL teams right from the start of this. We will get uber pressed and goals will be conceded needlessly. Without Gav in goal - and a less football more conventional orientated gk in his place - say Alex or similar- we are much more likely to go long. At present going long with our relatively powder puff mf and tiny forwards is essentially just giving the ball away - only Che is able to hold the play up- just about- at Championship level. At EPL level less so I predict. A more reliable basically bigger stronger physical presence up front would give Saints an option we do not currently have. Especially if they have EPL experience. Chris Wood makes perfect sense from that perspective even if he does not brilliantly fir other PB and future value football characteristics. It’s not an irrefutable case to buy Wood but it is a case to recruit at least one more in the squad with his characteristics now Che is Leaving - or even if he stays and not just to rely on Ross.

Regarding the GK situation. I’m in a minority of one on this, I think, but I remain certain that there is some truth in the assertion that the nervous pressure to “play football” in such a critical position as goalkeeper was negatively cumulative with Gav. Especially given his comparative youth. I think that this eventually dulled or reduced his shot stopping, shot saving, penalty area physically dominating and overall presence. The priority last season seemed always for him to play with his feet - pass it around - often whilst under severe pressure at times. Anywhere else on the pitch a misplaced pass or slightly short or slightly wrong or slightly sub optimal control of the ball and you can often get away with - maybe you foul the player who dispossessed you ( as Saints often do when caught on counterattacks) but that’s simply not possible for Gav in his six yard box without giving away a penalty. I know this is all obvious but what’s not been taken into account, imo, is the nervous fatigue / tension that this constant life or death pressure can create. I think his football skills are very high indeed - but currently that’s ( to me) obviously been to the detriment of his standard goalkeeping skills. And the longer the season went the more obvious it became. When Alex took over it was clear what a mentally fit more standard goalkeeping characteristics goalie could do for us - and those who argued that were he in goal earlier we might have got automatic may have an excellent point. Id like to think that Gav, and Saints, would learn from this and take that into consideration more this upcoming season. Asking any new goalie to play in that way - especially a young one- is going to take its toll. I’m not against the system- if and once the goalie has mastered it and it does not reduce his standard goalie skills, but at present it’s a bit hard for me to justify ahead of a season in the EPL when the pressure is even higher. Hoping it’s s work in process but I’ve yet to see a gk not do a mess in his own six yard box yet - and I’ve no doubt it mashes up the mind - and turns fans against you even though you are only doing what you’ve been told. Even the so called “ world class” goalies are susceptible. It might be a fatal flaw in the system.

Forgetting his history I’ve checked out AL’s stats from Brighton last season and they are hardly inspiring. He played and was sub about 35 something games but his goal scoring or assist impact was negligible. He’s not a defensive mf either. I’d rather give our kids that spot frankly. His heat map for last season suggested he occupies the attacking mf inside left kind of position formerly occupied by “that’s why we sing this song for Stuart Armstrong “ . Aside from the fact that there’s no fee involved all I can assume is that - if he comes - he is going to be on a much reduced wage and it’s more coaching than playing. He’s arguably describable nowadays as an older Rothwell without the goals or tackling. No disrespect to his clearly stellar and outstanding achievements as a player and England international when he was not 36 of course..

FWIW anyone poo-pooing a JWP link is really getting ahead of themselves. Yet again, like last season when were were supposedly too good a squad for the championship. We are about the worst or bottom three worst squad in the league according to bookies - before probable points deductions take place for LCFC , Everton etc. The 14 gls/assists last season - in the EPL - from JWP in a really quite average West Ham team are good numbers from Mf. If Will or Joe hit those numbers for Saints this year they will have had a very good season. If anything it would be a step down for JWP. His last contract- if he leaves West Ham, needs be a good un. Saints won’t be able to pay him big big I’m guessing - so I would not be surprised to see him doing something exceptional. Or come home to Saints if that’s how he wants to play it. Either way he is better than some make out on here. People with short memories of his service to Saints.

This is an example of the type of player I think we might be looking at: Wataru Endō. 31. Apparently now unwanted at Liverpool. Holding / tackling terrier like defensive centre midfield type. Formerly captain at Stuttgart and was Japan National team Captain last year. Klopp was not a bad judge of player and bought him for €19m. Apparently now worth is down to €13m according to transfermkt. You always get high reliability energy and professionalism from Japanese players ( and shirt sales!) so it may attract as competition to Flynn & Shea who already has EPL experience at a high level. And does not cost much ( though his salary I’m not so sure..- he will probably want a big PayPal contract at his age so it’s 1/10 chance comes to saints- but this is just an idea to show we need think outside the usual range of possibilities )

By the time we’ve paid the £20m for THB and the probable £15-£20m for Flynn plus the £3.5m for Ryan we’ve already done c £40m - for ZERO new players. Add in the new EPL contracts for c 12 of our best players (the ones we are not moving on) players and that could easily be another £15m. Suggests we will rely almost exclusively upon player trading rather than big ticket purchases. There may be room for a couple big ticket players ( I mean £15-£20m types) but I’d not be surprised if they don’t happen and instead we use free transfers for out of contract players that fit our personality and technical criteria as our primary source. Adam Lallana already fits that profile and I think he will not be the last in this window for saints.

Don’t laugh - but he comes back, plays ok in a couple of staged pre season friendlies ( unlike how he played in his final perf v Gillingham which was the final nail in his coffin) and suddenly certain European and English clubs might fancy a Brazilian CB for £7-8m. Nothing to do with him. Just how to make a few more mil flipping a player. PS. Not best player in the world by Miles but you cannot fault his charisma and energy to involve the supporters. Does not stop us conceding goals, losing matches, giving away possession in bad places nor win us matches. But on a human level we all like to see it - our players play with that passion. With him it’s natural. I like him as a heart on sleeve person though it’s v unlikely ( and unwise-but who knows what a pre season with us will do?) we will ever see him play for first team again. pps. Plus he genuinely feels he can take the ball and drive out of central defender and spray passes all over the pitch at will. He is Brazilian so he must have flair of course. 😂. Anybody who says they don’t like it when he’s chipped ball over a forwards head or attempted a cruyff turn successfully on same is not a real saints fan!

Good point. He has spent all season praising them, their bravery etc and keeps expressing his love and gratitude to every player every press conference. He now has to go from that to telling maybe a dozen of them or more that they are out. Add in how much he said it hurt him to drop Mara from the final match squad and the personal relationships that form the signature bedrock of his managerial style I think this aspect is gonna be super tough for him. He does not do dispassionate so to bin the players who got us to the EPL in favour of ones he considers better equipped - will be his toughest ever mental and head over heart challenge. Don’t envy him at all. At the moment of greatest triumph for him and most that squad some are effectively also at the end of their careers because of decisions he will have to make.

Learn to read smartarse.

https://x.com/saints_analysis/status/1796552064631267648?s=46&t=l5Q4mkKSxz5qdVtggXqogw Nice analysis of RM on X c/o some insightful person at saints_analysis. 😁

This👆 Its one of the advantages of planning ahead. Which we have been oft told happens at SFC. Our player targets, for if we were EPL, would have been identified well before time JW left. What’s missing as @VectisSaint points out, is reaction to new developments since then - and following them up through one identified person. The price and contract stuff is standard fare.

Not everyone shares your ( irrational) negative opinion of Ras.

£25m and he’s gone IMO - if it’s to Chelsea. Would be his last big career move and he would on way more money than at saints. Maresca is a fan and will know KWP can play the PB style. He’s perfect in that regard. Get rid of mudryk and spend the money on Kyle easy concept. Obvs I hope not and want him to stay at Saints!

I’m more worried that Chelsea will throw £25m at us for KWP and he’s gone fast as you can say “we are stuffed at FB now”.

Oh the shirts are gonna fly out the club shop “ Once Bitten” 😂 Maybe the attraction is that he costs £15 and they will chuck in his uber fare to the station plus a case of Budweiser - and some track suits. And is hungry. If we get the track suits as well that might swing it.

Cannot see that happening. I seem to recall being impressed by his pace strength and aggressive quality- at times- but overall I’d say his attributes mean he requires service - rather than he puts himself at the service of the team. A younger but expensive possibly lost a yard of pace and not won anything yet version of Cristiano Ronaldo is one way of describing him. That Might be harsh - but I don’t see that he’s the type RM - or the team- would fancy.