gio1saints

Charles at RB…

Feck. Not even on the bench!!!! How can McCarthy get on the bench ahead of DB? Crazy he’s a game changer.

Tyler Dibling was the answer to the pre match quiz. Hth.Wesley Hoedt and jo Rothwell the next two. Hth aswell the n Stuey. All tough questions.

Bet of the day sorted. Not often the bookies get these wrong so I’m going large on DB final goal scorer.

Interesting to see what team Leeds put out tonight away to Plymouth. It’s a long trip for them and Plymouth are usually quite attacking at home. Could be goals a plenty.

Brooksy looks very different in a dress and a dark wig I must say. All the same, it’s a good look fir Portswood high street.

Not sure that’s correct. But your underlying fear that THB might have outgrown us by end season either way i share. Both Man Utd and Liverpool could want him next season if VVD and Maquire leave.. We have THB on a year long loan with obligation to purchase -if we get promoted. We, city and THB are parties to the contract and it would have required three way consent to proceed. IF we go up City cannot, without breaching contract, refuse to sell at the agreed price. Ditto THB, without breaching contract, cannot refuse to make loan permanent. Saints cannot, without breaching contract (and implications therein) refuse to buy THB for £20m if we get promoted. It would never come to that I’m sure if THB simply did not fancy another year with Saints as you say perhaps because, say, Liverpool wanted him. What would happen is that we’d either buy him, try convince him to stay, fail, then sell him to Liverpool. Or more simply City sell him and we get given proceeds minus £20m. Either way him not staying a season with us in EPL would be a massive blow so any time he spends with us next season will require a massive wage upgrade I’m sure. If saints can get him To sign a 5 year deal in summer then if worst comes to worst at least we can get best fee possible for him.

This is the type of ball I think THB is already capable of but probably just needs to relax into it a little bit more. This is FULL HOLLYWOOD 👇 https://x.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1754552077743788244?s=46&t=l5Q4mkKSxz5qdVtggXqogw

Its not just about the 11 on the pitch. It’s about the team and how the supporters feel about it. IF David Brooks is not playing but in the stands most of us I’m sure would confirm it’s still worth at least a goal and an assist to us. 👍🤭. No wonder everyone will be singing his “ I wish I could play like David brooks fafafafafa” song later tonight. 🙌 I just hope Kyle “no-song” Walker-Peters does not get funny about it all and takes it in good humour. I mean- Adam hadn’t got a proper song either so there’s a possibility of a bit on inteam jealousy developing. I think I saw aspects of that last home match when the “ Ari-BO-BO” song rang out a while up Northam. I turned to my neighbour and says “ that’s a bit daft seeing as he’s in fucking Africa right now” but it’s a popular tune I guess and there’s no denying his popularity despite hardly ever playing. I imagine Stu and co must be happy that a colleague in Africa is still so cared about that we sing a song about him - but not those performing on the pitch. But they are professionals so what’s good for Joe is good for all! That’s the spirit RM has instilled in them. Long May it continue! 🤭😇

I think that once you actually have an account the amount you have got in it can be £0.01 and it will still be considered a live account. Might be wrong and if it’s £5 at least you do realise that you can withdraw that £5 at any time without penalty. So- open an account, get an opening special deal like they always have available, ( such as deposit match or free bets) then leave the minimum amount in there there to get access to literally dozens of live matches every week. Including a lot of championship EPL la liga Seria A etc matches. They are generally live video no commentary whereas others have no video but radio commentary is available- also free unlike here. Of course you do not get access to the expert insight of Joe Tess etc but it’s free so what do you expect 😁.

Training with our first team is going to do wonders for him between now and end of season. If he’s got it in him he can only improve and get into not only the best condition of his life ( as per RM quoted as saying) but has the great fortune & unique opportunity to learn our PB football style by directly copying another young CB who already looks EPL quality in THB.* It really couldn’t be better for the lad. Now work your butt off, listen to what you are told and give it everything. This is the time. * no disrespect intended to Jan- Polish International CB who is having his best ever season for saints - and think not only regained his place in the starting 11 for Poland but has had captain duties their on occasion when lewnadoski goes off.

Well if I’m starting a little ditty it certainly won’t be about brooks anymore. I’ve gone right off him now I’ve just realised , like yourself, that he’s mugged Saints off by being cup tied. 🤭. ps. think “I wish I could be like Jack Stephens “ is gonna have to do.

I’d be perfectly happy to suggest the exact same (conventional ) formation that we have played almost every minute of the season to date - except that’s a boring post and everyone including Watford know the formation if not the exact players. Thank you for provoking discussion on alternatives 😁 Saints same as usual formation for cup just different players from league matches 11: Lumley Stephens THB Jan Meg Rothwell Charles Smallbone Dibling AA Mara Edozie Sometimes a teams biggest Achilles heel is not its players or managers or coaches skill - but when they, the management, coaches and even the supporters, reach the outer limits of their imagination.

I think that Watford will play pretty much as expected but RM may try surprise them by playing a 3 at the back from the off for this FA cup match - before reverting to the conventional four v Huddersfield. Just to give notice to test if league that we are not always the same formation. Im Probably totally wrong and he keeps the four at back ( insert Jan at CB in which case ) but without Holgate I’ve just got an inkling he may go for something a little different, if so, as follows Lumley Stephens THB Meghoma Rothwell Charles Smallbone Dibling Armstrong Mara Edozie

I’m only going because I want to sing the “ Don’t you wish you could play like David Brooks, fa fa fa fa fa fafafafafa..” song. Result entirely secondary. I’m just a little bit concerned about being ejected out of block 42 for upsetting those around me because it does not include anything about Pompey 😎😁

Nothing to stop that happening at all. It’s very possible.

It’s just a harmless guessing game. Yep I assume that for purpose of the predictions of what might happen last 17 games that we average 2pts a match overall. (Ends on 95pts - is it enough for automatic- maybe perhaps possibly ..surely ?🤭) We can also do same for 1.5 pts a match and see what that means (c 86pts) and discuss if that’s enough or not. ( Not enough for auto imo) We can also assume we beat all those 4 tough teams away and a couple of other wins but somehow lose 7 draw 4 of the other games and see what happens. ( c 83 pts - not enough for auto imo) Heres another : Leicester and Leeds win all the their remaining matches ( incl v Saints) - bar the one they play at Eland road - they will get automatic imo. Likelihood of that happening - very low but not zero. Or any other combination possible. Keeps the mind occupied on a wet Sunday morning when I’m not reffing ! 😁

You misunderstood my post, probably deliberately for Bantz, but I will answer your Q. The comment was contingent on getting 92 + points from all the other games. And even then I said “surely”- which phrase as you know is rooted more in Hope than absolute firm conviction. As it is, with 17 games to go we appear on course for around 95 points ( assuming @ 2pts avg per game) We all know that 2pts a game - 34 points from the last 17 games - is not guaranteeing promotion but to finish on 95 points and come third would be unprecedented. Nothing contentious there. 34 points can be achieved by winning 11 drawing 1 losing 5 of our last 17 matches. We DO NOT Need to stay undefeated. If we get to 95 and it’s enough to go up does not matter that we lost 5 games drew 1 - or to who in doing so. Easier for me to explain : - we are currently on 61 points. 17 games to go. Suppose we win 13.of these. That means we end on 100 points. Enough for promotion SURELY ? guess what - those four losers can be against the four teams you mention. See what I meant now?

That’s an interesting way of looking at it. 😂🤣🤣🤭 I think there’s a fair chance that’s how it will turn out. Out of interest, how many points or in what range of points do you think we need actually finish on to achieve the automatic place?

https://www.juventus.com/it/juventus-tv/alcaraz-e-un-sogno-che-si-avvera Charlies interview at Juve. It’s in Argentinian with Italian subtitles but if you are unfamiliar with either here’s a rough n ready paraphrase: Very happy to be here. Will give my all for club and supporters if I get the chance to wear the shirt. Fave player is Ronaldo. I fight and am very competitive on the pitch my fave position is central. Thank you for the thousands of message on Insta. My nickname is Charley. It’s Inter away Sunday big derby I know but I wish I could be in Rotherham with the Saints as it’s a top top stadium and we play a higher level card of football. I still cannot speak a word of English so don’t expect any Italian out of me even if they have so many connecting roots * * This last paragraph I invented for my own personal amusement 🤭

@Turkish You’ve previously queried the possibility that it’s a hamstring. More likely a relapse of original injury. Sorry if I’ve misunderstood you and happy to be put straight. Perhaps the former injury led to the hamstring is what you mean? But, if not by your quizzical commentary you have obliquely implied that we are not being told the truth. And that essentially Saints are covering up something thats massively embarrassing. Is that what you think? Just to be clear. If so and you are correct it’s not only embarrassing but financially disastrous - potentially career ending for him, possibly an insurance job, potentially P45’s for saints medical team etc. Do you have any actual proof rather than speculation that it’s NOT what Saints have said it is - a injury that happened at latter part of that match and which is taking a long time to cure such that’s he’s been written iff for season? You praise yourself for being ITK so for you to query it like you have means I’m paying attention. IF Saints are lying to supporters it’s def not a good look!

All that player and squad unsettling to grind out a mil - perhaps? My point is that anyone getting too excited the player development, the loan fee and a ridiculous option price are perhaps missing that this is also professional exercise in bigging up Charlie’s transfer value - and he does not even need to be a star out there to do it. Just being signed by Juve has increased his value without him touching a ball.

Posted this in wrong place previously apologies. 😇

I’m happy with the Charlie deal and I love Charlie - but I do think there is some naivety around wrt to why it’s happened. Two main reasons: 1. The loan fee covers Charlie’s 6mth wages plus bits and bobs & fees..virtually no “profit”. There is no guarantee he actually plays as far as I’m aware. 2. There’s no chance Juve pay €49m for him in the summer. None. They do not have the money - and would need to sell first or swop at best - and that’s if Charlie has a blinder and scores ten goals plus assists - hence the Soulé swapsie link. Primary thing happening here despite the official sugar coating is that SR are using Juve to value-add our player in a way very unlikely/ almost inconceivable if he was to stay at saints til summer coming off the bench. A type of sports washing if you like. All it means is that we get his wages paid for 6 months and then he’s back. SR hope the experience will increase his skills & transfer value - but certainly the kudos of having played for Juve will enhance his selling value alone. The €49M option price is simply hype to to make possible summer suitors raise their bid level if they want to take him on board when Juve ( probably) reject the opportunity. It’s just clever business sense neatly marketed and credibly-on-the-surface at least packaged as a player development opportunity. Im not dissing it or Saints- but it’s not all about Charlie put it that way- as I’d expect and most mature observers already realise.

He’s half Italian anyway being Argentinian. No problem getting the language at all.