gio1saints

Like many I was disappointed with DB after some early promise BUT once we started playing less dogmatically the last four games it seemed to suit him better. His perf v WBA was his best for example. Might be contentious but the PB style can sometimes seem to put a bit of a downer / handbrakes on forward players with individual “flair”. Alcaraz, Sam, Sulemana, Sekou, all ostensibly skilful but none really smashed the championship like we thought they could (or should) The most successful forwards in RM’s system were the most disciplined and most workmanlike - Che, Adam and Ryan. This season coming up will he persist with keeping “ flair” players who rarely contribute in his first team squad or will he replace with more Ryan’s Che’s and AA’s?

Welcome back MLG! Noted Burnley did spend a lot - but it did not have the effect of upgrading evolving or improving them. Just buying new players alone for runaway championship winners Burnley, was wholly inadequate. Was it the players ( bad picks?) or was it because VK played exactly the same way as the previous year (and in the EPL they know how to counter it better than that’s years Championship cohort?) or was it something else or a combo ? I think what RM showed he can do evolving tactically in the last four matches plus ruthless player upgrading is the key to improving sufficient to be competitive in the EPL for Saints. Im beginning to wonder if not having JW around somehow gave RM freedom to adjust how we play- to winning effect. Add higher quality players and it could be interesting.

If Rasmussen has the influence everyone says in this regard I expect BIG and MANY changes. He is a firm believer in not resting on your laurels. Of getting ahead of the curve. Just doing what we did last year, playing the way we did, with the same players (see Burnley) is already bang out of date - so the theory goes - and will have been sussed out by the competition already ( also see Saints v the lower ranked teams that easily beat our system towards season end ) In order to survive and thrive we must evolve and improve and upgrade. That’s unlikely to be achievable organically ( ie our academy kids and some fringe players are not all of a sudden gonna be EPL standard- and neither will some - or more truthfully even most, of our first team squad. There’s going to be a lot of hard decisions being made. If RM got upset over dropping Mara for the Final I can’t think what he’s going to be like when he has to do that x 10 or more players pre season…and with no DOF to blame either. I think the right call is to spend and upgrade. The Romantic call is to keep most the players that got us up together in this epl season. But that’s not the right call. That’s heart over head. I wonder what will win when they have the chats…head I think and there will be tears…

As long as the intention is to groom him for management then I can’t see why Saints would not have him ( inexpensively) to teach him the ropes of coaching. His experience is excellent. If it’s as a player then I see little value myself. Does he displace Will? Joe? Flynn? Shea? Or replace Stu Armstrong as the one who can carry the ball a bit from def/midfield to attack? The latter is possibly what attribute I think they might most like with AL as a player because in Stu’s absence it’s only KWP who dies it well, Joe kind of, Flynn tes 1 or 2 per match or Jack Stephens but it’s heart in mouth time. Arguably Adam is better than those ( except kwp) at that particular ball carry skill. But other than that cannot see much playing justification. Unless he is super cheap in which case yes id have him but not if he wants big bucks.

I initially thought that too. They’re GD this season for a team finishing as high as they did flattered to deceive. Without changing Moyes I’d have them nailed in as bottom six next season. BUT in Lopetegui they have got one of the best coaches in world football for his teams not conceding goals. He plays ostensibly a PB game but he is Uber pragmatic about defending ( I think he would be an ultimate and appropriate role model for RM!) Dont think west hand fans will like the football but I suspect he will do enough to keep them up. And thry should be grateful. But they won’t be. Especially as they have no proper Stiker ( yet- and I don’t include Bowen as he is more an AA type). IF lopetegui does not start good though and he does not get the players he will need it could unravel for whufc pretty quickly…

It’s not out the question. Think he’d need to go manage lower leagues first earn his stripes etc. Both him and JWP have a certain look of Manager pre-destination about them. If RM can make it so can ( better players and equally bright), AL and JWP. NB not that I believe good player= good manager. And as for if Adam is bright enough I do not know for certain- but JWP has always seemed articulate to me and fits the bill for young English manager with international and all lower leagues plus EPL experience to a Tee..

via bbc sport : In an intriguing interview with Corriere dello Sport, Carlo Ancelotti explained: "I don't believe in ideologies like Guardiolismo, Sarrismo... I believe in the identity of the team." Since his return to Real Madrid, Ancelotti has more than ever focused his side on adapting to opponents, creating chaos, forcing errors, pouncing on them. Russell should study Carlo Ancelotti’s Uber pragmatism style and base himself and our play a lot more on that if he wants to win more matches in the EPL. Vincent Kompsny and Burnley are a good example of what can happen if yiu fail to adapt sufficiently. ( and yes I, Ironically, know that Kompany’s reward for relegation is possibly to manage Bayern Munich!)

RM himself said that when they had a week to prepare the team we seemed to do better. Suggests that when it’s a quick turnaround he went into a default mode - Possession obsession mode if you like. At times that worked ( mostly against inferior teams and managers) other times especially later in season we looked predictable and any good team & good manager could work us out. The last four games he prepared match by match and he was VERY effective though. Saints possession obsession remained a fundamental part of it - but was not the be all and end all. Keep that approach, retain the best bit of our PB game and I’m sure he will, like Vincent Kompany, be managing a European giant in 25/26.😂

Well that was a blast! As noted both Adam and Che were rather well gone.m it seemed. Jack is def the leader. Sam E is super shy. As is Kyle. Flynn imo wants to stay, Ryan Fraser is some character and wants to stay big time. even Jan lightened up for a Mo and was playing the drums, Stuart still incredibly popular and all round good guy, Frannie is still a legend, all the players got good receptions but especially Flynn. Who showed some moves and despite trying not to say anything it really looks like he would stay if he could. Martin led the chant of “sign him up” and all the team joined in. Jack Stephens cemented his status when the “ Pompey scum” song came out by joining in and doing some kind of hand movement 🤫when referencing Pompey. No love lost with them for sure. Ryan Manning is a cheeky chappie spraying everyone with chambers as is Che and as for Adam, he is a class act on the dance floor! Even the Loch Ness Drogba got a look in, Gav did some hopping moves even Juan Larios andkameledeen got a cheer as did Shea and Alex who all got plenty cheers. Blackmore did a good job compering. He said there was 5,000 there! Mental if so. It was an absolute blast and I’m glad we raised good money for the foundation at same time! IMG_8107.MOV

IMG_8107.MOV incoming epic IMG_8107.MOV

This is fucking epic!

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oh Flynn Downes next to me oh funny Downes ifflynn Downes next to me

Russ is going to do a few soulful numbers then it’s the heavy rock led by JanZz

Players arriving on stage in 20

On my first threshers..

Finally got mine. Odd says I’m in The Itchen for this. Thought it was outside.

👍

its only the prelim?

Very true. If you think back to last year when Burnley walked this league- they basically refused to buy THB and Nathan Tella. Terrible terrible mistakes by whoever makes those calls. I hope we see Flynn in a Saints shirt- and Wee man also next season - and Stu also - nit to pick those three up also bad mistake imo. PS. And I never thought I would say this but Alex comes into that category as well!

Love Frannie

Open top bus things are not for coming third. A little get together at SMS day after to celebrate ProMotion is very much👍

Looking forward to it. If I can get more than one ticket I will. Asking my fam and friends if they’d like to attend but it is short notice. Any saints fans here not able to get a ticket I can try get one for you ?

Good job he reckons he got so much love and support when he and saints most needed - as it means he doesn’t read this web forum thing 😀. Ref the team : A bunch of players are going out and a bunch of new players will be incoming. Hopefully the manager remains the same. Let’s see what our starting team is in a few months. I predict at least 6-7 changes to the starting eleven…and 10+ changes to the squad. FWIW : two new GK’s, two new FB’s, at least one new CB, at least one new CDM, at least two new playmakers, at least two new midfield/strikers and at least two winger/ strikers.