gio1saints

Have to say this - I did not know Stuey could run so fast! Seeing him chase back and overtake that Watford player who was on a breakaway- after he’d taken the corner don’t forget- was something for sure must go on his career highlights reel- let alone the clever goal. Last Scot I saw that fast won an Olympic 100m gold 😂. BRILLIANT ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. IF Stu needed to remind anyone out there who doubted he’s still got the legs and the goals in him just check that out! Was like a greyhound catching a rabbit. PS. To save you the trouble it was Alan Wells 1980 Olympics and I’m sure Stu would piss himself at the comparison! 😂

Just shows how important to the team is the understanding that Flynn & Will have created as our central axis unit. We should not take for granted what they do - on and off ball - but it’s only when they are replaced by others that the obvious drop in quality sticks out.

Personal opinion : The Best result of the transfer window would be keeping ALL our best players. You know, “ The Unbeatable Saints”. Retaining ALL our best players = major continuity, consistency, morale and momentum boost to our promotion hopes. The team & the squad know who they are and what’s what and where they play, how & with who in what units - and even when. Focus is solely on promotion not learning a new guys ways or new position style or movements etc. The alternative is tinker about buying and trading our best player (s) - which is often a gamble. Why gamble on our team momentum, team consistency, team continuity and unit morale right now? I argue we’ve more to lose than to gain by first team player trading - given the current squad are literally currently unbeatable at this level. To paraphrase Clint Eastwood I’d be saying” Well, do you feel lucky, punk?” ( 3 pts for guessing the film 😁) Is it worth taking that risk, right now? For me NO.

Try Vinted seem to have a lot of saints fc kits clothing new or in vgc.

Few observations: 1. Very true about the back half is the noisiest part of Northam. It’s a myth ALL the Northam are massive singers 2 At the FA cup match recently I was in the uncomfortable felt-guilty situation of being in Block 42 close to away fans but was standing as usual all match - except right behind me were a family of sit downers including a child who couldn’t see unless I and my son too sat down. What to do? 3. In the proposed situation that the upper is standing - and likely still v noisy- and the lower is seated - and maybe less noisy, that seated/standing thing “ might” not happen so often. Which seems an ideal compromise if those below happened to be from elsewhere in the ground. That the seated supporters are probably going to be less noisy than the standing supporters And less likely to stand up all match and obscure your view it might not be so controversial a suggestion to encourage seated-preferring season ticket holders elsewhere in SMS - specifically those who might need to move to make way for new away section - to relocate there. I think the positive aspects of the Red and White wall concept never mind it would look and sound visually fantastic including the holistic other stuff like enhanced fan zones improved under stand concession solutions etc would make a ST in the new Northam ( or discussed Markus) stand very desirable.

That issue is something I know SFC are VERY aware of. Virtually the #1 challenge to resolve basically. Saints do have internal professional expertise ( from West Hams move & others) - of the pluses and the cock-ups to learn from when moving ST fans from A to B inside a ground or indeed to another ground altogether - but fans voice vital to be heard first and foremost. There was much discussion in and around it from the fans present as you’d hope and expect.

Capology estimates salaries for four loan ( or with O’Hare / Abada loan or buy) players linked with Saints as follows: D. Brookes : £50k pw 26 yes old. M. Benson : £25k pw 25 yes old C. O’Hare : £10k pw 25 yes old L Abada : £16.5k pw 22yrs old Who represents best value £4£? Why? Who would contribute the most to promotion in the last 19 games? Integrate into starting first team quickest? For me the answer is Brookes but I cannot help feeling the market has fully priced him in- whereas players like Abada and O’Hare may be on the cusp of breakthroughs and represent better value. Both Brookes and O’Hare I feel would hit our first team running - Abada would need time. Manual Benson is just a mystery to me- I keep asking myself why don’t Burnley, a team struggling to score, at bottom of league, not want him- if he’s really that decent? What’s the problem?

I do not think Saints will change or adapt their approach at any stage of the season including Leeds away or a Play -off Final if it comes to it. For the very simple reason that, in RM words, if you do not commit 100% in our way of playing there is no plan B. The team will carry on playing this style and if it’s good enough we will get enough points to go up The minute they start trying to “ protect” a lead or a draw we just fuck up. So, inherent in that “ absolutist”philosophy if you like is that Saints are focused 100% on going for the title, nothing less.

Yes it’s an obvious sign of the “ development” of the game. Those days of local lads playing for your team are gone for the reason you mention. Something of a tangent on that but if fans really want to support “ one of our own” they could do worse than try advocate for a “ State of Origin” match approach in Australia. Mind you it might mean Pompey players in same team as Saints so perhaps not! 😳

Just back. There were two meetings- one earlier today with mainly family and chapel Itchen ST and the one tonight more Northam etc. Very professionally handled. Three SFC management / director Present - really nice decent people - and 7 or 8 of us supporters in the 1885. Never seen the pitch from there or the Halo especially with the grass under special lights. Was awesome tbh and made me think that a splash out for a match or two might not be such a bad idea! Re the safe standing etc I’m Much better Informed as to the possibilities now - but will let saints release what they want to release from these focus group things onto website etc. Hopefully very soon. Very open minded conversations and tough questions asked but overall I came away genuinely excited at what-might-be. Cannot talk for others but certainly those two hours or so brought a smile to my face! 😇

Think there’s a chance Emanuel Denis will get a start for Watford. * link below. Was recalled by forest ( he was in turkey) and been sent to Watford on Loan today. He was a pretty tasty left winger/forward in conjunction with ismail sarr 2 years ago. Think KWPmight enjoy that challenge / or JS at RB less so.😄 *https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/emmanuel-dennis-the-menacing-hornet/

SFC was in a state of free fall chaos barely a year ago. A shambles. Multiple managerial changes and horrible football. As a promising Academy / u21 player at that time one might be forgiven for thinking “ what’s the point” of graduating to a Saints first team that’s relegation bound and with no idea of what it how to play football anymore. What exactly were they learning and being able to aspire to? Saying “become another JWP” was already starting to lose its currency and the more likely outcome was NOT making the squad of a championship team going nowhere fast - at best. Not making the squad in an EPL team is another thing altogether. In that context it’s actually surprising we held on to what we did and unsurprising that our young talents take opportunities - if and when they arise - to go to settled EPL sides like Brighton. Id like to think that the brakes have been put on and we’re heading once again in the right direction football-wise, which means that young talents CAN see possibilities with Saints that were obviously less likely a short time ago.

One of the issues in Northam is that many people stand - but not all. I can understand those people who paid for a seat but not being able to watch because of people standing in front of them being aggrieved . I can also see the bind saints are in by not enforcing the No standing rule in Northam. We basically all stand in a seated area not designed for “ safe standing”. It is potentially unsafe ( so is anything though..) but IF saints are going to allow standing then at the very least it should be designed fit ( and safe) for purpose. WRT to relocating away fans to a corner instead of behind goals - well if RM and players feel it disadvantages them playing towards noisy away support I can understand Saints wanting to use every 1% of advantage, real or imagined, possible also to back him. Arguments about the positive impact of a SMS KOP etc are largely all about showbiz imo. It might look nice and I don’t know wether it makes SMS more or less suitable as a concert venue but it’s not got strong footballing justification imo. What interests me, from a social perspective, is if there is a big price difference. Our working class/ middle class support was always more vocal than the posh seats brigade. If safe standing is priced properly it would probably be filled by our traditionally noisiest fans every match - which should make atmosphere volume louder if nothing else .

⚪️ Callum O’Hare: Burnley and Southampton monitoring #pusb playmaker who is out of contract in June and yet to sign deal offered. Leicester also monitoring as are La Liga clubs. Not impossible clubs move for him in Jan but summer feels best for him

https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-winner-named-in-southampton-and-leeds-united-race-to-sign-manuel-benson-as-agreement-reached/ This is the link if anyone interested.

Just seen this on the site. Who bid £5,005 for Charlie’s match worn shirt?😳

Thank you West End Saint for your research. I found that way of looking at it interesting and encouraging. I been doing stuff like that since I was a kid….how many points we can get from XYZ matches, how many will ( usually relegation) rivals get from there matches…then adjusting it for being more or less lucky or optimistic. Just harmless fun. Never lose your positive curiosity about the “ what might happen!” 😇

Yup, agree. Pre injury at Saints I personally thought he looked the real deal. Recall Frannie describing him as such. In a bad team dont forget. He’s got the right characteristics. But very very unlikely I’d guess.

What he could continue to do with is plenty of positive encouragement and support from Saints fans on his journey back to fitness. I think for the most part that’s what he’s getting from most fans plus first class rehab with Saints medical team.

Do you think there was any purchase price suggested when the loan first happened? I know there’s no obligation to buy at a set price like THB (well, not one that’s been made public anyway). NB he cost WHU €10.65m and transfermkt value him currently at €8m. At either of those prices he is a must-buy imo.

I think Sheaf Saint was referring to Ipswich recent form versus ours. We seemed to have caught up a lot of points on them lately. Which would put pressure on them. It’s stating the obvious that any relegated team does not go straight up it’s a problem. I dont think RM is going to use that in one of his pre match pep talks put it that way. Repeating it on here is like something out of Dads Army -“if we don’t go up first time of asking we’re all doomed I tell ye, doomed!” 😂😂😂😂

Sully link training https://x.com/southamptonfc/status/1749807923151471089?s=46&t=l5Q4mkKSxz5qdVtggXqogw

Liel Abada mentioned for saints. ( Daily record and on X) 5ft 6 Israeli winger/forward plays for Celtic. Been injured but just back. sScottish pfa young player of the year 2022 (wiki). Possibly available to buy or loan - supposedly due to the pro Palestine stance of Celtic fans and him being conflicted by it. Think it’s probably rubbish and a bad excuse for both the pro or club to want to unload a player for - but 99% of rumours are rubbish - so make your own mind up.

I’m booked in to attend. 6pm 25th. Lots of differing views on this forum as you’d expect. And I am finding myself agreeing with arguments on both sides! As a Northam ST holder I’m glad at least I’ve got opportunity to hear the rationale in person before decision is made.

@hypochondriacWhy are you calling me @notnowcato boyfriend? And then throwing out allegations of bigotry at him? That’s a very strange comment. Oh, and @wild-saintyou said you cannot be arsed to read my post and ask for it in bullet points - so I obliged - and you’re welcome btw.