gio1saints

Alex would be an excellent back up in the EPL. If he leaves there’s a £40-£50k a week opening for a player who actually might contribute on the pitch the remaining matches. Lumley looks capable of covering for Baz so it may be worth the risk. Unsure about our other keepers though.

To be fair, despite it being irksome and repetitive at times, it’s first class trolling from @Turkishand his cot chums. IF they are privy to inside info - say on Amed - but are not supposed to tell - then they won’t tell. Jobs, careers and a lot of money are at stake plus reputations and confidences. Not negotiable really. Clubs like Saints in particular are notorious for wanting to keep stuff under wraps until the last minute. Teams like MUFC have millions of fans around the world searching for ANY news on their players. IF any info gets leaked out into the public domain it can only therefore be via it being illegitimate ( ie stolen or unauthorised disclosure), accidental ( Agent leaving his email on bringing amed in on loan open for the secretary to see who happens to tell her saints supporting bf) , sheer stupidity of the player or their entourage ( Amed telling his bruv in the nightclub he “going south “ soon with smile on his face ) - or done with express purpose of encouraging bids or contract renewals for their client ( Amed you need to play man yoo first team so if I can invent bunch of demand from other credible teams maybe ten Haag gives you a chance and your wages gonna be ten times the present in no time at all. That’s like a million pounds a month for the kid. And a big wedge for his agent. It’s big money not amateur hour stuff. Posting “clues” that might identify Amed is the same as posting his name on the internet - if the clues are genuine. In which case the provenance would be as the above para. And it’s a very big problem ( unless it’s done specifically for the purpose explained) Posting “ clues” that might identify a target but are actually just BS is simple trolling. And can be remarkably successful. The internet is full of the click bait approach to marketing. Difficult to tell but the more clues usually the less inclined I am to trust the source and to think it’s all just a fun game for some mildly bored 😄adults on the Interweb.

Ah memories of Orient away in the Cup…torrents of urine cascading down the terraces between our feet from our fans above….crammed cheek to Jowl surely more there than the ticket allocation…having physical “discussions” with Orient nut jobs on the bridge nearby on way to the ground. Wishing I hadn’t worn my cut off denim jacket with full set of Saints patches on the back ( well it was the height of fashion for away support then!) coming home as was such an obvious target..

If Amed Diallo is going anywhere surely he would go back to Sunderland? I’ve not been able to ascertain his fitness but when and if fit then he would obvs be a prime candidate for this apparent left footed right wing type player we are supposedly keen on. His wages are £28.5k pw so that’s not a problem and he has obviously scored at Champ level last season including plenty beauties cutting in from the right and left foot curling it - essentially what KWP has done couple of times this season. Only question mark is his defensive awareness. AA and RF are excellent role models in that regard. Sam has definitely improved over the course of the season but KS and Amo are still not quite there on that.. If he really commits to off the ball tracking work then would be a high quality signing. But I still figure Sunderland would be first choice. Ryan Fraser is showing that if you are a genuine class player then that skill + 100% fitness + high football intelligence = plenty goals and assists in the Championship. Frankly though, given how underwhelming Antony has been I’m surprised Manutd don’t try him instead of the players on 10-15X his wage…

The Resident football expert speaks wise words. 😂. I already made my case for Sekou above without any heed to rely on bollox statistics but seeing as you have presented such a powerful and concise refutation 🤣🤣🤣I feel it’s only polite to respond. This will be fun….Guess who our top five players for goals and assists are per minutes played in the squad? This season? Let me help you, in case you do not have access to my well thumbed version of the invaluable guide for saints fans known as the “Mr stattybollix book of saints stats”😄. First it’s AA, then that crap Sekou Mara then that ( who must be) even more crap Che, then ( logically it follows) the incredibly crap Ryan and then lastly ( and God he must be absolutely the pits) Super duper crap Sam. Maybe the last two or three are other way around but it’s certainly. First AA, Sekou second. In other words if you want a goal or an assist this season the stats say AA is your man then that crap Sekou Mara and after them two then those other even more crap Che Adams, Ryan Fraser and Sam Edozie. Those last three in particular must be on for super crap championship team of the season for not even be more effective than the crap Sekou Mara per minute in delivering goals or assists. But those stats are BS and mean nothing right? But nothing is not the same as “crap”. Is it? Nah it isn’t is it. If you wanted a few more goals or assists out of Sekou then it might help if he was given more than 283 minutes all season in mostly tiny chunks to do it. God forbid he starts two games in a row or even gets on two games in a row! Even so he’s second only to AA, ahead of Che, RF and Sam. Not so bad for a crap player usually given five minutes at the end. Must make those other players extra crap I guess. But stats are always crap anyway so I’m guessing that saying Sekou Mara is crap is still within the grounds of acceptable- though that does somewhat put some of our allegedly better players into a somewhat uncomfortable position of being more crap - but that’s irrelevant because if you are deemed crap by the football expert then you are crap and there’s no getting away from that clear, obvious, unchallengeable fact. 😇🤣😂

I guess so. You are not wrong. Being complimented by most of the league of opposition managers after the match they just lost or drawn with us probably means very little. It’s a very safe comment to trot out post match. Covers their butt so to speak. If they said we were rubbish what does it make them?

It’s the kind of match in which think saints favourites obvs to win but both teams to score might be a good bet. 12/5 if interested An ultra aggressive SW press “ may” catch us out once, perhaps even twice but by same token we like playing g through such high presses and shown many times we can be devastating. A 4-2 ( 40/1 looks tasty) would not surprise me at all.

He will start every week at Hull be there superstar player and likely they will accommodate for his talent and play FOR him - not other way around. He might play 20 full matches between now and end season that way. I strongly doubt he plays that many for Saints. I strongly doubt we make him our main man either. He has to buckle down and win and keep his place in our first 11. With strong international quality competition there. Given same money for both I know which looks better to a kid. ( though possibility of getting a medal with Saints is a factor I guess?)

Thank you @VectisSaint and Duncan for the correct details. I would never have thought that night at the Priestfield that Saints away form could be record equalling or breaking this season! Even if we do not get promoted - but ESPECIALLY if we do, I think some measure of acknowledgement of this record breaking/ equalling from us is worthwhile. We get precious little to cheer and celebrate about as long term Saints fans to be fair! From the club POV I imagine Club Shop merch should be all over this - T-shirts, mugs DVDs, duvet sets etc. 😍. You know the kind of thing - “ 12X years all time league and cup matches unbeaten record - and we still hate Pompey” T-shirts should sell out 😂. From the supporters POV - I doubt a massive banner or banners would be allowed but it’s worth asking ? Or one of those mosaic type signs or pictures made up of hundreds of A3 pieces of paper to hold up at both ends might be fun and get around that. What they say or reveal - argue amongst yourselves! More likely to get a “yes” might be a parade of surviving old time Saints players on the pitch before our last home match kick off for example to get a round of applause. Might be a nice touch to record both our past and current history making? Just a thought..😇

Next season in the Championship OR the EPL will be a massive challenge for one reason or another - as everyone rightly points out. But its hardly a revelation or cause to cast shade on what’s being delivered today. THIS season was guaranteed to be a massive challenge and, to date, Saints have found most of the answers, most of the time. And increasingly so last 19 matches. Im sure there’s work been put into the alternate scenarios of promotion or not. Whats undeniable is that Saints ( SR, RM, JW and all the others that have been vilified) have delivered and are delivering a strong reaction and response to the desolation of bottom of the league multi manager nonsense of last season. Yes they can be blamed ( well, the SR can) but the response is there. Mark of a person is not failure - we all fail - but one’s response to failure. By that measure, in this current season, Saints get a big ✅. And its as good a preparation for whether we go up or not for next season as I can think of.

Agreed. When RM talked about the “process” and the “bravery” required to play this style of football many supporters previously loudly deriding him are rightly turning their opinions around 180 degrees. Whats remarkable is that it’s taken only 3-4 months to convert a shambles FC into a 19 games unbeaten team. From top to bottom we exude a confidence and class as a club unthinkable last Summer. We have our team spirit and much of our pride back. Even our stewards are getting complimented! ( see Walsall forum - v complimentary about club in general and our team - more so than here!) Not one post match interview by an opposition manager on this run has failed to say “Southampton are a very good team”. We are winning matches by 4-0 like it’s normal now. Nearly half our home matches we score 4 goals now! Anyone still wants to hang onto belittling comments for what Saints are doing are welcome but I feel that I’m watching probably a once in my lifetime thing happening right before my very eyes and I’m grateful I’ve been able to watch and participate as a supporter in it. COYS! Stay present and enjoy it! 😇

Declaration of being subject bias. I like Sekou and I think once he has graduated from the schooling he’s currently getting he will be a fine player. Furthermore in which case he will be great value for what we paid and are paying. Whether the playing results from him will be fully realised at Saints remains to be seen - but I, and hopefully everyone else except his most frothy haters, sincerely hope so. I know this might sound odd but to me it looks like he is still learning his position. It seems like he’s been at Saints learning his craft ages and the logic goes we should have more evidence that he’s been “ improved” by our coaching. And that what we paid for in terms of skill goals talent and potential has not been delivered enough to date. I can fully appreciate and understand why many here feel he has made inadequate progress. By those criteria his general “improvement” is relatively scarce - a few goals and nice touches aside . Like his match day appearances. It’s pretty obvious he’s not mastered and is fluent in the disciplined style or approach or thought or physicality or concentration or positional sense of our game - yet. And you can add any number of other important details that are necessary to be the #9 in this PB system. Or the #10 as RM has occasionally tried and has said he’s used Sekou as in training. That can and has made him look out of sorts when we do (occasionally) actually get a chance to see him. Lazy is a word used a lot here for him but I personally strongly disagree - you need only look at his face to see the frustration within. That’s not lazy that’s it’s not clicking in- yet- and he desperately wants it to be : result he misses chances and looks inelegant and fails to shine consistently - and that’s a self defeating psychological factor called a barrier to performance NOT laziness. Calling him “ lazy” is frankly lazy criticism ( no excuses for that pun I know 😂) RM has alluded to psychologically informed reasons ( what others will undoubtedly call excuses ) for unnamed players apparent underperformance in previous matches. Choose to ignore that as psycho babble and call him lazy all you like might but I genuinely feel under RM he has got the ideal coach to help him release the ( invisible) mental shackles on his ability. Basically cut him some slack. He’s a kid learning to be a man, my sons age pretty much and ge has got a lot of growth ahead. Writing him off now - as many here do - would be a waste and a bad mistake. Have faith. If he makes our squad and gets on the pitch it’s not because he’s useless in training. Remember that. 😃

One notable feature starting to become more apparent to me (anyway) is how most teams coming to SMS this season set up deep and stand off defensively - allowing us possession- but then once they go behind, and especially start of second half, they attempt a high press more often. This has caused quite a few scares in quite a few matches. we look not very good sometimes but it’s quite often the oppo are putting in extra energy to regain possession early. And then what happens is, assuming they don’t score or we don’t f&vk it up somehow, is that there is a cost to this in terms of oppo energy - and we find breakthrough spaces more often. And from these we often score late goals - like yesterday. Ive seenThis pattern kind of repeat itself even away from home. Not every match but enough to be noticeable. Amd I guess that is a big factor in why we persist with the playing around at the back. We end up winning or drawing more matches that way - this season at any rate. So carry on!

Ryan Fraser just nailed his place in the starting line up next week no ifs no buts! Sam is going to have to work very hard to dislodge him. And KS. As it should be. Great loan move that - 10/10 for Saints recruitment and management.

Note on Dibling : maybe it’s just me but the way he runs with the ball, kind of ramshackle way but the ball keeps up, and he gets that bit of time and Space to himself…and then looks up and easy as you like delivers a premium quality pass….last time a young player with that kind of body shape and look did that that I can recall his name was Matthew something when he was playing his early matches for us and had that rep as being a bit special when he came on. Tyler may well be an absolute gem in the making.

I think the main difference is Shea has bee training and playing with us all season. Has got matches u set his belt and is improving. We’ve seen it can take time to get used to any position in this team and playing style ( see Mason holgate debut) let alone that critical pivot role in MF. No doubt highly regarded however

A Back four of Stephens,holgate , THB and Manning should be strong enough to stop Walsall scoring and experienced enough to do what’s required to win. Much as I want our kids to play Id rather they play up front or midfield as starters - and in the ( imo) key defence positions only when/if we are winning.

RM noted that Bree is unavailable until Feb. Any number of possible permutations arise out of that if you assume KWP is “rested” IF JWP is rested I’d rather Meg gets a chance at LB and either Stephens or preferable Manni g starting at RB. If Manning is RB I’d be happy with Stephens at CB Wh THB for example. NB not to rule out Mason but I’d rather one of ours normally starts this type of match.

It is interesting but makes sense. He is obviously thought of as a high value asset. I don’t think many big clubs however would want to take a chance on a kid in such a pivotal position.. In any case the player is probably not essential at SFC . We sold them Lavia and we already have Shea, Flynn and Will in this DM position. And for such an important position I don’t think we would just chuck a 19 year old in anyways even if he came. He’s better off actually playing for someone like Birmingham or QPR imo.

I think the point being made is that you can independently appreciate the character of a man without having to connect it to the team performance for which he is responsible. It’s quite often the case, not just here, that a persons character is conflated with their job performance : for example Manning makes a mistake = he is a pr&ck. It goes the other way too - Manning scores a winner = he is brilliant bloke.😄. Many during or after match posts here seem to follow this what you might call logical fallacy. We all do it. 😇

??

AA is Southampton’s most successful captain in our entire history.

Where is it available to watch / read? Cannot see it anywhere on OS or online

I’m meant to be reffing in Hamble Sunday…should I bring a snorkel? 😄

I like the look of Mao Hosoya linked by the DE. Always good to have a J league star in the squad for International profile. And if he scores some goals even better. 😇. Transfmkt it has him as a £1m - for current full Japan International. Cheap. But Sunderland also interested. Surely we’d make that back in international shirt sales alone 😂