gio1saints

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

Sorry yeah it was 94 and NeilShipperly was on fire -have changed original post as obvs I got dates wrong. 😂

We could have had Roberto Baggio on loan from Juve in 1995 after he fell out of favour what with the WC final penalty miss and all that v Brazil - but the problem is he watched some Saints highlights and realised there was no way he was going to displace Shipperly from the starting line up so he stayed at Juventus a while. ( and got some more trophies and medals I think) 🤭

Aberdeen just sacked the Manager. I’d say that Miovski is unlikely to be sold in this window if so. To us or anyone. Unless ( and unlikely) it was to give new Aberdeen Manager a transfer pot of his own to spend on a couple of new players in his place? IF he was ever a target I’d say the chances of him signing as a Che replacement just got reduced mightily. Not totally dead but major surprise if happened.

Incidentally this might be our last window to get a fee for Alex. It’s obvious he’s played his last game so , thank you for your service, but the quicker he is off the books the better. I suspect his wages alone would pay for DB or Rothwell. There must be a decent team out there needs an experienced keeper? ( And can pay what wages he wants)

Does anyone else get the impression that Saints, despite saying otherwise, might be convincible about SM going out on loan? And that it largely depends on what happens with Che? This is the set of circumstances in which that idea might be realised: IF Che leaves it’s not out the question that a front three of Ryan, Adam and DB is the new starting trio. With Mara clearly as sub. On paper thats arguably actually stronger than Ryan, Adam and Sekou Mara with DB as sub for instance. BUT if Che stays then there is an argument that it might not be the end of the world to let Sekou go out on loan because our forward line up is essentially perm 3 from AA, RF, CA and DB or even play all four with DB as an attacking midfield. ( potentially displacing Stu - Jo or resting them) . The Che domino seems to be the key one. And that might not all fall - until late Thursday night, if at all. My ideal is : Keep Che, keep Sekou. Keep them for Strength in depth for the tough run in and retain powerful set of match changing players on bench and for matches coming close after each other fresh legs

Bollix. Knew my Spidey sense was tingling. I’ve come around to the view that it in everyone’s best interests though so fingers crossed there are no more last minute surprises with our jewels…

To get out of this league Rothwell and aribo are very good. But at EPL level they may be average EPL MF players. No disrespect intended still both very good players indeed. Charlie on the other hand can look out of sync & out of timing at this level - actually Very erratic sometimes- but I’m personally convinced at a higher level he will can and will be a difference maker. And those kind of players are rare as hens teeth. He could be our key man at EPL level. Secondment to Italy and unlocking tight disciplined defences for a dominant team could be best thing for him.

Despite all the scandals in Italian football and the financial chaos there are still very few teams “bigger” than Juve.in World football. And especially if yiu are from Argentina. Charlie will be made up and him and family proud as anything if it happens. I’d be proud of him too. Good lad. Fingers crossed he does well. I want to see him back at SMS as a FULL Argentinian international. Be ridiculous scenes if so. When was the Last time we had a player for the current World Champions play for Saints? 🤓

That 6mth loan fee is a Saints record, if true. It’s on a level for what teams are bidding for Che on a perm. Crazy. But kudos to the recruitment and contracts team. ✅

This is what he will get drilled into him https://www.juventus.com/en/academy/juventus-way If returns with the Italian version of PB football could be interesting. Charlie, for me, is a “difference maker” but like all players in that mould can be frustrating to watch at times, delightful at other times. A luxury in a struggling team, the final touch of class in a dominant team. Wish him all the best and would love him to come back and star for us in the EPL next year. * * we fail to go up he is v unlikely to return to championship with us unless he’s had a right mare out there.

Would be a major surprise if DB gets to play v Rotherham but would be a nice surprise if he did. Rothwell got a run out first match so if he’s signed and fit it may be on. He is Cup tied for the Watford replay so otherwise despite his spoken need to get minutes his next chance to start is Huddersfield 10/2. By which time I’d hope he’s fully immersed in our PB style.

https://x.com/southamptonfc/status/1752300608822948230?s=46&t=l5Q4mkKSxz5qdVtggXqogw

I think that is excellent as his “score a goal or do something special on the pitch song”. 😇 Can’t be singing it as he walks on or heads it out for a corner. Fuck it. Of course we can. It’s even better if it’s just a 3 yard square pass - or similar simple ball - if somewhat ironic. 😃. Might change the lyric slightly though- either “ don’t you wish you could play like David Brooks” or “ I wish I could play like David Brooks” I’m in - if he plays next home match I’m singing it whenever he gets the ball. 😂

It used to really annoy me as well. 👍. Still does. But then I found a way to turn that frustration into quiet acceptance and even content - because I realised what it actually ( usually) means: 1. We have intimidated the opponents - they are already happy to not lose or “ hold on” rather than proactively win. Psychologically speaking playing not to lose or hold onto a narrow lead is much weaker than playing to win. Suggests we have the upper hand / mental advantage - they have conceded this to us and we should take advantage of that mentality. 2. On this unbeaten run we have been ahead for the overwhelmingly vast majority of the time - so it’s actually their own time to equalise or somehow get back into the game that these teams have been wasting. Even before we are ahead. It seems counterintuitive when we are drawing ( or very rarely, behind) but overall this default time wasting that so many teams are doing v Saints is actually working in our favour. 3. Another factor also in our favour when opponents timewaste is the number of goals we score v conceded in the last quarter. Generally speaking, The longer the game goes on into injury time this season the greater chances we have to score more than we concede. 4. Our style of play means opponents are chasing the ball most or all game. By the last quarter some teams have been out on their feet physically. If the game is prolonged even further our better fitness / legs becomes even more potentially important. 5. The longer the game the more likely we will play all our substitutes - and probably the opponents will do too. On balance we have one of the best squads in this league ( if not the best!?) - so our subs are typically better than opponents subs. This also gives us advantage in the latter stages of prolonged by time wasting matches.

I used to go tofrannies cafe in Portswood ( opposite the big sainsburys and is some kind of vegan place now I think) and order liver egg bacon chips two buttered toast mushrooms tomato cup of tea and loads ketchup for about £2 pre match on Saturdays early eighties. Play the pinball a bit there then stroll on, sometimes via the Mitre but not always. Greasy spoons are the epitome of cool nowadays.😎

So did I just asking if anyone noticed anything that looked “ goodbye” about it. Sincerely hope not.

IF Stu and Jan play the next match v Rotherham they both complete 200 appearances for Saints at the same time. Would be nice to recognise this at the match and especially by Saints social media…😉

Potentially last time seen in a Saints shirt. Was his on pitch farewell Sunday poignant in that way ?

It is NOT totally counterproductive. Sure we learn from wins but you insinuate we learn nothing from defeats learn nothing from tough draws. Often the defeats and the tough draws teach us more than the easy wins. About players about styles about a whole bunch of things. The match result is merely ONE of the the many objectives - team coaches and individual players - set out for each Saints match, albeit the most important one.

Turn up and ask him yourself about tin hats etc - entirely valid. It’s a democracy. I can disagree with the content, tone the implication whatever but it’s your and my right. Just to give an alternate pov - Question I would ask is - how much money do yuu reckon you raised for charity in your lifetime and through your auspices and How many hospital visits how many good causes have you supported in your lifetime? And what do you think is the value of the happiness you gave to millions of football supporters around the world by your play?

it would certainly help if we knew if Burnley are playing exactly same as last year when they bullied this division. If they are - then potentially BIG lessons for Saints to learn by an intensive examination of what-went-wrong in the EPL for Burnley. Ditto if they are not. Would suggest whoever the new saints tactical analysts will be that he or she do a big paper on this for preseason analysis - if we go up that is.

Arguably our greatest ever player. A idol to thousands of Saints fans Respect what he did for your club and keep your sarcastic virtue signalling comments to yourself -because supporters like me will defend his right to say what the fuck he likes that’s not illegal EVEN If we disagree with the views.

Maybe. Given their league position I’m tempted to say it’s more than just MB’s style of play that’s not suited to the EPL. And if he is not suited to the way Burnley currently play that’s not actually such a bad thing! Are they still PB based? I thought they were but we’re getting swarmed? I think there’s something else at play as mentioned above but it does not really matter as long as he arrives buzzing as they say 😁

Vincent Kompany his fellow Belgian manager does not seem to value or want him despite his apparent popularity with some Burnley fans for what he did last season. Could it be there’s a little bit of an issue between the two of them and it’s in everyone’s interests for MB to play elsewhere?? Bit like Howe and Fraser? IF MB comes to SMS as fired up as wee man it could be spectacular!