gio1saints

According to OPTA we are 4th for SCA ( Shot Creating Actions) per 90 minutes with c 27.5, that’s after 19 matches. Top are Ipswich with c 30 then Sunderland and Leeds. We are ahead of LCFC on this metric. I personally think we are good enough to be top of this metric in this league but, and this is just a guess, we’ve taken time to “ learn” the russball system and this is reflected in our current placing. Earlier in season our build up play was collectively much slower and less SCA helpful as was our midfield passing. These obviously all contribute to the SCA scoring. We have been able to go through the gears a bit faster of late though so I suspect for the last half of the season we will be ( much, hopefully!) higher than 4th for instance.

A lot of people pouring cold water on any thoughts that AA may be able to bring this current form, playing in this current team style, into the EPL if we are promoted next season. I could list the logical fallacies at play here but only one suffices for now: 1. You were rubbish in EPL before so you will forever be rubbish at EPL. This is plainly absurd. Everybody knows how bad we were last year but that does not necessarily mean if we get promoted this season he and we will be that bad again. One has to look at the overall context - so writing him off as just a championship striker using that argument is tenuous to put it mildly. Saints are playing in a completely new way and he has got an integral role in that new style. Wether that style and his ability/role will be good enough in the EPL is a subject for debate- not him being written off already as some appear to be doing.

AA in his current form is possibly the most tenacious small stature saints forward we've had since the days of Steve Moran and Kevin Keegan. I’ve read the entire thread and it’s clear there’s a view that because he was mostly anonymous for his time in the EPL that he has that hanging over him until and unless he does actually replicate this kind of current form versus the big boys. His form does behove very well however and if the league 2nd highest goalscorer is not good enough for the EPL then by that yardstick none of the others behind him are. I personally think he is absolutely making the most of his capabilities - we have other players with more promise more potential, perhaps, but they do not follow through with goals and consistent performances. AA, no disrespect to him, may have more limited technical and physical skills but he maxes them out every single week for saints currently. I’d add that the responsibility of being Captain has added vim into his legs and as far as “ heart” is concerned he’s got it in abundance. He is prepared to sacrifice himself all night long for the team Great guy to have as our leader. And fair play to RM too for seeing that quality in him as I for sure did not think that this Adam Armstrong existed at start of season. Top man.

Not much controversy in saying his performances have not been as good as even he would probably own up to - up until recently. His defensive work as a full back judged vocally by supporters from the stands as inadequate - too often too far away from his player to stop crosses, shots, important passes. He was part of the group involved in being dispossessed in our own goal area and conceding needless goals early doors. The defensive group that every time a set piece came into our area it was chaos and we looked likely to concede. And his offensive work was largely ineffective. The tale that he was Russell’s favourite and that’s why he was picked became established and his name elicited groans not cheers when he was recalled to starting line up recently. Fast forward to last week and the return of Ryan as starting left back. I think, one obvious misplaced pass hiccup aside, that he has has had two decent matches in a row, indeed his last match was excellent. So what’s changed? Here’s my opinion. Yours will differ no doubt. 1. Team have got more capable in the possession based system. Movements on and off the ball enabling that to be done successfully hitherto having to be “remembered” from training ground are starting to become instinctive in players, and crucially, milliseconds faster. 2. Ryan Manning was often supported in his defensive duties LH side by Sam Edozie and latterly Kameldeen Sulemana. Those two are our most mercurial talents (and Amo) but without disrespecting them, they have also not quite “got” the out-of-possession side of their jobs - yet. We may never know in that period wether RM told him to “sit in” defensively a bit more as James Bree was told and has done successfully. He may have ignored that instead persisting (unsuccessfully) in trying to show why he was one of the best fb’s in the league last year. My view is he (and Russell) are showing one of their attributes better now - football intelligence. Ryan is not KWP fast or skilful dribbling-wise - and he also realises he does not have AA running back at 100mph to support him either. And he has adapted intelligently. Or listened to gaffer instructions (or both😃). 3. Playing against better teams. LCFC and ITFC for example and teams seemed focused on our LH side. They saw a potential weakness in transition situations and exploited it. Which made him look most culpable more often. Works other way as well - playing against weaker teams like Bristol and Cardiff he was enabled to show what he’s got a bit more - and he did so. 4. Playing without an obvious Left winger has benefited Ryan enormously. So obvious that he now has space ahead and the better protection in our midfield should he venture forward. I could go on with a much more detailed assessment but most of you won’t have read this far anyway! My last thoughts are that I am genuinely pleased that we are (finally) seeing the player I thought we were getting. Early doors yet though. His ability on assists crosses and general offensive play is very high at this level. He is a different player to KWP but I think he has got the potential to be as influential as him and get stronger and stronger in his current role - as long as we keep this formation/shape and he retains his football intelligence and discipline.

I’ve never seen him play two or three games in a row. Several of our players have obviously benefited from that - Bree is a good example- so I cannot tell if SM is going to be great, or if it’s just a natty hairstyle and hype.😁 What I am sure of is he is certainly not shite otherwise RM would not be putting him on the pitch this season. And he would not be a France u21 player. So, with RS injured and still question marks over Che’s future id say it’s unlikely Mara will be loaned or sold because that will leave us short/ vulnerable- unless we in turn buy or loan in another ready cooked striker.

I agree but perhaps more importantly it gives a major clue as to how we are likely to integrate RS into the team. The experiment with che Aa and Charlie seemed to work well against these. Replace Che with RS and it in theory should be producing more goals from the chances created. I must admit the idea of putting RS wide as he has been tried in his brief appearance was not one I wanted to see.m repeated too often He needs to be near the goals cos he’s there to score so this formation suits him better.

Best two half performance if the season by far. No offence intended but RM is TEACHING. The players are learning. That match was FULL of the pass around crap that you found enjoyable. Best match for Saints - cut out his odd mistakes and made some good defensive interceptions and challenges. His haters must be fuming he didn’t fuck up but they may get satisfaction yet. It’s a long season and defensively it’s clear that lh side is still our Achilles heel. What people miss though is that a major reason why opponents attack that flank is because KWP is so good the opposition can generally only defend on his side of the pitch. He’s saints player of the season by miles imo right now. He looks more like an EPL player every week and must be nailed on for the championship team of the season already.

Much like Bristol I expect a well organised defence and hitting us on the break or hoping to convert a set piece. Plus they’ve had an extra days rest. I hope RM has showed team vids of the many missed opportunities to switch player from Wednesday night. Though without KS we do not quite have the searing pace to escape and create from that. I suspect Ryan or Che will start instead of RS and Will to return for Shea. suggested bets : IF Will starts : anytime goalscorer 2pts. ( will insert price if I find it in time) Special : Saints win, both teams to score and AA to score anytime is 5/1. Might be worth 2pts. Che might start and if so he has a limited number of games to impress EPL teams that he is their goalscoring solution. IF he starts 2pts on Che scoring anytime might be useful. As above for the price but suspect it will be 2/1. Which is mean but meh ok maybe. lastly, I expect a win so 5 pts on 3/5 is a bit meagre but I think we are better than these. NB Do Not gamble - but if you really insist do it sensible ie always on saints not to lose lol 😂

As it’s retro kit day at SMS I think I might wear my yellow SOUTHAMPTON CARDIFF 2003 t shirt I got for the fa cup final. Beattie signed it and as it’s got both Southampton and Cardiff on it in big letters hopefully very apt for todays visitors. 20 years old approx so qualifies as retro I hope and match-worn lol so I shall be available for selfies around the ground and block 41 concourse in a few hours 😂😇 oh and 2-1 saints COYS 🙏

Yeah, cos RM is an idiot who picks his “mates” especially the crap ones not the best 11 for each match. 🤔 Surely you do not believe what you wrote? I guess at some point your view on the idiocy of our manager will come true. By that I mean we will lose a match. So, in advance : Congratulations football genius. Oh, and Manning was NOT crap and to say he was is simply laughable. As is downgrading the value of our first home clean sheet for six months.

I disagree with RM (for once) in that it was not an OK first half - all the mistakes of the match Rotherham resurrected themselves. That we went in 0-0 was about the only “ok” thing about it. I was especially disappointed by KS, for whom I had still have sone but they’re dwindling, high hopes. In his defence he was too often given the ball too late and in almost impossible positions to do anything other than pass it back or attempt some crazy magic ( which almost came off once) but which usually loses possession. I could literally see his morale dropping and his “ injury” looked as much a mental “get me out of here “ as actual physical. I get that he’s meant to stay wide but for such a speedy instinct player seeing him stationary so often was like we were playing with ten men. All Che had to do to improve us was literally run around a bit. It was 10v12 if you count the useless ref first half in that regard. Other than that the most obvious shortfall for me was the failure to switch play when we had players in Space or relatively isolated with one defender. The radius of our passing circle was too limited, too often. I do nt need twenty Hollywood passes every game but they are not out of the skill set of some of our players and I’d hope to see a little more. Especially silly when youve got arguably fastest player in the league waiting on it. Second half shape changed showed RM adapted and Bristol began to get tired and run ragged increasingly themselves resorting to big hoofs upfield which THB and Jan dealt with comfortably. One piece of quality from our best player settled it. positives: Gav has just got better and better. So proud of him. Ryan made one bad pass but showed we have three decent full backs - despite the prejudice shown to him - he had a decent match, I thought Shea was solid and impressed me. THB and Jan are very strong - but with Mason and Jack to come we must surely have best 4 squad cbs in this league? AA worked hard as usual. Charlie had one of his best games this season. Stu gave his standard 7/10 ever reliable effort and performance including a decent shot first half. Flynn - worked hard as usual. Like RM said- 10 games unbeaten is not luck. If we can do this yet so many are unhappy with him and style of play who knows what we can do as we get better and into the latter part of season with our much stronger than average in this league squad. Coys!😇

Hoping for 4 from 4 with my suggestions but I’m loath to bet on this one tbh. That’s cos It’s the First match back after an international break - so there’s plenty additional variables involved. Have players travelled too much and have leg fatigue, are they injured etc. so it’s much harder than usual. For this reason I’d recommend AVOID betting on this match. IF pushed for some fun bets I would suggest the following (but beware!) : 4 pts Saints win @ 5/6 2 pts special : AA and SA to both have over 0.5 shots on goal and it to be a saints win @ 7/2. Reason being : I think we will have massive territorial advantage so shots should be coming in a plenty - and if we beat these we go third so plenty incentive. It could be a slippery one like Leeds found out last night though v Rotherham. With the special : Stuart has both scored and assisted on international duty so I think he might take that confidence and form into this one - though he may not last 90 so it could be close. AA has had ten days to see that RS is a very good striker - so he needs to keep scoring/ assisting to keep him at bay/ on the bench - Unlike last year when there was no one. AA takes penalties also so it’s a fair chance he’s gonna have at least one shot. Both teams to score is also on my radar but cannot find a good price atm, if it comes up it may be worth it as it is Saints we are talking about after all…COYS 😇 NB having said all that if RS starts I’ve literally no idea what the formation might be or what might happen. NB. Gambling is often bad don’t do it unless you can afford to lose all your money. 😃

Just for fun…. Over a distance of, say 10 metres: 1. KS 2. KWP 3. Amo 4. Sam 5. AA Am I far out? Honourable mentions to Ryan Fraser and I think Ryan Manning might fancy he’s close also. Over 100 metres , well that might be a different story…over who comes second after KS that is 😁

I think anecdotally he must be quite easily the fastest over 10 yards. Have we any actual data though? Who would you have in your top five over 10 yards in our current squad?

One of the important ( apart from the 3pts!) things about the 1st game or two back after these breaks is getting the rhythm back. The quicker we regain that tempo the better. Our unbeaten run coincides with player actions that previously took some thought ( and time) now happening more automatically ( and quicker). This tends to happen with every learning process and the more it’s repeated, successfully, the more proficient you generally become. It’s a game played by fallible human beings though so anything is possible. BUT the higher ones default level it becomes possible to win or not lose - even when not playing at one’s best. That’s what I hope Saints can start to cement in the foundations as we look to extend this unbeaten run. Simply winning will do it. Winning and playing russball well does it even better. If we are losing 2-1 in 95th minute and we equalise I will take it though! I’m also mindful that we are still only one defeat away from a forum meltdown so let’s pray that does not happen!

I’m certain he would be giving a bollocking in the changing rooms right now if that was Jan Bednarek or THB trying their luck from 35 yards! 😂

KWP needs locking away in a cellar during the window he is vital to our promotion prospects. Replacing him like for like is near impossible in a short space of time and would mean that we’d probably be looking at Bree and Ryan as starting full backs.. which is acceptable - but obviously a drop in quality. And with NO back up as Larios is untried and anyways seems always injured. Any new FB brought in must learn russball - and weve seen it can take months. Saints : DO NOT SELL KWP this window! As for CA and KS. Attacking talents/ prospects who currently, statistically, do not score enough do not create enough and who, currently, are our least reliable at defensive out of possession work are probably most vulnerable to being sold if a good offer comes in. I personally think both will get better and better - though I’m a little disappointed at them not tearing this league up ( yet) as it should be easy pickings for their quality - but it takes time I guess. In any case they both have got a much higher resale value if we get promoted. So, again, for me, not for sale. That Fraser and Sam, Aribo and Amo are all in the background does suggest SR could be tempted if a ridiculous offer comes in though.m for them. And I think Che is obviously going to be a target for someone.. In Terms of buy or loan my #1 priority would be an experienced two footed full back please.

He's doing better now, at a lower level. We all want that to continue, so spare us your hand-wringing sanctimonious super duper fan act. Despite the current common use of the term to mean "excessively cheerful", Pollyanna and her father played the glad game as a method of coping with the real difficulties and sorrows that, along with luck and joy, shape every life. My offering an alternate viewpoint and doing so coherently has really clearly upset a small number of posters. Those most upset seem to be those who insist on finding negatives at every corner and who, increasingly, seem to be clutching at straws to find something to beat Saints,, SR, RM, JW and in this case Gavin, up with . Apologies if I’m wrong and that what appears a consistently glass half empty point of view on Saints for some means anybody who dares to suggest otherwise fully deserves your ire and scorn but the comments against me here are quite lame compared to what they and others have said in last three months or so. I’m happy to debate anything saints on here with anybody- especially those who consistently revert to personal abuse as a means of trying to prove their point. But the insults are childish and tiresome so please let’s stick to the issue. Cannot do anything about last years goals conceded but we can via our support encourage this obvious upward trajectory in Gavin. Discouraging that positivity is almost the same as being a Pompey supporter at SMS to me. Unwelcome.

Don’t flatter yourself that I might take advice from a bright little ray of sunshine like you. Though, if you are available as a professional wailer at funerals or similar I could be interested. You’re also excellent at sneering. ✅ Default scepticism and inveterate cynicism is a common path to take, especially for long term Saints fans. We can all dig up stories on how bad saints are and have been. It can become an endless cycle which can infiltrate ones non saints life if not careful, however. And you end up just being that grumpy old man nobody likes being around as there’s always something you can find to moan about.

Last years goals conceded by saints would have killed most young keepers. This years horrible start / run ditto. He does not save all the shots he might BUT he has got better and better. Improvement and learning he is demonstrating. Anybody not notice he’s getting better? Is there a magic goalie that’s more experienced, a better shot stopper and can actually kick / pass the ball too. Oh, and does not cost over say £15m? I’m not sure there is and what is more I’m not sure what’s happened to any saints fans not feeling empathy for a young player showing the courage he does and has week after week in the context he’s had Do you think he is deaf to the terrace groans? That theyve largely stopped to be replaced by fans chanting his name is quite some turnaround. For which he deserves credit not sneering. I feel proud of him. If we win or not I feel proud for his courage as a Saint. It’s what I love to see in a Saints player and team more than anything.

I don’t understand why Burnley did not buy him outright. Or do more to buy him outright. Losing a player of his calibre was a huge gamble /criminally careless of them. If we go up our obligation to buy for£20m will be a bargain. And given the criteria for CB’s being selected for the full ENG squad ( basically are you English ✅does your epl team pick you at cb ✅) and the fact the limited maguire still starts most games ) suggests to me THB staying uninjured will make the full England squad by this time next season ( whether it’s with us or a n other epl team). And at his age that means his value basically trebles.

This is big news! If we don’t go up this year it will be harder maybe impossible to do so next season? That our best Players will leave and it will all be down to SR Jason and RM for fucking it up? This is very important and useful information. Why has it not been brought up before and factored into the SR business plan? They must be idiots! It may be too late already. Maybe we should cut our losses and get rid of Russ and Jason maybe get a whole new team in now before it gets any worse ( if it could get worse!) On balance it seems for once I agree with some posters here that the club has got to stop this fannying around being happy with fourth and start going on an unbeaten run. I even think I saw one of the players in Portswood high street other day and he was smiling. And dont get me started on Russ. The fool always seems to be smiling. Well I’m going go to have to tell him that it’s frankly not good enough. That will wipe that smile of his complacent face next time I see him! I will tell him “Don’t you know we are only fourth you fannying around playboy millionaire.” “Stop being happy and start winning every match. No excuses.” That should do the trick. 😛

We do have a proper DM - Shea Charles. And he can play CB too. In our current system it’s fair to say he is closest to what we might call a “DM” but Flynn Downes or Will Smallbone - both amongst our most consistent players this season - essentially fulfil that role at present. FD is only a loan and Will does seem a bit tackle light at times and neither are big lads but with Shea waiting to come on in place of them who is a bit more of a unit and a baller as well I’m not so sure a DM is an absolute priority. Unless it was as a back up to those three in which case I’d probably be looking to our young players personally as 4th choice. The CB position looks v sound to me. Once JS is back we will have four strong players now Mason has got his mojo on - but only two positions available. And that’s without the CB option Shea offers. If anything we may be a quality FB light. Larios is unproven and seems always injured so if any of RM JB and especially KWP in addition get a knock we are a bit vulnerable. And I’d rather keep Mason at cb than try him out wide messing up the whole defence cos we don’t have a proper fb. In the 1st transfer windiw due we lost Perraud and Tino but only brought in manning. I’d say an experienced, intelligent, FB that’s two footed would be high on the list.

Ryan Fraser, Sam Edozie and KS are amongst the most talented one on one players in this league. One of them has found the magic key to turning that talent and pace into goals. It’s the one with the older head on his shoulders. His experience has helped turn our possession advantage into goals. One view of why Sam and KS have not destroyed this league ( yet) is that, yes both try hard to comply with instructions and yes both are given a certain amount of latitude on the ball one on one yet both are still something of a question mark out of possession. Both guilty of switching off mentally a couple of times for split seconds has led to goals conceded. When attacking it’s apparent to me they are sometimes less instinctual more instruction based. And for players who clearly have pace, flair and rely on split second reflexes, that slight element of having to compute what it is they been told to do in a given position versus what their instincts tell them to do is just slightly losing them that edge over the FB’s of this league. It’s an age old problem for coaches of young talents. The solution is generally (unless they are truly exceptional) is yes massively encourage the instinct BUT not just to let them do what instincts say but to try to encourage good habits into that talent such that they too become instinct also - like for example knowing exactly what to do & where to be OUT of position at any given moment. Talents like KS and Sam often know what to do with the ball at their feet up front but switch off when it’s not near them. Ralph used to call it “ automatism” ie to do the right thing automatically on instinct without thinking. Top players always seem to be in the right place. Fraser has the experience already so he is in the right place more often even if his future potential ceiling is not at the same level as the other two. IF KS / SE can improve positional concentration, keep positive (but remain humble enough to be willing and able to improve)then imo they will both be superstars. The current coaching and squad composition set up is ideal for them this season. Especially with players like RF near them. Patience and coolness under pressure to take the chance when they get it is the next step. IMO Both can be £50m players if they listen and learn and we are EPL season.

I think it’s telling how difficult those three quite dominant teams from the latter part of last season are finding it in the EPL. Im not sure any of those three ( maybe bar Burnley but even that’s a generous stretch ) can truthfully say they were playing their way out the Championship in a style that they planned was going to be competitive in the EPL. More truthfully, imo, match by match they did what was needed to get the points( again, bar Burnley to a degree). Same for Forest year before- they tried to insta-adapt to EPL by recruiting 20 new players when they got promoted and - God knows how but credit to the Manager - managed to stay up last year. My understanding is that, although Saints current style is hard, takes longer to learn and can drop us points in that process, over course of the season the gamble is that it should still be sufficient for Saints to get promoted. The corollary to that is that, perhaps, it’s better to learn to play this way, at this level, where we can maybe get away with some mistakes than in the EPL where we will get hammered for each error. And that the style, as it matures, refines and becomes habitual, should be robust, pragmatic and competitive enough for us to be more than just be cannon fodder next season in the EPL. Thats the plan / gamble I guess. I do think that SR could have chosen a more pragmatic Manager but I’m personally sanguine in fact happy we did not. Its so hard to say wether we’d have 30 points, 39 points or 13 points if we had done so- and moreover wether that pragmatic style would have a cats chance in hell of surviving the epl ( I doubt it look how badly the promoted teams are doing right now). We could be Burnley, sheff utd or Luton in exactly 12 months time at bottom of league looking bad every week unless there’s a plan. Thankfully it seems there is. It’s a sobering thought though.