gio1saints

TWO matches in. It’s crazy. I don’t rate him as a Manager but that treatment is just vile. I hope we do not get the rebound on us! Just goes to show there’s vile abusive idiots all over the world. At the rate we are heading managers will get one match - and must win that - before so called supporters or “ fans “ turn on them. Then it will go down to whether so called supporters like the New Managers first press conference and finally it will be down to his haircut or choice of attire when he’s announced. Football support is just the convenient alibi for bad behaviour. Birmingham (who to the best of my knowledge have as small a trophy cabinet as Saints) fans should be delighted they have a high profile English legend as manager who might be able to attract half decent players. I just hope they are still in the learning phase with him and we can take three points to make it six games unbeaten which as others have said would be a disgrace because with this squad we should win every game.

I was pretty tired of us having to set up to scrape an away draw at any top ten side . Ditto playing at home to a top six. Ditton being hopelessly outplayed at home most games. Tired of Putting everyone behind the ball scrap for your lives hope to get a lucky goal ( like Rotherham). It’s no way to live frankly and definitely not enjoyable to watch. We were just treading water in the EPL before the inevitable. Given we played not good yesterday but took a point and had the ball 71% away from home I’d rather we played like us than played like PNE, I’d rather we played like us than like Rotherham. It’s become a recognisable style but it has also got tweaks. Much better than before. For me anyway. Bad performance but a good point. Used to be a sign of a good team doing that away with 5 changes - we ARE a good team. Move on.

Pre season Bet365 had us at 1/1 to make top six. I took £20 on that. Few points: 1. According to FACTS ie points and results we are currently a top six team. 2. According to OPINION we should be up there with LCFC top of this league 3. OPINIONS are often translated here into beliefs. And many of those forum beliefs have become entrenched. 4. The biggest now semi/permanent belief-that’s-not-a-fact-just-an-opinion is this God given right to automatic promotion. 5. Along with this is our players are too good for this league/ too good for this manager belief. We were not too good for the EPL . We will find our position in the Championship. But starting from the premise of humility not the incredible arrogance displayed. Last time in this league we our players and manager were NOT saddled with the insufferable entitlement of expecting to win the league. Carrying that around every match is like sandbags on everyone. For goodness sake unload them and let us support freely and enjoy a last minute equaliser. Let the players enjoy it too. Stop burdening them with these misguided expectations. It kills performance at any level.

Dont like personal stuff but I think that’s about the most positive thing I’ve ever heard you write TDmickey. You cannot help but belittle fellow saints fans I guess. We are not clapping seals for you to pour your scorn over neither are we satisfied with not winning and gullible easily pleased. You too often equate fair minded saints people who do not share your opinions with scum and it oozes out of virtually every emoji or abusive comment you make. Just try to think back last time we went five unbeaten. And enjoy it. Life is short and I do t know for sure I will ever see that again. So try to resist putting us down. Please.

Nice bit of Saints history there I was unaware of in the year of my birth! Thanks John B.😇COYS!

STU GOOD POINTS : Great character. Great experience. Stu is one of the few players confident enough to exhort/ encourage the Northam support when it comes to corners at that end. He is not afraid to have a shot. He scored a great direct kick I did not know was in him. He’s not afraid to take the ball in mf and drive forwards centrally. International player and proud of it. Strong on the ball - running in that danger area is his calling card. Shots from distance also. Deceptive pace and strength on the ball. Takes corners and free kicks now instead of JWP. STU LESS GOOD POINTS : Does not score enough. Final pass / lucidity of mind after his extended mf runs into central position to give it to the goal shooter (😁). Shooting probably too many over the bar not testing keeper, running back and being effective defensively he finds less fun - he’s not the worst cough cough Charlie - and given he’s a AMF his job is to be ahead of flynnn and Will so it’s harder for him to get back- all the same needs to kick them oppo players a bit more show more fighting. Corners are a little inconsistent - maybe having a 6ft 2” cf to aim at will help! Overall : a very firm fan favourite always gives his best. But he’s no Jude Bellingham obvs.

Reading between the lines from his presser I think Charlie may be given a rest but brought back for Birmingham. The same might be said of Stu. What I think I got ( unspoken and only by inference) from the presser was that we lacked mental stamina second half v Rotherham and he wants fresh and fit minds in there to prevent a recurrence v Brum. Resting two of the mf who have been travelling and on international duty makes a certain kind of sense in that context. But it also means not necessarily picking our “ best” 11 to start v PNE. Of course I’m mind reading and may be totally wrong but it feels like a RM move. If I’m right, there may be one change (or two) to the midfield starters - and obviously the replacement for RM. Personally I’d keep KWP at RB and just introduce a specialist FB at LB- which for me is Bree not Holgate. Shuffling KWP to RB so he can go on those mazy runs and cut in is all well and good but on that side we have KS who is not as disciplined in defending the space as AA is on the right side to cover for those KWP runs. That’s makes it more expensive risk playing him at LB and I don’t see it worth doing. Id further task Bree on mainly sitting in with KS on that LH side so he does NOT need to show anything attacking apart from ensuring that the LB position is tight and basically just give the ball to KS and clean up if / when KS loses possession. It’s a big responsibility but it removes need for Bree to consider himself a modern footballing playmaker full back ( which I feel RM does consider himself to a degree) and more a trad conventional row z defender. Might be wrong and he might go for continuity in the hope of resting players later second half if we doing well. That’s the beauty of football though, we can’t ever tell 100% what team he’s gonna put out and it gives us something to talk about!😇 The absolute priority is Win or worst case draw v PNE. The performance they deliver v Brum, especially 2nd half is only a luxury consideration if we get this first result. I’ve just been trying to think a move or two ahead about it in context of the PNE match like in chess about it that’s all.

Thanks Alex. Nicely summarised.

My guesses are: Fairly confident; Depending on RS form- Che to leave on loan or sale to a bottom six EPL club. Ditto possibly Mara same if someone EPL or Ligue un in need of a possible rough diamond up front. Just guessing optimistically : Depending on league position ( if we are in play off spots or not basically) 1. Saints to resist selling KWP to EPL for anything below £25m. 2. Saints to resist letting Charlie go for anything below £25m. 3. Saints to resist letting KS for anything below £40m. Bids above those figures for our players I think they will be sold. Bids below I have fingers crossed we resist. 4. A random young French speaking winger / striker and an old hand FB brought in on loan.

🎼he can set you up free he can make you a meal he can do any thing he feeeels ….K-W-P it’s wise to pass to the KWP…🎼

To the tune of YMCA; Young Man ……Kyle was once in your shoes Thats when…. I knew that we’d never lose because …….. 🎼It’s wise to give the ball to the K - W - P ….to give the ball to the K -W - P 🎼 Yeah. I know what you’re thinking. Wasted talent . I should have been writing for Elton John or something 😇😂

Hi Noodles do you post from Italy or have a IT connection if I recall? If so: Ciao e Forza Saints!. Back to Wednesday night Preston v Saints. If we are not winning or it’s even a draw from 19.45 onwards I’m encouraging Saints fans not to be too hard on themselves - and others including the team and posters here online. It was evident from the Hull in match comments that some of our online support were ( rightly at times - but not to the point of suicidal despair or nasty abuse) very upset we were only drawing. I’m not sure that was the view of the 2000 who travelled though. So, IF we are only drawing away to Preston - which we will be at kick off - I’m just encouraging fellow Saints to not take it too badly. Maybe it’s this suicide awareness course I’m doing but I’m just aware that with something as emotive as the team we love if anything there goes wrong it can cascade into daily life as well. And it can be the final straw. Just looking out for fellow saints that’s all. And I’m not God squad either. Just a stupid man like most of us. My prediction away win and Charlie to actually score a goals not let there goalie do yet another wonder save like last two matches!😂

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/saints-foundation-what-we-do It’s what Southampton FC Foundation is trying to do too. Thanks for your support. And if you think that the mental well-being of saints fans is not an issue try this: https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/ten-hampshire-areas-see-suicide-7579252

Agree that it will be Bree but in the interests of keeping as settled a team as possible I’d start Charlie again.He’s got to score at some point- last two matches goalies done worldies to deny him! Is it inevitable Bree plays RB and KWP switches? If there’s a possibility of not changing our best players position - and this season far and away it’s kwp- I’d keep him in the same position he’s been brilliant at all season. Surely Experienced Bree can handle it?

Considering we were 60 seconds away from a mass uprising and release of hate on RM and team yesterday I’d say Wednesday is a must win . I cannot personally live my life holding that much anger and poison in me waiting for something as bad as “ only” a draw away to Hull- or in this case a draw or loss to Preston to give it release. I try breathing exercise or go gym or do yoga ( my wife is an instructor) or just read a book and yeah a large whiskey on occasion as an alternate safer outlet. I do understand how without access to other frustration and anger outlets that it can get like that for saints fans and maybe it’s also the safest way- online we can say and behave in ways perhaps we would not dream of in real life. I just hope our Saints support family gives itself a collective break from “ feast or famine , glory or disaster - because the reality is we are always somewhere inbetween and it’s not the destination but the journey they matters. I want us to win the world club championship in my lifetime but as long as we play - and support - with ❤️ that’s more than enough for me. We did yesterday and frankly barring some bad days have done most of season.

I don’t want to be a party pooper but it might be better for all our mental health sake if we try to temper expectations of RS. If he is a two chance one goal finisher that will be way better than what we have to date last few years. And it may take some time for him to get up to that playing with new teammates. The way we play may have to change to accommodate his skill set- or will he be asked to change to accommodate the way we play? THAT’s the question in my mind and I rather think the latter will be the answer. At present our tactics are not primarily aimed at laying the ball on a plate for the No. 9 to finish. Midfielders arriving late yes or pull backs from by-line yes- but we do not hit it long to the big number 9 ( ok at 6ft 2” he’s not massive but he’s way bigger than Che, AA and Mara) to challenge for in hope of getting second ball, or to hold up or run with or lay off to his nippy sidekick - so it’s going to be interesting - and vitally important - to see how he is utilised.

Thank you CSA 96. Glad to see yours is the most upvoted post on this thread! Rightly so. If Saints supporters who travelled all that way don’t get acknowledged win lose or draw it’s very bad. I don’t really care if RM and team do cartwheels, punch the air, juggle balls, come over and clap or do a HULK like Che - I really don’t care how as long as they definitively ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT. When they do it - like yesterday - it should not be discouraged. The opposite, and your post summed it up brilliantly.

I think that closed doors friendly thing was salesmanship to suggest he was readier than he was. Martin hoped he would be involved after the International break. But he’s not played contact football yet it appears ( from the last press conference it seems) so he is unlikely to be rushed in This 3 matches in a week period. I think you are probably right in that our medical team has a tough criteria that RS is not yet up to. I’m hoping Che ( and Mara) regard this as an opportunity to make themselves undroppable (by scoring when on) as it’s clear there will only be one playing out of those three at any time - and sometimes zero if Charlie plays false 9 - which is in the playback also.

I think he said it at the beginning but it may have been in the middle. Or the end. He did say it. Honest. He was self deprecating all night. Described his football ability as “ crap” , Described his ability as a fb as “ crap” also, described playing for a “little country “ called Scotland. He can take a joke and takes the piss out of himself. When asked what’s the idea with not leaving a player up front from corners he says with a big smile “ i don’t really know” let’s ask xyz ( our Swedish set piece guy who was very good btw). Nobody likes arrogance. But my impression is that he’s honest, committed and passionate. Obstinacy Is his middle name but he’s articulate in his beliefs. Maybe the all- black outfits look he wears is a little Silicon Valley or TED talk like but if all I got is critiquing his clothes…

Lord D, Post of the week! 😍 RM stood up the other night and expressly said it was his fault no excuses. He showed where it had gone wrong and why, and what he was doing about it. Not in the form of “pony management waffle” ( excellent term of derision btw) but with straightforward English and some videos. Oh and he used a laser pointer thing- THAT was pony granted. But the explanation ( NOT excuse) was, in my opinion, reasonable. Returning to “Pony management waffle” though. I’m sure if you told Lego head ( not sure that’s all that funny but it’s not bad I guess and it’s got a certain ring to it) about your description of his explanation as pony management waffle he may well agree with you. He seems that kind of bloke. Ask him yourself - bet you he agrees!

Brilliant. I must have the MLT one!

I personally thought Ralph was a good appointment. And for a good while it was a blast. I personally thought Jones was worth supporting though iffy but we took a chance and fucked it up. Selles was a non recruitment stop gap move. Russell has shown already he has good qualities. And some he needs improving in. But it’s hardly fair to describe it as a “cycle of shit” unless you have a very glass half empty outlook. Your solution of sack everyone and replace them has not really worked to date. Maybe sacking Ankersen and Russell ( I presume JW must go as well) and getting in replacements for all of them is a better bet than actually giving the team more time than - what you reckon he should have gone after the Leicester result - what’s that 8 matches in?😂 Do you realise what you are saying? If the new manager is not brilliant within 8 games he must go not only him the whole lot above him. I think Dark Munster you must be a having a giraffe with me. 😄

Fair point. And sorry for previously using the condescending term “breaking news” - it was kind of cheap and disrespectful. Soz. My response : RM & friends has had to teach our club a whole new system. Dozens of players plus the back up teams. All over the last whatever weeks it’s been. IF we don’t go up or if we DO go up I believe we will lose players. BUT, and this is the main point- only the replacement players we getin would need teaching the new way - not the whole club once more. And, to be clear, I believe we will need more new players to learn it whether we go up or not - for reasons already stated. That is the nub of the response to you. Staff turnover is not as bad a boogeyman as you might think- we have to engineer it in as a given win lose or draw anyways. We would not be back in a “perpetual cycle.” Unless by that you mean the one in which we develop great players then sell them to top six. That’s a perpetual cycle I reckon! Caveat: As long as there is a plan and a process in place. I will not be shy in calling JW or RM out if they change the rules of the regime halfway - but to date I think our best bet is to give our players and our manager as much encouragement as we can.

With all due respect to all the above people stating that if we do not get promoted we will lose all our best players / team. That’s so true I don’t know why it keeps getting repeated. BUT it is also true that Saints ALWAYS lose our best players/ team - win lose or draw. Season after season. Let us not try to pretend Saints have not been a selling club like everyone else the last twenty years - or that if the price is right and it suits then we sell anyone. It makes not one iota of difference what league we are in. Whether we are top ten EPL or mid table Championship. Watching some of you belatedly, Frantically, worrying about something that’s been happening for decades at Saints but somehow giving it a 2023 twist to suggest it’s now the reason we MUST go up this season is grasping at straws. Breaking news to you : Players will leave SFC - period. I get we are frustrated and want wins and want promotion. But frightening ( or trying to frighten) us with the doom and gloom of “losing our best players” if we don’t is a pretty feeble excuse of an argument. Guess what? If we win all our matches rest of this season I think we are going to get promoted but, sadly, lose all our best players - sound familiar??? We been doing it forever.

Weird or not here goes: The opposite of “ it takes tIme ” is “ results now”. Give or take. The biggest gripe seems to be we will not go up and lose all our players if we carry on this path. There’s no clear alternative solution favoured atm but it’s as clear as day that those who want it now don’t think the style suits SFC ( it does suit our owners obviously - it’s really them it does not suit ) JW and RM have set out their position on that. We are not ditching the process but are amenable to tweaks is the gist of it. Anything other than that you guys are saying JW and RM OUT but dont feel courageous enough to come out with it - yet. IF you look at it logically then from your perspective it can only mean one thing. RM and JW must go. It follows that unless SR change the style that they too, must go. Replacing what would be our fourth manager in 18 months and 5 in 18 might seem a better option than the path we are currently in But, weirdly, I respectfully disagree. I think that’s guaranteed to further unsettle club and support.