gio1saints

Yup I agree. I think that the times of one player one club are behind us so it’s especially a good milestone. Players are bought and sold- and managers- like new mobiles. Basically they’re replaced or “upgraded” regularly and their useful lifespan is countable in much shorter timescales than say twenty years ago. Which directly impacts upon the nature of the typical supporter with their club. If it’s a revolving door of new players and new managers owned by new owners what’s to love? And why? Pretty soon 200 matches one team will be regarded as extraordinary rather than ah is that so kind of response. Bit sad hence why I’m trying to resist , futilely, the tide. 😇

Checked out the opta stats on Swansea and they seem to be weak on the flanks at rb and lb in terms of their opponents having possession there. Suggests they defend narrow. Bit like us really. Also Suggests to me that Ryan will be able to get a lot of the ball. He’s 9/1 first goalscorer, 9/1 last and 10/3 anytime if anyone’s interested. I’m on. Certainly looking good for assisting also. Plus he’s on fire. If he’s fit then he is gonna have fun… Can also see Amo getting a chance late on to play down the flanks if we are comfortable ( or even if not).

Thanks. I’ve subscribed to opta analyst on back of that article.

Great point! All the saints fans who are in smaller but noisy support groups around the ground can now potentially coalesce into the Northam. They should probably be offered priority to the newly available Northam seats/stand. One great thing about the Dell was that it was compact and intimidating for away teams. Cannot recreate that intimidating feel at SMS but the next best thing ( imo) is to put the away support in a corner somewhere (😁) and have a red and white monopoly both ends to maximise vocal support for the team. NB. If this happens I’m fairly certain that we will kick off to the Northam second half - unlike at present. Would be nice to give team close and loud second half support to get those goals right in front of us. Especially as we seem to score so many late goals. Hidden in the detail is the idea of a mixed seating/ standing area. This will be an interesting item!

Yes. I am a current Northam season ticket holder. It very much affects me. I have Been to every home match this season. But you are right. If you not a regular at SMS there’s limited - but not zero - value to input.

Registered my interest to attend more focus group stuff on it. Am very much in favour.

Much as I love the happy dancing dogs, to say we will win an away match easily is just a Bonio size too dogtastic for my imagination. We have not won ANY match away from kennels easily for countless years let alone an away match easily during this walkies. I do think it’s a win but it requires some dogged application - so your dancing dogs are a good clue. 🐶 😇.

Playing 200 matches in a saints shirt IS praiseworthy. You don’t play 200 matches in a Saints shirt if you are shite. DO click on the link- it’s fun to see who actually is on that list of playing over 200 Saints matches. And how many of them you think are unworthy of praise.

Ivan Golac, one our greatest full backs. A hero to many. 173 times played for saints but forgotten by everyone. 🤭. Not by me- or you. 😂

Everyone below Jan Bednarek is forgotten right? 🤭https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-southampton/rekordspieler/verein/180 erm Peter Shilton, Ivan Golac, Marian Pahars, Mark Wright…..and so on… it’s rather a long list of forgotten nonentities.

197 and 196 appearances - 3 or 4 matches,

Some really good points and nicely picked up on the away form data. A goal difference of zero really says we barely scraped over the line when we’ve won and have never destroyed teams like what happens at SMS. Perhaps, and maybe it’s wishful thinking, though 19 unbeaten is one hell of a reason to be optimistic - we have gradually learned to be better all-round- and this will soon - perhaps as the final piece of the performance jigsaw - translate into better more convincing winning away performances.

You might be right though quality of opposition is the main factor for sure. I honestly did not think Jan could play this way and to see his renaissance under RM has been a revelation this season. He’s an automatic starter, regained his international #5 shirt for Poland and is the on pitch tempo lead for our PB football in absence of JS. Either football style suits him or the forwards are easier to play against - or more likely a bit of both. FWIW : Jan is currently the outstanding CB #1 in the championship for passes, progressive passes and pass completion percentage. Source : https://fbref.com/en/players/4115ce4e/Jan-Bednarek Well worthy of special acknowledgement when he hits 200 matches in a Saints shirt. Oh, and as a point of reference a previous foreign CB called Jose Fonte Baby, I believe, managed 286 games for Saints so some way to go! .😁

Agreed they are neither ever going to be legends ( unless Beds or Stu scores a winner/Hattrick in the 2024FA cup final win over Liverpool) but point I was making was that 200 was entering Hall of Fame category. 200 League appearances for both is a high and merit worthy achievement for any Saints player.

Longest unbeaten run 19 matches, 5 September 1921 – 31 December 1921 NB Millwall away was match 7 of Saints record breaking 30 matches unbeaten run in the Championship during the 2023-24 season that culminated in their automatic promotion to the EPL. Edited 31 October, 2023 by gio1saints We are getting there. Thirty league matches unbeaten is still on - 12 league matches later. Shout out to all the gentle people who laughed at my prediction. Please do it again. It’s obviously a good luck charm. 😇 The full post to check my other “insane” predictions:

Love Stu❤️. Stu will be 32 in March. out of contract in the summer. And Was on £70k pw. My personal view : I don’t think he would play as much or enjoy it as much next season at Saints in the EPL (if we make it- nor staying here if we don’t) Given his contract situation this current season will probably be his last for Saints. And we should appreciate him accordingly. He will reach 200 appearances shortly also. The ideal for him might be if he goes to Celtic to pick up a championship winners trophy but had not cost them anything so they can give him two years on a decent wage.Maybe even a join up bonus. That might also enable perhaps some young talent incoming from them to us also. 😁😎

Wages c £8k pw. Compared to Stu ( older) and Aribo ( bit younger) who play similar position but are ( or were - I’m unsure if they got the relegation haircut to salary? Anybody know?) on £70k pw.

Nicely spotted. Players get 2 games suspended for reaching 10 by the 38th match ( source google). That’s both Ryan and Jan out probably around beginning Feb - on current form. Hopefully JS and a fit again James Bree at that time ensure no major loss in personal or momentum.

Was a very surprising line up last time ( JS at right back! Joe Aribo started! KWP was like everywhere!) v these. No Che. But it worked. Wonder if RM will refresh his starting line up again this time or revert to what is currently the standard when fit 11 ( Gav, RM, THB, Jan, KWP, WS, FD, SA, RF, AA & Che)? Our default team is predictable but means nothing if they cannot counter it. I personally would prefer him to pick that away line up than the rather exotic home match line up we used Boxing day. Though winning 5-0 does say it kinda worked. just dont think they get fooled twice on that. Very hard match in store and the players that start are going to have to put a lot of energy into this to stop early swans enthusiasm and desire to atone for the thrashing only a few weeks ago. Assuming we are not 3-0 down at HT I think we have more than enough to beat these - especially last quarter of the match when they may start to tire. 1-2 Saints.

Not necessarily Stu Aribo or Charlie leaving ( well I hope not!) so the right winger is either him - or someone else we purchase? Or he is part of a some kind of swap deal with Bournemouth taking one of ours?

Appreciate the thoughts Bermudasaint. 😇.

Somewhat Worryingly he looks to me like an alternate to Stu. Stu, 31 and 32 in March I believe,? who is in last six months of his contract also..or Charlie or Aribo. All sameish position and he’s hardly what youcall a right winger so Why need another of these - unless one of them is off????

All identifiable improvements agreed and all part of the advanced PB playbook required of the team @benjii- but I still consider the critical element to be the players mental speeding up and finally realisation , understanding THEN execution of the PB playbook. The identified improvements have come a priori because the players better understand where they are meant to be & what they are meant to be doing every second on the pitch, in and out of possession. Better Coordinated pressing off the ball as you’ve identified as a noticeable improvement happens for instance because ( most) every player now instinctively knows more often to be in the right place to do it- not have to work out what’s the instructions for this particular scenario and then do it. Those microseconds make all the difference in the timings and how it looks and how effective it is. Just one player not playing from the same song sheet can make the whole team look rubbish. NB. we do have a noticeable tendency still to leave the opposite flank winger relatively free and our fb is often tucked in at that time quite some distance away. And when skipper JS comes on we do play even faster from the back like he is pushing us to do it even quicker even better. Great reason to keep putting him in the team cos he is driving towards not just not losing but excellence and higher standards.

Or as I prefer to describe, second best at professional fouls 😁

Now that the rest of the team seem to know what they are doing and are meant to be doing in most given situations it has meant that we have the luxury of letting our class act do his stuff more often. KWP has been given licence to hurt the opposition because we are more solid and competent defensively as a team now. When we were weaker KWP had to play a more restrictive defensive role. Now stronger he’s got licence to kill. Reminds me of the licence Saints gave MLT which only came off the back of the rest of the team working their butts off around him and knowing what to do ( apart from just give it to MLT 😁) out of possession.