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If I read it correctly, according to the BBC game statistics, they won 64% of their tackles; we won 33%. They won 60% of the aerial duels, we won 40%.

In reference to the number of concerns voiced here about our transfer business at CB and CF, the latest Echo article by Alfie House makes it clear how many times we were turned down or outbid when shopping for those positions.

To be fair, it’s a very common format for news and opinions online. Considered clear. See this extract, for example, copied from a BBC Sport page about Dobbin… Saints fan Nick Illingsworth believes there is more left for new Southampton signing Lewis Dobbin to show as he tries to find his place in the team. Southampton brought the 23-year-old for close to £9m from Aston Villa this summer but he has only started one Championship match so far. "I think he can still come good, he's versatile and he's finding the right position," Illingsworth said.

A goal every 6 games if you do the math properly. And, recently, far less.

2023-24 c3000 league minutes, 7 goals. 2024-25 c1500 league minutes, 1 goal. 2025-26 c1000 league minutes, 0 goals. Playing an ever decreasing time at a higher level, wit ever decreasing goals.

This.

Pulled a thigh muscle in the match against Eastleigh.

Can’t understand why there hasn’t been more discussion on the departure of our key analyst, Eduard Schmidt last week. “Southampton and I have mutually agreed to terminate my contract. Comes quicker than one might have expected after what felt like a fairytale for the most part." In the light of our poor set-up against Watford I wonder if his departure made a difference. Also. Spygate … FA investigation… Key analyst leaves -“quicker than one might have expected “. I know Adam Blackmore says no linkage. Does he know that for definite?

The X post which prompted the exchange above (the one about Ratkov) was posted by Il Messageroit, the daily paper of Rome. It may be wrong, but it’s no more or less likely to be ‘complete made-up bullshit’ than, say, The Echo. Not, definitely wrong or definitely right, but possibly right.

To be fair, it’s Spors who probably found us the diamond. Credit where credit’s due.

5 - 2 - 3. Isn’t that what we’ve been playing for weeks?

45 minutes to go. Leo in? Bree and Taylor out? That’s one every 15 minutes.

Somebody else posted this a couple of days ago. Probably explains why Jelert is a loan. Everton sent message as Elias Jelert transfer bid made

I wonder if there's a young, but big and strong Premier League academy centre forward out there, who is capable of leading our attack and is available for loan with an option to buy? (I know the concerns about loan deals, but it would be a low-cost punt on finding a key improvement to the squad, with significant potential benefits).

Read between the lines!? All that bile based on a guess? Sorry, can’t agree.

Don't understand all the predictions of 3 at the back. We've started every pre-season game with a 4.

Interesting that we're 4 days out from the start of the season and there's no agreement on what formation we'll be playing.

Well done Saints for rejecting betting and alcohol as front-of-shirt sponsors, in favour of P+O, a less-unethical company with strong local links.

This may or may not be sarcasm. But some supporters do disparage ‘the padded seats’. But they are directly opposite the Directors’ Box and the manager’s seat, offering the same views of the game, but without the inconvenience of looking directly into the sun. So arguably the best seats in the ground. What a shame to take these seats away from people who have paid for them and to deprive other supporters of the chance to try them on a one-off basis

Me too apparently. 😳

Nonsense. Fernandez wide right?!?

He has always typically scored his goals coming inside from the left.

You've set up this squad with two sitting midfielders. In my experience, home and away, since he arrived, RM has never fielded a team with two sitting midfielders.

There was an accident, involving a bus and 2 cars, southbound, on the Avenue, near Golf Course Road at around that time. It caused long tailbacks in both directions.

This.