Saint Gifford

There are hundreds of players out there that have been spat out by the academy system plying there trade where ever they can. Why would you take on this baggage, because he played with decent players on billard tables. There are players out there at non league level without the crap at 16 17 18 years old.

Both are absolutely right. Players develop at different times. Our academy used to be the benchmark. Not so sure these days unfortunately.

I am on the fence here. I’ve said half tongue in cheek on here before about the vast amounts of money coming into the club and the plan. Every wealthy billionaire always has an exit strategy, which is why they are so wealthy. As a supporter, a bit more transparency would go a long way. As with every club, these guys are only the owners temporarily. Tbf, a couple of comments about balancing the books are probably spot on. I know we aren’t Prem anymore, but 10 million on a Swansea defender ( I don’t know the guy never seen him play). Because the manager knows him. I do wonder if we have a bigger network of targets other than a Championship manager raiding his old club for a player or two. Seems a bit League one and League two for me. (dare I say a repeat of the NJ fiasco) I get budgets, but come on there are a few more players from clubs on a global scale that we must have been keeping tabs on over the last few years that we can develop or go straight in. We must be better than to go with the total blind faith of a bloke from Luton and Swansea. Call me cynical, I know.

I can’t get to St Mary’s as much as I would like. My 17 year old lad plays Toolstation football at 3 on a Saturday. I have to be honest and say I’m really enjoying my football again without the bullshit money and histrionics that surround so called top level football.

Al whatever would have paid 1. Billion 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Fair play to JWP , seems to be enjoying his football with some decent players in and around him. West Ham were pretty crap in the prem last season, so for me just proves the point that we were absolute litter.

Great day out. Legend of the club for me. Really good to see those pictures again.

Tbf, I said this on another thread to question 1. I am assuming that SR are completely committed with thier 90% share holding, but it is a fair question. Are we just an investment that has not worked or is there a long term plan. Of course there is always an exit strategy, but it would be good to get some clarity on what SR’s long term plans are. Oh and could we get a decent West Country Cyder on tap please.

Just had a look at West Ham’s statement in the signing of JWP. It looks very strange seeing him in anything other than Red and White. Good luck to the lad, wish him well. Interesting to see how Moyes plays and sets up with him

I’m just waiting for the BBQ to get hot and perusing the free agents list. Wow there are some players on their without clubs. Before I get slated, I know there is a lot of the behind the scenes pandering that goes on. But I’d take loads of players on the list………………

There are thousands of unbelievable players out there. I don’t think we need to keep regurgitating the same players that seem to be on the same roundabout over and over again. These include ours and other teams players. Biggest question is, and I genuinely really don’t know anymore, is how good our scouting network is and our long term list of players across all the leagues. Pro or Semi Pro.

Good start, at the end of the day it’s points on the board that count. No one ever looks at the history books any other way. Interesting to see the starting 11 in a months time, and against some decent opposition. No disrespect to SW intended, but I hardly call them a challenge. RM is a million miles away from the pretenders of Jones and Selles, just want to see how he plays against the likes of Leeds, Leicester, Norwich, Boro, Sunderland ect. How does he set up against them, how does he handle tactics, Subs at the right time and game management. Not seen any of that yet. First game I know, Christmas will be the litmus test for me. Fantastic start, not to concerned about players ins and outs as what we lose we should attract quality given our standing. I am probably a minority, but the manager this season will be the difference between promotion or staying in this league for me.

Prem against L1, would expect it. But keep this up, should be our competition.

Watching on Sky tonight. Fair play to everyone that has made the trip👏👏👏👏

£10 per game on iplayer is the norm for both home and away. The gas do the same, but you could buy a season ticket for iplayer last season. Maybe that’s something to do with the 170 quid, not sure. Commentary by the teams commentators that are at the ground for the local radio station as a rule.

Just while I was typing out my post. Great minds and all that😂

I assume there is a reason SR is trying to get top dollar for all these players getting top division football. Is it to recoup the amount of money spent on buying the club and 60 million what ever it was the last window. Could they be preparing to dump the club and run for the hills. In jest of course, but a tiny bit of me thinking there is an exit strategy being formatted here.

Probably correct tbh. 99.9% guaranteed a league title in Germany and a proper chance at Big Ears. His bedside table will have some silver stuff on it to make up for a goal record. Probably help England at the same time. 30 years old or what ever he is got to do it. You could cut Tiss in half and he would look like a stick of Rock with Saints written through him. (so thankful by the way that Chelsea check is in a frame on his wall somewhere). Fair play to him from an English player point of view, I’d probably watch a few more Bunders games on the tele. (Even though the games I have watched are pretty crap tbf.

Looking forward to seeing our starting 11 game 1.

Bring on game 1 that’s the important bit see where we are. Watched my lad Saturday 3pm first of 42. Should walk the league by a country mile after relegation last season. Lost 2-0, doesn’t matter what league or level, I came away thinking it’s all about heart and how much you want it. Ability helps but will is what gets you across the line.

Stats can be made to look like however you want. Ramus is pretty good at that. It’s the story that sits behind the numbers that matter. TBF, there are 11 players on the pitch with an army of Managers and coaches. Just my opinion but I think unfair to lay the blame of a game, cup run or season at 1 player. Like most, I think fans believe it was a balls up across the whole piece last season which leaves us where we are.

I know our academy isn’t quite what it was supposedly. But I would be interested to know who we have coming through at u18, 21, 23’s. Not saying that’s the answer, but hardly worth the hassle of bothering if we don’t take a look.

Great for him and his family. Should hopefully for him see out his career at Barca. I always thought in a Saints shirt, it made no difference about his legs, skills whatever. All I know is I wouldn’t have wanted to meet him in a dark alley, as an opponent I would have stayed well away from him, the scary looking MF 😆😆😆

Sell the lot to Saudi and start again……………… Tongue in cheek of course

Fair play, we are buying really good young players from clearly good stock as RM has said from Man City. Good business model from them selling good young players to get experience and game time. It would take a miracle for these lads to get a first team game with probably the best club team on the planet. I am assuming there are water tight buy backs for those who make the grade, so great for us and Man City. I just hope that we keep our options open with a couple of “old heads”, as the Championship isn’t exactly renowned for its technical or ticki tacki players as a whole.