CSA96

I was expecting to look at his history and see that he had a goal record like Sekou Mara based on the initial reaction... never heard of the guy so no real idea what to expect

Can't help but think the solution is to flick back to 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 - I totally get why he went with the 3-5-2 on opening day up at Newcastle, where things could've got ugly and the game probably came too soon for us. But long-term answer? No chance Personally, think we need to compensate for losing the third CB by playing two deep centre mids and one higher up. I know previously RM has preferred Downes as the deep midfielder and then two CMs higher up, but I would be looking to play Downes and Ugochukwu together in a deeper area, with Fernandes pushed up Then alternate Fernandes with sub appearances for Dibling and Lallana. If Dibling keeps showing flashes and Fernandes isn't, then you can swap them around. I think all three of those have the guile to help knit things together between midfield and attack and create chances, which is going to be key. Attack was way too far away from the rest of the team today and as much as Arma and BBD didn't do much, I did feel a bit sorry with them because that 3-5-2 system with split strikers only ever set them up to fail Need to add a wide player and a proper number 9 before the end of the window, just hope we don't have to wait too long now to adjust the system to suit the players

Yawn

Interested to know why nobody in Europe has come in for Charly. Is it known that he wants a move back to South America and that's why Saints are putting in the effort of trying to get this Flamengo deal to be as amenable as possible? Would tie in with RM saying he was having family issues and there's the fact he's never learned the language

Pete's getting a run out at the end. 80th birthday celebration

Exactly this. Basically gives us first dibs on him and gives us an opportunity to get loads of insight on him over the next 12 months before making a decision on whether he's suitable for Saints or not. And in the meantime it kicks the FFP/PSR can down the road and keeps any fee off the books until next year, by which time our 22/23 shitshow has elapsed and dropped off the books

Russell Martin on Lesley Ugochukwu: "It is the number six position mostly where he will compete with Flynn Downes or play alongside him, but it's a big position with lots going through it so it takes a bit to learn." "They [new signings] have only had a couple of training sessions but we are delighted they're here. This is their opportunity to be here with us in the Premier League, I have been impressed with them. The challenge is to force their way into the team."

Nah, you're not losing the plot. Badly printed and the 8 is higher than the 1

Sheffield Wednesday also have Shea's brother, Pierce Charles (GK)

Flynn Downes was £18m (sorry)

Eredivisie discussion from some Dutch fans on the idea of Bijlow to Saints - some interesting comments if you run through translation in browser:

Not really how it works though, is it? Not with any player, given context and changing circumstances are important. Certainly not with young players, they don't just continually mirror their first season or two for their entire career. Progression isn't linear either so while it tells us what he did in a very poor team previously, it's not a guarantee of anything (for better or worse). Let us not forget Lallana/Schneiderlin were once relegated to League 1 and considered ineffectual and yet both went on to be stellar Saints players, get selected for World Cups and play significant roles for teams up the top end domestically while competing in the Champions League

Ambitious perhaps but I don't think 9pm is ridiculously crazy or anything. Pubs close at midnight but are usually emptying out quite a while before close. There will be a lot of test and learn in these early stages for the commercial and fan engagement staff They're obviously assuming that people will leave SMS at about 5pm, with another PL game on TV at 5.30pm - and are thinking that if they can get people in to watch that game and let the traffic pass, then the late game ends at 7.30pm and gives 60 minutes until last orders I might be tempted in to avoid the traffic and crowds moving back to the city centre immediately after the final whistle if there's an exciting enough evening game/it's pissing down outside the ground and I'm not ready for it, but I can't see myself ever being there at 9pm (unless we've had one hell of a result ) - but it might be a handy tie-over until the train out of Southampton Ctl as an excuse to let the crowds go and not be crammed like sardines over the bridge and on the train

Hahaha, I am not driving to another town/city after work to drop off or collect my ticket in the name of social interaction! You are right on the last point tbf, they will use it as a way to find out which season ticket holders are barely turning up or palming off their tickets too much, from their perspective. Especially now we have a waiting list (I think?) Also makes it easier to track who is responsible for away fans ending up in the home end, if that happens later in the season and leads to crowd trouble

Yup. There's no real reason to walk out on their salary, the club agreed to it after all. So they either get loaned out and get to play and their parent club offset the salary for a season or receive a contribution to reduce the outlay, or they get sold and the selling club has to help subsidise for a while

Well, what about if your pal doesn't live in the same place as you? In that instance it is way easier to send it off a phone in a minute or so, rather than post a card off to them or have to fuck about trying to find a time to pick up/drop off around work and family commitments

Same reason they have been struggling to shift Reiss Nelson by all accounts

Information on fan zones; what's happening in each one and timings here: https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/three-fan-zones-launch-at-st-marys-for-premier-league-opener?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=stadium-changes&utm_term=fan-zones&utm_content=link

And, assuming we signed Fernandes because we can't get O'Riley, then we've saved 10m or so there which we can spend on Bijlow

Presuming we do buy him rather than loan and pay in 12 months/on survival, we'll still have the other PL loan slot free. I think most of us thought that would be reserved for a GK but potentially opens up some other interesting options going into the end days of this window...