trousers

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/juric-shares-positive-squad-news-for-ipswich-trip Southampton manager Ivan Jurić has offered a positive update on several members of his squad ahead of Saturday's trip to Ipswich Town. After fielding several questions on injured players in recent weeks, Saints' boss was pleased to share news on a handful of potential returns to action, with Kamaldeen Sulemana and Tyler Dibling notably ready for selection again. "Kamaldeen and Dibling trained today with us, and they will be with us [for Ipswich.]" Jurić explained, before adding further reassurance on Dibling's availability. "[Tyler] has recovered already, he did training today and I think he'll be ready." In further positive news, the Croatian hinted at goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale's return with only minor issues for other members of the squad. "Rambo did one part of the training today, and tomorrow I think he'll be okay. We had problems with [Ryan] Fraser and Woody [Nathan Wood], not big ones but they will be out for this one." Jurić also shared updates on the potential return of Jack Stephens, with new signings Welington and Albert Grønbæk also in line for their first Saints inclusions. "I'm a very happy guy that Stephens is with us, the [medical team] did a great job, because he did two trainings with no problems and sometimes it's not like this, so he's done very well. He's a quality player, a competitive player and he can give us a lot. "[Albert] did a good week, he's a very interesting player because he's quick, very good technique, he had a good week and maybe he can play. "Now I know [Welington] better, he's trained really well and we might can him a chance against Ipswich during the match. I think he can become a really good player for us."

And Juric also said that he "likes Stephens a lot"....

Fair points 👍

2 weeks Edit: sorry, wrong thread....

It's going to take much more than 6 games to corroborate that opinion. Given Juric joined in a hopeless situation, and was never going to be able to turn things around this season, I would venture that, say, 10 games into next season is probably the soonest we can logically and directly judge how good Juric is (in comparison with Martin).

I've always thought that Ballard and Dibling were of a similar standard historically, so slightly surprised not to see Ballard in the frame for some first team experience for the remainder of the season, on a "nothing to lose" basis, given we're down and that he surely can't be any worse than our senior striker options.... That said, I can also see the pros of maximising his game time in a lower league, especially if he starting to fall behind Dibling's development curve...

Greeting from St.Mary's. My first match of the Juric era. Not a great performance but at least it feels like I'm watching a game of football compared to a game of chess under the previous regime. Big Les and Fernandes the standout players for us. Newcastle far more threatening in the final third than us (#statingtheobvious) but the ref is giving us absolutely nothing. Their defenders are consistently fouling Tall Paul but not a jot from the referee. Indeed, I think their second goal emanated from such an incident if I remember correctly (?) And as for the VAR decision, I'm right behind the goal where it happened and didn't look like a penalty in real to me. Once again, how can it take them so long to overturn the original decision given it must have been a "clear and obvious error"...? The ensuing Northam chant of "Premier League, corrupt as f***" was spot on. Still think we could sneak a result here but probably wishful thinking!

Might explain why he hasn't posted on here for a while...?

Hailing a taxi, ergo not a nazi

I've always said there's a very fine line between hailing a taxi and being a nazi.... (not mutually exclusive activities, of course)

Is there an echo in here...?

Juric: "Dibling's injury isn't as bad as we first thought. Will re-assess next week"

There's only a debate because some people are insistent that it was a nazi salute and others are insistent it wasn't. If everyone was as pragmatic, balanced and non-judgemental as myself, and not obsessed with being on one side or the other, then the debate wouldn't exist, as per your desire...

Thanks for clarifying. Yet another field of expertise that I've not much knowledge in compared to everyone else on the interweb...

Might this have something to do with it? https://theconversation.com/elon-musk-how-being-autistic-may-make-him-think-differently-194228 #benefitofthedoubt

Permission to sit on the fence given I don't know one way or the other and feel it would be ilogical to make an aribtrary guess just to please the internet football forum fraternity....

I'm not normally one to judge players straight off the bat, but this fella does seem to tick all the usual Sport Republic boxes... i.e. might turn out to be a golden nugget but more probable than not he'll turn out to be another low budget flop. If there's any room in the Saintsweb "Happy to be proven wrong" club, then save me a place

Anyone worked out the connection to an Austin Allegro yet?

Oops.... sorry sir.... will this make amends...?

Maybe I'm not a staunch enough fan (?), or simply just too long in the tooth to care (!), but I'm not one to feel humiliation or embarrassment about a football team I happen to support. I actually quite enjoy my friends' attempts to wind me up about it... Just seems like good old fashioned banter to me. Much more important things in life to worry about at the end of the day, Brian

It's almost as if this game they call soccerball isn't rocket science after all....

So, not one of the top 4 teams then...?