trousers

Don't most teams "play out from the back" as a default these days but the difference being they aren't dogmatically wedded to doing it 100% of the time during a game? Brentford had 37% of the possession yesterday, highlighting that they aren't as obsessed about keeping the ball as we are.

Apologies if this has already been covered somewhere on the forum but this has been bugging me the last few weeks, so better out than in...! When Ankersen was at Brentford, he co-presided over a club where the playing philosophy was the opposite to what he and Sports Republic have implemented here at Southampton. Why would he do that? Why wouldn't he think: "We created a successful team at Brentford playing a certain way, let's do the same at Southampton?" To me, it smacks of us being used as some kind of experimentation... We already know his over-riding philosophy in life is: "if it ain't broke, break it". Is there a point where he sits back and reflects: "you know what, we've tried a different approach at Southampton but it's not working, let's revert to the tried and tested approach that I helped implement at Brentford" or does ego always triumph over common sense in these scenarios? Don't most top businessmen attempt to replicate success rather than ignore it?

I was a fairly vocal critic of Russ during the couple of patches where things weren't going too well last season (i.e. the dire performances in Sept '23 and during the run-in around about March '24 time). However, my gut feel this time around is to give him the benefit of the doubt - I've a hunch things will start to come together as the season progresses. Nothing scientific or logical, just a hunch. Will take stock of my viewpoint again around October/ November. Prove me right please Russ!

Fair point 👍

Russ indicated at the pre-match press conference that "2 or 3" of those that played well Vs Cardiff were in contention to start versus Brentford. Assume he's talking about 2 or 3 from Archer, Fernandes, Dibling, Big Les and Amo? Given Archer and Dibling played a full 95 minutes only a few days ago, and Amo perhaps is better suited as an impact sub at the moment , I reckon we could see Fernandes and BL as starters...?

I think 'he' may be suffering from Charlie Wayman posting syndrome...

Blimey... Can I borrow your stock post in December when it all goes tits up...?

4/10

Note to those grading the window highly: you do realise that when we're bottom 3 in December, @AlexLaw76 will post: "still a 9/10 window, right?" 153 times? And for that reason alone, I'm giving it a 4.

Cracking gig! Did I miss anything? Assume we signed that Pedro fella and JWP? Cracking window if so. P.s. I even got to stalk the team bus up the M3 this afternoon....

Right then... I'm off up to The Smoke to see the mighty Darts in concert! Well, that's one way of getting away from all the transfer deadline day hype and bollocks! Have a good evening all

Don't know what all the fuss was about. Never any doubt.

I guess the one positive of Carsley singing the praises of KWP is that it'll help our negotiating hand no end. Every cloud... "Look chaps, if you want to prise an upcoming England star away from us then you're going to have to pay a premium..."

If we're about to table an offer for Pedro at £30m then, sadly, I can see that as the only explanation...

Cheers 👍

Fixed it for you...

Source / link?

"If they (the transfers) happen, they'll happen, if not we'll be happy with what we've got" "Ross? Two weeks mate" (Lottery numbers available upon request)

Will Arsenal give the nod to sign / announce Ramsdale whilst there is still a hope they can get Garcia though? I suspect the official signing / announcement will go down to the wire if Arsenal keep trying for Garcia all day...

So, let's get this right.... Arsenal want to sell Ramsdale for a somewhat knocked down fee (under £19m) to avoid triggering Bournemouth's sell-on clause... The very same Bournemouth that Arsenal are now trying to convince to loan them Neto... Bournemouth seem to be holding all the aces here and have the power to effectively scupper the Ramsdale sale...? (Assuming Arsenal don't have a 'Plan C' if both Garcia and Neto fall through...) I despise transfer windows!

Talksport = Alex Crook...? 😳

Anyone else got the feeling this is going to go tits up...?

By midnight? French or UK time?

Two handfuls...