The Kraken

Just had a quick google of that as I wondered where they were with it, looks like planning permission got stalled and they’re still waiting for a green light. The whole development includes a hotel and an apartment block on the site, I’m wondering if Leicesters cash situation has anything go with that (probably not but the owners could be holding off I suppose).

Yeah, that’s a bit of a daft statement really. Despite some comments on here I think (hope) everybody wishes them well and nobody wanted them to fail. The biggest thing IMO that can come out of this is is that, on a national level, it normalises girls playing football from a young age into adulthood. That’s a massive win and at grass roots level can be a huge positive. The league structure will grow, as it should do, but it needs to do so organically albeit with a good bit of help from the existing infrastructure around the sport. If, from this tournament, girls taking up the sport from a young age can see where it can lead to and grow the game that way, that’s the biggest success possible.

Arma, Macca, Redders, Livra, Sali. All terms used (and some even used by the Saints manager about his players). But just stop! It’s pathetic! And MLG gets upset about it!

Kane usually starts the season like a slug. Maybe not this time.

I reckon todays lineup will almost be the starting lineup next week. Pretty confident Bazunu, Ketchup and Aribo will be in. Lavia probably too. New kid Mara got called out by Ralph so possibly will just make the bench.

I’m wondering, if we have a poor start to the season, will we just switch back to 4-2-2-2. I can’t believe Ralph will bin it off entirely. I think we tried it for a half in our second game but aside from that, 3 at the back. Personally I prefer a 4.

Ralph’s comments about him after today. “Sekou, like all the young new players coming to us, they have to get adapted to the intensity of our game so you can see immediately,” Hasenhuttl said. “Last season with Broja it was the same, it took him minimum three/four weeks until he knew what it was about playing up front here. “The game doesn’t start when you get the ball, the game starts when the opponent has it. This is the thing he has to learn but it is also not surprising because this is different.” Hasenhuttl added: “He has some qualities on the ball but it’s not enough, he must work hard for the team and then we will see.”

Pre season wouldn’t be pre season without DT grizzling his way through the entirety of it 👍

Four. Played 1 fa cup game (zero goals) and one League cup game (1 goal against Bournemouth). /endMLG

He came on as sub today. He also started against Monaco.

FT 1-2. Not bad, not great. Think it’s fairly likely that next week we’ll start with the side that started today with the exception of A.Armstrong instead of Mara. Standouts today were Aribo’s goal, Djenepo did well, Bazunu looks quality with the ball at his feet. Lavia was quite tidy but needs to impose himself more, JWP wasn’t quite at it today. The three CBs got undone for both goals, worrying switching off and basic mistakes that we’ve seen time and again. We had some decent chances but don’t look particularly ruthless up front. Mara didn’t get into the game so don’t know what to make of him yet but he’ll need to have more impact than that to get a starting slot. As it stands I think we’ll miss someone like Broja, someone capable of holding the ball up and relieving the pressure. Bring on next week, but it’s gonna be a tough game.

Redmond, what the fuck was that?

First bit of running that pitch invader has done for a while, the fat fuck.

Bednarek ending up sat on his arse, Salisu losing his man. Not a good look at the back.

Absolute class from Aribo!

I like Lavia, he’s tidy, but I think I slightly prefer Romeu. Too early to tell though, and one thing is for sure, Romeu can’t play week after week effectively, he looked shot toward the end of last season.

Ketchup with another decent ping, Djenepo should score.

No, quiet so far.

What a takedown from Joe Aribo. JWP territory….

At Spurs, if we are going with this formation I might prefer to see it with Romeu instead of S. Armstrong, would be a bit more solid.

Ooh, Armstrong has to hit the target there.

That goal is indicative of what I’ve seen through pre season as our biggest vulnerability, on the break up the channels. It obviously didn’t help that all three CBs had a bit of a brain fart.

Interesting line up, you’d think the intent would be for it to be very close to the intended line up next week (Mara needs some game time but looks like a place is there to be won).

Forget Werner, Saints can do better than that, need to aim higher.

Womens games are Sundays, so I wonder what happens if saints are playing at home on a Sunday. Game moved to Totton or game date moved.