The Kraken

Second half has been more even. Still missing any killer instinct up front.

I don’t necessarily disagree but on tonight’s showing it hasn’t made too much difference. Against better sides I think it will and I wonder if Charles will get the nod for games where we’ll have less posession. Smallbone has kept things ticking over quite nicely but I do agree with your overall point about him.

I’ve heard that before…

Not really. It’s been an absolutely excellent start but for all the domination we’ve only had one shot on target and it all seems a bit “nice” up front. Said it before but think we need a proper focal point like Rickie Lambert used to give us before we’re a proper threat of a team.

Silly yellow that. He knows it.

Can see quite a few bookings this season for kicking the ball away if that’s the benchmark, Saints used to do it absolutely loads in previous years. JWP territory…..

Wow 🤣

Left foot screamer into the far post, reminds me of Deano’s opening goal in our last championship campaign.

I know he mentioned it, but the football league have been looking at it for a while. Cost is the major drawback so they’re looking at something they’re terming VAR-light; fewer cameras, and doesn’t include offside. FIFA seem to be on Baird with it so I can’t see it not happening at sometime soon.

They’re predicting VAR is coming to the championship, an announcement to be made on it before Xmas. So it’s coming, potentially from next season. Maybe we’ll have to get relegated again to avoid it.

Tbf our midfield when last in this division was pretty tasty: Dean Hammond, Jack Cork, Morgan Schneiderlin, Adam Lallana.

This is likely. The biggest doubt is whether Janny B is fit enough, if not I suppose Charles or Lyanco.

Yeah, you might want to check the news…….

Dunno about the atmosphere but I quite like London Road Brewhouse. A few TVs, big old bar, as likely as any to have a decent crowd in. If not, the Alex used to be a good crack but haven’t been there for years so don’t know if they show the football any more, I know they stopped for a bit but I thought they started it again.

I can’t see ABK being around for too long. Also the club are clearly quite keen to shift Lyanco given the Turkish breakdown then taking his number off him. I think if both go then Rusty will be allowed to bring one in, but if only one goes we’re stuck with what’s left. I don’t think Lyanco would be terrible in this league to be fair, but he wouldn’t be many peoples choice and maybe best if the club can engineer him a move away.

With absolutely no basis in fact whatsoever I’m presuming that number 4 is being kept for a defensive centre midfielder that Rusty Martin has already got lined up. And that number 6 is available as it was vacated by DCC very recently and the other squad numbers were already set (plus Lyanco is on the naughty step for failing his medical in Türkiye).

I don’t think we did, I think it’s a very good deal for Saints. He may well go on to huge things but, for a 20 year old just getting over an ACL it makes massive financial sense for Saints. Plus we’re now in the Championship so keeping hold of any genuine PL quality is tough. Sad to see him go but that is too high a sum for a club in our position to turn down. FWIW I always thought when we lost Mane, Lallana, MS etc that we extracted the right sum for them at the time. I see this the same.

Agreed.

Think he’s a bit new. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Bednarek if he stays.

Could add to that list the likes of Mara, Sulemana, Stephens and Bednarek. Don’t expect them all to go of course, but individually wouldn’t be surprised if any of them left before the window is done.

And the “go and support Pompey” klaxon goes off yet again 🤣🤣

“Wilcox will know him from Man City”. Joe Hart hasn’t played for Man City since 2016, a time when Wilcox was working for City’s academy. And Hart is vastly experienced because he’s 36 years old. And, as said above, he wasn’t required at City because it was reported at the time that he was poor with his distribution. Not sure I see much wisdom in this, even if he is likely to be better than Bazunu (low benchmark).

Excellent value on that deal for Saints. It also shows other clubs (West Ham, I'm looking at you) and our players that, while the club will allow players to welcome to leave, thy won't be held to ransom on price. Getting somewhere around £75M for Tino and Lavia would represent great business and go some way to offsetting almost every other failed transfer that has happened in the past 12 months.

While it may benefit the game as a spectacle, you have to think about the logistics of it especially as grass roots level, providing smaller pitches and goals would be a logistical nightmare.