SNSUN

I can see a sending off here if we don't score a goal or two soon. Longer it goes on the more a fight will ensue

Ffs both CBs now on yellows.

Bench looks decent though. And we've got late goals this season so fitness seems good. Hopefully they'll tire. Cross from Fellows for the Archer chance looked good. I only saw the second half of the first half but Fraser looked lively. I guess I was lucky to miss the first half of the first half.

Ooh decent move, thought the touch from Archer might creep in.

Nope but he made the call with the line up to go to the 4 at the back we wanted when he could have stuck with the formation we'd used all season. Especially for this fixture. Braver decision than Russ would have made. But he needs to earn his crust with the half time team talk and subs.

Stupid yellow Taylor.

Bit of composure needed. Get to half time and review it. No need to panic yet, still drawing. Just.

Afternoon all. Was on nights so just woke up. Now Saints can do the same amirite... Line up exactly what we wanted, bound to be a bit disjointed with newbies but once we gel we'll be as unstoppable as the swathe of Freshers trying to get to Bonnie Blue's bus at Newcastle Uni.

Both of them thinking of sacking their agents in the morning.

Unless they appoint Russ. 😁

Time for the never reliable Prediction wheel! Bar the Wrexham game, it has got NO results right this season. However as this game is an anomaly and a huge game for bragging rights alone, I predict whatever the Prediction wheel predicts will come true. Onwards... Screen_Recording_20250913_153823_Samsung Internet.mp4 We haven't had a lot to cheer about of late by by gum the wheel MUST be right this time. Could be 2 nil, could be 6-4... just win Saints!

I didn't realise Aribo's name was double barrelled. That puts us up to 3 again, 5 if you include Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh and Thierry Rohart-Brown, and a spurious 6 if we include Bella-Kotchap. We are kings at what we do.

One of our best ever players fit this exact description. And if he's half as good as Matt was, he'll prove to be an excellent signing.

Start the season with this squad and I'd say we'd possibly finish Champions. It's early days but while we are a few points behind the top 2, we could easily make that up. Personally I have us down as play-offs - 3rd or 4th, but I'm not so sure there will be the same competition at the top as there was 2 years ago - and I don't think Ipswich or Leicester will run away with it. It will be closer fought and that is probably a good thing for us. I'd place us higher but I want to see how the new players perform and gel before rating us too highly.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/9771448.saints-to-revamp-st-marys/ Artists impression from 2012 proposals and attached link. IIRC when St Mary's was built there were musings that the 3 sides of the Chapel, Kingsland and Northam could be expanded but not the Itchen. Personally I'm not sure there's much call for it at the moment, certainly not as a Championship club although we're still doing well to somewhat fill the stadium. Perhaps if we became an established Premier League side again pushing for Europe, but we didn't do that in the Koeman days when we were kissing the European spots so I'm not sure we'd necessarily do it now.

Found an old article about Manning when he was at QPR. Seems like quite a grounded bloke and was impressing in CM at 21. Certainly an option there if ever needed when Welington is back fighting for the LB spot with Jelert. https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/blogs/blog-two-halves/2018/04/ryan-manning-has-both-brains-and-brawn-qpr-midfield

Not that we need anyone now bar a tiny bit of strength in depth in a couple of positions IMO but I have a nagging feeling we might look at bringing the Ox home. We seem to like an academy prospect coming home of late although hopefully now we have Spors that is less likely.

Will it have Jack Stephens screaming at opposition players and ball watching as the striker powers past him to score? 😆

Bin him off.

If we play a 10, Azaz obviously gets the nod but with young Matsuki as his back up, it's possible one of the CMS could fill in there when needed - a bit like Steven Davis did under Ronald. I thought about AA playing as a 10 as I feel he could be largely overlooked this year (unless Fellows goes out for whatever reason and he plays RW) but that gave me "lack of creativity" chills. I don't know if Will is the sort of manager that likes to stick with his first XI as much as possible or if he is a rotation fan but there are a lot of games this season so everyone should get their turn.

Azaz coming in straight away surprised me a bit, yes he was fit and had played for Boro and had a full pre-season but he had only been signed the previous day and probably didn't even get a training session. This does indicate that the new players will come straight in, especially as there's a gap until the next fixture. Scienza is the only new outfield player (excluding Downs and Quarshie signed earlier in the window) that I can see having to fight for his position due to the form of Robinson and Fraser (one of whom will probably be on the bench). I think the rest come straight in (Fellows RW, Azaz 10, Jander CM, Mads RB, Jelert LB) as long as Will goes to his preferred formation.

Wakey wakey!

I'm not sleeping until we announce Spertsyan dammit.

Fellows-Azaz-Scienza is a complete overhaul of our attacking midfield and im looking forward to seeing it. When we gel we will cook. Just have to hope we tighten up at the back. Hopefully the new full backs will help.

Who was peeking by the shop? Jim White?