ant

Have felt like this for much of the summer, but kept quiet as the prevailing opinion was so opposed. I appreciate a lot of our quality was signed late in the window last year, but I have fears about expecting Spors to keep pulling rabbits from hats. And frankly I'm not sure we can afford a slow start. I don't believe the second half of this season will go the same way as 25-26 did.

Shouldn't overlook that the bench is especially lacking for supposed automatic promotion contenders. Huge pressure in the coming week to shift some deadwood and to reinforce.

Bingo. There was marked surprise at just how well the appeasement went.

Oh, they got this all wrong. "I promise you that we'll bring to you at the end of the summer the team that will take you out of your seats [in protest] and excitement will run high at St Mary's [as you attempt to guess which jobbing manager will replace Tonda each week - like Have I Got News For You, post-Deayton]."

By my understanding the project's very much driven by Dragan. The club's spent an awful lot of money developing plans - way more detailed & specific than anything shown to date - for land it doesn't own yet. Unfortunately the relevant landowner(s) know the future value, so are asking silly money. I don't know whether the club will just cough up or if there's an ace up the sleeve. Whatever happens, full council & transport provider buy-in feels critical. Beyond a couple of buses (passing near but not through), St Mary's has scant links - and the surrounding roads are frequently heaving as it is. Pie in the sky perhaps, but I hope there's an exploration into dusting off the old service rail line and popping a platform by the stadium.

Tonda is talented if flawed. Spors has the provenance and has earned some goodwill. What is Parsons? I don't expect to see a CEO getting his hands dirty, but equally see very little evidence in his ability to get the best out of (or inspire) others.

Parsons leaning on his (almost certainly invited) ex-Saints mates in his closing speech was fucking cringe. And sadly sums the man up.

Whoever just asked that question to Parsons: I want to buy you a pint. 😆

Throwing our weight behind Tonda was a strong message, but there was an inherent risk to putting it all on red. There's been an arrogance from day dot that we'd escape with a slap on the wrist. I've seen little to no evidence our leadership has learned from it. Did they expect the FA investigation to pass without incident? Or was their master plan really to hope the ball wouldn't land on black?

The black box no longer exists.

Aha, I knew you must have links in the office. I'm no longer there, but over the past few months noticed a few ITK snippets cropping up on here as they were breaking internally.

Boro now so focused on litigation that they didn't feel the need to bother with, say, a shot on target to win the match. ⚖️

Eurgh. Supposed to be at Beer Merchants now, sipping ill-advised pre-match imperial stouts at their Omnipollo takeover. Thankfully managed to get a few online, so today's not entirely fueled by FOMO. Enjoy the sunshine and don't get sucked into doom scrolling, folks. ✌️

It's interesting how much people are gunning for Hull, who themselves have been under a transfer embargo across the entire season. What a grim state football is in.

I don't know how I'm ever meant to sleep again. Buzzzzzzzz.

Can't start a fire without a spark.

Close - it was coins. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3998485.rupert-lowe-barracked-at-southampton-fcs-plc-agm/ There was a full transcript of that AGM online but I can't find it now.

Cyle's goals per 90 mins is 0.84 in the league, which is best in the Championship for those that have played 800+ mins. Stewart second on the same criteria at 0.73. Simms was 0.72 and Vipotnik 0.7. Not to claim Larin's stats would've definitely extended across a full season. But what an impact.

1st in the division for big chances created (21), and 3rd for assists.

2.06 points per game.

Why consider such a wide-ranging sample, devoid of relevant context? In the past 25 years of English second-tier playoffs, the team finishing 3rd or 4th has won 64% of Playoff Finals. In the past 20 years, it's 75%. In both the last 15 and 10 years it works out as 80%. Last 10 years: 3rd - 30% (3), 4th - 50% (5), 5th - 20% (2), 6th - 0% Last 15 years: 3rd - 40% (6), 4th - 40% (6), 5th - 20% (3), 6th - 0% Last 20 years: 3rd - 45% (9), 4th - 30% (6), 5th - 20% (4), 6th - 5% (1) Last 25 years: 3rd - 40% (10), 4th - 24% (6), 5th - 24% (6), 6th - 12% (3) There's a clear tendency for 3rd/4th to be an advantage, and increasingly so over time.

Based on last night, I'm heartened that our fans seem bang up for it. Will be a crucial factor going into the playoffs - particularly if we end up with a bum kickoff time for the home fixture.

This is magnificent. A must-watch. https://www.instagram.com/p/DXl1Vj0DMHC/?img_index=1&igsh=MTQ3dHhoeWpsMjQ0ZQ== Gerrard incredulous. Our joy infectiously spreading to McCoist. Fletcher's pro use of letting the crowd noise carry the moment.

Posted in the match thread as well, but we were in Hackney Wick beforehand and the Hammers were complimentary about us. City fans weren't enjoying the critique of them outside the ground afterwards, which was amusing. (By which I'm not condoning those that crossed a line - but the chants about their poor support weren't unfair). One Gillingham fan took umbrage to our lot singing on the Jubilee train back down, but I think he was just a bit odd.

By the by, beforehand we were drinking in Beer Merchants in Hackney Wick - which was full of West Ham fans. Lots of well wishes sent our way. Only confirmed my thoughts that I'd prefer Spurs to go down. 🤭