disconnect

Saw a few posts about Jones utilising youth. Just looked through the Luton stats and the youngest player to start more than 5 games this season for them is 24 and they havent played anyone under 21 all season. This could be just as they're not very good, but I dont think promoting youth is one of his selling points, so seems a bit of a way away from our high risk transfer policy of the summer. Now watch his first match be played with the record youngest team we've ever fielded! 🤣

It was getting to the point where a lot of people thought it was time for Ralph to move on - now we're suddenly praying he comes back!!! I guess Wolves were given permission to speak to a few people and in the end actually got a good manager in. In this case though it sounds pretty likely that if he wants it, Jones will become our new manager. As someone else said, feels like a Dell-sized appointment, when a lot of things (bar the monumental cock up of not getting a new striker in) seems to have shown Sports Republic as better than that. It feels a bit like we're trying to be too clever all the time (sign the best youngest players who will be amazing in a few years time, appoint the manager who's done well on a shoe-string budget etc), but not sure that works in the Premier League... I'll give him or whoever my full support and keep my fingers crossed it's a masterstroke and not a disaster.

Well Gallardo would be a real statement of intent, Jones would be a real cheap option. I know which I'd like, and which the board will like...

Ralph’s general demeanour recently has been that of someone who knows they’re off with lots of bizarre quotes which obviously aren’t really getting the team going. Got to change it sooner rather than later (and get that promised striker in on 1st Jan)

He’s got to go after this. Surely.

I thought he played at 50% all match - barely broke forwards and lots of stops and sideways passing (reminiscent of Redmond)! Someone on the match thread said he looked to pick up an injury in the West Ham game, so probably playing with a slight issue anyway

Always thought Billing was pretty good and would be good for us - add a bit of physicality and can play a bit

A couple of things I took away from the game: Caleta-Car looks like a slightly less shit Bednarek; KWP playing very much within himself and unusually very reluctant to get forward - perhaps been carrying a bit of an injury which popped up at the end? Looks like him and Caleta-Car are not best mates! Whilst I didn’t think either were awful, JWP and AMN did misplace a few passes unnecessarily inviting pressure. AMN has a very casual style but hopefully gets a bit more fit soon as made some good challenges and played a few nice passes; Bazunu had a very good game; AA would do very well in the championship but not quite skilful enough to be a game changed in the Prem Great to see Salisu looking very comfortable again.

Sorry everyone, but you now have to refer to Che as ‘Player of the match’ not MOTM 😩😜

I'd mix it up and go for pace and flair - Edozie, Mara and Djenepo. Element of surprise, and see what we can do. With those 3, we could get quite a few freekicks, and fancy DCC to power in either and header or a knock down scramble in the box after a free kick or corner. On a side note, interesting to note that Stephens has only played a minute for Bournemouth so far...!

I'd give Walcott a game now - he's proved it at Champions League level in the past, and when we first brought him back was playing well, was direct and just being fouled continually giving us a lot of freekicks in good positions. Since then he's had a few injuries, but if he's fit, must be worth a go at some stage.

Love it. No idea what they're saying but guess it's good things! Have forwarded to a couple of Italian mates to translate / teach them about the greatest footballer to have ever lived.

Of the current names, Bo Svennson or Thomas Frank seem the most Sport Republic, and would be happy with either, particularly Frank (just as I know more about him and been impressed)! Probably be neither! Poch would be the most ambitious, but highly unlikely, and then Cooper I'm not 100% on, mostly due to Forest's insane spending over the summer - did he not tell them it wasnt a great idea to just buy 2 new teams of random players?!

Mara has looked very promising every time he’s come on and can do things that Che and Armstrong can’t. We need to start playing him from the off as looks really good and can make things happen

So Gakpo seemingly was leaving with everything agreed and has now come out saying he’s not leaving? Or people just guessing?

I guess you can't smack it and hope for a deflection on the way in as a manager!

Are they now replacing all their (promotion winning) replacements?! it’d be hilarious if Forest went down after signing twenty (and counting!!) new players!

The problem with Bednarek is when he first came into the team he was probably third or fourth choice, but the fans took to him as he threw himself infront of everything and generally looked like he was passionate about wanting to play well and win for Saints. Now he's just passionate about moaning at everyone else when he's usually the one messing up and hasnt put in a really good performance for months and months. I think he's got a bit too big for his boots personally, so wouldnt really care if he moved on.

Get rid of Bednarek - thinks he’s much better than he is. He could be right to be annoyed if he hadn’t turned in another poor performance

Surprised a good Championship side hasnt tried to buy Stephens - he'd do well in the Championship and we'd probably sell him for 5-10m which would serve someone very well. He's not quite prem level, and it's no good having 5 or 6 Championship level centre backs, when we just need 2 possibly 3 more premium level centre backs. Got hopes that Salisu can recover his form and ABK hits the ground running. Still think Lyanco can be coached into a good player for us - he's starting at a higher basic level than Stephens anyway.

Unless we realised the mistake and thought we could move McCarthy on for a fee and not let him go for free? Getting ready for a big £2m in the bank!!!

He wouldn’t post he was at the ground with so many rumours if it wasn’t close surely? Or is it like Djenepo’s mate wearing his Saints shirt?!

No sign of Kayne Ramsay again? Has he gone out on loan?

Surprised this hasnt been bumped yet, but I thought he looked very promising last night. Looks like he can be direct, good close control, pace. Fingers crossed.

Just so people are aware, the friendly is being streamed tonight, details below: SK Austria Klagenfurt vs SaintsPre-season friendlyWörthersee StadionMonday 18th July, 7pm CEST/6pm BST Streamed LIVE on southamptonfc.com and Facebook (UK only) The B team also drew 1-1 with Villareal B team earlier today(?) - looks like Ballard played.