goodymatt

I’m hoping it will be an ‘insane’ season. Or is that so last summer?

That’s a good question… right now with all the uncertainty around who will be here and learning a new system, I think I probably would and hope the playoffs work out. Come the end of the window, we might be a bit more/less confident of a top 2 finish. Would you take it, Justin?

Four Four Two magazine have us finishing 3rd. Hard to make predictions with a month or so left of the transfer window, but the season starts in 9 days…

Smallbone has shown over the last 2 games that he can play well under pressure and in tight spaces. We don’t have many players that can pass one touch in dangerous areas and retain possession so well. Suits Martin-ball very well, dropping in between those centre backs and starting attacks. Notable second half that we could play out much better with him and the 2 FBs on. Also impressed by his last ditch block to save McCarthy’s blushes. In one phase of play he won the ball back 3 times. Shea Charles was very composed but looked a little bit off the pace at CB, understandably so given that’s not his position. It was a shame he didn’t get long in his preferred position before coming off. Manning looks to have energy, composure and willingness to get us moving. Lovely free kick for the goal and I’m very happy with him at LB going forward. One of Tino or KWP will surely be sold? Agree regarding McCarthy, cannot play out, cannot play under pressure, cannot be starting for us in this system. Ideally we get rid and bring in an other to challenge Bazunu. That 2nd goal was shocking from McCarthy. First half was painful watching us trying to play out with a lucky dip of random players. After Reading this put some doubt in my mind but second half we looked much better. I’m hoping that our first 11 aren’t making those silly mistakes, we will get better with time and potentially bring in some new players that are better suited too.

People have been saying smallbone is weak defensively, he looks pretty solid so far in this half. Could be a nice surprise this season.

Yeah it’s only for the specific games, I bought reading and then needed to pay again for tonight.

Yes, I airplay my laptop/phone/ipad to my tv and it works perfectly

KWP rumours had gone very quiet. It sucks to have a few of our players linked to Fulham, first time in a very long time they are more attractive than us.

Just spoke to one of my mates who is a Watford fan, said he loved Choudhury and thinks the main reason they didn’t take up the buy option is their financial situation rather than the player not being good enough. Was rumours last week they might be hit with a transfer embargo, selling Sarr to Marseille and the sale of Pedro to Brighton already should keep that at bay. Described him as a destroyer type that will win the ball and give the ball to team mates with short passes. Not great on the ball beyond that. Is this the steel we need to stop those counter attacks in transition? I’m not sure if Shea Charles can do this too?

Orsic just did his ACL in training for his new club

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/match/southampton-vs-bournemouth-pre-season-friendly-2023-07-25 Looks like another match video pass required to watch the Bournemouth friendly, £5 again.

It’s too easy to think of big howlers off the top of your head: Wolves away - dived wrong way. Villa away - saves upwards for it to bundle over the line. Liverpool and West Ham away - headers from outside the box. Brighton at home bundle, Goztepe dived wrong way, reading and Leeds both went under him. I’m sure there are more. Sometimes unlucky, sometimes another players error didn’t help. He’s been here a year and he has made too many mistakes. Yet internationally he’s saved a Ronaldo penalty, got MOTM against Germany and seems to be well respected. Player of the year in League one for Portsmouth. Something might just click, but as I have said a few times now there remains a risk that we don’t really need to be taking. Less so at this level but still a lot riding on it with our objective of promotion.

When Saints were advertising the £5 fee for yesterday’s friendly, I’m sure they mentioned that they would be releasing further stream information for the season soon. You could tell it’s was a bit more professional yesterday compared to our usual friendly streams, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s how it will run via our site rather than iFollow, with a price per individual game. Let’s see!

Looks like the women’s team have a blue keeper kit? Might that be our third keeper kit?

Baz actually had a decent game up to that error, but just like at Goztepe it’s a shocker. I think Championship is his level but I’m not sure he’s good enough for a promotion chase just yet. I’m sure we will stand by him, feel that is a risk.

This is quite encouraging, you can see the understanding of the new style improving. Could be a fun watch this season.

Amo-Ameyaw, I’m very interested to watch him again. Is he a surprise replacement for Sulemana?

I also think KWP suits this inverted FB role as we move forward, technically good enough to do it.

Smallbone is well suited to possession football, good vision and moves the ball quickly. As I said during Goztepe, lad looks stronger now too.

Interesting that Alex McCarthy isn’t on the bench? Or any keeper for that matter.

Interestingly Diallo’s new manager in Qatar will be Hernan Crespo

It’s clear we have made necessary changes and Wilcox is now driving things. The point I was trying to make was that both Saints and Leeds adopted a ‘find the next best talent early’ approach and we both got the same result of relegation. I do expect the new structure to oversee a more balanced recruitment model. Leeds owner saying in that clip that they needed to sign more experienced and ready players with their £100m outlay, I feel the same about our £140m spend. Lavia was our best player last season, Alcaraz seems a rough diamond and ABK looked really good when he stayed fit. So youth wasn’t solely to blame. I think Bazunu was the biggest and most unnecessary risk. Letting Romeu leave and I do think Redmond could have offered more than those that remained too. Just a lack of leadership all over the pitch.

When Saints announced the ticket details they said they had taken the ‘maximum allocation of 2,400’. No idea why the lower tier isn’t available to us.

Got my ticket this morning, first time visiting Hillsborough. Any tips on parking and pre match pubs? Members sale this morning and lite members this afternoon. Looks on course for a sell out?