goodymatt

He’s had a poor game today, his passing has been way off his last two games.

Just the Southampton FC website stream I think

Interesting that Alex McCarthy doesn’t even make the bench again, Bycroft there instead.

£17m plus add ons in today’s market is a bang average player who had a decent championship campaign. This is our captain on a long term contract, record PL appearance holder for Saints, with a world class free kick talent. Lots of experience, has been in and around England team, and is rarely injured. His goal contribution numbers from deep midfield are also pretty good! It really is a laughable bid, much like the £9m bid for Tella.

Guess they are only interested if Caicedo price is too high, but by that point Lavia is already set on Liverpool. Would be great for us if Joe Shields could convince him and we got a bigger fee though. He owes us a favour or two.

I think Bednarek should be a very good CB at this level, would prefer to play one of him/Stephens along side a new ball playing CB though. Bit too one paced for our high attacking line otherwise. Smallbone has been great in pre season, think he will have ups and downs but will be much more useful than expected.

20%

I see no logic in selling Tella, even for £20m. Hope we don’t entertain any offer. £9m is such a disrespectful bid btw.

Should be a better/unrestricted view for those getting these new tickets as well. Hopefully be a good atmosphere and a good result! Very much looking forward to this.

Would appear the £40m fee for Maddison is the current record. Lavia will be breaking that after just one year of adult football!

Hope you’re right! 🤞

Bazunu Tino, Bednarek, Stephens, Manning JWP Smallbone Alcaraz Tella Adams Edozie

They have upped their bid from £37m to £45m in one day. Chelsea remain interested and Liverpool seem to really want him. £50m might still be possible yet including add ons and with 20% going to City it is in our best interests to maximise this sale. Be very interesting to see if we accept this latest bid or hold firm for more, we are seemingly close to an agreement.

So here is Ross Stewart’s injury history. Outside of a couple of hamstring injuries it is just the one bad Achilles tendon surgery. Can anyone tell me if that’s something players usually bounce back from ok or is it more troublesome. We all seem quite happy with Tino being first choice RB, surely his ACL injury is a bigger/worse injury? If this guy does come back fighting fit, in the small sample size we have from last season he was a goal machine. I think he might be worth a punt with one year left.

I’m happy with Bree as a back up, given he’s supposedly a capable Championship RB. Would just like to see him put in a performance in a saints shirt! First choice, not confident he’s good enough in our possession based style.

What continues to surprise me is his inability to put in a decent cross. He was well revered when at Luton, playing in their direct football approach. However, every time I watch him try to cross it, it bobbles into the box or goes flying. Is it just me?

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.