Saint Fan CaM

I know the answer to this. LLSS. Thank me later.

Must say, if Patricio was to come to us via Goztepe it would be the best bit of business SR have ever pulled off for us. Huge upgrade on what we have in goal now and it’s hard to imagine him playing for Goztepe. Fingers crossed.

If you throw enough mud at a wall, some of it will stick. Pointless activity, but fun anyway.😉

Hugely tenuous and risky position, but I guess they’ve got the funds to operate in that way. Assuming they’re allowed to continue by the games authorities that is.

Maybe if the scouting network was sound at that time - suspect this was not part of the usual proper tests and reviews. There was promise, but not in any form of the type of football the club wants to employ.

You mean like that? 🤣

Yeah, my feeling is it’s more like… Fernandes/Aribo - Downes/Smallbone - Ugochukwu/Lallana (who has said his role was different while at Brighton…more like Downes/JWP with less attacking moves, probably due to not having the legs anymore).

No he was not agitating to move - he didn’t need to as the club obviously had to make some financial adjustments. KWP and McCarthy stayed and I bet their salary was not far off JWP’s. He has admitted that he left to get in contention for an England call, which in itself doesn’t show good judgement - he Captained one of the worst performing EPL sides ever that got relegated in an awful season…hardly a good resume for a player hoping to play at International level.

Well it’s all ifs and buts I guess. Just think we’ve got enough about us, plus there’s good competition now for places, all of which makes me think we’ll do the business.

Yes my thoughts entirely, so for me the whole back story stinks of BS. JWP didn’t want to lose his EPL status and so jumped thinking Saints wouldn’t be back in one season. He abandoned the club that gave so much to him at the first sign of trouble, didn’t take responsibility for the shitshow he helped serve up that season and was Captain too all of which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. If it weren’t for his excellent free-kick ability I’d rather see Downes or Smallbone in our central midfield…he moved on, we’ve moved on…it’s a no from me.

Looking forward to seeing the difference the Northam ‘wall’ makes - hopefully very noticeable. In terms of the football, if we’re on it we should win providing there are no cock-ups at the back thanks to playing keep ball. They will setup to not press high I suspect or at least drop back after 15 minutes, so ensuing we don’t fall for the trap of getting caught on the break (e.g. from our own won corners) we should be OK - even with McCarthy in goal. I would like to see Les come in, but it might too early for him. Go 2 up and that might be a good time for him. 2-1 Saints

I was thinking Les as the DM enforcer with Downes and Mateus ahead of him with the job of feeding the wing backs or unlocking defences through the middle. Certainly Mateus is not a DM as opposed to a box to box midfielder who is capable of winning the ball back throughout the pitch. He could be a big upgrade on Charley.

Think Fernandes is a box to box midfielder so different to this guy, but it can only be a good thing if there’s competition for places and they develop into £50m+ saleable assets. The past strategy of ours that everyone is saying Brighton have copied and are excelling at.

https://www.givemesport.com/southampton-mandela-keita-transfer-news-rumours/ And another…

With Brighton reportedly going in for O’Riley (and with the big bucks to do it), you’d have to imagine we’re out the running which is why we’ve opted for different midfield targets - Fernandez looks like our alternative and a good one at that.

I’m excited by this signing - just hope he gets the chance to show his creativity at Saints.

Think this guy could be similar to Schneiderlin - a real dynamic box to box CM with fantastic physique. We needed someone to open up stubborn defences in the final third and equally have the balls to fight and re-gain possession in our half - this is that man by all accounts. Does that mean the end of O’Riley - not according to the CoT thread?!

Can’t imagine that Les will not get substantial minutes, but not entirely sure he’ll have enough Russball coaching behind him for Saturday to anything but a bench warmer. It does leave a 2nd question over who drops from the bench to give him space. Russ will be starting to ponder over how he’s going to keep team spirit high with the numbers not making the bench from last season increasing. It would be great to see a little more drive and positive play from our team though, moving the ball quicker so as to take advantage of our high possession periods.

Would imagine Toney will be upwards of £40m having England 1st team place now. We’ll not be in that market.

If we don’t sort out the keeper we’ll not be seeing many instances of 3 points whatsoever!

Assuming Charles and Alcarez go, I can see us having Downes, O’Riley and Fernandes in a middle three triangle which interchangeably rotates but with Downes the primary defensive cover role. They all bring something different, with Fernandes providing the box-to-box CM role we've not seen since Schneiderlin. I am hoping to see Stephens dropped in favour of a front three, certainly at home - AA…B-Diaz…Archer. With the above potent midfield and a mobile front three we might actually get to see some goals scored in our favour. Keeper-wise I stand by my comment yesterday - fail to sort this position out could be a huge mistake. However, I feel certain the club are pinning hopes on Bazunu being ready sooner rather than later and McCarthy (+Lumley) will be relied on until that time. Personally I tend to think that Lumley has better judgement than McCarthy and so wouldn’t be any more concerned with him in goal.

Forget O’Riley (if he was ever a possibility). After seeing that shocking performance by McCarthy you’ve got to say the priority must be to get a decent keeper in above all else…more than a playmaker ACM or a striker. Don’t do that and we don’t compete at this level.

Thanks McCarthy you twat. And to the Saints Board - get us a proper Prem keeper - the outfield players deserve it.

Bruno buying the Ref twice over.

Pretty poor from Archer tbh. No composure.