Saint Fan CaM

Mmm, no Alcarez…sold on Monday?

Agreed. I guess the only thing to add is that we’ve also added Charles and SAA into the first team choices - both seemingly as promising as Tino and Lavia. However, this league needs experienced, hardened players too - ones that are committed to the project, particularly in the backbone of the side. And clinical finishers.

In review at the end of last season there was a need to completely revamp the squad - a bloated squad of mediocre players not suited to the Prem and by inference also not suited to mount a serious challenge for the Championship title in the following season. To bring in new players we had to sell a number of players and this might mean selling the ‘better’ players…i.e. the ones that occupied first team slots in the Prem. So where are we with two weeks of window left? We’ve got a completely new coaching team. We’ve sold or released a good number of first team players, bringing in an unprecedented amount of money. We’ve brought back loanees in Tella and Stephens - both of whom were thought not to be good enough by previous Managers, but did better in other teams. We’ve signed for free a LB in Manning who immediately gets a start because he’s RM’s ears and eyes in the dressing room. RM has indicated that we’ll be getting Downes as a loan, but that’s yet to materialise and he’s delaying with a sick note story. Is this a good window so far? Well part of the objective of ridding the club of underperforming players has worked, but the problem is we’re still left with players that contributed to the last 2-3 shit seasons…e.g. Bednarek, Bree, ABK, Perraud, Armstrong, Djenepo, Lyanco etc etc. And we’re still left with the players that we’re not deemed good enough to even feature as first team starters…e.g. Tall Paul, Mara etc. We’re still at a point where there’s talk of our more effective players (KWP, Che, Alcarez and even Tella) being sold. Have we really moved on with plans to get quality replacements? Emphatically NO not yet, however there’s still time to get business done. Based on previous windows I think there’s every reason for fans to feel nervous and to a certain extent let down by the club…after all relegation has an aftermath which we’re now experiencing. Cannot underestimate the importance of the next two weeks for the club, especially in terms of keeping supporters onside and maintaining 29k through the turnstiles.

Lavia was always going to go, but now there’s talk of cutting into the meat of our better than average squad players and we’re not really replacing. It’s starting to get a bit scary! 😳

Blimey, you know it’s a boringly slow transfer window when there’s more chat around old signings than new incomings/outgoings. Tick tock.

18/39 is not exactly to be sniffed at by a team like Saints, who until recently have found it difficult to score at all!

Yes, or goals in all competitions?

Don’t feel so bad. How many times have we seen him on the pitch, for how long and how many times did another player offer him the opportunity to use his head? And from what I saw he could control the ball well with his feet too. His one flaw IMO was his lack of movement, but the same could be said for others too.

Think I’d start Charles and Che to see if the extra height does make a difference both in attack and importantly in defence. Downes, assuming he signs, has to start if Smallbone is out. So difficult to predict either way but think it could be our first defeat with their home advantage…2-1. If we’re able to improve our defending, control midfield and score a couple of goals it’s ours for taking.

Report from Southampton FC Updates on X that talks have opened with Genk on a swap deal with Onuachu and Joseph Paintsil, who racked up 32 goals from 39 games. Sounds interesting.

Most issues have been highlighted already so I’ll keep this short. Enjoyable game…we deserved at least a draw. Norwich are a good team and knew how to hurt us. If we don’t sort out the weak transitions and zonal defending stuff we’ll struggle to stay in with a shout of promotion. Can’t see the two CB’s being replaced, so somehow they need better coaching. We need more height/grit…Che brought that and to some extent so did Charles…they’re starters for me. Edozie and Tella need to be prepared to bust a gut and close down the opposition quicker…the full backs we’re left exposed. Baz seems to make himself look small most of time, but credit to him for the 1v1 block 2nd half to keep us in the game. Amazing first Saints game for my Grandson to witness - not sure he was able to take it all in! Certainly one to remember.

Yeah you're right it was Kelv and although not expressly mentioned, it may have something to do with him being in goal. However I seem to remember the two positions were always a thing but I can't for the life of me remember who each were - I guess it's written down somewhere.

Yeah, you've reminded me that there once was a Club Captain and a Team Captain, but that was many moons ago and I don't think the two positions have been used for at least 3-4 seasons. It always seemed a bit false and just a way of rewarding senior players loyalty, which nowadays lets face it is pretty rare.

Seen reported this morning that JS is our new Club Captain now JWP has been confirmed as gone. Not entirely sure what I think of this…he’s been around a long time and is a vocal presence in the changing room. Just seems a bit strange that not long ago he was exiled out on loan and now he’s back in the building as a first on the team sheet. Bit out of the blue really but shows that the judgement of our previous two Managers was quite different to Martins view and where he places his trust. Good luck to him…hope he's a catalyst for more grittier, harder working team.

You could possibly argue nothing gained. In my view it’s Arma who needs to go have a fresh start rather than Che, but that won’t happen even though he’s proved himself to be a ‘one season wonder’ and not really suited to Martin’s system.

Not their defence alone…their prospects for the season ahead as a whole. It’s good you think our group is pretty decent for this level…at this point my optimism is somewhat more muted/reserved.

Yes if you mean managerial appointments - we’ve still got a lot of players on the books and starting games that have been a huge disappointment. But in fairness that’s changing, so some semblance of hope to cling to.

Of course it’s speculation - without a crystal ball or time travelling device, we only have our own intuition based on available evidence. If there was a possible way of comparing how confident Saints fans are now compared to how confident Burnley fans were at the beginning of last season, I would wager that on average the latter would more confident. You just can’t dismiss the last 3-4 seasons of utter crap football, poor defending and lack of firepower when those issues have demonstrably not really been resolved, with most of the responsible players still stinking the place out. As I’ve already said, the next 3 weeks will be crucial in making a break from the past.

It’s going to be an interesting game. I reckon on 70-80% possession and a 0-3 or 1-3 loss. Unless of course JWP and Lavia are not all that, have been holding the team back and there’s a surge of sudden understanding of RM’s playbook resulting in a demolition of the Canaries. Stranger things. On a side note, wishful thinking is that they’ll announce a really good incoming tomorrow AM just to lift spirits.

I know some will slate me for this, but the craziest thing I did at a football match was sit until the end and watch Saints get hammered 0-9 - twice. Yep, you couldn’t make it up! 😉🤣

To be honest I hope Lavia does go there and improves them. Unless they’re playing Saints I want them to do well - as it’s my birthplace they’re kind of my ‘second’ team.

True, but not perfect and think about who he had next to and in front of him!

Come on, after the shambles of last season and the continuing inability of our defence to cope with set plays high into the box, its clear there’s plenty of evidence. And in terms of Burnley, I was reflecting on their entire season, not just one game.

That’s true, Tella was a consummate professional and worked well at Burnley, but I’d argue that was because he was in a position to score goals…a commodity mostly remembered by football fans. Struggling to think of a loan that’s worked that well for Saints. The Downes link has never sounded like a plausible move to me, especially as it was reported that he was not keen. Why would he be?

I wouldn’t be so sure. Caicedo might have been key to Brightons success…raised their game significantly so that without him they’ll not be quite as good. And would a junior player really chose Brighton over Chelsea…even though Brighton are doing well they’re arguably punching above their weight with possibly a limited lifetime in the top half of the Prem table? If it was the only path back into the Prem he would take it though I suspect.