Saint86

I watched a fair part of the Victims vs wrexham game. I thought they looked much like they did last season - i.e., nice attacking football, look like they create a lot of chances (but not that many clear cut chances), and quite exposed to direct teams playing straight through them once they've committed. Lincoln have to be the most direct side in the league and will be going to the Victimside full of confidence and vs an expectant home crowd and a squad that has had the most spent on it this summer (i think anyway). There is certainly a chance that Middlesbrough come unstuck on the weekend. Frustratingly, i reckon they'll be the league's darlings this year however, and accordingly we should probably brace for them to be given a helping hand by the officials at various points through this season, probably starting this weekend 😑. Can't have poor old Hellberg crying on national TV about thinking he's a failure again (although after 3 bottle jobs and no shots on target in the play off final, i'd argue all evidence suggests he is...)

He's a class player, i think Fulham is a very good move for him (and its nice to see a player leave us for a sensible step up rather than chasing straight to a big club (or a fraudulent big club like Everton). He should be able to establish himself well at Fulham, shine for a couple of seasons, and then get himself a big move in a couple of years. Easy to forget hes so young still as well. He'll be one we look back on with bitter sweet memories - had we gone up last year he'd be shining for us in the premier league in the coming years. Seems a genuinely great guy and you can only wish him all the best really.

I like that he states good movement as his key attribute - if true he'll swap in and out with Larin very well.

Are saints not selling streams with the Solent commentary through the website this season?

That's fair. I just don't think i'd be shifting him unless doing so allows us to strengthen. He's the sort of player i could see doing well elsewhere this season (potentially at a play off rival for example), or coming back to haunt us in a crucial game etc.

Sets of a slight concern with me re some of the Stoke comments. He knew he wasn't staying there, and his effort dropped off. An uncommitted player is not something Saints can afford in the championship run in. Compare it to THB, who knew he was playing for a move should we get promoted. People can grumble about spending money to stand still, but i prefer players who have a bit of skin in the game.

If he is available at the right price, its a no brainer bringing him back imo - He'd bring us quality, professionalism, experience - and is a player who we can take into the premier league next season. Although whether we can afford to do a sensible deal with west ham for him is another question 🤷‍♂️

Of all of the ones we look destined to get rid of, Archer is the one we should probably keep imo. We saw during last season's run in that we can use him. There is a good player there, its not worked for him at saints, but i don't think we'll get better than him for the money - plus he could strengthen a rival club potentially (if they use him in a way that suits his game). Potentially Edozie as well - depending on whether we can replace him in a financially sensible way. We need depth on the wings imo.

Perennially cup derby shirkers.

His primary position is as a striker.

I think Dobbin will be seen as the utility player all across the front 4 positions (or certainly 3 of them) tbh.

5 at the back should just be outlawed imho.

TBH i am pretty chilled. Keep Larin fit and we've got a top goalscorer contender. His off the ball movement is superb for this level (he makes great runs constantly, and is always asking for the ball to be played through - unlike BBD etc), and he's got the likes of Scienza, Azaz, manning, and Fellows putting in a variety of high quality balls for him to attack. He's perhaps unusual in that he's not the big physical "target man" who will necessarily hold the ball up reliably (i thought he struggled last year against physical defenders), but he's mobile, physical enough, and a real "fox in the box" type - to be a real nightmare for defenses to deal with - his goal against Colchester personifies that.. His movement is good, he attacks balls superbly, and once he's on his way thats a lot of pace and power to try and defend against, especially if he catches the defenders flat footed or half a yard of it. Given the service he'll get in saints, he's a very potent focal point for the side. And his movement and physicality will at the very least occupy defenders and create space for the rest of the attackers. Stewart is a loss as he was more the classic target man, he would hold up the ball brilliantly and link play, and he'd get goals seemingly out of nowhere due to his added physicality - its a shame as i thought the two of them dovetailed nicely, and both of them were a goal threat. It will be interesting to see how the new guy fits - I'm expecting him to be more like Larin than Stewart. I do think we're short one more striker however, asking Larin to play some part in every game of a circa 50+ game season is a lot of eggs in one basket.

I know, I don't know how their fans haven't kicked off about it. I guess its true what they say, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"...

It's a total mess these days. Shirt prices fans can't afford to pay, and so it's normalising buying knock off shirts - with more and more fans becoming familiar and comfortable buying them online season after season. The club need to look at the pricing asap imho.