Saint86

This guy ^^

He made a specific reference to the top 6 and not everyone being able to move there... Who is that guy in the Bundesliga that was rumoured to want a united move and was waiting on that?

I think the new signings have just raised the competition stakes significantly. Morale seems good, and players know they are really fighting for a space atm. As it stands, will be a lot of pressure on Ralph and the coaching set up to manage the players and their expectations. Especially if we sign 4 more...

Do you know how much we paid for Small in the end? Struggled to find a definitive answer, I thought the lowest it would be was around £1.5m, with Everton seeking £3m-£5m?

Have to say that I am surprised there are such negative views on Semmens. I've been considering him as a significant factor behind why we're still in the league, have the owners we have, and are having the summer we are having. We're a mid sized prem club and he seems a good fit. You only have to look at the mess some other clubs get into to surely think we've done more than alright with Semmens? Under him we've had stability, improved recruitment, an improved financial position, refreshed the squad, and the academy sides have improved? And I don't have an issue with what he's said in the short term - long term you hope that the club's standing improves, and with it the quality of players and/or their retention. Worth noting that outside of the clubs with super rich owners (where money is no object), all teams have to trade players (and crucially - do it well) to keep improving - the second a club stops improving the squad they've effectively peaked and begin to stagnate and decline relative to other teams. So if you accept that saints need to trade players (we very obviously do because we aren't owned by an oil country etc.), then the club's strategy of targeting top youngsters, developing them, and giving them first team football / a shop window, is the way to go. The challenge as always is to do it better than most other teams.

Seems cheap for someone i've seen described as our best prospect since Bale. Do we get any kind of sell on with these youth transfers? Pleased it isn't bloody money united though.

Crazy summer! Who misses those early posts/vibes about the club being a shambles 😅 Although, there was still an air of that at 0-1 last night.

Well Monaco have had enough. Basically shattered or stopped playing. Saints look good though. A lot of confidence in the players. Aribo can control the ball! Djenpo and Valery having a good night. Lyanco as well has been solid. Good come back as well.

We've gone full pep, no strikers on the pitch and romeu playing behind the front 2? 🤣 Which bizarrely seems okay.

We seem a lot more physical, and the strikers seem more comfortable pressing, winning lose balls, holding up, and laying off passes to runners. This will work until other teams ffogure us out in the league 😅🤣

Okay, we're drawing in a pre season friendly. You need to calm down 😂

Good play again by AA then.

I mean, that was good play from him. Picked up the loose ball, dropped the shoulder to turn the defender, looked up for a good pass, and then grabbed the rebound.

Great play redmond and Armstrong! I actually really hope we stick with AA, think he could do it for us if we can get him firing.

Okay, shocking kick out of play by macca there.

Anyone else think redmond has a bit of a gut on him?

Not sure you can realistically blame him that much for that. Defenders miscontrolled it, it bounces once, and then it's volleyed into the corner from 10yards before anyone can react.

Or - this is all part of the long troll, of which Ralph is in fact a master.

More unpopular oppinion, I agree with deano - Adams and Armstrong could develop into a decent strike partnership 😅 (particulary if we sort out the supply / support).

The guy who should be on BBC solent imo.

Look alright here so far. How good are Monaco? Armstrong doing okay, as are Valery, diallo, romeu, and perraud.

FFS - What a bunch of numbskulls. I thought seeing Bednarek described as literal deadweight was bad earlier 😅

Is the stream working? I just have an intro screen on both the club website and the facebook?

Agree with this. We've survived with no funding and a cripplingly bad financial position - in itself, that is a good job to all those involved and who got us the takeover and the opportunity to be in the position we are now in. SR have come in, have a clear plan, and i think have made the right decisions to put a solid foundation for growth into place - signing young players with potential as squad players and to supplement the first team, revamping the coaching setup, and targeting quality recruitment and a clear strategy. But now the actions they've taken will require patience and hard work to develop - and a big part of that is on the fans and a need to back and support what is a very young squad lacking confidence and perhaps that final bit of quality to be really effective on the attack. Fortunately, as fans, we always do well backing young players - but we also need to not get on the teams back with what is a tough set of early fixtures.

I actually think he is as well 🤣