Saint86

I could see it selling very well 😅

I would rather he went there than West Ham in all seriousness. Although doesn't help him play European football this year. I guess there is the poch aspect, and it might result in a closer relationship between the two clubs and some prospects heading saints' way.

There is a half decent away kit to be made out of that yellow training top.

Sounds fairly promising. Imagine we're signing him as a bench player to start getting minutes as a sub with a view to pushing into the first team 11 over the course of the season.

Good news for us as i suspect we'll have a lot of teams sitting deep and time wasting. Also, sounds like we may see a few more red cards for penalties this season, although you don't tend to get too many pens for push/holding as a denial of a goal scoring opportunities so may be mitigated somewhat.

Taking our eldest down for his first game tomorrow. Does anyone know what time the players tend to arrive?

https://12ft.io/proxy?ref=&q=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23680433.will-smallbone-excited-back-southampton-stoke-loan/ Short interview piece with him here. Think he could be set for a good season with us this year.

JWP isn't leaving 😛

Are all the people up there as thick, entitled, and childish as this? Or is it just the Liverpool and burnley fans. Guy sounds like he thinks they have a god given right to buy Tella rather than us having the right to sell him at a price we're happy with... or not at all.

I wonder if Thomas Partey is undesirable / not being allowed out of the country (or to saudi) due to the rumoured ongoing legal concerns effecting an unknown north London footballer of his age, position, and stature? 👀 https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/03/premier-league-footballers-bail-extended-after-rape-accusation-19060514/

The negativity about smallbone needs to stop tbh. Utterly misplaced. Will be an important player for us this season.

Agree with all of this. I like him, he seems calm, likeable, in control, and intelligent. But i also worry the defensive issues are a deeper issue than just one of philosophy. We're giving so many gilt edge chances away primarily because of our defensive shape when we lose possession - due largely to the fluidity of the attacking players and lack of thought for a cohesive defensive shape. This will get better simply by the fact that the team will get better in possession (due to understanding the vulnerabilities and knowing where each other are etc.) and lose the ball less, but it does leaves us more open to press and fast counter than at any point under ralph etc. The result of this is that the second we lose the ball its very easy for teams to go straight through is with a couple of direct runners and 1-2 passes. Its a real issue. And its to do with the tactical setup and positioning of players. The back 4 is also playing too narrow when we're under pressure / on the defensive, and yet precious few opposition runners in behind are being picked up - see the goetzpe goal and numerous chances vs bompey etc. Attacking play is great - but the reality is that we cannot be giving away this number of gilt edge chances per game and expect to get promoted. Hopefully Martin isn't so wedded to his philosophy that he can't also address the defensive weaknesses.

Yup, he had a golden opportunity first half vs Bournemouth and shot it flat across the ground at the defender sliding in - had the time and space to either turn or lift it over him. He's struck me as very weak positionally and he seems to be never near his man or able to close them down / catch them. Also seems to be extremely timid in an attacking sense with limited forward passing and doesn't really take anyone on. Not sure what he adds to be honest, like playing with 10men.

We could easily end up in a situation (either through sales or injuries) where bree becomes a long term starter for us this year. Which would be very bad for our promotion prospects based on what i've seen. We categorically need to get one more RB in if either KWP/Tino leave.

AA will start up top. Think you'll see A-A or Edozie on the wing. May see DCC over Bednarek - depends wtf is going on with our CBs transfer wise. Lavia has been playing in 2nd gear all pre season so whether he's going or not i'd drop him. Smallbone/JWP/Alcaraz have all shown far more fight and commitment so far. He's probably leaving regardless, but the others deserve the start and commitment will be important vs a newly promoted Wednesday in a season opener.

Needs a little bit more power for me, but that will come as he fills out.

Smallbone's passing is sick.

Love Stu!

The guy just came in from his left and took him out there surely? Certainly looked like it on the 3rd replay angle - but we didn't get to see that for any other shot. We'd be pissed if this was a meaningful game?

Smallbone with a couple of great defensive interceptions... he's added more steel straight away.

I'd personally pick the keeper first 😅🤔

So same old southampton (I.e. Lots of tippy tappy but in largely in non dangerous positions, lose the ball, have no shape, get cut apart like a knife through butter... And then score from a set play?) 😂🤣. Joking aside, I really like our attacking play and the way it's encouraging and feeding off the intelligence/vision/creativity of players like alacarz and manning and runners like A-A... But my goodness are we horrific in cdm and CB atm 😢😭. No shape defensively at all and worse than ever when hit on the counter.

I see what you did here. Great motivational style 😂

When is it too early to write bree off? Don't even want him in match day squads. No positional sense at all (it's actually shocking how bad he is for this), too slow, too timid, can't pass, bad crossing. He didn't offer anything last season and he's been gash all pre season so far. I know he was cheap (only redeaming attribute?) but was an awful buy. Mane it's vs prem opposition that he struggles, but do we really want to go through the season with an injury risk Tino and bree as our two rbs?

But shout out to the bloke in the white T behind the goal who reciprocated with both arms 😂