NewYorkSaint

Need Alcaraz on for Ely... And maybe C-C for Bednarek.

Here is ChatGPT's suggested team talk. We all know the significance of this match. We are facing Leeds, a team that is fighting alongside us to stay in this league. Every minute, every second of this game will count. We need to approach this match with a clear mind, focused on our objectives, and determined to win. We know what we are capable of, and we have shown it in the past. Our players have worked hard and have shown their commitment to this club. Now is the time to show it on the pitch. I want you to remember that you are not alone in this fight. You have your teammates beside you, fighting for the same cause. We are a team, and we will work together to get the job done. Today, we are not just playing for ourselves, but for everyone who has supported us. We owe it to our fans, our families, and our city to give it our all. We need to play with heart, with passion, and with courage. So, let us go out there and show them what we are made of. Let us fight for every ball, every inch of the pitch. Let us play with intelligence and creativity, taking advantage of every opportunity that comes our way. This is a crucial match, but it is also an opportunity for us to show our strength and our character. Let us seize this moment and show the world what Southampton Football Club is made of. Thank you.

The weirdest thing happened. I was so excited by the win against Chelsea that my phone flew out of my hand, hit the ceiling and sent out the weirdest sound. When I looked at the screen, there was a flashing link that said. "Portal is open. You have 60 seconds." I clicked on it and saw what seemed to be a story in the Guardian dated May 29, 2023. I read as much as I good before it faded off the screen. This is what I remember. Southampton's Late Rise One of the surprises of the season was the way Southampton powered their way to survival. Under newly appointed manager Ruben Selles, the team somehow conjured 27 points from their last 16 games for a 14th place spot on 42 points. It was a top-10 performance in the last few months of the season. But on reflection, the biggest surprise wasn't what happened then, but what happened earlier in the year. Southampton's squad arguably was top-half caliber all season, with inspired signings like Romeo Lavia, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Tina Livramento. The trouble is all three were out injured for much of the first part of the season, and Livramento, longer than that. Their loss, coupled with niggling injuries for their midfield talisman Stuart Armstrong, helped create a crisis of confidence at the club that seemed to impact players and managers alike. But the unlikely appointment of Selles, coupled with the return of Armstrong, Lavia and Bell-Kotchap, plus the acquisition of world class talents of Paul Onuachu and Kamaldeen Sulemana, marked a turning point. Finally the team jelled. And the results spoke for themselves, starting with spectacular wins at Chelsea and Leeds. Onuachu's late run of goals, 60% of them headers, struck terror into opposition defenses. Captain James Ward-Prowse smashed David Beckham's record of goals from free kicks with a total of 20 and counting. And Romeo Lavia was named premier league player of the month for April. It's worth remembering that Saints are, by some measure, the premier league's youngest side. If they can get to where they've got in just a few months, there are those who will say they have a real shot at European football next year. That's all I could get through, and I might have got some details slightly wrong. But yes, it def said 42 points. I'm posting here just in case this is something more than a weird Chat GPT generated fantasy. While we're at it. What does anyone else predict now for end of season points total?

So... of the three players we were all whinging about, Ely has played a big part in our press but has - as usual - been poor with the ball. Bednarek has been strong. The defense are playing like gods. And AMN is candidate for MoM. Walcott has looked fantastic since coming on too. Just maybe Selles sees things in training we don't see.

Ah... this is the excitement and joy I remember. Onuachu has had an incredible half. His ability to receive long clearances, control and retain possession has been fantastic. I was worried the first game he played that he was less good in the air than his height suggested. Today those doubts are gone. Not only is he exploiting is height, his footwork can be stunning... and he's FAST. Alcaraz for Ely. It would be incredible if we won this.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man...

If you wanted to try your damnedest to make the case for giving NJ "a little more time" as his song goes, it would be something like this: - we've all (including SR) known for a long time the team needs better options up front. That's been the main explanation of our poor perf for last year. - those options came in all of 10 days ago. - it wasn't unreasonable to bring them on off the bench for their first game. - so they've had all of 45 mins to make their mark. - both looked really promising, especially Sulemana (that speed!) - both seem currently to be supportive of NJ (eg the puff piece in the Echo today). - so arguably Saturday is the first game when there's really been a chance to see NJ's vision of a fully-charged Saints side. - it may be last chance saloon, but it's worth granting. To be clear, I'm not sure I want to argue this. I'm as frustrated as anyone by NJ's ill chosen remarks after the last game. The only thing you cd say is that the pressure on him is insane, and sometimes people don't show their best side in those circumstances. But he does seem to still have JWP's support, and is there maybe a chance that through all this, JWP emerges stronger as captain? I dunno. I may be grasping at straws. Unlike some others on here, I do think Rasmus and SR are really strong. They had a reason for this appointment that we haven't seen yet. But they're also smart enough to change course if that's what's needed. Unlike us they have their personal fortunes on the line. I'm guessing they'll allow another game or two before the switch. I'm willing to TRY to continue to believe...

Need to bring on both new signings for Ely and Che, and Alcaraz for Diallo. That at least is a team that could....

Calm down people. Honestly. We've got people brand new to the PL, their first week here. No harm at all in starting them on the bench. I'd expect to see both on early in the second half. If they seem up to speed, they'll start next time. Let's judge the game by the full 90 mins. For me, just having Lavia back and starting is reason for hope.

So let's see... the same man who just pulled off the best January window I can remember for Saints - and it was him working personally on these signings - is also the man who appointed a man he has got to know over many years as a super-smart, data-driven, fanatically hard-working manager. One achievement is rated 8-10/10 by most on here. The other seems to be rated 0-5/10 by many on here. These ratings don't make sense. I would rather take the stance that it might take time to fully understand a manager's strengths. We've had a couple of months. He's had years. He knows football better than most of us do and has many £millions of personal money on the line here. He's now given NJ the tools he needs to get this club a-moving up the table. I for one will be patiently and excitedly waiting, and in the meantime giving NJ, and Rasmus, full support.

So let's see... the same man who just pulled off the best January window I can remember for Saints - and it was him working personally on these signings - is also the man who appointed a man he has got to know over many years as a super-smart, data-driven, fanatically hard-working manager. One achievement is rated 8-10/10 by most on here. The other seems to be rated 0-5/10 by many on here. These ratings don't make sense. I would rather take the stance that it might take time to fully understand a manager's strengths. We've had a couple of months. He's had years. He knows football better than most of us do and has many £millions of personal money on the line here. He's now given NJ the tools he needs to get this club a-moving up the table. I for one will be patiently and excitedly waiting, and in the meantime giving NJ, and Rasmus, full support.

My verdict on this window: Truly fantastic. Rasmus! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

It's not quite over yet. If we score the next goal, there will be a lot of pressure on them. Need to see Perraud on for Bree. And Lavia for Dallio. Let's give this our best shot.

Would so love to see a Mara goal. He has the potential to be superstar. A little more confidence could be catalytic. In other news... Lavia makes me happy. I think NJ prob has it about right for this game. Good rotation, great chance for our fringe players to get game time and show what they can do.

I'm a glass half full kinda guy. We're up against a team costing 2x + ours. And we battled them all the way. This is still close enough for next week to be exciting. Diallo showed promise for pretty much the first time. Alcaraz is going to be a superstar for us. Adam A is the new Shane Long on steroids. Salisu is world class. With Livramento and Lavia fully fit, we have a fantastic team.

Nice to see Diallo have a good half. Overall, I'll say this. This team looks capable of surprises. There's a sharpness to our play that's pretty exciting. Just need to carry it through to the penalty area.

I agree with this. Alcaraz has an incredible shot on him.

Diallo apart, it's an exciting team. We'll learn a lot tonight. Re Diallo, his misplaced passes are infuriating... BUT I think he does play a really important role in winning back the ball. He's constantly in people's face. NJ likes that kind of fire and commitment. Lavia way better, but I get the need to protect him. Last thing we want is another hammy and six weeks off. A huge amount for me depends on Alcaraz. If he can provide some real midfield solidity (plus, rumour has it, the ability to surge forward and spark our attacks), that will be huge. It's really been the missing piece all season.

We can still win this. It's so close. Wd like to see our new signings in action. Exciting to see Lyanco becoming a really great player. There's a great core building here. We just need to find a little penalty area magic.

Too soon? "All you needed was just a little time...."

Possible theory. NJ has given players like Lyanco and Djenepo a jolt of belief and confidence....

There's enough luck in football to make Saints 14-1 odds of victory tonight a pretty good bet.

Take a look back at the pre-match sneering and disgust. It's so unfair and unhelpful. Football is never as bad as it looks when it's bad, nor as good as it looks when it's good. There's soooo much luck in the game. We were lucky today. And unlucky before. But I really hope we give the club benefit of the doubt these next few weeks. Just need one win in the premier league, and one or two more exciting players in, and the world will feel v different. I give Jones and the team some real credit for that game. Confidence naturally started at all-time low. But after going a goal down, they fought back intensely. It was great to see. Lyanco, who everyone was piling on pre-match, was seriously impressive. And Adam A's blistering pace played a huge part in forcing the error for our second goal. Also saw JWP looking more like a captain than in recent weeks... some team-pumping and encouragement visible. Don't usually see that. All in all, proud of the team today, and remain hopeful we can still avoid the drop.

I'm not seeing any working streams. For once, it's not on live TV in the US... 😆 Anyone have one working?

It's really amazing to watch the group pile-on - on Twitter even more than here. People, this is our team. If a couple of mistakes had been avoided in last couple games, and this exact same team was picked now, you'd see people going. "yup... reasonable." The only big worry for me is: what's up with Stu?