Johannes Spors

[hypochondriac]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

I think downs is the bad one frankly. The rest are good players. Scienza is quality, fellows is very good at this level. Jander is going to be a very good player if he can fill out (in the morgan mould with already better passing potential).

I agree. The problem is we already had a few players in most of those positions. In a fantasy scenario where we didn't make those signings we still could have lined up with the likes of Edozie, Aribo, Armstrong, Downes, Charles, Robinson, even Smallbone and wee man who have proven themselves good enough at this level. Up front we have a player with a very uncertain future because he's injured all the time and then Archer who isn't suited to this style of play or Armstrong who shouldn't be played up front. Getting someone competent up top was always the priority for me and so it is proving thus far.

Can anyone honestly say that we wouldn't be doing at least as well as we are now with a midfield squad consisting of Fraser, Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Edozie, Aribo and Armstrong? I just feel we have signed some good players but we've prioritised the wrong areas. I honestly would have prioritised a new gk and striker and lined up something like 

New gk 

Edwards, THB, Quarshie, Jelert

Charles Jander

Armstrong Aribo/Matsuki Robinson/Edozie/Fraser

New striker 

 

With Smallbone, McCarthy, whoever doesn't make the team at RM, Archer, Mads, Stephens and Matsuki You can't tell me that team wouldn't be at least asgood as the one we have now and we'd have probably spent a lot less.

Edited Wednesday at 23:43 by hypochondriac

[captainchris]

50 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I agree. The problem is we already had a few players in most of those positions. In a fantasy scenario where we didn't make those signings we still could have lined up with the likes of Edozie, Aribo, Armstrong, Downes, Charles, Robinson, even Smallbone and wee man who have proven themselves good enough at this level. Up front we have a player with a very uncertain future because he's injured all the time and then Archer who isn't suited to this style of play or Armstrong who shouldn't be played up front. Getting someone competent up top was always the priority for me and so it is proving thus far.

Can anyone honestly say that we wouldn't be doing at least as well as we are now with a midfield squad consisting of Fraser, Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Edozie, Aribo and Armstrong? I just feel we have signed some good players but we've prioritised the wrong areas. I honestly would have prioritised a new gk and striker and lined up something like 

New gk 

Edwards, THB, Quarshie, Jelert

Charles Jander

Armstrong Aribo/Matsuki Robinson/Edozie/Fraser

New striker 

 

With Smallbone, McCarthy, whoever doesn't make the team at RM, Archer, Mads, Stephens and Matsuki You can't tell me that team wouldn't be at least asgood as the one we have now and we'd have probably spent a lot less.

THB no… 

[HnycS]

4 hours ago, captainchris said:

THB no… 

Recency bias there maybe? THB was in the Championship team. Who knows if he had been the senior figure with Edwards and Quashie, things might have turned out differently.

He wasn't fit at the beginning and didn't look the same player agreed. But sometimes "cometh the hour" etc, if THB had been the leader, he may have been more present in the games. Capt Jacks sidekick is lets be honest a tough role to excel at!

[hypochondriac]

43 minutes ago, HnycS said:

Recency bias there maybe? THB was in the Championship team. Who knows if he had been the senior figure with Edwards and Quashie, things might have turned out differently.

He wasn't fit at the beginning and didn't look the same player agreed. But sometimes "cometh the hour" etc, if THB had been the leader, he may have been more present in the games. Capt Jacks sidekick is lets be honest a tough role to excel at!

We know THB is a good player having a bad patch of form. You could put Wood in there but at the start of the season no on was starting wood over THB.

[benjii]

6 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I agree. The problem is we already had a few players in most of those positions. In a fantasy scenario where we didn't make those signings we still could have lined up with the likes of Edozie, Aribo, Armstrong, Downes, Charles, Robinson, even Smallbone and wee man who have proven themselves good enough at this level. Up front we have a player with a very uncertain future because he's injured all the time and then Archer who isn't suited to this style of play or Armstrong who shouldn't be played up front. Getting someone competent up top was always the priority for me and so it is proving thus far.

Can anyone honestly say that we wouldn't be doing at least as well as we are now with a midfield squad consisting of Fraser, Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Edozie, Aribo and Armstrong? I just feel we have signed some good players but we've prioritised the wrong areas. I honestly would have prioritised a new gk and striker and lined up something like 

New gk 

Edwards, THB, Quarshie, Jelert

Charles Jander

Armstrong Aribo/Matsuki Robinson/Edozie/Fraser

New striker 

 

With Smallbone, McCarthy, whoever doesn't make the team at RM, Archer, Mads, Stephens and Matsuki You can't tell me that team wouldn't be at least asgood as the one we have now and we'd have probably spent a lot less.

Good posting.

[Osvaldorama]

9 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I agree. The problem is we already had a few players in most of those positions. In a fantasy scenario where we didn't make those signings we still could have lined up with the likes of Edozie, Aribo, Armstrong, Downes, Charles, Robinson, even Smallbone and wee man who have proven themselves good enough at this level. Up front we have a player with a very uncertain future because he's injured all the time and then Archer who isn't suited to this style of play or Armstrong who shouldn't be played up front. Getting someone competent up top was always the priority for me and so it is proving thus far.

Can anyone honestly say that we wouldn't be doing at least as well as we are now with a midfield squad consisting of Fraser, Downes, Charles, Smallbone, Edozie, Aribo and Armstrong? I just feel we have signed some good players but we've prioritised the wrong areas. I honestly would have prioritised a new gk and striker and lined up something like 

New gk 

Edwards, THB, Quarshie, Jelert

Charles Jander

Armstrong Aribo/Matsuki Robinson/Edozie/Fraser

New striker 

 

With Smallbone, McCarthy, whoever doesn't make the team at RM, Archer, Mads, Stephens and Matsuki You can't tell me that team wouldn't be at least asgood as the one we have now and we'd have probably spent a lot less.

Yep, spot on. They’ve spent money in the wrong areas. 
 

We are weaker in the areas we were already weak - the business ends.

Absolute fucking buffoons 

Edited Thursday at 09:32 by Osvaldorama

[Forester]

Worth looking at the team who finished the season in play offs two years ago and do a quick comparison.

Goalkeeper unchanged

Centre Backs Stephens/Bednarek/THB v Quarshie/Edwards/Wood I would say the former was a more experienced unit who performed well in play offs, but latter has lots of potential and so hard to call this until later in season

Wing backs KWP/Manning v multiple options on right this season is a downgrade

Midfield (recognising different style) Downes/Armstrong/Aribo/Smallbone v Charles/Jander/Downes I think is a downgrade now, but has potential.  We have lost lots of midfield goals from the attacking midfield options of two years ago (Aribo, Smallbone and Armstrong scored 15 between them).  A bit like centre backs, this may feel better as season progresses but I don’t see goals coming, unless Azaz gets back in team and is firing

Forward line Brooks/Adams/Armstrong/Edozie v Fellows/Fraser/Stewart/Armstrong/Archer/Downs/Scienza for me is a downgrade and given fitness uncertainty of Stewart I don’t see it hitting those heights.  A fully fit Stewart and Armstrong playing week in and week out I do think would match Adams and Armstrong goals from that season but unlikely to happen.

So I think there are two departments where there is potential to grow and develop, a serious downgrade in right wing back (albeit Jelert barely seen) but I cannot see volume of goals from midfield and forwards being replaced.  That should frame the January discussion

 

 

[pimpin4rizeal]

5 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Yep, spot on. They’ve spent money in the wrong areas. 
 

We are weaker in the areas we were already weak - the business ends.

Absolute fucking buffoons 

Coukd have also just kept onuachu pretty sure he would have thrived on all these crosses 

[Pamplemousse]

So what are we expecting from the January transfer window?

Personally I would avoid any permanent transfers and just bring in loans. There must be a semi-decent striker sitting on a bench somewhere who can come in for a few months.

Edited Thursday at 15:22 by Pamplemousse

[benjii]

More like Joanna Poor.

 

 

LOLZzzz

[lambtiss]

22 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I find House a pretty poor local journa, lately at least. 

He is pretty sneering about anyone questioning the club/manager .. 

Is he MLG in disguise 🥸 

[ally_uk]

The thing that’s irritated me most is the whole striker situation.
We’ve splashed £7 million on a player whose scouting report literally says he has no obvious strengths.

Am I missing something here? Is it wind-up season?
We’ve basically paid a fortune for a mannequin who can’t head the ball or do the basics.

Who knows, maybe this’ll come back to bite me.

Maybe he’ll surprise us all and start banging in goals for fun…

But watching his YouTube highlights?

All I saw was a bunch of tap-ins my nan could’ve buried.

As for Ross Stewart, we all knew he was made of glass.

Sure, we were hoping for a resurrection — and when he banged in those two goals, I thought, yes, that’s the player we signed.

But alas, it seems the man’s allergic to grass.

I’ll say this until I’m blue in the face — we’ve lacked a focal point up front for about three seasons now.

Sports Republic, Spors, Dragon — wake up and smell reality.

Stop trying to be clever with “potential” and “resale value.”

We need an experienced striker who’s proven at this level — someone aggressive, a leader, who can actually head a football.

Whether it’s terminating Stewart’s contract or loaning out Downs, the time to act is now. We can't afford to wait around hoping Downs can play football....

Otherwise, we can kiss any hope of promotion goodbye.

That’s my opinion — and I’m sticking to it.

[Saint86]

January will have to be a striker and a GK... good luck affording that 😅

Or can we cancel Ramsdale's loan?

[Willo of Whiteley]

On 08/10/2025 at 20:31, AlexLaw76 said:

I find House a pretty poor local journa, lately at least. 

He is pretty sneering about anyone questioning the club/manager, other than those saying we should be doing better. If he gets the gig of interviewing anyone, there will be few hard-hitting questions, and any he does pose will be light, ft at all, and not followed up with anything meaningful.

We all Blackmore will go no where near anything too pressing.

Neither are fans, which shows....

Got to say I disagree in regards to Alfie House. As a local journo he clearly wants Saints to do well, what benefit would he get in spreading bullshit around? What does he gain by sharing his view of saying the manager probably hasn’t had enough time - which I think the vast majority of the fanbase would agree with.

In regards to calling out the club or those in senior positions, the two spent a couple of days with Dragan Solak in the summer, yes there is propaganda about and the club won’t want anything slagging them off but again wouldn’t you rather have that “in” to the club than not? At least then when the club say they’ll do something you can then call them out on it.

If Saints were to sack Will Stick say in the next day, or week or month; or Saints are bottom of the league then they’re obviously going to write articles and challenge.

It might also be worth saying that both Alfie House and Adam Blackmore called out Russell Martin more than once which got up RM’s back.

[AlexLaw76]

10 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Got to say I disagree in regards to Alfie House. As a local journo he clearly wants Saints to do well, what benefit would he get in spreading bullshit around? What does he gain by sharing his view of saying the manager probably hasn’t had enough time - which I think the vast majority of the fanbase would agree with.

In regards to calling out the club or those in senior positions, the two spent a couple of days with Dragan Solak in the summer, yes there is propaganda about and the club won’t want anything slagging them off but again wouldn’t you rather have that “in” to the club than not? At least then when the club say they’ll do something you can then call them out on it.

If Saints were to sack Will Stick say in the next day, or week or month; or Saints are bottom of the league then they’re obviously going to write articles and challenge.

It might also be worth saying that both Alfie House and Adam Blackmore called out Russell Martin more than once which got up RM’s back.

He routinely and clearly sneers at fans online who reasonably question whether Still has the ability to take us forward. 

You watch, his next interview (if he gets one as planned) will be very soft in any follow up questions. Then tell us all on the TSP how nice everyone is. 

As for Russell Martin, that was very late on and again, very very soft. Compare them both to local journos around the country, and consistent failing performers get a pretty easy ride at SFC (from fans included).

[Willo of Whiteley]

28 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

He routinely and clearly sneers at fans online who reasonably question whether Still has the ability to take us forward. 

You watch, his next interview (if he gets one as planned) will be very soft in any follow up questions. Then tell us all on the TSP how nice everyone is. 

As for Russell Martin, that was very late on and again, very very soft. Compare them both to local journos around the country, and consistent failing performers get a pretty easy ride at SFC (from fans included).

Don’t listen to TSP then.

I mean it’s all opinions but I’d say the chaos on TSP are excellent and very level-headed with their views.

There’s a small minority of the fanbase that think we’re a Europa League level club and quite simply we aren’t, we had a good few years but no more than that.

The infrastructure is there for it but the management has been woeful.

I think this season is going to be the year of change, I think it’ll be very up and down and I think we’ll kick into gear at the end of the season, whether it’s too late by then who knows.

[AlexLaw76]

6 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Don’t listen to TSP then.

I mean it’s all opinions but I’d say the chaos on TSP are excellent and very level-headed with their views.

There’s a small minority of the fanbase that think we’re a Europa League level club and quite simply we aren’t, we had a good few years but no more than that.

The infrastructure is there for it but the management has been woeful.

I think this season is going to be the year of change, I think it’ll be very up and down and I think we’ll kick into gear at the end of the season, whether it’s too late by then who knows.

I like the TSP, I am just giving my opinion on what he says on there. 

Not sure what you are on about with the Europa League comment, not seen a single person on here or on SM suggesting that. 

Other than that, great points made.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

11 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Got to say I disagree in regards to Alfie House. As a local journo he clearly wants Saints to do well, what benefit would he get in spreading bullshit around?

I like TSP, a relatively new listener but I think it's a good panel on there. And agree, I think Alfie House is a reasonable and very good reader of the game. But he may be a 'local journo' but he's not a local lad or even a Saints fan, I think (could be mistaken) he's from and a fan of Bristol City. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just gives him a more rational view of things but he's at least got a genuine interest and input on Southampton FC.

Edited Saturday at 09:02 by TheAlehouseBrawlers
Typo - TSP not TSB the bank!

[trousers]

46 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

There’s a small minority of the fanbase that think we’re a Europa League level club and quite simply we aren’t

Yeah... Probably those idiot fans that witnessed us at that very level not too long ago... No way we should ever wish to be back at that level ever again... No sir-ee...

Edited Saturday at 09:29 by trousers

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Just now, trousers said:

Yeah... Probably those idiot fans that witnessed us at that very level not too long ago... 

Yep. It really has been a monumental fuck up from those heady days. We should be held up as the standard model of how not to run a football club.

[danjosaint]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

Yeah... Probably those idiot fans that witnessed us at that very level not too long ago... No way we should ever wish to be back at that level ever again... No sir-ee...

Nope just settle for mediocre shit, maybe Semmens was right all along 

[Badger]

15 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Got to say I disagree in regards to Alfie House. As a local journo he clearly wants Saints to do well, what benefit would he get in spreading bullshit around? What does he gain by sharing his view of saying the manager probably hasn’t had enough time - which I think the vast majority of the fanbase would agree with.

In regards to calling out the club or those in senior positions, the two spent a couple of days with Dragan Solak in the summer, yes there is propaganda about and the club won’t want anything slagging them off but again wouldn’t you rather have that “in” to the club than not? At least then when the club say they’ll do something you can then call them out on it.

If Saints were to sack Will Stick say in the next day, or week or month; or Saints are bottom of the league then they’re obviously going to write articles and challenge.

It might also be worth saying that both Alfie House and Adam Blackmore called out Russell Martin more than once which got up RM’s back.

There has always been an imbalance in the relationship between club and local press. The journalist wants the contact and ‘insight’ from within the club, who expect (if not dictate) that it is done on their terms, ie portrayed positively.

There is nothing new in this. Even in the 80’s the club would try to influence what went out. Of course things were different in terms of coverage, but also the personalities involved. Lawrie was a dream for the local press, articulate and charismatic for tv, and always a decent quote for them. He had brought success so no need for Brunskill and Bobin to look to question or criticise ( it was reported that he gave both an early heads up about something special at the Potters Heron). But I remember hearing that in 1982 after the Swedish rape allegations, the club declined to offer comment, and then stopped and removed Southern TV cameras from filming their news piece in the club car park ( on private property).

Although House might enjoy a decent working relationship with the club, both should realise and accept that he should also be scrutinising and asking searching questions. 
 

Obviously there is a limit on this and I wouldn’t expect the Echo or Solent to lead a ‘Lego Head must go’ campaign with Lego figure images ridiculing the manager ( this perhaps isn’t that far fetched if you recall the national press and the ‘Turnip’ images for Taylor)

The one thing that did surprise me was how far Adam Blackmore went re Nathan Jones (eg the Doswell phone-in). Thought they were pretty mild in the treatment of Martin.