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16 Aug 2024 06:44:12
Reading we are now after Lesley Ugochukwu on loan from Chelsea. A 20 year old French number 6 worth over 20m. Could be a Lavia alternative. If we do go 4 2 3 1 or Downes is injured we need another DM, so this sounds interesting.

Also reading we are after striker Cameron Archer from Villa, who was on loan to Sheffield United last season. Only scored 4 goals there but he is young and improving. Not sure about this one.

Seems there is interest in Alcaraz, Mara and ABK All newspaper reports so take with a pinch of salt.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

1.) 16 Aug 2024 08:48:33
Ugochukwu looks like a very good addition to the squad. I saw him a few times last season with Chelsea and he looks like someone that will make a big contribution. I've got to say the pursuit of Cameron Archer worries me. Looks like he could be another Carrillo, Mara, Sulemana etc. I know he's young but it's not what we need right now - a 50/50 (at best) punt that we're more likely to attempt offloading for a massive loss, as turn him into an EPL standout player.

It's a massive risk and with some money coming in from the sales of ABK, Alcaraz and maybe Mara now, I think we could invest in someone with a greater chance of success even if they would cost maybe 10M more - Eddie Nketiah springs to mind. A big few weeks coming up for RM and Saints.


2.) 16 Aug 2024 08:56:49
Archer is a very good player reminiscent of Jermaine Defoe, a permanent deal is potentially very exciting. Ugochukwa is a surprise but definitely puts to bed Broja/Lavia loan deals. Both deals had been kept very quiet, still need a keeper and attacking midfielder.


3.) 16 Aug 2024 11:27:33
I like the Archer move a lot. But what's up with Ipswich landing all the players we've been after as well? Delap, Johnson, now Broja?

Bringing in Archer *and* Broja on loan and sending Mara out for a year to play every day in Ligue 1 would have been great. Then bring in Johnstone and loan a winger for when we go 4-3-3 and find a cheap backup 6. That would realistically solve our problems without breaking PSR.


4.) 16 Aug 2024 11:48:37
Why can’t we get Willian in on a freebie now he left Fulham? Could still do a job eh


5.) 16 Aug 2024 16:07:37
What about Petrovic the goalie at Chelsea? Being sold after a year. What’s the crack? Any good?


 

 

26 Apr 2024 18:36:02
The spirit the team need now

Gents, it's been a shocking week. Automatic promotion is gone, key players are down and we just took a battering. The pundits have written you off, the fans have written you off and some of you have given up.

You now have two choices. Wallow in misery like boys or fight like men.

Winning at Wembley is every footballers dream and you have that golden opportunity. Who has what it takes? Who is willing to chase, to get stuck in, to be bold for this team. Do it for you, do it for Stu, do it for the fans.

We have spent a season playing sideways, now we need to go forwards. This is your chance to step up and be a hero. Fight for your place in the team. Do not look back and regret what could have been. Give it all you've got.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

1.) 26 Apr 2024 22:42:36
I feel at this point I’d love to hear from an Ed (or 2408 who I’ve been trying to guess who you are) .
I’ve played various sports at a reasonable level, but I've never encountered a situation where the coach wanted us to do ‘plan A’ when clearly it was plan B or C or D that was needed .
How do the players get RM to change his ways, admit defeat, listen to the players .
why don’t the players on the pitch say f**k with this nonsense and unleash themselves ….

This is where my understanding ends.
Imagine being an attacking midfielder or an attacker, Waiting for that one defence splitting pass, That defence splitting run.
But all you get is sitting back and watching huge amounts of possession, but not where you want it to be.
So in reality, can the players just do it their way?

{Ed001's Note - it is quite common, you usually know it as 'losing the dressing room'. That is characterised by players ignoring instructions and doing what they think is right. Which is strange to me as I grew up with Liverpool dominating everything and that was the secret of their success. They put players together who knew how to play and just let them play. In fact there are a number of the players who tell stories about how they would ask for tactical instructions and be told that they should figure it out for themselves (well not in so many words, usually it involved them being told to go forth and multiply). Nowadays coaches want robots who just do as they are told, rather than thinking for themselves.}


2.) 27 Apr 2024 08:13:24
Complerely agree South_Hants_Rich and Ed001. Our flair players are being suffocated and they need the freedom to play. Stoke is a free pass. We should experiment and I hope the players push for that, if RM doesn't.

Give Lumley and Stephens a half and McCarthy and Bree a half. See who deserves their starting spot.

Give Sulemana and Fraser a real shot. We may need that pace against a high press and that tenacity in a cup final.

Take players on, put some crosses in the box. We are going to have an aerial threat with Ross Stewart coming back soon.

Go 4 2 3 1, put Sulemana up top, AA as CAM, put Jack Stephens in goal! Shave JWPs hair and pretends he's Will Smallbone. Anything!

Lets try something new. Give the players a free reign, show some fighting spirit, get the fans on the edge of their seat. At least for 30 minutes!


3.) 27 Apr 2024 17:59:29
Thank you Ed001 for that great reply …
I can understand that a coach may spot a shortcoming in someone’s game. but as you say, the modern coach, especially RM, are telling the players what they need to do!
Love the Liverpool story . cheers again

{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}


 

 

01 Jan 2024 10:32:29
Happy New Year everybody! It has been a pleasure posting with you. As an expat that does not get to see many games, it is great to hear what is going on from those closer to the action.

Reading some rumours about strikers and wingers coming in.

@Eds, any rumours with substance?

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

{Ed002's Note - Fabio Carvalho (AM/LW) He has no clear future at Liverpool, certainly in the short-term so a loan to perhaps Southampton or Leicester would be best for all. Liverpool would also consider him as a player they could let go in any part exchange transaction.}


1.) 02 Jan 2024 09:17:28
Thank you Ed002.

Hearing we are in the market for at least 1 striker e.g. Ings and/or Biovski and an AM or winger e.g Carvalho or Diallo. Is this abou right?

{Ed002's Note - Yes but much will depend on the summer and if promotion is achieved.}


 

 

19 Dec 2023 10:48:55
Jan rumours suggesting we could see
KWP out and Ben Johnson in
Che out and Ings in?

Would you take that scenario?

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

14 Aug 2023 15:26:17
Curious on who people think we should sell or keep out of Mara, Aribo, Lyanco, Bree, Perraud and Sulemana?

Hearing rumours that Onuachu may be off back to Genk with a swap deal for a right winger (think we are already strong here with Tella and Ameyaw).

Plus ABK going back to Germany. Then Holgate coming in on loan as a replacement (plus Downes for JWP). Maybe even Mccarthy to Everton.

50m spent on a quality GK, CB and Striker is what I think we all want now, with no more out the door. Then I think playoffs is achievable.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

1.) 14 Aug 2023 18:24:01
I would keep sulemena if he is willing to fight and perraud is a good player and should be strong at this level. The others could go and I wouldn't be too upset although lyanco will give you passion, although I would play him as a dm not a cb


 

 

 

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26 Oct 2024 23:15:40
I am going to make an unpopular opinion and one I thought I would never make.

Does Jack Stephens deserve a place? Because we are shipping 40% fewer goals per game with him playing.

We have technically better players available like ABK but perhaps his leadership skills and 3 CBs are needed to give that discipline and keep heads up.

Both the late Ipswich and Leicester goals happened without leaders like Stephens and Lallana on the pitch.

We tend not to score with 5 at the back but we also tend to concede 3 with 4 at the back. Stephens does give us that flexibility to go 5 3 2/5 4 1 without the ball and 4 2 3 1/4 3 3/3 5 2 with it.

Its like Heskey for England, there were better strikers available but strangely we always seemed to do better with him in the side.

I have had a few beers, should I wake up and pretend this thought never happened or could there be something in it?

Pep is saying we are one of the best teams. It's been a weird day!

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

24 Oct 2024 07:42:57
It seems RM will be staying around a little longer. If so, we need to plug clear gaps in his skills etc.

1. Hire a set piece coach - we have gone from giving away easy goals on suicidal passes around our box to sloppy set piece defending.

2. Hire a better sports psychologist - heads drop far too easily. RM team talks are clearly not working. Players need more grit and resilience.

3. Sort out subs - RM needs to sit down with someone and agree the common sense subs for when we are protecting a lead, chasing a game and have injuries.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

21 Oct 2024 09:50:21
I am usually a fan that errs on the side of optimism, even if that's just to make things more interesting that we have something to play for rather than a cold assessment of reality.

To stay up, we need to maintain a points average of a side about 12th for the rest of the seasons. That's a big ask.

If RM did his job of not asking McCarthy to play suicide passes at Newcastle, let Diaz take the penalty against Utd, defend set pieces against Ipswich and bring on prem players not championship against Leicester, we would be sitting pretty on 8 points now with Leicester on 7 and Ipswich on 3.

Everton and Leicester have built up a good buffer now and I expect Palace or Wolves to go on a run. The longer SR leave it, the less likely any decent manager will come. It may already be too late. Losing that 6 pointer has cost us massively.

Everybody makes mistakes stepping up in their job, I am sympathetic to that but those subs against Leicester were school boy errors.

We can still stay up but only if we change manager, play our best 11, build resilience and frankly get a bit of luck. Betting odds give us 80%+ odds of relegation now and I don't disagree.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

20 Oct 2024 01:10:04
Another frustrating result.

There were some positives. First half we were excellent, we played balls over the top, took players on and scored 2 good goals. Archer is on a run, Onuachu had players worried in the air and his flicks ons were dangerous. Leicester took us apart last season and we deserved a result today.

We had some bad luck with Sugawara going off, dodgy decisions and excessive overtime but it was the substitutions and set piece marking that screwed us. These are the games where we need Lallana to steady the ship in the last 20.

I will give RM credit for switching up the style more but he is being out done by his opponent on tactical tweaks.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

18 Oct 2024 14:27:33
A Leicester line up to throw out there, which others have also suggested

Ramsdale
Sugawara THB. Bednarek KWP
Downes Lallana Fernandes
Dibling. Onuachu Archer

Subs
Aribo for Lallana
Armstrong for Dibling
Sulemana/Fraser for Onuachu/Archer

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

1.) 19 Oct 2024 02:18:28
Saint ThatAKickin. Well done! Close to the best side we could put out. Keep On Marching!


2.) 19 Oct 2024 06:04:53
We pretty much know that ABK is the best central defender (but as RM seems reluctant to play him) maybe Wood or Edwards could rise to the occasion? but neither are encouraged by the lack of belief and oppertunity. Keep On Marching!


3.) 19 Oct 2024 09:40:25
I would be happy with that line-up too STAKITH.

The only change I would make is to start with Sulemana - he is our most unpredictable forward to pay against and I believe he has a point to prove and three to win!

Looking forward to the match (I think) .

Let’s hope it’s a cheerful Saturday night


4.) 19 Oct 2024 09:44:43
Thanks st. John and I credit others on here for that line up too.

In terms of getting the best 11 players on the pitch that have actually played this season, I think this is arguably our best set up.
There is also a good debate about whether we are better in a 3 5 2, 4 2 3 1 or 4 3 3.

I also agree that ABK should be there. Ameyaw was brilliant in pre season and also deserves a shot. I hope they are brought in from the cold and Sulemana gets a chance, as he seems more suited to the Prem.

If Fernandes can win back the ball, unleash the pace and trickery of Dibling, Sulemana or Archer on a fast break, with the aerial threat of Tall Paul, we have a shot. But these players need space to work in, so we have to play faster, while there are still gaps in the defence.


5.) 19 Oct 2024 16:33:53
Cooper changes and RM fxxxs up again!


 

 

 

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23 Aug 2024 18:37:32
Thanks @2408.

Alcaraz is currently the 2nd highest PL goal scorer per game in the squad, so it seems a big risk to sell him but point taken on the system adherence.

Appreciate the update

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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23 Aug 2024 09:09:07
Thanks for the intel @2408.

Do we still have money to spend?

Saints were saying they needed to sell before they bought. I think you said we probably had 12m to spend.

Since then we have 10m in for Mara, have spent 30m on Archer and Fernandes, potentially 10m lined up on Bijlow and now maybe more.

Sounds like we are very confident on 20m in from ABK and Onuachu to balance the books, KWP or Alcaraz may be off (hope not) or there was more money available than thought.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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20 Aug 2024 17:48:21
We kept telling the transfer team to get their signings on target! Looks like they took us literally!

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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06 Aug 2024 13:49:52
Reading that KWP may stay, at least until the start of the season and Onuachu could stay too, if no decent offer comes (though likely negotiating games)

I would be very happy with all that 12m + Charles for O'Riley, to keep KWP, sell Bree or Manning for Fraser and loan/sell Mara, Larios, Aribo, Sulemana to contribute to Lavia and Ramsay's wages.

Crouchy was great for us, tall Paul deseves a shot. Curious to see how SAA, Dibling and Onuachu do against better pre season teams.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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02 Aug 2024 15:30:06
Thanks for the great intel @2408.

If Onuachu has no future at Saints, I would gladly trade him for loan fees plus wages for Ramsdale and Fraser.

Then if KWP wants to go, swap him and some of that 12m for O'Riley.

Loan or sell some of Charles, Mara, Edozie, Sulemana, ABK and Larios and put into Lavia's wages.

Then pick up a target man or winger with any money left, plus any fringe players we can sell.

Others feel the same?

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

 

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30 Oct 2024 10:33:17
Sugawara showed some fighting spirit with that goal line clearance, Bree some composure with that finish and THB is scoring from free kicks. Another day we would have lost 3-2.

Otherwise, disappointing and squad players did not seize their chance. ABK and Amewyaw deserve a shot and we need to get Onuachu and Archer up top, as you say.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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29 Oct 2024 21:08:14
Both the players on it and the bench itself!

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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29 Oct 2024 17:01:22
Well, it's the only one he might win!

Our line up could be our Championship starting 11 next season, so will be interesting to see how we get on.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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21 Oct 2024 09:54:49
And then he brings on Smallbone instead of Lallana or Big Les.

RM has cost us too many games now.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!

 

 

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19 Oct 2024 09:44:43
Thanks st. John and I credit others on here for that line up too.

In terms of getting the best 11 players on the pitch that have actually played this season, I think this is arguably our best set up.
There is also a good debate about whether we are better in a 3 5 2, 4 2 3 1 or 4 3 3.

I also agree that ABK should be there. Ameyaw was brilliant in pre season and also deserves a shot. I hope they are brought in from the cold and Sulemana gets a chance, as he seems more suited to the Prem.

If Fernandes can win back the ball, unleash the pace and trickery of Dibling, Sulemana or Archer on a fast break, with the aerial threat of Tall Paul, we have a shot. But these players need space to work in, so we have to play faster, while there are still gaps in the defence.

SaintThatAKickInTheHead!